out of the hands of the King And to effect this all those Plots and Contrivances which the Reader will meet with in the ensuing Collections some of which are manifestly detected to be False Forged and Ridiculous were with the utmost Industry improved and magnified to run the People headlong into Tumults Mutinies and Rebellion There was the Plot of the Army against the Parliament the Plot against Pym by sending him an infected Plaister in a Letter the Plot in Scotland against Hamilton and Arguile which was to beget another of the same Nature in England Beal the Taylor 's Plot of 104 Men who for 40 s. apiece for the Commons and 10 l. for Lords were to kill just so many of the Lords and Commons to a Man there was the Plot discovered in a Letter to Mr. Bridgman information of French Spanish and Danish Plots besides the great Plot of the Papists and Bishops to bring in Popery and the King and his Evil Councellors to destroy Priviledges and Parliaments and to fire the City and cut the Throats of the Citizens Now all these Plots Centred in this one Point that the Kingdom being in such extreme Danger not only from Foreign Enemies but Domestique the People could have no manner of Security for their Lives Liberties Estates or Religion unless the King would trust the Parliament with the Power of the Sword the Militia of the Kingdom the Navy Forts Garrisons Castles Magazines and Stores and more especially the Tower of London and the Towns of Portsmouth and Kingston upon Hull that so by their Order and Appointment such Persons as His Majesty thought fit to bestow those Trusts upon might be displaced and such as the Parliament could confide in the Creatures of the Faction might have those important Trusts and Charges conferred upon them Whilst the People continually amused and alarm'd with these apprehensions of Danger which the Faction perswaded them threatned them from every quarter of the Heavens were blown up into an Universal Ferment of desperate Fears and incurable Jealousies the Horrid Rebellion in Ireland broke out which gave such Countenance and Colour to all the former though never so fictitious Rumors of Plots and Conspiracies that the Nation was all in a Flame and under the most dreadful Apprehensions that the very same Design was laid for the Ruin and Destruction of England which gave the Faction all the Confidence and opportunity they could have wished or desired to seize upon the Militia by force which they could not by perswasions obtain from the King who now evidently saw where all their fine Pretensions to Loyalty and Duty would most certainly Terminate And so resolutely were they bent upon this Usurpation that they permitted the Rebellion in Ireland for want of timely Supplies of Men and Money to suppress it to grow to that formidable height as to put England to the vast Expence of Blood and Treasure which it did afterwards by the neglecting to extinguish this fire upon its first Eruption Nor was this the only Use which the Faction in the Two Houses in England made of this Rebellion in Ireland For when afterwards they came to break out into a Rebellion themselves certainly not less horrible and detestable since they pretended to be acted by a Religion which hitherto had decried Popery upon the very score of allowing Principles of Rebellion deposing and murthering Lawful Princes the Parliament in their Papers Answers and Declarations secretly reflected upon the King and by their impudent Agents and Emissaries and the allowed Scriblers and News-Printers the very Pests of the Age openly published that the Rebellion in Ireland began by his knowledge and connivance and by that means they laid all those Massacres and Murthers which were there most barbarously committed at His Majesties door and by heightning the Infamous actions of the Rebells there with the most aggravating Circumstances of Inhumanity and Cruelty whilst they secretly insinuated the King to be concerned in them they certainly robbed him of the Hearts and Hands the Allegiance and Affections of his Subjects I cannot therefore but esteem it a Duty which common humanity challenges from all mankind to indeavour the vindication of the injured and oppressed but I look upon my self as under the severest Obligations of Christianity Conscience Truth and Justice to clear the Reputation of this Royal Sufferer from the horrible Detractions Slanders and Calumnies with which those brutish Rebels did not only blemish his Life and Actions but have most barbarously persecuted his Innocent Memory indeavouring therefore to make him appear Criminal that their hands which were died in his Sacred Blood might appear less Guilty And I shall esteem it a very singular Honor and the greatest Glory of my life that Providence has given me the opportunity to be in some measure Instrumental toward the fulfilling of that prophetick Passage in his incomparable Book 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 cap. 15. where he hath these words concerning the Jealousies raised and Scandals cast upon him by his Enemies For Mine Honour I am well assured that as Mine Innocency is clear before God in point of any Calumnies they Object so My Reputation shall like the Sun after Owles and Bats have had their freedom in the Night and darker times rise and recover it self to such a Degree of Splendor as those Ferab Birds shall be grieved to behold and unable to bear for never were any Princes more Glorious then those whom God hath suffered to be tried in the Fornace of Afflictions by their injurious Subjects I am very sensible that in pursuing the Historical Account of the Irish Rebellion I shall have the management of a very difficult Province there being a sort of People who think there can be no Hyperbolies in aggravating the blackness of the Irish Rebellion though at the same time they think every little reflection too hard and sharp that touches upon the English Rebellion And if a Writer cannot devest himself not only of the Humanity of a just and generous Heathen but of the Charity of a good Christian he shall be pursued with the odious Reproaches of a Favourer of Popery and therefore I must avow my Resolution to be honestly to follow the Conduct of Truth without the least declining on any hand to the best of my Understanding and Information and in order to that Procedure though I think and upon all occasions shall indeavour to make it appear that the Rebellion of the Irish was a most Horrid and Treasonable Defection from their Duty and Loyalty and carried on with most barbarous and unexampled Cruelty yet I shall not exactly follow the steps of some other Pens who have undertaken to give an account of the Transaction of the Affairs of that time since to me it is evident that they have not dealt fairly neither with the King nor Loyal Party nor indeed with Truth her self but have concealed some things and palliated others which in Justice they ought not to have done and
