aforementioned of so long intermixed cohabitation and friendly Relations betwixt them Both these were the causes which afterward encreased the Massacre of the English who when the fire brake out implored the friendship of their Irish neighbors Landlords or Tenants committing into their hands and protection their treasure wives and children with all that was dear unto them in hope that former friendship might prevail But they generally either betrayed them into the power of other Rebels or perfidiously and cruelly murdered them with their own hands which extreme falshood and cruelty in the Irish was thought to be much encreased by the charmings of their Priests who told them That it was a mortall sin to protect or releive any of the English That intermixture of the Nations did also at this sad time make the English lesse able to defend themselves then if they had lived singly by parties of their own For where the English were able to make any head or stand upon their guard though in such an amazement and suddain surprisal they defended themselves beyond beleif till the Irish principled by their Preists offered them fair Quarter with assurance of lives and goods safe conduct and free passage to what places they pleased confirming such covenants with deep oathes and protestations and sometimes their hands and Seales But when they had the deceived English in their power the Souldiers spoiled stripped and murdered them at their pleasure So were many served as at Armagh by Sir PHELIM ONEALE and his Brother at Belterbert by PHILIP ORELLEY at Longford Tullough and other Castles in the County of Fermanagh by other of those Rebels But if the English who stood to defend their private houses and so were the more easily cut off could have deserted their habitations at the first rising and joyned themselves into bodies they might happily have made a better resistance Whilest these inhumane cruelties and Massacres were acting in miserable Ireland and daily spreading themselves in every part of that Kingdom many Counties in several Provinces declaring themselves and following the barbarous example of those in Vlster the sad newes was brought to the Parliament of England The first Letters which before were mentioned sent from the Lords Justices upon the 25 of October were carried and delivered at London on the last day of that month by OWEN Ô CONALLY the happy discoverer of the first Plot with a full information of all particulars within his knowledge which by the Lords who were first acquainted with it was delivered at a Conference to the House of Commons who presently ordered That the House forthwith should be resolved into a Committe to consider the matter offered concerning the Rebellion in Ireland as likewise to provide for the safety of England By which Committee it was agreed that 50000 pound should presently be provided and that the Loane of it should be entreated from the City of London upon Publick security 2 That a Select Committee of both Houses be named to consider the affairs of Ireland 3 That OWEN Ô CONALLY who discovered this great Treason should have 500 pound presently paid him and 200 pound per annum Pension till Provision in Land of a greater value be made for him 4 That Papists of quality be secured in their severall Counties within England 5 That no persons whatsoever except those who are Merchants shall be admitted to go over into Ireland without Certificate from the Committee of both Houses appointed for the affairs of Ireland These things were reported to both Houses and willingly assented too within two dayes after the discovery first made unto them of that Rebellion And notwithstanding those present distractions in England which began then to appear part of every day during that November was allotted to the consideration of Ireland Within four dayes after the beginning of which month they ordered many particulars of great import for the releif of it consisting of supplies of Money Magazines of Victuals Ammunition of all sorts courses to be taken for raising Forces for the occasions of that Kingdom and shipping for guard of their Sea coasts as more particularly appeareth in the records of Parliament Whilst the English Parliament were thus ordering the affaires of bleeding Ireland other Letters from the Lords Justices bearing date the fifth of November were brought and communicated to both Houses Who in earnest zeal to the promotion of that businesse voted two hundred thousand pounds to be raised for suppressing the Irish Rebellion securing England and payment of the Publick debts For which the City of London must of necessity be made use of collections through the Kingdom being too slow for such an urgency And to encourage the City in it an Order was made to secure them for monies formerly lent and to allow them the full Interest of eight per cent for altogether Whilest the English Parliament were thus busied about the releif of Ireland the horrid Rebellion with a swift motion run throughout that unhappy Kingdom many Counties daily joyning with them and divers Lords and Gentlemen who for many daies had lived unsuspected in Dublin went into the Country to side with the Rebels and act their parts in those inhumane outrages the Lords Justices and Privy Counsell were enough troubled to secure Dublin to victuall the Castle and prepare defence against those dangers which threatned the City and were made much more by the feares of spoyled people resorting thither But the care of the Privy Councell extended further notwithstanding the troubles there then to the City of Dublin and having a Magazine of Armes within the Castle resolved so to dispose of them as that resistance might be made against the Rebels in other parts Some Armes were happily disposed to such Gentlemen Sir HENRY TIâ—HBORNE Sir CHARLES COOTE and others of whom more hereafter as to their lasting honor did excellent service But another part were worse then losse those which were distributed to the Lords and Gentlemen of the English Pale who afterwards declared themselves for the Rebels and used the Arms to the destruction of those who put them into their hands That English Pale is a large circuit of Land possessed at the first conquest of Ireland by the English and ever since inhabited by them containing divers Counties as Dublin Meth Lowth Kildare c. The Lords of the Councel thought fit to trust those Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale both with Commissions and Armes though many of them professed Papists hoping that this great confidence would work so far upon their hearts if any truth or loyalty were left there as to keep them at least from joyning with the Enemy but if they were honest would enable them to oppose the threatning incursions of the Northren Rebels This great Trust the Councell were more encouraged to repose in these perfidious Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale because themselves had appeared at Dublin of their own accords professing truth and loyalty with deep and solemne Protestations and that
House upon the eighth day of June last past they refused to appear and returned a scornful Answer by a Letter under their hands directed to the Speaker of the Lords House and remaining there upon Record For which Crimes and Misdemeanours to the interruption of the proceedings of Parliament and great Affairs of the Kingdom and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament and disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom I am commanded in the name of the said Commons to demand of your Lordships that the said Lords may be forthwith put to their Answer and receive speedy and exemplary punishment according to their demerits The Commons saving to themselves liberty at all times hereafter to exhibite any other or further Impeachment or Accusation against the said Lords or any of them Upon this Impeachment of the nine Lords the House of Peers about a month after being in their Robes entred into debate of the said Impeachment and after divers Speeches made by some Lords setting forth the greatnesse of their Offence they were censured 1. Never to sit more as Members of that House 2. That they should be utterly uncapable of any benefit or priviledges of Parliament 3. That they should suffer Imprisonment during their pleasure After which Censure it was concluded that the said Lords should be demanded in the behalf of both Houses of Parliament to submit to the said Censure About that time when the Members of both Houses of Parliament did daily forsake their station and repair to the King at York another accident fell out which gave a great wound to the Parliament and much encouragement to the King in his designes which was the carrying away of the Great Seal of England from London to York EDWARD Lord LITTLETON on whom the King when the Lord Keeper FINCH fled out of England as is before related had conferred the keeping of the Great Seal he being before Lord chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and created a Baron of the Realm had continued for some space of time after the rest were gone to York firm to the Parliament in all appearance and upon all occasions voted according to the sense of those that seemed the best affected that way and among other things gave his Vote for setling the Militia by Ordinance of Parliament insomuch that there seemed no doubt at all to be made of his constancy till at the last before the end of the month of Iune a young Gentleman one Master Thomas Eliot Groom of the Privie