And now about the beginning of October, the fleet set to sea, the Lord Cecil, second son to the Earl of Exeter, commanding the land forces, and the Earl of Essex being vice admiral at sea; but they were surprized by so violent a storm, that the greatest part of the navy, which in all made up four-score ships (some being Dutch) were dissipated and scattered for seven days together, and an excellent ship with 170 passengers in her were all cast away, and lost, the design was to have surprized Cadiz in Spain, to burn the ships in the harbour, and to have taken the Spanish Plate Fleet, which was daily expected from the Indies; but by reason of the plague amongst them, and some other miscarriages of the commanders, the business was wholly disappointed, and the fleet returned home but four days before the Plate fleet came.

Upon the second of February was the coronation, at which the King did not pass through the city in state from the tower, as was usual but went by water from Whitehall to Westminster, for fear of the danger of a concourse of people; the pestilence which raged the year before not being quite ceased: the Bishop of Lincoln, as Dean of Westminster, should have performed the chief part of the ceremony, but being under displeasure, Dr. Laud then bishop of St. David's, supplied his place.

Divers considerable forces had been raised both for sea and land, for the better discipline of whom 150 old Soldiers were sent for from the Netherlands, by whose industry they were brought into some good order against the meeting of the next Parliament, which was summoned to sit Feb. 6. And being met accordingly, the House of Commons chose Sir Henage Finch for their speaker.

The first business they insisted upon was the rendering thanks to the King for his gracious answer to their late petition concerning religion, then they debated of the public grievances, viz. The miscarrying of the fleet at Cadiz; the evil counsellors about the King; misemploying the King's revenue; an account of the subsidies and three fifteens, granted in the 21st year of King James: and in the Committee of grievances, these four particulars were insisted on: 1. The state of the King in the constant revenue of the Crown, and how much it had been diminished by gifts of lands, grants of pensions, fruitless embassies, the privy purse, and other ways. 2. The condition of the subject in his freedom, about laying new imposi tions, multiplying monopolies, levying of customs without act of Parliament, and wasting the treasure. 3. The cause of the nations good success in former times, whereby it was feared, victorious and

renowned abroad; which they judged was occasioned by the wisdom and gravity of counsel, who ordered nothing but by public debate; whereby there arose a readiness in the people to assist their sovereign in purse and person. 4. The present condition of the kingdom, wherein was represented the loss of its wonted reputation, through the ill success at Algier in the Palatinate, in Count Mansfield's expedition, and at Cadiz; and this was imputed to the want of such counsels as were formerly used; since for fear of not succeeding, men were now afraid of venturing either their persons or purses.

There was likewise a committee concerning religion and the growth of Popery, wherein Mr. Richard Montague's two books before mentioned were again questioned, and articles drawn up against him, charging him with several passages for encouraging Popery, and drawing his Majesty's subjects from the true religion established, into error and superstition, with other passages dishonourable to the late King, and full of injurious and railing language against other persons; as likewise that he endeavoured to rase factions in the kingdom, by casting the scandalous name of Puritan, upon such of his Majesty's subjects as conformed themselves to the doctrine of the Church of England: upon which the House of Commons ordered that he should be brought to exemplary punishment, and to have his books burnt; nor do we ever find that he made any defence or answer to those articles that were brought against him. It is affirmed that awhile before the sitting of the Parliament, Dr. Laud understanding from the D of Buckingham that the King intended to leave Mr. Montague to a trial, was heard to utter these words, I seem to see a cloud arising and threatening the Church of England, God in his mercy dissipate it.

After this the Commons questioned several persons who were of the council of war, upon the affairs of the Palatinate, concerning the management of that business: complaint was likewise made in the house, of the Scotch and Irish nobility, for claiming precedency of the peers of England, of which redress was promised; but awhile after the Lord Martrevers, eldest son and heir to the Earl of Arundel, married the Daughter of the late Duke of Lenox, contrary to the King's mind, who intended her for the lord Lorn, son and heir of the earl of Argile; whereupon the earl of Arundel was committed to the Tower; whereupon the peers petitioned to the king, alledging, that no peer sitting in the Parliament, is to be imprisoned without order from the House of Lords, unless for felony, treason, or denying to give security for the peace. Upon this there arose a dispute, which lasted for the space of two months, and then the Earl was set at liberty.

In which time the House of Commons were very busy in searching the Signet Office for the original of a letter under the Signet, written to the mayor of York, for reprieving divers Jesuites, priests, and other Popish recusants: this was reported by Mr. Pim, chairman to the committee for religion; but their proceeding therein were interrupted by a message from the King sent by Sir Richard Weston, chancellor of the Exchequer, demanding a supply for the English and Irish forces. This was so highly resented, that Mr. Clement Cook, one of the members openly protested, that it was better to die by a foreign enemy, than to be destroyed at home: and Dr. Turner another of the house, seconded him with these queries.

1. Whether the King had not lost the regality of the Narrow Seas since the D. of Buckingham was Admiral? 2. Whether his going as admiral in this last fleet, was not the cause of its ill success, and return without any considerable action? 3. Whether the king's treasure hath not been impaired by the Duke's immense liberality? 4. Whether he hath not ingrossed all offices, and preferred his kindred to most places? 5. Whether he hath not sold places of Judicature? 6. Whether Popish recusants have not dependance upon his Mother and Father-in-law.

