A Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom

by England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons; Henry Elsynge

The unexpected reconciliation was most acceptable to all the Kingdome, except to the malignant partie, whereof the Archbishop and the Earle of Strafford being heads, they and their faction begun to enveigh against the Peace, and to aggravate the proceeding of the States, which so incensed His Majestie, that he forthwith prepared again for Warre. And such was their confidence, that having corrupted and distempered the whole frame and Government of the Kingdome, they did now hope to corrupt that which was the onely means to restore all to a right frame and Temper again: to which end they perswaded His Majestie to call a Parliament, not to seek Counsell and advice of them, but to draw Countenance and Supply from them, and engage the whole Kingdome in their Quarrell: and in the mean time continued all their unjust Levies of Money, resolving either to make the Parliament pliant to their Will, and to establish mischief by a Law, or else to break it; and with more colour to go on by violence, to take what they could not obtain by consent. The ground alledged for the justification of this Warre was this.

That the undutifull Demands of the Parliaments of Scotland, was a sufficient reason for His Maiestie to take Armes against them without hearing the Reason of those Demands, And thereupon a new Armie was prepared against them, their Ships were seized in all Ports, both of England and Ireland, and at Sea. Their Petitions reiected; their Commissioners refused Audience. This whole Kingdome most miserably distempered with Levies of Men and Money, and Imprisonments of those who denied to submit to those Levies. The Earle of Strafford past into Ireland, caused the Parliament there to declare against the Scots, to give foure Subsidies towards that War; and to ingage themselves, their lives and fortunes for the prosecution of it, and gave directions for an Armie of eight thousand foot, and one thousand horse to be levied there, which were for the most part Papists. The Parliament met upon the thirteenth of April, one thousand six hundred and fourtie. The Earle of Strafford and Archbishop of Canterbury with their Partie so prevailed with His Maiestie, that the House of Commons was prest to yeeld to a Supply for maintenance of the Warre with Scotland, before they had provided any reliefe for the great and pressing Grievances of the people, which being against the fundamentall Priviledge and proceeding of Parliament, was yet in humble respect to his Maiestie, so far admitted, as that they agreed to take the matter of Supply into consideration, and two severall dayes it was debated. Twelve Subsidies were demanded for the release of Ship-money alone; A third day was appointed for Conclusion when the Heads of that Partie begun to fear the people might close with the King in satisfying his desire of Money: But that withall they were like to blast their malicious designes against Scotland, finding them verie much indisposed to give any countenance to that Warre.

Thereupon they wickedly advised the King to break off the Parliament, and to return to the wayes of Confusion, in which their own evill intentions were most like to prosper and succeed.

After the Parliament ended the fifth of May, one thousand six hundred and fourty, this Partie grew so bold, as to counsell the King to supply Himself out of his Subiects states by his own power, at his own Will, without their consent. The very next day some Members of both Houses had their Studies and Cabinets, yea their Pockets searched: Another of them not long after was committed close prisoner for not delivering some Petitions which he received by authoritie of that House, and if harsher courses were intended (as was reported) it is very probable that the sicknesse of the Earl of Strafford and the Tumultuous rising in Southwarke, and about Lambeth, were the causes that such violent intentions were not brought to execution. A false and scandalous Declaration against the House of Commons was published, in his Maiesties Name, which yet wrought little effect with the people, but onely to manifest the impudence of those who were Authors of it.

A forced Loan of Money was attempted in the Citie of London.

The Lord Major and Aldermen in their severall Wards enioyned to bring in a list of the Names of such persons as they iudged fit to lend, and of the summe they should lend. And such Aldermen as refused so to do were committed to prison.

The Archbishop and the other Bishops and Clergie continued the Convocation, and by a new Commission turned it to a Provinciall Synod, in which by an unheard of presumption, they made Canons that contain in them many matters contrarie to the Kings Prerogative, to the fundamentall Laws and Statutes of the Realm, to the right of Parliaments, to the Propertie and Libertie of the Subiect, and matters tending to sedition and of dangerous consequence, thereby establishing their own Vsurpations, justifying their Altar-worship, and those other superstitious Innovations which they formerly introduced, without warrant of Law.

