the middle of the Quire according to the Primitive Example And a Book supposed to be Written by Dr. Williams Bishop of Lincoln was Published to this purpose Several Gentlemen of Quality had refused to Pay the Ship-Money and among the rest Mr. Hamden of Buckingham-shire upon which the King refers the whole Business to the Twelve Judges in Michaelmas-Term 1636. Ten of whom that is Brampton Finch Davenport Denham Jones Trever Vernon Berkly Crowly Weston gave their Judgments against Hamden but Hutton and Crook refused it His Majesty desiring an Uniformity in England and Scotland in pursuance thereof enjoyned the Scots the use of the English Liturgy the Surplice and other Habiliments and began first in his own Chapple And in this Year 1637. Proclamation was made That the same should be used throughout all Churches wherewith the Bishops were contented but not the Kirk nor the People who were so inraged thereat that in Edinborough and divers other Parts of that Kingdom where the Liturgy was begun to be read committed very great Outrages and Violences against the Persons that read it and could not be appeased by the Power of the Magistrate And some time after the Scots entred into a solemn League and Covenant to preserve the Religion there Profest This Covenant the Scots were resolved to maintain and to that purpose they sent for General Lesly and other great Officers from beyond Sea providing themselves likewise with Arms and Ammunition After this they Elect Commissioners for the general Assembly whom they cite to move the Arch-Bishops and Bishops to appear there as Guilty Persons which being refused the People present a Bill of Complaint against them to the Presbitery at Edinbrough who accordingly warned them to appear at the next General Assembly At their Meeting the Bishops sent in a Protestation against their Assembly which the Covenanters would not vouchsafe to read And soon after they abolished Episcopacy and then prepared for a War On which the King of England prepares an Army for Scotland with which in the Year 1639. He Marched in Person into the North but by the Mediation of some Persons a Treaty of Peace was begun and soon finished but a while after broke by the Scots The King therefore resolved since fair means would not prevail to force the Scots to Reason And to that end considers how to make Provisions for Men and Money and calling a Secret Cabinet Council consisting only of Arch-Bishop Laud the Earl of Strafford and Duke Hamilton it was concluded That for the King's Supply a Parliament must be called in England and another in Ireland but because the Debates of Parliament would take up some time it was resolved That the Lords should Subscribe to Lend the King Money The Earl of Strafford Subscribed 20000 l. the Duke of Richmond as much The rest of the Lords Judges and Gentry contributed according to their Ability The Scots on the other side foreseeing the Storm prepared for their own Defence making Treaties in Sweeden Denmark Holland and Poland And the Jesuits who are never Idle endeavour to Foment the Differences to which end Con the Pope's Nuncio Sir Tob. Matthews Read and Maxwel Two Scots endeavoured to perswade the Discontented People That the King designed to Enslave them to his Will and Pleasure In the Year 1640. and the Sixteenth of the King's Reign a Parliament was called at Westminster April 13. In which the King presses them for a speedy Supply to Suppress the Violences of the Scots But whil'st the Parliament were Debating whether the Grievances of the People or the King's Supply should be first considered and Matters were in some hopeful Posture Secretary Vane either accidentally or on purpose overthrew all at once by declaring That the King required Twelve Subsidies whereas at that time he only desired Six which so enraged the House and made things so ill that by the advice of the Juncto the Parliament was Dissolved having only Sate Twenty Two Days Arch-Bishop Laud by his earnest Proceedings against the Puritans and by his strict enjoyning of Ceremonies especially reviving Old Ceremonies which had not been lately observed procured to himself much Hatred from the People That upon May 9. 1640. a Paper was fixed on the Gate of the Royal-Exchange inciting the Prentices to go and Sack his House at Lambeth the Monday after but the Arch-Bishop had notice of their Design and provided accordingly that at the time when they came endeavouring to enter his House they were Repulsed The King grew daily more offended against the Scots and calls a Select Juncto to consult about them where the Earl of Strafford delivered his Mind in such terms as were afterwards made use of to his Destruction War against them was resolved on and Money was to be procured one way or other The City was Invited to Lend but refused The Gentry contributed indifferent freely So that with their Assistance the Army was compleated The King himself being Generalissimo the Earl of Northumberland and the Earl of Strafford Lieutenant-Generals And Marching the Army into the North between New-Castle and Berwick there was some Action between the Two Armies in which the Scots had the Better A Treaty is then set on Foot and to that end the King receives a Petition from the Scots