A REMONSTRANCE OF THE State of the kingdom. TREATING Vpon every particular thing, which the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled, from their first Sitting for the space of these 12. Moneths have with their diurnal endeavours, and faithful zeal to the public good of this kingdom wrestled with all the Dangers, Grievances, Calamities, and various distempers, which overwhelmed the liberty of the Subjects, and safety of the realm▪ speaking of the present State of the whole kingdom. showing With what vigilancy they have eased this Nation from illegal Impositions, purging it from all corrupt Courts of Justice, and the pernicious mem●… rs thereof. DECLARING The excellent laws that are in preparation, for removing the inordinate Power, and usurpations of the Bishops, for reforming the idleness of many of clergy, and for maintaining godly, and diligent Preachers throughout the whole kingdom. With their unanimous Care, and So●licitation for the poor distressed Protestants in Ireland. Die Mercurii 15 Decemb. 1641. LONDON, Printed for John Greensmith 16●… The Remonstrance. THe Commons in this present Parliament assembled having with much earnestness and zeal to the public good of this kingdom, and his Majesties Honour, for the space of this 12. moneths wrestled with the great dangers, miseries, and various distempers, which had overwhelmed the liberty, peace, & prosperity of this kingdom, and almost undermined the foundation of his royal Throne; do yet find an abounding malignity in those parties and Factions; who do still labour to foment Jealosies betwixt the King and this Parliament, to the deprivation of the public peace of this realm. For the preventing of those miserable effects, which such malicious endeavours may produce, We have thought good to declare. 1 The Roote of these mischievous designs. 2 The Maturity, to which they have attained before the beginning of the Parliament. 3 The effectual means, which have been used for the extirpation of those dangerous evils, and the progress, which therein have been made by his Majesties goodness, and the wisdom of the Parliament, 4 The ways of opposition, by which that progress have interrupted. 5 The courses to be taken for the removing of those obstacles, & for the accomplishing of our faithful endeavours, of restoring the ancient Honour, greatness, and security of this crown and Nation. The Root of all this mischief wee find to be a malignant design of subverting the fundamental laws, upon which the Religion and Iustice of this kingdom are firmly established. The Actors hereof have been. 1 The jesuited Papists who hate the laws as the obstacles of that subversion of Religion, which they so much long for. 2 The Bishops and the corrupt part of the clergy, who cherish formality, and superstition, as the probable supports of their ecclesiastical usurpation. 3 Such counsellors and Courtiers, as for private ends, have engaged themselves to further the interests of some foreign Princes, or States to the prejudice of his majesty, and the State at home. The Common Principles, by which they governed their particular actions were these. 1 To maintain continual differences betwixt the King and the people, upon questions of Prerogative, and liberty, that so they might gain to themselves, and their parties, the plaees of greatest trust and power in the kingdom. 2 To suppress the purity of Religion, and such persons as were best affencted to it. 3 To conjoin the Arminian part to their own ends, and to enlarge a difference betwixt the common Protestant, and these, whom they call puritans; to introduce such Ceremonies, as are fittest for accommodation with Popery: that so they might compose a body fit to act such councils as were most conducible to their own ends. 4 To disaffect the King to Parliaments by slanders and false imputations, and by putting him upon other ways of supply: which in show were fuller of advantage, then the ordinary course of Subsidies: though in truth they brought more loss then gain both to the King and people, & have caused the distractions under which we suffer. in the beginning of his Majesties reign, the Jesuited council began to revive us and flourish, having being somewhat dammed by the breach of spain in the last year of King james, and by his Majesties Marriage with France, The first evidence of their recovery was the dissolution of the Parliament at Oxford. The loss 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 was the loss of all the strength, and security of the Protestant Religion in France. The diverting of his Majesties course of Warres from the West-Indies. The precipitate breach with France by taking their Ships to a great value, without making recompense to the English. The peace with spain without consent of Parliament, contrary to the promise of King James to both Houses whereby the Palatinate cause was diserted. The charging of the kingdom with Bil●etted Soldiers in all parts of it, and that concommitant design of german horse. The dissolving of the Parliament in the second year of his Majesties reign after the Declaration of their intent to grant 5. Subsidies. The exacting of the like proportion of 5. Subsidies after the Parliament dissolved, by Commission of Loan, and divers Gentlemen and others imprisoned for not yielding to pay that Loan, whereby many of them contracted such sickness, as cost them their lives. Great sums of money required, and raised by Privy seals. An unjust attempt to extort great payment 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 