and pregnant errors; and your majesty's great | a buckler to it: no cement so strong to hold goodness, of which I have been so large a par- your subjects hearts together in their due obetaker, gives me strong assurance, that having been, by your gracious beams, drawn up from earth and obscurity, you will so uphold me, by a benign and gracious interpretation of all my words and actions, that I fall not down again, like a crude and imperfect vapour; but consume the remainder of my days in zeal for your majesty's service. This great and glorious assembly, made perfect by your royal presence; like a curious perspective, the more I behold it, with the more joy and comfort I find a lively representation of that true happiness, which, under your maj.'s gracious government, we all at this time enjoy: a better tongue were fitter to express it; but a rich stone retains its value, though ill set. Here, in the fulness and height of your glory, like the sun in the exaltation of his orb, sits your most excellent maj. the sovereign monarch of this famous isle, in a throne made glorious by a long succession of many and great princes. A meditation worthy our better thoughts, that we live neither enthralled to the fury and rage of the giddy multitude, nor yet to the distracted wills of many masters; but under the command of a king, the stay and strength of a people; one, as Homer saith well of kings,

Πολλῶν ἀνάξιος ἄλλων,

dience. Our religion never bred a Clement or a Ravilliac: and that execrable villainy never to be forgotten here; when all of us horresco referens, in an instant should have been turned into ashes, and those scattered in the wind; was a monster that could never have been engendered, but by the Devil or the Je suits.-On your left hand sit your nobles, the lights of honour, full of courage and magnanimity; yet in a right distance between crown and people, neither overshadowing the one, o oppressing the other.-Before your throne like the 12 lions under Solomon's throne, sit the lights of justice, your grave judges and sages of the law; learned and just as many ages have known, and learning justice by your great example. Our laws, as excellent as they are, (I am sure no human laws excel them, nor could so well suit with the constitution of this people) were they in the power of corrupt or ignorant men, (I know not which were worse, for one will perhaps oftener err than the other bribe) justice could never keep her right channel, nor run clear; as in your maj.'s happy reign it ever hath.-I must not forget the other lights, the knights, citizens, and burgesses, the representatives of the third estate; who, although they move lower, and at more distance from your royal person, yet, I am confident, will ever be found constant to the poles of love and loyalty. It is a gracious favour of your maj. and our former kings, which I have often thought on, that when both houses are humble suitors for any thing, they are never denied; le roy s'avisera, (the king will advise of it) is the greatest denial. And I assure myself your maj. will find all your subjects so full of duty to your crown, and of true and loyal affection to your royal person, that you shall never have cause to think your gracious favours ill bestowed on them. This union of hearts, sir, is a greatness beyond that of the kingdom to which you are heir:

not to be laid in common balance with other men; for kings know no other tenure but God's service, and their value is only tried at his beam whence the poets said, the parents of the first kings were cœlum & terra; divine institution, and human approbation. Besides, that it is a sovereignty also hereditary; which makes the commonwealth the king's care, as that which is the king's own patrimony, and the inheritance of his children; when elective monarchies quickly run to ruin, and are commonly nade poor by the enriching of several private families. On your right hand are the reverend, religious, and learned prelates, the lights of the church, fit to be set in golden candlesticks, and not made contemptible by parity or poverty: Et penitus toto divisos Orbe Britannos,' lively ideas of that blessing above all the rest, is a name of advantage to this island, if the which, by God's great goodness, and your ma- division be not among ourselves; which the jesty's great piety, this realm enjoys, the li- God of Unity, for his mercy's sake, forbid; and berty of the gospel, and the free profession of so knit our hearts in love one to another, and God's true religion. Your maj. passed the all of us in love and loyalty to your most exfiery trial in Spain, and gave us then assurance cellent majesty, that this renowned island that your faith was built on that rock, against perish not by our distractions; but may ever which the gates of Hell shall never prevail. flourish, and be like Jerusalem, the city of Since your coming to the crown, by your royal God, where his name may be for ever honoured. edict, you have banished those incendiaries of Great and glorious have been the actions of Rome, the Priests and Jesuits, enemies to our your royal progenitors; yet greater remain for church and state; so that now they are either your majesty; and most of theirs attend you gone, or lurk in corners, like the sons of dark-for their perfection and consummation.-The ness. You have given life to the laws against first Christian king of Europe; the first that Recusants; and, by your own pious example, abated the swelling pride of the Pope of Rome, have drawn more than you have compelled to by banishing his usurped power over God's true come to church. Yet coge ingredi, ut im-vice-gerent; the first that established the true pleatur domus mea,' was his command that religion now profest, were all kings of England; made the great feast, and is the duty of ma- and the last a young one.-Queen Elizabeth, gistrates. And certainly, dread sovereign, true | thongh a woman, yet Spain hath cause to re

