queen's, or crown jewels, for that purpose. At this time the parlament was alarmed with the report of a naval armament, then getting ready at Dunkirk, which was to act against theirs at sea; to prevent which, the following Letter was agreed upon, by both houses, to be sent to their high mightinesses with all speed.

affection to preserve both the being and repu tation of an invoidable conjunction betwixt this kingdom and your state, without intention to reflect upon the honour of his highness the prince of Orange; and they desire you so to continue your favourable audience to Mr. Strickland, and to give credit to him, as one authorized by both houses of parliament to communicate to you the affairs of this kingdom, and to cherish the peace and amity betwixt the two states, which the two houses are confident he will ever faithfully and effectually perform. We commend the prosperity of your state, and of your lordships, to God's blessing, and remain your, &c. MANCHESTER, Speaker of the house of peers pro tempore. W. LENTHALL, Speaker of the House of commons. Westminster, May 2, 1643."

"High and mighty lords; We are commanded, by the lords and commons in parliament, to make known to your lordships, that several advertisements have been given to the committee of the lords and coinmons, appointed by both houses to take care of the safety of the kingdom on all occasions that concern the same, both at home and abroad, That the king hath hired divers ships and frigates of Dunkirk, to the number of 24, or thereabouts; and that he intended to employ Dispute between the Houses concerning the them against the fleet appointed by the par- seizure of 2 of the King's Horses.] May 3. liament for the defence of this kingdom. It One De Luke having broke open the King's was further informed, That two of these ships, Stables, and taken two young Horses belonging or frigates, were permitted to pass, out of Dun- to his majesty, the lords ordered the horses to kirk, by the admiral of your lordships fleet, by be restored, and De Luke to attend them to warrant or some command from his highness answer it. This man produced his warrant to the prince of Orange; which information that the messenger, from Mr. Martin; and Mr. committee ordered should be communicated to Martin himself denied to return the horses, Mr. Strickland, now resident in the Hague by saying We have taken the king's ships and authority and instructions from both houses; forts, and may as well take his horses, lest they which direction of that committee of both might be employed against us; but, however,' houses was likewise seconded by an Order of he added, he would acquaint the commons the commons house, and Mr. Strickland com- therewith the next morning, who would satisfy manded to present it to your lordships, as he the lords at a conference.' This the lords took hath done. We are to intreat your lordships very ill, and, at the conference, they told the to believe, that the two houses have such an commons, That they had resolved to write to opinion of the wisdom and justice of your state, the lord-general, to recall Mr. Martin's comthat they cannot easily conceive you would do mission; but, for himself, they had done noany thing so much to the prejudice of the thing, in regard be was a member of their interest of yourselves, as well as of the king-house. Adding, That they did apply themselves dom; and the high esteem and value which they set upon your friendship and correspondency is such, that they would not suffer any report of that nature to be spread in the world, bat speedily present it to your lordships, as an information only commonly spoken of, to the great prejudice and disreputation of that near naion and concurrence between this kingdom and your state, which they most carnestly desire may ever be continued: and they very rauch rejoice to hear, that there was no ground for that report in any resolution of your lordships, nor in any command or direction of the prince of Orange; whose eminent power and abilities they shall always hope will be expressed in such counsels and actions as may be most agrecable for the preservation of the Reformed Religion, and the interest of both states, against the antient known enemies of both and the lords and commons do assure your lordships, that you shall never discern any thing, in their intentions and proceedings, but what, in their judgment, shall be most proper and effectual to that end; and as they rest fully satisfied concerning the vanity and falsehood of that report, so they pray your lordships to rest assured, that this information was appointed to be presented to you, out of a tender VOL. III.

unto the commons in ail respect and civility, and did look for reparation in this business. Instead of which, the commons, on their return to the house, voted, That Mr. Martin did well in not delivering the two Horses till he had made them acquainted with it: that these two horses should be kept by Mr. Martin till this house gives further order; and that the lord-general be desired not to do any thing in the business concerning Mr. Martin, till he heard further from that house.'

The Book of Sports ordered to be burnt.] May 5. An Order of parliament was made, That the Book, enjoining and tolerating of Sports upon the Lord's Day, he forthwith burnt, by the hands of the cominon Daugman, in Cheapside, and other usual places. The sheriffs of London and Middlesex were to attend, and see this Order duly executed; and all persons, who had any of the said books, were ordered to bring thein to one of the sheriffs, for their utter destruction.

