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Harrington, and sir H. Mildmay should be degraded of their several honours and titles; and that those now in custody, and the other two, when apprehended, should all be drawn upon sledges with ropes about their necks, from the Tower of London to, and under the gallows at Tyburn, and thence conveyed back to the Tower, there to remain prisoners during their lives. Which sentences were solemnly executed upon the 30th of Jan. following.

'session;' which he had appointed to make an|ther ordered, "That the lord Mounson, sir J. end of within few days: and so the next day the report was called for and made, and the Bill ordered to be engrossed against the next morning; the earl not being at that time in the house. But the next morning, when the chancellor had the bill engrossed in his hand to present to the house to be read the third time, the earl came to him to the woolsack, and with great displeasure and wrath in his countenance told him, that if that bill were read that day, he would speak against it;' to which the chancellor gave him an answer that did not please him: and the bill was passed that day. And from that time the earl of Bristol was a more avowed and declared enemy to him, than he had before professed to be; though the friendship that had been between them had been discontinued or broken from the time the earl had changed his religion."

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Act for the Security of the King's Person and Government.] An Act was likewise passed, for the Security of the King's Person and Government,' by which it was made capital treason to devise the king's death, or imprisonment, or bodily harm, or to deprive and depose him from his kingly name, &c. It enacted likewise, that whoever affirmed the king to be an Heretic, or a Papist, or should by writing, printing, preaching, or other speaking, stir up the people to hatred or dislike of his majesty, or the established government, should be rendered incapable of holding any employment in Church or State. It also declared the Long Parliament to be dissolved, the Solemn League and Covenant to be illegal; and that there was no legislative power in either, or both houses of parliament, without the king; and whoever asserted the contrary, were made liable to the penalty of a Premunire.

Act to limit the Number of Petitioners.] Recollecting further the Abuse of Petitioning, in the preceding reign, they prepared a Bill, by which it was enacted, that no more than 20 hands should be subscribed to any Petition or Remonstrance, unless with the sanction of 3 justices, or the major part of the grand jury; and that such Petition should not be presented to the king, or either house, by above ten persons, on the penalty of 100%, and 3 months imprisonment.*

The Speaker's Speech to the King at the Adjournment.] July 30. This day his majesty came to the house of peers; and, sitting in his throne, arrayed with his royal robes, the peers likewise sitting in their robes, the king gave command to the gentleman usher of the black rod, to give notice to the house of commons, that they attend his majesty forthwith. And accordingly they came up with their Speaker, who made this Speech following:

"May it please your most excellent majesty; The Wise Man tells us, 'There is a 'time to sow, and a time to reap.' Since your majesty did convene the knights, citizens, and burgesses of the commons house of parliament, they have with unwearied labour consulted for the service of your majesty and the good of this nation; and now the fields grow white to harvest. In the great field of nature, all fruits do not grow ripe together; but some in one month, some in another: one time affords your majesty primroses and violets; another time presents you with July flowers. So it is in the course of our proceedings: some of our fruits. are in the blossom, when others are in the bud; some are near ripe, and others fit to be presented to your majesty. Amongst the number of our choicest ripe fruits, we first present you with a Bill for the Safety and Preservation of your majesty's royal person and government.

Your predecessor queen Elizabeth, of famous memory, in the 13th year of her reign, by Pius Quintus, then bishop of Rome, was excommunicated and anathematized. John Felton posted up a Bull at the bishop of London's palace, whereby she was declared to be deprived of her title to the kingdom, and all the people of this realm absolved from their allegiance to her; the queen of Scots was then a prisoner in England; and the duke of Norfolk, for many designs against our queen, committed to the Tower. Historians tell us, the times were very troublesome, full of suspicions and conspiracies. But, sir, what then was only feared, hath in our time been put in execution. No age hath known, ne history makes mention of, such sad tragedies. It therefore now becomes your people, after this glorious Restitution, to endeavour all just ways of preservation.-The queen, in her time of trouble and danger, summoned a parliament; and such was the love of the people to her ana her government, that they forthwith made a far-law for her Security. According to which precedent, we your loyal commons also, who have

Proceedings against the Regicides.] As the king seemed on one hand to make it a point to perfect the Act of Indemnity, the commons, on the other, appeared as zealous to offer up victims to the memory of his father. Accordingly, they proceeded to the Confiscation of the estates of 21 Regicides deceased. They likewise ordered the lord Mounson, sir Henry Mildmay, and Mr. Robert Wallop, to be brought to the bar of the house of commons; where confessing their crimes, a Bill was ordered to be brought in to confiscate their estates, as also those of sir J. Harrington and John Phelps, not yet apprehended: and it was