From the state of honour, you come to the state of justice, and to the 12 lions under Solomon's throne, the judges and sages of the law; and as their peculiar charge intrusted to them by our sovereign, the laws of the kingdom: laws undoubtedly fitted to the constitution of this people, for Leges Angliæ and Consuetudines Angliæ are synonyma, and Consuetudo est altera natura; so as, besides the justness and rightness of the laws, they are become natural to our people; and that is one of the powerfulest means which begetteth obedience: and such laws, in the mouths of learned and upright judges, are like waters in a pure channel; which the fairer it runs, the clearer they run, and produce that whereof Solomon speaks, When the righteous are in authority, the

is the best cement of all government; principally in respect of the unity of the head, which commands the rest. And, therefore, other states, when they have tried a while, do, for the most part, resolve into this; as into the best, for peace, for strength, and for continuance. But forms of other governments, though never so exact, move not of themselves, but are moved of their governors: and, therefore, our monarchy, (as you have truly said) and this glorious assembly, the lively image and representation of our monarchy, are made happy and perfect by the royal presence, that sits here in is highest royal throne; the throne of the law-giver, glorious in itself, glorious by those happy laws and oracles which have issued from it, and most glorious by them that sit on it, his maj. and his royal progenitors; incompara-people rejoice.'-From the law, you pass to the ble kings, that, with so much honour, have swayed the scepter of this kingdom so many successions of ages. In the next place, after the throne of maj. you look into the chair of doctrine, the reverend prelates; and upon the state of religion, their proper charge. This is the blessing of all blessings, the pledge and assurance that secures to us all the rest; that as our religion is most sincere and orthodox, so our clergy are eminent, both for purity of doctrine aud integrity of life; our priests are cloathed with righteousness, and their lips preserve knowledge; and, therefore, God's saints may and do sing with joyfulness. I must join with you in attributing this our transcendent blessing, as in the first place, to God's goodness; so, in the second, to his majesty's piety; who, following the steps of his ever-blessed father, is careful that all the lamps of the church may be furnished with oil; and especially those, which are set on golden candlesticks, with the purest oil. The schools also, and nurseries of learning, never so replenished, especially with divinity, as in this last age; and as they all shew his majesty's piety, so are they infallible arguments of his constancy.-The trial, which you call the fiery trial, undergone by his maj. in a place of danger, and against the power and policy of Rome and Spain, have approved his resolution immutable; and his own remarkable example in bis closet and his chapel, his strict over-sight of, and command to his houshold servants, and his charge to his bishops and judges, his edicts, his proclamations and commissions, and the like for the execution of the laws, and his general care to preserve the fountain pure both from schism and superstition, are fair fruits and effects of a pious and zealous government.-From the chair of doctrine, you turn to the state of honour, unto the nobles and barons of England. These are robur belli, who, for the service of the king and kingdom, are to make good with their swords what the churchmen must hallow and bless by their prayers. And therefore, as the prelates are the great lights of the church, so the nobility are the stars of the state; and you know that the stars have fought, and fought powerfully, against the enemies of God.

knights, citizens and burgesses, or the third estate, who represent the commons of England, in whom the scripture is verified; In the multitude of people is the king's honour:' and, therefore, you may be sure that distance of place and order breeds no distance in affection; for wise kings ever lay their honour next to their hearts, kings are pastores populi; and the shepherd's care is nothing less to the furthest, then to the next part of this flock; and it is as much towards the least of his lambs, as towards the greatest cattle. And as in the natural body, no member is so remote, but it is still within the care of the head: so in this great politic body of the kingdom, no rank or order of people is so low, or at such distance from the throne, but it daily feels the influence and benefit of the king's care and protection. And, to say the truth, in a well-governed kingdom, the superior ranks of nobles, of judges, and of magistrates, are not ordained for themselves, but as conduits for the king's justice, protection and goodness to the lower ranks of his people: and as the people are, so it is just cause they should be, constant to the poles of love and loyalty.-And thus having pursued both houses by divided parts, you join them together; and in that junction, you observe truly and materially that the greatest denial of their joint requests, is, "The king will advise." A note very remarkable: it shews the indulgence of kings; it shews also the wisdom and judgment of the houses; the king not willing to deny his people; peo ple not willing to press their king to a denial: the one wise and modest in their requests, and the other moderate and sweet in the answer; this is the antient and right way of union in parliament. May the God of Unity keep it in this, and all ensuing parliaments! This union you rightly call the union of hearts, and a greatness beyond the kingdoms which the king inherits: so then it is a present fit for a wise people to offer to their gracious king. Wise and magnanimous kings are a special gift from God, having hearts capable of greatness: uDion of hearts is greatness, and greatness was never unwelcome to kings; and therefore present and offer it to your king, and you cannot