Chamber to the King was sent closely from York to him who being admitted by the Lord Keeper into his private Chamber when none else were by so handled the matter whether by perswasions threats or promises or whatsoever that after three hours time he got the great Seal into his hands and rid post with it away to the King at York The Lord Keeper Lâ—TTLETON after serious consideration with himself what he had done or rather suffered and not being able to answer it to the Parliament the next day early in the morning rode after it himself and went to the King Great was the complaint at London against him for that action nor did the King ever shew him any great regard afterwards The reason which the Lord Keeper LITTLETON gave for parting so with the great Seal to some friends of his who went after him to York was this That the King when he made him Lord Keeper gave him an Oath in private which he took That whensoever the King should send to him for the great Seal he should forthwith deliver it This Oath as he averred to his friends his conscience would by no means suffer him to dispense withal he onely repented though now too late that he had accepted the Office upon those terms The Parliament to prevent so sad a War sent out two Orders one to all Sheriffsâ— Justices and other Officers within 150 miles of the City of York that they should take special care to make stay of all Arms and Ammunition carrying towards York until they have given notice thereof to the Lords and Commons and received their further direction and to that purpose to keep strict Watches within their several limits to search for and seize all such Arms and apprehend the persons going with the same The other was to the Sheriff of Lancashire and other adjacent Counties to suppresse the raising and coming together of any Souldiers Horse or Foot by any Warrant from the King without the advice of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as likewise to declare all that should execute any such Warrant from the King disturbers of the peace of the Kingdom and to command the Trained Bands to be assistant to the Sheriffs in that service These Orders of the Parliament were immediately answered by a Proclamation from the King forbidding all his Subjects belonging to the Trained Bands or Militia of this Kingdom to rise march muster or exercise by vertue of any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament without Consent or Warrant from his Majestie The Parliament notwithstanding proceed in setling the Militia of the Kingdom having made on the second of Iune an Order for those revolted members to return to their duty again before the 16 of that month under the forfeiture of an hundred pound to be disposed to the Wars in Ireland besides undergoing such punishment as the Houses should think fit and had by this time at many places began to settle the said Militia Upon the same second of Iune also the Lords and Commons sent a Petition to the King with nineteen Propositions which the King received with great indignation as appeared in his Answer to them both in general and in divers Particulars concerning those Propositions as esteeming himself injured in restraint of his Power and Prerogative The Petition and Propositions were as followeth The humble Petition and Advice of both Houses of Parliament with Nineteen Propositions and the Conclusion sent unto His Majestie the second of Iune 1642. YOur Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament having nothing in their thoughts and desires more precious and of higher esteem next to the honour and immediate Service of God then the just and faithful performance of their duty to Your Majestie and this Kingdom And being very sensible of the great distractions and distempers and of the imminent dangers and calamities which those distractions and distempers are like to bring upon Your Majestie and Your Subjects all which have proceeded from the subtil informations mischievous practices add evil counsels of men disaffected to Gods true Religion Your Majesties Honour and Safety and the publike Peace and Prosperity of Your People after a serious observation of the causes of those Mischiefs Do in alâ— humility and sincerity present to Your Majesty their most dutiful Petition and Advice that out of Your Princely Wisdom for the establishing Your Own Honour and Safety and gracious tendernesse of the Welfare and
of Linsey E. of Cumberland E. of Huntington E. of Bath E. of Southampton E of Dorset E. of Salisbury E. of Northampton E. of Devonshire E. of Bristol E. of Westmerland E of Barkeshire E. of Monmouth E. of Rivers E. of Newcastle E. of Dover E. of Carnarvan E. of Newport L. MOWBRAY and MATREVERS L. WILLOUGHBY of Eresby L. RICH L. CHARLES HOWARD of Charleton L. NEWARK L. PAGET L. CHANDOYS L. FALCONBRIDGE L. PAULET L. LOVELACE L. COVENTRY L. SAVILE L. MOHUN L. DUNSMORE L. SEYMOUR L. GREY of Ruthen L. FAWLKLAND the Controller Secretary NICHOLAS Sir JOHN CULPEPER Lord Chief Justice BANKS The King immediately wrote a Letter to the Lord Maior of London the Aldermen and Sheriffs forbidding by expresse Command any Contribution of Money or Plate toward the raising of any Arms whatsover for the Parliament and that they should lend no Money unlesse toward the relief of Ireland or payment of the Scots He published then a Declaration to all his Subjects inveighing bitterly against the Parliament for laying a false and scandalous imputation upon him of raising War against the Parliament or levying Forces to that end in which he invites all his loving Subjects to prevent his own danger and the danger of the Kingdom from a malignant party taking up the Parliaments language to contribute Money or Plate to him and they shall be repayed with consideration of eight in the hundred And immediately upon it made a Profession before those forementioned Lords and Councellours about him calling God to witnesse in it disavowing any preparations or intentions to levie War against the Parliament upon which those forementioned Lords and others then present at York made this Declaration and Profession subscribed under their hands We whose names are under-written in obedience to His Majesties Desire and out of the Duty which we owe to His Majesties Honour and to Truth being here upon the place and witnesses of His Majesties frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of His abhorring all designes of making War upon the Parliament and not seeing any colour of Preparations or Counsels that might reasonably beget the belief of any such Designe do professe before God and testifie to all the world that we are fully perswaded that His Majestie hath no such intention but that all his endeavours tend to the firm and constant settlement of the true Protestant Religion and the just Priviledges of Parliament the liberty of the Subject the Law Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom The King strengthned with Arms and Ammunition from Holland and more strengthened for as yet he wanted hands to weild those Arms by this Protestation of Lords in his behalf concerning his intention of not making War against the Parliament whereby the people might more easily be drawn to side with him proceeded in his businesse with great policie and indefatigable industry His Pen was quick in giving answer to all Petitions or Declarations which came from the Parliament and with many sharp expostulations in a well-compiled Discourse on the 17 of Iune answered a Petition of the Parliament which Petition was to this effect that he would not disjoyn his Subjects in their duty to himself and Parliament destroying the Essence of that high Court which was presented to him at York by the Lord HOWARD Sir HUGH CHOLMELY and Sir PHILIP STAPLETON And within three weeks both in his own Person and by his Messengers with Speeches Proclamations and Declarations advanced his businesse in a wonderful manner At Newark he made a Speech to the Gentry of Nottinghamshire in a loving and winning way commending their affections toward him which was a great part of perswasion for the future coming from a King himself Another Speech he made at Lincoln to the Gentry of that County full of Protestations concerning his good intentions not onely to them but to the whole Kingdom the Laws and Liberties of it In that short time also by the help of many subtil Lawyers whom he had about him he returned a very long and particular Answer with arguing the case in all points to a Declaration which the Parliament had before made against the Commission of Array expounding that Statute 5 HEN. 4 whereupon that Commission was supposed to be warranted The proofs and arguments on both sides are to be read at large in the Records or in the printed Book of Ordinances and Declarations where a Reader may satisfie his own judgement Within that time also the King sent out a Proclamation against levying Forces without his Command urging Laws and Statutes for it And another long Proclamation to inform the people of the legality of his Commissions of Array and to command obedience to them Another he sent forth against the forcible seizing or removing any Magazine of Ammunition of any County and another forbidding all relieving or succouring of Hull against him Upon which the Parliament declared that those Proclamations without their assent were illegal and forbade all Sheriffs Maiors c. to proclaim them and all Parsons and Curates to or publish them From York the King removed to Beverley from whence he sent a Message to