* See Ralph, vol. i. p. 47.

before them no less cause of fear, but more

obligations and affection to your majesty, do hurably tender you a Bill, wherein we desire it may be enacted, "That if any person shall compass, imagine, or design, your majesty's death, destruction or bodily harm, to imprison or restrain your royal person, or depose you, or shall levy war against your majesty within or without your realm, or stir up any foreign power to invade you, and shall express or declare such his wicked intention by printing, writing, preaching, or malicious and advised speaking, being thereof legally convicted, shall be adjudged a traitor."-And, because much of our late misery took its rise from seditious Pamphlets, and Speeches from the pulpits, it is provided, "That if any man shall maliciously and advisedly publish or affirm your majesty 'to be an Heretic, or a Papist, or that you endeavour to introduce Popery, or shall stir up the people to hatred or dislike of your royal person or government, then every such person shall be made incapable of any office or employment either in Church or State; and if | any man shall maliciously and advisedly affirm, that the parliament begun at Westm. the 3rd of Nov. 1640, is yet in being; or that any Covenant or engagement since that time imposed upon the people doth oblige them to endeavour a change of the government either in church or state; or that either or both houses of parliament have a legislative power without your majesty; then every such offender, being thereof legally convicted, shall incur the penalties of a Premunire, mentioned in the statute made 16 Rd. II."-In the next place, sir, give me leave, I beseech you (without any violence to the Act of Oblivion), to remember a sad effect of the distempers in the last age. When the fever began to scize upon the people, they were impatient till they lost some blood. The lords spiritual, who in all ages had enjoyed a place in parliament, were by an act of parliament excluded. Your majesty's royal grandfather was often wont to say, "No Bishop, No King." We found his words true; for, after they were put out, the fever still increasing, in another fit the temporal lords followed, and then the king himself. Nor did the humour rest there; but, in the round, the house of commons was first garbled, and then turned out of doors. It is no wonder, when a sword is put into a madman's hand, to see him cut off limb by limb, and then to kill himself. When there is a great breach of the sea upon the low grounds, by the violence of the torrent, the rivers of sweet waters are often turned aside, and the salt waters make themselves a channel; but when the breach is made up, good husbands drain their lands again, and restore the ancient sewers.-Thanks be to God, the flood is gone off the face of this Island. Our turtle dove hath found good footing. Your majesty is happily restored to the government; the temporal lords and commons are restored to sit in parliament. And shall the Church alone now suffer? Sit Ecclesia Anglicana libera, et habeat Libertates suas illæsas.' In

order to this great work, the commons have prepared a Bill to repeal that law which was made in 17 Car. whereby the Bishops were excluded this house: these noble lords have all agreed; and now we beg your majesty will give it life. Speak but the word, great sir; and your servants yet shall live. We cannot well forget the method, how our late miseries, like waves of the sea, came in upon us: First, The people were invited to petition, to give colour to some illegal demands. Then they must remonstrate, then they must protest, then they must covenant, then they must associate, then they must engage against our lawful government, and for the maintenance of the most horrid tyranny that ever was invented. For the prevention of this practice for the future, we do humbly tender unto your majesty a Bill, intituled, "An Act against Tumults and Disorders, upon pretence of preparing or presenting public Petitions, or Addresses, to your majesty or the parliament."In the next place, we held it our duty to undeceive the people, who have been poisoned with an opinion, that the Militia of this nation was in themselves, or in their representatives in parliament; and, according to the ancient kuown laws, we have declared the sole right of the Militia to be in your majesty. And forasmuch as our time hath not permitted us to finish a Bill intended for the future ordering of the same; we shall present you with a temporary Bill, for the present managing and disposing of the Land Forces; and likewise another Bill for establishing certain Articles and Orders for the Regulation and Government of your majesty's Navies and Forces by sea.According to your majesty's commands, we have examined many of the Public and Private Bills which passed last parliament; and have prepared some Bills of Confirmation. We have also ascertained the Pains and Penalties to be imposed upon the persons or estates of those miscreants who had a hand in the mur der of your royal father of blessed memory, and were therefore excepted in your majesty's Act of Oblivion; wherein we have declared to all the world, how just an indignation we had against that horrid regicide.--We have likewise prepared a Bill for the Collection of great Arrears of the Duty of Excise; which I do here, in the name of the commons, humbly present unto your majesty. The reason, we conceive, why it was not formerly paid, was because the people disliked the authority whereby it was imposed. But, understanding that it is now given to your majesty, it will come in with as great freedom; aliquisque malo erit usus in illo.-Your majesty was pleased, at the opening of the parliament, to tell us, That you intended this summer to take a Progress, and see your people, and at your return did hope to bring a queen home with you.' Sir, this welcome news hath made us cast about all ways for your accommodation. And therefore, that no conveniences might be wanting, either for your majesty, your queen,

