Former Ages Never Heard of, Title page
Former Ages never Heard of, AND After Ages will Admire. Or a Brief Review of the most Materiall PARLIAMENTARY TRANSACTIONS. Beginning, Nov: 3. 1640. WHEREIN The Remarkeable Passages both of their Civil and Martial Affaires, are continued unto this present Year.
Published as a Breviary, leading all along successively, as they fell out in their severall years: So that if any man will be informed of any remarkeable Passage, he may turne to the year, and so see in some measure, in what MonethMonth thereof it was accomplished. For Information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these Times. A Work worthy to be kept in Record, and communicated to Posterity.
Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the wayes of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein. Hosea 14. 9.
LONDON: Printed by M. S. for Tho: Jenner, at the South-Entrance of the Royal EXCHANGE, 1654.
The Chronology.
IN the first year of King Charls his Reign, a Parliament being called at Oxford, two Subsidies were granted, no grievances removed, but the said Parliament soon dissolved. The sad effects which the dissolution of this Parliament produced, were the losse of Rochel, by the unhappy help of Englands ships. The diversion of a most facile and hopeful war from the West Indies, to a most expensive and succeslesse attempt on Cales. The attempt on the Isle of Ree, and thereby a precipitate breach of peace with France, to our great losse. A peace concluded with Spain, without consent of Parliament, contrary to a promise formerly made to the Kingdome by King James, a little before his death; whereby the cause of the Palatinate was altogether most shamefully deserted by us. The Kingdome suddenly billetted with Souldiers, and a concomitant project set on foot for Germane Horses, to force men by fear to fall before arbitrary and tyrannical Taxations, continually to be laid upon them.
2d Parliament. The dissolution of a second Parliament at Westminster, in the second year, after a declarative grant of no lesse then five Subsidies, and the sad issues that flowed to the Kingdom thereupon. As first, the violent exacting from the people that mighty sum of the five Subsidies, or a sum equal to it by a Commission for a Royal Loan. Many worthy Gentlemen imprisoned and vexed, that refused to pay it. Great sums extorted by Privy Seals and Excises, and the most hopeful Petition of Right blasted.
3d A third Parliament called, and quickly broken in the fourteenth year of the King, the best Members clapt up close Prisoners, denied all ordinary and extraordinary comforts of life; and so that Parliament was dissolved. Opprobrious Declarations published to asperse the proceedings of the last Parliament, yea Proclamations set out to those effects, thereby extreamly to dishearten the Subjects, yea, and plainly forbidding them once to name a Parliament, or to desire them any more. Whence immediately gushed out the violent inundations of mighty sums of money, got by that strange project of Knight hood, yet under a colour of Law. The most burthensome Book of Rates, the unheard of Taxation of Ship-money, the enlargement of Forrests, contrary to Magna Charta, the injurious Taxation of Coat and Conduct money, the forcible taking away of the Trained Bands Arms, ingrossing Gunpowder into their hands in the Tower of London. The destruction of the Forrest of Dean, which was sold to Papists, whence we had all our timber for Shipping. Monopolies of Sope, Salt, Wine, Leather, and Sea Coal; yea, almost of all things in the Kingdome of most necessary and common use. Restraint in trades and habitations, for re…sall of which foresaid heavy pressures, many were vext with long and languishing sui…s, some fined and confined to Prisons, to the losse of health in many, of life in some; some having their Houses broken open, their Goods leized on, their Studies or Closets searched for Writings, Books, and papers to undo them: some interrupted also in their Sea-Voyages, and their Ships taken from them.
The crushing cruelties of the Star-Chamber Court, and Councel Table, where the Recorder of Salisbury was greatly fined for demolishing the Picture of the first person in the Trinity, in their great Cathedrall. Thus far for the miseries of the Common-wealth; Popish Ceremonies, Romish innovations, and such like outrages of the Arch Prelate of Canterbury, and his Prelaticall Agents and Instruments, over the whole Kingdome, in matters of Religion, Divine worship, and spiritual cases of conscience. Additions in the Oath administred to the King, at his first inauguration to the Crown, by the Arch-Bishop. Fines, Imprisonments, stigmatizings, mutilations, whippings, pillories, gagges, confinements, and banishments; yea, and that into perpetual close imprisonments, in the most desolate, remote, and (as they hoped and intended) remotest parts of the Kingdome, Mr. Burton, Mr. Bastwicke, Mr. Prin. The ruinating of the …eoffees for buying in of Impropriations, and the advancing to Ecclesiasticall livings Arminians, silencing with deprivations, degradations, and excommunications, almost all the most pious Pastors over the Land, whom they could catch in their snares, and all this under a pretence of peace, unity, and conformity Printing Presses set open for the Printing and publishing of all Popish and Arminian Tenets, but shut up and restrained from printing sound Doctrines.
Nay, not only thus lamentably molested in England, but attempted the like in Scotland, indeavouring to impose upon them a New Liturgy, and a Book of Canons. They refusing of them, were called and counted Rebels and Traytors; yea, so proclaimed in all Churches in England, and an Army was also raised to oppresse and suppresse them. A mighty and tumultuous rising of Apprentices and young men in Southwark and Lambeth side, with Clubs and other weapons, especially at the Arch Bishops house, which put him in such a fright, as made him flye to Croyden, to convey himselfe to some more private and remote place: And although Pharoahs Magicians were so honest, that at the sight of the dust of the earth turned into lice, they cryed out, It was the finger of God; but he grew more and more outragious, and caused one to be hanged and quartered, and his head set on London-Bridge, who said at his execution, he came there by accident, and he must dye.
