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matters of the greatest importance, and that they should have time enough for other things afterward.

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This happened in the year 1626, and in the second year of his Majesty's reign; about which time the Earl of Bristol (being ordered by the King to be examined by a committee of Lords concerning his negociation in Spain, and having been in prison and prohibited access to His Majesty ever since his return) received a letter from the Lord Conway, wherein in order to his relief he propounded to him from His Majesty this choice, whether he would be quiet, and not be questioned for what was past, and enjoy the benefit of the late gracious pardon? or whether he would stand upon his justification? to which he answered, that he did humbly acknowledge and accept of his Majesty's grace and favour; and at the same time he petitioned the House of Lords for his liberty, or to come to a trial; who applying themselves to his Majesty, he granted a writ for the Earl's coming to Parliament, but with a proviso, that his personal attendance should be forborn; whereupon the Earl sent another petition to the Lords that he might be heard, both as to his restraint, and of what he had to say against the Duke. At which the King was much concerned, and signified to the Lords, that it was his royal pleasure, that the Earl of Bristol might be sent for as a delinquent to answer his offences to the house, and his scandalizing the Duke of Buckingham and his Majesty likewise by reflection. Upon this the Earl was accordingly brought to the bar, and being ready to be impeached of High Treason by the Attorney General, he besought their lordships, that as he was a freeman and peer of this realm untainted, and had something to say of high consequence for his Majesty's Service, he might have liberty to speak. Which being granted him, he said, I accuse that man the Duke of Buckingham, of High Treason.. This unexpected procedure of the Earl, occasioned the Attorney General to draw up a charge against him, consisting of Eleven Articles containing matters of divers natures; whereupon the Earl afterwards gave a large account of the Duke of Buckingham's proceedings towards him, and then preferred Twelve Articles against him; and besides these articles against the Duke, the Earl of Bristol exhibited Eleven others against the Lord Conway': the Earl likewise gave in his answer to each particular article of his impeachment.

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Now whilst these two peers were thus contesting, the House of Commons presented an Impeach to the Lords against the Duke, consisting of Twelve Articles, to each of which the Duke made

replies, and the last of them being a matter of general discourse, it may seem necessary to insert it, with the Duke's answer thereto.

That the Duke being a sworn servant of the late king did cause and provide certain plaisters and potions for his late Majesty K. James in his last sickness without the privity of his Majesty's Phy ⚫sicians, and that although those plaisters and potions formerly applied, produced such ill effects, as many of his sworn Physicians did disallow as prejudicial to his Majesty's health, yet the Duke did apply them again to his Majesty; whereupon great distempers, and dangerous symptoms appeared in him, which the Physicians imputed to those administrations of the Duke, whereof his late Majesty also complained: which is an offence and misdemeanor of so high a nature as may be called an act of transcendent presumption: and the said Commons by protestation, saving to themselves the liberties of exhibiting hereafter any other accusation, or impeachment against the Duke: and also of replying unto what the Duke shall answer unto the said articles, do pray, that the said Duke may be put to answer all and every the premises, and that such proceedings, examinations, trials and judments, may be upon every of them had as is agreeable to law and justice.' To this article the Duke of Buckingham replied, that his late Majesty being sick of an ague, a disease out of which the Duke recovered not long before, asked the Duke what be found most advantageous to his health? the Duke replied, a plaister and posset drink administered unto him by the Earl of Warwick's Physician, whereupon the King much desired the plaister and posset drink to be sent for, and the Duke delaying it, the King commanded a servant of the Duke's to go for it against the Duke's earnest request; he humbly craving his Majesty not to make use of it, without the advice of his own Physicians and experiment upon others; which the King said he would do, and in confidence thereof the Duke left him, and went to London, and in the mean time be being absent, the said plaister and posset drink were brought; and at the Duke's return, his Majesty commanded the Duke to give him the posset drink, which he did, the Physicians then present not seeming to mislike it: afterwards the King's health declining, and the Duke hearing a rumour as if his physick had done his Majesty hurt, and that he had administered physick without advice; the Duke acquainted the King therewith, who with much discontent replied, they are worse than devils that say so.

About this time the King again earnestly pressed the house of Commons for a speedy supply, by their speaker Sir Heneage Finch; giving them to understand, that if they did not pass the Bill of Subsidy by the end of the week following, it would enforce him to take other resolutions; and if by their denial, or delay any thing of ill consequence should fall out either at home, or abroad, he called God and, Man to witness, that he had done his part to prevent it by calling his people together to advise with him; whose sitting (if they dispatched this according to his desire) he resolved to continue, for the dispatch of other affairs, and after their recess to bring them again together the next winter.

Before the Commons sent an answer, they drew up a petition to his Majesty. That he would be pleased to remove from all places of trust and authority, all such persons as were either Popish recusants, or according to the direction of former acts of state, justly to be suspected to be such. And herewith they likewise sent a large scrowl of the names of all such noblemen and others as continued in places of high trust in the several counties of England.

The answer to the late articles against the Duke of Buckingham, being by him delivered into the Lord's House, he desired their Lordships to send to the Commons for a speedy reply; whereupon the Commons required a copy of his answer. But the Duke fearing what might be the effect thereof humbly applied himself to the Lords, whom he intreated to allow him the benefit of a free and general pardon granted by King James in Parliament in the 21st year of his reign, and likewise that of the coronation.

