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parliament_n	king_n	lord_n	say_a	16,658	5	7.1993	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A64894	Former ages never heard of, and after ages will admire, or, A brief review of the most materiall parliamentary transactions, beginning, Nov. 3, 1640 wherein the remarkable passages both of their civil and martial affaires, are continued unto this present year published as a breviary, leading all along, successively, as they fell out in their severall years, so that if any man will be informed of any remarkable passage, he may turne to the year, and so see in some measure, in what moneth thereof it was accomplished : for information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these times : a work worthy to be kept in record, and communicated to posterity.	Vicars, John, 1579 or 80-1652.; Jenner, Thomas, fl. 1631-1656.	1654 (1654)	Wing V305; ESTC R2983	53,959	61

Former Ages never Heard of AND After Ages will Admire Or a Brief Review of the most Materiall PARLIAMENTARY TRANSACTIONS Beginning Nov 3. 1640. WHEREIN The Remarkeable Passages both of their Civil and Martial Affaires are continued unto this present Year Published as a Breviary leading all along successively as they fell out in their severall years So that if any man will be informed of any remarkeable Passage he may turne to the year and so see in some measure in what Moneth thereof it was accomplished For Information of such as are altogether ignorant of the rise and progresse of these Times A Work worthy to be kept in Record and communicated to Posterity Who is wise and he shall understand these things prudent and he shall know them for the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them but the transgressors shall fall therein Hosea 14. 9. LONDON Printed by M. S. for Tho Jenner at the South-Entrance of the Royal EXCHANGE 1654. The Chronology IN the first year of King Charls his Reign a Parliament being called at Oxford two Subsidies were granted no grievances removed but the said Parliament soon dissolved The sad effects which the dissolution of this Parliament produced were the losse of Rochel by the unhappy help of Englands ships The diversion of a most facile and hopeful war from the West Indies to a most expensive and succeslesse attempt on Cales The attempt on the Isle of Ree and thereby a precipitate breach of peace with France to our great losse A peace concluded with Spain without consent of Parliament contrary to a promise formerly made to the Kingdome by King James a little before his death whereby the cause of the Palatinate was altogether most shamefully deserted by us The Kingdome suddenly billetted with Souldiers and a concomitant project set on foot for Germane Horses to force men by fear to fall before arbitrary and tyrannical Taxations continually to be laid upon them 2d Parliament The dissolution of a second Parliament at Westminster in the second year after a declarative grant of no lesse then five Subsidies and the sad issues that flowed to the Kingdom thereupon As first the violent exacting from the people that mighty sum of the five Subsidies or a sum equal to it by a Commission for a Royal Loan Many worthy Gentlemen imprisoned and vexed that refused to pay it Great sums extorted by Privy Seals and Excises and the most hopeful Petition of Right blasted 3d A third Parliament called and quickly broken in the fourteenth year of the King the best Members clapt up close Prisoners denied all ordinary and extraordinary comforts of life and so that Parliament was dissolved Opprobrious Declarations published to asperse the proceedings of the last Parliament yea Proclamations set out to those effects thereby extreamly to dishearten the Subjects yea and plainly forbidding them once to name a Parliament or to desire them any more Whence immediately gushed out the violent inundations of mighty sums of money got by that strange project of Knight hood yet under a colour of Law The most burthensome Book of Rates the unheard of Taxation of Ship-money the enlargement of Forrests contrary to Magna Charta the injurious Taxation of Coat and Conduct money the forcible taking away of the Trained Bands Arms ingrossing Gunpowder into their hands in the Tower of London The destruction of the Forrest of Dean which was sold to Papists whence we had all our timber for Shipping Monopolies of Sope Salt Wine Leather and Sea Coal yea almost of all things in the Kingdome of most necessary and common use Restraint in trades and habitations for re●●sall of which foresaid heavy pressures many were vext with long and languishing sui●s some fined and confined to Prisons to the losse of health in many of life in some some having their Houses broken open their Goods leized on their Studies or Closets searched for Writings Books and papers to undo them some interrupted also in their Sea-Voyages and their Ships taken from them The crushing