These bold expressions so provoked the King, that he immediately sent Sir Richard Weston to demand satisfaction of the House of Commons, whereupon Dr. Turner presently after made a speech in vindication, and for explaining himself, alledging, That what he said was for the good of the kingdom, and not reflecting upon any one in particular. That to accuse upon common fame, he thought to be a parliamentary way, and warranted by the Canons of the Church, the Imperial laws, and by ancient precedents. The Duke of Suffolk in King Henry the sixth's time, having been accused upon common fame: he added likewise, That Mr. Chancellor himself had presented some persons upon particular fame, and that he knew no reason why himself might not in that place have as ample privilege; and the further debate of the matter being refered till another time, Dr. Turner in the mean space writ a letter to the Speaker to excuse his absence, by reason of some indisposition, and to signify his desire of putting himself wholly upon the judgement and censure of Parliament.

Sir William Waller, speaking his opinion concerning grievances, said, that the true cause of them, was, because, (as was said of Louis the 11th of France) all the King's Councel rode upon one horse, and that therefore his Majesty was to be advised, as Moses was by Jethro, to make choice of counsellors to assist him that should be thus qualified: 1. Noble, not upstarts and of a nights growth. 2.

Men of courage, such as would execute their own places, and not commit them to undeserving deputies. 3. Fearing God, not inclining to false worship or halting between two opinions. 4. Dealing truly, not given to flattery, or favouring courtship; but such as might be safely trusted by the King and kingdom. 5. Hating covetousness, not such as lived upon other men's means, or that would take bribes, or sell places in church or state, or about the King. 6. To be many, in the multitude of Counsellors there being safety. 7. To judge of small matters as well as great (the greatest being referred to the King) much less any one Counsellor alone to manage all the business. 8. Elders, not young and inexperienced men, through whose rash and unadvised proceedings, great designs many times miscarry.

And herein he was seconded by Sir John Eliot, who represented to the House, the present state of the kingdom, and the great dishonour the King and kingdom had sustained by several miscarriages, and ill management of matters of the highest trust; he likewise mentioned two precedents, the first in the 16th year of Hen. 3. when the Parliament denied the subsidies demanded till the great officers were examined; and Hugh de Burg being found guilty of corruption was displaced. Another example was in the tenth year of Rich. 2. when supply was required, and the Commons complaining that the Earl of Suffolk then over-ruled all, they returned answer, that they could not give.

But notwithstanding these discources, the Commons taking the King's necessities into consideration, voted three subsidies and three fifteens, and that the bill should be brought in, as soon as the grievances which were represented, were redressed. They likewise considered of the matter of the Duke of Buckingham, and misemploying the revenue; and ordered that the Duke should again have notice of their intentions therein: But the King observing that they did not make such haste as he expected, to answer his last message, summons both Houses together; and by the Lord Keeper complains to them, For not punishing Dr. Turner, and Mr. Cook, and likewise for searching his Signet Office, and also justified the Duke of Buckingham to have acted nothing of public employment without his special warrant, and therefore forbid them to concern themselves any further therein, as looking upon it to be libelling his own government; lastly he blamed them for being too sparing in the matter of supply, and for ordering the Bill not to be brought in till their grievances were heard and answered, which he would not

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admit of. This was the substance of the Lord Keeper's Speech, to which the King himself added.

He must also put them in mind that his father moved by their counsel and won by their persuasions, broke the treaties; and that he himself was their instrument towards his father, and was glad to be instrumental in any thing which might please the whole body of the realm, nor was there any then in greater favour than the Duke, whom they now traduced; but that now finding him so far entangled in a war, that he could make no honourable nor safe retreat, they made necessity their privilege, and set what rate they pleased on their supplies, a practice not very obliging towards Kings and whereas Mr. Cook told them that it was better for them to die by a foreign enemy, than to be destroyed at home: indeed he thought it more honourable for a King to be invaded, and almost destroyed by a foreign enemy, than to be despised at home.

After this at a conference of both Houses in the Painted Chamber, the Duke of Buckingham was commanded by the King, to explain some expressions in the King's and Lord Chancellor's speeches, which might be subject to misunderstanding; which the Duke performed accordingly, and then gave a large account of his negociation in the Low Countries; as soon as the Duke had ended, the Lord Conway discoursed of the Treaties of Denmark and France, and the business of the Navy, and affirmed they were not done by a single counsel, since King James himself commanded it.

The Commons in answer to the King's last speech, presented him with a remonstrance to this purpose; that they gratefully acknowledged his Majesty's expressions of affection to his people and Parliament; That they had taken Mr. Cook's and Dr. Turner's words into consideration, and might have given a good account thereof by this time, if his Majesty's Message had not interrupted them; That they had the precedents of former parliaments for searching the letters of his Majesty and his Secretary of State, the Signet Office and other Records, upon the like occasions, that it was unquestionable priviledge of Parliaments to complain of any person of any degree, and their proceedings in relation to the Duke should not prejudice either crown or kingdom: That they were willing to supply his necessities liberally and faithfully, if additions might be made of other things which concerned his service, and were now in consultation among them.

His Majesty having received it, returned this short answer thereunto, That he would have them in the first place, consult about