complaining of their Grievances To which He Answers by his Secretary of Scotland That he expects their particular Demands which he receives in Three days all tending to Call a Parliament in England without which there could be no Redress for them They had likewise before their March into England Published a Declaration called The Intentions of the Army viz. Not to lay down Arms till the Reformed Religion were settled in both Nations upon sure grounds and the Causers and Abettors of their present Troubles that is Arch-Bishop Laud and the Earl of Strafford were brought to Publick Justice in Parliament At the same time Twelve English Peers drew up a Petition which they delivered to the King for the Sitting of the Parliament To which the King condescends And now the time approaching for the Sitting of the Parliament who accordingly Met Novemb. 3. 1640. Mr. W. Lenthal was Chosen Speaker of the House of Commons And the King in a Speech tells them That the Scottish Troubles were the cause of their Meeting and therefore requires them to consider of the most expedient Means for casting them out and desired a Supply from them for the maintaining of his Army The Commons began with the Voting down all Monopolies and all such Members as had any Benefit by them were Vottd out of the House They then Voted down Ship-Money with the Opinion of the Judges thereupon to be Illegal and a Charge of High-Treason was ordered to be Drawn up against Eight of them and they resolved to begin with the Lord-Keeper Finch December 11th Alderman Pennington and some hundreds of Citizens presented a Petition Subscribed by Fifteen thousand Hands against Church-Discipline and Ceremonies and a while after
willing to condescend to all the Proposals about the Militia of the Counties and the Persons mentioned but not of London and other Corporations whose Government in that particular he thought it neither Justice nor Policy to alter but would not consent to divest Himself of the Power of the County Militia for an indesinite Time but for some limited Space This Answer did not satisfie so that the Breach growing every day wider the King declined these Parts and the Parliament and removed to Theobald's taking with Him the Prince and Duke of York About the beginning of March He receives a Petition from the Parliament wherein they require the Militia more resolutely than before affirming That in case of denial the Eminent Dangers would constrain them to dispose of it by the Authority of Parliament desiring also That he would make his Abode near London and the Parliament and continue the Prince at some of his Houses near the City for the better carrying on of Affairs and preventing the Peoples Jealousies and Fears All which being refused They presently Order That the Kingdom be put into a posture of Defence in such a way as was agreed upon by Parliament and a Committee to prepare a publick Declaration from these Heads 1. The Just Causes of the Fears and Jealousies given to the Parliament at the same time clearing themselves from any Jealousies conceived against Himself 2. To Consider of all Matters arising from his Majesty's Message and what was fit to be done And now began our Troubles and all the Miseries of a Civil-War The Parliament every day entertaining new Jealousies and Suspicions of the King's Actions which howsoever in Complement they made shew of imputing only to his Evil Council yet obliquely had too great a Reflection on his Person They now proceed on a suddain to make great Preparations both by Sea and Land And the Earl of Northumberland Admiral of England is commanded to Rig the King's Ships and fit them for Sea And likewise all Masters and Owners of Ships were perswaded to do the like The Beacons were prepared Sea-Marks set up and extraordinary Postings up and down with Pacquets All sad Prognosticks of the Calamities ensuing August 22. 1642. The King comes to Nottingham and there Erects His Standard to which some Numbers resorted but far short of what was Expected And three Days after the King sends a Message to the Parliament to propose a Treaty The Messengers were the Earls of Southampton and Dorset Sir John Culpeper and Sir W. Udal None of which were suffered to Set in the House to deliver their Errand therefore it was sent in by the Usher of the Black-Rod to which the Parliament Answered That until His Majesty shall recal His Proclamations and Declarations of Treason against the Earl of Essex and Them and their Adherents And unless the King's Standard now Set up in pursuance thereof be taken down They cannot by the Fundamental Priviledges of Parliament give His Majesty another Answer The King Replies That He never intended to Declare the Parliament Traytors or Set up his Standard against them but if they Resolve to Treat either Party shall Revoke their Declarations against all persons as Traytors and the same Day to take down his Standard To this they Answer That the Difference could not any ways be concluded unless He would forsake his Evil Counsellors and return to his Parliament And accordingly September 6th They Order and Declare That the Armswhich they have or shall take up for the Parliament Religion Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom shall