cruelties of the Star-Chamber Court and Councel Table where the Recorder of Salisbury was greatly fined for demolishing the Picture of the first person in the Trinity in their great Cathedrall Thus far for the miseries of the Common-wealth Popish Ceremonies Romish innovations and such like outrages of the Arch Prelate of Canterbury and his Prelaticall Agents and Instruments over the whole Kingdome in matters of Religion Divine worship and spiritual cases of conscience Additions in the Oath administred to the King at his first inauguration to the Crown by the Arch-Bishop Fines Imprisonments stigmatizings mutilations whippings pillories gagges confinements and banishments yea and that into perpetual close imprisonments in the most desolate remote and as they hoped and intended remotest parts of the Kingdome Mr. Burton Mr. Bastwicke Mr. Prin. The ruinating of the ●●eoffees for buying in of Impropriations and the advancing to Ecclesiasticall livings Arminians silencing with deprivations degradations and excommunications almost all the most pious Pastors over the Land whom they could catch in their snares and all this under a pretence of peace unity and conformity Printing Presses set open for the Printing and publishing of all Popish and Arminian Tenets but shut up and restrained from printing sound Doctrines Nay not only thus lamentably molested in England but attempted the like in Scotland indeavouring to impose upon them a New Liturgy and a Book of Canons They refusing of them were called and counted Rebels and Traytors yea so proclaimed in all Churches in England and an Army was also raised to oppresse and suppresse them A mighty and tumultuous rising of Apprentices and young men in Southwark and Lambeth side with Clubs and other weapons especially at the Arch Bishops house which put him in such a fright as made him flye to Croyden to convey himselfe to some more private and remote place And although Pharoahs Magicians were so honest that at the sight of the dust of the earth turned into lice they cryed out It was the finger of God but he grew more and more outragious and caused one to be hanged and quartered and his head set on London-Bridge who said at his execution he came there by accident and he must dye The Arch-Prelate of St Andrewes in Scotland reading the new Service-booke in his pontificalibus assaulted by men Women with Crickets stooles Stickes and Stones The rising of Prentises and Sea-men on Southwark side to assault the Arch-bishop of Canterbury's House at Lambeth 4 Parliament A fourth Parliament was thereupon shortly after called again by those complotters means but to a very ill intent and another Parliament summoned also at the same time by the Earl of Strafford in Ireland both of them only to levy and procure moneys to raise another Army and wage a new War against the Scots The Ships and Goods of Scotland were in all parts and Ports of this Land and of Ireland also surprized and seized on

of Jesus Christ I desire you that you would be silent and joyn in prayers with me and I trust in God that we shall all meet and live eternally in Heaven there to receive the accomplishment of all happinesse where every tear shall be wiped from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts And so God blesse this Kingdome and Jesus have mercy upon my Soul Amen August 1641. The King went to Scotland Octob. The Irish Rebellion began whereby above 100000 Protestants were murdered Novemb. Decemb. The King came from Scotland to London and was entertained with most pompous solemnity and after went to Hampton Court the Earl presented a Remonstrance wherein was expressed the Kingdomes grievances they desire a Guard Sir Wil. Belford was displaced and Cottington made Constable of the Tower but he was soon displaced and Col. Lunsford was made Lieutenant of the Tower but he also was displaced and Sir John Byron was made Liev. of the Tower in Lunsfords stead but he also with much ado removed and Sir John Conyers was put in his place To the Kings most Excellent Majesty and the Lords and Peers now Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition and Protestation of all the Bishops and Prelats now called by his Majesties Writs to attend the Parliament and present about London and Westminster for that Service THat whereas the Petitioners are called up by several and respective Writs and under great penalties to attend the Parl. and have a clear and indubitable right to Vote in Bils and other matters whatsoever debatable in Parl. by the ancient Customes Lawes and Statutes of this Realm and ought to be Protected by your Majesty quietly to attend and prosecute that great Service They humbly Remonstrate and Protest before God your Majesty and the noble Lords and Peers now assembled in Parl. that as they have an indubitate right to Sit and Vote in the House of Lords so are they if they may be protected from force and violence most ready and willing to performe their