Sir Roger Twysden's Journal

FROM THE ROYDON HALL MSS.

IN the private collections of this County, many Diaries of the Worthies of past ages, who have done our Country honour by their lives and their works, are still carefully preserved. In no more appropriate manner can such works be given to the world, than in the pages of our own Archreologia. We shall thus enlist the wise and great of other days to contribute their papers among those of our living supporters. Though dead, their lips shall still teach wisdom.

We will begin with the diary of the pious, learned, patriotic, and loyal Sir Roger Twysden.

It details the persecutions which he suffered at the hands of the Parliament, between the years 1641 and 1648.

We can promise our readers much gratification in the perusal. It will let them behind the scenes in the getting up the celebrated Kent petition which alarmed the Parliament and drew down their vengeance upon the sturdy loyalists of Kent. It will reveal many interesting events that occurred in the county during the Rebellion; exhibiting a sad picture of the state of society generated by Civil Convulsions.

It is a plain statement of facts left to speak for themselves. There is no attempt at distortion or exaggeration; it is a simple journal of events as they actually occurred. In forming an opinion, from its disclosures, of the treatment which Roger Twysden received, be it remembered that he was no violent Ultra-Royalist, not one strongly committed to that side, quite the contrary; his leanings were rather to the popular party. He was always a hearty and consistent upholder of the Constitution. The history of it had been the study of his life, and no man of his day was a more consummate master of it, or more devoted himself to maintain it in its integrity. No one who has read his 'Treatise on the Government of England,' his 'Defence of the Church,' and his 'Commoner's Liberty, or Englishman's Birthright,' can hesitate in pronouncing him a man of thorough independence of thought and action; equally opposed to the tyranny of one as to that of many. The invasion of the Constitution, from whichever side it came, at once aroused all his energies in its defence. "What was it to him" (they are his own words) "whether the Duke of Buckingham, or my Lord Treasurer Weston were author of an illegality; whether the Earl of Strafford, or Mr. Pym sat at the helm of government, if their commands carried equal pressure?"

He refused shipmoney, and was as much opposed as Hampden himself to the encroachments of the Crown, against which he was through life continually struggling. Indeed, his resistance to them was, to the full, as determined and energetic, as any which he ever displayed against the unconstitutional orders of the Parliament. He would commit himself unreservedly to neither party, and thus, perhaps, incurred the enmity of both. As for the Independents, they early saw that he was a man of too great importance and influence in his own county to be left to his own free action. They therefore at once put him under restraint, and assuredly did not spare the great master and devoted worshiper of Constitutional Law.

The Diary (the Title-page of which we have given in facsimile) was completed and carefully prepared for the press by Sir Roger himself, and was evidently intended for publication during the Protectorate. It is written throughout in his singularly clear and neat hand, with the disfigurement of hardly a single correction; except in a very few instances chiefly made requisite by the Restoration. Why it was never published, it may not be difficult to conjecture, when we remember how entirely engrossed Sir Roger Twysden was, during the latter years of his life, in those learned researches to which we are largely indebted for the little we know of the early history of England. While occupied in these all absorbing labours, he probably laid aside his private memorials, entrusting the publication of them to those of his family who should come after him, a charge which they seem to have neglected, leaving thereby to us the gratification of first presenting them to the world. The manuscript is too long to be printed entire in a single volume of our serials; we therefore purpose giving it in successive portions. When we shall have subjoined his private correspondence, and a few extracts from his note books, we shall be much mistaken if our readers do not love and admire the man as warmly as we ourselves do, for the depth of his learning, the soundness of his acquirements, his unfeigned and active piety, his domestic virtues, his loyalty, his ardent love of liberty, his truly English spirit.

"Bonum virum facile crederes, magnum libenter."

L.B.L.

We would refer those who are desirous to know more of the history of our patriotic Journalist, to a charming biographical sketch prefixed by the late J. M. Kemble, Esq., to Sir Roger's Treatise on the Government of England, published by the Camden Society in the year 1848.

AN HISTORICAL NARRATIVE of the two houses of Parliament and either of them, their Committees and Agents' violent proceedings against Sir Roger Twysden; their imprisoning his person, Sequestering his estate, cutting down his woods, and other to his almost undoing, and forcing him to Composition for his own Estate, written by himself, 29th March, 1650.

SIR ROGER TWYSDEN'S JOURNAL

NEVER did any Man with more earnest expectation long for a Parlyament then I did;—seeing, to my understanding, the great necessyty of one both for Church and State; nor did (so far as my calling led me), more then I, oppose any illegall course might retard ye calling of one (as my sute wth the Heralds for fees, after my father's death, in my Lord Marishall's Court, might give good evidence; As likewise ye contest I had wth one George Bristock, who, setting up a Brewhouse at Tunbridge, by a power, as he pretended, from Court, prohibeted men the brewing and selling beere of their owne making, and thereupon uttered hys owne, not only at unreasonable rates, but as (was informed) issued out unholesome drink, w0h being complayned of, he was so proceeded against by that worthy patriot Mr. Dixon, and myself, when others refused to meddle wth it, as he made little farther use of his patent); Or did more joy at that honblr. action of some Lords, who delivered a petition to hys late Maty in ye North for the summoning of one; never imagining a Parlyament would have tooke upon them the redressing things amisse, eyther in y0 ecclesiastique or Temporall government, by a way not traced out unto them by their auncestors; or the house of Commons would have assumed a power of commanding those who auctorised their sitting in it, otherwise then by making lawes that both were to obey.

3rd November, 1640.—But after their Meeting, y0 3 of November, 1640, their entring upon buisinesse, and that I saw y0 unusuall proceedings against the Earl of Strafford, by a close Committee first, and after, in Westminster Hall, that Mr. Sollicitor published, "The law of the 25 Ed. III., for treasons, did not take away those at ye Common Law;—That beeing penall it might bee construed by equyty;—That though wee give law to Hares and Deere, yet it was not cruelty to knock foxes and wolves on ye head as they could bee found;"—That they did not so much seeke to redresse things amisse as to spend tyme in setting out y0 miseries wee lay under, in quarrelling at Offenders or indeed any man allmost had got an estate in these tymes, I confesse I beegan to bee much troubled, and fear if wee did change our Task Masters, our burthens would not bee lesse. And what was it to me, whither y0 Duke of Buckingham or my Lord Treasurer Weston were aucto1· of an illegalyty; whither the Earl of Strafford or Mr. Pym sate at the helme of government, if their commands carryed equall pressure? The Howse of Commons endeavouring to remove one in auctoryty, might advance such as hoped to succeede hym; but for me, a private man, there would be much more advantage by compounding for ye Court of Wards, by remoeving a taxe by a good law, wch the King in justice and honor was tyed to maynteyn, then by inquyring who was ye occasion of imposing it.

