Edwyn Sandys, Sir Dudley Digges, Sir Francis Seymour, Sir Robert Phillips, Sir Robert Cotton, Selden, Pym, Sir Thomas Wentworth afterwards the apostate and ill-fated Earl of Stafford, Sir Edward Coke, who, being refused an audience by Charles, abandoned the Court for ever, and made atonement for his sins against justice and humanity in his previous career by devoting to his country without reserve the energy of his character, his profound knowledge of the laws, and the regenerate virtue of his old age. These men, thus eminently endowed with the qualities of statesmanship, were further animated by zeal for the Protestant religion, which they identified with intellectual freedom; and some of them had received from the perusal of the ancient classics a certain antique, if not republican, cast of sentiment and character. They formed themselves into a compact band for the execution of a project so worthy of their virtue, and so obvious in their position, that it would be inferred by the moralist from those premises alone, though every vestige of express evidence were obliterated—that of defining and fixing the uncertain limits of the prerogative, and guaranteeing by clear and strict legislation the precarious liberties of the people.

"Thus resolved, they refused to grant supplies without a concurrent redress of grievances, or in other words a concurrent step in their design to reform the government. Charles, who thought only of rendering his sovereign power more explicitly absolute, spurned all compromise and dissolved the Parliament."-History of England by Sir James Mackintosh, vol. v. p. 14. Lardner's edit.

I may be excused, perhaps, for transcribing another passage which refers to this interesting period of our national history, from an author who is in every one's hands, and who has been justly admired for the grace and brilliancy of his style :

"Now began that hazardous game on which were staked the destinies of the English people. It was played on the side of the House of Commons with keenness, but with admirable dexterity, coolness, and perseverance. Great statesmen, who looked far behind them and far before them, were at the head of that assembly. They were resolved to place the King in such a situation that he must either conduct the administration in conformity with the wishes of his Parliament, or make outrageous attacks on the most sacred principles of the constitution.

They accordingly doled out supplies to him very sparingly. He found that he must govern either in harmony with the House of Commons or in defiance of all law. His choice was soon made. He dissolved his first Parliament, and levied taxes by his own authority. He convoked a second Parliament, and found it more intractable than the first. He again resorted to the expedient of dissolution, raised fresh taxes without any show of legal right, and threw the chief of the Opposition into prison. At the same time a new grievance, which the peculiar feelings and habits of the English nation made insupportably painful, and which seemed to all discerning men to be of fearful augury, excited general discontent and alarm. Companies of soldiers were billeted on the people, and martial law was in some places substituted for the ancient jurisprudence of the realm. The King called a third Parliament, and soon perceived that the opposition was stronger and fiercer than ever. He now determined on a change of tactics. Instead of opposing an inflexible resistance to the demands of the Commons, he after much altercation and many evasions agreed to a compromise, which, if he had faithfully adhered to it, would have averted a long series of calamities. The Parliament granted an ample supply; the King ratified in the most solemn manner that celebrated law which is known by the name of the Petition of Right, and which is the second great charter of the liberties of England. By ratifying that law he bound himself never again to raise moneys without the consent of the Houses; never again to imprison any person except in due course of law; and never again to subject his people to the jurisdiction of courts martial. . . . The royal promise was soon broken: a violent contest followed; the Parliament were dissolved. From March 1629 to April 1640 the Houses were not convoked. Never in our history had there been an interval of eleven years between parliament and parliament; only once had there been an interval of even half that length. This fact alone is sufficient to refute those who represent Charles as having merely trodden in the footsteps of the Plantagenets and Tudors."-Macaulay's Hist. Eng. i. 85, 86.

1628. July. 4. Two precepts from the Lord Mayor, one dated the 21st June last, and the other on the 2nd of this instant July, were read, requiring, the Company to pay their proportion of 20,000l., being the residue of 120,0007.

to be paid to his Matie for the purchase of certain lands from him to the city in fee-farm; the Ironmongers' proportion of the said 20,000l. being 7167. for which they were to receive eight per cent.

оо

1629. Some account of the pageant entitled London's Tempe, written by Thomas Dekker,* for the mayoralty of Sir James Cambell, who was a member of the Ironmongers' Company, is preserved in the minutes of this year.