duties accordingly And that they doe abominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery and the maintenance thereof as also all propension and inclination to any Malignant party or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their owne reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have been at severall times violently menaced affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their coming to perform their services in that honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives and can find no redresse or protection upon sundry complaints made to The High Commission-Court and Starr-Chamber voted down and pluralities non residencies damned by Parliament both Houses in these perticulars They likewise humbly protest before your Majesty and the Noble House of Peers that saving unto themselves all their Rights and Interests of Sitting and Voting in that House at other times they dare not Sit or Vote in the House of Peers untill your Majesty shall further secure them from all affronts indignities and dangers in the premisses Lastly whereas their fears are not built upon fantasies and conceits but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good resolutions and much constancy They doe in all duty and humility protest before your Majesty and the Peers of that most Honourable House of Parl. against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence since the 27th of this instant Month of Decem. 1641. have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter pass in that most Honourable House during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most Honourable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were willfull and voluntary that most honourable House might proceed in all their premisses in their absence and this Protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most Excellent Majesty to command the Clerk of the House of Peers to enter this their Petition and Protestation among their Records They will ever pray to God to bless c. Jo Ebor. Th. Dures Rob. Co. Lich. Jo. Norw. Jo. Asa. Gul Ba. Wels. Geo. Heref. Rob. Ox. Ma. Ely Godf. Glouc. Jo Peterb Mor. Land Twelve Bishops were impeached of high Treason and ten imprisoned in the Tower and afterward all disabled from ever sitting in the Parl. they are Voted down root and branch Nulla contradicente The same night there were bonefires and ringing of Bels All Popish Recusants inhabiting in and about the City all dis-affected persons and such as being able men would not lend any money for the defence of the Common-wealth should forthwith confine themselves to their own Houses and not to goe forth without speciall license An Ordinance to apprehend dis-affected persons in the City whereof were four Aldermen put in safe custody in Crosby House and some in Gressam Colledge A letter sent to Mr. Pym Mr. Pym Do not think that a guard of men can protect you if you persist in your trayterous courses and wicked designs I have sent a Paper-messenger to you and if this does not touch your heart a Dagger shal so soon as I am recovered of my plague-sore In the mean time you may be forborn because no better man may be endangered for you Repent Traytor Jan 1641. The Irish proclaimed Rebels the King demands five Members Lunsford assaulteth the Citizens at Westmin an Act to carry on the War in Ireland till it were reduced Febr King signs the Bill for taking away Bishops Votes March the Queen went to Holland one of her ships sprung a leak and much treasure lost and when she return'd there was a great storm Van Trump's Mast broke and after eight dayes turmoil driven back again broke and lost 3 ships The King went to Theobalds where a Petition from the Par. was presented desiring him to let the Militia abide neer Lon and not carry the Prince away he being at Newmarket the House presented a Declaration the King went to York sends a message to the Parl. that he would raise 2000 Foot and 200 Horse at Hull and go for Ireland Sir John Hotbam denies the King entrance in April May som Members leave their seats and go to the King at York Binion a Silk-man the Kentish Malignants and Sir Edw Deering frame petitions against the Parl. but rejected fined and imprisoned The King interdicts the Militia but the Messenger was hang'd at the Exchange The Lords and Gentry of Ireland and Scotland petition the King to return to his Parl. the Gentry of York shire do the like but rejected The K. set on foot a Commission of Array June The Great Seal carried to the K. The Earle of Warwick Adm. Money and Plate brought in for the Cause the King besieges Hull 500 men went from London to it Proclamations and Declarations against the Parliament read in all Churches and Chappels within the