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or your attendants, we have prepared a Bill, intituled, An Act for providing necessary Carriages, in all your royal Progresses and Removals. Your majesty was likewise pleased, at our first meeting, to say, 'You would not tire us with hard duty and hot service; and therefore about this time intended a Recess.' That royal favour will now be very seasonable; and we hope advantageous both to your majesty and ourselves: we know, in our absence, your princely heart and head will not be free from cares and thoughts of our protection; and when we leave our hive, like the industrious bee, we shall but fly about the several countries of the nation to gather honey; and, when your majesty shall be pleased to name the time, return with loaded thighs unto our house again."

The King's Speech at the Adjournment.] After giving his royal assent to the said Bills, the King made the following speech :

"My Lords and Gentlemen; I perceive, by the thin appearance of the members of both houses this day, that it is high time to adjourn. In truth, the season of the year as well as your particular affairs require it; and therefore I do willingly consent to it.-I thank you for the many good Bills you have presented me with this day; of which, I hope, the benefit will redound to the whole kingdom. I thank you for the care you have taken for the safety of my person; which, trust me, is the more valuable to me, for the consequence I think it is of to you. And, upon my conscience, there is nobody wishes ill to me, but they who would quickly revenge themselves of you if they could. I thank you for the care you have taken of yourselves, of your own safety and honour, in the Act against Tumults and Disorders upon pretence of Petitions; to which license we owe much of the calamities we have undergone: But I thank you with all my heart, indeed as much as I can do for any thing, for the repeal of that Act which excluded the Bishops from sitting in parliament. It was an unhappy act, in an unhappy time, passed with many unhappy circumstances, and attended with miserable events; and therefore I do again thank you for repealing it. You have thereby restored parliaments to their primitive institutions. And I hope. my lords and gentlemen, you will in a short time restore them to the primitive order, and gravity of debates and determinations, which the license of the late distempered times had so much corrupted; which is the only way to restore parliaments to their primitive veneration with the people, whichI heartily wish they should always have.-My Lords and Genlemen; You are now going to your several countries; where you cannot but be very welcome, for the services you have performed here. I do very earnestly recommend the good government and peace of your countries to your care, and your counsel, and your vigilancy. There are distempered spirits enough, which lie in wait to do mischief, by laying reproaches upon the court, upon the government, reproaches upon

me, and reproaches upon you. Your wisdoms and reputation and authority will, I doubt not, weigh down their light credit; and the old and new good laws will, I hope, prevent any mischief they intend. However, you have done very well (and I do very heartily thank you for it) in declaring my sole right over the Militia; the questioning of which was the fountain from which all our bitter waters flowed. I pray make haste to put the whole kingdom into such posture, that evil men, who will not be converted, may yet choose to be quiet, because they find that they shall not be able to do the harm they desire to do.-I know you have begun many Bills in both houses which cannot be finished till your meeting again: And, that they may be finished then, I forbear to make a sessions now; but am contented that you adjourn till the 20th of Nov. when I hope, by God's blessing, we shall come happily together again.In a word, my lords and gentlemen, I thank you for what you have done; and am confident, that what you have left undone you will dispatch with all alacrity, and to all our satisfactions, at our next meeting. And so you may adjourn till the 20th of November."

The King's Speech at the Meeting of Parliament.] Nov. 20. The parliament met persuant to adjournment, the Bishops being restored to their seats in the house of peers. Upon which occasion the King was pleased to declare his mind to both houses in the speech following:

"My Lords and Gentlemen of the House of Commons: I know the visit I make you this day is not necessary, is not of course yet, if there were no more in it, it would not be strange that I come to see, what you and I have so long desired to see, the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons of England met together to consult for the peace and safety of Church and State, by which parliaments are restored to their primitive lustre and integrity: I do heartily congratulate with you for this day. But, my lords and gentlemen, as my coming hither at this time is somewhat extraordinary; so the truth is, the occasion of my coming is more extraordinary. It is to say something to you on my own behalf, to ask somewhat of you for myself; which is more than I have done of you or of those who met here before you, since my coming into England. I needed not have done it then; and, upon my conscience, I need not do it now. They did, and you do, upon all occasions, express so great an affection and care of all that concerns me, that I may very well refer both the matter and manner of your doing any thing for me, to your own wisdoms and kindness. And indeed, if I did think that what I am to say to you now did alone or did most concern myself; if the uneasy condition I am in, if the streights and necessities I am to struggle with, did not manifestly relate to the public peace and safety, more than to my own particular otherwise than as I am concerned in the public, I should not give you this trouble this day.

