testant religion; for the preservation of the laws, liberties, and constitutions of this kingdom; and for the just privileges of parliament; and we look no longer for the blessing of Heaven, than we endeavour the defence and advancement of all these: and we doubt not a dutiful concurence in our subjects of Scotland, in the care of our honours and just rights, will draw down a blessing upon that nation too.”

The King's Reply to the Parliament's last

the freedom and privilege which belongs to parliaments-Concerning any Commissions | granted by us to Papists to raise forces, we must refer our good subjects to a Declaration, lately set forth by us upon the occasion of that scandal, which we send together with this; and for our own true and zealous affection to the protestant religion, (the advancement whereof our soul desires) we can give no other instance, than our constant practice, on which malice | itself can lay no blemish, and those many Protestations we have made in the sight of Al-Answer.] Nov. 9. A Letter was read, dimighty God; to whom we know we shall be rected to the lord Grey of Werk, as Speaker, dearly accountable, if we fail in the observa- from the lord Falkland, with his majesty's Retion.—For that scandalous imputation of our ply, inclosed, to the Auswer of both houses to intention of bringing in foreign forces; as the his majesty's Messageof the 12th instant, which same is raised without the least colour or sha- was also read as follows: dow of reason, and solemnly disavowed by us "That his Message of the 12th, though not in many of our Declarations, so there cannot received by them till the 14th, was sent to be a clearer argument to our subjects of Scot- them, first, upon the same day on which it was land, that we have no such thought, than that dated; and, meeting with stops by the way, we have hitherto forborne to require the assist- was again sent upon the 13th, and taken upon ance of that our native kingdom; from whose that day, at ten in the morning, by the earl of obedience, duty, and affection we should con- Essex; and, though not to him directed, was fidently expect it, if we thought our own by him opened; so the slowness of the delistrength here too weak to preserve us; and of very is not so strange, as the stop of that letter whose courage and loyalty we shall look to said to be sent by sir Peter Killigrew, which make use, before we shall think of any foreign his majesty hath not yet received; but conaid to succour us. And we know no reason- cludes, from the matter expressed to have been able or understanding man can suppose our contained in that letter, (to wit, to know his good subjects of Scotland are obliged, or ena-pleasure, whether he intended the forbearance bled by the late act of parliament in both king-of hostility) and by the command of such fordoms, to obey the invitation which is made to bearance, said to be sent to the lord of Essex's them by this pretended Declaration; when it army, that no such forbearance was already is so evidently provided for by that act, That concluded; and, consequently, neither had his as the kingdom of England shall not make war majesty cause to suppose that he should take against the kingdom of Scotland, without con- any of their forces unprovided and secure, in sent of the parliament of England; so the king- an expectation of a fair treaty; neither could dom of Scotland shall not make war against the any liostile act of his majesty's forces have been kingdom of England, without the consent of the a course unsuitable to his expressions; much parliament of Scotland; and when they have less could an endeavour to prepossess that always declared themselves so careful of our place, (for so he hoped he might have done, honour, safety, and just rights, which now un- which might have stopped the further march dergo so great violation.--This we have thought of these forces towards him; which, for ought fit to say upon occasion of this late Decla- appeared to him, might as well have been inration, and do commend it to you the lords of tended to Colebrook as Brentford; and, by our privy-council of our kingdom of Scotland, that, the further effusion of blood) deserve that to be communicated and published to all our style-His majesty further conceives, That the loving subjects there and if the grave counsel printing, so out of time, such a Declaration as and advice, which you derived hither by your their Reply to his Answer to theirs of the 26th act of the 22d of April last had been followed of May, but the day before they voted the deli here, in a tender care of our royal person, and very of their Petition; and the march of the of our princely greatness and authority, then earl of Essex's forces to Brentford, so near to his would not this face of confusion have appeared, majesty, when the committee at the same time which now threatens this kingdom: and there- attended him with a Petition for a treaty, (the fore we require you to use your utmost endea- earl of Essex being before possessed of all the vours to inform our subjects of that our king- other avenues to his army, by his forces at dom of the truth of our condition; and that Windsor, Acton, and Kingston) was a more you suffer not the scandals and imputations strange introduction to peace, than for his maj. laid on us by the malice and treason of some not to suffer himself to be cooped up on all sides, men, to make any impression in the minds of because a treaty had been mentioned; which our people, to the lessening or corrupting their was so really and so much desired by his maj. affection and loyalty to us; but that you assure that this proceeding seems to him, purposely, them the hardships we now undergo, and the by some intended to divert, which it could not arms we have been compelled to take up, are do, that his inclination. That his majesty had for the defence of our person, and the safety of no intention to master the city by so advancing, our life; for the maintenance of the true Pro- besides his profession, which how mẹanly so