both Houses and a Proclamation concerning his going to Hull to take it in requiring before his journey that it might be delivered up to him But that Message of his came to the House of Peers after they had agreed upon a Petition which was drawn up to move the King to a good accord with his Parliament to prevent a Civil War to be carried to him and presented at Beverley by the Earl of Holland Sir JOHN HOLLAND and Sir PHILIP STAPLETON That very Petition seemed to them so full an answer to the King's Message that both Houses resolved to give no other answer to that Message but the said Petition But immediately after a Declaration was published by both Houses of Parliament for the preservation and safety of the Kingdom and the Town of Hull with assurance of both Houses to satisfie all losse sustained by any service done for the safety of the said Town by reason of overflowing of water upon the grounds there to all persons who should be found faithful in their several services The King continued resoluâ—e in his intention of gaining Hull By what means he attempted it and how those attempts proved to be frustrate is now the subject of a short Discourse The Town of Hull was not more considerable to the Kingdom as a Maritime and strong place then it was now made remarkable to the world in many high and famous circumstances of this Civil War for which cause I shall the more particularly insist upon it Hull was the place which being intrusted with so rich a Magazine of Ammunition did probably allure the King to forsake a Parliament sitting at London and visite the North. Hull was the place where the King in person did first finde his Commands denied and his attempts resisted in an actual way which proved the subject of so many Declarations and Disputations
their Session being the same with the Terme in England and others who had any Law businesse might see the successe of it before the rising of the Session which alwaies endeth upon the first of August and that so upon their returne into their severall Countries they might report the receiving of this Booke at Edenburgh it being ordered That on that Sunday the Booke should be read only in the Church of Edenburgh and some other neere adjacent and warning was printed and published in those severall Pulpits the Sunday before that it was to be read On the 23. day of Iuly being Sunday the Booke was read in Saint Gyles Church commonly called the great Church at Edenburgh where were present many of the Privy Councell both Archbishops and divers other Bishops the Lords of the Session the Magistrates of Edenburgh and a great auditory of all sorts But the people especially the meanest vulgar for they first appeared against it and some women expressed so great a detestation of the Booke not onely in words and outcries but actions that the City Magistrates were troubled much to get the Service performed and the Bishop who read it comming out of the Church had probably beene slaine by the multitude if he had not been rescued by a Nobleman Betweene the two Sermons the Councell and Magistrates met about preventing future tumults but though the Booke were read more quietly in the afternoone yet the tumult was farre greater after evening Prayer from the people who had stayed in the streets and the Bishop in the Earle of ROXBOROUGH his Coach hardly escaped from being stoned to death The greatest men and Magistrates of Edenburgh to excuse themselves to the King some of them also writing to the Archbishop of Canterbury layed all the fault upon the Rabble for as yet none of quality had appeared insomuch as that the Privy Councell and Magistrates of Edenburgh the next morning held some consultation about finding out and punishing the ringleaders of that uproare But not long after upon the appearing of some others of higher ranke and Petitions from divers Ministers That the reading of that Booke might be a while tespited till his Majesty might be further petitioned and informed the Councell yeelded so far as that it should not be urged by the Bishops till his Majesties pleasure were further knowne Upon which many Gentlemen and Ministers who had resorted to Edenburgh with Petitions not long before returned in part satisfied to their owne habitations and at many places met together with fastings and Prayer That God would be pleased to direct the Kings heart in that way which they conceived most conducible to the happinesse of the Church and State of Scotland Upon the 18. of October following harvest being now ended a great conflux of all sorts was at Edenburgh to heare what the King was pleased to determine of the businesse where they finde an Edict against them That upon paine of being guilty of Rebellion all should within few houres warning depart the City and because the Citizens of Edenburgh had twice tumultuously opposed the Prayer Booke and assaulted the Bishop of Edenburgh as a punishment to that City the Terme was to be removed to the Burgh of Linlithgow and the next Terme after the ordinary vacants to be held at the Burgh of Dendie there to remaine during his Majesties pleasure The Petitioners as they were then called were much moved at this Edict and on the 19. of that October presented to the Privy Councell a great complaint against the Bishops whom they conceived the Authors of all this businesse and desired justice against them as well for other crimes as for introducing contrary to Law that superstitious and idolatrous Book To this complaint a great number of all ranks subscribed and professed to the Councell that they could not depart out of Edinburgh till some way were found out to settle the present grievances Whilest they stayed there their number daily increased from all the remotest Provinces that the Councell were enforced to give way that till the Kings pleasure were yet further knowne they might chuse some out of their number of all ranks to represent the rest and follow the cause in the name of all the rest Upon which they chose foure of the higher Nobility foure of the lower ranke of Nobility as representers of Provinces as many Burgesses of Townes and foure Pastors as representers of the Classes having setled this the rest quietly departed to their owne homes The King hearing of these things sent a command to the Councell of Edenburgh not to take upon themselves any more the decision of this controversie which he reserved in his owne power And Proclamation was made in December 1637. concerning the Kings intentions that they were not to infringe the Lawes or Liberties of the Kingdome When therefore the Commissioners petitioned the Councell to give way to them to bring their Actions against the Bishops the Councell answered That the King had commanded them to receive no more Petitions against either the Bishops or Booke of Service Whereupon the Commissioners discontented prepare a Protestatâ—on against the Kings Councell declaring That what mischiefe soever might afterwards ensue was to be all imputed to the Kings Councell for denying Justice The Councell fearing what effects might follow desired the Bishops to absent themselves and gave leave to the Commissioners to appeare before them where the Lord of Lowden in name of all the rest made an Oration in which charging the Bishops with other crimes besides these stirres he desired them to be altogether removed from the Councell Table till they had answered and cleered themselves To the like purpose spake one of the Ministers The Councell seemed sorry that it lay not in their power since the Kings Command was peremptory to give satisfaction to their desires but intreated their patience for so small a time as till they might againe receive notice of his Majesties pleasure The King further certified by them sent for the Earle of TRAQUARE into England who was soone dispatched againe into Scotland and in February 1638. caused the Kings Mandate in Sterlin where the Councell then sate to be published The Proclamation declared that the Bishops were wrongfully accused as Authors of sending the Prayer Booke That his Majesty himselfe was Author of it and all was done by his Command That he condemned all tumultuous proceedings of his Subjects to exhibite Petitions or complaints against the innocent Bishops and booke of Lyturgy and all subscriptions to that purpose hitherto as conspiring against the publike peace pronouncing pardon to those which repented and the punishment of high Treason to such as persisted promising to heare the just complaints of his Subjects so they offended not in matter or forme After the Proclamation was made at Sterlin the Earle of HUME Lord LINDSEY and others in name of all the Petitioners made a Protestation against it which Protestation was afterward repeated at Lithgow and last at Edenburgh
