than those to which it was given; as it afterwards fell out. 66 to The queen being shipped for Holland, his majesty returned to Greenwich, whither he had sent to the marquis of Hertford to bring the prince of Wales from Hampton-court to meet him; of which as soon as the houses were advertised, they sent a message to the king, who was upon his way from Dover, to desire him, " that the prince might "not be removed from Hampton-court, for that they conceived his removal at that time might "be a cause to promote jealousies and fears in the "hearts of his good subjects, which they thought necessary to avoid ;" and, at the same time, sent an express order to the marquis of Hertford, " require him not to suffer the prince to go to "Greenwich:" but his lordship, choosing rather to obey the king's commands than theirs, carried his highness to his father; of which the houses no sooner were informed, than they sent some members of both houses to Greenwich, " to bring the prince from thence to London." But when they came thither, they found the king, whom they did not expect there; and so made no attempt to perform that command. The reason of this extravagancy (besides their natural humour to affront the king, and this seeming care of the prince was a popular thing) was pretended to be an information they had received from a member of the house. 66 66 66 The queen being gone, and the prince come to his father at Greenwich, the king sent an answer to the two houses concerning the militia; "that having, with his best care and understanding, "perused and considered that, which had been "sent him from both houses, for the ordering the "militia to be made an ordinance of parliament by the giving of his royal assent, as he could by no means do it for many reasons, so he did "not conceive himself obliged by any promise "made to them in his answer to their former "petition. He said, he found great cause to except against the preface, or introduction to that "order; which confessed a most dangerous and desperate design upon the house of commons "of late, supposed to be an effect of the bloody "counsels of papists, and other ill-affected persons, by which many might understand (looking upon other printed papers to that purpose) his own coming in person to the house of commons on the fourth of January, which begot so unhappy a misunderstanding between him and his people. And for that, though he believed it, upon the information since given him, to be a "breach of their privileges, and had offered, and was ready, to repair the same for the future, by any act should be desired from his majesty; yet he must declare, and require to be believed, "that he had no other design upon that house, or any member of it, than to require, as he did, the persons of those five gentlemen he had before "accused of high treason, and to declare that he "meant to proceed against them legally and speed"ily; upon which he believed that house would "have delivered them up. 66 "And he called the almighty God to witness, "that he was so far from any intention, or thought, "of force or violence, although that house had "not delivered them according to his demand, or "in any case whatsoever, that he gave those "his servants, and others, who then waited on "his majesty, express charge and command, "that they should give no offence unto any man; nay, if they received any provocation or 'injury, that they should bear it without return; " and he neither saw nor knew, that any person of "his train had any other weapons, but his pen"sioners and guard, those with which they "usually attend his person to parliament; and "the other gentlemen, swords. And therefore he "doubted not, but the parliament would be re There was one Griffith, a young Welshman, of no parts or reputation, but for eminent license; this youth had long, with great boldness, followed the court, and pretended to preferment there; and so in the house had always opposed, as far as not consenting, all the undutiful acts towards the king, and, upon this stock of merit, had pressed more confidently for a reward; and, when the queen was ready to take shipping at Dover for Holland, he barefaced importuned her to mediate to the king, "that he might be forthwith admitted of the prince's "bedchamber:" the which her majesty refusing, he forthwith told his companions, " that since he "could not render himself considerable by doing "the king service, he would be considerable by doing him disservice:" and so made great haste to London, and openly in the house told them, (the same day that the prince was to go to Greenwich,)" that if they were not exactly careful, they "would speedily lose the prince; for, to his knowledge, there was a design and resolution immediately to carry him into France." From which gardful of his honour therein, that he should senseless and groundless information, he was taken "not undergo any imputation by the rash and into their favour; and, his malice supplying the "indiscreet expressions of any young men then defect of other parts, was thenceforth taken into "in his train, or by any desperate words uttered trust, and used as their Bravo to justify all their " by others, who might mingle with them without excesses in taverns and ordinaries. And I saw Mr. Hambden, shortly after this discovery, take him in his arms, telling him, "his soul rejoiced "to see, that God had put it in his heart to take "the right way.” 66 enough, but that more should be thought fit to "be granted to those persons named, than, by "the law, is in the crown itself, he said, he thought it reasonable that the same should be by some law first vested in him, with power to "transfer it to those persons; which he would "willingly do and whatever that power should "be, to avoid all future doubts and questions, he "desired it might be digested into an act of parliament, rather than an ordinance; so that all "his subjects might thereby particularly know, "both what they were to do, and what they were "to suffer for their neglect; that so there might "be the least latitude for them to suffer under any "arbitrary power whatsoever. 