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I can bear my necessities which merely relate | sorry to find that the general temper and af to myself with patience enough.-Mr. Speaker fections of the nation are not so well composed and you Gentlemen of the house of Commons: as I hoped they would have been, after so sigI do not now importune you to make more nal blessings from God Almighty upon us all, haste in the settling the constant Revenue of and after so great indulgence and condescenthe crown, than is agreeable to the method you sions from me towards all interests. There propose to yourselves; to desire you seriously are many wicked instruments, still as active as to consider the insupportable weight that lies ever. who labour night and day to disturb the upon it, the obligation it lies under, to provide public peace, and to make all people jealous for the interest, honour and security of the of each other. It will be worthy of your care nation, in another proportion than in any and vigilance, to provide proper remedies for former times it hath been obliged to: But I the diseases of that kind; and if you find new come to put you in mind of the crying Debts diseases, you must study new remedies. Let which do every day call upon me; of some us not be discouraged : If we help one another necessary provisions which are to be made we shall, with God's blessing, master all our without delay for the very safety of the king- difficulties. Those which concern matters of dom; of the great sum of money that should Religion, I confess to you are too hard for be ready to discharge the several fleets when me; and therefore I do commend them to your they come home; and for the necessary pre- care and deliberation, which can best provide parations that are to be made for the setting out for them.-I shall not need to recommend, or new fleets to sea against the spring, that reve- put you in mind of, the good correspondence nue being already anticipated upon as impor- that ought to be kept between you, for the tant services which should be assigned to good of yourselves and me, and the whole those preparations. These are the pressing kingdom; and I may tell you, it is very necesOccasions which I am forced to recommend to sary for us all. You will find, whoever doth not you with all possible earnestness, and to con- love me, doth not love you? and they who have jure you to provide for as speedily as is possi- no reverence for you have little kindness for ble, and in such a manner as may give a se- Therefore, I pray, let us adhere fast to curity at home, and some reputation abroad. each other; and then we shall with the help of I make this discourse to you with some confi- God, in a short time persuade or oblige all dence, because I am very willing and desirous men to that submission and obedience to the that you should thoroughly examine whether law, as may constitute a full measure of hapthese necessities I mention be real or imagina-piness to prince and people, and persuade our ry, or whether they are fallen upon us by my neighbours to that esteem and value they have fault, my own ill managery, or excesses, and formerly had for us." provide for them accordingly. I am very willing that you make a full inspection into my Revenue, as well the disbursements as receipts; and if you find it hath been ill-managed by any corruption in the officers I trust, or by my own unthriftiness, I shall take the information and advice you shall give me very kindly; I say, if you find it; for I would not have you believe any loose discourses, how confidently soever urged, of giving away four score thousand pounds in a morning, and many other extravagancies of that kind. I have much more reason to be sorry that I have not to reward those who have ever faithfully served the king my father and myself, than ashamed of any bounty I have exercised towards any man*. My Lords and Gentlemen; I am

* "Let no man wonder," says lord Clarendon, "that within so little time as a year and a half, or very little more, after the king's return, that is, from May to November in the next year, and after so great sums of money raised by acts of parliament upon the people, his majesty's Debts could be so crying and importunate, as to disturb him to that degree as he expressed. It was never enough understood, that in all that time he never received from the parliament more than the 70,000l. towards his Coronation; nor were the Debts which were now so grievous to him contracted by himself (though it cannot be supposed but

me.

Information given to the House of a Presbyterian Plot.] The commons were no sooner returned to their house, than sir John Packington, member for Worcester, gave Information of a dangerous Presbyterian Plot on foot; and that many of the chief of the conspira tors were in prison at Worcester: the members also who served for Oxfordshire, Hertfordshire, Staffordshire, and several other counties, gave it the like Informations.