doubt of acceptance.-Having spoken of union, you fall presently into a memorial of the great and glorious actions of his majesty's predecessors, and into the height and contemplation of greater that remain. If I mistake not your meaning, you would have it understood, that the union of prince and people made way to those remarkable acts of former times; and that we that wish the like success in our time, should look back upon our forefathers. Wisdom requires it; honour and the times require it, that we should shew ourselves the sons of our ancestors, at least, in holding that which they left us. The pride of Rome abated, as you say, by England, now lifts up her horns again: religion, God's vine planted and deeply rooted here, over-spread into our neighbour countries, hath of late lost many of her goodly branches. The Austrian Eagle, that wanted feathers till of late, now soars and preys at will over all. Spain, so often foiled by us, hath, by disguised treaties, despoiled of their patrimony those princely branches of our royal cedar; and posts apace to his universal monarchy, to the ruin of us, our friends and religion. God hath his time, and I trust a time to stop their course: I know not but we may expect it as well now as ever. There is a resolution in our king, and there is, I trust, (for I am sure there was) a resolution in our parliament, for great actions. Our king as he hath a Solomon, so hath he many Davids in the glorious catalogue of his royal descent; and hath linked himself to the house of Henry the Great, who bears a glorious and auspicious name suitable to his thoughts and desires: and, therefore, since honour and religion call for it; and since you have encouraged him to fight Jehovah's battles, let all put to their hands, that our king and nation may have the honour to set Christendoin in her right balance. And now to come to the petitions you have made for the house. His inaj. most graciously and readily grants them all, according to your true and antient rights and previleges of parliament; which, his maj. trusts, you will take care not to exceed or transgress; and, therefore, you may go chearfully together, and speedily set about the public affairs. And may Almighty God prosper the works of hands, I say, the Almighty God prosper your handy-work!"

your

The Commons receive the Sacrament.] Mar. 20. It was ordered, That all the members of that house should receive the communion at St. Margaret's church, Westminster, on Sunday the 6th of April next.' Particular persons were assigned to see that each member took the same; who were to have, and produce in the house, certificates of it, before they were allowed to sit there. But, lest this act of devotion should be termed, as it had been, an old stale trick to catch concealed papists by, it was followed by a motion for a committee to be appointed, to draw up a Petition to the king, for a General Fast, to be observed throughout the kingdom. This Petition was

drawn, read and agreed unto, the next day; and the lords were desired to concur with them in it; which, being also consented to, the petition was presented to the king, in hæc verba :

Petition of both Houses for a Fast.] " Most Gracious Sovereign, We your most humble and loyal subjects, the lords spiritual and temporal, aud commons, in this present parliament assembled; upon a tender and compassionate sense of the extreme calamities of the Reformed Churches abroad; and with much sorrow, apprehending the displeasure of Almighty God, declared against ourselves, by the manifold evils already fallen upon us and those which are further threatened; (as by your sacred maj. were intimated unto us) even to the utter destruction and subversion of this church and state, all which our sins have most justly deserved: and being now, by your majesty's gracious favour, assembled in parliament, (as the Great Council of this your kingdom) to consult of such means, as we think fittest, to redress the present, and prevent the future evils; wherein we, through God's blessing, intend to employ our utmost endeavours, with as good hearts to your maj. and the public service, as ever people did, humbly beseech your maj. that by your special command, one or more days may be, forthwith, solemnly set apart; wherein, both ourselves and the whole kingdom may by fasting and prayers, seek reconciliation at the hands of Almighty God; and with humble and penitent hearts beseech him to remove those miseries that lie upon us and our neighbour churches; to avert those which are threatened; to continue the favours we yet enjoy; and, particularly, to bestow his abundant blessing upon your maj. and this present parl.; so that all our councils and resolutions, being blessed by his Divine Assistance, may produce much honour, safety, and happiness to your maj. your people, and allies."

The King's Answer.] To the above Petition, the king returned this answer. "His maj. is well pleased with the petition, and is well content to have a Fast as for the time of keeping it, he appoints Saturday, April 5, in London, Westminster, and by both houses. Before which time it may be hoped that we shall have cause to praise God for the good success of what we shall, by that time, resolve on; as, also, beg his mercies towards others, of our religion, now in danger and calamities, and both these in one." The king appointed the 21s of April for a general Fast throughout the rest of the kingdom.

Debate upon Public Grievances.] The commons went now upon the old topic of Griev ances; and many complaints were made against the government, for Billetting of Soldiers; Raising Money by Loans, by Benevolences and Privy Seals: and, what was too fresh in memory, the Imprisonment of certain gentlemen, who refused to lend, upon that account, and afterwards, bringing their Habeas Corpus, were, nevertheless, remanded to prison. All these took place before the Supply;