An Excise laid on Ale, Cyder, Perry, &c.] May 16. An Order was made by the commons, directed to all justices of peace, &c. all over England and Wales, to put the statute, 1mo Jacobi, in execution, That no strong Beer or Alo should be sold at above 16 the quart; I

and, of all other beer, two quarts for the penny. An Excise was also laid on at this time as follows: For each barrel of strong Beer or Ale, of 8s. the barrel, 1s. For a hogshead of Cyder or Perry, 1s. To be paid by the first buyer. The same tax was laid on the housekeeper, for Beer, Ale, Cyder or Perry, brewed or made for his own spending. All alehousekeepers, or inn-holders, that brew and sell strong Beer and Ale of their own, each barrel, 2s. For all sorts of retailed Wines, over and above the customs due for the same, to be paid by the first retailer, a quart, 2d. On all sorts of Wines bought here, besides customs, to be paid by the first buyer, for all he shall use in his own house, for a quart, 1d. The same to be paid by the merchant for all the wine he shall use in his own house, besides the due customs. For a barrel of 6s. Beer sold, to be spent, as well in private as in victualling-houses, to be paid by the common brewer, or those that brew or sell the same beer, 6d. On all Tobacco, not of English plantation, the pound value, not weight, 4s. For the English plantation Tobacco, the same value; both over and above all other customs, 2s.

Resolutions of the Commons relating to the Great Seal.] May 20. A conference was held between the two houses, the effect of which was, That the commons presented to the lords certain votes they had lately passed, viz. 1. "That the Great Seal of England ought, by the law of the land, to attend the parliament. 2. That the Great Seal of England doth not attend the parliament; as, by the laws of the land, it ought to do. 3. That, by reason of this, the commonwealth hath suffered many grievous mischiefs, tending to the destruction of king, parliament, and kingdom. 4. That it is the duty of both houses to provide a speedy remedy for these mischiefs. 5. That a Great Seal of England shall be forthwith made, to attend the parliament for the dispatch of the affairs of parliament and kingdom."-This last Vote occasioned a division in the commons, when the numbers were 86 for making a new Seal, and 74 against it; in all 160 members present the most that have divided on any question for a long time.-The lords deferred debating on all these matters till another day.

The King's Message requiring an Answer to his Message for an Accommodation.] May 22. A message from the king was read in the lords, as follows:

calamity is in the bowels of his own kingdoms; that all the blood which is spilt is of his own subjects; and what victory soever it shall please God to give him, it must be over those who ought not to have lifted up their hands against him: when he considers these desperate civil dissentious may encourage and invite a foreign enemy to make a prey of the whole nation; that Ireland is in present danger of being totally lost; that the heavy judgment of God's plague, pestilence, and famine will be inevitable attendants of this unnatural contention; and that, in a short time, there will be so general a habit of uncharitableness and cruelty contracted throughout the kingdom, that even peace itself will not restore his people to their old temper and security: his maj. cannot but again call for an Answer to that his Message, which gives so fair a rise to end these unnatural distractions. And his maj. doth this with the most earnestness, because he doubts not but the condition of his armies in several parts; his strength of horse, foot, and artillery; his plenty of ammunition (which some men lately couceived he might have wanted) is so well known and understood; that it must be confessed, that nothing but the tenderness and love to his people, and those Christian impres sions which always have dwelt, and, he hopes, always shall dwell, in his heart, could move him, once more, to hazard a refusal: and he requires them, as they will answer to God, to himself, and all the world, that they will no longer suffer their fellow subjects to welter in each other other's blood; that they will remem ber by whose authority, and to what end, they met in that council; and send such an Answer to his majesty, as may open a door to let in a firm peace and security to the whole kingdom. If his maj. shall again be disappointed of lus intention herein, the blood, rapine, and dis tractions which must follow in England and Ireland, will be east upon the account of those who are deaf to the motion of Peace and Ac commodation."

Ordered, That this Message should be communicated to the commons; and some lords being appointed to draw up what was fit to be delivered to them besides, at this con ference, as the sense of this house about it, they soon after brought in the following:"That the lords conceive it necessary to send the Reasons to the king, why the two houses could not agree to the Propositions offered in "C. R. Since his majesty's Message of the his majesty's Message of the 12th of April. 12th of April, in which he conceived he had To express, in that Answer to be made to his made such an overture for the immediate Dis-majesty, That their endeavours had been, and banding of all armies, and composure of these present miserable distractions, by a full and free convention in parliament, that a perfect and settled Peace would have ensued, he hath, in all this time, (above a full month) procured no Answer from both houses; his maj. might well believe himself absolver, before God and man, from the least possible charge of not having used his utmost endeavours for peace; yet when he considers that the scene of all the

ever shall be, to put an end to these unhappy differences; so as their religion, laws, and l berties might be secured. To desire the com mons to appoint a committee to meet one from the lords, to consider of this whole Mes sage, and to prepare such an Answer as they think fit to offer to the two houses."