Then turning to the Officers said Sirr excuse me for this same I have a good cause and I have a gracious God I will say no more Then turning to Col. Hacker he said Take care that they doe not put me to paine and Sir this and it please you But then a Gentleman coming neer the Ax the King said take heed of the Ax pray take heed of the Ax. Then the King speaking to the Executioner said I shall say but very short prayers and when I thrust out my hands Then the King called to Dr Iuxon for his night cap and having put it on he said to the Executioner does my haire trouble you who desired him to put it all under his Cap which the King did accordingly by the help of the Executioner and the Bishop then the King turning to Dr Juxon said I have a good Cause and a gracious God on my side Dr Jaxon There is but one stage more this stage is turbulent and troublesome it is a short one but you may consider it will soone carry you a very great way from Earth to Heaven and there you shall find a great deale of cordiall joy and comfort King I goe from a corruptible to an incorruptible Crown where no disturbanc can be Doct. You are exchanged from a temporall to an eternall Crown a good exchange Then the King took off his Cloak and his George giving his George to Dr. Juckson saying Remember 't is thought for the Prince and some other small Ceremonies past after which the King stooping down laid his neck upon the blocke after a very little pause stretched forth his hands the executioner at one blow severed his head from his Body his Body was put in a Coffin covered with black Velvet and removed to his Lodging Chamber at White-Hall An Act prohibiting the Proclaiming of any person to be King of England c. VVHereas Charls Stuart King of England being for the notorious Treasons Tyrannies and Murthers committed by him in the late unnaturall and civill Wars condemned to death whereupon after execution of the same severall pretences may be made and Title set on foote unto the Kingly Office to the apparent hazzard of the Publick Peace For the prevention thereof Be it Enacted and Ordained by this present Parliament and by the Authority of the same That no person or persons whatsoever doe presume to Proclaime Declare Publish or any way promote Charls Stuart Son of the said Charls commonly called Prince of Wales or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland or of any the Dominions belonging to them or any of them by colour of Inheritance Succession Election or any other claim whatsoever without the free consent of the people in Parliam first had and signified by a particular Act or Ordinance for that purpose any Law Statute Vsage or Custome to the contrary notwithstanding And be it further Enacted and Ordained and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained that whosoever shall contrary to this Act Proclaim Declare Publish or any way promote the said Charls-Stuart the Son or any other person to be King or chief Magistrate of England or of Ireland or of any the Dominions belonging to them or to either of them without the said consent in Parliament signified as aforesaid shall be deemed and adjudged a Traytor to the Common-wealth and shall suffer the pains of death and such other punishments as belong to the Crime of High Treason And all Officers as well Civill as Military and all other well-affected persons are hereby authorized and required forthwith to apprehend all such Offenders and to bring them in safe custody to the next Justice of the Peace that they be proceeded against accordingly H. Scobel Cler. Parl. D. Com. Dk. Hambleton E of Cambridg E of Holland and Lord Capell be headed Mar 9. 1649 And their speeches on the scaffold The Speech of Duke Hamilton Earl of Cambridge on the Scaffold in the Pallace yard the ninth of March 1649. I Think it is truly not very necessary for me to speak much there are many Gentlemen and Souldiers there that see me but my voyce truly is so weak so low that they cannot hear me neither truly was I ever at any time so much in love with speaking or with any thing I had to expresse that I took delight in it yet this being the last time that I am to doe so by a Divine providence of Almighty God who hath brought me to this end justly for my sins I shall to you Sir Master Sheriff declare thus much as to the matter that I am now to suffer for which is as being a Traytor to the Kingdome of England Truly Sir it was a Countrey that I equally loved with my owne I made no difference I never intended either the generality of its prejudice or any particular mans in it what I did was by the Command of the Parliament of the Countrey where I was borne whose Command I could not disobey without running into the same hazard there of that condition that I now am in It pleased God so to dispose that Army under my Command as it was ruined and I as their Generall cloathed with a Commission stand here now ready to dye I shall not trouble you with repeating of my Plea what I said in my owne Defence at the Court of Justice my self being satisfied with the Command that is laid upon me and they satisfied with the justnesse of their procedure according to the