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A. D.

1625. Ch CH

CHARLES I.

HARLES the Firft was born at Dumfermling in Scotland on November the Nineteenth, A. D. 1600, but in fo much Weakness that his Baptifm was haftned. In the Second Year of his Age he was created Duke of St. Albany, Marquifs of Ormend, Earl of Rofs, and Baron of Ardmonack.

In the Fourth Year of his Age he was brought to the English Court, and made Knight of the Bath, and invested with the Title of Duke of York. In his Eleventh Year he was made Knight of the Garter, and in his Twelfth Year Duke of Cornwall. In his Sixteenth Year he was created Prince of Wales, Earl of Chester and Flint, the Revenues thereof being affigned to maintain his Court. In his Nineteenth Year he performed a Jufting at Whitehall, wherein he acquitted himself with a Bravery equal to his Dignity.

A. D. 1622, he was fent into Spain, there to contract a Marriage with the Infanta, whither he was to pass Incognito through France, accompanied only with the Marquifs of Buckingham, Mr. Endymion Porter, and Mr. Francis Cotting

ton.

But this Attempt of King James, in fending him to the Court of Spain, raised the Cenfures of the World upon him, as being too forgetful of the Inhofpitallity of Princes to each other, when they have been found in another's Dominions. And this none other daring to mind the King of, his Jefter Archee did it after this manner: He came to exchange Caps with the King; Why io, faid

King James? Becaufe, faid Archee, thou haft fent the Prince into Spain, from whence he is never like to return. But, faid the King, what wilt thou fay when thou feeft him come back again? Marry, faid the Jefter, I will take off the Fool's Cap, which I now put upon thy Head for fending him thither, and put it on the King of Spain's for letting him return.

When the Prince was returned from Spain, a Wife was fought for him from France, by a Marriage with Henrietta Maria, the Daughter of King Henry the Fourth. The Love of whom the Prince had received by the Eye, and the of him by the Ear: For having formerly received Impreffions from the Reports of his Gallantry, when he was told of his paffing through Paris, fhe answered, That if he went to Spain for a Wife, he might have had one nearer Home, and faved himself a great part of that Labour. Prince Charles after the celebrating of his Father's Funeral, whereat him felf was chief Mourner, he next haftened the coming over of his deareft Confort the Princefs Henrietta Maria, whom the Duke of Chevereux had in his Name efpoufed at the Church of Noftredame in Paris; and he received her at Dover; the next Day after Trinity-Sunday, at Canterbury, began the Nuptual Embraces.

June the 18th, a Parliament was affembled, at the opening of which the King acquainted them with the Neceffities of Supplies for the War with Spain, which them felves importunately had engaged his Father

1622.

1622. and made it as Hereditary to him as the Crown. But through the Practice of fome unquiet Perfons of that Parliament, two Petitions, one refpecting Religion, the other Redrefs of Grievances, were brought into Debate, both formed in King James's Time, which delayed the Succours, and increased the Neceffities: Yet at length the Parliament, granted two Subfidies; which done, and divers Acts paffed, the Parliament was adjourned till August, and their Convention to be at Oxford, by reafon of the Plague then raging in London. When the Parliament was met again according to the Time appointed, there were high and furious Debates of Grievances; as, That evil Coun. cils guided the King; that the Treatury was mifemployed, with Reflections on the Duke of Buck ingham's Miscarriages. The Commons confulting to diveft the Duke of his Admiraithip, and to demand an Account of thofe publick Monies wherewith he had been intrufted. The King hereupon diffolved the Parliament; and the Infection decreafing at London, his Majelty was crowned at Westminster, February the 2d and February the 6th another Parliament was begun, wherein the Commons voted the King Four Subfidies. But fome of the Members highly taxed the Duke of Buckingham, and Articles were carried up against him to the Lords House for his ill Management of the Admiralty, his ingrof Ang Offices, preferring his Kindred to Places unnt for them, making Sale of Places of Judicature, and his Mother and Father in Law's fottering of Popish Recufants.

Thefe leading Commoners were Mr. Cook, Dr. Turner, Sir Dudley Digs, Sir John Elliot, and Sir William Walter. And to make the