Abp. Laud's Petition for Relief.] The Abp. of Canterbury having now lain a very long time in the Tower, and no process, as yet,

"Shewing, That he hath neither lands, lease, nor money; that the small store of plate he had is long since melted down for his ne-negatively. The second Vote, That the Great cessary support and expences, caused by his present troubles: that his rents and profits are sequestered, and now all his goods taken from bim, and no maintenance at all allowed him; insomuch that if some friends of his had not compassion on his wants, and sent him some little supply, he had not been able to subsist till this present; and now this supply is at the last. He humbly prays that your lordships would take his sad condition into your considerations, that somewhat may be allowed him out of his estate to supply the necessities of life; assuring himself that your lordships will not, in honour and justice, suffer him either to beg or starve. And your petitioner, &c.

was published, put on the footing of the adventurers for Ireland; by which means those Northern parts of England were to be as much a conquered country as the other; and the lands and estates of many great families shared out amongst those who would venture to advance money for this expedition. An Ordinance to that purpose was passed by both houses, about this time, and ordered to be printed and published.

*

Petition from the University of Cambridge.] June 5. The following Petition, from the University of Cambridge, was presented to the lords:

The Humble PETITION of the University of
Cambridge;

| false aspersions and interpretations. This Or dinance was referred to the consideration of 13 lords, appointed as a committee, to report the same to the house. This Assembly of Di vines soon after met, to the number of 69, in Henry 7th's Chapel, in the Abbey of Westminster, where a sermon was preached, before them and the two houses of parliament, by Dr. Twist, their prolocutor; and, a day or two after, a public fast was kept by them. What they did, when met together, will appear in the sequel.

A Plot against the Parliament; which gives kl rise to a new Oath or Covenant.] June 3. The commons had been busy for some days, in tracing out a Plot against the Parlia "Humbly presenteth to your honourable ment, and securing the authors and contrivers consideration the sad dejected state of the of it. The names of these conspirators were, University; how our schools daily grow deso- Mr. Edin. Waller, (the poct) a member of the late, mourning the absence of their professors, house of commous, and one of their late com and their wonted auditories; how, in our col-missioners at Oxford, Mr. Tomkins, Mr. Cha- ui leges, our numbers grow thin and our revenues | loner, and others. This day, at a conference, short; and what subsistence we have abroad the commons produced the Examinations they is, for the most part, involved in the common had taken concerning this Plot, to prove the miseries; how, frighted by the neighbouring particulars of it, and also made some obser noise of war, our students either quit their vations thereupon. They then presented to gowns or abandon their studies; how our de- the lords the form of an Oath, or Covenant, grees lic disesteemed, and all hopes of our which the members of their house, for the most public commencements are blasted in the bud; part, had already taken, except a few who besides sundry other inconveniences which we desired some days to consider of it; and this forbear to mention.-We cannot but conceive they requested the lords to take also. They your honourable piety (out of a noble zeal for further brought up an Oath, or Covenant, to learning) will duly pity our sad condition; and, be taken by the whole kingdom, for discovery as the present general calamities give way, of such designs as these, and to express a detesafford us some succour and encouragement. tation of all of the like nature. Lastly, they Your wisdoms best know what privileges and said it was to distinguish the good and the immunities have been, in all good times, afford- well-affected party from the bad, and unite the ed to the seats of learning and professors of it; former faster together amongst themselves.— and, even in the fury and heat of war, places This affair Mr. Whitlocke tells us, was long of religion and devotion have usually, not only debated in the commons; but was, at last, on both sides, been spared from ruin, but sup-carried, and those members looked upon as ported and esteemed as sanctuaries. Hence it is that the members of our University (by charter confirmed by act of parliament) are expressly freed from all preparations and contributions to any war; hence it is that, in neighbouring territories, where the excise is most in use, the university, with all their students, are exempt.-May it, therefore, not be displeasing to your pious wisdoms, if in all humility we crave at your hands a tender consideration of our case; that you will be pleased to excmpt our poor estates from all such rates and impositions; to vouchsafe such freedom to our perso is, not giving just offence, as may enable us the better to keep together, and daily to offer up our joint prayers to God for a blessed union betwixt our gracious sovereign and you, and the blessing of peace upon the land."

Meeting of the Assembly of Divines at Westminster.] This day the Ordinance of the lords and commons, formerly made, was read, for the calling an Assembly of learned and godly Divines, to be consulted with by parliament, for the settling the government and liturgy of the Church of England; and vindicating and clearing the doctrine of the said church from

disaffected who were any way backward in taking of it. And, after another long debate, it was ordered to be taken by all persons, in city and country; and those who refused it had the mark of Malignancy fixed upon them.

