with the sense of the House, that they made it the subject of a message to be delivered by the Speaker to His Majesty.

In this debate, some were for letting the petition of right rest upon a reliance on the King's word; but Sir Edward Coke's reasons to the contrary, prevailed. Was it ever known, said he, that general words were a sufficient satisfaction to particular grievances? When grievances be, the Parliament was to redress them. Did ever Parliament rely on messages? They put up petitions of their grievances, and the King answered them: the King's answer was very gracious; but what was the law of the realm, that was the question? That he put no diffidence in His Majesty: the King must speak by a record and in particulars, and not in generals. Did they ever know the King's message come into a bill of subsidies? All succeeding kings would say, Ye must trust me, as well as you did my predecessors, and trust my messages; but messages of love never came into a parliament. Let us put up a petition of right: not that I distrust the King, but that we cannot take his trust, but in a parliamentary way.

On Thursday, the 8th of May, the petition of right was finished by the Commons. And then they fixed the time for payment of the supplies.

Upon debate of a letter from the King, endeavouring to render unnecessary the petition of right, Sir Thomas Wentworth said it was a letter of

grace, but that the people would only like of that which should be done in a parliamentary way; besides that the debate of it would spend much time, neither was it directed to the House of Commons; and that the petition of right would clear all mistakes. For, said he, some give out as if the House went about to pinch the King's prerogative. The further debate of this letter occupied several days..

The Lords propounded, at a conference, the following addition to be made to the petition :"We present this our humble petition to Your Majesty, with the care, not only of preserving our own liberties, but with due regard to leave entire that sovereign power wherewith Your Majesty is trusted for the protection, safety, and happiness of the people."

In the debate upon this proposed addition, several members expressed their disapprobation, and, amongst others, Sir Thomas Wentworth. If, says he, we do admit of this addition, we shall leave the subject worse than we found him, and we shall have little thanks for our labour when we come home. Let us leave all power to His Majesty to punish malefactors; but these laws are not acquainted with sovereign power. We desire no new thing; nor do we offer to trench upon His Majesty's prerogative: we may not recede from this petition, either in part, or in whole. To add a saving is not safe: doubtful words may beget ill

construction; and the words are not only doubtful words, but words unknown to us, and never used in any act or petition before.

At a conference of the Lords and Commons, 26th of same May, the Lord Keeper declared that the Lords had unanimously agreed with the Commons, in omnibus, and had voted that they would join with them in their petition of right. And, says Rushworth, the Lords and Commons being happily accorded, the petition was read in the House two several times together. Then it was voted upon question, and that it should be engrossed and read the third time, and the House to sit in the afternoon till it should be engrossed and read, and ordered to be presented to the King; to which there was not a negative voice. And on the 28th of the same month it was agreed, at a conference upon the manner of its delivery, that no addition or preface be used to the King, but that it be preferred to His Majesty by command of the Lords and Com. mons, and that His Majesty be desired, that, to the content of his people, he would be pleased to give his gracious answer in Parliament.

The King came to the House, 2d June. He said he came to perform his duty. He thought none could think it long, since he had not taken so many days in answering the petition, as they had spent weeks in framing it. That he came thither to show them, that, as well in formal things as in

swer was:

essential, he desired to give them as much content as in him lay. After a short speech by the Lord Keeper, the petition was read. The King's anThe King willeth that right be done according to the laws and customs of the realm, and that the statutes be put in due execution, that his subjects may have no cause to complain of any wrong or oppressions contrary to their just rights and liberties to the preservation whereof he holds himself in conscience as well obliged, as of his prerogative.

On Tuesday, 3d June, the King's answer was read in the House of Commons, and seemed too scant, in regard of so much expense of time and labour as had been employed in preparing the petition.

At length the King gave this answer to the petition, "Soit droit fait come il est desiré," with which both Houses were perfectly satisfied; and ordered that the grand committees for religion, trade, grievances, and courts of justice, should sit no longer; but that the House of Commons proceed only in the consideration of grievances of

most moment.

They then took into consideration the grievances of the nation, and prepared, and presented to the King a remonstrance against the Duke of Buckingham, as the grand cause of them.

The King, being displeased with the Parliament's proceedings, came suddenly to the House, and

ended the sessions, and prorogued the Parliament to the 20th of October then next. It was afterwards prorogued to the 20th January following. Subsequently to which, Rushworth states many transactions, and, amongst others, the assassination of the Duke of Buckingham by Felton.

On the above 20th January (1628), the Parliament re-assembled. They took into consideration the violation of the people's liberties since the end of the last sessions, contrary to the petition of right, several instances whereof were given.

In a question upon a point of privilege, on the commissioners of the customs taking the goods of Mr. Rolles, a member of the House, under, as they alleged, a commission under the Great Seal and warrants, in the apprehension that his privilege did not extend beyond his person, Mr. Selden said, If there be any near the King that doth misrepresent our actions, let the curse light on them, not on us; and believe it, it is high time to vindicate ourselves in this case, else it is in vain for us to sit here. And it was resolved that the privilege extended to goods as well as person.

The Speaker having refused to put a question proposed to the House, alleging that he was so commanded by the King, was severely reprimanded by Mr. Selden. The House, in heat, adjourned to the Wednesday next, when they were again adjourned to Monday, the 2d of March, when the House again urging the Speaker, he still refused,