superstitious Ceremonies or such as they conceived so upon them put downe accustomed Lectures and deprived many Ministers much beloved and reverenced among them By which rigour he grew accidentally guilty of a wonderfull crime against the wealth and prosperity of the State For many Tradesmen with whom those parts abounded were so afflicted and troubled with his Ecclesiasticall censures and vexations that in great numbers to avoid misery they departed the Kingdome some into new England and other parts of America others into Holland whether they transported their Manufactures of Cloth not onely a losse by diminishing the present stock of the Kingdome but a great mischiefe by impairing and indangering the losse of that peculiar Trade of Clothing which hath been a plentifull fountaine of Wealth and Honour to the Kingdome of England as it was expressed in the Parliament Remonstrance but more particular crimes were laid against the Bishop which there may be occasion to discourse of hereafter in the proccedings against him The day before Bishop WRENNE was accused being the 18. of December a greater man both in Church and State WILLIAM LAUD Archbishop of Canterbury was voted in the House of Commons guilty of High Treason Master DENZILL HOLLIS a Member of that House was sent up to the Lords to appeach him there upon which he was sequestred and confined to the Black Rod. He was also charged by the Scottish Commissioners together with the Earle of Strafford as a chiefe Incendiary in the late Warre betweene both Nations and divers Articles laid against him which to examine and discusse further a Committee was appointed Upon the 23. of February Master PYMME made report to the House of Commons what hainous and capitall crimes were objected against him Upon which the House fell into a serious debate and a Charge of High Treason in fourteene Articles was drawne up against him which Charge two daies after was sent from the House of Commons by Master PYMME up to the Lords The Archbishop was that day brought before the Lords to heare that Charge read and it was there voted That he should immediately be sent to the Tower but upon his earnest suit for some speciall reasons he was two daies longer suffered to abide under the Black Rod and then accordingly sent to the Tower where we will leave himâ— till the course of this Narration bring him to further triall upon those Articles Civill offendors as well as Ecclesiasticall must needs be many in so long a corruption of Government of whom one as he was first in time and soone leâ—t the Stage besides his chiefe Crime concerning matters of Church and Religion so he shall first be named Sir FRANCIS WINDEBANKE Principall Secretary of Estate a great Favourite and friend to the Archbishop of Canterbury and by his friendship as was thought advanced to that place of Honour was upon the 12 of November questioned in an high kinde concerning Popish Priests of whom in that seven or eight yeares that he had been Secretary he had bayled a great number and released many by his power contrary to the Lawes made and then in force against them which being examined by a Committee and certaine to prove foule against him as it did afterward for upon examination there were proved against him 74. Letters of grace to Recusants within foure yeares signed with his owne hand 64 Priests discharged from the Gate-House 29 discharged by a verball Warrant from him he thought it his best course before triall to fly the Land so that upon the fourth of December newes was brought to the House that Secretary WINDEBANKE with Master READ his chiefe Clarke was fled and soone after notice was given that he arrived in France where he long continued About that time came the great businesse of Ship-Money into debate in Parliament and was voted by both Houses to be a most illegall Taxation and unsufferable grievance in reference to which case almost all the Judges were made Delinquents for their extrajudiciall opinions in it as more particularly will afterward appeare As for other petty grievances such as were the multitude of Monopolies upon all things and Commodities of greatest and most familiar use the House daily condemned them and the Delinquents of meaner note in that kinde were examined and censured too many to be here named Nay so impartiall was the House of Commons in that case that many of their owne Members who had been guilty of such Monopolies were daily turned out of the House for that offence But the businesse of Ship-money did reflect with a deeper staine of guilt upon the then Lord Keeper FINCH then upon any of the other Judges whatsoever for his great activity and labouring in it by threats and promises working upon the other Judges as we finde alleadged against him Sir JOHN FINCH in the yeare 1636. when that Taxation of Ship-money was first plotted and set on foot was newly made Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas a man in favour with the King and many of the greatest Lords in Court having before been the Queenes Attorney a Gentleman of good birth of an high and Imperious spirit eloquent in speech though in the knowledge of the Law not very deepe Upon the death of the Lord Keeper COVENTRY about December 1639. the King was pleased to conferre that high Trust of keeping the Great Seale upon him which Office at this time he held Upon the seventh of December when Ship-money was fully debated and absolutely damned by the House of Commons and the offence of the Judges began to be scanned sixteene Gentlemen of that House were chosen to examine those Judges that had given their extrajudiciall opinions for it for three gave their opinions otherwise The arguments of two Judge CROOKE and Judge HUTTON were very famous Baron DENHAM by reason of sicknesse could not declare his opinion in so large a manner what threats or promises had been used to them and by what persons Upon which examination and further light given the next day a Committee was named to draw up Charges against the Judges and against the Lord FINCH then Lord Keeper a Charge of High Treason He not many daies after became an humble Suâ—tor to the House of Commons That before the Charge of High Treason were delivered against him they would be pleased to heare him Ore Tenus in their owne House His suit was granted and the next day save one in a long Oration he endeavoured to cleare himselfe but all in vaine was that endeavour though his deportment were very humble and submissive and his Speech full of perswasive Rhetorick it could not prevaile to divert the Judgement though many in the House were moved to a kinde of Compassion He either secretly informed by friends or himself perceiving by evident signes how things were likely to go with him conceived it best to use a timely prevention and the next day disguised fled and soone crossed the Seas into Holland After his flight he was voted
by the House of Commons guilty of High Treason for foure causes 1. Disobeying the House in refusall to speake at their command when he was Speaker in Parliament in the fourth yeare of King CHARLES 2. For threatning some Judges in the matter of Ship-money 3. For his illegall and cruell Judgements in the Forrest businesse when he was Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas. 4. For drawing that injurious Declaration after dissolution of the last Parliament Upon which a Charge was drawne up against him and carried up to the Lords upon the 14. of Ianuary three weeks after his flight by the Lord FAWKLAND who presented it with a very pithy and sharpe Oration against the man These two last Delinquents though men of eminent place in the Common-wealth as they did not long trouble the Parliament nor much retard the progresse of publike businesse preventing their Trialls by timely flight so can they take up no large roome in this Historicall Narration CHAP. VIII The Tryall and death of the Earle of Strafford Conspiracies detected during the agitation of it An Act for continuance of this present Parliament With a mention of that Grant of the Trienniall Parliament in February before BUt now a greater Actor is brought upon the Stage THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lieutenant of Ireland a man too great to be let escape no sooner accused but surprized and secured for a Tryall Which Tryall of his if we consider all things the high nature of the Charge against him the pompous circumstances and stately manner of the Triall it selfe the time that it lasted the pretiousnesse of that time so consumed and lastly of what moment and consequence the successe of it must prove I may safely say that no Subject in England and probably in Europe ever had the like So great it wasâ— that we can hardly call it the Triall of the Earle of Strafford onely the Kings affections toward his People and Parliament the future successe of this Parliament and the hopes of three Kingdoms depending on it were all tryed when Strafford was arraigned Many Subjects in Europe have played lowder parts upon the Theater of the world but none left it with greater noise nor was the matter of his accusation confined within one Realme three whole Kingdoms were his Accusers and eagerly sought in one death a recompence of all their sufferings That we may say of his case as CLAUDIAN of RUFFINUS Offensis Ruffinum divide terris Within ten daies after the Parliament began the Earle of Strafford newly returned from the North was sitting in the House of Lords when Master PYMME an ancient Gentleman of great experience in Parliamentary affaires and no lesse knowne fidelity to his Country came up to the Lords and in the name of all the Commons of England accused THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of High Treason and desired their Lordships that he might be sequestred from Parliament and forthwith committed to Prison as also to let them know that the Commons within very few daies would resort to their Lordships with the particular Articles and grounds of this Accusation The Earle was required to withdraw and after a debate thereof called in was committed to safe custody to the Gentleman Usher And immediately after upon the 13. day of November a Serjeant at Armes was sent into Ireland for Sir GEORGE RATLIFFE a great Favourite of the Earles and one that under