Further Proposals from the Citizens of London.] Nov. 21. Mr. Shute, at the head of several citizens of London, appeared again before the commons. What he had to offer stands thus upon their Journals, "That he came to speak to them from the most active and the most religious part of the city, to acquaint the house they understood that an Accommodation was on foot; which grieved their hearts, considering what followed on the last. But if the Accommodation went not on, then to consider how monies might be raised, in such sort as that the whole charge might not lie upon the good and Godly party; but that the Malignant party might be forced to bear their share, fully, according to their abilities. Another thing which troubled them was an imputation cast upon the Godly party of the city, by the Malignant party, as if they desired an independent government should be set up in the church, which they desired might be wiped off."-After returning thanks to the citizens, the king's last Message was read; and the question being put, Whether the house would, forthwith, resolve itself into a committec to take it into consideration? it passed in the affirmative, by 75 against 65; when, after some debate on the Message, the ques tion being again put, Whether the house should be resolved into a committee to-morrow morning to resume this debate? The house divided, when the numbers were 67 for the question and 66 against it.

ever they seem to value it, he conceives a suffi- | Answer was fit to be given to this Reply of the cient argument, especially being only opposed | king's; it being a business of so great conseby suspicions and surmises, may appear by his | quence, that either a great deal of misery or a not pursuing his victory at Brentford: but great deal of happiness would follow upon the giving order to his army to match away to resolution to be taken thereupon. Kingston as soon as he heard that place was quitted, before any notice or further appearence of forces from London; nor could he find a better way to satisfy them before-hand, that he had no such intention, but that his desire of peace and of propositions that might conduce to it still continued, thau by that Message of the 12th; for which care of his he was requited by such a reception of his Message and messenger, as was contrary at once both to duty, civility, and the very customs and the law of war and nations; and such as theirs, though after this provocation, have not found from him.*-His majesty wonders that his soldiers should be charged with thirsting after blood, who took above 500 prisoners in the very heat of the fight, his majesty having since dismissed all the common soldiers, and entertained such as were willing to serve him, and required only from the rest an oath not to serve against him. And his majesty supposes such most apt and likely to maintain their power by blood and rapine, who have got it only by oppression and Injustice; that his is vested in him by the law, and by that only (if the destructive counsels of others would not hinder such a peace, in which that might once again be the universal rule, and in which religion and justice can only flourish) he desires to maintain it. And if peace were equally desired by them, as it is by his majesty, he conceives it would have been proper to have sent him such a Paper, as should have contained just propositions of peace, and not an unjust accusation of his counsels, proceedings, and person. And his majesty intends to march to such a distance from his city of London, as may take away all pretence of apprehension from his army, that might hinder them, in all security, from yet preparing them to present to him; and will there be ready either to receive them, or end the pressures and miseries which his subjects, to his great grief, suffer through this war, by a present battle."

