NOTli GGfl. 



24th April. 



Die Martis, videlicet, 24 die Aprilis, Domini tarn Spirituales quam Tempo- 

 rales, quorum nomina subscribuntur, praesentes fuerunt : 



Praesens Rex. p. Carolus Princeps Walliae, &c. 



p. Archiepus. Cant. p. Jac. Ley, Miles et Bar. Ds. 



p. Archiepus. Eborum. Capit. Justic. locum tenens, 



Epus. London. &c. 



The Lords sitting in their robes, and the Lord Chief Justice in the place of 

 the Lord Chancellor, expecting his majesty s coming into the Parliament house, 

 the Earl of Oxon (Lord Great Chamberlain of England) and the Earl of Essex, 

 who carried the sword, coming before, the King entered ; and his majesty being 

 placed iu his chair, under the cloth of estate, was pleased to make a gracious 

 speech unto their lordships. 



As touching the complaints of grievances, his majesty commended the 

 complaint of all public grievances, protesting that he will prefer no person 

 whomsoever before the public good. And his majesty was pleased to put the 

 lords in mind of their ancient orders of this house, in hearing the complaints in 

 the examinations, and their manner to give judgment thereupon; and advised 

 them to entertain nothing (the time being precious), which was not material 

 and weighty. 



And whereas many complaints are already made against courts of judicature, 

 which are in examination, and are to be proceeded upon by the lords ; his 

 majesty will add some, which he thinks fit to be also complained of, and 

 redressed, viz. That no orders be made but in public court, and not in cham 

 bers ; that excessive fees be taken away ; that no bribery nor money be given 

 for the hearing of any cause. These and many other things his majesty thought 

 fit to be done this session. And his majesty added, that when he hath done 

 this, and all that he can do for the good of his subjects, he confesseth he hath 

 done but the duty whereunto he was born. 



Post meridiem. The Prince his highness signified unto the Lords, that the 

 Lord Chancellor had sent a submission unto their lordships, the which was 

 presently read. It follows, in IUEC verba : 



&quot; To the Right Honourable the Lords of Parliament, in the Upper House 



assembled. 

 &quot; The humble Submission and Supplication of the Lord Chancellor. 



&quot; It may please your lordships, I shall humbly crave at your lordships hands 

 a benign interpretation of that which I shall now write. For words that come 

 from wasted spirits, and an oppressed mind, are more safe in being deposited in 

 a noble construction, than in being circled with any reserved caution. 



&quot; This being moved, and, as I hope, obtained, in the nature of a protection 

 to all that I shall say, I shall now make into the rest of that wherewith I shall 

 at this time trouble your lordships a very strange entrance. For, in the midst 

 of a state of as great affliction as I think a mortal man can endure (honour being 

 above life), I shall begin with the professing of gladness in some things. 



&quot; The first is, that hereafter the greatness of a judge or magistrate shall be 

 no sanctuary or protection of guiltiness, which (in few words) is the beginning 

 of a golden world. The next, that, after this example, it is like that judges will 

 fly from any thing that is in the likeness of corruption (though it were at a 

 great distance) as from a serpent; which tendeth to the purging of the courts of 

 justice, and the reducing them to their true honour and splendour. And in 

 these two points, God is my witness, that, though it be my fortune to be the 

 anvil upon which these good effects are beaten and wrought, I take no small 

 comfort. 



&quot; But, to pass from the motions of my heart, whereof God is only judge, to 

 the merits of my cause, whereof your lordships are judges, under God and his 

 lieutenant, I do understand there hath been heretofore expected from me some 

 justification ; and therefore I have chosen one only justification instead of all 



