Chap. I. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRil'ANs. rs another towards the latter end of the year ; even the lower fort of wo- K. Charles I. men, to the number of two or three thoufand, with white filk ribbons~ in their hats, went in a body to W~jlmir![ter with a petition for peace up- Rulhw. on the king's terms, and could not be difperfed without the military arm; Vol. V. all which was occalioned by the correfpondence the king held in Lcndon; P· 35°·· notwithfianding the ordinance the parliament had publilhed in April ]aft, to prevent fpies and imelligencies from Oxford or the royal army, coming to any part of the parliament's qu arters. The king having failed in his deligns of flll·prizing the city, r.e~olved Proclama: at lafi: to fi:arve the citizens into their duty, for which purpofe he 1fiued a llom. ogoznjl· . ":/' l h'b' . 11 . [i f d d the czty of proclamation Jury I 7· pro 1 1t1ng a wtercour e o tra e an commerce London. with them, and exprefsly forbidding all perfons to travel to London, H ufb. Col•. or to carry any goods, merchandize, or provifions thither, without fpe- fvl. 237. cial licence from bimfelf. By another proclamr.tion, [Otlob. 17.] his 3 66 · majefi:y forbids his fubjecrs of Scotland, and all foreign kingdoms and il:ates in amity with him, to bring any ammunition, provifion, goods, or merchandize, of any fort to Lor1don, or any other town or city in rebellion againfi: him. The prohibiting foreign merchandizes had very little influence upon the trade of the city, becaufe the parliament were mailers of the feas; but the town of Ne7ocaftle being garrifoned by the king, the Londoners were diil:reifed the fol!owing winter for coals, which obliged them them to have recourfe to the digging turf, and cutting down all jell wood on the efiates of delinquents within lixty miles of London. By another proclamation his majefi:y forbid all his fubj ecrs, upon pain of high treafon, to obey the orders of parliament; and all tenants to PJY their rents to fuch landlords as adhered to the rebellion, but to referve them for his majefl:y's ufe. After this account of things 'tis reafonable to fuppofe, tba t very extra- Tbe people ordinary burdens mufi: be laid upon the people on both fides to fupport the reduced to expences of the war. The parliament at Wejtminfler excifed eve1y thing, gr.eat bard· even the neceffarics of life : All butchers meat paid one fhilling in twen- Jhtps. ty; every rabbit an half- penny; and pigeom one penny in the dozen•. The king's parliament at Oxford did the like in his majeil:y's quar!ers; and by an ordinance of March 26. following, all perfons within the cities of London and Weflminfler, and the bills of mortality, were to pay the weekly value of one meal a week, on every Tuifday, for the public fervice, which they were fuppofe.d to abate in their families. Such were the hardiliips of the times! Th7 king'~ affairs .this fummer were very profperous, and threatened Succefs of t.~e the !·um of ~IS enemies; for befides his army, which had been recruit- ki11g:sajfairs, ing m the wmter, the queen furni!hed him with foreign money, and with Rapm, two thoufand foot, a thoufand horfe, a hundred waggons laden wi t.h P· 98 • 99 ' ammu-
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