greater for drawing others to joyn with him in it That the Oath injoyned in England seems to have followed the Precedent of Ireland that though Salmon mistakes the time he does not mistake the substance and that though my Lord Strafford 's Witnesses do not remember the Words about the Scots it is no impeachment of the Witnesses against him that do Concluding That this administring an Oath was assuming a Power above Regal for this is not penes Potestatem Ministri Mr. Maynard added That though the King injoyned him to administer an Oath yet not to punish the Refusers Upon Monday April 5. the Commons proceeded to the 20 21 22 Munday April 5. Artic. 20 21 22 23 24. 23 and 24 Articles but before they began the Lord High Steward informed them That upon my Lord's Petition the Earl of Northumberland had been Examined but being late could not be Cross Examined by the Commons Mr. Whitlock desired he might be reserved and some other Witnesses My Lord opposed Supplemental Evidence and desired he might Cross Examine my Lord of Canterbury They answered My Lord of Canterbury was Impeached but they did not intend to make use of his Evidence and the other Witnesses were such as were to speak vivâ voce instancing in Serjeant Glanvil Mr. Whitlock then begun to open the foresaid Articles in gross which the Earl desired the Lords might not be acquainting them his Memory could not serve him to make replyes if they inverted the Method That any other person in his Circumstances would think as long time as he had been favoured with to recollect and put his Notes in Order no more than necessary though a far abler man than himself Mr. Glyn said he never knew a Prisoner prescribe a Method especially in case of High Treason My Lord then desired he might have time till to morrow for his Answer which being offered with all humility for his Defence he hoped their Lordships might grant without Offence But he was over-ruled and they proceeded Mr. Whitlock proceeded in the Charge That he advised the King that the Scots Demands were a sufficient ground of War that they struck at the Root of Monarchy and were not only matters of Religion That he seized their Ships in Ireland procured the Parliament in Ireland to give assistance and supply for a War against Scotland That his design was the same against England That Sir George Ratcliff told Sir Robert King The King had 30000 men and 400000 l. in his Purse and his Sword by side and if he wants money who will pity him he may make peace when he will though that be the worst of Evils that if the Parliament did not supply him he might use his Prerogative and would be acquitted before God and Man if he took other Courses to supply himself and he would be ready to serve him in any other way that he advised the Dissolving of the Parliament and said that they having denied the King Supplies he might provide for the Kingdom by such wayes as he thought fit and not suffer himself to be mastered by the wilfulness or frowardness of his People That having tried all wayes he was to do all that Power would admit being absolved from all Rules of Government and acquitted before God and Man that he had an Army in Ireland which he might Employ to reduce his Kingdoms For proof Earl of Traquair the Earl of Traquair deposed That the Earl said that the Vnreasonable demands of Subjects in Parliament was a ground for the King to put himself into a posture of War and that at the Council-Board the Earl with the rest concluded That if the Commissioners from Scotland to whom the King had given leave to come up to represent their demands did not give good satisfaction touching them the Council would be assistant to his Majesty to put him into a posture of War to reduce them to their Obedience but who spoke first at the Board he remembers not After some debate about reading the Examinations of Witnesses not present Earl of Morton the Lord High Steward ruling it the Examination of the Earl of Morton was read he being sick That the Earl had said as before for the Ground of War and that the Examinate told his Majesty he had given the Scots leave to Petition in Parliament for Redress and without hearing their Reasons there was not sufficient Ground for War to which his Majesty said he spoke reason howbeit the Lord Strafford said there was ground enough for War Whence Mr. Whitlock observed That though he knew not the Reasons nor was versed in Republica aliena yet he repeats his advice That these Demands c. That the Scots Commissioners by his Majestie 's leave being on their way to give Reasons yet the Earl of Strafford said the demands were not matters of Religion but strook at the Root of Government and such as he thought were fit for his Majesty to punnish Sir Henry Vane deposes Sir Hen. Vane That after the breaking up of the Parliament some thing was proposed and he himself proposed a Defensive War the Earl of Strafford an Offensive The Earl of Northumberland's Examination read Earl of Northumberland was to the same Effect The Bishop of London Lord Treasurer of England Bishop of London deposed That among others my Lord Strafford gave advice That his Majesty should prepare himself to reduce them by Force his Majesty having acquainted them upon the Earl of Traquair 's Relation That some of their Demands were prejudicial to the Crown and which he could not grant