him had beene very active in the oppression of Ireland a man of subtle wit and knowledge of the Law as having before beene educated at the Innes of Court and taken the degree of Barrister Sir GEORGE accordingly upon the fourth of December came in and yeelded himselfe to the Speaker from whence he was committed to custody And foure daies after the Lords of Parliament sent the Earle of Strafford to the Tower with a strict command to the Lieutenant that he should keepe a close guard upon him Much time was interposed betweene the severall proceedings against this Earle of Strafford by reason of the multiplicity of weighty businesse which the Parliament then had But before the end of Ianuary a long Charge was read against him in the House of Commons and a Message not long after sent to the Lords to desire that he might be sequestred from all his places of Dignity and Honour in England and Ireland The Charge against him consisted of nine Articles which afterwards upon a further impeachment were extended to eight and twenty All those Articles are to be seene at large in the Records But for further satisfaction of the Reader I will give a briefe touch of the scope of them The first and second being much alike concerning his ruling of Ireland and those parts of England where his Authority lay in an Arbitrary way against the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome which Lawes he had indeavoured to subvert Thirdly his retaining part of the Kings Revenue without giving a legall account Fourthly The abusing of his Power to the increase and incouragement of Papists Fifthly That he maliciously had indeavoured to stir up Hostility betweene England and Scotland Sixthly That being Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Army he had wilfully suffered the Scots to defeat the English at Newburne and take Newcastle that by such a losse and dishonour England might be ingaged in a Nationall and irreconcileable quarrell with the Scots Seventhly That to preserve himselfe from questioning he had laboured to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them Eightly and lastly That these things were done during the time of his Authority as Deputy of Ireland and Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Armies in England The Commons saving to themselves a liberty of further impeachment against the said Earle c. do require his legall answer to all The further impeachment consisting of 28. Articles was for the most part branched out of these and insisted upon in more particulars concerning his Tyranny in Ireland over divers persons contrary to Law Concerning which the Reader must be referred to the Records themselves as being too large to be here inserted The Earle of Strafford upon the 23. of February was brought before the Lords to give in his answer which he accordingly did the King himself being there present to heare it read It was very large and when it was done he was sent back to the Tower there to remaine till further Order A Committee being appointed to consider of that businesse upon the fourth of March following made report in the House That they would mannage and maintaine their Accusation of Treason against him and thought it not fit to reply to his Answer but call him to speedy triall Immediately upon which a Conference was had with the Lords concerning that Triall and some Circumstances which were thought fit to be used at it The Commissioners of Scotland had likewise a Charge against the Earle of Strafford concerning those injuries which as they conceived their Nation and Kingdome had suffered from him
But the substance of that Charge was implyed in these Articles before specified which the Parliament of England had exhibited against him Upon the 22. of March 1640. that remarkable Tryall of the Earle of STRAFFORD began Westminster Hall was the place chosen where Scaffolds were raised on both sides nine degrees in height whereof seven were appointed for the Members of the House of Commons to sit on who were all there in a Committee The two upper degrees of the Scaffold were appointed for the Commissioners of Scotland and the Lords of Ireland who were then come over In the midst on a lower ascent sate the Peeres of England the Earle of Arundell being Lord high Steward and the Earle of Lindsey Lord High Constable The Throne was placed for the King But the King comming thither which he did every day of the tryall sate private with the Queene and other Ladies in a close Gallery made of purpose to heare the proceedings and tooke notes himselfe in writing of them The Earle of Strafford answered daily at the Barre whilest the whole House of Commons having put themselves into a Committee had liberty to charge him every man as he saw occasion But though many of them did sometimes speake yet the accusasations were chiefly managed by two expert Lawyers Master GLYNNE and Master MAYNARD both Members of the House Many foule misdemeanours committed both in Ireland and England were daily proved against him But that ward which the Earle being an eloquent man especially lay at was to keepe off the blow of High Treason whatsoever misdemeanours should be layed upon him of which some he denied others he excused and extenuated with great subtilty contending to make one thing good That misdemeanours though never so many and so great could not by being put together make one Treason unlesse some one of them had been Treason in its owne nature Every day the first weeke from Munday to Saturday without intermission the Earle was brought from the Tower to Westminster Hall and arraigned many houres together and the successe of every daies tryall was the greatest discourse or dispute in all companies For by this time the people began to be a little divided in opinions The Clergy in generall were so much fallen into love and admiration of this Earle that the Archbishop of Canterbury was almost quite forgotten by them The Courtiers cryed him up and the Ladies whose voices will carry much with some parts of the State were exceedingly on his side It seemed a very pleasant object to see so many Semproniaes all the chiefe Court Ladies filling the Galleries at the Tryall with penne inke and paper in their hands noting the passages and discoursing upon the grounds of Law and State They were all of his side whether moved by pitty proper to their Sex or by ambition of being thought able to judge of the parts of the Prisoner But so great was the favour and love which they openly expressed to him that some could not but thinke of that Verse Non formosus erat sed erat facundus Ulysses Eâ—â—amen aequoreas torsit amore Deas Vlysses though not beautifull the love Of Goddesses by eloquence could move But his Triall in this manner lasted with few daies intermission from the 22. of March till the midst of Aprill following the Earle having personally answered â—iâ—teene daies After all this long Triall the House of Commons â—ell into debate about a Bill of Attainder against the Earle of Strafford and voted him guilty of high Treason in divers particulars of that Accusation in which they had proceeded against him and in more particular he was voted guilty of High Treason for his opinion given before the King at a secret Councell which was discovered by some notes of Sir HENRY VANE who was also a Privy Councellor and present at that time in which notes it was found that the Earle of Strafford had said to the King That he had an Army in Ireland which his Majesty might imploy to reduce this Kingdome to obedience These notes Sir HENRY VANE eldest Sonne to the before named Sir HENRY had found as he alleadged to the House in his Fathers Cabinet and produced before the House without his Fathers knowledge who seemed extreme angry with his Sonne for it This is related the more at large because it was the first occasion that was open and visible whereby so eminent a Member as the Lord GEORGE DIGBY was lost from the House of Commons as will afterward appeare For that Vote was opposed by the Lord DIGBY and some others Neverthelesse a Committee was appointed to draw up the Bill of Attainder which was accordingly done and read in the House of Commons on the 21 day of April when the Earle was againe voted guilty of High Treason which was carried by farre the greater part for on the other side were but nine and fifty of whom the Lord DIGBY was one who made to that purpose a very elegant though much displeasing Speech in the House Of which more hereafter That Bill of Attainder was sent up to the Lords where after the reading of it a great division was in that House and many of the Lords much opposed it But Master St. JOHN the Kings Solicitour and a Member of the House of Commons was appointed within few daies after to make good the Bill by Law and give the Lords satisfaction which was accordingly done upon the 29. of April in Westminster Hall where the Earle of Strafford was present at the Barre and the King and Queene seated in their usuall places Master St. JOHN opened the Branches of the Bill and in a Discourse of two houres made it good by precedent Statutes and the like to the satisfaction of almost all that heard him But the King was not satisfied in conscience as he declared to both Houses two daies after to condemne him of High Treason and told them No feares or respects whatsoever should make him alter that resolution founded upon his conscience But confessed that his misdemeanors were so great he held him unfit to serve him in any Office whatsoever with other expressions of that kinde The Kings Speech was somewhat displeasing to the Houses but the City were out of patience and within foure daies after came to Westminster about five thousand of them crying for Justice against the Earle of Strafford and following the Lords complaining that they were undone and trading decayed for want of due execution of Justice The Lords gave them good words and promised them to acquaint the King with it But the next day they appeared againe with the same complaint Their feares being more aggravated by reason of reports that attempts were made to get the Earle out of Prison upon which occasion some Lords were sent to keepe the Tower and assist the Lieutenant there But the King was hard to be removed from his resolution although the Judges in the meane time had delivered their opinions in the House of Lords