They imposed a new Oath upon divers of his Maiesties Subiects, both Ecclesiasticall and Lay, for maintenance of their own Tyrannie, and laid a great Tax upon the Clergy for supply of his Maiestie; and generally they shewed themselves very affectionate to the Warre with Scotland, which was by some of them stiled Bellum Episcopale, and a prayer composed, and enioyned to be read in all Churches, calling the Scots, Rebels, to put the two Nations into blood, and make them irreconciliable. All those pretended Canons and Constitutions were armed with the severall Censures of Suspension, Excommunication, Deprivation, by which they would have thrust out all the good Ministers, and most of the well affected people of the Kingdome, and left an easie passage to their own Designe of Reconciliation with Rome. The Popish party enioyned such Exemptions from the Penall Laws as amounted to a Tolleration, besides many other encouragements, and Court favours: They had a Secretarie of State, S^ir. Francis Windibank, a powerfull Agent for the speeding of all their desires, a Popes Nuntio residing here to act and govern them according to such influences as he received from Rome, and to intercede for them with the most powerfull concurrence of the forraigne Princes of that religion: By his authoritie the Papists of all sorts, Nobility, Gentry, and Clergie were convocated, after the manner of a Parliament, new Iurisdictions were erected of Romish Archbishops, Taxes levied, another State moulded within this State independant in Government, contrary in interest and affection, secretly corrupting the Ignorant, or negligent professors of our Religion, and closely uniting and combining themselves against such as were sound, in this posture waiting for an opportunitie by force to destroy those whom they could not hope to seduce. For the effecting whereof, they were strengthened with Armes and Munition, encouraged by superstitious Prayers enioyned by the Nuntio to be weekly made for the prosperitie of some great designe. And such power had they at Court, that secretly a Commission was issued out, intended to be issued to some great Men of that profession for the levying of Souldiers, and to command and employ them according to private Instructions, which we doubt were framed for the advantage of those who were the contrivers of them: His Maiesties Treasure was consumed, his Revenew anticipated, His Servants and Officers compelled to lend great summes of Money; Multitudes were called to the Councell Table, who were tired with long attendances there, for refusing illegall payments. The Prisons were filled with their Commitments; many of the Sheriffes summoned into the Starre Chamber, and some imprisoned for not being quicke enough in levying the Ship-money, the people languished under grief, and fear, no visible hope being left, but in desperation. The Nobility began to be wearie of their silence, and patience, and sensible of the dutie and Trust which belongs to them: and thereupon some of the most eminent of them did petition His Maiesty at such a time when evil Councels were so strong that they had reason to expect more hazard to themselves, then redresse of those publike evils for which they interceded, whilest the Kingdome was in this Agitation and distemper, the Scots restrained in their Trades, impoverished by the losse of many of their Ships, bereaved of all possibility of satisfying His Majestie by any naked Supplication, entred with a powerfull Army into the Kingdome, and without any hostile Act or spoil in the Countrey as they passed, more then forcing a passage over the Tyne at Newborne, neer Newcastle, possessed themselves of Newcastle, and had a fair opportunitie to presse on further upon the Kings Armie: but dutie and Reverence to his Majestie, and brotherly love to the English Nation, made them stay there, whereby the King had leasure to entertain better Councels, wherein God so blessed and directed him, that he summoned the great Councell of Peers to meet at Yorke, upon the twentie fourth of September, and there declared a Parliament to begin the third of Novemb. then following. The Scots the first day of the great Councell, presented an humble Petition to His Majestie, whereupon the Treatie was appointed at Rippon. A present Cessation of armes agreed upon: and the full Conclusion of all differences referred to the wisedome and care of the Parliament. At our first meeting all Oppositions seemed to vanish, the mischieves were so evident, which those evil Councellors produced, that no Man durst stand up to defend them. Yet the work it self afforded difficultie enough. The multiplied evils and corruption of sixteen yeers strengthened by custome and authoritie, and the concurrent interest of many powerfull delinquents were now to be brought to iudgement and Reformation. The Kings Houshold was to be provided for, they had brought him to that want, that he could not supply His Ordinarie, and necessarie expences, without the assistance of his people. Two Armies were to be paied, which amounted very neer to 80. thousand pounds a moneth; the people were to be tenderly charged, having been formerly exhausted with many burthensome Proiects. The difficulties seemed to be insuperable, which by the Divine Providence we have overcome. The Contrarieties incompatible, which yet in a great measure we have reconciled. Six Subsidies have been granted, and a Bill of Poll-money, which if it be duely levied, may equall six Subsidies more in all: Six hundred thousand pounds. Besides we have contracted a Debt to the Scots of 220. thousand pounds; and yet God hath so blessed the endeavours of this Parliament, that the Kingdom is a great gainer by all these charges. The Ship-money is abolished, which cost the Kingdome above 200. thousand pounds a yeer. The Coat and Conduct money, and other militarie charges, are taken away, which in many Countreys amounted to little lesse then the Ship-money. The Monopolies are all supprest, whereof some few did preiudice the Subiect, above a Million yearly. The Soape an hundred thousand pounds; the Wine three hundred thousand pounds; the Leather must needs exceed both: and Salt could be no lesse then that, besides