Lawes of this Land God is just and howsoever I shall not say any thing as to the matter of the Sentence but that I doe willingly submit to his Divine providence and acknowledge that very many wayes I deserve even a worldly punishment as well as hereafter for we are all sinfull Sir and I a great one yet for my comfort I know there is a God in Heaven that is exceeding mercifull I know my Redeemer fits at his right hand and am confident clapping his hand on his brest is mediating for me at this instant I am hopefull thro his free grace and all-sufficient merits to be pardoned of my sins and to be received into his mercy upon that I rely trusting to nothing but the free grace of God through Jesus Christ I have not been tainted in my Religion I thank God for it since my infancy it hath been such as hath been profest in the Land and established and now it is not this Religion or that Religion nor this or that fancy of men that is to be built upon it is but one that 's right one that 's sure and that comes from God Sir and in the free grace of our Saviour Sir there is truly somewhat that he then observing the Writers had I thought my Speech would have been thus taken I would have digested it into some better method then now I can and shall desire these Gentlemen that doe write it that they will not wrong me in it and

for the King their Commissioners denied audience to make their just Defence to the King and the whole Kingdome of Scotland and England too hereupon much distracted and distempered with levying of moneys and imprisoning all amongst us that refused the same This Parliament also refusing to comply with the King Canterbury and Strafford in this Episcopal War against the Scots was soon dissolved and broken up by them and thereupon they returned to their former wayes of wast and confusion and the very next day after the Dissolution thereof some eminent Members of both Houses had their Chambers and Studies yea their Cabinets and very pockets of their wearing Cloaths betimes in the morning before they were out of their Beds searched for Letters and Writings and some of them imprisoned and a false and most scandalous Declaration was published against the House of Commons in the Kings Name A Forced Loan of money was attempted in the City of London to be made a president if it prevailed there for the whole Kingdome but some Aldermen refusing were sorely threatned and imprisoned In which interim the Clergies Convocation continuing notwithstanding the Dissolution of the Parliament New Conscience oppressing Canons were forged and a strange Oath with an c. in it was framed for the establishing of the Bishops Hierarchy with severe punishments on the refusers to take it The OATH That I A. B. doe Sweare that I doe approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England as containing all things necessary to Salvation And that I will not endeavour by my selfe or any other directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine contrary to that which is so established Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Arch-Bishops Bishops Deans and Arch Deacons c. as it stands now established and as by right it ought to stand Nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome And all these things I doe plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear according to the plain and common sense and understanding of the same words without any equivocation or mentall evasion or secret reservation whatsoever And this I doe heartily willingly and truly upon the faith of a Christian So help me God in Jesus Christ In this Convocation sore Taxations were also imposed upon the whole Clergy even no lesse then six Subsidies besides a bountifull Contribution to forward that intended War against Scotland For the advancing of which said sums for this War the Popish were most free and forward yea and a solemn Prayer was composed and imposed by the Bishops on their Ministers every where to be used and read in all Churches against the Scots as Rebels and Traytors The Papists also in a high measure enjoyed even almost a total Toleration and a Popes Nuncio suffered amongst us to act and govern all Romish affairs yea a kind of private Popish Parliament kept in the Kingdome and Popish Jurisdictions erected among them Commissioners were also secretly issued out for some great and eminent Papists for Martial Commands for levying of Souldiers strengthning their party with Arms and Ammunition of all sorts and in great plenty His Majesties Treasure was by these means so extreamly exhausted and his Revenues so anticipated that he was forced to compell as it were his owne Servants Judges and Officers of all sorts to lend him great sums of money and Prisons filled with refusers of these and the other illegall payments yea many High-Sheriffs summoned in the Star-Chamber and to the Councel board and some of them imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying of Ship-money and such like intolerable Taxations In sum the whole Land was now brought into a lamentable and languishing condition of being most miserably bought and sold to any that could give and contribute most of might and malice against us and no hope of humane help but dolour desperation and destruction to be the portion of all In which interim the Scots being entred our Kingdome for their own defence the King had advanced his Royal-Standard at Yorke where the cream of the Kingdom Nobles and Gentry being assembled and a Treaty betwixt the prime of both Armies had at Rippon for a fair and peaceable accommodation the King was at last inforced to take his Nobles Councel and in the first place a cessation of Arms agreed on and then a fifth Parl. was necessitously resolved on to begin Nov 3. 1640. 5th Parliament Letters from the King Queen Popish Earls Lords Knights and Gentry post into all parts of the Kingdome to make a strong party for them Shortly after a very formidable Spanish Fleet or Armado appeared on our English narrow Seas in sight of Dover and was coming in as was on very strong grounds more then probably conjectured as a third party to help to destroy us the Spaniards hoping that by this time we and the Scots were together by the ears but they were by Gods mercy beaten off from us by our Neighbours of Holland and we fighting against them fought against our friends The Souldiers in their passage to York turn Reformers pull down Popish Pictures break down rails turn Altars into Tables those Popish Commanders that ware to command them they forced to eat flesh on Fridays thrusting it down their throats and some they slew In the time of ours and the Scots Armies residing in the North which was in June 1641. Malignant Lords endeavoured to bring it out of the North Southward and so to London to compell the Parl. to such limits and rules as they thought fit whereupon the Parl. entred upon this following Protestation Die Veneris 30 July 1641. WE the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House in Parl. finding to the great grief of our hearts that the designs of the Priests Jesuites and other adherents to the Sea of Rome have of late been more boldly and frequently put in practice then formerly to the undermining and danger of the ruine of the true Reformed Protestant Religion in his Majesties Dominions established And finding also that they have been and having just cause to suspect that there are still even during this sitting in Parliament endeavours to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of England and Ireland and to introduce the exercise of an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government by most pernicious and wicked counsels practices plots and conspiracies And that the long intermission and unhappy breach of Parliam hath occasioned many illegall Taxations whereupon the subject hath been prosecuted and grieved And that divers Innovations and superstitions have been brought into the Church multitudes driven out of his Majesties Dominions jealousies raised and vvn betwixt the King and his people a Popish Army levyed in Ireland and two Armies brought into the bowels of his Kingdom to the hazzard of his Majesties Royal person the consumption of the Revenues of the Crown and Treasure of his Kingdome And lastly finding

great cause of jealousie that endeavours have been and are used to bring the English Army into a misunderstanding of this Parl. thereby to incline that Army with force to bring to passe those wicked Councels Have therefore thought good to joyne our selves in a Declaration of our united affections and resolutions and to make this ensuing Protestation The Protestation I A. B. Do in the presence of Almighty God Promise Vow and Protest to maintaine and defend as far as lawfully I may with my life power and state the true Reformed Protestant Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England against Popery and Popish Innovations within this Realme contrary to the same Doctrine and according to the duty of my Allegiance his Majesties Royall Person Honour and Estate as also the power and priviledges of Parliament the lawfull rights and liberties of the Subject and every person that maketh this Protestation in whatsoever he shall doe in the lawfull pursuance of the same And to my power and as far as lawfully I may I will oppose and by all good wayes and means endeavour to bring to condigne punishment all such as shall either by force practice counsels plots conspiracies or otherwise doe any thing to the contrary of any thing in this present Protestation contained And further that I shall in all just and honourable wayes endeavour to preserve the union and peace between the three Kingdomes of England Scotland and Ireland and neither for hope fear nor other respect shall relinquish this Promise Vow and Protestation At the beginning of the Parliament Nov. 3. 