In January, 1640-1, his Maties Justices of ye peace of ye South Division of ye Lath of Aylesford received two orders, the one of the date of ye 7th of December, under the hande of the Clark of ye howse of Commons, requyring and enjoyning them to command ye Churchwardens, and other Officers wthin their parishes and precincts, to certyfy the names of all Recusants, to the end they might bee proceeded against according to law at the next Sessions. The other of ye 24 of the same month, That if any, upon. inquyry, refused to make known hys name, to bee committed to prison till he found suerties for hys good abearing, and to certyfy to the howse of Commons all such as excused themselves by priviledge of Parlyament, etc.

This I conceive the ffrst command the howse of Commons ever extended to all hys Maties Justices· of Peace through England (for what was done heere was likewise in other places); and it seemed to me very preposterous that they who were agents for others Petitioners, and Assentors in making lawes in others' stead, should generally command so considerable a part of those had sent them thither by paper Orders. I remembred to have read of a certayn Byshop, who, in hys journy to Trent, being robd, desired ye Councell there met to make some declaration against such as should enterprise ye like in future, wch the Legats dextrously diverted, considering how dangerous the consequence might bee to ye Pope, for them there to make Edicts "per propria esaltatione." Besides, I did not know any law (w0h they then profest to mainteyn) inabled a Justice of Peace to cast in prison or bind to the good beehaviour any person, Popish recusant or other, meerely for refusing to tell hys name. But former fears of that partie's prevayling, and of some more then ordinary favor carryed unto them, made every Justice willing to adde their help to ye discovery of them-though 1 know some saw an ille sequele might ensue their doing it on such a warrant.

And these were y0 leading presidents to that of y0 28 of August, 1641, inabling and requiring Mayors, Jurats, Justices of Peace, etc., to disarme all Popish Recusants, and, where as ye Statute of _King James1 extended onely to such as were legally convict, this reached any had not repayred to Church more then once in a month, or having two or more howsehold servants of the Popish religion; in short, any that could bee imagined popishly affected: and, for the seeing it put in speedy execution, named certayn members of ye Neither howse as supervisors of every man's actions. And about the same tyme there came out a declaration wth orders of ye howse of Commons, wth another from Mr. Pym, as Chayr man of ye Committee (during a Recesse ye Commons had taken), for the publishing the same in all Churches, expressing their dissent from ye Lords (who had commanded divine service to bee performed as it stoode appoynted by the Acts of Parliament of this Realm), and published for the better understanding th' intentions of ye sayd howse.

When I saw these, and that they carryed a shew of relieving tender consciences who could not submit to some inocent ceremonies, I pray'd hartyly to God the true meaning of hym that sent them abroad were not to make tryall whither they should not find obedience enough upon their owne strength to issue out and force us to submit to other commands of theirs. And I very well remember, beeing, after Michaelmas, 1641, at the Quarter Sessions, Sr Edward Deering, then a Parlyament Man, was asked two questions:-1st, If a Justice of Peace should take away ye goods of any man not prohibyted by law y0 keeping armor, whether he conceived that Order of ye Lords and Commons would save hym harmlesse? 2ly, Whether those orders of the Howse, and Mr. Pym's upon them, were intended for a suspension of Divine service as it was then by law establisht, or onely to declare men should celebrate it as formerly, according to the last words, tyll farther order were taken?-but to nether of these would he deliver any positive answer; onely, in generall, That the howse of Commons meant all good to the Pwtestant religion; That he was not present when they past, so knewe nothing more then he saw.

But hee, poore Gentleman, beeing soone after cast out, by experyence found how absolute the auctority of that howse was. And this beeing ye first knight of y0 shire for Kent was ever ejected, bred much discourse, many affirming if they had a power by vote of excluding any one lawfully chosen, they could, in a very essentiall poynt, alone alter ye law, w011 could not bee but by the King and the three Estates in Parlyament; for every man sitting there by law, the remoeving of hym must make a change of it. Beesides the thing itself might prove full of inconvenience; for the Major part, if more factious, might put out the lesser, though the soberer, and so none admitted according to that of severall Counties, but by their owne opinions, who upon dubious elections might please themselves, not the Counties, in ye choice. But I retume whense I have a little wanderd.

In Lent, 1640-1, sitting at the Assizes in Maydstone, on the Benche, the bill of six subsidies was given me, and the King's Commission under y0 great seal for levy­ing of them, shewed me; casting my eye upon it, I observed the Howse of Commons (for Lords I saw none) had named themselves and other Commissioners (called in former tymes Controulers) for ye levying of them. That they were to bee payd, not in an ordinary way into the Exchequer, but Guildhall, to be issued thence by certayn Lords and Commons named in the Act. I can not deny but, reading this, to have beene startled at it, and then agayn to have beene confirmed in my opinion our purses would bee shreudly searched. I rememberd to have seene many Petitions in Parlyament, yt the members might not bee Assessors nor Controullers of what they gave, but never any one to inable them to meddle wth a peny of ye guift; neither did they take upon them, at a tyme too the Parlyament was high enough, the reward­ing their owne Clark or other, but by petitioning the King to doe it. Wee doe easily submit, in poynt of arbit­erment, to an other's judgment what will bee fit for us to give a third; but few will oblige themselfs to stand to what one thinks fit to receive himself. And whereas the Ephori in Greece, the Tribuns in Rome, the Cura­tores in England (as Mat. Westminster seemes to call them), did grapple to themselves what made their power insupportable, and proved in ye end their ruine, so I con­fesse I apprehended the howse of Comm.ons might grow no lesse burthensome to the people of this nation.

And heere (if I may bee permitted to digresse a little) I dare boldly affirme in the auntient way of sup­plying the Prince by Parlayment truely followed, there is the least possibylity of hurt to ensue to any particular person, and ye most advantage to ye publick of any con­stitution of State tyme did ever produce. The Commons (wthout whom no law is) beeing trusted wth the kingdom's purse, not to expend it themselves (for then their aymes might bee sometymes extravagant, and they too lavish in their expences), but to give it an other, who by sworn officers did distribute it in ye kingdom's service, so as the guift comes absolutely to the Prince's Coffers wth out any considerable defalcation; to w0h purpos I shall not unfitly remember the 51st of Ed. III., the Parlyament having graunted His Maty an unusuall Subsidy of 4d per teste, and wthall (the king old) desiring he would bee pleased to nominate two Earls and two Barons for the expending of what should bee thus collected (as likewise of ye guift of ye Cleargy and Tunnage and Pound­age) on the King's wars, it fell into consideration, what might bee fit to alow ye foure for their attendance on the service, upon wch it is recorded, Les Goes se depa1tirent de celle propos, et prierent qe le dit haul Tresorer feust le Recever et Gardein al oeps des dites guerres en manere accoustume.