not be laid down until the King withdraw his Protection from such Persons as are or shall be Voted Delinquents and shall leave them to Justice The War being now begun the New-raised Souldiers committed many Outrages upon the Country-people which both King and Parliament upon Complaint endeavour to Rectifie The King Himself was now Generalissimo over his Own His Captain-General was first the Marquess of Hartford and afterwards the Earl of Lindsey and the Earl of Essex for the Parliament The King's Forces received the first Repulse at Hull by Sir John Hotham and Sir John Meldrum and the King takes up his Quarters at Shrewsbury Portsmouth was next Surrendred to the Parliament and presently after Sir John Byron takes Worcester for the King In September the two Princes Palatines Rupert and Maurice Arrived in England who were presently Entertained and put into Command by the King This uncivil Civil-War was carried on in General with all the Ruines and Desolations imaginable wherein all Bonds of Religion Alliance and Friendship were utterly destroyed Wherein Fathers and Children Kindred and Acquaintances became unnatural Enemies to each other In which miserable Condition this Nation continued for near Four Years viz. From August the 22d 1642. the Time the King Set up his Standard at Nottingham to May the 6th 1646. the time when the King quitting all Hopes put Himself into the Protection of the Scotch-Army at Newark During this process of Time several Messages past divers Treaties set on foot and other Overtures of Accommodation but all came to no Effect The War in England being now after so much Blood-shed and Ruine brought to some End the Parliament were at leisure to Dispute with the Scots concerning the Keeping of the King who fearing lest Fairfax should fall upon them and compel them to Deliver Him up Retreated further Northwards towards New-Castle The Parliament sent an Invitation to the Prince of Wales to come to London with promise of Honour and Safety but He did not think fit to venture The King sends from New-castle to the Army about a Treaty and the House of Commons Vote That the King ' s Person should be demanded of the Scots and that their whole Army return home upon Receipt of part of their Arrears the rest to be sent after them And a Committee is appointed to Treat with the Scotch Commissioners about drawing up Propositions to be sent to the King wherein much Time was spent in Wrangling whilst the English deny the Scots to have any Right in the Disposal of the King of England and the Scots as stifly alledged He was their King as much as of the English and they had as good Right to Dispose of the King in England as the English could Challenge in Scotland But at last they agreed on Sixteen General Propositions which were presented to the King at New-castle July the 27. 1646. But these Propositions were such that the King did not think fit to Comply withal The Scots General Assembly sent a Remonstrance to the King Desiring Him to settle Matters in England according to the Covenant c. But all this could not prevail and therefore the Scots who had hitherto so sharply Disputed about the Disposal of the King's Person are Content upon the Receipt of Two hundred thousand Pounds to depart Home and leave the King in the Power of the Parliament who Voted Him to Holmby-House and sent their Commissioners to receive Him from the Scots at Newcastle To whom February the 8th 1646 He was accordingly Delivered and the Scots returned home Feb. the 8th the King sets forward with the Commissioners for Holmby and after a Fortnight came to His Journeys-end being met by the way by General Fairfax and many of his Officers Some Petitions from Essex and other Places are Presented to the Parliament inveighing against the Proceedings of the Army which much vexed the Souldiers who sharply Apologize for themselves And now the Army to the great Terror of the Parliament March towards London and came as far as St. Alban's notwithstanding a Message from Both Houses not to come within Twenty Five Miles of the City which the General excused saying That the Army was come thither before they received the Parliament's Desire And here he obtains a Month's Pay The Parliament Vote That the General be required to deliver the Person of the King to the former Commissioners who were to bring him to Richmond that Propositions of Peace might be speedily Presented to His Majesty and that Collonel Rossiter and his Regiment might Guard His Person The Army being much behind-hand in Arrears Petition the Parliament who upon consideration order them some Money at the present and then drew up Propositions of Peace to be sent to the King at Hampton-Court the same in substance with those offered at New-Castle and had the like effect The business of Episcopacy being always the main Objection which the Parliament were resolved to Abolish and the King preferring That before all other Respects would rather lose All than consent thereunto The Scots Commissioners send a Letter Novemb. 6. 1647. to the Speaker of the House of Commons and require That the KING may be admitted to a Personal Treaty or at least That He should not be carried from Hampton-Court violently but that Commissioners of Both Parliaments may freely pass to and from Him to Treat for the Settlement of the Kingdom After which divers Messages past between the King and the Parliament and several Conferences and Treaties were set on Foot particularly that of Heuderson's but they proving fruitless the Parliament with most of the Officers of the Army that joyned with them brought the KING to Tryal by a Judicature of their own setting-up which proved His Ruine FINIS