children murthered many of them with exquisite and unheard of tortures within the space of one month That which increased the amazement of most men was The consideration that the ancient hatred which the Irish a thing incident to conquer'd Nations had borne to the English did now seeme to be quite buried and forgotten forty years of peace had compacted those two Nations into one body and cemented them together by all conjunctures of alliance intermarriages and consanguinity which was in outward appearance strengthned by frequent entertainments and all kinds of friendly neighbourhood There seemed in many places a mutuall transmigration as was observed by a noble Gentleman whose place in that Kingdom gave him means to know it out of whose faithfull relation of that Rebellion and Massacre I have partly collected my discourse of it into each others manners Many English strangely degenerating into the Irish manners customers and many Irish especially of the better sort having taken up the English language apparel and decency of living in their private houses The present Government was full of lenity and moderation and some redresse of former grievances had then been newly granted by the King to his Irish subjects The same Gentleman in his History of the Irish Rebellion where the Reader may more fully enforme himself of particulars affirms that he could never hear of any one Englishman that received any certain notice of this conspiracy till that very evening before which it was to be put in execution Some intimations had been given by Sir WILLIAM COLE in a Letter to the Lords Justices Sir WILLIAM PARSONS and Sir JOHN BURLACE with the rest of the Councell concerning dangerous resorts and meetings of some persons who were judged fit instruments for such a mischief This horrid plot contrived with so much secrecy was to take effect upon the 23 of October The Castle of Dublin the chief strength of that Kingdome and principall Magazine of the Kings Armes and Ammunition where all those Armes which were taken from the late disbanded Irish Army and others which the Earl of Strafford had provided were deposited was to be seized by nine of the clock that day by the Rebels to which purpose many of the Irish Gentry of great quality were the night before come to Dublin to be in readinesse for the performing of that exploit It was further agreed among those conspirators that upon the same day all other his Majesties Forts and Magazines of Armes and Ammunition in that Kingdom should be surprized and all Protestants and English that would not joyn with them should be cut off But it pleased God to prevent the seisure of that Castle and so to save the Kingdom from being wholly lost in one day and that by a means strange and unexpected HUGH MAC MAHON Esquire grand-son to the famous Rebel TYRONE a Gentleman of a plentifull fortune in the county of Monagan and one that had served in Armes under the King of Spain as Leiutenant Colonel a principal Agent in this Rebellion and coming with others as aforesaid into Dublin the day before that great Designe was to be put in execution being the 22 of October admitted into his company at a Tavern in that City one OWEN CONALLY of Irish extract but a protestant and servant to Sir JOHN CLOTWORTHY a Member of the English Parliament To this OWEN he revealed so much as they were drinking that the honest man escaping from him though not without great danger to himself at the present informed the Lord Justice PARSONS that night about nine of the clock of a dangerous Designe upon the whole Kingdom which being taken into present consideration MAC MAHON was apprehended and after his examination the Lord MAQUIRE also another principal actor who were both committed to close custody and the Castle secured with all diligence But many conspirators of great note escaped that night out of Dublin as BIRNE MORE PLUNKET and others The Lords of the Counsel amazed at the discovery of so horrid a Treason did notwithstanding endeavour since there was no prevention for MAC MAHON had plainly told them when he was examined that by that time all the counties of Ireland were risen to use the best remedies to that desperate disease and hoping that perchance the news how the plot for seizing of Dublin castle was disappointed might somewhat dishearten the conspirators in remote parts and encourage the good Subjects with more confidence to stand upon their guard issued forth a Proclamation presently and by carefull messengers spread it into as many parts of the Kingdom as they could The effect of which proclamation was to signifie the discovery of the Treason and exhort all men to their duty in suppressing of it But the generall Designe was past prevention and that very day came in some poor English protestants and others in a short time every day and almost every hour shewing how they had been robbed their houses surprised by the Rebels whose outrage daily increased in rapine and murdering and fireing Towns and Villages in divers counties To oppose therefore the growth of that desperate malady the Lord Justices dispatching Letters to the King in Scotland and the Earle of Leicester lately made Lieutenant of Ireland by the King and yet resident at London of their lamentable condition examined with all diligence how they were provided for such a War They found in Dublin Stores Armes for ten thousand with Artillery Powder Match and Lead proportionable laid in by the late Earle of Strafford though designed by him another way yet reserved by Gods providence for this service But the Officers and souldiers of the old standing army were so much dispersed into remote places of the Kingdom for the guard of other Forts that there was scarse any possibility of drawing a considerable company together to defend Dublin or make head against the Rebels in the North. The greatest mischeif to the State and advantage to the Rebels was That there was no Money in the Exchequer besides the Kings Revenues and Rents of English Gentlemen due for that halfe year were either in Tenants or Collectors hands in the country and must unadvoidablly fall into the Rebels power so that although their disease were present the only means of cure was remote which was a dependence upon some supplies from the Parliament of England Upon the very day designed for surprisall of the Castle at Dublin the 23 of October the Northren Rebels broke out in the Province of Vlster and in few dayes got possession of so many Towns Forts and Gentlemens Houses within the counties of that Province as might seeme almost incredible if we consider only the cheif actors men of no great skill in Martiall affairs or any policy such as Sir PHELIM ONEALE and his Brother with the rest and not rather which indeed was the true reason the generall engagements of the Irish and their deep dissimulation concurring with the great credulity of the English upon the causes
they were most forward and ready to concur with their Lordships in that service But so great an affliction was to fall upon unhappy Ireland that all those Lords that were Papists after they had received Commissions and Armes notwithstanding all their deep vowes did most perfidiously soon after desert their houses and openly declare themselves in actuall Rebellion such as were Viscount MONGANNET GORMANSTON and COSTELOE DILLON BIRNE BELLER TALBOT and many others The Condition of Dublin was more lamentable every day then other and not so much afflicted were they with feares and dangers which threatned themselves as that extream sorrow which compassion must needs work in them toward all the suffering English which resorted thither Dublin was the Sanctuary of all the despoiled Protestants and by that meanes the sad stage upon which all horror was represented and what mischeifes soever were acted in other parts were there discovered and lamented Their eyes were sad witnesses of the Rebels cruelty in those despoiled English which daily resorted to the City but their eares much more afflicted with relation of those horrid tortures which had been used to those who died in other parts Their eyes could not but extremly suffer from such wretched Spectacles as daily from all parts presented themselves People of all conditions and qualities of every age and Sex spoiled and stripped with no coverings but ragges or twisted straw to hide their privities some wounded almost to death others frozen with cold some tired with travell and so surbated that they came creeping on their knees others famished beyond all releif And besides the miseries of their bodies their minds tortured with the losse of all their fortunes and sad remembrance of their husbands wives or children most