And, though upon a guift the next Parlyament of two Fiefteenes and two Tenths His MatY, then young was induced to assigne two Merchants of London for ye beestowing of it upon hys wars, and not otherwise; yet in that at Glocester immediately following, the Com­mons desiring to see the accounts how it had beene ex­pended, in w0h, though the King gave them satisfaction (of hys owne free will, not as of right), yet he added, that it had beene never seene that, of subsidy or other graunt made to the King, in Parlyament or out of Parlyament, account had beene ever rendered to y° Commons or other, but only to y° King and hys officers.

And this constitution of the Commonwealth seemed to me built on very solid grounds of reason for the subjects' happynesse, in respect both of y0 Prince and people;-of the King, because had y° Commons a power, as well in seeing how it were disposed, as in giving extraordinary supplies, it were not possible to avoyd questions, disputes, and unkindnesse in ye laying of it out by hym and his officers, as I myself saw upon ye Act of 21 Jacobi, cap. (sic), and that very Roll of 2d Ric. 2d did playnly manifest;-on ye people's part, because wheresoever they have any the least share, as well in dispensing as giving ye publique Treasure, the Commons are most insupportably burthened, as all Republiques, and the present experience of our neyghbours sufficiently assure us. For, if the beginning of those great Gabelles, France (wthout hope of reliefe) gaspeth under, were not 1356, whilst King John remayned prisoner heere, and the French governed by the three estates first beegun, certaynly they were then setteled by their auctority, which, about an hundred years after, Charles ye VII., by the assistans of the souldiary yt helped hym in the expulsion of ye English out or Normandy and Guien, did first lay onely by regall power, sweld now to that height, as what y0 fermor pays the King is far more then what he doth y0 Landlord. God of hys mercy avert England from succeeding them in misery!

1641. Upon these considerations I was not wthout apprehension what the issue of things might bee; but ye many good lawes then past persuaded me it was to no other intent then that was given (as one of them assured me), might not goe into private courtiers' puxses, but spent as designed; so, as beeing one nominated by them, I did the best lay in me for collecting the guift, or rather, assessing of it, though after I found us mistaken, never any prince making greater excesse in rewards then they to each other.

Some while after, hearing of the perpetuating the Parliament, The Earl of Strafford's execution by a private law (w0h yet no other judge was to take for a rule), No other declaration of hys treason but Mr. Sollicitor's argument, of which before, n. 2, I cannot deny but I beegan to bee much troubled, and resolved to sequester myself from anything of publick so much as lay in my power, remembring a saying of my father's, "Bene vivit qui bene latet." And that I might give no offence, resolved, as occasion should serve, to goe beeyond y0 Seas, for which purpos I had provided me of a passe, which I kept by me.

That which troubled me in my Lord's execution was, that if penall Statutes, even those concerned Treason, might be expounded, not according to the letter, but by equity, I did not see any man could bee certayn not to bee impeached of Treason; and y0 clause in ye 25 Ed. 3d, That the Justices should not determine any thing to bee treason not in it specyfyed, tyll it were declared by Parlyament, to bee absolutely inverted; that being (as I understood it) an answer io the Commons, and for ye securing of them in future, in respect some had dyed, as they shewde, for that they understoode not to bee Treason; upon w0h the King enumerates what should bee so reputed, and for their safety in tyme to come, that none might pretend ignorance, added this, "Qe si autre case suppose treison qe n'est especifietz par avant avegne de novel devant ascuns Justices, demoerge le Justice sanz aler a jugement de Treison tanqe devant nostre Seigr le Roy et son Parlement soit le cas monstre et declare lequel ce doit estre ajuge Treison ou autre Felonie."

The perpetuating the howses I did ever looke at as the second part of the xxx tymnts of Athens (of whom Xenophon), that would never end unlesse foreced; men in auctority doe not easyly quit that they have possest themselves of, and generally looke rather at what may confirme their power, then the partycular good of those that trusted them, and wthout whom, perhaps, they had not ascended to that pytch. The Consuls and Senat at Rome were not at first lesse burthensome then their Kings; the Ephori of Lacedemon and the Roman Tribuns beecame so. I dare boldiy say there is no example in History of any temporary Court, having a perpetuity annexed to it, that did ever end but necessitated; and I think few now doubt this late Parliament would ever have set a period to their sitting, had there beene a lesse powerfull Sollicitor then my Lord Protector, to whom this nation is infinitely bound for seeing it concluded.

For avoyding the inconveniences a Republick meets wt\ the wisest have prescribed no rule of better effect then to have not any Officer of long continuance; but as Tully says, that he w0h obeys may hope to governe, he yt rules expect in short to bee ruled; and there­fore that of Livy with them is most true, to have no great officer remayn long in a place; of w0h Tiberius, in Tacitus, gives the reason, beecause men will bee proud though annually chosen. I remember that in Dio, the name of a popular government to bee specious, but the effect nothing answerable; on y0 other side, Monarchi­chall, to carry an harsh sounde, but most conduceable to the people's weale; agreeing wth Seneca, that cities doe most flourish under just princes. And that hee should bee so wth us; our ancestors had framed very good lawes, and given the officers by whom justice was administred excelent instructions, the well executing of w0h were of better consequence for y0 people's ease, then to be com­manded by paper Ordinances, and votes to bee inter­preted by themselves, not the sworn Judges, w0h I con­fesse I apprehended as the most arbytrary government imaginable, and yt would introduce the greatest misery to such as lay in subjection under it.

The 10th of May, 1641, the King gave his assent to that fatall byll for perpetuating the Parlyament; so one after w0h the Commons beegan to think of barring Bishops from voting in the House of Peeres. I remem­ber I told Si John Finch, who spake to me of it, I did fear that was but a step to take away their function; to w0h his answer was an assurance there would be no consider­able part of the howse for that; and to speak truth, they were generally so great advancers of Prerogative (w0h an English Prince may better exercise, then taulk of) as joyning wth y0 Privy Councell sundry tymes, they were thought to sway y0 Lords, not wth so much an eye to the Countrie's good as the King's interest. Cardinall Bentivoglio holds the Crown in Scotland would get no small advantage if the King could again restore Bishops to the Parlyament. Bu,t soone after I found it was not so much y0 men as their lands were faulty.