Sir James Cambell was the son of Sir Thomas Cambell, Lord Mayor in 1610. Arms: Sable, on a fesse between three lion's heads erased or, as many ogresses.-Harl. MS.

According to an order of Court, made the xjth of August last, theis psent treated and agreed with Mr Crismas and Mr Decker cončning the making of the pageants for the shew on the next Lord Maior's day; af, the said Xpmas and Decker psented them with a plott wherein was contayned six severall pageants, namely:

A Sea Lyon

2 Sea Horses

:

for the water.

An Estridge.

Lemnions Forge.

Tempe or, the Field of Hapines.

7 Liberall Sciences.

For the accomplishing whereof they demanded 200li, wch theis present

* Dekker is only known to have written two pageants, one for the mayoralty of Sir John Swinnerton, Knight, in 1612, entitled Troia-Nova Triumphans, and London's Tempe for the mayoralty of Sir James Campbell in 1629. The former of these productions is the best. Of Dekker's personal history we know but little. He is considered by Mr. Nichols one of the most eminent of the city poets, and was the author of several plays and pamphlets; but it would seem that he had through life to contend with difficulties, and wrote for a mere subsistence.

conceaved to be an over value, and thereuppon offered them 180, wch they accepted for the making and finishing of the said pageants, to be furnished with children and speakers, and their apparell and necessaries thereunto belonging; land carriage by porters, water carriage by boats and watermen as is accustomed; the green-men with their fireworks; the musick for the pageant; and to give the Company 500 bookes of the declaracon for the said shew; and the comittee demanded that the Sea Lyon,

The 2 Sea Horses, and

The Estridge,

be brought into the Hall after the solemnity, there to be sett upp for the Company's use, whereunto Mr Crismas excepted, but was contented to deliver back the sea lyon and the estridge, and desired to retain the sea horses to himself; all the rest he undertook to pforme for the said some of 180 effectually and sufficiently to the Comps liking: In witness whereof they have hereunto subscribed.

Pro: Bekker.

These signatures differ materially from the other writing in the original minutes, and are probably the genuine autographs of Dekker and Christmas. It appears to have been a practice with the Ironmongers' Company to require contracting parties to attach their signatures to the minutes made in their court book; many instances of this kind In 1635 the Company agreed with Tilbury Strange, waterman, for the furnishing and fitting of the Foist, to which agreement he has inscribed his initials, T. S. not being able, we may presume, to write his name, as the clerk has added to it "the mark of Tilbury Strange."

occur.

"Mr. John Bradshaw and Mr. Thos. Jones, mrs of defence, were agreed wthall for their švice to be performed on the next Lord Maior's day by ten fencers, whereof three are to be masters and the rest serviceable men, for wch they are to have 4 10s for their paines, and 10s towards the providing of the colors. Mr warden Leat was appointed to provide broad cloth for sixty poor men's gowns and fifty

coates.

"Mr. Richa Leat and others were to agree for the chambers to be discharged on the Bankside and at Stangate, and to provide linkes and torches for the Compa® use.

"These psons of the yeomandry being warned to the Hall, made their appearance and were appointed to doe their švice on the next Lord Maior's day as batchellors and whifflers, viz. the batchelors in foins to provide themselves wth a faire livery gown faced wth fownes and welted wth velvet, wth crimson satin hoodes; and those in budge, wth a faire livery gown, welted wth velvet and faced wth budge, wth crimson satin hoods, all in decent apparel thereunto belonging; and the whifflers to pvide themselves of satten dublets, velvet hose, and jerkins of the same, wth chains of gould answerable thereunto; according to which order the clearke is to deliver and signe their tickets."

There appear to have been thirty members of the yeomanry on this occasion who served in foins, amongst whom we notice Isaacke Walton, thirty-two in budge, and twenty-four whifflers.

Mr. Robert Swayne, keeper of Guildhall, acquainted the Company respecting the hangings and other necessaries to be provided :

Hangings for the ladies' room;

Hangings for the Lord Maior's Court, where the lords of the councell dyne;