Page 28 - Hampdens Monument Unveiled

the nation beating high towards liberty : yet contrary to his
promise to preserve the privileges of Parliament, he caused the
studies of their members to be searched, their papers to be
seized, and their persons to be imprisoned in the tower, where
Sir John Elliot, who was one of them, lost his life. Divers
others suffered in their health and estates, being prosecuted
with all severity at the common law, for discharging their duty
in Parliament. After the dissolution of which, a proclamation
was published, whereby it was made criminal in the people to
speak any more of Parliaments.

The King having assumed this extraordinary power, resolved to
make war against France, not upon the account of those of the
reformed religion, as was pretended, but grounded upon personal
discontents, and to gratify the revenge and lust of his
favourite.

Defeat of Rochellers

The Rochellers, who once before, upon encouragement from
England, had endeavoured to defend their just rights against
the encroachments of the French king, till, being deserted by
the king of England, they were necessitated to accept terms
from their king very disadvantageous to their affairs, were
again, by frequent importunities and fair promises, prevailed
with (though very unwillingly) to assist the English with
provisions, and such other things as they wanted, in their
expedition against the Isle of Rhee : from whence our forces
being repulsed, the French King sent his army against the
Protestants of Rochelle, whose provisions being exhausted by
the English, they applied to the King of England for succours,
according to his promise: who, as if he intended to assist them
effectually, caused a certain number of ships to be fitted out,
under the conduct of Sir John Pennington. But private
differences being soon after composed, Sir John received a
letter from the king, signed Charles Rex, which was afterwards
found by the Parliament amongst his papers, requiring him to
dispose of those ships as he should be directed by the French
King; and if any should refuse to obey those orders, to sink or
fire them.

The King's command was put in execution accordingly, and by
the help of those ships the French became the masters of the
sea, and thereby enabled to raise a work composed of earth,
stones, and piles, with which they entirely shut up the mouth
of the harbour, and so prevented them from any relief that way.
Being thus straitened on all sides, they were forced to yield
to the pleasure of their King; and that strong town of
Rochelle, wherein the security of the Protestants of France
chiefly consisted, by this horrible treachery was delivered up
to the Papists, and those of the reformed religion in all parts
of that kingdom exposed to the rage of their bloody and cruel
enemies.