But beefore hys MatY gave his consent for taking away their votes out of y0Lords howse, another contest wth hym beegan about the Militia, wch he denyed absolutely the putting into their hands, after the manner they re­quired it. The last clause of which was that such as did not obey their commands should answer their neg­lect or contempt in a Parlymnentary way, and not other­wise. This desire of theirs was apprehended by some, and very grievous to many, who observed that giving moeving originally from ye Commons, they of late had gayned an interest in disbursing ye guift; if they should now that of arming and punishing, they had in effect all ye rights of Soveraignity, the people under an absolute arbytrary voting Tyrany; That this was the imitation of the Tyrants of Athens, to get an army for their defence; that it was to make themselves lords of all wee had, by giving, expending, punishing by votes variable as best liked themselves. That of Tacitus was remembred, "Odium et invidiam apud multos valere," and of ye Councell of Trent, that in those great assemblies, for ye differing aymes men brought, it was not allways ye best opinion had y0 most voyces, and the opponent had ever an advantage of the proponent.

And these men did more admire when the 1 of March, 1641-2, both Howses did protest, if hys Maty should not give them satisfaction, the dangers and dis­tempers of y° Kingdome were such, they should bee inforced to dispose of the Militia after the same manner had beene propounded to his Maty, and they resolved to doe it accordingly. By wch men observed how easy their minds were changed, to see those very men, who in a Declaration, not fully three months before, did avow all they had done to have beene for hys Maties greatnesse, honor, and support; and, a little after, that they had beene ever carefull not to have desired any thing might weaken the Orowne, eyther in just pro:ffit or usefull power, and who, ye 31 of December, affirmed themselves ready to spend the last drop of their blood to mayntayn hys Orowne and Royall person in greatnesse and glory, now to tell hym they will dispose of the strength of y0 kingdome without hym, when certaynly no more usefull power can pertayn to MatY, then not to have a people punished by a law to wch he assents not, nor any thing more against the honor and greatness of a Monarch then to deprive hym thus of the Protection he owes hys subjects. On these considerations, I know, many held it a thing of dangerous consequence to have men punisht by orders of y0 Howses interpreted by them­selves, wth thing I myself afterward had a sufficient experyment 0£

And from hynce the Royalists will have the rise of our miseries to have sprung; as, not taking that Prince to beegin y0 war that first arms hymself, but he that cloth (and persists in it) the first so apparent injury as the other can have no possible way of redressing it but force, nor any means to maynteyn himself and his but war. Now if it were y0 right of the King, nothing to bee ligatory wthout hys assent, hys subjects to have no law imposed on them but such Acts as hym­self gives way to, and the howses would the contrary, enforcing men to raise arms on a pretence of a neces­sity wc1t it was .not easy to find, the kingdome wthout an enemy abroad, in firme peace at home, no styr imagina­ble, unless from the papist (as they suggested), whose number and depressions made them seeme rather con­temptible then to be dreaded, or the scismatick by them countenanced and wholy at their sway, I can not see what they say is without reason. That wch wrought most on me was one clause in hys Maties speeche at Newmarket, the 9th March, 1641-2, where in he urged them to say whither he had refused to passe any one bylle for the ease and securyty of the subject, adding: "I doe not aske what you have done for me," intimating they had done nothing. This made me apprehend (as y0 event proeved) the necessity of an army was no other but an opinion hys MatY might by force stoppe their proceedings in some courses there was then an intent of acting. But wth these particulars I have not heere tooke on me to meddle, farther then to shew in what a conjuncture of tyme I went to the Assizes at Mayd­stone.

Whither I came on Twesday, the 21st March, 1641-2, the Assizes beeginning the next day, the onely Judge, Sr Thomas Mallet, having beene there two days beefore, whom I went to see that night, and by chance met wth Sr George Strode going thither too; so together wee came to hym, found there Sr John Sedly and some other Justices of Peace, who, leaving hym, left us that came last to follow them, wch wee quickly did, nothing having passed there but common discourse.

Having stayd a while wth him, wee tooke our leave, and went to the lune, where wee found all the Justices of peace sate at supper, and in a discourse of a Petition lately deliverd by Sr Michael Livesy, wch some seemed to mislike, as having expressions not agreeing wth the sense of the County, in wch I tooke notice of no man more earnest than Sr John Sedly of St Cleere.

What the petition was I can not say, onely this in gener­all. After the King's accusation of ye Lord Kimbolton and the five Members on ye third of January beefore, and the Howse of Commons declaring His MaV to have proceeded illegally therein, most adjacent Counties were styrd up to petition the two Howses for vindicating their liberties, exagerating ye fact as a publick injury in which every man was concerned; and though, question­lesse, this originally proceeded from some Members of the howse of Commons (for I rememper going one day to London, I overtooke about Detford, towards St Tho­mas hys Watring, divers of Sussex going on that errand, of whom I enquyred, seeing them in numbers, whither they went; they told me, "to petition the Parlyament;" I asked, for what; to wch one replyed so as I perceived they did not particularly know themselves, but that the petition was framed allready in towne, they were onely to deliver it when it should bee printed, and I might see it ye next day).

I never doubted the trewe and reall intent of the Parlyament, in encouraging men to this, was to see y0 strength of their party and intimidate the King, then in y0 North. Now that wch came from Kent had beene deliverd by Sr Michael Livesy, which some did not approve, and of it they were in discourse when wee came; and upon it, one sayd, if they misliked what had beene done, it were not amisse now to draw such all might assent unto, w011 motion was generally approved. If I forget not, I asked what the subject of it should bee; to wch was answerd, "According as ye Country should make knowne their greevances to ye Grand Jury." And this is ye first, for ought I know, any man heard of petitioning; this is ye effect of what there passed at table of note concerning the Petition.

Supper beeing ended wee went a sunder, it beeing too early to goe to bed, Sr Edward Dering, Sr George Strode, and my self, wth Mr. Richard Spencer, to hys lodging, where I spake of what had past, and not long after, in came Mr. Blount, yt lives about Greenwitch. By us many things were propounded as worthy a place in it; amongst others, I remember I spake of ye great licence y0 howse of Commons then tooke in ejecting members and declaring unknowne priviledges; but these, as what might give offence, were layd aside, and it was held nothing was fit to bee inserted might justly distast eyther howse.