By this you see the advantage and benefit of one Wise Counsellor in a whole State and although Solomon says By the multitude of Councellors doth a Kingdom Flourish yet surely he intended they should be Wise Men that are Councellors for we had such a multitude of Councellors that a longer Table and a larger Council-Chamber was provided yet our State was so far from Flourishing that it had been almost utterly destroyed I shall now bring my Story to an end as I shall this King's Life although I have made some Digressions yet all pertinent to the Secret Intreagues of this King's Reign He now goes to his last Hunting-Journey I mean the last of the Year as well as his Life which He ever ended in Lent and was seized on by an extraordinary Tertian Ague which at that Season according to the Proverb was Physick for a King but King James did not find it so and poor King what was but Physick to any other was made Mortal to him Yet 't was not the Ague as himself Confessed to many of his Servants one of which crying Courage Sir this is but a small Fit the next will be none at all At which he most earnestly looked and said Ah! it is not the Ague afflicteth me but the black Plaster and Powder given me and laid to my Stomach and in truth the Plaster so troubled him that he was glad to have it pulled off and with it the Skin also Nor was it fair Dealing if he had sair Play which himself suspected often saying to Montgomery whom he trusted above all Men in his Sickness For God's sake look I have fair Play to bring in an Emperick to apply any Medicines whil'st those Physicians appointed to attend him were at Dinner nor could any but Buckingham Answer it with less than his Life Buckingham coming into the King's Chamber even when He was at the point of Death an honest Servant of the King 's crying Ah! my Lord you have Undone us all his poor Servants although you are so well provided you need not care At which Buckingham kickt at him who caught his Foot and made his Head first come to the Ground where Buckingham presently rising run to the Dying-King's Bed-side and cryed Justice Sir I am abused by your Servant and wrongfully Accused At which the poor King Mournfully fixed his Eyes on him as who would have said Not wrongfully yet without Speech or Sense It were worth the knowledge what his Confessions was or what other Expressions he made of himself or any other but that was only known to the dead Arch-Bishop Abbot and the then living Bishop Williams and the Lord-Keeper and it was thought Williams had blabbed something which incensed the King's Anger and Buckingham's Hatred so much against him that the loss of his Place could not be expiatory sufficient but his utter ruine must be determined and that for the great Crime of Lapsus Linguae Now having brought this King who was stiled the King of Peace to rest in all Peace the 27th of March his Son by Sound of the Trumpet was Proclaimed King by the Name of CHARLES the First His Father's Reign began with a great Plague and we have shewed what his Reign was His Son 's with a greater Plague the greatest that ever had been in these parts We come now to shew what his Reign was in the ensuing Discourse FINIS THE Secret History c. THE Misfortunes of this Monarch Son to King James with the uncouth dismal and unexpressible Calamities that happened thereupon appear yet so great a Sacrifice in the Opinions of all Interested by the Loss or Suborned by that natural Propensity inherent in the most to expunge or palliate the Lapses of unhappy Princes whose Indulgence is not seldom so defensive as to expiate for the Faults of those standing in a far remoter Relation than that of a Father that they have hitherto stoped my Pen from making any farther Progress that way till led on by a Zeal to Truth and illuminated from the brighter Judgments of others I found not only the Imprudent Commissions but voluntary Omissions of King James so much instrumental in the promotion of our late Unnatural Wars As it may justly be said He like Adam by bringing the Crown into so great a Necessity through profuse Prodigality became the Original of his Son's Fall who was in a manner compelled to stretch out his Hands towards such Gatherings and Taxes as were contrary to Law by which He fell from the Paradice of a Prince to wit The Hearts of his People though the best Polititians extant might miscarry in their Calculation of a Civil-War immediately to follow upon the Death of Queen Elizabeth in Vindication of the number of Titles and Opinions then current Yet the Beggarly Rabble attending King James not only at his first coming out of Scotland but through his whole Reign like a fluent Spring found still crossing the River Tweed did so far justifie the former Conjecture as it was only thought mistaken in relation to Time King James departing