Faction more Sport, the Duke and Earl of Bristol did mutually im peach each other. But his Majefty, to put a Stop to these Contests, diffolved the Parliament, June 18. 1626, before the Bill for the Subfidies was paffed. Therefore the King by the Advice of his Council, took care to provide Money fome other Way; hence followed the levying of Customs and Impofts upon all fuch Merchandizes as were Imported and Exported. Then Compofitions to be made with Recufants for the Leafes of their Lands and Tenements for Forfeitures due fince the Tenth Year of King James. Alfo Privy Seals were iffued out, and Benevolencee propofed, &c. The feveral maritime Counties and Port Towns were ordered by the Council to fet out Ships for the guarding of the Sea Coalts against the Attempts of Spain and Flanders, which they very unwillingly, if at all, yielded unto. A Royal Fleet was alfo preparing to be let out, defigned for Barbary, as was given out. But at lalt, as the most expeditious Way for raifing of Money, a general Loan was refolved upon, and Commiffi oners forthwith appointed for the Purpofe; which grand Affeffment of the Loan met with much Oppofition from People of all Sorts and Degrees, upon which divers Gen. tlemen were committed Prifoners and George Abbot, Archbishop of Canterbury, retufing to licente a Book in Behalf of the Loan, was fufpended for a Time from his Archiepifcopal Juridiction; and Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln, for fpeaking fome Words concerning the Loan in Difadvantage of the King, fell into fome Disfavour; and Sir Randolph Crew, for being backward to promote it, was difplaced from his Office of Lord Chief Justice.

A. D:

A. D. 1627, His Majefty_being now foed by the French Protel tants of Rochel for his Protection, and because the King of France had feized on the English Merchants Goods in the River of Bourdeaux, therefore fent the Duke of Buck ingham to attack the Ifle of Rhee, which had now fubmitted to the English Valour, had not the Duke managed that War more with the Gaities of a Courtier, than the Arts of a Soldier. In this Expedition many brave Englishmen loft their Lives; from which when the Duke was returned, thofe poor Remains of his Army, moft of them Irish and Scots, were billeted in divers Villages of England, to the great Difcontent of the Country. This Expedition being fo unhappy, and the Miseries of Rochel making them importunate for the King's Affiftance, he therefore fummoned a Parliament to meet March the 17th, 1627. He alfo paffed a Commiffion under the Great Seal to levy Monies throughout the Nation by Impofitiens in the Nature of Excife.

Not long before the Convention of the Parliament there were apprehended a Company of Jefuits at Clerkenwell by London, where amongst the rest of their Papers, there was found the Copy of a Letter written to their Father Reator at Bruffels, in which the Author of it acquainted Father Rector with all the fubtle Plots their Society here had laid for the embroiling this State, and for erecting of an Universal Catholick Monarchy; and to this end, he said, they chiefly made ufe of Arminians and Projectors; alfo how that many times, to bring their Purposes about, they pretended themselves to be Puritans.

When the Parliament were met at their prefixed Time, there was forthwith prefented to the House of Commons a certain Paper, called, A Speech Without-Doors. Wherein were laid open the Mifcarriages of many Perfons in Places of Trust, with feveral Sorts of National Grievances. The firft Matter that the Parliament took into their Confideration was the Grievances of the Country; and the first Grievance they debated was the Cafe of those Gentlemen, who having refused the Loan, were, notwithstanding their Habeas Corpus, committed to Prifon. This Paper took up a long Debate and in earnest, which was chiefly managed by Sir Francis Seymour, Sir Thomas Wentworth, Sir Benjamin Rudyard, Sir Edward Coke, and Sir Robert Philips. Next the House proceeded to the drawing up of a Petition against Recufants, to which Petition the King gave a fatisfactory Anfwer. Then after the granting of the King Five Subfidies, they took into Debate the Petition of Right, wherein they prayed his moft Excellent Majefty,

Firft, That no Man hereafter be compelled to make or yield any Gift, Loan, Benevolence, Tax, or fuch-like Charge, without common Confent by Act of Parliament, and that none be called to make Anfwer, or to take fuch Oaths, or to give Attendance, or be confined, or otherwife molefted concerning the fame.

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Secondly, That no Freeman be taken and imprisoned, or be diffeized of his Freedom or Liberty, or his free Cuftoms, or be out-lawed, or exiled, but by the lawful Judg. ment of his Peers, or by the Laws of the Land.

Thirdly, That the Soldiers and Mariners now billeted in divers Counties,

1627.

1627. Counties, might be removed, and the People not be burthened fo for the future.

Fourthly, That the late Commiffions for Proceeding by Martial Law might be revoked and annulled, and that hereafter no Commiffions of like nature might be issued forth. To all which the King at laft yield-, ed his Confent; fending this Anfwer to the Parliament, Soit droit fait comme il eft defiree. And to the Peoples further Satisfaction, his Majefty received into his Favour the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Bishop of Lincoln, the Earls of Effex, Lincoln, Warwick, Briflol, and the Lord Say.

The Parliament next refume their Accufation of the Duke of Buckingham, against whom they drew up another Remonftrance: The like they did against Bifhop Neal, and Bishop Laud, and at laft were about to take away the King's Right to Tunnage and Poundage; whereupon the King adjourned them till October the Twentieth, and afterwards by Proclamation till the Twentieth of January following.

