DR. JOHN LAMB.

Much about this time, Dr. Lamb, who was in great favour with the Duke of Buckingham (and had been formerly twice arraigned, once for necromancy, and another time for a rape) was killed by the furious multitude in Lothbury, who hated him both for his own sake and the Dukes, he being called the Duke's Devil; and though, he were guarded by four constables and their attendants, yet the rabble struck him down, beat out one of his eyes, and left him half dead on the ground, from whence he was carried to the Poultry Counter where he died according to his own prediction. the year before; being pitied by few, and loved of none..

The Earl of Denbigh having awhile since sailed with fifty ships to the relief of Rochel, was repelled with much loss; so that despairing of success, he returned back to Plymouth; whereupon another expedition was resolved on, with a more considerable navy, and the Duke of Buckingham was designed Admiral, who going to Portsmouth, in order.

to hastening One JohnFelnant, stabbed heart with a the murderer sticking in his Duke himself and immedidied: Felton prehended by and laden

of business,

ton a Lieute

him to the

knife; which flying, left body, till the dragg'ditout, ately after was soon apthe servants, with irons,

and being asked, what inclined him to commit so horrid an action? he boldly answered, he killed him for the cause of God and his country: he likewise fastened a paper in the crown of his hat, which intimated that his only motive to this fact, was the late remonstrance of the commons against the Duke, and that he could not sacrifice his life in a nobler cause, than by delivering his country from so great an enemy. Felton was afterwards condemned and hanged at Tyburn, and his body hanged upon a gibbet at Portsmouth.

There was observations made of divers passages presaging the Duke's death, as that his picture fell down in the high commission chamber at Lambeth. That the lady Davis, reputed a Prophetess, had foretold in June, that the Duke's fatal time would not come till August; and lastly that Mr. Towerson, of the custom-house, was charged by a Phantasm or Ghost, resembling the Duke's Father, to tell him, that if he changed not his courses, he should shortly become a great fairing to the City of London; which was afterwards judged to be accomplished by his death, which happened the day before the Fair, that is, August 23, 1628.

However the fleet set sail under the command of the Earl of Lindsey, and came to the bar of Rochel Haven, when there was a wonderfulbarracado contrived by Cardinal Richlieu, of fourteen hundred yards, across the channel; however the Earl adventured in, passing the forts and outworks, but the wind changing, drove the ships upon each other; which unhappy accident made the Rochellers despair of relief, and occasioned the present surrender of the town; after which the Earl of Lindsey brought the flect safe home again.

The Parliament was to have met in October, but by reason of some ill news during this expedition, they were again adjourned to January 20th; in which time the merchants refusing to pay custom had their goods seized; complaint whereof being made to the parliament, the

King summons the two houses to the Banquetting House at Whitehall, and requires them to pass the promised bill of tunnage and poundage, for ending all differences, since it was too precious a jewel of the Crown to be so lightly forgone.

But the Commons being forward enough to take all occasions to put off the King's requests, answered, that God's cause was to be preferred before the King's, and they would therefore in the first place consult concerning religion; and thereupon appointed one Committee for religion, and another for civil matters; in the last whereof there was a complaint that the petition of right, had been printed with the King's first answer only, and not with the last which was judged satisfactory another complaint was likewise made about the customs, and Mr. Rolls a member of the house affirmed, that it was. reported some of the officers of the custom-house should say, though all the parliament were in you, we would take your goods; Mr. Richard Chambers was likewise imprisoned for saying at the council table, that such great customs and impositions were required of the merchants in England, as were in no other place, that they were more screwed up than under the Turk. After which a form of submission being sent him from the Star Chamber to subscribe his name thereto, but he instead of owning it as a fault underwrit these words, all the abovesaid contents, I, Richard Chambers do utterly abhor and detest, as most unjust and false: and never to death will acknow ledge any part thereof; and quoted divers scriptures against oppression and injustice.