Scotland raising an Army in their own just defence, and by force of Arms
The Arch-Prelate of St Andrewes in Scotland reading the new Service-booke in his pontificalibus assaulted by men & Women, with Crickets stooles Stickes and Stones.
The rising of Prentises and Sea-men on Southwark side to assault the Arch-bishop of Canterbury's House at Lambeth.
inforcing their own peace. A first pacification being then made by the King, and some of his Nobility, and ratified under Hand & Seal, 'twixt them and the Scots, yet was it shortly after quite broken off by the Arch-Prelate of Canterbury, and the E: of Strafford, and burnt by the Hangman at the Exchange.
4 Parliament. A fourth Parliament was thereupon shortly after called again, by those complotters means, but to a very ill intent, and another Parliament summoned also at the same time by the Earl of Strafford in Ireland, both of them only to levy and procure moneys to raise another Army, and wage a new War against the Scots. The Ships and Goods of Scotland, were in all parts and Ports of this Land, and of Ireland also, surprized and seized on for the King, their Commissioners denied audience to make their just Defence to the King, and the whole Kingdome of Scotland, and England too, hereupon much distracted and distempered with levying of moneys, and imprisoning all amongst us that refused the same. This Parliament also refusing to comply with the King, Canterbury, and Strafford, in this Episcopal War against the Scots, was soon dissolved and broken up by them, and thereupon they returned to their former wayes of wast and confusion, and the very next day after the Dissolution thereof, some eminent Members of both Houses had their Chambers and Studies, yea their Cabinets, and very pockets of their wearing Cloaths (betimes in the morning, before they were out of their Beds) searched for Letters and Writings, and some of them imprisoned, and a false and most scandalous Declaration was published against the House of Commons in the Kings Name.
A Forced Loan of money was attempted in the City of London, to be made a president (if it prevailed there) for the whole Kingdome, but some Aldermen refusing, were sorely threatned and imprisoned. In which interim, the Clergies Convocation continuing, (notwithstanding the Dissolution of the Parliament) New Conscience oppressing Canons were forged, and a strange Oath with an &c. in it was framed for the establishing of the Bishops Hierarchy with severe punishments on the refusers to take it.
The OATH.
That I A. B. doe Sweare that I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England, as containing all things necessary to Salvation. And that I will not endeavour by my selfe or any other, directly or indirectly, to bring in any Popish Doctrine, contrary to that which is so established: Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church, by Arch-Bishops, Bishops, Deans, and Arch Deacons, &c. as it stands now established, and as by right it ought to stand. Nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome. And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according to the plain and common sense, and understanding of the same words, without any equivocation, or mentall evasion; or secret reservation whatsoever. And this I doe heartily, willingly, and truly upon the faith of a Christian. So help me God in Jesus Christ.
In this Convocation sore Taxations were also imposed upon the whole Clergy; even no lesse then six Subsidies, besides a bountifull Contribution to forward that intended War against Scotland. For the advancing of which said sums for this War, the Popish were most free and forward; yea, and a solemn Prayer was composed and imposed by the Bishops on their Ministers every where, to be used and read in all Churches, against the Scots, as Rebels and Traytors. The Papists also in a high measure enjoyed even almost a total Toleration, and a Popes Nuncio suffered amongst us to act and govern all Romish affairs, yea a kind of private Popish Parliament kept in the Kingdome, and Popish Jurisdictions erected among them. Commissioners were also (secretly) issued out for some great and eminent Papists, for Martial Commands, for levying of Souldiers, & strengthning their party with Arms and Ammunition of all sorts, and in great plenty. His Majesties Treasure was by these means so extreamly exhausted, and his Revenues so anticipated, that he was forced to compell (as it were) his owne Servants, Judges, and Officers of all sorts, to lend him great sums of money, and Prisons filled with refusers of these and the other illegall payments; yea many High-Sheriffs summoned in the Star-Chamber, and to the Councel board, and some of them imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying of Ship-money, and such like intolerable Taxations.
In sum, the whole Land was now brought into a lamentable and languishing condition, of being most miserably bought and sold to any that could give and contribute most of might and malice against us, and no hope of humane help, but dolour, desperation, and destruction to be the portion of all. In which interim, the Scots being entred our Kingdome for their own defence, the King had advanced his Royal-Standard at Yorke, where the cream of the Kingdom, Nobles and Gentry being assembled, and a Treaty betwixt the prime of both Armies had at Rippon, for a fair and peaceable accommodation, the King was, at last, inforced to take his Nobles Councel, and in the first place a cessation of Arms agreed on, and then a fifth Parl. was necessitously resolved on to begin, Nov: 3. 1640.
5th Parliament. Letters from the King, Queen, Popish Earls, Lords, Knights, and Gentry, post into all parts of the Kingdome, to make a strong party for them. Shortly after, a very formidable Spanish Fleet, or Armado, appeared on our English narrow Seas, in sight of Dover, and was coming in (as was on very strong grounds more then probably conjectured) as a third party, to help to destroy us; the Spaniards hoping that by this time, we and the Scots were together by the ears, but they were by Gods mercy, beaten off from us by our Neighbours of Holland, and we fighting against them, fought against our friends.
The Souldiers in their passage to York turn Reformers, pull down Popish Pictures, break down rails, turn Altars into Tables, & those Popish Commanders, that ware to command them, they forced to eat flesh on Fridays, thrusting it down their throats, and some they slew. In the time of ours and the Scots Armies residing in the North, which was in June, 1641. Malignant Lords endeavoured to bring it out of the North, Southward, and so to London, to compell the Parl. to such limits and rules as they thought fit, whereupon the Parl. entred upon this following Protestation.