66 cr "the 66 66 66 66 "if his majesty should persist in it, it would hazard peace and safety of all his kingdoms, unless some speedy remedy were applied by the wisdom " and authority of both houses of parliament: and "that such parts of the kingdom, as had already put themselves into a posture of defence against "the common danger, had done nothing but what was justifiable, and was approved by both "houses." And having caused these, and such other resolutions to be immediately published in print, that their friends abroad might know what they had to do, they sent a committee of both houses to the king at Theobalds with another petition; in which they told him, "that their just apprehensions of sorrow and fear, in respect of the "To the time desired for the continuance of the public dangers and miseries like to fall upon his powers to be granted, he said, he could not con- majesty and the kingdom, were much increased "sent to divest himself of the just power, which upon the receipt of his unexpected denial of God, and the laws of the kingdom, had placed" their most humble and necessary petition con"in him for the defence of his people, and to put cerning the militia of the kingdom; and that "it into the hands of others for any indefinite they were especially grieved, that wicked and "time. And since the ground of their request to "mischievous counsellors should still have that "him was to secure their present fears and jea- " power with him, as in that time of imminent lousies, that they might with safety apply them- "and approaching ruin, he should rather incline "selves to his message of the twentieth of January, "to that, which was apt to further the accomplish" he hoped that his grace to them since that time," ment of the desires of the most malignant ene"in yielding to so many of their desires, and in "mies of God's true religion, and of the peace agreeing to the persons now recommended to "and safety of himself, and his kingdom, than to him, and the power before expressed to be placed "the dutiful and faithful counsel of his parliament. "in them, would wholly dispel those fears and Wherefore, they said, they were enforced in all 'jealousies: and he assured them, that as he had humility to protest, that, if his majesty should "now applied this unusual remedy to their doubts; persist in that denial, the dangers and distemso, if there should be cause, he would continue pers of the kingdom were such, as would endure "the same to such time, as should be agreeable" no longer delay: but unless he should be gra"to the same care he now expressed towards ciously pleased to assure them by those messen"them. gers, that he would speedily apply his royal assent to the satisfaction of their former desires, they should be enforced, for the safety of his majesty and his kingdoms, to dispose of the "militia by the authority of both houses, in such a manner as had been propounded to him; and they resolved to do it accordingly. 66 "He said, he was so far from receding from any thing he had promised, or intended to grant "in his former answer, that he had hereby con"sented to all that had been then asked of him by "that petition, concerning the militia of the king"dom, except that of London, and the other corporations; which was, to put the same into the "hands of such persons, as should be recom"mended to him by both houses of parliament. "And he doubted not but they, upon well weighing the particulars of that his answer, would "find the same more satisfactory to their ends, " and the peace and welfare of all his good subjects, than the way proposed by that intended "ordinance; to which, for those reasons, he could "not consent. It seems this was not the answer they promised themselves; for, at the publishing it, they were marvellously transported, and immediately voted, "That he would likewise be graciously pleased both houses concurring in it, "That those, that" to continue the prince's highness in those parts "advised his majesty to give that answer, were " at St. James's, or any other of his houses near "enemies to the state, and mischievous projectors "London; whereby the designs, which the eneagainst the defence of the kingdom: that that "mies of the religion, and peace of the kingdom, "lousies and fears of his people, might be pre"vented. "illegal :" "And they besought him to be informed by them, that, by the laws of the kingdom, the power of raising, ordering, and disposing of the "militia within any city, town, or other place, "could not be granted to any corporation by char- Then both houses sent to the earl of Northum"ter, or otherwise, without the authority and con-berland, being high admiral of England, “that "sent of parliament: and that those parts of the "kingdom, which had put themselves in a posture "of defence against the common danger, had "therein done nothing but according to the de"claration and direction of both houses, and what was justifiable by the laws of the kingdom. All "which their most humble counsel and desires