this Life at Theobald's the 27th day of March 1625. in the Fifty Ninth Year of his Age when He had Reigned Twenty Two Years compleat In the Afternoon of the same day Charles Prince of Wales his only Son then living was Proclaimed King of Great Britain France and Ireland The first thing He did was performing the Ceremonies of his Father's Funeral in which the King himself in Person followed as Chief Mourner He then proceeded to consummate the Marriage with Hentietta Maria Younger Daughter of the great Henry the Fourth King of France whom He had formerly seen in his Journey through that Country into Spain The King then called a Parliament which Assembled the 18th of June following to whom He represented in a short Speech The urgent necessity of raising a Subsidy since it would not agree with his Kingly Honour to shrink from the War with Spain which his Father upon solid Consideration had by consent of Both Houses undertakeâ— although prevented by Death from putting it in Execution c. The Parliament would not resolve on raising of Money till they had first presented their Two Petitions concerning Reasons of Religion and Complaint of their Sufferings which Points had been offered to his Father King James in the close of his last Parliament and by his Death were left hitherto unanswered In Both which they received satisfaction and likewise an account of the Arrears which were due to the Forces by Sea and Land together with an estimate of the future Charge and Expence of the Spanish War Upon which the King obtained of the Laiety Two Subsidies to be paid by Protestants and Four from Papists and Three Subsidies from the Clergy In this Parliament Dr. Montague the King's Chaplain was questioned for certain Tenets in his Answer to a Book called the Romish Dagger Divers Laws were Enacted in this Parliament as one about the Observation of the Lord's-Day and another
of Buckingham was designed Admiral who going to Portsmouth in order to hastening of Business one John Felton a Lieutenant Stabbed him to the Heart with a Knife Felton after he had committed the Fact did not Fly but voluntary acknowledged he was the Person and being asked What inclined him to commit so Barbarous an Act he boldly answered He Killed him for the Cause of God and his Country The Parliament was to have met in October but by reason of some ill News during this Expedition they were Adjourned to January 20. In which time the Merchants refusing to pay Custom had their Goods seized Complaint thereof being made to the Parliament the King Summons the Two Houses to the Banqueting-House at White-Hall and requires them to Pass the promised Bill of Tonnage and Poundage for ending all Differences since it was too precious a Jewel of the Crown to be so lightly forgone But the Commons answered That God's Cause was to be prefered before the King 's and that they would therefore in the first place consult about Religion And therefore they appointed one Committee for Religion and another for Civil Matters In the last was a Complaint about the Customs and the Farmers of the Customs were Challenged but the King excused them as acting by His Command Yet this being not clear to the Parliament they would have proceeded against them as Delinquents Whereupon the King sent them word That in Honour he could not nor would give way thereunto which so incensed the Parliament that they Adjourned themselves for some Days and then Meeting again the King Adjourned them till March 10. The Commons inraged thereat blamed their Speaker for admitting the Message and ordered Sir J. Elliot to draw up their Remonstrance which was in very high terms about the Tonnage and Poundage The Commons having prepared their Remonstrance about the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage they required their Speaker to put it to the Vote whether it should be Presented to the King or not but the Speaker refused it and according to the King's Order would have gone away but Mr. Hollis would not suffer him to stir till himself had read the Protestation of the House consisting of Three Heads I. Whosoever shall bring in any Innovation of Religion or by Favour seek to introduce Popery or Arminianism or other Opinions disagreeing to the Orthodox Church shall be reputed a Capital Enemy to this Kingdom and Common-Wealth II. Whosoever shall Counsel or Advise the Taking or Levying the Subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage without being granted by Parliament or shall be an Actor or Instrument therein shall be likewise reputed a Capital Enemy to the Common-Wealth III. If any shall yield voluntary or Pay the same not being granted by Parliament he shall be reputed a Betraver of the Liberties of England and an Enemy to the Common-Wealth These were so much disliked by the King that he immediately sent for the Serjeant of Mace out of the House of Commons but Sir M. Hobart took the Key from him and locking the Door would not suffer him to go forth At which the King being very much offended sends the Usher of the Black-Rod to Dissolve Them who was not admitted in Whereupon the King with his Guard of Pensioners were resolved to force their Entrance which the Commons having notice of they suddenly went all out of the House