As to the printing the petition of right, the printer was questioned, and for the other, the fariners of the custom were challenged to answer it, but the King excused them as acting by his command; yet this not being clear to the parliament, they would have proceeded against them as delinquents; whereupon the King sent word, that in honour he could not, nor would not give way thereto which so incensed the parliament, that they adjourned themselves for some days, and then meeting again, the King adjourned them further till March 1, upon which Sir John Eliot stood up and accused the Lord Treasurer Weston as an enemy to the English trade, and designing to transfer it to foreigners; which speech caused a farther adjournment to March 10. The commons inraged hereat, blamed their speaker for admitting the message, and ordered Sir John Eliot to read their remonstrance (the speaker and clerk refusing to do it) which was to this purpose;

That the House had considered of the bill for tonnage and poundage, but being overprest with other business, and that of itself so

perplext, as would require much leisure to discharge, could not at that time finish it; this present session moving hastily to an end; and lest his Majesty should hereafter, as he hath done heretofore, incline to evil spirits, or to be abused to believe, that he might justly receive the subsidies of tunnage and poundage, which they humbly declare to be against the fundamental law of the nation, and contrary to the King's late answer to the petition of right; therefore they crave that his Majesty would for the future forbear such taxes, and not take it ill, if his subjects refuse what is demanded by arbitrary and unwarrantable power.

A report was likewise made from the committee of pardons by Oliver Cromwell, (a fatal name afterward) that Dr. Neal, Bishop of Winchester, was chiefly instrumental in procuring the King's hand to the pardons of Dr. Sybthorp, Dr. Maynwaring, Mr. Cousens, and Mr Montague, and that he had likewise preferr'd Dr. Maynwaring to a rich living, though censured by the former parliament, and disabled from holding any ecclesiastical dignity; also that he was a countenancer not only of Arminianism, but flat Popery.

The Commons having prepared their remonstrance about the bill of tunnage and poundage, they required their speaker to put to the vote, whether it should be presented to the King, or not; but the speaker refused it, and according to the Ksng's order would have gone away; but Mr. Hollis would not suffer him to stir till himself had read the protestation of the house, consisting of three heads.

1. Whoever shall bring any innovation of religion, or by favour seek to introduce Popery or Arminianism, or other opinions, disagreeing with the true and orthodox Church, shall be reputed a capital enemy to this kingdom and common-wealth. 2. Whosoever shall counsel or advise, the taking, or levying the subsidies of tunnage and poundage, not being granted by parliament, or shall be an actor or instrument therein, shall be likewise reputed a capital enemy to the common-wealth. 3. If any man shall yield voluntarily, or pay the same; not being granted by parliament he shall be reputed a betrayer of the liberties of England, and an enemy to the commonwealth

These articles were entertained with the general approbation of the members, but were much disliked by the King, who immediately sent for the Serjeant of the Mace out of the House of Commons, but Sir, Miles Hobart took the key from him, and locking the door would, not suffer him to go forth, at which the King being very much offended, he sends the Usher of the Black Rod to dissolve them, who was

not admitted in, whereupon the King, with his guard of pensioners, were resolved to force their entrance, which the Commons having notice of, they suddenly went all out of the House; and this was the end of this parliament.

After their dissolution, the King published a declaration of the cause thereof; and then questioned eleven of the refractory members at the council table, who were all committed to divers prisons. About the same time the Marquis of Huntly, Sheriff of the greatest part of Scotland, neglecting the order of the council for seizing some priests and Jesuits, who publickly said mass and committed other insolencies at Aberdeen, with several other Lords, who joined with him, and refused to appear upon summons, and had likewise given notice to the priests and jesuits to escape, were proclaimed rebels and traitors to the King and kingdom; upon which they fled into England. The French King having had much loss by the war with England did now therefore propose and conclude a peace with the King, consisting of several articles.

A paper was about this time dispersed abroad, containing some projects how the King might augment his revenues without the help of parliaments, upon which the Earls of Bedford, Somerset, and Clare with others, were committed upon information that they had dispersed some copies of them; but Sir David Fowlis soon cleared them, who deposed upon oath, that it was contrived near sixteen years before, by Sir Robert Dudley, son to the Earl of Leicester, when he was in Italy.

The dissolving of the last parliament procured great animosities in the people against the prime ministers of state, which occasioned divers invective libels to be dispersed abroad, whereof one against Bishop Laud was found in the Dean of St. Paul's Yard to this effect. «Laud, look to thyself, be assured thy life is sought; as thou art the fountain of wickedness, repent of thy monstrous sin before thou be taken out of the world; and assure thyself, neither God, nor the world, can endure such a vile counsellor, or whisperer." Another very bitter libel was scattered against the Lord Treasurer Weston: on the other side some considering the unsuccessfulness of this and the two former parliaments, advised never for the future to call any more parliaments; and to that end the forementioned book of projects was published," and addrest to the King, proposing some methods to prevent the impertinancy of parliaments (as he called them) for time to come, by the example of Lewis XI. of France; who pretending that the commons or third estate, did encroach too much upon the nobility

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