The next day th' Assizes beegan, and y0 Judge, at an oportune tyme, eyther on hys owne inclination, considering ye present distempers, or moeved by some other, told them, in other parts gentlemen of good accoumpt served in the Grand Jury; he would neyther command nor persuade any to the service, onely thought fit to acquaynt them wth it. Upon w0h, after some small demur, divers embracing ye mottion were returned, the first of whom was Sr Edward Dering. Now I shall desire any one to consider, whither this Petitioning was likely to have beene on designe of saying ought might mislike the Parlyament, when Sir Ed. Dering was y0 foreman; and whether wee, in likelyhood, were so absolute fooles as not to have dissuaded his medling wth the charge, could we have mistrusted hys beeing of it, wth an intent of doing what they approeved not, bee­ing a person against whom (as beeing lately secluded by ye Commons) some exceptions might lye; but our integrity was such, we never apprehended any thing of that nature; and, for my owne particular, I knewe so little whither there would bee any petitioning or not, as upon W ensday at noone, old Sr Henry Palmer asking me, I told hym truly I did not know.

Yet, that very day, towards night, Sr Edward Dering and his associates came to the Judge wth certayn bills of ye Assize, and, wthall, acquaynted hym and the rest of ye Bench the wishes of divers were to peti­tion the Parlyment from these Assizes, as other parts had done; that if we yt sate there were willing to joyn wth them they should goe forward, otherwise leave it of. To w011 Mr. Justice Mallet made answer, this was that did not at all concerne him as Judge of th' Assize, that he would leave them to consider of it wth ye Justices of the Peace, and so, having no partner, went immediately to try causes in the other Court, the others easyly as­senting to ye motion, and he after was committed to ye Tower for not opposing it.

Amongst us, the question grewe, who should draw this Petition. It was concluded (truly upon my motion) the Grand Jury should nominate some of ye Bench, and they some of ye Grand Jury, to consider and doe it. Upon w0h, such as were chosen of eyther side went together in a private lodging, of w011 number I myselfe was one, where were presented unto us divers heads, of w011 some were approved, some corrected, others ex­punged. I remember that in the second period, "for ye children of Papists to have beene brought up in the reformed religion," to have beene added on Sr John Sed­ley's motion (perhaps the hardest and least justifiable clause in ye whole). The rest in generall agreede upon, certayn gentlemen were nominated to meete after supper, it beeing now evening, to draw them in to ye forme of a Petition. I was one of them, but could not attend the seTvice, beeing my self yt night very ille. Going to my lodging thTough the StaT, I met Mr. Blount of Black-. heath, whom I perceived not satisfyed wth yt was intended, and he was the onely person I had seene so. I differd wth hym, but in wht particulaT I can not now call to mind; yet I was after, as I remember, questioned upon it.

That night the Petition was drawne, but by whome can not of certayn aflirme. The next day, hearing it was concluded, I went wth Mr. SpenceT to ye Grand Jury, desiring such as had it remayning wth them would sJ;i.ew it us, that wee might as well agr'ee to the expres­sions as the heads. Upon wch; all to whom the drawing of it was committed met at a private howse· in. the towne, where it was considered of and past, not wth­out alterations. I shall· onely' rememqer two:-1st, in the fourth head, where it is sayd, "Episcopall govern­ment had beene deduced and dispersed through all ye Christian world," it was thought fit, by reason of what Gerundensis writes, of some parts of Spayn not admit­ting Bishops, to change the word "through all" to "throughout" the Christian world. 2ly, In ye 12 head, it was desired, "no order of eyther or both howses might bee enforced on y0 subject:" this, beeing conceived some limitation, was feared might be misliked, and was there­fore thus qualified, "That no order of eyther or both howses, not grounded on the laws of ye land," etc.

In short, there was not ought excepted against by any person whatsoever but was at this meeting amended, and a resolution taken to propound it next day publiquely in ye County, that if it wer liked it might bee delivered, wch was done, Augustine Skinner, one of ye knights of ye shire, present, and shewiug no distast at it; and there again it receyved alterations. I shall instance in one: In the third period, where the so­lemne Liturgy of our Church was sayd "to have beene celebrious by the piety of Holy Bishops and Martyrs who composed it," to w0h was added (following the statute 2d and 3d Ed. 6th cap. 1), "by the ayd of ye Holy Ghost." This was excepted against, as what at this tyme might give offence. It was thought fit, therefore, to exclude the expression. After all w0h, it beeing agreede unto nemine aontradiaente (and the Country expressing their desires for the expediting of it, to have us repayr to Captayn Skinner, Knight of the Shire, then present, and promising not only hys forwarding of it in ye howse, but seeming to approve what had past), there grewe a ques­tion whither this petition should be represented from the County to ye King, then at York. I declared my­self against it, as beeing for ye most what wee hoped, by the howse's intercession, to obtayn of hys Maty. Thus it was then finished: Yet, for that nothing humane is so perfect at first it can receive no amendment, tyme was taken tyll ye next Quarter Sessions after Easter, then to retract, correct, delete any thing in it, if ye J ustices in their severall Divisions should find ought gene­rally misliked, or the Country then publikely disclayme and disavoue what was thus assented to.

Heer.e, if the people doe not chuse Knights and Burgesses (of whose power somewhat heereafter) wth an intent to redresse their grievances by lawes, and not to bee absolutely the Lords and Masters of their judgments, as well in what is amisse, as obedience to the laws they shall ·establish; I should bee glad to learn how a County could possibly petition in a more regular, orderly, inof­fensive way; but for a private man, drawne into ye ser­vice, wth an intent onely to doe it in a peaceable, humble manner, for such a purpos onely, relinquisht too, beeing misliked by those men by whom he was represented, to have all hee hath taken away by a forced equitable con­struction of a penall law, made "post factum," is, I think, without paralel in Europe, though in tymes and by Courts of J ustice, the most Tyrannicall. But beecause the world may see what this so heynous petition did conteyn, I shall heere set it down verbatim, as it was agreede upon at Maydstone, ye 25 March, 1642.

To the honble howse of Commons, the humble Peti­tion of y0 Gentry, Ministers, and Commonalty of the County of Kent, agreede upon at the generall Assizes of that county.

Most humbly sheweth,

That wee can not but take notice how welcome to this honb10 howse many Petitions have beene, wch yet came not from an assembled body of any County, as this doth, wee doe hope to find as gentle and as favorable reception of this as any others' have found of their Petitions, our harts witnessing unto us as good, as peaceable, and as pious purposes as the best. These are therefore the true and the ardent desires of the County.