the inferiour Monopolies, which if they could be exactly computed, would make up a great summe. That which is more beneficiall then all this is, that the root of these evils is taken away, which was the arbitrarie power pretended to be in his Maiestie, of taxing the Subiect, or charging their estates without consent in Parliament, which is now declared to be against Law by the iudgement of both Houses, and likewise by an Act of Parliament. Another step of great advantage is this: the living Grievances, the evil Councellors and actors of these mischiefs have been so quelled, by the justice done upon the Earl of Strafford, the flight of the Lord Finch, and Secretarie Windibank. The accusation and imprisonment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, of Iudge Bartlet, and the impeachment of divers other Bishops and Iudges, that it is like not onely to be an ease to the present times, but a preservation to the future. The discontinuance of Parliaments is prevented by the Bill for a Trienniall Parliament, and the abrupt dissolution of this Parliament by another Bill; by which it is provided it shall not be dissolved or adiourned without the consent of both Houses. Which two Laws well considered, may be thought more advantagious then all the former, because they secure a full operation of the present remedie, and afford a perpetuall Spring of remedies for the future: The Star-Chamber, the High Commission, the Courts of the President, and Councell in the North, were so many forges of miserie, oppression, and violence, and are all taken away, whereby men are more secured in their persons, liberties, and estates, then they could be by any Law or Example for the regulation of those Courts, or Terror of the Iudges; The immoderate power of the Councell Table, and the excessive abuse of that power is so ordered and restrained, that we may well hope that no such things as were frequently done by them, to the prejudice of the publique libertie, will appear in future times but onely in Stories, to give us and our posteritie more occasion to praise God for His Maiesties goodnesse, and the faithfull endeavours of this Parliament. The Canons, and the power of Canon making, are blasted by the Vote of both Houses. The exorbitant power of Bishops, and their Courts, are much abated, by some Provisions in the Bill against the High Commission Court. The authors of the many innovations in Doctrine and Ceremonies; The Ministers that have been scandalous in their lives, have been so terrified in iust complaints and accusations, that we may well hope they will be more modest for the time to come; either inwardly convicted by the sight of their own folly, or outwardly restrained by the fear of punishment. The Forrests are by a good Law reduced to their right bounds; The encroachments and oppressions of the Stannarie Courts; The Extortions of the Clerk of the Market, and the Compulsion of the Subiect to receive the Order of Knighthood against his will, paying of Fines for not receiving it, and the vexatious proceedings thereupon for levying of those Fines, are by other beneficiall Laws reformed and prevented. Many excellent Laws and provisions are in preparation for removing the inordinate power, vexation, and usurpation of Bishops, for reforming the pride and Idlenesse of many of the Clergie, for easing the people of unnecessarie Ceremonies in Religion, for censuring and removing unworthy and unprofitable Ministers; and for maintaining godly and diligent Preachers through the Kingdome: Other things of many importance for the good of this Kingdome, are in proposition, though little could hitherto be done, in regard of the many other more pressing businesses, which yet before the end of this Session, we hope may receive some progresse and perfection. The establishing and ordering the Kings Revenue, that so the abuse of Officers, and superfluity of expences may be cut off, and the necessarie disbursments for his Majesties Honor, the defence and government of the Kingdome, may be more certainly provided for. The regulating of Courts of Iustice, and abridging both the delayes and charges of Law Suits; The setling of some good courses for preventing the exportation of Gold and Silver, and the inequality of exchanges betwixt us and other Nations, for the advancing of native Commodities, increase of our Manufactures, and well ballancing of Trade, whereby the Stock of the Kingdome may be increased, or at least kept from impairing, as through neglect hereof it hath done for many yeers last past; For improving the Herring fishing, upon our own Coasts, which will be of mightie use in the imployment of the poore, and a plentifull Nurserie of Mariners for inabling the Kingdome in any great Action. The oppositions, obstructions; and other Difficulties wherewith we have been encountred, and which still lye in our way with some strength and much obstinacie are these: The malignant Partie whom we have formerly described, to be the Actors and promoters of all our miserie, they have taken heart again; They have been able to preferre some of their own Factors and Agents to degrees of honour, to places of Trust and imployment even during the Parliament. They have endeavoured to work in His Maiestie ill impressions and opinions of Our proceedings, as if we had altogether done our own work, and not His, and had obtained from him many things very preiudiciall to the Crown, both in respect of Prerogative and Profit. To wipe out this slander, We think good onely to say thus much: That all that We have done, is for His Maiestie, His greatnesse, Honor, and support, when We yeelded to give 25000. l. a moneth for the relief of the Northerne Countreys, this was given to the King, for he was bound to protect his subiects, they were his Maiesties evill Counsellors, and their ill instruments that were actors in those grievances which brought in the Scots: and if his Majesty please to force those who were the authors of this warre to make satisfaction, as he might justly and easily doe, it seemes very reasonable that the people might well be excused from taking upon them this burthen, being altogether innocent, and free from being any causes of it.

