A Fourth, To disaffect the King to Parliaments by slanders and false imputations, and by putting him upon other wayes of supply, which in shew and appearance were fuller of advantage, then the ordinary course of Subsidies, though in truth they brought more losse then gain, both to the King and people, and have caused the great distractions, under which we both suffer.
AS in all compounded bodies, the Operations are qualified according to the predominant Element; So in this mixt party, the Jesuited Councells being most active, and prevailing, may easily be discovered to have had the greatest sway in all their determinations, and if they be not prevented, are likely to devour the rest, or to turn them into their own nature.
In the beginning of His Majesties raign, the partie begun to revive and flourish again, having been somewhat dampt by the breach with Spain in the last yeer of King James, and by His Majesties marriage with France; the interests and Councells of that State, being not so contrary to the good of Religion, and the prosperity of this Kingdom, as those of Spain, and the Papists of England having been ever more addicted to Spain, then France; Yet they still retained a purpose, and resolution to weaken the Protestant parties in all parts, and even in France, whereby to make way for the change of Religion, which they intended at home.
The first effect and evidence of their recovery and strength was, the dissolution of the Parliament at Oxford, after there had been given two Subsidies to His Majestie; and before they received relief in any one Grievance, many other more miserable effects followed. The losse of the Rochel Fleet, by the help of our Shipping set forth and delivered over to the French, in opposition to the advice of Parliament, which left that Town without defence by Sea, and made way not only to the losse of that important place, but likewise to the losse of all the strength and security of the Protestant Religion in France. The diverting of His Majesties course of warres from the West-Indies, which was the most facile and hopefull way for this Kingdom to prevail against the Spaniard, to an expensefull and successelesse attempt upon Cales, which was so ordered, as if it had rather been intended to make us weary of Warre, then to prosper in it. The precipitate breach which France by taking their Ships to a great value, without making recompence to the English, whose goods were thereupon imbar’d, and confiscate in that Kingdom. The peace with Spain without consent of Parliament, contrary to the promise of King James, to both Houses; whereby the Palatine cause was diserted and left to chargeable, and hopelesse Treaties, which for the most part were managed by those who might justly be suspected to be no friends to that cause.
The charging of the Kingdom with Billetted Souldiers in all parts of it, and that Concomitant designe of Germane horse, that the Land might either submit with fear, or be enforced with rigour to such Arbitrary Contributions, as should be required of them. The dissolving of the Parliament in the second yeer of His Majesties raign, after a Declaration of their intent, to grant five Subsidies.
The exacting of the like proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament dissolved, by Commission of Loan; and divers Gentlemen and others imprisoned for not yeilding to pay that Loan, whereby many of them contracted such sicknesses, as cost them their lives. Great summes of Money required and raised by Privy Seals. An unjust and pernicious attempt to extort great payments from the subject, by way of Excise; and a Commission issued under Seal to that purpose. The Petition of Right, which was granted in full Parliament, blasted with an illegall Declaration, to make it destructive to it self, to the power of Parliament, to the Liberty of the Subject, and to that purpose printed with it; and the Petition made of no use, but to shew the bold and presumptuous injustice of such Ministers as durst break the Laws, and suppresse the Liberties of the Kingdom, after they had been so solemnly and evidently declared.
Another Parliament dissolved, 4 Car. the priviledge of Parliament broken, by imprisoning divers Members of the House, detaining them close prisoners for many months together, without the liberty of using Books, Pen, Inke, or Paper, denying them all the comforts of life, all means of preservation of health, not permitting their wives to come unto them, even in time of their sicknesse. And for the compleating of that cruelty, after yeers spent in such miserable durance, depriving them of the necessary means of Spirituall consolation, not suffering them to go abroad to enjoy Gods Ordinances, in Gods House, or Gods Ministers to come to them, to administer comfort unto them in their private Chambers: and to keep them still in this oppressed condition, not admitting them to be Bayled according to Law, yet vexing them with Informations in inferiour Courts, sentencing and fining some of them for matters done in Parliament, and extorting the payments of those Fines from them, enforcing others to put in security of good behaviour, before they could be released.
The imprisonment of the rest which refused to be bound, still continued; which might have been perpetuall, if necessity had not, the last yeer, brought another Parliament to relieve them; of whom, one died, by the cruelty and harshnesse of his imprisonment, which would admit of no relaxation, notwithstanding the imminent danger of his life, did sufficiently appear by the declaration of his Physitian: And his release, or at least, his refreshment, was sought by many humble Petitions. And his blood still cries either for vengeance, or repentance of those Ministers of State, who at once obstructed the course, both of his Majesties Justice and Mercy.
Upon the dissolution of both these Parliaments, untrue and scandalous declarations published, to asperse their proceedings, and some of their Members, unjustly to make them odious, and colour the violence which was used against them. Proclamations set out to the same purpose; and to the great dejecting of the hearts of the people, forbidding them, even to speak of Parliaments.