First, you will pleas to accept our due and harty thanks for those exelent lawes w011 by hys Matice grace and goodnesse you have obteyned for us.

Secondly, that all lawes against Papists bee put in due execution, and accompt taken of their disarming; and that all children of Papists may bee brought up in the reformed religion.

Thirdly, that the solemne Liturgy of the Church of England, celebrious by ye Pyety of holy Bishops and Martyrs who composed it,-established by ye supream law of y0 land,-attested and approved by ye best of all forraign divines; confirmed wth subscription of all the Ministry of this land, a Cleargy as learned and as able as any in the Christian world, enjoyed, and wth an holy love embraced, by ye most and best of all ye Layety;-that this holy exercise of our religion may by your auctoryty bee enjoyed quiet and free from interruptions storms, prophanations, threats, and force of such men who dayly doe deprave it, and neglect the use of it in diverse churches, in despite of the lawes established.

Fourthly, that Episcopall government, as auntient in this Island as Christianyty itself, deduced and dispersed throughout the Christian world even from ye Apostolicall tyme, may be preserved as the most pious, most prudent, and most safe government for the peace of the Church.

Fifthly, that all differences concerning religion and Ceremonies may be referred to a lawfull, free, nationall Synode, and, as your Remonstrance promiseth, a General Synod of most grave, learned, pious, and judicious divines, the proper Agents, whose Interests, guifts, and callings may quicken them in that great worke, whose choise to bee by all ye Cleargy of the land, beecause all ye Cleargy are to be bound by their resolutions; and ye determinations of this Synod to bynd us all, when you have first formed them into a law; and this we take to bee ac­cording to ye auntient fundamentall Lawes of this land,· confirmed by Magna Charta.

Sixthly, that some speedy and good provision may bee made, as by hys Maty hath beene, and is by all good men desired, against ye odious and abominable scandall of scismaticall and seditious sermons and pamphletts, and some severe lawe made against Laymen for daring to arrogate to themselves, and to exercise the holy function of ye Ministry, who some of them do sowe their impious discontented doctrines even in sa­cred places, by abuse of sacred Ordinances, to ye advancing of Heresy, scisme, prophanesse, Libertinissme, Anabaptisme, Atheisme.

Seventhly, that if the coercive power of Ecclesiasticall Courts, by way of Excommunication, be allready abrogated, or shall bee thought fit so to bee, that there may bee some other power and auctoryty speedyly established for the suppressing of the heynous and now so much abounding sinns of Incest, Adul­tery, Fornication, and other Crimes, and for ye recovering of Tythes, Repayring of Churches, Probate of Wills, Church ass­esses, and providing of Bread and wine for ye Communion, and choyce of Churchwardens and other offycers in ye Church, and especyally for Ministers who neglect the celebrating of ye holy Communion, and of Parishioners for not receiving.

Eightly, that the professors of that learned faculty of ye Civil Law, without weh this Kingdome cannot but suffer many inconvenyences, may not find discouragement, and so desert their studies and professions.

Ninthly, that honor and profit, the powerfull incourage­ments of industry, learning, and piety, may bee preserved, wth out any farther diminution, to the Cleargy.

That you please sadly to consider the bleeding wounds of our bretheren in Ireland, and wth speedy succours indeavour to preserve them, whereunto hys Maty hath promised a gratious concurrence.

Eleventhly, that you please to frame an especiall law for the regulating ye Militia of this kingdom, so that the subject may know how at once to obey both hys Matie and the howses of Parliament, a law whereby may be left to y0 discretion of governors as little as may bee; but that the number of Arms, and what measure of punishment shall bee inflicted on offenders, may bee expressly set downe in y0 Act, and not left to any arby­trary power;· and that, according to ye presidents of former lawes, the offenders may not bee tryed out of ye County.

Twelfl.y, that the pretious Liberty of the subject, the Common birth-right of every Englishman, may bee, as in all other poynts preserved intire, so in this allso; That no order of eyther or both howses, not grownded on ye Lawes of ye Land, may bee enforced on the subject, untill it be fully enacted by Parlyament.

Thirteenthly, that hys Maties gratious message of the 2ot11 of January last, for ye present and future establishment of the priviledge of Parlyament, the free and quyat enjoying of our estates and fortunes, the Liberties of our persons, the security of the trwe religion professed, the mainteyning of hys Maties just and royall auctoryty, the establishing of hys revenue, may bee taken into speedy consideration: the effecting whereof will satisfy the desires of all us hys faithful! and loving subjects.

Fourteenth, that all possible care may bee taken that ye native commodities of the kingdome may have a quick vent; and that clothing and other manufactures may bee improved, wherein the livelyhood of many thousands doe consist; And that trade may bee so balanced that the importation doe not ex­ceede ye exportation, well otherwise will in tyme prove the consumption of ye kingdome.

Fiefteenth, that you pleas to frame some lawes concern­ing depopulations, pourveyance, Cart-taking, delayes in Justice, Tra:ffick, Fishing on the coast, fulling earth, that our sea Ports may bee repayred, and our Magazines renewed.

Sixteenth, that you pleas to consider the generall poverty that seemes to overgrow the Land.

Lastly, we humbly beeseech you to consider the sad condition that wee and the whole land are in, if a good under­standing bee not speedyly renewed beetween hys Maty and the howses of Parlyament.

Our hopes are yet above our fears; secure them wee beseech you. God direct and blesse your consultations for ye remoeving of all distrusts and jealousies, and for renewing that tye of confidence and trust wch is the highest liappinesse beetween a most gratious Prince, and us his loving people.

And you shall have the dayly prayers of your humble Orators y° Commons of Kent."

It is desired that whosoever doe deliver forth any copy, that he doe testyfy the same to bee a trwe Copy.

For ye expediting this Petition, it is desired that the gentle­men in their several.I Divisions doe agree upon one amongst themselves, to receive y° Copies of all these Petitions, and all subscriptions, beetweene this and Easter Sessions at Mayd­stone; and that all y0 Gentry of Kent doe meete at Blackheath, on Fryday morning, the 29th of Aprill, at nine of ye clock, in the morning, at the farthest, from thence to accompany this petition to the howse.

This was all publiquely read, agreed unto, and concluded, at the Assizes at Maydstone, on the 25 March, 1642.