About this time, Dr. Lamb, a Favourite of the Duke of Buckingham's and fuppofed Necromancer, was killed in London by the Rout of People, who hated him both for his own Sake and the Duke's. A. D. 1628, during the laft Seffion, a Fleet of Fifty Sail was fent to the Relief of Rochel, but was repelled with much Lofs. Then another Expedition was agreed on, and a more formidable Fleet was prepared ; but as the Duke of Buckingham was at Port mouth, haftening his Preparations for Sea, he was fuddenly ftabbed by Lieutenant Felton, who after his Apprehenfion, being demanded what invited him to the bloody Fact, boldly answered, That he

killed him for the Caufe of God and his Country. The Murderer was hanged at Tyburn, his Body fent to Portsmouth, where without the Town it was hanged up in Chains.

In the Duke's Place, the Earl of Lindsey, an excellent Soldier, was fent for the Aid of Rochel, who after fome valiant, yet fruitless At tempts, returned into England, and the Rochellers to the Obedience of the French King. And within a fhort Time after, Peace was concluded betwixt France and Eng land.

January the 20th, the Parlia ment affembled again, when they prepared a Bill against Tunnage and Poundage, and the Commons made a Proteftation amongst them felves, That whofoever fhould feek to introduce Popery or Arminianifm, or other Opinions difagreeing from the True and Orthodox Church, fhould be reputed a Capital Enemy to the Commonwealth; that who ever fould counfel or advise the taking or levying the Subfidies of Tunnage or Poundage, not being granted in Parliament, or fhould be an Actor or Inftrument therein, fhould likewife be reputed an Enemy to the Commonwealth; or whofoever fhould voluntarily pay the fame, not being granted by Parliament, fhould be reputed a Betrayer of the Liberties, and an Enemy of the Commonwealth. Hereupon his Majefty presently diffolved the Parliament. After which he called to Question certain refractory Members at the Council-table; namely, Sir Jor Elliot, Sir Miles Hobard, Mr. Des zil Hollis, Sir Peter Hayman, Sir John Barrington. Mr. Selden, Mr. Stroud, Mr. Cariton, Mr. Long. Mr. Valentine, and Mr. Kirton, who were all committed to Prifon. But

by

by the diffolving of the Parliament 1629, the popular Odium was in a high Measure itirred up against the great Minifters of State, as was manifefted by certain invective Libels publifhed against Bifhop Laud, and the Lord Treasurer Wefton.

Some there were in thofe Times, who confidering how little Succefs the King's Affairs had by this and the two former Parliaments, 'tis faid, advifed his Majefty never for the future to call any more Parliaments. And for the better carrying on of the Defign, a Book of Projects was published and difperfed in feveral Places, containing a Propofition addreffed to the King, how he might fo order the Matter, as not to be troubled in the future with the Impertinencies (as 'twas worded) of Parliaments. Some of thofe Projects for the avoiding of Parliaments were; For the King to demand the Tenth Part of Mens Eftates; To take the Benefit of Salt into his own Hands; To demand a Rate for the Sealing of Weights every Year; To demand an Impoft for Wools: At the Princes Marriage to raife the Degrees of Men, as from Earls to Marquiffes, &c. and to make rich Yeomen and Farmers Efquires, each paying for their Honours according to their feveral Degrees; with many like Conceits.

This Year a Peace was concluded with Spain.

A. D. 1630, and May 29, was Prince Charles born, and about Noon of the fame Day was a Star feen in the Firmament.

In this Year was the old Prero. gative Statute for Knighthood put in Execution, whereby thofe who had Eftates of 40 1. per Annum, were fummoned to appear to receive Knigh hood, and upon default to be fined; by which Means One

Hundred Thoufand Pounds was 1633. brought into the Exchequer. Sirn Thomas Wentworth was now made Viscount Wentworth, and Lord Prefident of the North.

A. D. 1631, Mervin Lord Audley Earl of Caflehaven, was arraigned for Rape and Sodomy; when divers unnatural and beaftly Acts were proved against him; for the which he was condemned, and on May the Fourteenth beheaded on Tower Hill. He so pleased himself in his Impieties, that he boafted, that as others had their feveral Delights, fome in one thing, fome in another, fo his whole Delight was in damning Souls, by inticing People to fuch Facts as might surely effect it. He was educated a Proteftant, but turned Papift, and fo died.

A. D. 1632, his Majesty recalled the Lords Juftices out of Ireland, who then had the Government thereof, and in their Stead fent thither the Lord Wentworth as Lord-Deputy.

The King recommended to the Nobility and Gentry, the raifing among themselves a large Contribution towards the Reparation of St. Paul's Church in London; which Motion was fo far entertained, that a confiderable Sum was gathered, and the Work had a fair Progrefs.

A. D. 1633, and May 13, the King took a Journey into Scotland, there to be crowned, and it was but Time for him fo to do; for not long before this, he had received a Letter from a Scotch Lord, wherein was this Expreffion, That Should be longer defer his coming to be crowned, the People might perhaps be inclined to make Choice of a new King. As foon as the Coronation Rites were accomplished, the King fummoned a Parliament, and pais d an A&t for the Ratification of all thofe Laws that

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