Nov. 22. The commons being informed, That divers citizens were at the door, they were called in, and Mr. Shute, once more, told them, in the name of the rest, "That one thing, which exceedingly troubled them, was, the point of Accommodation of Peace, more to be feared than their power. If the Accommodation proceeded not, monies then to be raised. They would propound three ways: 1. Concerning plate in the halls of London. 2. Subscriptions in the several wards under. When this was read, the earl of Northum- written, not yet brought in. 3. Weekly subberland informed the house, That he had re-scriptions to be advanced. The means for ceived a packet of letters, taken about Mr. Murray, who brought this Reply from the king; and desired to be directed what to do with them. Hereupon the lords opened and perused the papers, and found a copy of the Reply, with a Declaration of his majesty, and a warrant sent to the king's printer to print them. Upon which a conference was resolved on with the other house, to desire them to join in appointing a committee, to consider what

"Mr. White, the king's messenger, was very roughly used by the earl of Essex, and the parliament committed him to the Gate-house, not without the motion of some men, That he might be executed as a spy," Clarendon,

saving of monies: 1. To cut off superfluous charges by unnecessary officers in the army. 2. That there may be due musters. 3. Indifferent honest men to be chosen in every ward, to raise and advance the subscriptions. Fo reign merchants to be brought in, to give their assistance to the public." Then they withdrew. And being again called in, Mr. Speaker, by command of the house, returned them thanks, as before.

Petition of both Houses, in Answer to the King's last Reply.] Nov. 23. A report was made to the lords of a conference held yesterday; in which Mr. Pym said, he was appointed by the commons to acquaint their lordships with some Votes passed by that house, in An

and prosperity, and to the peace and happi ness of this and your other kingdoms."

The lords agreed to this Petition, and or

6

swer to the king's Reply, to which they desired 1 the lords concurrence. These were divided into two parts: "1. That, in the Answer to his majesty's Message, the houses should de-dered it to be sent down to be communicated sire the king to return to his parliament; to to the commons at another conterence.-Next the end that religion, laws, and liberties may day a report of this conference was made in be secured by the advice of parliament; that the lords, That the commons said they differed the process and justice of parlament, being somewhat in opinion, about the conference the suprenic court of judicature, might have last night, on the last Petition intended to be its free course, and be executed on delin-sent to his majesty. That they agreed to the quents; and that they might not be protected first; but had resolved, That the latter part, and kept from justice by force. In particular, beginning with the words, or clse, &c.' should that the lord Digby and Mr. Henry Wilmot, ¦ be left out. To this the lords consented; and be, presently, delivered over to the justice of also to another vote of that house, to send to parliament. That the commons remember the lord-general, the earl of Essex, to desire what misfortune lately befel the two regiments, him to go on, notwithstanding, with all adat Brentford, upon the last Treaty; therefore vantages, in prosecuting the war. Accordingly, they now think fit to declare, That both ar- the former part of the Petition was sent in a mies shall be left to take all advantage they letter to the lord Falkland, to be by him precan, on both sides, in the mean time. 2. Con- sented to the king. cerning the Challenge; the commons say, Nov. 21. The question being propounded They think it strange that the king of England in the commons, Whether Mr. Jessy, the king's should send a challenge and invitation to a servant, should have Mr. Speaker's warrant to battle with his own subjects, seeing, heretofore, go to the king, to carry him stockings, and his majesty seemed to decline the effusion of other necessaries; it passed in the affirmative blood, and professed using all means to pre-by 26 against 18, but this on condition of Mr. vent the same: therefore the commous resolve to be in readiness; but if his majesty will withdraw himself from his cavaliers and the army, he shall be received; if not, they will not decline, if he has a mind to give a batt e, the time and place being first appointed. These are the Heads the commons have resolved on; which, if their lordships should ¦ concur with, they desired that committees of both houses might be appointed to put them into a form fit to be sent to his majesty."

