or free gift, from
individuals; pretending the urgency of the case, which would not admit
of leisure for any other measure: but the jealousy of liberty was now
roused, and the nation regarded these pretended benevolences as
real extortions, contrary to law, and dangerous to freedom, however
authorized by ancient precedent. A parliament was found to be the
only resource which could furnish any large supplies; and writs were
accordingly issued for summoning that great council of the nation.[**]
[55]

{1621.} In this parliament there appeared, at first, nothing but duty
and submission on the part of the commons; and they seemed determined to
sacrifice every thing, in order to maintain a good correspondence with
their prince. They would allow no mention to be made of the new customs
or impositions, which had been so eagerly disputed in the former
parliament;[***] the imprisonment of the members of that parliament was
here by some complained of; but, by the authority of the graver and more
prudent part of the house, that grievance was buried in oblivion;[****]
and, being informed that the king had remitted several considerable
sums to the palatine, the commons, without a negative, voted him
two subsidies;[v] and that too at the very beginning of the session,
contrary to the maxims frequently adopted by their predecessors.

* Franklyn, p. 47. Rushworth, vol. i. p. 21

** See note CCC, at the end of the volume.

*** Journ. 5th Dec. 1621.

**** Journ. 12th, 16th Feb. 1620.

v Journ. 16th Feb. 1620.

Afterwards they proceeded, but in a very temperate manner, to the
examination of grievances. They found, that patents had been granted
to Sir Giles Mompesson and Sir Francis Michel, for licensing inns and
alehouses; that great sums of money had been exacted, under pretext of
these licenses; and that such innkeepers as presumed to continue their
business without satisfying the rapacity of the patentees, had been
severely punished by fine, imprisonment, and vexatious prosecutions.

The same persons had also procured a patent, which they shared with Sir
Edward Villiers, brother to Buckingham, for the sole making of gold and
silver thread and lace, and had obtained very extraordinary powers for
preventing any rivalship in these manufactures: they were armed with
authority to search for all goods which might interfere with their
patent; and even to punish, at their own will and discretion, the
makers