borrowed upon the Publike Faith; which had been nothing worth, if that Parlia ment could have been dissolved at the King's pleasure. And where it was objected, That no King ever granted the like before; they answered, It was evident, that no King before ever made so great a necessity for a Parliament to require it. And besides that, in the constitution of Englands Government, it was never the meaning of the Law-givers, that the King should dissolve any Parliament, whilest the great Affaires of the Kingdome were depend ing; and though the King had used to do so, it was neverthelesse unlawful. The Scots in their Remonstrance 1640, told the King, That he had broken their Lawes in dissolving the Parliament there, against the consent of their House. And it is very well understood by those that are skilful in Lawes of both Nations, that English Parliaments have originally the same freedome. It was neverthelesse probably then thought by all, that the King would not have assented to that Act, if at that time the freshnesse of those fore-mentioned grievances in the peoples hearts, and the present discovery of that odious Treason, of bringing. an Army against the Parliament, had not made it unsafe for him to deny it. That opinion was more confirmed by the following Actions, since time, and the unconstancy of some Lords and Gentlemen, had raised him a Party. When that knot, which by Law he could not againe untie, he endeavoured to cut asunder by the Sword; as was afterwards observed in the Parliament's Declarations. CHAP. CHAP. IX. Allowance of money from the English Parliament to the An Act for putting-downe the High-Commission Court, time. 69 THE Parliament, conceiving themselves somewhat strengthened and secured by The Parliament re- disbanded. The Earle of Holland was nominated by the King, and well-approved of by the Parliament, to go-down as General, for disbanding of the English. And for the speedy disbursement of so great a summe, which was to be raised out of the Poll. Money (of which I shall speake anon) and the six Subsidies, much Plate was appointed, with more than ordinary haste, to be melted and coyned. The Reader will here, perchance, desire to be satisfied, by what meanes the Scottish Army, which the King, in the beginning of the Parliament, was so desirous to have driven-out of the Kingdome, and styled Rebels, should continue undisbanded till this time. The Cessation of Armes, which was made before to expire about the end of December last, was at that time renewed by the Parliament for a Moneth longer; who presently after tooke it into consideration, that the Scots should be satisfied for all their charges they had been at, and losses sustained, since that unhappy Warre that the King had raised against them. In the February following, after a serious debate concerning that businesse, the necessities The Scottish army and the English army at the same tine in are both August, 1641. A Poli-tax laid for this purpose. necessities of the Scots being well-weighed, and their demands considered, it was not onely agreed that their Ships, taken since that Warre, should be restored, and 4000l. in ready money given to them to rigge those Ships; but for the maine of all, it was resolved-upon by both Houses, to give the full summe of 300,000 7. in these words expressed, Towards a supply of the losses and necessities of our Brethren of Scotland; and that the Parliament would in due time take into consideration the manner of raising it, and the daies of payment. Whereupon the Scottish Commissioners, three daies after, returned thankfulnesse to the Parliament, not onely for that great summe of 300,000 l. but for the style of Brethren which they had given them. And the same weeke, to continne and further strengthen the amity of both Nations, the Parliament of England Ordained that all Books, Libels, and Proclamations against the Scots, should be called-in; and a thanksgiving to God should be in all Churches thorow England, for the happy conclusion of that peace. But before the time came that the Parliament, pressed with so many great and weighty Affaires, could have leisure to consider and fully determine the times for payment of that great summe to the Scots (which was not till the 19th day of the following June, when it was concluded, that they should receive 100,000 i. of it at Midsummer come twelve Moneths, and the other 200,000l. at Midsummer two yeares after) the Scots presented many Papers to the House at several times, for money to supply the wants of their Army; which were friendly entertained and considered by the Parliament. For that Army was kept long undisbanded; insomuch as about the end of the following May, there was in Arreare due to the Scottish Army (besides the gift of 300,000!.) 120,000 l So great a charge was the Parliament of England content to be at, rather than suffer the Scots to go, till businesses were better settled; which gave occasion to many of the Clergy, and others not well-affected to the Parliament, not onely in discourse, but also in written Libels, to taxe the Parliament, and impute it to them as a crime, of too much distrust of the King; and that they kept a forraigne Army to awe their owne Prince. But certaine it is, that since that time, when the forenamed Conspiracies began to breake out, the Houses, not well assured of the King, nor fully trusting the English Army, were content that the Scots should not be disbanded, until the others were; being also doubtful of that Irish Army, which the King (as is before expressed,) had told them he could not disband, for some reasons best knowne to himselfe. Nor was that Army of Scots disbanded till August, at the same time when the English Army was, by the Earle of Holland, appointed General to that purpose. And both the Armies quietly departed, conducted to their owne homes by Order from Justices of Peace, through the several Counties. To defray so vast a charge as the payment of two great Armies, the Parliament, besides the grant of six Subsidies, imposed a Taxe seldome or never knowne, which was that of the Pell-Money, wherein the whole Kingdome were 'to be personally assessed. Every Luke at 100%. a Marquesse at 80. Earles at 601. Viscounts and Barons Barons at 401. Knights of the Bathe 301 other Knights 207. Esquires 107. every Gentleman dispending 100l. per annum, was seized or assessed] at 51. and all others of ability, to pay a competent proportion; the meanest head of the whole