D. Visited the Lord Chancellor, to whom His Majesty had sent for the seals a few days before; I found him in his bed-chamber, very sad. The Parliament had accused him, and he had enemies at Court, especially the buffoons and ladies of pleasure, because he thwarted some of them, and stood in their way; I could name some of the chief. The truth is, he made few friends during his grandeur among the royal sufferers, but advanced the old rebels. He was, however, though no considerable lawyer, one who kept up the form and substance of things in the Nation with more solemnity than some would have had. He was my particular kind friend, on all occasions. The Cabal, however, prevailed, and that party in Parliament. Great division at Court concerning him, and divers great persons interceding for him.

E. By what I observed in that journey, is that infinite industry, sedulity, gravity, great understanding and experience of affairs, in His Majesty, that I cannot but predict much happiness to the nation as to its political government; and if he so persist, there could be nothing more desired to accomplish our prosperity, but that he was of the national religion.

F. For my part, I believe the crafty and ambitious Earl of Shaftesbury had brought them1 into some dislike of the present carriage of matters at Court, not with any design of destroying the monarchy (which Shaftesbury had in confidence and for unanswerable reasons told me he would support to his last breath, as having seen and felt the misery of being under mechanic tyranny), but perhaps of setting up some other whom

1 i.e. Lord Russell, Sidney, etc.

he might govern, and frame to his own platonic fancy, without much regard to the religion established under the hierarchy, for which he had no esteem; but when he perceived those whom he had engaged to rise, fail of his expectations, and the day past, he gave them the slip and got into Holland, where the fox died, three months before these unhappy Lords and others were discovered or suspected.

(1) Date these extracts, giving reasons.

(2) What can you learn from them as to the position, associates, principles, influence of the writer?

[N.B. All the extracts are by the same author.] (3) What was the object of the proceedings narrated in A and B ?

(4) Where was the residence of the writer? What was his religion?

66. Forasmuch as it is now spread abroad and certainly pronounced by the Lord Chancellor, and others of the council, of the Queen's determinate pleasure to marry with a Stranger, etc. We therefore write unto you, because you be our friends, and because you be Englishmen, that you will join with us, as we will with you unto death, in this behalf; protesting unto you before God, that no earthly cause could move us unto this enterprise but this alone: wherein we seek no harm to the Queen, but better counsel and councillors; which also we would have forborne in all other matters, saving only in this. For herein lieth the health and wealth of us all.

For trial hereof and manifest proof of this intended purpose, lo now, even at hand, Spaniards be now already arrived at Dover, at one passage, to the number of a hundred, passing upward to London, in companies of ten, four, and six with harness (armour), etc.: the foremost company whereof be already at Rochester.

We shall require you therefore to repair to such places as the bearers hereof shall pronounce unto you, there to assemble and determine what may be the best for the advancement of Liberty and common wealth in this behalf, and to bring with you such aid as you may.

Whose proclamation is this? Give your reasons for your choice. What was the issuer intending to do and why?

67. And as for our good people's recreation, our pleasure likewise is, that, after the end of divine service, our good people be not disturbed, letted, or discouraged from any lawful recreation, such as dancing, either men or women, archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation, nor from having Maygames, Whitsun ales, and Morris dances, and the setting up of Maypoles, or other sports therewith used, so as the same be had in due and convenient time, without impediment or neglect of divine service; and that women shall have leave to carry rushes to the church for the decorating of it, according to their old custom. But withal we do here account still as prohibited all unlawful games to be used upon Sundays only, as bear

and bull baitings, interludes, and at all times in the meaner sort of people, by law prohibited, bowling.

(1) Date this document as accurately as possible, giving

the author.

(2) What would be the attitude of (a) a Puritan divine, (b) a High Churchman, towards this?

68. England was at this time in sad distraction. Many ministers were driven from town, and several churches were shut up, when people were in a more than ordinary disposition to profit by good sermons; whereupon some Nonconformists went into the empty pulpits, and preached with great freedom, reflecting on the vices of the Court and the severities that they themselves had been made to suffer. This was represented at Oxford (where the Parliament was then sitting) in very odious colours; and so a bill was brought in and passed, requiring all the silenced ministers to take an oath declaring it was not lawful, on any pretence whatever, to take arms against the King, or any commissioned by him, or at any time to endeavour an alteration in the government of the Church or State. And such as refused to do this were not allowed to come within five miles of a city or Parliament borough, or any church where they had once served; which severity, in a time of war and public calamity, as it drew hard censures on the promoters of it, so it raised a compassion for the recusants, and occasioned

many plentiful contributions for the relief of their necessities.

(1) Give the date of this time of sad distraction.

(2) Why were several churches shut up?

(3) Why were people more disposed than ordinary to hear sermons?

(4) What war and public calamity were raging?

(5) What were the severities from which Nonconformists were suffering?

69. Eliza, that great Maiden Queen, lies here, Who governd England fower an forty yeare; Our Coynes Refined, Ireland Tamde, Belgim protected,

Frinded France, foyld Spaign, and Pope rejected:

Princes found her powerfull, the world virtuous, Her subjects wise and fast, and God religious : God hath her soul, the world hir Admiration, Subjects hur good deeds, Princes hur Imitation. Enlarge this, especially lines 3 to 5 either in a tabulated or connected form.

70. To the Governor of Virginia.

Sir,

Whereas the difference between Lord Baltimore and the Inhabitants of Virginia, concerning the bounds by them respectively claimed, are depending before our Council, and yet undetermined; and whereas we are