several PROPOSITIONS Presented from the House of COMMONS to the LORDS by Master PYM, At a Conference of both Houses. Concerning the Causes and Remedies of Division betwixt the King and his Subjects. Under eight several Heads.  
LONDON, Printed for John BULL, June 7. 1642.   

At a Conference of both Houses Mr. Pym presented divers Propositions from the House of Commons to the Lords in this manner.  
My Lords,  

THe Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses assembled for the Commons in Parliament have commanded me to express their continued desires, that as the duties and affections of both Houses are united upon the same Ends to glorify God in maintaining his true Religion, to serve the King in the preservation of his royal Person and Dignity, and to procure the common good in maintaining the Justice and Liberty of the kingdom, so the councils of both may be ever constantly united in the use and pursuit of such means as may most effectually conduce to that End.  
This may well be called one End, though in respect of the several Relations it comprehends these three Branches, they have the same Roote, they have the same Essence and Being. It is impossible that any man should truly effect the King or the common good that is negligent of Religion, neither can any man fully discharge his duty to God that is not careful of these other great Obligations to his majesty and the State.  
The Commons have now taken into their consideration divers points very important to the accomplishing of this great End which I am commanded to represent to your Lordships that if they be agreeable to your Judgements, you may then be pleased to join with them.  
Dangerous and malicious designs have been lately discovered for disturbance of the peace both of England and Scotland, and although God in much mercy hath hitherto delivered us, yet there is just cause to think that the same Enemies of Religion and of the Common-good will continue by new Pio●s to seek our ruin and destruction, which nothing is so likely to prevent, as the wisdom and Authority of his majesty, assisted by the Advice of this Parliament, which is the reason that the House of Commons have at this time been more intentive upon these ensuing Propositions, which by their direction, I come to propound to your Lordships under Eight several Heads,   

1. The first Head concerns his Majesties council of State, this Proposition hath onely two Branches.  
1. That his Majesty be humbly Petitioned to remove those evil Councellors against whom there shall be any just exception, and that the intention of the Commons may the better be apprehended, I am commanded to describe them thus, that they are such as have been Active and bold in promoting the manifold disorders and pernicious courses which have lately been taken to the great hazard of his majesties royal Estate, and oppression of the People, or such as do still persevere to hinder or oppose the Reformation of those abuses in Parliament, or seek to stir up new causes of Division betwixt the King and his Subjects.  
I have further direction to tell your Lordships, that the House of Commons do for the present, forbear to deliver any Charge against any particular persons, hoping that his majesty by his own wisdom will find out those that are faulty, but if in this way they shall not have that success which they desire, they intend in convenient time to present particular exceptions against such persons whose continuance in place of trust and public employment they conceive will be prejudicial to the State.  
And my Lords, it is not to be wondered at, if the House of Commons desire evil councillors to be removed, the miseries and distempers, under which the kingdom labours must needs make them sensible of that which is the cause of those miseries, those who have been active in these latter times in managing his Majesties affairs, have been diligent and intentive upon their own designs, but negligent of the common good, if not opposite to it, and the success hath been answerable, Religion and Iustice the Honour and wealth of his majesty and of the kingdom have withered and decayed, Popery, Superstition in the Church, divers mischievous projects, oppression, Extortion in the Common-wealth have increased and flourished, and many of those who have been Actors in these common Calamities, have raised their Fortunes upon the public ruin, the answer of the gardener may somewhat fit our Case, who being asked what the reason was that Trees and good herbs required so much care and dre●… g to make them prosper, he returned this Reason, that the Earth was Mother to the Weeds, and but a Nurse to the herbs.  
Kings and Queens are said in the Scripture to be nourishing Fathers and nursing Mothers, and so they ought to be the Father and the Mother in caring for the Child intends the good of it, but these evil councillors have had other designs and aims which have diverted their endeavours from the common good, and thereby have brought us ●nto such a State and Condition, as if we had been under Hirelings such as seek their own advantage, mischiefs like hurtful Weeds have prospered under their Government, as the fruit of their own ●ntentions, but those things as might have been for the benefit of the Common-wealth, have not onely found a difficult progress but often much opposition and discouragement.  
The other Branches of this Head is this, that His majesty would be graciously pleased to commit his own business and the affairs of the kingdom to such councillors and Officers as his Parliament may have cause to confided in.   

2. The second Head concerning the Queens Majesty.  
1. That his Majesty will be graciously pleased by advice of his Parliament to persuade the Queen to accept some of the Nobility and others of trust into her service, in such places as are now in her disposing, this wee do with more confidence propound, because her Majesty was pleased since the meeting of this Parliament, to sand a gracious Message to the House of Commons; wherein she expressed her desire to concur with the Parliament in those things which might be for the public good, for which she received humble thankes, and we cannot but hope that this Petition of the Parliament will be acceptable to her Majesty as being a sure means by which she might always be informed of all occasions and opportunities wherein she may further the Common-good of the kingdom.  
2. That no jesuit be received into her Majesties Service, nor any Priest native of any his Majesties Dominions, and that all such jesuits and Priests be straightly restrained from coming to the Court.  
3 That the college of capuchins may be dissolved, and that they may be sent away out of the kingdom.  
These points concerning jesuits, Priests and capuchins, are to be seconded with divers Resolutions. 