This report being made, the lords ordered, That the consideration of this matter should be put to a committee of their whole house then present; and immediately the house was adjourned during pleasure, the lords going into the Prince's Lodgings to debate it. And, in the afternoon, the earl of Holland, one of the committee, delivered in a draught of a Petition, to be presented to the king, in which they thought fit to leave out the whole relating to the Challenge, and only to send the following:

"May it please your majesty; It is humbly desired by both houses of parliament, That your majesty would be pleased to return to your parliament with your royal, not your martial, attendants: to the end that religion, laws, and liberties, may be settled and secured by their advice; finding, by a late and sad accident, that your majesty is invironed by some such counsels, as do rather persuade a desperate division, than a joining and a good agreement with your parliament and people; and we shall be ready to give your majesty assurances of such security, as may be for your honour and the safety of your royal person. Or else we shall, in convenient time, consider of fit Propositions to be sent to your majesty, such as may be for the preservation of God's true religion, your majesty's honour, safety,

Wheeler's undertaking, that Mr. Jessy should carry nothing else.

Speeches of the Earl of Manchester and M-. Pym to the Cabizens of London, on proposing an Assessment.] Nov, 25. An order had beca made, the day before, for sending to the lord mayor to call a Common Hall, and this day a conimittee of five lords, with a proportionable number of commouers, were appointed to go thither, At this meeting the earl of Manchester," one of the committee, and Mr. Pym another, were the mouths of the rest; whose speeches will best explain the errand they were sent upon. And first,

The Earl of Manchester said—" My lord mayor and gentlemen;, I am commanded to come hither upon an errand, that I know, in the general, is never pleasing; which is, to express wants and necessities; but I know very well to whom I speak, it is to the worthy, the generous, and the loyal citizens of London; who have excceded all story, in their care for the life and preservation both of the parlia ment and the whole kingdom; therefore it would imply a distrust of your present care to make a supply, if I should use any arguments to you: I shall only say this,- That if there be not an enlargement of yourselves in some measure at the present, I shall be very unwilling to express the condition that I fear our army will be reduced to: this is all that I shall say, that if there be a present supply, I do not doubt but the army will move with that effect, as it will prevent all those barbarous and

*Formerly spoken of under the title of lord Kimbolton; but, about this time, he succeeded to the earldom of Manchester by the death of his father.

+ London, printed for Peter Cole, near the Royal Exchange, 1642.

savage plunderings of the forces that are now that all that are indisposed shall be forced to do under the command of those officers of the that, which, out of readiness and chearfulness king. I confess the burthen hath lain very to the public good, they will not do of themheavy upon the city of London only; but you selves: neither limit we it to the city and subshall drive the grace and the honour of the urbs; but we are in a course to draw in all preservation both of religion and the laws and the counties of the kingdom, that as the burden liberties of this kingdom.-This gentleman, is universal, so the aid may be universal; for that is by me, will let you know that it is already this is the thoughts of the parliament.-If it in proposition, and I do not doubt but it will please God to bless your forces that are already speed ly have the concurrence of the lords, raised and continued, we hope you shall not with it to take that care, that the future bur- only sec peace again in the kingdom, and secuthen shall not lie upon those here in the city of rity for your religion, but see that the burden London, that have been careful to make sup- shall lie upon those who have been the engines plies, even to the exhausting of themselves; and actors of the mischiefs and troubles that but that it shall go generally to all those are come upon us, that they shall recompence that have shrouded themstives under a kind of the charges you have been at already.-This Leutrality here in London; and that it shall is the intention of the parliament, only for the go generally throughout all the counties of Eng-present do somewhat; every man, as God land; that so the common calamities shall be prevented, or supported by the common burden laid upon the whole kingdom."

