I can not let you goe wthout puttinge you in mind of what I said the last daie in the Banquetinge house at Whitehall.

The sume of it was to shew you my earnestness & craue yor assistance for disbandinge of all armies, soe that now not onely haueinge my consent but desireinge yo' assistance for disbandinge ye Irish Armie & all others, all the world shall see it is not my fault if this be not speedily donne, I shall not be awanteinge on my parte for restoreinge a hapie peace & tranquillitie.

His Mats: Speech in Parliam: 3d Novembr: 1640.

THE knoweledge that I have of the Scottish Subiects was the cause of my caleinge the last assemblie in Parliamt: wherein if I had beene beleeved I thinke sincerely that things had not falne out as now the doe, but it is noe wonder that men are soe slowe to beleeve, that such a sedition should be raised vpon soe litle 'ground. But nowe my Lds. and gentlem. the honnor and saftie of this kingdome beeinge soe nerely at the Stake, I am Resolued to put myselfe freely & Clearely on the love & affecon of my English subiects, as those of my Lds: that did waite on mee at Yorke verie well Rememb. I then declared. Therefore my Lrds. I shall not mencon myne owne Interest in that supporte I iustly expect from you; though I must tell you I am not ashamed to say those Charges I have beene at, haue beene merely for the secureinge and good of my kingdome, though the successe hath not beene answerable to my desire, Therefore I shall onely desire you to Consider the best way, both for the saftie & secureinge of the kingdome, wherein there are Two thinges needly Considerable. The first is the Chaseinge out of the Rebels; the other the sattisfieinge of yo' iust agreevancs, wherein I shall pmise to concurr soe hartily & clerely with you, that all the world shall say myne Intentions haue euer beene and shall bee to make this a glorious & happie Kingdome.

There are I say Two thinges I shall mencon vnto yo", the one is to tell yo", that the Loane money wch, lately I had from the Citie of London wherein my Lrds: that waited on mee at Yorke assisted mee will onely mantayne my Army for Two monethes from the beginninge of that time, Now my Lrds, and gentlemen I leave the Consideracon what dishonn' and mischeefe it may bee, if in Case that for want of money my armie be disbanded before the rebells be put out of this Kingdome; The second is the Callamitie that they Northerne people are in at this time, and soe longe as the treatie is on foote, and in this I may say not onely they but all the Kingdome will

I

suffer theire shares. Therefore I leaue this alsoe to yo' Consideracons, for the orderinge of these great affaires whereof you are to heare at this time: I am soe Confident of yo' loue to mee, as that yo' care is for the honno' and saftie of the Kingdome, that I shall freely and willingly leave to you where to begin, Onely this that you may better knowe the state of affaires, I haue Commanded my Lrd: Keep to giue a shorte and full accompt of those thinges that have happned in this Interim, wth, this protestacon that if his accompt bee not soe sattisfactorie as it ought to bee, I shall whensoever you desire giue you a full and pfecet of everie pticuler.

One thinge more I desire of you as one of the greatest meanes to make this a happie Parliam, that you on yo' ptes as I on myne, lay aside all suspicions one of another, and as I pmised the Lords at Yorke, it shall not be my fault if this prove not a good and happie Parliam*.

MY LORDS & GENTLEMEN

I AM glad to see you heere againe to tell you what I have don in this intervale wch. I am confident you are well pleased with since it is soe much for the honor & Security of o' Nation.

I have made a League defensive with the United Provinces & likewyse a League for an efficatious Mediation of Peace betweene the two Crownes into which League that of Sweden by its Embassado' offered to enter as a Principall.

I did not att o' last meetinge move you for any Aide, though I lay vnder great debdts contracted in the last warr, but now the posture of neighbos abroad & the consequence of this new Allyance will oblidge mee for o 'owne security to set out a Considerable fleete to sea this sumer & besides I must build more great shipps, and it is necessaire that I doe somethingein order to ye forty fieing of o' forts.

I have begann somthinge of my selfe in order to those ends, but if I have not yo' 'speedy Assistance I shall not bee able to goe through with it, Wherefore I desier you to take it into speedy Consideration for the losse of a Little tyme now; may begett a p'iudice not to bee repaired and for the settling of a ffirm peace as well att home as abroad.

One thinge more I hould my selfe oblidged to recomend vnto you att this p'sent wch is that you would seriously thinke of some course to begett a better vnion & composure in the mynds of my Protestant subjects in mat

ters of Religion whereby they may be induced not onely to submitt quietly to the govermt, but allsoe faithfully theire Asistance to the support of it.

The Bill for the Supply made a great pgresse ye 25th of ffebr. instant & is to Comence from ye 4th of ffebr. & to bee paid by 6 quarterly paymts, ye first to bee 4th of May.

CHARLES R.

HIS Matie. hath received an Addresse from you & hee hath seriously considered of it; and reterneth you this answere, yt hee is very much troubled that that declaracon wch. hee putt out for ends so necessary to ye quyet of his Kingdome (and especially in that conjuncture) should have proved the cause of disquyet in his house of Commons and giue occasion to ye questioning of his power in Ecclesiasticks, wch hee finds not in ye raignes of any of his Ancesters. Hee is sure hee never had thoughts of vseing it otherwise then as it hath beene intrusted in him to ye peace and establishment of ye Church of England and ye ease of all his subjects in Gen'all. Neither doth hee p'tend to ye right of suspending any Lawes wherein ye ppertyes rights or Libtyes of any of his subjects are concerned nor to alter any thing in ye established doctrine or discipline in ye Church of England, but his only designe in this was to take of ye penaltyes of ye Statutes inflicted vpon dissenters and wch hee beleeves (when well considered of) you yourselves wold not wish executed according to ye Rigour and Lre of ye Law. Neither hath hee done this wth any thought of avoyding or p'cludeing ye advice of his parliam'. And if any Bill shall bee offred him wch shall appeare more pp to attaine ye afores, end and secure ye peace of ye church and Kingdome when tendered in due manner to him hee will shew how readyly he will concurr in all wayes y shall appeare good for ye Kingdome.