they prayed him to accept, as the effect of that duty and allegiance, which they owed unto him, " and which would not suffer them to admit of any thoughts, intentions, or endeavours, but "such as were necessary and advantageous for "his greatness and honour, and the safety and prosperity of the kingdom, according to that "trust and power, which the laws had reposed in "them." they had received advertisement of extraordinary "preparations made, by the neighbouring princes, "both by land and sea; by which an apprehen"sion was raised in both houses, that the public "honour, peace, and safety of his majesty, and his kingdom, could not be secured, unless a timely course were taken for the putting the kingdom "into a condition of defence at sea, as well as at "land: and they did therefore order him forth"with to give effectual direction, that all the ships belonging to his majesty's navy, and fit for service, and not already abroad, nor designed for "the summer's fleet, should be rigged, and put in "such a readiness, as that they might be soon "fitted for the sea: and that his lordship would "also make known to the masters and owners of "other ships, in any of the harbours of the king"dom, [as] might be of use for the public defence, "that it would be an acceptable service to the king and parliament, if they would likewise cause "their ships to be rigged, and so far put into a readiness, as they might, at a short warning, "likewise be set to sea upon any emergent occa"sion; which would be a means of great security "to his majesty and his dominions." To which the earl returned an answer full of submission and obedience. As soon as the petition was read, the king told them that presented it, "That he was so much "amazed at their message, that he knew not what "to answer. He said, they spake of jealousies "and fears; but he desired them to lay their "hands to their hearts, and ask themselves," "whether he might not likewise be disturbed "with fears and jealousies? and if so, he assured "them, that message had nothing lessened them. "For the militia, he said, he had thought so "much of it before he sent his answer, and was so well assured that the answer was agreeable "to what, in justice or reason, they could ask, or " he in honour grant, that he should not alter it " in any point. 66 "For his residence near them, he said, he "wished it might be so safe and honourable, that " he had no cause to absent himself from White"hall: he bid them ask themselves, whether he "had not? For his son, he said, he should take "that care of him, which should justify him to "God, as a father; and to his dominions, as a "king. To conclude, he assured them upon his "honour, that he had no thought but of peace, "and justice to his people; which he would by "all fair means seek to preserve and maintain, relying upon the goodness and providence of "God for the preservation of himself, and his rights." 66 66 66 I have been assured from persons of very good credit, and conversant with those councils, that they had it in deliberation and debate to send, and take the prince from his father at Theobalds by force: but that design was quickly laid aside, when they heard that the king was removed from thence to Newmarket, and was like to make a further progress. So they used all possible expedition in preparing their declaration; which they directed to his majesty, and in which they told him, " that although that answer, he had given to "their petition at Theobalds, did give just cause "of sorrow to them; yet it was not without some "mixture of confidence and hope, considering "those expressions proceeded from the misappre"hensions of their actions and intentions; which, having no ground of truth or reality, might, by his justice and wisdom, be removed, when he "should be fully informed, that those fears and "jealousies of theirs, which his majesty thought "to be causeless, and without any just ground, " did necessarily and clearly arise from those dan 66 This, being suddenly, and with more than usual quickness, spoken by the king, much appalled them; but they were too far engaged to retire; and therefore, as soon as it was reported to the houses, they resolved, upon debate, "that the gers and distempers, into which the mischievous "kingdom should be forthwith put into a posture "and evil councils about him had brought the "of defence, by authority of both houses, in such "kingdom. And that those other fears and jeaa way as had been formerly agreed upon by both "lousies, by which his favour, his royal presence, "houses; and that a declaration should be speed- "and confidence, had been withdrawn from his ily sent unto the king, containing the causes of " parliament, had no foundation, or subsistence "their just fears and jealousies, and to make it" in any action, intention, or miscarriage of theirs; "evident that any that were entertained against "them were groundless;" ordering at the same time, "that all the lords lieutenants of any coun"ties in England, who had been formerly so con"stituted by the king by his commissions under "the great seal of England, should immediately I bring in those commissions to be cancelled as I. " and his other kingdoms, had been potently car"ried on, by those in greatest authority about him, for divers years together and that the queen's agent at Rome, and the pope's agent, or nuncio, here, were not only evidences of that design, but had been great actors in it. 66 2. That the war with Scotland was procured "to make way for that intent, and chiefly invited "and fomented by the