illegal declaration. Another Parliamena disso●ved 4 Car. The privilidge of the Parliament broken, by imprissoning divers members of the house, det●yn●ng them close Prisoners for many mo●… es together, who were tiranically abused to the damage of their lives. After the breach of the Parliament in the 4 year of his majesty; juiustice oppression and violence broken in upon us without any restraint or moderation. The first project wae the great sums exacted through the w●ole kingdom for default of knightoood Tannage and poundage have been received without colour or pretence of law. Many other heavy imposition continued against law, the book of rates lately enhanced to a high propor●… on: and the ordinary course of Iusticie wholly obstructed unto them. And although all this was taken upon pretence of guarding the Sea yet a new and unheard of tax of shipmoney was devised upon the same pretence, by both which there was charged upon the subject near 700000 l. some yeares. The Monopolies of soap, Salt, Wine, Leather, Se●-cole, Pins, and in a manner of all things of most necessary use. The restraint of the Liberties of the Subjects in their habitation, Ttades, and other interests. Their vexation and oppression by purveyors, clerks of the Market, and Salt Peter men. The sale of pretended N●… cts, as buildings in and about London; conversion of Arable into pasture continuance of pasture under the name of depopu●… tion. The intolerable seizing of the money, and Bullion in the Mint, and the whole kingdom like to be robbed at once, in that abominable Project of Brassemoney. The Court of Star-ch●… er hath abounded inextravigant censures for the maintenance, and improvement of Monopolies, and other unlawful taxes w●… reby his M●jest●es Sub●ects have been much oppressed by grievo●s fines, imprisonment●, S●… g●… tizings, mutilations, whippings, Pillories, Gags, con●… nements, Banishments, ofter so rig●d a a manner, as hath never been heard of, Iudges have been put out of the places, for refusing to do against their oaths and consciences, Lawyers have been checked, for being f●… full to their Clients. So●… citors ged attorneys have been t●… ed and some punished for following lawfu●l suits. New Oaths have been forced upon the Subject against Law: The new judicatories erected without Law. The C●… cery, Exchequer chamber, and Court of Wards, and other English Courts have been grievous in exceeding their jurisdiction, Titles of Honour, judicial places, Serjeant-ships at Law, and other Offices have been sold for great sums of money; whereby the Common Justice of the kingdom have been much endangered by giving occasion to Bribery, Extortion and Partialtity. Commissiens have been granted for examining the excess of Fees, and when great exactions have been discovered Compositions have been made with Delinquents for their security in offending in time to come. The usual course of pricking Sheriffes not observed, but many times Sheriffes made in an extraordinary way, sometimes as a punishment and charge unto them: sometimes such were pricked out, as would be instrument to execute whatsoever they would have to be done. The Bishops and the rest of the Clergy, did triumph in suspensions, excommunications, depravations, and degradations of divers painful learned and pious Ministers, The High Commission grew to such exce●… e of severity, as was not much less then the Romish Inquisition, which cousisted of these three parts. 1. The Government must be set free from all restraint of laws concerning our Persons and States. 3 There must be a conjunction betwixt Papists and Protestants in Doctrine, Discipline, and Ceremonies: onely it must not yet he called Popery. 3 The puritans under which name they include all those, that desire to preserve the laws and Liberties of the kingdom, must bee rooted out: For the effecting of this new Canons, and a new liturgy was made to reduce Scotland to th●se Popish Superstitions: and an Army was raised to force them to it: but the Scots likewise raised an Army in their nwne defeace, And when both Armies were com● together ready for a bloody encounter, his Majesties most gracious disposition, and the council of the English Nobility, and dutiful submission of the Scots did so far prevail against the evil council of others, that a Pacification was made, and his Majesty returned with Peace and much Honour to London. we have reconciled the Scots and made an exact pacification in both kingdoms. yea the disicuities this thing alone seemed insuperable which by the providence we haue overcome The contrarieties in compatible, which yet a in great measure wee have reconciled. 6. Subsidies have been granted and a Bill of ●… oll-money which if it be duly levied, may equal 6. Subsidies more, in all 600000 l. Besides we have contracted a debt to the Scots of 220000 l. and yet God hath so blessed the endeavours of this Parliament that the kingdom is a great gainer by all these charges. The shipmoney is abolished; which cost the kingdom above 200000 l. a year. The Coat and Conduct money, and other military charges are taken away; which in many Countries amounted to no less then the Shipmoney, The Monopolies are suppressed; whereof some few did prejudice the Subjects above a Milsion yearly. The soap 10000 l. The Wine 30000 l. The Leather exceeded both, the Salt could not be less then that, besides the inferior Monopolies, which if they could be exactly computed, would make up an infinite sum But the living counsellors and Actors of these mischiefs have been so quel'd by the justice done to the earl of Strafford, the flight of the Lord Finch and Secretary Windebanke, the accusation and imprisonment of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Judge Bartler, and the impeachment of divers other Bishops, and Judges, 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 Triannuall Parliament, and the abrupt dissolution of this Parliament by another Bill; by which it is proved it shall not be dissolved, or adjourned without the consent of both Houses. The immoderate power of the council Table & the excessive abuse of that power is so ordered, that none hereafter shall have ever cause to complain thereof. 