Next the commons offered some Votes, which had passed their house, to the lords, for their concurrence; as, 1. "That a particular short day may be appointed, wherein both lords and commons, with the cities of London and Westminster, &c. may meet and give public Thanks to God, for this discovery and great deliverance.' Agreed; and the 13th instant appointed for the parliament and city, and that day month for the whole kingdom. 2. That a free pardon shall be granted for all such persons that have been in this Plot, and are not yet taken, nor have fled, as shall come in voluntarily before the 15th of this month, and discover their whole knowledge of this design, and shall heartily join with the parliament in defence of the kingdom. 3. That it be recommended to the city to have a stricter guard kept till this business be settled; and that some better course may be taken for securing

the prisoners, and keeping them in close custody. 4. That letters be sent to the earl of Warwick, to inform him of this Plot; and that the said Oath may be taken by all the officers and mariners through the whole fleet." The lords agreed to these Votes, without any alteration.

Mr. Pym's Narrative of the Plot, as delivered of the Guildhall.] This day the commons, also, thought fit to send a deputation of their house into the city, to make the same Narrative to them as was made to the lords.

Mr. Pym, being chosen orator for this purpose, delivered himself, at a Common-ball, in

these words:*

der pretence of securing themselves by force against the Ordinances of Parliament, and, under pretence of procuring Peace, they would have made themselves masters of the city, yea of the whole kingdom; and they would have ruined and destroyed all those that should have interrupted them in their mischievous intentions.-The first step in their Preparation was, To appoint a committee that might often meet together, and consult how they might compass this wicked end. Their next was, that they might enable that committee with intelligence from both armies, as well those on the king's side, (as they call themselves, though we be of the king's side indeed) "My Lord Mayor, and you worthy Citizens as those that are raised by the parliament; of this famous and magnificent City; We are especially they were careful to understand the sent hither to you from the house of commons, proceedings of parliament, that so, by the adto make known to you the Discovery of a vantage of this intelligence, they might the great and mischievous Design, tending not better effect that which they had in project, only to the ruin and destruction of the city and and find the readiest and the nearest ways to of the kingdom; but, in those ruins, likewise it.-After they had thus provided for intellio have buried religion and liberty. I might gence, then how to procure power and countecall it a strange design (though, in these late nance to this action, by some appearing auimes, designs of this kind have been very fre- thority from his majesty: for which purpose quent) because it exceeds others in divers con- they projected to get a commission from the iderable circumstances of it; in the malice of king, whereby many of themselves, and of he intention, subtilty of contrivance, extent of those that were of their own consort, should nischief, and nearness of execution; all which be established a council of war in London and rose from the wickedness of the authors. parts adjacent, with power to raise forces, Two others may be added; that is, the clear-inake provisions of ammunition, and of other tess of the discovery and proof, and the greatess of the deliverance, proceeding from the great mercies of God.-I shall, in the opening his Design, take this course for my own menory and yours; and observe, 1. What was in their aims. 2. The variety of Preparations. 3. The Degrees of Proceedings. And 4. The Maturity and Readiness for Execution.Ene parliament, the city, and the army, seem o be the three vital parts of this kingdom; therein not only the well-being, but the very ife and being of it doth consist; this mischief would have seized upon all these at once.The City should have been put into such a ombustion, as to have your swords imbrued a one anothers blood: the parliament should ave been corrupted, and betrayed by their wn members: the Army destroyed, if not by orce, yet for want of supply and maintenance, hat so they might have had an open and learer way to the rest which they had in proosition; especially to that main and supreme nd, the extirpation of religion.-I shall tell ou, first, out of what principles this did rise; t was from the ashes of another design that ailed; that mutinous Petition which was conrived in this city; the actors of that Petition being therein disappointed, they fell presently ato consultation how they might compass heir former end in another way; that is, un

kind of arms, and to give authority to the leading and conducting of those forces, aud to raise money for the maintenance of them; and, as it is expressed in the commission, for the destruction of the army under the command of Robert earl of Essex, raised by authority from the two houses of parliament.-Having laid these Grounds, I shall, in the next place, discover to you those that should have been actors and agents in this business, their several qualifications and relations. The first sort was some members of the city, whereof there were divers, you shall hear the names out of the proofs; the next was (in their pretence, as they gave out) members of the two houses of parliament; the third sort was, two gentlemen, Mr. Waller, and a brother-in-law of his, Mr. Tomkins, that were to be agents betwixt the parliament and the city, as they pretended; a fourth sort was, those that were to be messengers to convey intelligence from this place to the court at Oxford, and to other places where there should be occasion; and the fifth and last consisted but in one man, that we yet discover, and that was the lord of Falkland, that kept correspondency with them from the court: these were to be the actors in this mischievous Design. They began then to think upon some other courses of very great advantage to themselves. The first was of Combination; how they might be more closely conjoined one to another, and how they might be more secure from all others that were not of the same party; and, for this purpose there was devised a Protestation of Secrecy, whereby, as they were Christians, they did bind them