4^2 A. D. 1640. 



withdrew tbemfelves from parliament, and others were elected in their 

 fl:ead. In confequence of all thole ftrict inquiries, the following ad:i 

 were palled, which the king was obhged to confent to, viz. ifl, that a 

 parliament fliould be held at leaft once in three years for the future, 

 even though the king fhould negleft to call it. This was entitled, An 

 acl for preventing inconveniencies happening by the long intermilhon 

 of parliaments ; which the kingdom had fo much fmarted for in this 

 reign : and it was the firft acft of this parliament, and pafled before the 

 year 1640 expired, {16" Caroli) according to the then ftile ; when the 

 parliament alio [17 Car. I, cc. 2, 3] granted the king four entire fub- 

 lidies for the relief of his majell:y's army, and the northern parts of the 

 kingdom. And in the flime feffion (but in the year 1641, which, for 

 connexion's fake, we briefly relate here, though we have not done with 

 the year 1640) two more fubfidies were granted for the fame purpofe. 

 2dly, they pafled an ad, [r. 7] whereby this parliament fliould not be 

 diflblved, prorogued, nor adjourned, but by an aft of parliament ! (i, e. 

 not without their own confent). By which aft, and the impeachment 

 of the king's two great and wicked ftvourites. Laud archbifliop of Can- 

 terbury, and Weiitworth earl of Straiford, of high treafon, (both already 

 imprifoned in the tower, and afterward put to death) they brought that 

 unhappy prince to be entirely in their power, while, at the fame time, 

 they granted fuflacient fupplies for the public occafions of the nation, 

 by the feveral afts for tonnage and poundage, and other fums of money 

 payable upon merchandize exported and imported : and for a provifion 

 ot money for fpeedily dilhanding the armies, and fettling the peace of 

 the two kingdoms of England and Scotland, by charging feveral fums 

 upon perfons according to their ranks, dignities, offices, callings, 

 eflates, and qualities. By another aft, they aboliftied for ever the tvva 

 wicked and opprellive tribunals of the flar-chamber and high-commif- 

 fion-court. By another, the king's raifing of fliip-money without the 

 authority of parliament, was declared illegal, and never to be allowed 

 in future. Another aft was for aboliihing oppreflions in the flannary- 

 courts ; and another for afcertaining the boundaries of forefts. Another 

 for confirming the treaty of pacification between England and Scotland. 

 Another, for limiting the powers of the king's clerk of the inarket. 

 Another, for abolifliing the king's power to ifltie writs, upon pretext of 

 iui ancient cuftom, to compel landed men to take the order of knight- 

 hood, or to pay a fine to the king. Another, gra.nting liberty for all 

 men to import gunpowder and ialtpetre j and alio for the free making 

 ot gi;npowder in England. Circumftanced as he was, the king could 

 not avoid giving his confent to thefe reftriftive laws, however mortjfj'^ 

 ing they might be to him. His former wicked advifers and judges were 

 removed from him ; and as the parliament was, in effeft, rendered per- 

 petual, there was no middle courfe for him to fleer : he niuft either 



