allow your propositions in demand, how induce and purthese sections, both in the sue the same, for the happy matter and in the form; only settlement of the regal rights the last clause, which giveth and powers in this more subhope to maintain the army ordinate kingdom. afterward without farther charge to them at all, we conceive may be drawn to a binding assumption; and besides, it is not necessary, the very proposition being sufficient to that effect.

13. My humble advice is, to declare, at the first opening of the meeting, that your majesty intends and promises two sessions; this former for yourself, that latter, in Michaelmas term next, for them; this to ascertain the payments of your army, and to strike off the debts of your crown; that, for the enacting of all such profitable and wholesome laws as a moderate and good people may expect from a wise and gracious king.

14. That, this being the order of nature, reason, and civility, your majesty expects it should be entirely observed, and yourself wholly intrusted by them; which they are not only to grant to be fit in the general case of king and subjects, but ought indeed to acknowledge it with thankfulness due to your majesty in particular, when they look back, and call to mind how, for their ease, you were content to take the sixscore thousand pounds (which their agents gave to be paid in three) in six years; and not barely so neither, but to double your graces towards them the while, which they have enjoyed accordingly, much to their advantage and greatly to the loss of the crown.

15. And that, considering the army hath been represented over to your majesty from this council, and in a manner from the body of this whole kingdom, to be of absolute necessity, to give comfort to the quiet minds in their honest labours, to contain the licentious spirits within the modest bounds of sobriety, it consists not with your majesty's wisdom to give unto the world, no, not the appearance of so much improvidence in your own counsels, of so much for getfulness in a case of their safety, as to leave that pillar of your authority and their peace unset for continuance, at least one six months before the wearing forth of their contribution.

Sect. 16, 17, 18. We do 16. Therefore your majesnot conceive that hereby you ty was well assured, in conpurpose easily to relinquish formity to the rules of reason any of our demands, for all and judgment, they would which you have laid so fair presently grant three suband solid grounds. And con- sidies, to be paid in three sidering the payment of the years, to disengage the crown army is absolutely necessary of fourscore thousand pound to be borne by the country, debt, and continue their they cannot pretend by their quarterly payments towards three subsidies to make a fit- the army four years longer, ting recognition of respect in which time it was hopeful for our coming to the crown (suitable to your gracious inwithout that last addition to tentions) some other expedibuy in rents and pensions. ent might be found out to maintain the army without farther charge to them at all; which law past, they shou'd have as much leisure to enact for themselves at after as they could desire, either now or in winter. Nay, your majesty wou'd be graciously pleased, with the assistance of your concil, to advise seriously with them, that nothing might remain either anthought of or deny'd conducing to the pubhe good of this kingdom; but if they made difficulty to proceed with your majesty in this manner, other counsels must be thought of, and little to be rely'd or expected for from

them.

17. I am not to flatter your majesty so far as to raise any hope on that side that all this shou'd be granted but by pressing both, and especially the continuance of the quarterly payments to the army, which they dread above any earthly thing. I conceive it probable that, to determine and lay asleep (as they think) the contribution, and in acknowledgment of your majesty's happy access to the crown, they may be drawn to a present gift of three subsidies, payble in three years, which alone wou'd keep the army on foot during that time, and if my calculation hold, almost discharge the debt of the crown besides.

18. For thus I make my estimate: the contribution from the country is now but twenty thousand pounds sterling by the year, whereas I have good reason to trust each subsidy will raise thirty thousand pounds sterling, and so there will be ten thousand pounds for three years over and above the establishment; which thirty thousand pounds sterling, well and profitably issued, will, I trust, with honour to your majesty, and moderate satisfaction of the parties, strike eff the whole fourscore thousand pounds Irish which in present presseth so sore upon this crown.

Sect. 19, 20, 21, 22. We 19. And then, sir, after that like well the appointing of in Michaelmas term all benesuch a committee, and we re- ficial acts for the subject be fer the nomination to yourself. thought of, as many, no fewWe have also given order to er nor no more, enacted, than some of our council here, with were fit in honour and wis

the assistance of our attorneygeneral, to consider of the graces, that nothing pass by law which may prejudice our

crown.

dom to be granted; if, for a conclusion to this Parlia ment, we could gain from them other two subsidies, to buy in rents and pensions, to ten thousand pounds yearly value (a thing they are inclinable unto, as is mention'd in my despatch to the lord-treasurer), I judge there were a happy issue of this meeting; and that it shou'd, through God's blessing, appear to the world in a few years you had, without charge, made a more absolute conquest of this nation by your wisdom than all your royal progenitors have been able to accomplish by their armies, and vast expense of treasure and blood.