The result of this was, that the citizens desired a committee of both houses might be sent to them, with a power to call some citizens and others to their assistance, and then they hoped this request of parliament would prove successful.

shall enable him, do somewhat that may meet the prescut necessities and prevent the dangers that require a present subsistance, and Then Mr. Pym spoke to this effect :- "My present supply of the army; without which lord mayor and gentlemen; We come not to what is it will follow, but the danger of the city, tell your lordship and these worthy citizens the ruin of the countries about, the stopping up only our wants and dangers, but we come to of the river which is almost taken from you, speak the thanks of the parliament to you, and the loss of the sea coasts? You cannot for that which you have already done; that have better hearts than you have; God hath you have shewed so much affection to the pub-enabled many of you with purses, I hope it lic, and that it hath produced so good effects will be so readily disposed that we shall have throughout the whole kingdom, as that now a full joy in the recompence of it, and the reyou have an army raised, most out of this city,tribution; which we shall all pray God to bring able to defend (with God's blessing) the reli- to pass." vion and liberty of the kingdom, if it may be upheld and we come not only to give you thanks for that which you have d me, but to stir you up to join with us in giving thanks to God that hath given such a blessing to our endeavours, that when, by letters sent into all parts almost, they did presume before-hand to An Ordinance passed, for Assessing Non-Contriumph in the ruin and plundering of this city,tributors to the Parliament's Army.] The God prevented it, and hath kept you sale; kept want of money to carry on the war being now your houses, your walls, your suburbs safe from so very urgent, the following Ordinance was that that was intended against you; and truly sent up this day from the commons, for Assess→ as we have sought for this blessing, by fasting ing Non-Contributors upon the Propositions and by prayer, so it is fit that we should testify for lending Money and raising of horse and our thanksgiving for it, and this is a necessary part of our errand which we are sent about: and that we may be serviccable to God's providence still, as he hath stirred up your hearts to do so much already, so that he would stir you up still to continue to do that which is fit to be done for the future; and that you will do it in such a way as may be most pleasing to yourselves. We come not hither that, by any consent bere in public, you should bind yourselves in particular; but we come to let you Now the dangers of the kingdom, the sense parliament hath of it, and of the city espely, that you may not lose that which hath een already done; but that you may go on still chearfully to do the full work. And we come to tell you, that the parliament doth intend the burden shall not lie upon you that are well affected and come in voluntarily; but that they have thought upon a way, and have begun it already, and I hope, within 2 or 3 days at the most, it shall be published to you,

arms:

"Whereas the king, seduced by wicked counsel, bath raised an army, and levied war against the parliament, and great numbers of forces are daily raised under the command of papists, and other ill-affected persons, by commission from his majesty: and whereas divers delinquents are protected from public justice by his majesty's army; and sundry outrages and rapines are daily committed by the soldiers of the said army, who have no respect to the laws of God or the land, but burn and plunder the houses, and seize and destroy the persons of divers of his majesty's good subjects: and whereas, for the maintenance of the said army, divers assessments are made upon several counties, and his majesty's subjects are compelled by the soldiers to pay the same; which said army, if it should continue, would soon ruin and waste the whole kingdoin, and overthrow religion, law, and liberty: for sup pressing of which said army and ill-affected