papists, and others popishly affected, whereof they had many evidences, especially their free and general contribution "to it. 66 66 66 66 66 66 66 7. "The false and scandalous accusation against "That the design of altering religion, in this," the lord Kimbolton, and the five members of the "house of commons, tendered to the parliament by his own command, and endeavoured to be justified in the city by his own presence and persuasion, and to be put in execution upon their persons by his demand of them in the house of commons, in so terrible and violent a manner, "as far exceeded all former breaches of privileges "of parliament acted by his majesty, or any of "his predecessors: and they said, whatever his own intentions were, divers bloody and desperate persons, that attended him, discovered their affections, and resolutions, to have massacred "and destroyed the members of that house, if "the absence of those persons accused had not, "by God's providence, stopped the giving that word, which they expected for the setting them upon that barbarous and bloody act: the listing "of officers and soldiers, for a guard at Whitehall, "and such other particulars. 3. "That the rebellion in Ireland was framed "and contrived here in England; and that the English papists should have risen about the same time, they had several testimonies and ad"vertisements from Ireland: and that it was a common speech amongst the rebels, (with which, they said, other evidences did concur, as the "information of a minister who came out of Ire"land; the letter of one Tristram Whetcomb in "Ireland to his brother in England, and many others,) that they would recover unto his majesty "his royal prerogative, wrested from him by the puritan faction in the houses of parliament in England; and would maintain episcopal jurisdiction, and the lawfulness thereof; which, they said, were the two quarrels, upon which his late 66 army in the north should have been incensed against them. 5. "The boldness of the Irish rebels in affirming they do nothing but by authority from the king; that they call themselves the queen's army; that the prey and booty they take from "the English, they mark with the queen's mark; "that their purpose was to come into England, "when their business was done in Ireland; and sundry other things of that kind, which, they "said, were proved by one Oconelly, and others; "but especially in the forementioned letter from "Tristram Whetcomb, wherein there was this passage, that many other speeches they utter, concerning religion, and our court of England, "which he dares not commit to paper. 6. "The many attempts to provoke his late army, and the army of the Scots, and to raise a "faction in the city of London, and other parts of "the kingdom. That those, who had been actors “in these businesses, had their dependence, their "countenance, and encouragement, from the court; witness the treason, whereof Mr. Jermyn, and others, stood accused; who, they "said, was transported beyond seas by warrant "under his majesty's own hand, after he had 8. "That, after a vote had passed in the house " of commons, declaring that the lord Digby had appeared in a warlike manner at Kingston upon Thames, to the terror and affright of his ma'jesty's good subjects, and disturbance of the " public peace of the kingdom, he should never"theless be of that credit with his majesty, as to "be sent away by his majesty's own warrant to "sir J. Pennington to land him beyond seas: "from whence he vented his own traitorous conceptions, that his majesty should declare himself, and retire to a place of strength; as if he "could not be safe amongst his people. Which "false and malicious counsel and advice, they "said, they had great cause to doubt, made too deep an impression on his majesty, considering the course he was pleased to take of absenting "himself from his parliament, and carrying the prince with him; which seemed to express a purpose in his majesty to keep himself in a "readiness for the acting of it. 9. "The many advertisements they had from "Rome, Paris, Venice, and other parts, that they "still expected that his majesty had some great design in hand, for the altering of religion, the breaking the neck of his parliament. That the pope's nuncio had solicited the kings of France "and Spain to lend his majesty four thousand men apiece, to help to maintain his royalty against the parliament. And they said, as that foreign force was the most pernicious and malignant design of "all the rest; so they hoped it was, and should always be, farthest from his majesty's thoughts; "because no man could believe he would give up "his people and kingdom to be spoiled by strangers, if he did not likewise intend to change "both his own profession in religion, and the pub"lic profession of the kingdom, that so he might "be still more assured of those foreign states of "the popish religion for their future support and "defence. 66 66 tection, for their defence and security, in all the ways of humility and submission; which being "denied by his majesty, seduced by evil counsel, they did, with sorrow for the great and un"avoidable misery and danger, which thereby was "like to fall upon his own person, and his kingdoms, apply themselves to the use of that power "for the security and defence of both, which, by "the fundamental laws and constitutions of the kingdom, resided in them; yet still resolving to keep themselves within the bounds of faithfulness and allegiance to his sacred person, and his 66 crown. 