This is all that past at Maydstone, w011 I have set downe with every particular, yt after tymes (if at least this should outlive y0 present age) may judge whither the offence was of yt transcendency, it were :fit to cause any man, not otherwise culpable, to bee in sequestration (worse then a Premunire) to lye under a tedious and chargeable imprizonment, and whether nurs 12 and 13 may not deserve consideration in Parlyament for secui·­ing y0 subject in future. For my part I will not heere call heaven nor earth to witnesse (for they that will not credit mee otherwise, will not doe it on these Protesta­tions) I saw nothing of ille in this petition. Neither had I other intent in ye assenting to it then that there might bee a fayr intelligence beetweene the King and the two howses, by their complying wth hys Maty, wthout ever ti-ying who was strongest, and the subject governed by Lawes, not by arbitrary revokable Votes, Orders, or Or­dinances wch I did apprehend as a thing of great con­cernment, yet what I feared, if ye difference continewed, might bee forced on us, and saw no probable way of pre­venting but by letting them understand a considerable part of ye kingdome did not like to bee so ruled.

Yet I did not think this a petition no man would except against. There are severall men, and they will have severall minds whilst wee are on earth, and y0 de­sires and reasons of all are to bee weighed by those to whom it properly beelongs to give remedy, elce I know not how to give the name of a Court of Justice to an howse of Commons, if it admit the desires and reasons of such onely as goe wth their sense to bee heard: but of this heereafter.

On Saturday ye 26th of March, Sr Henry Vane, ye elder, then at Fayr Lane, sent unto mee to dyne wth hym. The next day I caryed wth me a Copy of the Pe­tition; for being retyred home from th' Assizes, I had caused some to be draune and dispersed to my acquain­tance, subscribing them according to the resolution there taken; one of these I caryed wth me and proffered Mr James, who refused to accept it, and gave some reasons for hys unwillingnesse, when Sr Edward Scott, who had newly come in, much distasting the businesse, did somewhat warmly shew hys dislike, beeing then in hope (as after­wards I found) of bringing a County petition to yt effect; but this beeing much more moderate, and what he saw generally well accepted, he found hys was not capable of getting subscriptions, and therefore joynd wth hys opposite Sr Michael Livesey (beetweene whom and hym there had beene formerly a great distance), and the Monday sennight after the Assizes, ye 4 of Aprill, beeing Easter Monday, hee and Sr Edward Dering coming to Mr. James's house at Ashford, where Mr. Hales then lay, joyntly there procured a meetting, when they got some names to a petition contrary to this of ye County's.

The 29th of Aprill beeing Fryday, the country gen­tlemen (according to y0 motion made at Maydstone) mett on Blackheath in great numbers; from whence they went that day and the next in so great a company to Westminster, as the next Sabbath, Capt. Carter (who had beene one of ye Grand Jury that found the bill against the Duke of Buckingham at Rochester) told me one Mr. Bucknam, whose chamber looked into the Pallace yard, affirmed they were as great a number as when his father (ye only surviving Parliament man for the county of Kent in 5 Q. Mary) attended ye Duke of Northumberland's execution.

This Petition of the County being by Captayn Skin­ner delivered to y0 howse of Commons, Sr Edward Dering (beeing then but lately readmitted, as well as Sr James Mere­dith) made a short speeche in it's commendations, though hee after sayd hee did not read it before he went thither, yet hee might have done it at Maydstone if hee would, nay, if he would but have seene what hee himselfe had written in it, hee would not have need to have read all. It was first committed and ordered to bee answered. But it beeing then intended this Session should end wth May, other businesse put it of, till the 30 of June, 1642, from whence came out a warrant (allmost as terrible to me as an arrest), under ye hand of Sir Robert Pye, addrest to the high Sheriffe of the County, commanding hym to give warning to mee, Sr Edward Dering, Sr George Strode, Capt. Augustine Skinner, wth others whose names were not then knowne, by himsel:f or Deputies, to appeare beefore a Committee, who (according to former order) were to consider of this Petition, the 13 of July following, at nine in ye morning, in the Star Chamber.

Upon my first receipt of this (beeing on the fryday night beefore) and well considering it, I thought not fit to goe alone, but desired Mr. William James (our neighbour attorney) to goe wth me. The 13th of July, beeing thus come to Westminster Hall, I found a great part of the Committee were members of the County, Sr Edward Boys, Sr Edward Scott, Mr. Browne of Beechworth, Mr. Richard Spencer, Mr. Philip Warwick; Sr Edward Dering, Sr George Strode, Capt. Skinner, wth some others who came wth me; wee were all at once called in, and Mr. Hide told us, beeing a charge of great importance against us, we were to heare it read, w011 he delivered to Mr. Browne of Beechworth, who was Chayr man of y0 Committee, and read it, yt they might have the full use of ye Journals beeing very long; I shall heereafter mention what may concerne the businesse they called us for; the charge (though drawn up by a Committee) haveing nothing more considerable then ye vote of that howse, for whose power thus far I never questioned; they who sent us to Parlyament might sequester us thence agayn. The second was the case of Sr Simonds D'ewes, drawne into the Journall by ye same hands; to come to us, after hearing both, we were a11 askd if we had any thing to say in defence of our selves. As for my part I told them I had not heard the read­ing of a11; if any thing were alleged wherein I might think it were wthout my assent, I would answere it when beeing showne; but beeing very sickly at ye Assizes, and not able to come abroad, I had beene wth Mr. Richard Spencer a11 the tyme of y0 drawing it, and there never saw any thing I could except agaynst in law. To this Capt. Skinner replyed he was foreman of ye Grand Jury, and that was no way a grand offe­ness, that a gentleman of qualyty and fayr estate, who payed as well as another, might serve it.

As for Sr Edward Dering, hee did never consent to the drawing of it; hee could witnesse wth hys owne hand it was nothing, and if we would beleeve hym, we might see it. The others said nothing. Sr Edward Dering told me agayn, "I am absolutely sure that other than ye one of us ever saw it beefore;" and wth this wee were bid withdraw. Shortly after were called in, and told wee must give bond to answer what might bee objected against us; so, having taken 2000lb bayle to attend them the 19th of October following, wee went home agayn.

Having thus left London, I was no sooner come home, but I heard of a complaint against Sr Michael Livesey, yt hee had neglected, beeinge Captyn of ye Mylytya, to have ye Trayned Bands in such a readynesse as they ought to bee. And though some would not apprehend this, yet I could easily observe those that found fault were of those sent us for the Parlyament, and might tell what use they made of it afterwards; so yt wee must a11wayes consider of future tymes, who bee those yt carry the greatest burthens, and what security they had, for ought else would certainely bring us misery to our selves in the end, and make us more backward to our own preservation, especially when every gentleman of qualyty shall be sayd to serve the King in vayne, for ye most unworthiest and obscurest persons (bee they how many they will) will be exempt from the same, and no man more ready to move it than those they like least.