And this was the End of this Parliament After their Dissolution the King Published a Declaration setting forth the Cause thereof notwithstanding which it procured great Animosities in the People against the Prime Ministers of State which occasioned divers Libels to be dispersed abroad whereof one against Bishop Laud was found in the Dean of St. Paul's Yard to this effect Laud look to thy self to be sure thy Life is sought as thou art the Fountain of Wickedness Repent of thy Monstrous Sin before thou be taken out of the World And assure thy self that neither God nor the World can endure such a vile Whisperer and Councellor Some considering the unsuccessfulness of This and the Two former Parliaments advised the King never to Call any more And to that end the famous Book of Projects was Published and Addrest to the King proposing some Methods to prevent the Impertinency of Parliaments as he called them from time to time by the Example of Lewis XI of France who pretending that the Commons or Third part did encroach too much on the Nobility and Clergy Dissolved it and never after suffered the People freely to Elect their Representatives but nominated certain Eminent Persons himself instead thereof which is called L' Assembly des Notabiles or the Assembly of the Chief or Principal Men. Upon May 29. 1630. the Queen was Delivered of a Son at St. James's who was Christened Charles who afterwards Succeeded his Father in these Kingdoms by the Name of CHARLES the Second In the Year 1633. and the Ninth of His Majesty's Reign the King made a Journey into Scotland and was Solemnly Crowned at Edinborough June 18. And then the King Calls a Parliament and passed an Act for the Ratification of the Old Acts. In this Scotish Parliament that Nation shewed some sign of Disaffection to the King And the generality of the Common People would not suffer the Bishop of Dumblaine Dean of the King 's private Chapple there to perform Prayers twice a day after the English manner Neither durst they receive the Communion on their Knees nor wear a Surplice upon Sundays and Holy-Days In the Year 1634. the design of Ship-Money was first set on foot and Attorney-General Noy being consulted about it he pretends out of some Old Records to find an Ancient Precedent of raising a Tax on the Nation by the Authority of the King alone for setting out a Navy in case of Danger which was thereupon put in Execution And by this Tax the King raised by Writ above Twenty Thousand Pounds per Month though not without great Discontent both among the Clergy and Laiety The Discontent in Scotland began farther to increase and a Book was Published charging the King with indirect Proceedings in the last Parliament and a tendency to the Romish Belief And now to blow up these Scotch Sparks to a Flame Cardinal Richlieu sent over his Chaplain and another Gentleman to heighten their Discontents The Author of that Book was Seized and found to be abetted by the Lord Balmerino who was thereupon Arraigned by his Peers and Sentenced to Death but Pardoned by the King The latter end of the Year 1635. great Differences arose about Church Matters chiefly occasioned by Arch-Bishop Laud's strict and zealous enjoyning Ceremonies as placing the Communion-Table at the East-end of the Church upon an Ascent with Rails Altar-fashion with many other things not formerly insisted on and now vehemently opposed by those who were formerly called Puritans and Non-Conformists which caused them to be charged with Faction Yet some of the Episcopal Party asserted That the Communion-Table ought to stand in
together and tells them That he had staid in Scotland longer than He expected yet not fruitlesly for He had given full Satisfaction to the Nation but cannot choose but take Notice of and Wonder at the unexpected Distractions He finds at Home and then Commends to them the State of Ireland After which the Commons Ordered a Select Committee to draw up a Petition and Remonstrance to the King The One was against the Bishops and Oppressions in Church-Government and for Punishing the Authors of it In the Other was Contained all the Miscarriages and Misfortunes since the beginning of His Majesty's Reign The King Issued out a Declaration in Answer to the Remonstrance the Summ of which was That He thought He had given sufficient Satisfaction to his People's Fears and Jealousies concerning Religion Liberties and Civil Interests by the Bills which He hath Passed this Parliament Desiring the Misunderstandings might be removed on either Side and that the Bleeding Condition of Ireland might perswade them to Unity for the Relief of that Unhappy Kingdom Not long after happened the Insolent Tumults of the London Apprentices at White-Hall and Westminster December 28. the King sends a Message to the Lords That He would raise ten Thousand Volunteers for Ireland if the Commons would undertake to Pay them Sometime after the King upon Information that the Lord Kimbolton and Five of the House of Commons viz. Hollis Sir Arthur Haslerig Mr. Pim Mr. Hambden and Mr. Stroud had Correspondence with the Scots and Countenanced the late City-Tumults He thereupon Ordered their Trunks Studies and Chambers to be Sealed up and their Persons Seized the Former of which was