66 66 66 66 66 happiness, honour, greatness, and plenty, and security, if he would join with his parliament, and "his faithful subjects, in the defence of the religion, and the public good of the kingdom. That, they said, was all they expected from him, and "for that they would return to him their lives, "fortunes, and uttermost endeavours to support "his majesty, his just sovereignty, and power over "them. But, they said, it was not words that "could secure them in those their humble desires; they could not but too well and sorrowfully remember, what gracious messages they had "from him the last summer; when, with his privity, the bringing up the army was in agitation: they could not but with the like affections re"call to their minds, how, not two days before "he gave direction for the aforementioned accusation, and his own coming to the commons' "house, that house received from him a gracious message, that he would always have care of their privileges, as of his own prerogative; and "of the safety of their persons, as of his own "children. "To the fears and jealousies expressed by his majesty, when he said, that for his residence near the parliament, he wished it might be so "safe and honourable, that he had no cause to "absent himself from Whitehall: that, they said, they took as the greatest breach of privilege, "that could be offered; as the heaviest misery to himself, and imputation upon them, that could" be imagined, and the most mischievous effect of "evil counsels; it rooted up the strongest founda"tion of the safety and honour the crown afforded; it seemed as much as might be, they "said, to cast upon the parliament such a charge, as was inconsistent with the nature of that great council, being the body, of which his majesty was the head; it struck at the very being both "of king and parliament, depriving his majesty, "in his own apprehension, of their fidelity, and "them of his protection; which are the natural "bands and supports of government and subjection. They said, that which they expected, and " which would give them assurance that he had no thought but of peace, and justice to his people, "must be some real effect of his goodness to them, "in granting those things, which the present necessity of the kingdom did enforce them to "desire. And in the first place, that he would "be graciously pleased to put from him those "wicked and mischievous counsellors, which had "caused all those dangers and distractions; and "to continue his own residence, and the prince's, near London, and the parliament; which, they hoped, would be a happy beginning of contentment, and confidence between him and his people; and be followed with many succeed"ing blessings of honour and greatness to his majesty, and of security and prosperity to "them. They said, they had, according to his majesty's" desire, laid their hands upon their hearts; they "had asked themselves in the strictest examina"tion of their consciences; they had searched "their affections, their thoughts, considered their "actions; and they found none, that could give "his majesty any just occasion to absent himself "from Whitehall, and his parliament; but that " he might, with more honour and safety, continue there, than in any other place. They said, his majesty laid a general tax upon them: if he "would be graciously pleased to let them know the "particulars, they should give a clear and satisfactory answer. But, they said, they could have no hope of ever giving his majesty satisfaction, "when those particulars, which he had been made believe were true, yet, being produced, and made "known to them, appeared to be false; and his majesty notwithstanding would neither punish nor produce the authors, but go on to contract new fears and jealousies, upon general and un"certain grounds; affording them no means or possibility of particular answer to the clearing "of themselves, of which they gave him these "instances. 1. The speeches pretended to be spoken at Kensington concerning the queen, “which had been denied and disavowed; yet his majesty had not named the authors. 2. The charge and accusation of the lord Kimbolton, "and the five members, who refused no trial or examination, which might stand with the privileges of parliament; yet no authors, no witnesses, were produced, against whom they might "have reparation for the great injury, and infamy "cast upon them. In the debate of this declaration, the like whereof had never before been heard of in parliament, in which they took his majesty's doubt of his safety at Whitehall so heavily, that, they said, “it seemed "to cast such a charge upon the parliament, as was inconsistent with the nature of that great council," (so apprehensive they were of the least suspicion of want of freedom,) the prevalent party carried themselves with that pride and impetuosity, that they would endure no opposition or dispute; insomuch as sir Ralph Hopton, (who indeed was very grievous to them for not complying with them,) for objecting against some sharp expressions in the declaration, (before it passed the house, and when the question was, whether it should pass,) as being too distant from that reverence, which ought to be used to the king; and saying, upon a clause, in which they mentioned their general intelligence from Rome, Venice, Paris, and other places, of some design the king had upon religion, and the parliament, from whence they seemed to conclude that the king would change his religion, "that they seemed to ground an opinion "of the king's apostasy upon a less evidence, than "would serve to hang a fellow for stealing a |