20. These being the ends, in my poor opinion, which are to be desired and attained, the best means to dispose and fit all concurring causes thereunto are not to be forgotten; and therefore, as preparatives, I make bold to offer these ensuing particulars:

21. It seems to be very convenient a committee be forthwith appointed of some few of us here, to take into consideration all the bills intended when there was a Parliament to have been called in the time of my Lord Falkland; such as shall be judged beneficial, to make them ready; such as may be of too much prejudice to the crown, to lay them aside; and to draw up others, which may chance to have been then omitted. This work may be by the committees either quickened or foreslowen, as the Parliament proceeds either warmer or cooler in your majesty's supplies.

22. Next, that your majesty's acts of grace, directed to my Lord Falkland the 24th of May, 1628, may be considered by such of your council in England as shall please your majesty to appoint, there being many matters therein contained which in a law wou'd not futurely so well sort with the power requisite to be upheld in this kingdom, nor yet with your majesty's present profit; which hath persua ded me to except against such as I hold best to be silently passed over, and to transmit a paper thereof to my lord

treasurer.

Sect. 23. We approve the reformation of these pressures and extortions by examples and by commissions, by our own authority, but by no means to be done by Parliament.

course.

23. It is to be feared the meaner sort of subjects here live under the pressures of the great men, and there is a general complaint that officers exact much larger fees than of right they ought to do. To help the former, if it be possible, I will find out two or three to make examples of; and to remedy the latter, grant out a commission for examining, regulating, and setting down tables of fees in all your courts, so as they shall find your majesty's goodness and justice watching and caring for their protection and ease both in private and public respects. Sect. 24. We allow of this 24. I shall endeavour the lower House may be so composed as that neither the recusants, nor yet the Protestants, shall appear considerably more one than the other, holding them as much as may be upon an equal balance, for they will prove thus easier to govern than if either party were absolute. Then wou'd I, in private discourse, show the recusant that, the contribu tion ending in December next, if your majesty's army were not supply'd some other way before, the twelve pence a Sunday must of necessity be exacted upon them; and show the Protestant that your majesty must not let go the twenty thousand pounds contribution, nor yet discontent the other in matters of religion, till the army were some way else certainly provided for; and convince them both that the present quarterly payments are not so burdensome as they pretend them to be, and that by the graces they have had already more benefit than their money came to: thus poising one by the other, which single might perchance prove more unhappy to deal with.

Sect. 25. To make captains 25. I will labour to make and officers burgesses we alto- as many captains and officers gether dislike, because it is burgesses as possibly I can, fitter they attend their char- who, having immediate deges at that time. Make your pendance upon the crown, choice rather by particular may almost sway the business knowledge of men's interests betwixt the two parties which and good affections to our way they please.

service.

Sect. 26. In the higher 26. In the higher House, House, for the Prelates, we your majesty will have, I have written our special letter trust, the bishops wholly for to the Primate of Armagh, you. The titular lords, rathaddressing him therein to be er than come over themdirected by yourself. selves, will put their proxies into such safe hands as may be thought of on this side; and in the rest, your majesty hath such interest, what out of duty to the crown, and obnoxiousness in themselves, as I do not apprehend much any difficulty among them.

Sect. 27. For the Peers, 27. To these, or to any

that their prozies may be well thing else directed by your disposed, we wou'd have you majesty, I will, with all possend with speed the names of sible diligence, apply myself those there in whom you re- so soon as I shall understand pose special trust. And in your pleasure therein, most case your list cannot be here humbly beseeching you will in time, we will give order take it into your gracious that all the proxies be sent to memory how much your maj you with blanks to be assigned esty's speedy resolution in there. In general, for the this great business imports better preventing of practices the prosperity of your affairs and disorders, you shall suf- in this place, and in that re

1. I come to pay the last debt we owe to sin.

2. Rise to righteousness.

3. Die willingly.

4. Forgive all.

5. Submit to what is voted justice, but my intentions innocent from subverting, &c.

6. Wishing nothing more than great prosperity to king and people.

7. Acquit the king constrained. 8. Beseech to repent.

9. Strange way to write the beginning of reformation and settlement of a kingdom in blood on themselves.

10. Beseech that demand may rest there.

11. Call not blood on themselves.

12. Die in the faith of the Church.

13. Pray for it, and desire their prayers with me.