The several Votes and Resolutions agreed upon by both Houses of PARLIAMENT. Concerning the securing of the kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales. Die Martij. 15. 1641. Printed by Order of both houses of Parliament. ALSO THE BILL Of four Subsidies for the relief of the Kings Army, was disputed on by a Grand Committee, And upon the debate, made choice of Sir simon dews. Who speak as followeth. March 9th. 1641. London, Printed for John Thomas, 1641. several Votes Resolved upon by both Houses of Parliament. Resolved upon the Quest, by the Lords in Parl. nemine contradicente. THat the Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, for the safety and defence of the kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, is not any way against the Oath of Allegiance. Resolved upon the Question. That the several Commissions, granted under the Great seal, to the lieutenants of the several Counties, are illegal and void. Resolved upon the Question. That whosoever shall execute any Power over the Militia of this kingdom, and Dominion of Wales, by colour of any Commission of Lievtenancy, without consent of both Housrs of Parliament, shall be accounted a disturber of the peace of the kingdom. Die Martis, 15. Martij. 1641. Resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons in Parliament. THat the kingdom hath been of late, and still is in so evident and eminent danger, both from enemies abroad, and a Popish and discontented party at home; That there is an urgent and inevitable necessity of putting his Majesties Subjects into a posture of defence, for the safeguard both of his Majesty, and his people. That the Lords and Commons fully apprehending this danger, & being sensible of their own duty; to provide a suitable prevention, Have, in several Petitions, addressed themselves to his Majesty, for the Ordering and disposing of the Militia of the kingdom▪ in such a way, as was agteed upon by the wisdom of both Houses, to be most effectual and proper: for the present Exigents of the kingdom; yet could not obtain it, but his Majesty did several times refuse to give his royal assent thereunto. Ordered, That the House of Peers agrees with the House of Commons in this Proposition. Resolved upon the Question by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That in this case of extreme danger, and of his Majesties refusal, the Ordinance agreed on by both Houses, for the Militia▪ doth oblige the People, and ought to be obeied, by the fundamental laws of this kingdom. Resolved upon the Question. That these shall be the Heads of a Declaration. Resolved upon the Question. That such Persons as shall be nominated Deputy-Lievtenants, and approved of by both Houses, shall receive the Commands of both Houses, to take upon them to Execute their Offices. Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That these several Votes be published in print. The Bill of four subsidies for the relief of the Kings Army, was disputed on by a Grand Committee, March 9. 1641. THis Bill for the relief of the Kings Army having been drawn by a Committee, Cambridge was placed before Oxford, whereupon it was committed to be disputed and debated in a Grand Committee. And when it came to that clause where Cambridge was placed before Oxford, many of the House that had been Oxford men cried to have Oxford placed first, for which Cambridge cried that the Bill should stand as it was, And thereupon the Oxford men called to have it put to the question, And divers Cambridge men called upon Sir simon dews, being then present at the Committee, which drew him to speak as followeth; I humbly desire to persuade if it may be the dcclining of the present question and the further dispute of the business we have had a long debate about the placing the said Cambridge before Oxford, in the said Bill I account no honour to Cambridge, that it got the precedence by voices at the former Committee, nor will it be any glory to Oxford to gain it by voices here, where we all know the multitude of borough Towns of the Western parts of England, which do sand so many worthy Members hither, as if we measure things by number, and not by weight, Cambridge is sure to loose it, J would propound a more noble way and means for the present controversy now in question, In which if the University of Oxford, which J do highly respect and honour shall obtain the prise, it will be far more glory to it, then to carry it by multitude of Voices, Let us therefore dispute it by reason, and not make an idol of either place, And if J shall be so convinced, I shall readily change my Vote, wishing we may find the same Ingenuity in the Oxford men as with Cambridge men. There are two principal Respects, in which these famous Universities may claim precedence each of other. 1. In respect of their being as they were places of note in the Elder Ages. 2. As they were ancient Nurseries. If J do not therefore prove that Cambridge was a renowned City at least 200. yeares before there was a House of Oxford standing, And whilst brute Beasts fed, or corn sown in that place where the same City is now seated, and that Cambridge was a Nursery of Learning before Oxford was known to have a grammar school in it, J will yield up the Bucklers. If I should loose time to reckon up the vain Allegations produced for the Antiquity of Oxford by Twine, and of Cambridge by Cain, J should but repeat the failing of the Ancient, for J account the most of that they have published in Print to be no better, But I find by authority without exception, that in the ancient Catalogue of the Brittaines, Cambridge is the 9th. in number, where London itself is but the 11th. And who would have thought that Oxford would have contended for precedency with Cambridge, which London gave it 100. yeares since. This I find in Albania's british story, who dyed about the year 520: being the ancientest domestic Monument, we have in the Saxon Annomia's Story written in latin, touching the Brittaines and Saxons, page. 39. Who saith of himself, that he lived in the dayes of Penda King of the Persians, in the 12. year of his reign. And that he knew him well, which fals out to be near upon the year, 620. And now I find the same Catalogue of the said british Cities▪ with some little variation to be set down in Nehemias latin story of britain, page. 38. And he wrote the same as he says of himself 883. They all call it Cair-grant, the word Cair is the old Celtique tongue, signifying City. These three Stories are exquisite and rare Monuments remaining yet onely in ancient Maniscripts amongst us, not known to many but the authority of them is irrefragable and without exception. This Cair-grant is not onely expounded by Alfred of Beverley to signify Cambridge, but also by William de Ramsey, Abbot of Croyland, in his Maniscript Story of the life of Guchlacus, ignorantly in those Elder dayes reputed a Saint, the said William goes further, and says it was called a Granta Flumine, this place still remained a City of famed and repute a long time under the reign of the English Saxons, and is called in many of the old Manuscript Saxon Annalis antiquus, And notwithstanding the great devastations it suffered with other places by reason of the Danish incursions, yet in the first volume of the book of doomsday, for now I come to City Records, it appears to have been a place of considerable moment, having in it decem custodias, and a Castle of great strength and extent, and so I have done with Cambridge as a Renowned place. And now J come to speak of it, as it hath been a Nursery of learning, nor will I begin higher with it then the time of the learned Saxon Monarch King Alfred, because J suppose that no man will question or gainsay, but that there are sufficient testimonies of certain persons that did together in Cambridge study the Arts, and Sciences, much about his time, and it grew to be so famous for Learning about the time of William the first, the Normaine, that he sent his younger Son Henry thither to be there instructed, who himself being afterwards King of England, by the name of Henry the first, who was also surnamed Beuclarke in respect of his great and in-vulgar knowledge, if I should undertake to allege and vouch the Records, and other Monuments of good Authority which assert and Prove the increase and flourishing estate in the succeeding ages, I should spend more time then our weighty occasions at this time will permit. It shall therefore suffice to have added, that the most ancient and first endowed college of England was valemce called in Cambridge, which long after the foundation thereof as appears by one of our Parliament rolls remaining upon record in the Tower of London, received the name of Pembrooke-hall, it is in Rot. Parl: Anno 38. Hen. 6. Numb. 31. It appearing therefore so evidently by all that I have said, that Cambridge is in all respects the elder Sister, which I speak not to derogate from Oxford. My humble advice therefore is that wee lay aside the present question, as well to avoid division amongst ourselves, as to entomb all furthur emulation between the two Sisters, and that wee suffer the present Bill to pass as it is now penned, and the rather because I think Oxford had the precedence in the last Bill of this nature, that passed this House. FINIS.