Kingdome was not excused under six-pence. This Bill of Poll Money was offered by the Houses to the King, together with two others of great concernment, one for putting-downe the High Commission Court, and the other for putting-downe the Starre-Chamber. But the King shewed some reluctancy in that businesse, desiring to passe only that Bill of Poll-Money for the present, and to deliberate about passing of the other two. At which the House of Commons, being certified so much by the Lords, were not well contented, and voted, that his Majesty should passe all three, or none at all. Notwithstanding, the King, upon the second of July, did, accordingly, passe the Poll-Money, and demurred upon the other two. But, understanding that the matter was so ill taken, and being loath, upon mature deliberation, to displease the King- The Court of High dome at that time, he came againe upon the following Tuesday, being the fifth of Commission, and the July, and passed the other two, for putting-downe the High-Commission Court and ber, are abolished, Court of Star-Cham the Starre-Chamber July 5, 1641. Many of the Courtiers, and neerest servants about the King, were very sorry that his Majesty, seeing that he passed those two Bills so soone after, had not freely done it at the same time (as was desired) together with the Poll-Money: Because it might be thought an unwillingnesse in him, and that his heart (which was then feared) did not perfectly concurre with his People's desires: Whereby much of the thanks, which so great a grace, freely and forwardly expressed, might have deserved, did seeme in a manner dost. } The King, therefore, at the passing of those two Bills, told them as much, That He could not but be sensible of those reports of discontent, which he had heard was taken by some, for his not passing them before; and thought it very strange, that two things of so great importance should be expected from him, without an allow ance of time to consider of them: That he wondred they could harbour any discontent, if they remembred how wuch he had done this Parliament, as his granting that the Judges hereafter should hold their places quam diù se benè gesserint; bounding the Forrest-Lawes; taking-away Ship-money; establishing the Subjects property in Tonnage and Poundage; granting the Triennial Parliament; free Justice against Delinquents. With other things; Concluding graciously, That He would omit nothing which might give them just content. And, when he had signed the forenamed Bills, after a short mention of the journey which he intended speedily to take into Scotland; he propounded to them a thing very acceptable, concerning his Nephew, the Prince Elector Palatine, that The King publishes he could not but (at the desire of that Prince) send an Ambassadour to assist him a Manifesto, to the at the Dyet at Ratisbone with the Emperour: and, fearing that he should not re- many, in favour of Emperour of Ger-ceive so good an Answer as might in justice be expected, he (for the better coun- his nephew, the tenancing that businesse,) intended to publish a Manifesto in his owne name; tine, in July 1641. Prince Elector Pala but Which Manifesto was afterwards made by the full consent of both Houses, and Sir THOMAS ROE, a Member of the House, and a Gentleman of great abilities, was sent to the Emperour at Ratisbone about it; but without any good successe. At the same time the Queene-Mother of France, as was before desired by the Parof France withdraws liament, was to take her leave of England. The King consented to her departure; The Queene-Mother from England, in July, 1641. but, Money being wanting for the Provision of her Journey, the Parliament allotted ten thousand pounds to her, out of the Poll-Money. This great Lady had arrived in England almost three years before, and so long been entertained by the King, her Sonne in Law, with great respect, and an allowance answerable to support her State, 100l. per diem. It was her misfortune, (how farre her crime, I cannot tell) that, during her abode here, the two Kingdomes of England and Scotland were embroyled in great troubles; which the People were apt to impute in some measure to her counsels, knowing what power the Queene, her Daughter, had with the King. Others taxed her not at all, but looked-upon other causes, the same counsels, which, long before her arrival, had distempered England; but the people made their judgement upon it, from her actions, or successes, in other places. But, however it were, the Queene was feareful of the people here, and had, not long before, desired to have a guard allowed her, pretending feare of her life, by reason of some attempts, which she conceived to have been made against her; which a Guard was set about her house. upon Of her Character and conduct. but would not do it but by consent and advice of Parliament; without which he conceived it would be a thing of no validity. And soon after dies at Cullein, or Cologn, in Germany. Her Regency in France had not beene happy, nor according to the interest of that Kingdome; though that, perchance, may be accounted a fault, not so particular to her as commonly incident to the Regency of Queene-Mothers in that Land: In so much as THUANUS commends the saying of CHARLES the Ninth (a Prince whom otherwise he doth not praise) upon his death-bed, That, since he must dye at that age, (being foure and twenty) he thanked God he had no Sonne, least France should fall under a Regency, of which he had found the sad effects. His Mother was KATHARINE DE MEDICIS, of the same Family with this Queené. After the time of her Regency, her actions had been such, that the King her Sonne would not harbour her in his owne Kingdome; nor was she welcome into the Territories of her Sonne in Law, the King of Spaine. But the people there were no lesse desirous of her departure than afterward in England. Insomuch as she became a strange example of the instability of humane fortunes, that so great a Queen, and Mother to so many mighty Princes, should want a quiet Harbour for her age. Not long after her departure from England, she died at Culleine, and might seeme a parallel, in some things, to the famous Empresse of Rome who founded that City, and there planted a Roman Colony, AGRIPPINA, the wife of CLAUDIUS CESAR, and the Mother of NERO. They both had tasted of power, been active in it, but not pleasing to the people. They were both taught, that the greatnesse of their Sonnes, was |