Mercurii, 5 Decembris

Decay of Trade.

Mr. Delbridge moveth, concerning the great Decay of Trade in their Parts. - Much greater now, than at the last Recess, by reason of Pirates, Turkish and French. -

Privilege - King's Letter.

Moveth, to bend all our Consultations, and Endeavours, for Defence of Religion, and the State of our Kingdom. - The Assyrian Lepers. - 1. To petition the King over and over.

Sir Ro. Phillippes : - Now the Time, to justify to his Majesty the loyal and dutiful Proceedings of this House, and to maintain our Privileges. -

Remembereth all our Proceedings this Parliament; to see, whether any of them have deserved that, which now upon us. -

At the first Access, the Memory fresh of the late Dissolution of then Parliament, and of that which happened after; yet with Silence passed it over, resting upon the King's Word by Mr. Secretary. - Have never meddled with Impositions (though highly concerning the Subjects Interest)to make this, a Parliament only of Union. We have broken all former Precedents, in giving Two Subsidies at the Beginning of a Parliament. In the Matter of Ireland, &c. forbore to proceed, upon Signification . . the King's Pleasure. - That the King meriteth all this. - Wisheth, we could do more for him, - Have given him One Subsidy now more, contrary to the Provision, in the last Act of Subsidy.

What then the Cause of this Soul-killing Letter from his Majesty ? - Termeth it so, in respect of the great Grief by it to his Subjects Souls. -

That our Consultations here, about War, grew from the Three Lords Relation, as was conceived, by the King's Direction. - Told us, the Palatinate lost, without a War: That nothing now, but a War, to recover the Palatinate. Upon this, we took Consideration of necessary Consequences; viz. of Religion; and therein to consider of the Causes, Dangers, and Remedies. - No other End in this, but God's Glory, and the Assurance of his Majesty, and his Posterity. - Professeth, these his only Ends; else desireth not God's Blessing here, nor Pardon hereafter. - No Breach upon the King's Prerogative hereby. No Petition, but an Information. -

Quid faciendum, now considerable. - 1. To endeavour to stand right in his Majesty's Opinion : 2ly, To justify our Proceedings, with that Duty, that fit; submitting all to our Majesty's Judgment: 3ly, To justify our Privileges. For this, a Committee to search Precedents in like Cases.

Sir Edw. Gyles: - Not disheartened. - When made the first Propositions for Religion, the Match, &c. never doubted, but should be opposed by our great Enemy. This now happening, why should we be discouraged, and not go on to right ourselves in the Opinion of the King ? - Knoweth no Man, that hath offended: If there have, all our Faults, that have not questioned, and censured it.

Sir Tho. Wentworth, - for a Committee; and Mr. Speaker, to that End, to go presently out of his Chair.

Sir Francis Seymor: - Though Silence best befit the House now, yet will speak a little. - As our Duty forbiddeth us to touch upon the King's Prerogative, unfittingly ; so fit for us, without Fear, to stand upon the Privileges of this Kingdom, and House, which truly ours. Warrant for this by the King's own Mouth, giving us Liberty of Speech. The King misled by some about him; yea, by some Members of our own House, who misreport all, that run not their Courses, - Agreeth, a Committee. Moveth, every Man of this House may clear himself of any Misinformation to his Majesty.

Bills from Lords.

Mr. Serjeant Finch and Sir ... Hitcham bring from the Lords Two Bills: 1. Act against Transportation of Ordnance: 2ly, For Confirmation and Continuance of Grammar-schools, and Hospitals. - The Lords hoping (they being Bills of a publick Nature) the House will give condign Entertainment to them,

Privilege - King's Letter.

Sir Geor. Moore: - Hopeth, every Man here hath prayed for Direction: Hopeth, God will give good Success. - Stand now between the Indignation of our great King, and the Liberty of the Subject, and Privileges of this House. Our Liberties, our Inheritance; the Life and Blood of the Commonwealth. - If the Blood corrupt, to let it out: If sound (as hopeth it still is) to labour and cure the Wound. - To consider, what we have done. If we had audaciously rushed, to have spoken of the War, or Match; might have said, with Christ to Peter, " What is that to thee?" But we have, but as the diseased Woman, have only touched the Hem of Christ's Garment. - When the King shall know, with what Humility and Respect we have come near the Hem of his Prerogative, and by Consequences drawn what delivered us from the Lords, hopeth, he will cure this Malady, under which we now suffer. -

For the Defence of our Liberties, more dearer than our Lives, not to Leave our Place, for the King's Wrath; but, sithence all our Aims good, to make a new Petition, by way of Remonstrance to his Majesty. - A Committee, for this Purpose.

Mr. Hackwill-: - The Prerogatives of Kings daily increase: Privileges of Subjects at an everlasting Stand: If once lost, not recovered, without great Disquiet. - That good Kings not always to be expected, though blessed therewith now. - Our Ship now under a great Storm ; yet hath known Three, something like this; and hath read of Two; which blown away, and quieted, by the Wisdom of this Council. -

5o Eliz. she pressed by the House to declare her Successor; she disliked it; signified her Dislike; yet after gave Leave, and revoked her Restraint. - At the same Parliament the like, for her Marriage. - A Committee, by which a preparative Petition to the Queen ; upon which she gave Leave to proceed. -

In the King's Time, a Restraint of treating about Impositions: Yet revoked it. 2. A Commandment by Letter, punctually to answer, whether this House would receive Messages by the Speaker: Yet after released the Requiring this Answer. 3. The King sending to this House, that it had no Power to treat about Religion, &c. yet after gave way to it. -

To have a preparative Petition, to let the King know, we do not so much as petition the King in this Case, but only inform. - Moveth, a Committee.

Mr. Speaker : - This Committee to consider of a Course, 1. To set the House right with his Majesty : 2ly. To justify our Proceedings : 3ly, To maintain our Privileges. - Ordered.

The King's Letter again read by Mr. Speaker.

Some calling for a Report;

Sir Tho. Wentworth: - To stay that Report, till the King's Letter considered of.

Sir W. Earle: - That there may be Copies, both of the Letter, and Petition.

Ordered, Copies may be made to any Member of the House, both of the King's Letter, and the Declaration and Petitions, which were Yesterday resolved to be sent to his Majesty.

Sir H. Withrington blameth Mr. Speaker, for offering to go out of the Chair, without Leave. That Mr. Speaker ought to make no Motion, without Leave.- - To have a present Report made of the Message to Sir Edw. Sands.

Mr. Alford: - First to take a Course to satisfy his Majesty, and then to proceed to examine this.

Mr. Pymme accordant. - To cast Balm, to heal the Wound; and not to make it wider.

Mr. Speaker went out of his Chair.