bundle, out of them the forefaid Grand Charter was extracted; and the establishment of this great Charter was the work of a Parliament.

The origin

of the king

of France's

power of

taxes on his

the Isle of

without the

the three

Nor are the Lawes of this Ifland only, and the freedome of the Subject in it, conserved by a Parlement; but all the beft-policed Countries of Europe have the like. The Germanes have their Diets, the Danes and Swedes their Rijck Dachs; the Spaniard calls his Parlement las Cortes; and the French have, (or fhould have, at leaft) their Affembly of three States, though it be growne now in a manner obsolete, because the authority thereof was (by accident) devolv❜d to the King. And very remarkable it is, how this happened; for, when the English had taken fuch large footing in most imposing parts of France, having advanced as far as Orleans and subjects in driven their then King Charles the feventh, to Bourges in Paris and Berry, the Affembly of the three States in thefe preffures, France, being not able to meet after the ufual manner in full Par- consent of lement because the Countrey was unpaffable, the Enemy States of the having made fuch firme invafions up and down through Clergy, the Nobility, the very bowels of the Kingdom; that power which for merly was inhærent in the Parlementary Affembly, of making Laws, of affeffing the Subject with taxes, fubfidiary tate, or levies, and other impofitions, was tranfmitted to the King alty. during the war; which continuing many years, that entrusted power by length of time grew, as it were, habitual in him, and could never after be re-affumed and taken from him; fo that ever fince, his Edicts countervaile Acts of Parlement. And that which made the bufineffe more feafable for the King, was, that the burthen fell moft upon the Commonalty; the Clergy and Nobility not feeling the weight of it, and being willing to fee the peasan pull'ddown a little, because, not many years before, in that notable Rebellion, call'd la Jaquerie de Beauvoifin, which was fuppreffed by Charles the wife, the Common people put

themselves

or Gentry,

and the

Third Es

Common

themselves boldly in Arms against the Nobility and Gentry, to leffen their power. Adde hereunto, as an advantage to the work, that the next fucceeding King, Lewis the eleventh, was a close, cunning, Prince, and could well tell how to play his game, and draw water to his own mill; For, amongst all the reft, he was said to be the first that but the Kings of France, Hors de page, out of their minority, or from being Pages any more, though thereby he brought the poor peafans to be worse than Lacquays, and they may thank themselves for it.

Nevertheleffe, as that King hath an advantage hereby one way, to Monarchize more abfolutely, and never to want money, but to ballast his purse when he will; fo there is another mighty inconvenience arifeth to him and his whole Kingdom another way; for this peeling of the Peafan hath fo dejected him, and cowed his native courage fo much by the sense of poverty (which brings along with it a narrownee of foul) that he is little useful for the war: which puts the French King to make other Nations mercenary to him, to fill-up his Infantery: Infomuch, that the Kingdom of France may be not unfitly compared to a body that hath all it's bloud drawn-up into the arms, breast, and back, and scarce any left from the girdle downwards, to cherish and bear-up the lower parts, and keep them from ftarving.

All this seriously confidered, there cannot be a more proper and pregnant example than this of our next Neighbours to prove how infinitely neceffary the Parlement is to affert, to prop-up, and preserve, the publick liberty, and national rights of a people, with the incolumity and welfare of a Countrey.

Nor doth the Subject only reap penefit thus by Parlement, but the Prince, (if it be well confider'd) hath equal advantage thereby. It rendreth him a King of free and able

men;

men;