When we undertooke the charge of the army, which cost above 50000. pound a moneth, was not this given to the King? was it not his Majesties army? were not all the Commanders under contract with his Majesty at higher rates and greater wages then ordinary? and have not we taken upon us to discharge all the brotherly assistance of three hundred thousand pounds which we gave the Scots? was it not toward repaire of those dammages and losses which they received from the Kings ships, and from his ministers? These three particulars amount to above 1100. thousand pound, besides his Majesty hath received by impositions upon merchandise at least 400. thousand pounds; so that his Majesty hath had out of the subjects purse since the Parliament began, one million and halfe, and yet these men can be so impudent, as to tell his Majesty, that we have done nothing for him. As to the second branch of this slander, we acknowledge with much thankfulnesse that his Majesty hath passed more good Bils to the advantage of the subjects then hath been in many ages; but withall we cannot forget, that these venomous counsels did manifest themselves in some endeavours to hinder these good Acts: And for both Houses of Parliament wee may with truth and modesty say thus much, That we have ever been carefull not to desire any thing that should weaken the Crowne either in just profit or usefull power. The trienniall Parliament, for the matter of it, doth not extend to so much as by Law we ought to have required, there being two Statutes still in force for a Parliament to be once a yeere, and for the manner of it, it is in the Kings power, that it shall never take effect, if he by a timely summons shall prevent any other way of assembling. In the Bill for continuance of this present Parliament, there seemes to be some restraint of the royall power in dissolving of Parliaments, not to take it out of the Crowne, but to suspend the execution of it for this time and occasion onely, which was so necessary for the Kings owne security, and the publique peace, that without it wee could not have undertaken any of these great charges, but must have left both the armies to disorder and confusion, and the whole Kingdome to blood and rapin. The Starchamber was much more fruitfull in oppression then in profit, the great fines being for the most part given away, and the rest stalled at long times. The fines of the high Commission were in themselves unjust and seldome or never came into the Kings purse. These foure Bils are particularly and more specially instanced, in the rest, there will not be found so much as a shadow of prejudice to the Crowne. They have sought to diminish our reputation with the people, and to bring them out of love with Parliaments: the aspersions which they have attempted this way, have beene such as these, That we have spent much time and done little, especially in those grievances which concerne Religion. That the Parliament is a burden to the Kingdome by the abundance of Protections which hinder Justice and Trade, and by many Subsidies granted much more heavy then any they formerly endured; to which there is a ready answer: If the time spent in this Parliament be considered in relation backward to the long growth and deep roote of those grievances, which wee have removed, to the powerfull supports of those delinquents which wee have pursued, to the great necessities and other charges of the Common wealth for which we have provided: or if it be considered in relation forward to many advantages, which not onely the present but future ages are like to reape by the good lawes and other proceedings in this Parliament, we doubt not but it will be thought by all indifferent judgments that our time hath beene much better imployed then in a farre greater proportion of time in many former Parliaments put together; and the charges which have beene laid upon the Subjects, and the other inconveniences which they have borne will seeme very light in respect of the benefit they have and may receive. And for the matter of Protections, the Parliament is so sensible of it, that therein they intend to give them whatsoever ease may stand with Honour and Justice; and are in a way of passing a Bill to give them satisfaction. They have sought by many subtile practices, to cause jealousies and divisions betwixt us and our brethren of Scotland, by slandering their proceedings and intentions towards us, and by secret endeavours to instigate and incense them and us one against another. They have