done but having timely Notice they went aside Upon which the Commons the same Day Voted high against these Actions of the King Hereupon the King Charges the Lord Kimbolton and the Five Members with several Articles and Acquaints both Houses That He did intend to Prosecute them for High-Treason and required that their Persons might be Secured And the next Day the King Attended with His Guard of Pensioners and some Hundreds of Gentlemen went to the House of Commons and the Guard staying without the King with the Palsgrave entred the House at whose Entrance the Speaker rises out of the Chair and the King sitting down therein views the Houses round and perceives the Birds He aimed at were flown whereupon He tells them That He came to look for those Five Members whom He had Accused of High-Treason and was resolved to have them where-ever He found them and expected to have them sent to Him as soon as they should come to the House but would not have them think that this Act of His was any Violation of Parliament This Act of the King 's was so highly resented by the House that the next day Jan. 5. the Commons Voted it a Breach of Priviledge And Reports were raised in the City That He intended Violence against the House of Commons and came thither with Force to Murther several Members and used threatning Speeches against the Parliament with which the City was so possessed that the Guards and Watches were Set as if some desperate Assault were to be made upon the City And Both Houses Adjourned till the Tuesday following appointing a Committee in the mean time to sit at Guild-Hall to consider of the most effectual Means for their Security And then they Published a Declaration That whosoever shall Arrest any Member of Parliament by Warrant from the King only is guilty of the Breach of Priviledges of Parliament And likewise That all those who Attended the King when He came to Demand the Five Members were guilty of a Traiterous Design against the King and Parliament That the Proclamation for Apprehending and Imprisoning the said Members was False Scandalous and Illegal and not of Validity enough to hinder them from Attending the House Wherefore They intreat His Majesty to discover the Names of those Informers and Evil Councellors declaring all such Persons to be Publick Enemies to the State In the mean time the Londoners came thronging to Westminster with Petitions inveighing Bitterly against some of the Peers but especially the Bishops whom they Affronted as they went to the House Upon which they were so affrighted that Twelve Bishops absent themselves from the House of Lords drawing up a Protestation against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves Null and of none Effect which had Passed or should Pass during their forced Absence Presently after which at a Conference between Both Houses it was agreed That this Protestation of the Twelve Bishops did extend to the deep intrenching on the Fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliaments And in a short time they were Accused of High-Treason Seized and brought on their Knees at the Lords-Bar Ten of whom were Committed to the Tower and the other Two in regard of their Age to the Black-Rod The King at this Time thinking Himself unsafe without a Guard accepted of the offer of some Gentlemen of the Inns of Court to be a Guard to Him which instead of Security was by Subtil Men made more prejudicial to the King by taking this occasion to raise the Rage and Jealousie of the City against Him For at Midnight there were cries made in the Streets of London That all the People should rise to their Defence for the King with His Papists were come to Fire the City and Cut their Throats in their Beds The People by often receiving such Alarms being terrified from Sleep the Impressions of those Night-fears lay long upon their Spirits in the Day and filled them almost with Madness of which the King Complained to the Common-Council of London But the Commons to obviate this upon Suspicion of some Design upon their Persons Petition the King for a Guard to be Commanded by the Earl of Essex of whose Fidelity to the King and State no question was ever made This Petition was denied by the King as not willing to have them too strong yet promised to take such Care for their Security from Violence as He would for the Preservation of Himself and Children This Answer being unsatisfactory the City joyns with them and in their Common-Council drew up a Petition complaining That the Trade of the City was decayed to the utter Ruine of the Protestant Religion and the Lives and Liberties of the Subjects by the Design of Papists Foreigners and Domesticks more particularly their fomenting the Irish Rebellion by changing the Constable of the Tower and making Preparation there by the Fortifying of White-Hall and the King 's late Invasion of the House of Commons Whereupon they Pray That by the Parliament's Advice the Protestants in Ireland may be Relieved The Tower to be put into the Hands of Persons of Trust A Guard appointed for the Safety of the Parliament And that the Five Members may not be Restrained nor Proceeded against but by the Priviledges of Parliament To their Petition the King returned Answer That He could not