barbarously murdered before their faces In this most lamentable plight with wasted bodies and distracted mindes did they arrive at Dublin some to be releived some entombed which was more then their murdered friends could obtaine from the Rebels insomuch as they appeared like walking ghosts in every street and all the Barnes Stables and out-houses were filled with them where they soon died after they had recovered the City in so great numbers that all the Church-yards of Dublin could not contain them but the Lords were enforced to take in large peeces of ground on both sides of the River to set apart for burying places But that part of this wofull Tragedy which was presented to their eyes was the least and but the shadow of that other which was related to their eares of which the Readers and all posterity may share the sorrow Many hundreds of those which had escaped under their oathes lawfully taken upon examination and recorded with all particulars as may be seen at large in the Records delivered to the Councell what horrid Massacres the bloudy villains had made of men women and children and what cruell inventions they had to torture those whom they murdered scarce to be equalized by any the most black and balefull story of any age Many thousands of them at severall places too many to be here inserted after all despites exercised upon them living put to the worst of deaths some burned on set purpose others drowned for sport and pastime and if they swam kept from landing with poles or shot and murdered in the water many were buried quick and some set into the earth breast-high and there left to famish But most barbarous as appears in very many examinations was that cruelty which was shewed to great bellied women whom the villaines were not content to murder but ripped up their bellies and many times took delight to see the Hogges eate the abortive Infants But I am loath to dwell upon so sad a narration The greatest part of these inhumane cruelties were acted by the Irish upon the poor unarmed Brittaines before any provocation given unto them and the bloud of so many thousand innocent persons sacrificed to their meer malice as many afterwards were sacrificed to their revenge as whensoever the Irish received any blow from English Forces the English Protestants that lived among them were murdered in great numbers By this time the Lords of the Councell had armed as many as they were able and given Commissions for raising of severall Regiments which were put into the hands for the most part of gallant men as their actions after testified to the world Sir CHARLES COOTE an active and valiant man who was also made Governor of Dublin with great speed made up his Regiment out of the poor robbed and stripped English which had fled to Dublin Sir HENRY TICHBORNE a worthy Commander was dispatched away with a Regiment of Foot to keep Tredagh from the approaching Rebels The Lord LAMBERT also Sir THOMAS LUCAS Captain ARMESTRONG Captain YARNER with others raised by Commissions souldiers there This was done about the middle of November at which time also the Earle of Ormond with his well armed Troop of Horse came to Dublin where within few dayes after he was by a Commission sent from the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland as likewise by the Kings approbation from Scotland signified in a Letter made Lieutenant Generall of all the Forces there For the Earl of Lecister at that time was not enabled so far with necessaries for the service of Ireland as to repair thither in person The Earl also sent over to the Lords at Dublin together with an Order of the Lords and Commons of the Parliament in England comfortable Letters in this time of distresse to let them know that the King had referred the whole businesse of Ireland to the Parliament of England who had undertaken the charge and management of the War had declared a speedy and vigorous assistance had designed for their present supplies the summe of 50000 pound and taken order for all further provisions necessary But that they might not be altogether destitute of reall comfort the Parliament of England sent them over at the same time Twenty thousand pound which arrived most seasonably at Dublin their treasure beginning utterly to fail for paying those new Companies which they had raised About the end of November the Lords Justices and Councell of Ireland considering the miserable desolations brought upon that whole Kingdom and what miseries were further threatned Commanded by Proclamation a Publike and religious Fast to be weekly observed upon Friday in the City of Dublin to implore the mercy and assistance of Almighty God and divert his heavy indignation from them CHAP. II. The King returneth out of Scotland and is pompously entertained by the City of London The Remonstrance is published by the Parliament The King entereth into the House of Commons The Protestation of the twelve Bishops and how it was censured by the Lords and Commons Divers unhappy obstructions of the releif of Ireland BUT to leave Ireland strugling against her sad and wofull calamities and returne again to the Affairs of England at that same time about the end of November 1641
his Oath in execution of his Office for proclaiming divers illegal Proclamations and contemning the Orders of Parliament This Impeachment was forthwith sent up and read in the Lords House Upon the reading of which it was ordered that he should be sent to the Tower from thence to be brought to a legal Trial upon his Impeachment Many days during the space of a whole month was this Lord Maior brought from the Tower to Westminster to attend the Lords of Parliament and many times returned back without being heard by reason of so great a multiplicity of Businesses as the Houses were then in At last after some hearings he was brought on the twelfth of August to the House of Lords to receive his Censure The effect whereof was that he should be put from his Majorality never bear Office in the City or Common-wealth be uncapable of all Honour or Dignity to be conferred on him by the King and stand committed prisoner to the Tower during the pleasure of both Houses During the time of these contentions between the Ordinance of the Militia and Commission of Array which is briefly touched by it self it will not be amisse to return to the King's proceedings in his own Person by what degrees he came to encrease in strength and what contestations happened betwixt Himself and the Parliament wherein that which concerned the Pen shall be first briefly touched and then his other actions But those Declarations Petitions and Proclamations which upon all occasions were then published are too many and too long to be recited in a Story in the Records and printed Books of Ordinances they may be read I shall onely mention some of the chief and excerp the most material contents of them The Parliament about the end of Iuly had petitioned the King to forbear all preparations of War and remove his Garisons To which he gave Answer and upbraided them with their preparations of War for appointing the Earl of Essex to be their General and the Earl of Warwick Admiral In that Answer he descants at large upon particulars commanding his said Answer and their Petition to be read in all Churches To which the Parliament reply as they had done before that they cannot lay down Arms nor rejourn the Parliament to any other place as he would have them unlesse he leave off those Warlike preparations and comply with that Councel to which onely he ought to adhere by the Constitution of this Government They likewise command the Petition Answer and Reply to be read in all Churches But things proceeding still higher the King being returned to the City of York from thence sent forth a Proclamation to suppresse as he there stileth it the present Rebellion under command of ROBERT Earl of Essex offering withal free pardon to him and all such as shall within six days after the date thereof being the ninth of August lay down their Arms. In which Proclamation also he commanded the Marquesse Hartford to raise speedily what Forces he could within all those Counties whereof he had made him Lieutenant-General in the Commission of Array of which before was spoken and to march against destroy or apprehend the said Earl of Essex The Parliament upon this Proclamation make a Declaration wherein they briefly recount all the King 's former proceedings against them and the Kingdom All which they attribute after their usual manner to his wicked Councel and promise still to make him great and happie if he will return to his great Councel But the next day after his former Proclamation the King continuing still at York sent forth another declaring that no Papist should serve him in his Army and that his Souldiers should commit no rapine upon the people And within two days after that he published a Discourse called A Declaration to all his loving Subjects concerning the proceedings of this present Parliament This Declaration was of a great length containing fifty pages in a large Quarto In which was comprised a kinde of History touching all former passages betwixt himself and them from the beginning of these divisions which is to be read in the printed Book of Parliament-Ordinances Toward the end of that Declaration he protesteth a wonderful love to Parliaments and to the peace and happinesse of the Kingdom but he requires that some persons as disturbers of the publike peace may be delivered into the hands of Justice to be tried