Nov 21. The lords received a Message from the commons by Mr. Secretary Morrice to let them know, "That the house of commons have intelligence that divers Malecontents, Fanatics, Cashiered and Disbanded Officers and Soldiers, and others, have some Design amongst them, tending to the breach that he had contracted debts himself in that time): all the money that had been given and had been applied to the payment of the Land and Sea forces, and had donc neither. Parliaments do seldom make their computations right, but reckon what they give to be much more than is ever received, and what they are to pay to be as much less than in truth they owe; so that when all the money that was collected was paid, there remained still very much due to the soldiers, and much more to the seamen; and the clamour from both reached the king's ears, as if they had been levied by his warrant

of the peace of this kingdom; therefore they those Regicides that came in upon Proclamadesire their lordships would join with them, to tion were brought to the bar of the house of move his majesty that he would please to is-lords, to answer what they could say for themsue out a Proclamation, that all suspicious and selves, why judgment should not be executed loose persons may be forthwith sent out of against thein. They severally alledged, That, these towns of London and Westminster, and upon his majesty's gracious Declaration from the liberties thereof for some time." Breda, and the Votes of Parliament, and his majesty's Proclamation, published by the advice of the lords and commons then assembled in parliament, they did render themselves, being advised that they should thereby secure their lives; and humbly craved the benefit thereof, and the mercy of the houses, and their mediation to his majesty in their behalfs.' Harry Marten briskly added, That he had never obeyed any Proclamation before this, and hoped that he should not be hanged for taking of the king's word now.' New debates arose about them, and a Bill was brought in for their execution, which was read twice, but afterwards dropt; and so they were all sent to their several prisons, and but little more heard of them. The difficulty liad like to have been the heavier upon them, by reason of several seditious pamphlets published about, this time; and likewise by reason of a Message from the King, delivered by the Lord Chancellor in a conference between toth houses.t

This day, the commons, to shew their readiness to assist the king in his wants, voted "That the sum of 1,200,000l. be speedily paid and raised for the Supply of the king's majesty's present occasions;" and so proceeded accordingly. For which the king soon after returned his hearty Thanks, and particularly express d, how exceeding much he was beholden to the commons for their great gift, and the manner of it, in giving so freely. After which, be declared by a Message to the commons, signifying, "That, making the good of his people the subject of his thoughts, and considering that the calling in the Money, called the Commonwealth's Money, by the last of this month, might be prejudicial to his people, and hazard the exportation of a great part thereof, he was graciously pleased, by the advice of his privy council, to direct a Proclamation to be issued, signifying his majesty's pleasure to accept of the said Money in any payment to be made to him till the 25th of March next."

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The Lord Chancellor's Declaration concernProceedings against the Regicides renewed.]ing a Plot in agitation.] Dec. 19. The Lord Nov. 25. The first parliament having respited the punishments of several of the Regicides, as well those that lay under condemnation, as others not so flagrantly guilty of that crime, the houses resumed the matter, and this day

and for his service. And his majesty understood too well, by the experience of the ill husbandry of the last year, when both the army and the ships were so long continued in pay, for want of money to disband and pay them off, what the trouble and charge would be, if the several Fleets should return before money was provided to discharge the seamen; and for that the clamour would be only upon him. But there was an expense that he had been engaged in from the time of his return, and by which he had contracted a great Debt, of which very few men could take notice; nor could the king think fit to discover it, till he had first provided against the mischief which might have attended the discovery. It will hardly be believed, that in so warlike an age, and when the armies and fleets of England had made more noise in the world for 20 years, bad fought more battles at land and sea, than all the world had done besides, or any one people had done in any age before; and when at his majesty's return there remained a 100 ships at sea, and an Army of near threescore thousand men at land; there should not be in the Tower of London, and in all the stores belonging to the crown, Fire-Arms enough, nor indeed of any other kind, to arm three thousand men; nor powder and naval provisions enough to set out five ships of war-From the death VOL, IV,

Chancellor acquainted the lords, "That he had a Message to deliver from the King; which was, to let them know, that besides the Apprehensions and Fears that are generally abroad, his majesty hath received Letters from

of Cromwell, no care had been taken for sup plies of any of the stores. And the changes which ensued in the government, and putting out and in new officers; the expeditious of Lambert against sir George Booth, and afterwards into the North; and other preparations for those factions and parties which succeeded each other; and the continual opportunities which the officers had for embezzlement; and lastly, the setting out that fleet which was sent to attend upon the king for his return; had so totally drained the stores of all kinds, that the magazines were no better replenished than is mentioned before: which as soon as his majesty knew, as he could not be long ignorant of it, the first care he took was to conceal it, that it might not be known abroad or at home, in how ill a posture he was to defend himself against an enemy. And then he committed the care of that province to a noble person, whom he knew he could not trust too much, and made sir Wm. Compton master of the Ordnance, and made all the shafts he could devise for monies, that the work might be begun. And hereby insensibly he had contracted a great Debt: and these were part of the crying debts, and the necessary provisions which were to be made without delay for the very safety of the kingdom, which he told the par liament." Life, p. 145. Echard, p, 795.

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