A.D. 1629. Upon the dissolution of the parliament, the public were highly discontented; which appeared in the boldness of their speeches, and their universal complaints, that if a parliament were not presently called again, all things would be unsettled and out of order; that trading would fail, and contests would perpetually arise about tonnage and poundage. Hereupon the king published a proclamation on the 27th of March, "That he neither could nor would dispense with the duties his father had received; and that he should not call a new parliament till those who had interrupted the last had received their condign punishment; and those who were misled by them should come to a better understanding of his majesty and themselves." his physicians subscribed their imminent danger, they could not prevail for obtaining it. 22 This case affords us another instance of the extent of that moderation and mercy so often attributed to Charles the First. We learn, from Rushworth, that upon consulting the judges he was exceedingly disappointed to find that the opposition of these members could not be tortured into a capital offence.Rushworth, vol.i.-Poor Elliot's death should never be forgotten when we speak of this man's character. CHAPTER III. Review of King Charles's conduct continued, from the dissolution of the parliament, March 10, 1628-9, to the meeting of the Long Parliament. A.D. 1629. duct of Bad con foreign affairs. WHILST French protestants A.D. 1629. best terms which they could for themselves; to Duke of Rohan's letter to the king. the ruin of the protestant interest in France, and to the dishonour of England. They had, for the maintenance of their religion, acted with the greatest resolution, and suffered the most extreme hardships that men could bear. They had been reduced, in Rochelle, during the siege of it, to such want and misery, that for above fourteen months they had subsisted on hides and parchments, and even the bones of the dead had yielded them sustenance, until, despairing of that succour from England which they had so long expected, they were obliged to surrender the place in October 1628. The Duke of Rohan, head of the protestant party in France, not knowing that King Charles had dissolved his parliament, implored his aid in behalf of the reformed churches of France, in a letter dated the 12th of March * SIR, THE deplorable accident of the loss of Rochelle, which God hath pleased to permit, to humble us under his hand, hath redoubled in the spirit of our enemies the passion which they have for our ruin, and the hopes to obtain thereunto; but it hath not taken away from those churches of the provinces that courage, or affection of opposing, by a just and vigorous defence, to their unjust designs. This is that which hath made them take up a resolution, and assemble themselves together; and to stand in a body amidst these commotions, to assist me with their good counsel, and provide with me means for their deli 1628, being two days after the parliament was A.D. 1629. dissolved. At the same time, deputies arrived from the churches, to acquaint the king that, in case he should enter into a treaty with France, they humbly prayed him to insist upon the capitulation that had been made upon his mediation, and with regard to which he had passed his word verance. And because the most powerful means which God hath raised them upon earth is the aid which our churches have received, and do expect, from your majesty, the general assembly have desired that my letter (which solely hitherto represented unto your majesty the interest of the public cause) might be joined to the most humble supplication which they represent. I do it, sir, with so much the more affection, because I am witness that this poor people breathe after your assistance, having once laid down their arms, which the oppression of the enemy made so necessary; and because they knew it was your desire, took them up again, when they learned that your majesty obliged them to it by your counsel and by your promises. Upon this sole assurance, they have exposed themselves to all dangers, overcome all obstacles, consumed their goods, and are still ready to spill their blood, even unto the last drop. Your good-will they have found more dear than their lives; and, notwithstanding the promises and menaces which their enemies have made use of to move them, they have not been induced to make any breach of those oaths by which they were tied never to hearken to any treaty but with your majesty's consent. All the churches of this kingdom, which are linked together to an unexampled fidelity, are glorious objects of your charity and power: you are, sir, "defender of that faith which they profess;" do not suffer it to be unjustly oppressed: you have stirred up their affections by your royal promises, and those sacred words, "that your majesty would employ all the power A.D. 1629. that the reformed churches should perform it on their parts. This they had inviolably done, till forces were raised and kept in forts against them, contrary to the capitulation; so that, at length, they were necessitated to take up arms in their own defence. To the duke's letter, which was as affecting of your kingdom to shield all those churches from the ruin that threatened them;" and have been, next to the favour of God, the only foundation of their hopes they have also thought it to be one of the highest crimes they could commit, to doubt of the perform ance thereof. If the beginning of their miseries hath moved your compassion, this sad subject hath increased upon them with so much violence, that there is nothing but your assistance can prevent their absolute destruction; for at this day the greatest misdemeanours which our enemies accuse us of, and publish, that it cannot be expiated but with our blood, is the imploring and hoping for your assistance. Our goods for this are confiscated and destroyed; our farms desolate and burnt to ashes; our heads exposed to the block; our fa milies banished; our temples demolished; and everywhere, where the cruelty of our heinous enemies can extend, men and women are beaten to mass with staves. In short, the horror and persecution we endure is so great, that our words are too weak to express them. Furthermore, we see, even at our doors, the powerful armies which only wait the time to destroy those retiring places that are left, and after that banish the exercise of religion, and massacre the faithful throughout the kingdom. Hereupon, if I should entreat your majesty not to abandon us, I fear by these words to offend a great king, so powerful and so faithful; but I will take upon me the boldness, by reason of our pressing necessities, to supplicate your ready assistance to hinder our falling |