by their Peers naming the Lord of Kymbolton and those five Members of the House of Commons whom before he came to surprise in that House Master HOLLIS Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG M. PYM M. HAMBDEN and M. STRODE as likewise M. HENRY MARTIN and Sir HENRY LUDLOW two Members also of the House of Commons for speaking some bold Speeches in that House He also desires to have delivered up to him Alderman PENINGTON who succeeded in the Majorality to the fore-named Sir KICHARD GURNEY and Captain VENN one of the City-Captains those two last he accuses of bringing tumults from the City to terrifie the Parliament at Westminster Another desire of the King 's is that Inditements of high Treason upon the Statute of the 23 yeer of King EDWARD the third may be drawn against the Earls of Essex Warwick and Stamford the Lord BROOK Sir JOHN HOTHAM and Serjeant-Major-General SKIPPON an expert and religious Souldier a man of high action in the succeeding War whom the City had employed in exercising of their Militia as likewise against all those who shall hereafter exercise the Militia by vertue of the Ordinance of Parliament The Pen was very quick upon all occasions and the King the next day after the publication of this long fore-mentioned Declaration sent a Message to the Parliament upbraiding both Houses with an Order which they had then made for the borrowing of an hundred thousand pounds out of that money which the Adventurers had raised for reducing of Ireland and subduing the Rebels there affirming that out of his Princely care and piety toward distressed Ireland he cannot but take notice of it commanding them immediately to retract that mischievous and unjust Order for so he calls it as they would answer the contrary to Almighty God himself and those that have trusted them Wherein he expecteth their speedie Answer and Obedience and the rather that he may thereby be secured that such part of the four hundred thousand pounds as is or shall be collected from his good Subjects of England by vertue of the late Act of Parliament whereby the same is granted may not likewise under false pretences be diverted from the proper use to which it was intended and misemployed to the disturbance of the Kingdoms peace in a War against him The Lords and Commons in Parliament make Answer to this Message expressing what caution there was in the very Order which upon that very occasion was printed for speedie repayment of that Sum and disposing of it to the right use But first they tell the King that this very Message of
Army This Petition he carried to Northampton to the Generall to be by him presented according to the Parliaments desire to His Majesty in a safe and honourable way In which Petition nothing at all according to their former Declarations is charged upon the King himselfe but only upon his wicked Councell and the former mis-governments briefly mentioned and that this wicked Councell have raised an horrid Rebellion and Massacre in Ireland and ever since by opposition against the Parliament hindered the reliefe of that Kingdom and at last drawne his Majesty to make a War upon his Parliament leading an Army in Person to the destruction of his people depriving his good Subjects of his Majesties protection and protecting those Traytors against the Justice and Authority of Parliament WE the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have for these are the words of the Petition for the just and necessary defence of the Protestant Religion of your Majesties Person Crowne and Dignity of the Lawes and Liberties of the Kingdome and the Priviledges and power of Parliaments taken up Armes appointed and authorized ROBERT Earle of ESSEX to be Captaine Generall of all the Forces by us raised to conduct the same against those Rebels and Traytors to subdue and bring them to condigne punishment And we do most humbly beseech your Majesty to withdraw your Royall Presence and Countenance from these wicked persons and if they shall stand out in defence of their rebellious and unlawfull attempts that your Majesty will leave them to be supprest by that Power which we have sent against them And that your Majesty will not mix your owne dangers with theirs but in peace and safety without your Forces forthwith returne to your Parliament and by their faithfull advice compose the present distempers and confusions abounding in both your Kingdomes and provide for the security and honour of your selfe and Royall Posterity and the prosperous estate of all your Subjects Wherein if your Majesty please to yeeld to our most humble and earnest desires We do in the presence of Almighty God professe That we will receive your Majesty with all Honour yeeld you all due obedience and subjection and faithfully indeavour to secure your Person and Estate from all dangers and to the uttermost of our Power to procure and establish to your selfe and to your People all the blessings of a glorious and happy Reigne According to this Petition were those Directions from the Parliament to the Lord Generall sent at the same time wherein the Lord Generall is required by the Houses to use his utmost indeavour by Battell or otherwise to rescue the Kings Person the Persons of the Prince and Duke of Yorke out of the hands of those desperate persons now about them Another Direction was That if his Majesty upon this humble Petition should be pleased to withdraw himselfe from the persons now about him and returne to the Parliament that then the Lord Generall should disband and should serve and defend his Majesty with a sufficient strength in his returne Another Direction was That his Excellency should proclaime pardon to all those who were at that time seduced against their Parliament and Country if within ten daies after that Proclamation they would returne to their duty doing no hostile act within the time limited Provided that this should not extend to admit any man into either House of Parliament who stands suspended without giving satisfaction to that House whereof he was a Member and excepting all persons impeached for Delinquency by either House and those persons who have been eminent Actors in these Treasons and therefore impeached in Parliament of High Treason such as were at that time declared and there named the Earles of Bristoll Cumberland Newcastle and Rivers Secretary NICHOLAS Master ENDYMION PORTER Master EDWARD HIDE the Duke of Richmond the Earle of Carnarvan Viscount Newarke and Viscount Fawkland These were the persons at that time voted against and declared Traytors though afterwards others were added to the number of them and many of these left out as occasions altered Such Directions and others for the advantage of the Army and behoose of the Countries thorow which he was to march were given by the Parliament to his Excellency but above all things to restraine carefully all impieties prophannesse and disorders in his Army The Generall arriving at Northampton was there possessed of a great and gallant Army well furnished at all points consisting of about twenty thousand with those that within few daies were to come thither An Army too great to finde resistance at that time from any Forces a foot in England for the Kings side had then small strength What they had consisted of Horse who in small Parties roved up and downe to make Provision and force Contribution in severall places Prince RUPERT especially like a perpetuall motion with those Horse which he commanded was in short time heard of at many places of great distance The care therefore which his Excellency especially tooke was so to divide his great Army as to make the severall parts of it usefull both to annoy the stragling Troops of the Enemy and ptotect those Counties that stood affected to the Parliament as also to possesse himselfe either in his owne Person or by his Lieutenants of such Towns as he thought might be of best import if this sad War should happen to continue From Northampton he marched to Coventry to make that considerable City a Garrison for the Parliament and from thence to Warwick and having fortified that Towne marched away towards Worcester upon intelligence that the King himselfe intended to come thither with his Forces for his desire was to finde out the King and the Parliament to whom he imparted his designe by Letter approved well of his advance towards Worcester The City of Worcester as well as the whole County had beene in great distractions by reason not only of the dissenting affections of the Inhabitants but the frequent invitations from both sides if we may call that an invitation which is made by armed force Sir JOHN BYRON had first entred Worcester for the Kings side whom Master FIENNES Sonne to the Lord SAY had opposed for the Parliament and afterward Prince RUPERT with five hundred Horse not farre from the City was encountred by Master FIENNES who commanded another Body about that number the skirmish was but small and not above twelve men slaine as the report was made at London But before the Lord Generall could arrive at Worcester who was marching thither from Warwick as was before expressed there happened a fight there not to be omitted in regard of the persons that were there slaine or wounded though the number of men in generall that fell were small Prince RUPERT was then at Worcester with twelve Troops of Horse when about that City divers of the Parliaments Forces were though not joyned in one Body but dispersed The Prince marched out of the City into a greene Meadow and there set his