This day after dinner, Sr Edward Dering tooke notice, that he had newly receyved letters from Mr. Pym, who desired he would present hys service to ye gentlemen of the County, and that ye howse had ordered what was fit to bee done for those things whereof they had given information, and were very carefull to maynteyn the peace of the County, and hys Maty. Not long after, wee beeing returned home agayn, Sr Edward Scott, Mr. Richard Spencer, Mr. Hales, and myself, did cary downe ye complaynt, beeing desired, at a meeting on the Mylytya, where Sr Michael Livesey was questioned; to whom I remember a letter was shewne from Mr. Rouse, of what had been done by the Parlyament. But this will not concerne myne owne businesse.

October the 19th beeing come to Westminster, the first day of our attending the Committee for the Mylytya, Sr John Sidley moved, That hee might bee heard in hys owne defence, beeing very sickly, and therefore not long able to attend. The Chayr man thereupon called for the charge, and reade, yt hee, amongst others, had caused divers of the Mylytya to bee armed, and declared hys owne defence, in what was thought very sufficient, and therefore desyred to bee dismyssed. But Mr. Rouse sayd hee could not judge of what was past, and must bee dismyssed; so that the next day beeing Saturday, hee was dismyssed wth all other gentlemen of ye Mylytya, and wee the next Monday.

This was about the 19th of October, 1642, when our hearing came on agayn. Wee were all first called in, Mr. Hide demanded why we appeared not to the Committee. To this Sr Edward Dering replyed, he had attended the Parliament, and could not bee wth us, beeing committed about y0 Bill of Attaynder of ye Earle of Strafford; the others gave no answere. So heere we had to attend agayn, and were ordered to appeare agayn at ye Committee.

The 20th beeing Monday, having met agayn, the businesse was agayn to bee heard, but one thing I did remember of the Declaration, that Sr Edward Dering was accus'd to have writt, yt all papists and delinquents should bee put out of y0 Militia, for yt was the most considerable matter in yt Declaration; and to this Mr. SpenceT replied, it was not such a Declaration as was to bee enforced on ye subject, if it were, hee would see it.

Wee were all agayn to attend the Committee, and our bonds renewed to appeare agayn, having beene examined severally, and this was on Tuesday next. But of this more heereafter.

The 22nd of November, 1642, Captayn Skinner caryed up a Petition to the Parliament, beeing onely to shew them the desires of the County for easing of the Mylytya; hee did it very discreetly, and had some incouragement given to hym, but yt businesse was not well settled, and therefore must expect what was to come. The last thing I heare, was, that Captayn Skinner and myself had a warrant from Mr. Pym for the delivery of y0 Militia into our hands, and this was on ye 23rd.

And thus much for this tyme; for yt of ye Petition, I will heereafter mention; but this of ye Mylytya I must conclude, and what they did intend, I hope to God will not be a greater burthen to ye Country. And thus ended this great businesse of y0 Parliament.

END OF THE FIRST PART OF YE JOURNALL

SECOND PART OF YE JOURNALL

WHEN I did consider that most part of that busi­nesse, as well about the Mylytya as the Petition, was ended, though not as was at first intended, but beecause some troubles were past, yt yet I might keepe myself in a readiness for any thing that might come on agayn; it was beecause of a smale booke I found at ye Assizes, yt I resolved to put myself in such a posture as to bee ready to doe any thing was to bee done, though wthout appearing much in it.

About yt tyme Mr. Hales shewed mee a booke w011 hee found in y0 County, and desired mee to take a Copy of it, yt he might have the better means to know how it was in other places. I did it willingly, and resolved to keepe it by mee, and if any thing should come of it, yt it might bee usefull to me.

About the 25th of March, 1642, at Maydstone, Mr. Hales and myself were wth the Judge, Sr Tho. Mallet, who, after the Assizes were ended, did desyre to see it, w011 I willingly gave hym, though hee said hee would bee very carefull of it, and could not but commend my care and diligence in keeping it by mee. The next morning, beeing beefore the Parlyament was to meet agayn, Mr. Hales told mee hee had read it, and desired mee to keepe it by mee, yt he might not loose it. I promised hym to doe it, though I might not bee at home to shew it hym when hee would. He gave mee some instructions in w011 hee did direct mee, and these were his instructions. 1st, Hee told mee it was very fitt to have it by mee, yt I might see it, and give my opinion of it, if there were occasion. 2ly, Hee desired mee to send it to Mr. James, and to shew it hym; hee would peruse it, and if he liked it, give mee his opinion of it, if there were occasion for it. 3ly, Hee did direct mee, if there were any businesse concerning it, yt I should let hym know, and hee would see to it yt I might have it agayn, if hee did find it necessary to bee returned to mee. 4ly, Hee desired mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it, and yt I might have it by mee, if there were any thing concerning it in y0 County. 5ly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what should bee done wth it in Parlyament. 6ly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye County. 7ly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in London. 8ly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at Westminster. 9ly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at the Court. 10ly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in y0 Country. 11thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye County. 12thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye City. 13thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 14thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 15thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 16thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 17thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye Country. 18thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye City. 19thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye Country. 20thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Court. 21thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 22thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 23thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 24thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 25thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye Country. 26thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye City. 27thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 28thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye Country. 29thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 30thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 31thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 32thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 33thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Court. 34thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 35thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 36thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 37thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 38thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Court. 39thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye Country. 40thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 41thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 42thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 43thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 44thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it in ye City. 45thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 46thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 47thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 48thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 49thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 50thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what would bee done wth it at ye Court. 51thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 52thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 53thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 54thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 55thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 56thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 57thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 58thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 59thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 60thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 61thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 62thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 63thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 64thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 65thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 66thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 67thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 68thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 69thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 70thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 71thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 72thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 73thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 74thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 75thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 76thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 77thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 78thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 79thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 80thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 81thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 82thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 83thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 84thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 85thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 86thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 87thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 88thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 89thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 90thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 91thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 92thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 93thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 94thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 95thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court. 96thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Sessions. 97thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Assizes. 98thly, Hee desired mee to have it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Parlyament. 99thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it in ye City. 100thly, Hee did direct mee to keepe it by mee, till hee did see what might bee done wth it at ye Court.

Thus far Mr. Hales's instructions, w011 are all yt bee con­cerning me, and therefore will need no further expla­nation. What concernes me, beeing now at home, I resolved to put myself in a posture to bee ready for any thing yt might come, and to bee in readiness for what might bee done.

THE END