1. The danger and scandal of Religion and the peace of the kingdom.  
2. The disaffection to the State manifested in two Letters dated 6 May, directed to persons beyond the Sea, whereby many scandals are cast upon the Parliament, and the good Subjects of this kingdom under the name of puritans as disaffected and injurious to the queens person, and thereupon the cardinal excited to some design against England, and likewise in the Letter of Father Phillips wherein by way of reproach to the Parliament, he writ that the Protestation taken in both Houses, is like the Scottish Covenant, but somewhat worse.  
3. Divers informations are given that great quantities of Gold are transported by th●se ●… jests.    
4. The fourth point concerning the Queens Majesty is upon the special occasion of his Majesties absence, that your Lordships will join with the House of Commons in advising the King that some of the Nobility and others of quality with a competent Guard may be appointed to attend the Queen for the security of her royal Person against all design of the Papists and others ill-affected to the peace of the kingdom.  
J am commanded to speak somewhat to the last point, because of some aspersions and misapprehensions cast upon the Commons, since it hath been taken into consideration in the House, as if under this pretence they meant to lay some restraint upon her Majesty.  
In this mention of danger from Popish designs is not intended as if the Papists meant to do any hurt to her majesties Person for prevention whereof she should stand in need of a guard, the dingers that are sought to be prevented by this guard are these: Lest the Papists should cease upon her Majesties Person, and make her by force the head of their party in any desperate attempt wherein if they should fail they may yet hope to make their Peace the better when they have a pawn of such a value.  
Another danger is this, that by freedom of access to her Majesties Court, they may have opportunity to infuse any evil council in to her Majesty to the disturbance and hazard of the public peace of the Kingdom as often they have done.  
it ought to be our continual prayer to God, that we may not enter into temptation, there are multitudes of Divels which are ever watching for opportunity to do us hurt; and therefore it is the great mercy of God to place a guard of Angels about us. This guard desired to attend her Majesty is such a guard as may keep of the evil spirits of Priests and jesuits, which in their free access to the Court may trouble her with divers temptations, dangerous to herself and to the State, and to have such a guard we hope she will take as a happiness to herself, and an Argument of Love in us, and truly if we did not love her, we should not be so desirous of gracious Favour and Love, and yet she might do such things as might confirm her in the hearts and affections of the people.   

3. The third Head concerns the Prince and his royal issue.  
That some persons of public trust and well-affected to Religion may be placed about the Prince, who may take care of his education, especially in matters of Religion, and that the like care may be taken of the rest of his majesties Children.   

4. The fourth Head concerns Papists more generally, wherein it is desired that his Majesty may be moved in these particulars.  
That he will be pleased to be very sparing in granting Licences to any Papists to come to the Court.  
2. That if any come without Licence, the laws may be severally put in execution upon them.  
3. That all English Ladies being Papists, may be sent from the Court.  
4. That no pensions may be allowed and sent out of the kingdom, to any of the Fugitives abroad.  
5. That such active Papists as well of Nobility as others, as shall be conceived dangerous to the State may be confined to such places in the kingdom, wherein they shall have least power to raise any party to the disturbance of the public peace, as heretofore in Queen Eliz. time was usual.   

5. The Fifth Head concerning the Popes Nuntio.  
That it may be declared by an Act of Parliament, that if any man shall presume to come into this kingdom with instructions from the Pope, or Court of Rome, that he shall be in case of high treason, and out of the protection of the King, and of the Law.   

6. The Sixth Head concerning the security and Peace of the kingdom.  
1. That his majesty by advice of the Parliament, will be pleased to place good Lord lieutenants in every county, with direction to be very careful in the choice of deputy lieutenants.  
2. That the trained Bands be furnished with arms, powder, and Bullet, and that they be exercised, and made fit for Service, and an Oath prepared by the Authority of the King and Parliament, to be taken by the Lord lieutenants, Captaines, and other Officers of the trained Bands, whereby they may be obliged faithfully to serve the King and Stare.  
3. That the Cinque Ports and other Forts of the Kingdom may be put into good hands, and a List of those in whose hands they were may be presented to the Parliament, and that special care be taken for reparation and provision of the Forts.  
4. That my Lord admiral be desired to inform the Parliament in what case the navy is, that if there be any defect it may be provided for out of the Moneys that are to come in upon the tonnage and Poundage.   

7. The seventh Head concerns a general pardon  
that His Majesty will be pleased to give direction to his learned council, to prepare a general pardon in such a large and beneficial manner as may be for the relief and security of his good Subjects.   

8. The eight Head concerning a Committee of both Houses.  
That your Lordships will appoint a Select Committee of the Members of your House to join with a proportionable number of the House of Commons from time to time to confer upon such particular courses as shall be most effectual for reducing these Propositions to effect for the public good.   
FINIS