persons, there is no probable way, under God, ance, it shall be lawful to and for the respective but by the army raised by authority of par- assessors and collectors, or any of them, to call liament; which said army so raised cannot be to their assistance any of the Trained Bands maintained without great sums of money; yet of the said city of London, or any other his for raising such sums, by reason of his majesty's majesty's subjects, who are hereby required withdrawing himself from the advice of the par- to be aiding and assisting to the said assessors liament, there can be no act of parliament and collectors in the premises.--And it is passed with his majesty's assent, albeit there is hereby further ordained, That the respective great justice that the said money should be burgesses of Westminster and Southwark, toraised; the lords and commous in parliament gether with the several committees appointed having taken the same into their serious con- for the subscriptions of Money, Plate, Horse, siderations, and knowing that the said army, Horse-Men, and Arms within the said city and so raised by them, hath been hitherto, for the borough, shall respectively have power hereby most, maintained by the voluntary contributions to nominate assessors for the same city and of divers well-affected persons, who have freely borough, in such manner as the lord mayor, contributed according to their abilities:-But &c. hath for the city of London; and the said considering there are divers others within the assessors, or any 4 of them, to name collectors cities of London and Westminster, and the sub- as aforesaid; which said assessors and collectors urbs of the same, and also within the borough shall have the same power respectively, within of Southwark, that have not contributed at all their respective limits, as those to be nominated towards the maintenance of the said army; or within the said city of London have hereby if they have, yet not answerable to their estates, limited to them.-And for the suburbs of Lonwho, notwithstanding, receive benefit and pro- don and Westminster, the respective knights tection by the said army, as well as others; of the shire where the said suburbs are, shall and therefore it is most just that they should, have hereby the like power to name assessors; as well as others, be charged to contribute to and they so named, or any 4 of them, and the the maintenance thereof: Be it therefore or- collectors by them to be nominated, or any of dained by the lords and commons in parlia- them within their respective limits, shall have ment assembled, and by authority thereof, the like power respectively, as the assessors and That Isaac Pennington, lord mayor of London, collectors for London have by virtue of this sir John Woolaston, knight and alderman, Ordinance.-And be it ordained, That the aldermen Towes, Warner, Andrews, Chambers, sums so assessed and levied as aforesaid, shall be and Fowke, Sir Tho. Soame, knight and alder-paid in at Guildhall, London, to the hands of man; Samuel Vassal, John Ven, Morris Thompson, and Rd. Warring, citizens, or any 4 of them, shall hereby have power and authority to nominate and appoint, in every ward within the city of London, 6 such persons as they or any 4 of them, shall think fit; which said 6 so nominated, or any 4 of them, shall hereby have power to enquire of any that shall remain, or be within the said several wards, that have not contributed upon the Propositions of both houses of parliament, concerning the raising of Money, Plate, Horse, Horsemen, and Arms, for defence of the king and both houses of parliament, and, also of such as are able men, that have contributed, yet not according to their estates and abilities.-And the said 6 persons so nominated, or any 4 of them, within their several and respective wards and limits, shall have power to assess such person and persons, as are of ability and have not contributed, and also such as have contributed, yet not according to their ability, to pay such sum or sums of money, according to their estates, as the said assessors, or any four of them, shall think fit and reasonable, so as the same exceed not the 20th part of their estates, and to nominate and appoint fit persons for the collection thereof. And if any person so assessed shall refuse to pay the money assessed upon him, it shall be lawful to and for the said assessors and collectors, or any of them, to levy the said sum so assessed by way of distress and sale of the goods of the person so assessed, and refusing. And if any person so distrained shall make resist

sir John Woolaston, John Warner, John Towes, and Tho. Andrews, aldermen, or any two of them; and the assessors and collectors, to be nominated by virtue hereof, shall weekly report to the committee of the house of commons for the Propositions aforesaid, what sums of money have been assessed and what suns have been levied weekly, according to the purport hereof; and the said monies so levied and paid in, shall be issued forth in such sort, as the other monies raised upon the Propositions aforesaid, and not otherwise."

In consequence of this Ordinance the par|liament proceeded to raise money by an assessment: but meeting with some difficulties in the collection thereof, they made another Ordinance to explain the first; whereby it was or dained, That if the collectors could not find sufficient assets to distrain upon the refusers, they had power to enquire what rents, tithes or debts were owing to them, and to demand the same of their respective tenants or debtors. This was followed by a third Ordinance, for the speedy execution of the first. Soon after came out another, impowering the collectors to break open any chests, trunks, boxes, doors, or other things, whereby to take a distress for the sums assessed. But all these not answering the urgent necessities of the parliament a fourth Ordinance was made; whereby, in such cases where the collectors should certify that a suff cient distress was to be bad, but they could not come at it without opposition, two colonels and three captains, named in the said Ordi