After this the House went into committee on the Tonnage and Poundage bill, with Mr. Lifle, the member for Winchester (he who afterwards fat on the King's trial), in the Clerk's chair; and on the Speaker's refump- Remontion of his feat, between one and two o'clock ftrance mid-day, Pym entered with the Petition juft petition brought named in his hand. He craved permiffion in. at once to be permitted to read it; and having done this, it was handed over to the Clerk, who "loudly and deliberately" read it over again.

of its

contents.

It was to the effect that his Majefty's faith- Abstract ful Commons did with much thankfulness and joy acknowledge the great mercy and favour of God, in giving his Majefty a safe and peaceable return out of Scotland into his kingdom of England, where the preffing dangers and distempers of the State had caused them, with much earnestness, to defire the comfort of his gracious prefence, to help the endea- Why vours of his Parliament for the averting of King's prefence that ruin and difafter with which his king- defired. doms at this time were threatened. For having convinced themselves of the existence of a malignant party who had access to his perfon and councils, and whofe unceafing en- Zeal of deavours were to difcredit his Parliament and evil counto create a faction among his people, they had, for the prevention thereof, and the better

:

fellors.

"Courts and that he will be pleafed graciously to believe, their own "that they cannot think themselves fafe under any Guard, of Guard.

"which they shall not be affured that it will be as faithful in "defending his Majesty's fafety as their own; whereof they "shall always be more careful than of their own."

pared:

to point

out dangers to

State and

King.

information in fundry important particulars of Declara- his Majefty, the Peers, and all other his subtion pre- jects, been neceffitated to make a Declaration of the state of the kingdom as well before as after the meeting of the parliament now affembled. Before fubmitting which, they defired frankly to point out with what danger to the country, and grievous affliction to all loyal dwellers therein, the practice was attended of placing in employments of trust and nearness about his Majefty, the Prince, and the rest of his Royal children, active members of the malignant party before mentioned, favourers in all refpects of popery, and mere engineers or factors for Rome; fince it was by fuch, to the fore difcontent of his loyal fubjects, that divers of his bishops, and others in prime places of the Church, had been corrupted. They juftified their right to give this warning, by the distractions and fufferWhy fuch ings fo caufed; by the continual tamperings warnings with the army in England; by the miferable incidents and jealoufies in Scotland; by the papist insurrection, and most bloody maffacre, in Ireland; and by the great neceffities which had in confequence arifen for the King's fervice, impofing upon themfelves the task of burdening the fubject for contributions to the extent of a million and a half sterling. Not diftantly pointing at the Queen, they then urgently entreat his Majefty not to fuffer any folicitation to the contrary "how power"ful and near foever," to turn afide the three requests with which they concluded.—(1.) That for the preserving the kingdom's peace

neceffary.

Three clofing

requests:

*

i.

abridge

ii.

ill

and fafety from the defigns of the popish party, his Majefty will, in regard to the bifhops, concur with and fecond his people's humble defires in a parliamentary way to To abridge their immoderate power ufurped over bishops' the clergy; to deprive them of their tem- power. poral jurifdiction in parliament; to take away fuch oppreffions in religion, church government, and difcipline, as had been brought in and fomented by them; and to abate their preffure upon weak confciences by removing thofe oppreffions and unneceffary ceremonies. (2). That the malignant and ill-affected be To reremoved from their places of influence, and move counfelthat in future his Majefty vouchfafe to em- lors. ploy near him, and in great public offices, only such persons as his parliament had cause to confide in. (3). That fuch lands in Ire- iii. land as may be forfeit to the Crown in To apply confequence of the Rebellion, be not alienated feitures to from it, but applied to the public neceffities. public -Which humble defires being fulfilled, the authors of the Remonftrance undertook, by the bleffing and favour of God,§ most cheerfully to undergo the hazard and expenses of the war against the Irish rebels, and to apply themselves to fuch other courfes and counfels

A great attempt was made, as stated in the text, but unfuccessfully, to limit the expreffion here to "divers of the "bishops," as in a previous paffage.

†Thefe words, "in a parliamentary way," were moved

to be added after the Petition was brought in.

Irish for

needs.

The word "oppreffions" had originally ftood "corrup- Changes 66 tions," ," and feems to have been changed on Mr. Coventry's propofed fuggestion.

66

in Peti

§"By the bleffing and favour of God" were words added, tion. upon special motion, during the debate.

Pym anfwers

objections.

as might, with honour and plenty at home, with power and reputation abroad, support the Royal estate, and, by their loyal affections, obedience, and service, lay a fure and lafting foundation for the greatness of the King, and the happiness of his pofterity in future times.

After the Clerk had finished his reading, feveral members of Hyde's party stated objections; "to whom," fays D'Ewes, "Mr.

Pym answered. Then Sir John Culpeper "anfwered much of that Mr. Pym had faid, "and made fome new objections. Mr. Pym ftood up again." But he was not of order. permitted to fpeak. Mr. Strangways rose to order, many others rofe to order, and the inter

A point

reftores

quiet.

ruption was long and vehement. Hampden's Hampden authority at length again reftored fome quiet, upon his fuggefting that it would probably be found within the rules of the House that Mr. Pym, being the reporter from the committee which prepared the Petition, might fpeak more than once, and might answer all objections. Here was opportunity made for D'Ewes; and that great mafter of precedents, and voucher of records, was not flow to take D'Ewes advantage of it. He got up and faid that it explains was very true that the worthy gentleman at ufage of the Bar (indicating Mr. Pym), being the reHouse. porter, might speak as often as occafion fhould ferve; and yet it was as true, also, that he might speak out of order. For, though he was at liberty to answer new objections that were made, yet, if those answers of his were replied upon, he was not at liberty to speak

again to thofe particular points to which he had spoken before, by way of mere answer to him that did reply upon him. There was, however, no question but that the gentleman Culpeper on the other fide who first interrupted him, did in fault, not Pym. himself break the orders of the Houfe in doing fo; because it did not then appear whether the gentleman at the Bar would have anfwered any new objection, or would fimply have fpoken again to any of thofe particulars whereto he had formerly spoken.

Culpeper.

"The diftinction I gave," continues D'Ewes, "Well being well approved by the Houfe, and fome moved." "few having fpoken after me, the Speaker "directed Mr. Pym to speak again to any "new objection, but not to touch upon any thing to which he had formerly spoken. "And fo he fpake again, and answered those Pym "new objections Sir John Culpeper had made. anfers "Others fpake alfo, after him, to the faid "Petition in general. Then others moved "that it might be read over again, that fo every particular might be debated; which "was at length agreed unto. So the Clerk "read it again, and ftaid at every claufe Petition "awhile; and fo fome claufes were spoken again: against, and others were agreed unto without "any oppofition. In one part of it, we "alleged that the popish and malignant party "had corrupted divers of the bishops with

read

bated in

popery. In another part, that all the bishops "had exercised ufurped authority. Where- and de<< upon it was moved, by one or two, that we detail. "would not make the crimination general "here, but that we would put in the word