Given at his Maties, Cort. of Whitehall ye 24th day of ffebr in ye 25th yeare of his Raigne.

Mr. Lentals Speech

MOST GRACIOUS & DREAD SOVERAIGNE

In all submissiue humblenes the Knights Citizens & Burgesses of the house of Commons are here assembled who takeinge allonge wth, them theire great inclinacon haue acordinge to theire ancient Custome assigned mee theire speaker.

Whereas I can not but lament to thinke how great a Mist may overcast the hope of this p'sent session, yet a note of favour vnto mee who can not but judge myselfe vnfitt for soe great imploymt. wch, soe appeares to the whole world, many there are of deepe Iudgmt. and sad experience that might haue added luster to this action, and expedicon to the worke if they had pleased to haue left mee in that meane Condicon they found mee: (non mihi tacuisse nocet, nocet esse locutum) And then might yo sacred and pious Intenčons haue had their full advancem', But yet is it too late, may I not appeale to Cesar. yes I may, and in the lowest posture of humillitie, I humbly beseech yo' royall Authoritie to Command a Reveiwe of the house for there were neuer more neede then nowe fitted for such imploymt.

It pleaseth not yor gracious Matie: to vouchsafe a Change, actions of Kings are not by mee to bee reasoned.

Therefore beinge Imbouldned by his gratious appbacon giue mee leave my dread soveraigne a litle to expresse my thoughts to our gracious Lord the Kinge.

I see before myne eyes wth, admiračon the Matie: of great Brittayne, the glorie of times, the historie of homes, Charles the first in this forefront placed by descents of Antiquitie, Kings settled by a longe succession and Continuance, to vs by pious & peaceable governem. on the one side, the monum1. of glorie the pgenie of valiant & puissant princes the Queens most excellent Matie, on the other side, the hopes of posteritie and Ioy of this naĉon those ollive Branches set round about yo' table emblemes of peace & psperitie, here shine those lights and lampes placed on a mount wch. Attend yor sacred Matie as supreame head, and Borrowes from you the splendor of their governm. there the true state of ffigure of pwese & magnanimitie fitted wth. theire longe contracted honn" in theire bloods for the Councell of Princes, In the midst of these the Reverent Iudges whither both pties as to the Orackles of Iudgm'. and Iustice may resorte, Cisternes that hould cleare waters wherein each deviation, each wrinkle is disernable, and from thence as from the Center, each Crooked line ought to be levelled, the footstoole of the Throne is fixed the wch, renders you glorious to all posteritie. here we the Knights Citizens & Burgesses of Commons house at yo' royall feete Contracted from all ptes of yor Kingdome in signe of obedience & humillitie, all these vnited by the lawe equallie distributed, wch vnites this great bodie to the obedience of the same Matie, and Compells as well the bart & hands to contribute for the p'servacon of Matie and the Common Interest dissipates the indeauours of Church & Commonwealth and discovers the impostumes: But

giue mee leave deare soveraigne it knits the Crowne to the sacred temple, it frees yor Matie. from the interruptions of any misdoeinge, amongst those this great Councell, is most soveraigne against the distempers of this naĉon, whither infested at sea or troubled at holme invaded from abroad, here was the sanctuarie of refuge hither was the resorte and noe other way found for a foundacou of peace, it is reported of Constantine the great, that he accounted his subiects Purse his exchequer & soe it is, subtill invenčon may picke it, but nothing open it but a Parliamt. wch, setts in the eye of soveraignitie vpon the publique malladies of the state of vigillance for the p'servacon of ou Ancient liberties.

CHARLES REX

His Maties, Declaracon to all his louinge Subiects of his Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales.

WEE shall not ripp up the causes of the unhappie differences betwixt or Royall ffather and the two houses of Parliament, It shall be of studie that they may bee for euer buried and that of subiects of England and Dominion of Wales, may returne to their obedience they owe us, as their lawfull King. And to the ancient and happie Gov'ment of the Kingdome by Kinge Lords and Comons wherein they and their Ancesters haue lyued soe long soe hapie without the effusion of more blood, wth these thoughts wee are now enteringe into or Kingdome of England, wth An Armie by the blessinge of god able to ptect o' loyall Subiects who shall ioyne wth us, and Assist us in doeinge Justice upon the Murtherers of o' Royall ffather And to defend us from or iust rights, the submision of of good subiects by Armes and exorbi tant impositions, And before wee enter the Kingdome wee have thought fitt by this short Declaracon to lett our good subiects there knowe That our desires are not more to bee restored to our owne rights then to procure and maintaine to them theire ffreedome. And as wee have given full and Entire satisfaccon to our subiects of Scotland, both in what might concerne Religion theire lawes and liberties wch god willinge wee shall ineuitablie p'serue to them, soe it shall bee our study and would be our greatest ioy that wee might attaine the same happienesse in England And because wee doe thinke o❜selves bound in duty to looke more att the glorie of God then our owne interest wee doe therefore in the first place declare That wee shall faithffullie in our Station and callinge as wee are bound by the Couenant to setle Religion in doctrine worshippe discipline and gouerment, accordinge to the word of god