which is far more glorious than to be a King of Cowards, Beggars, and Bankrupts; Men that, by their freedom and competency of wealth, are kept ftill in heart to do him service against any forrain force. And it is a true maxime in all States, that 'tis leffe danger and dishonour for the Prince to be poor, than his people: Rich Subjects can make their King rich when they please; if he gain their hearts, he will quickly get their purfes. Parlement encreaseth love and good intelligence 'twixt him and his people: it acquaints him with the reality of things, and with the true ftate and diseases of his Kingdom; it brings him to the knowledge of his better fort of Subjects, and of their abili. ties, which he may employ accordingly upon all occafions; It provides for his Royal iffue, pays his debts, finds means to fill his Coffers; and it is no ill obfervation, that parlement-moneys (the great Aid) have prospered best with the Kings of England: It exceedingly raiseth his repute abroad, and enableth him to keep his foes in fear, his Subjects in awe, bis Neighbours and Confederates in fecurity, the three main things which go to aggrandize a Prince, and render him glorious. In fumme, it is the Parlement that fupports, and bears-up the honour of his Crown, and fettles his throne in fafety; which is the chief end of all their confultations: for whofoever is entrusted to be a Member of this High Court, carryeth with him a double capacity; he fits there as a Patriot, and as a Subject: as he is one, the Country is his object, his duty being to vindicate the publick liberty, to make wholefome Lawes; to put his hand to the pump, and ftop the leaks of the great veffel of the State; to pry into, and punish, corruption and oppreffion; to improve and advance trade; to have the grievances of the place he ferves-for redreffed, and to caft-about how to find something that may tend to the advantage of it.

But he must not forget that he fits there alfo as a Subjeɛ :

and

and according to that capacity, he must apply himself to do his Soveraign's busineffe, to provide, not only for his publick, but his personal, wants; to bear-up the luftre and glory of his Court; to confider what occafions of extraordinary expences he may have, by encrease of Royal iffue, or mainterance of any of them abroad; to enable him to vindicate any affront, or indignity, that might be offered to his person, Crown, or dignity, by any forrain State or Kingdom, or inteftine Rebellion; to confult what may enlarge his bonour, contentment, and pleasure. And as the French Tacitus (Comines) hath it, the English Nation was used to be more forward and zealous in this particular than any other; according to that ancient, eloquent, fpeech of a great Lawyer, Domum Regis vigilia defendit omnium, otium illius labor omnium, deliciæ illius induftria omnium, vacatio illius occupatio omnium, falus illius periculum omnium, honor illius objectum omnium. Every one should stand Centinell to defend the King's houfe, his safety fhould be the danger of all, his pleasures the industry of all, his ease should be the labour of all, his honour the objeɛ of all.

Out of these premiffes this conclufion may be eafily deduced, that, the principall fountain whence the King derives bis happiness and safety, is his parlement; it is that great Conduit-pipe which conveighes unto him his people's bounty and gratitude; the trueft Looking-glaffe wherein he discernes their loves; (now the Subjects love bath been always accounted the prime Cittadell of a Prince.) In his Parlement he appears as the Sun in the Meridian, in the altitude of his glory, in his highest State Royal, as the Law tells us. Therefore whofoever is averfe or difaffected to his Soveraign Law-making Court, cannot have his heart well-planted within him; he can be neither a good Subject, nor a good patriot, and therefore is unworthy to breath English air, or have any benefit, advantage, or protection from the Laws.

END OF Mr. HOWELL'S DISCOURSE ON PARLIAMENTS.

A MEMORIAL

PRESENTED TO

QUEEN ELIZABETH,

AGAINST HER MAJESTY'S BEING ENGROSS'D BY ANY PARTICULAR FAVOURITE.

Written by WILLIAM CECIL, Lord Burleigh, then Lord High Treasurer of England.

May it please your Majesty,

FULL of Affurance, that my unfeigned Zeal for your Majesty's Interest and Service, will be evident in what I humbly presume to Remonstrate to Your Majefty; I shall venture to speak my mind with a Freedom worthy the noble End and Aim of my Design. When any Man, that is as ambitious as myself of engaging your Majesty's good Opinion of my Actions, and your Favour on my Endeavours, shall attempt to plead against any Particular's engroffing your Royal Ear, he cannot well be fufpected of directing his Difcourfe and Sollicitations on that Head to any private Intereft and Advantage: Since, by advancing the contrary Pofition, he might hope perhaps, in time, and in his turn, by the force of Industry and Application, to enjoy the Benefit of it.

Secure