1640. there was a diligent inquisition after oppressions and oppressors and first upon the Petition of Mris Bastwicke and Mris Burton two widowed wives and a Petition exhibited in the behalfe of Mr Pryn Dr. Laighten Mr. Smart Mr. Walker Mr. Foxley Mr. Lilburn and many others set at liberty some being banisht and all close Prisoners others fast fettered in irons and their wives debar'd from coming to them Decemb. 1640. The Earl of Strafford and Laud Arch-bishop of Canterbury impeached of High Treason Wren Bishop of Norwich of Treason Windebank and Finch fled The Scots ships that were taken before the Parl. began restored and 4000. l. given to rig them 300000. l. towards their losses and all Books Libels and Proclamations against the Scots called in February A Bill signed for Trienniall Parl. ●ix Subsidies Poll money and a personall assesment of the whole Kingdome May a Bill signed that the Parl. should not be dissolved without their consent Lord Strafford beheaded the High Commission Court and Star Chamber put down the Parl. proceeded against Delinquent Judges about Ship-money The Earl of Strafford's Speech on the Scaffold May 12. 1641. MY Lord Primate of Ireland and my Lords and the rest of these Gentlemen it is a very great comfort to me to have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have been known to you a long time I should be glad to obtain so much silence as to be heard a few words but doubt I shall not my Lord I come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay the last debt I owe to sin which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the mercies of Christ Jesus to eternall glory I wish I had been private that I might have been heard my Lord if I might be so much beholding to you that I might use a few words I should take it for a very great courtesie my Lord I come hither to submit to that judgment which hath past against me I do it with a very quiet and contented mind I do freely forgive all the world a forgivenesse that is not spoken from the teeth outward as they say but from my heart I speak it in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not so much as a displeasing thought in me arising to any creature I thank God I may say truly and my conscience bears me witnesse that in all my services since I have had the honour to serve his Majesty in any employment I never had any thing in my heart but the joynt and individuall prosperity of King and people if it hath been my hap to be misconstrued it is the common portion of us all while we are in this life the righteous judgment is hereafter here we are subject to error and apt to be The Earle of Strafford for treasonable practises beheaded on the Tower-hill mis-judged one of another There is one thing I desire to clear my selfe of and I am confident I speak it with so much clearnesse that I hope I shall have your Christian Charity in the belief of it I did alwayes think that the Parl. of England were the happiest constitutions that any Kingdome or any Nation lived under and under God the means of making King and people happy so far have I been from being against Parliaments For my death I here acquit all the world and pray God heartily to forgive them and in particular my Lord Primate I am very glad that his Majesty is pleased to conceive me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as the utmost execution of this sentence I am very glad and infinitely rejoyce in this mercy of his and beseech God to turn it to him and that he may find mercy when he hath most need of it I wish the Kingdome all the prosperity and happinesse in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I do now professe is from my heart and do most humbly recommend it to every man here and wish every man to lay his hand upon his heart and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happinesse of a people should be writ in Letters of blood I fear you are in a wrong way and I desire Almighty God that not one drop of my blood may rise up in judgment against you My Lord I professe my selfe a true and obedient Son to the Church of England to the Church wherein I was born and wherein I was bred prosperity and happinesse be ever to it and whereas it hath been said that I have inclined to Popery if it be an objection worth answering let me say truly that from the time since I was twenty one years of age till this hour now going upon forty nine I never had thought in my heart to doubt of the truth of my Religion in England and never any had the boldnesse to suggest to me contrary to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled to the mercies of Christ Jesus my Saviour into whose bosome I hope shortly to be gathered to that eternall happinesse that shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man both for any rash or unadvised word or deed and desire your prayers And so my Lord farewell farewell all the things of this word Lord strengthen my faith give me confidence and assurance in the merits