had such a party of Bishops and popish Lords in the House of Peeres, as hath caused much opposition and delay in the prosecution of delinquents, hindred the proceedings of divers good Bils passed in the Commons House, concerning the reformation of sundry great abuses and corruptions both in Church and State. They have laboured to seduce and corrupt some of the Commons House, to draw them into Conspiracies and Combinations against the libertie of the Parliament: And by their instruments and agents they have attempted to disaffect and discontent his Majesties Army, and to ingage it for the maintenance of their wicked and trayterous designes, the keeping up of Bishops in their Votes and functions, and by force to compell the Parliament to order, limit, and dispose their proceedings in such manner as might best concurre with the intentions of this dangerous and potent faction: And when one mischievous designe, and attempt of theirs to bring on the Army against the Parliament, and the City of London had been discovered and prevented, they presently undertooke another of the same damnable nature, with this addition to it, to endeavour to make the Scotish Army neutrall, whilst the English Army which they had laboured to corrupt and invenome against us by their false and slanderous suggestions should execute their malice to the subversion of our Religion and the dissolution of our government. Thus they have beene continually practizing to disturbe the peace, and plotting the destruction even of all the Kings Dominions, and have employed their emissaries and agents in them all for the promoting of their divellish designes which the vigilancie of those who were well affected hath still discovered and defeated before they were ripe for execution in England and Scotland: only in Ireland which was farther of, they have had time and opportunity to mould and prepare their worke, and had brought it to that perfection that they had possessed themselves of that whole Kingdome, totally subverted the government of it, rooted out Religion, and destroyed all the protestants whom the conscience of their duty to God, their King and Countrey would not have permitted to joyne with them, if by Gods wonderfull providence their maine enterprize upon the City and Castell of Dublin had not beene detected and prevented upon the very eave before it should have beene executed. Notwithstanding they have in other parts of that Kingdome broken out into open rebellion, surprised Townes and Castles, committed murders, rapes, and other villanies; and shaken off all bonds of obedience to his Majesty, and the lawes of the Realme; and in generall have kindled such a fire, as nothing but Gods infinite blessing upon the wisdome and endeavours of this State will be able to quench it: and certainely had not God in his great mercy unto this Land discovered and confounded their former designes, we had been the Prologue to this Tragedy in Ireland, and had by this time been made the lamentable spectacle of misery and confusion. And now what hope have we but in God, when as the onely means of our subsistance, and power of reformation is under him, in the Parliament; but what can we the Commons without the conjunction of the House of Lords, and what conjunction can wee expect there, when the Bishops and Recusant Lords are so numerous and prevalent, that they are able to crosse and interrupt our best endeavours for reformation, and by that meanes give advantage to this malignant party to traduce our proceedings. They infuse into the people, that we meane to abolish all Church government, and leave every man to his owne fancy for the service and worship of God, absolving him of that obedience which he owes under God unto his Majesty whom wee know to be intrusted with the ecclesiasticall law as well as with the temporall to regulate all the members of the Church of England by such rules of order and discipline as are established by parliament which is his great Councell, in all affaires both in Church and State. We confesse our intention is and our endeavours have been to reduce within bounds that exorbitant power which the prelates have assumed unto themselves so contrary both to the Word of God, and to the Laws of the Land, to which end wee past the Bill for the removing them from their temporall power, and imployments, that so the better they might with meekenesse apply themselves to the discharge of their functions, which Bill themselves opposed, and were the principall instruments of crossing it.