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 many innovations in Doctrine, the Ministers that have been scandalous in their li●es are either inwardly convicted by the sight of their own folly, or outwardly restrained by fear of punishment, The Forrests are by a good law reduced to their right bounds; the inchroachments and oppressions of the Stannery Court, the extortions of the clerk of the market: and the vexations proceedings for great fines are by other beneficial laws reformd, & prevented Many excellent laws are in preparation for removing the inordiuate power and usurpation of Bishops, for reforming the idienes of many of the clergy; for easing the people of many unnecessary ceremonies in Religion, for removing unworthy and unprofitable Ministers, and for mayntaining godly and diligent Preachers throughout the kingdom. The establishing and ordering the Kings revenue, that so the abuse of officers, and superfluity of expenses may be cut off, and the necessary disbursements for his Maiestys honour, the defence and government of the kingdom, may be more certainly provided for, the regulating Courts of justice, the settling of some good courses for the preventing the exportion of gold and silver and the inequality of exchanging betwixt us and other Nations. And for both houses of Parliament we may with truth and modesty say thus much, that we have ever been careful to confirm both the f●… dignity for the crown and prosperity of the realm, The malignant party whom We have formerly described to be the actors and promoters of all our misery, do endeavour to work in his majesty ill impressions and opinions of our proceedings, as if we had altogether done our own work and not his, they have had so great a party of Bishops and Popish Lords in the house of peers as hath caused much opposition and delay to the prosecution of delinquents, hindered the procedings of divers good bills passed in the Commons house, concerning the reformation of sundry great abuses and corruptions both in the Church and state, they haue laboured to corrupt some of the Commons house to draw them into conspiracies and combinations against the liberty of parliament, thus they haue been continually practising to disturb the place, and plotting the destruction even of all the Kings dominions, which our vigilancy discovered and defeated before they were ripe for execution in England and Scotland only in Ireland which was farther, off they they had time and opportunity to mould aod prepare their work that they had brought it to that perfection, that they had possessed themselves of that whole kingdom, totally subverted the government, rooted out religion, and destroyed all the Protestants therein, if by Gods providence their enterprise upon the city and Castle of Dublin had not been detected, yet they have in other parts of that kingdom broken out into rebellion, but what supply or aid can we the Commons raise with out the cnniunction of the house of Lords, and what conjunction can we expect there, when the recu●… Lords are so prevalrnt that they are able to cross our best indeaors for reformation, and by that means give aduant age to this magnant party to traduce our proceedings, they infuse into the people that we mean to abolish all Church Government, and leave every man to his own fancy for th● service and worship of God. But we do here declare, that it is far from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden ruins of Discipline, and government in Church to leave private persons, or particular Congregations to take up what form of Divine Service they please. For we hold it requisite that there should be throughout the whole realm a conformity to that Order which the laws enjoin according to the word of God. And we intend likewise to reform and purge the fountains of learning the two universities, that the streams flowing from thence may be clear, and purge, and an Honour and comfort to the whole Land. We are also very solicitous, that all good courses may be taken to unity, the two kingdoms of England and Scotland to be mutually aiding and assisting of one another for the common good of the iceland, against the common enemies of both: and to labour by all Offices of friendship to unite the foreign Churches with us in the same cause, and to ●… ke their liberty, safety, and prosperity, as bound thereunto both by charity to them, and by wisdom for our own good. For by this means our own strength shall be increased, and by 〈…〉 to the same common ends; we shall be enabled to procure the good of the whole body of the Protestant Profession. If these things may be observed, we doubt not but God will crown this parliament with ●… ch success, as shall be the beginning and foundation of mo●… Honour and happiness to his Majesty, than ever yet was enjoyed by any of his royal predecessors. FINIS.