Presently after the Commons drew up another declaration of grievances against the Duke, whom they resolved utterly to overthrow, though contrary to the inclination of the King; who being thereat incensed, dissolved the Parliament the very next day, June 15, 1626, and committed the Earl of Bristol to the Tower, publishing a proclamation for burning all copies of the said declaration. After which the King published a declaration, shewing the grounds and reasons of his dissolving this and the former parliament.

Then several ways were resolved on for the advancement of the King's revenue, and special care was taken by the Council for the levying of customs and imposts upon all merchandizes imported and exported, as being intended to have been settled by the two last Parliaments, but prevented by their sudden dissolution. The forfeitures of Papists likewise, which had been misemployed, were now taken into a more strict account; Privy Seals also were issued out, and

benevolence proposed, and at length a commission for a general loan was resolved upon, as the most convenient method, since the present state of affairs admitted not of the way of Parliament, and private instructions were given to the Commissioners how to manage the business which upon their faith and allegiance they were commanded to keep secret, and not to disclose to any.

About this time some soldiers returned from Cadiz, and were quartered in the countries, and money was raised for them, which made this loan more unwelcome; and Sir Randolph Crew for not appearing vigorous in promoting the loan, was displaced from being L. Chief Justice, and Sir Nich. Hyde advanced in his place; the Bishop of Lincoln was likewise informed against in the Star Chamber by Sir John Lamb and Dr. Sybthorp, for speaking against the loan, and seeming to favor the partizans and nonconformists: not long before which Bishop Laud (hearing that the Bishop of Lincoln endeavoured to ingratiate himself with the D. of Buckingham) dreamed, that the bishop came to him with iron chains, but returned free from them, that he leaped upon a horse, departed, and he could not overtake him, which was afterwards interpreted concerning the Bishop of Lincoln's taking arms for the Parliament in Wales; and his being at liberty when Bishop Laud was imprisoned in the Tower.

There where several occasions at this time which required considerable supplies of money, for besides that of the Palatinate, there was great probability of a war with France upon this occasion; the French King, Lewis the 13th. had borrowed of his brother-in-law the King of England, a Man of War called the Vauntguard, and six other merchant ships in pursuance of a design against Italy, but with this express condition, that they should not be employed against the protestants at Rochel; there having been an agreement Tately made between them and their King by the meditation of the English Ambassadors: but Monsieur Soubize, who was for the protestants, taking the advantage of the French armies going to Italy, suddenly broke that agreement; for getting some small ships together, he surprized the Isle of Rhee, and some ships in the harbour, at which the French King being offended, turns his whole design from Italy to Rochel; and with the seven English ships under Admiral Pennington, twenty Dutch ships and the French navy, he furiously falls upon Soubize, forceth him from his fastness, and chaseth him to the Isle of Oleron: the King of England was much concerned at this action of the French King, as a breach of his royal word, and demanded satisfaction which the French King deferring to give, the

King seized a rich French ship, and the French King arrested the goods of English merchants in France, to the value of three hundred thousand pounds; but at length all was reconciled and restored on both sides.

Thus all seemed quiet at present, till the insolent deportment of the Queen's Priests and Confessor made another rupture; who imposed upon her to go barefoot to Spain, to wait upon her servants at their dinners, nay to walk on foot on a rainy morning, from SomersetHouse to St. James's, and from thence as far as Tyburn gallows, to offer up her prayers for the souls of some Jesuits, whom they stiled Martyrs, who were formerly executed there; her Confessor himself riding by her in a coach. These and several other arrogances, being justly charged upon the Queen's French domestic servants, they were paid off, discharged, and sent home: upon which the French arrested the ships of the English wine merchants at Blay Castle, which was so ill resented by his Majesty of Great Britain; that he resolved upon a breach with France: but about the same time the English fleet under L. Willoughby, which were sent to the aid of the Rochellers, were so scattered by a storm, that they could scarce get safe into harbour.

The assessment of the loan was generally opposed, whereupon the people of the lower rank were ordered to appear in the military yard near St. Martin's in the fields; before the Lieutenant of the Tower, to be listed for soldiers; it being thought fit, that those who refused to assist with their purses in common defence, should be forced to serve in their persons; others of better quality, were bound to appear at the council table; several of whom were committed prisoners to the Fleet, Marshalsea, Gatehouse, and other prisons, and among them Sir John Eliot, who petitioned his Majesty and repeated many precedents, that all manner of aids and taxes in former kings reigns were never levied but by the general consent of the Nobility and Commons assembled in Parliament. However he was committed prisoner to the Gatehouse, and upon the same account Sir Peter Hayman' was commanded to serve his Majesty in the Palatinate, which after he had settled his estate he did accordingly.

Doctor Sybthorp and Dr. Maynwaring, two eminent preachers at court, about this time preached up the necessity and duty of the loan; one of them asserting, that the Prince hath power to direct his counsel and make laws, and that subjects, if they cannot exhibit active obedience, in case the thing commanded should be against the law of God, or Nature, or more impossible, yet nevertheless

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