That the War being at ancther meeting resolved upon whether Offensive or Defensive there were divers opinions but believes my Lord Strafford inclined to an Offensive War Nicholas Barnwell deposed Mr. Nicholas Barnwell That Sir Robert Loftus seized several Scotch Ships and Boats and that others hearing fled away and that Sir George Ratcliff was displeased with Sir Robert for making it publick by which means they Escaped Then the Lord Primate of Ireland's Examination was read Archbishop of Armagh That discoursing about levying of money the Earl of Strafford declared that he agreed with those of England who thought in Case of imminent necessity the King might make use of his Prerogative to Levy what he pleased adding That His Majesty was first to try his Parliament and if they supplied him not then he might make use of his Prerogative as he pleased himself The Lord Conway deposed Lord Conway That in private discourse about the 12 Subsidies the Lord Strafford said words to this Effect That the King had need and if the Parliament would not supply the King though he hoped they would the cause being just and lawful the King was justified before God and man if he sought means to help himself though it were against their Wills Sir Henry Vane deposed that the Lord Strafford said Sir Hen. Vane In case the Parliament did not succeed he would be
Clergy-man no Dignitary whose Books have cost him a Thousand Pounds which when he dies may be worth to his Wife and Children about Two Hundred It will be a shameful reproach to so flourishing a Kingdom as this to have a poor beggarly Clergy For my part I think nothing too much nothing too good for a good Minister a good Clergy-man They ought least to want who best know how to abound Burning and shining Lights do well deserve to be set in good Candlesticks Mr. Hide I am as much for Reformation for purging and maintaining Religion as any man whatsoever but I profess I am not for Innovation Demolition nor Abolition Possibly the Reader will now be desirous to see this Bill which gave so much business to the Parliament and therefore I here present him with a Copy of it as I find it in the Paper-Office An Act for the Abolishing and taking away of all Arch-Bishops Bishops their Chancellours and Commissaries Deans Deacons and Chanters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries and Canons and all other their Under-Officers of the Church of England WHereas the Government of the Church of England by Arch-Bishops and Bishops The Bill against Episcopal Government and the Hierarchy of the Church their Chancellors and Commissaries Deans Arch-Deacons and others their Cathedral Officers have been found by lang experience to be a great Impediment to the perfect Reformation and Growth of Religion prejudicial to the Civâ—l Government of this Kingdom Be it therefore Enacted by the King 's most excellent Majesty the Lords and Commons Assembled in this present Parliament by the Authority of the same That from henceforth there shall be no Arch-Bishops Chancellors or Commissaries of any Bishopricks Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries Chanters Canons or Pety-Canons or any other of their Officers within this Church or Kingdom And every Parson that shall hereafter use or exercise any Power Iurisdiction Office or Authority Ecclesiastical or Civil by Collection of any such Name Title Dignity or Office or Iurisdiction to incur the Penalty and a Forfeiture contained in the Act of Premunires made in the 16 R. 2. That all which hereafter done by any Arch-Bishopricks their Chancellors Commissaries Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prevendaries Canons Petty-Canons or any other Office by Collection of any of their Dignities or Officers aforesaid shall be meérly void in Law any Statute or Ordinance heretofore made to the contrary any wise notwithstanding And that all Mannors Lands Territories Impropriations Houses Rents Services and other Hereditaments whatsoever of the said Arch-Bishopricks Deans Deans and Chapters Arch-Deacons Prebendaries Canons Petty-Canons which they or any of them have in Right of the said Churches or Dignities shall be disposed and ordered of in such manner sort and form as the King 's most excellent Majesty the Lords Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled shall appoint And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction fit to be exercised within this Church and Kingdom of England shall be committed to such a number of Persons and in such manner as by this present Parliament appointed Divers Papers were upon this occasion presented to the Consideration of the House of Commons and many even of the Presbyterians who were for altering some things yet were not for Extirpation of Root and Branch among the rest I find these two in the Paper-Office THe Agitation of change of Government in the Church A Proposition concerning Bishops and Ecclesiastical Affairs and Church Government in the House of Commons is a Business of so high a Consequence that it is necessary to prevent any Resolution by Voting their judgment alone lest that being brought up with prejudice to the Lords who are and ought to be equally interessed may also prejudice the Cause It is a doubtful Case in the heat of this dispute how farr the Commons may go in the Declaration of their Opinions in which if the Lords shall not concur it may prove a great Rock of offence between the two Houses Therefore 't is very requisite that the Lords of the Higher House do timely interest themselves in the discussion and before any Resolution in either House To this purpose the Lords may be pleased to make a Committee in their House for the Reformation of Church Affairs and Government and thereupon demand a Conference with the Committee of the House of Commons that the business may be handled by Consultation on both sides pari passu and gradu At this Conference the Lords may be pleased to propose these grounds 1. That neither by Example nor Reason in any Age or State Matters Ecclesiastical or Mutations in Church Affairs were ever alone determined by Lay-men 2. In the Primitive Church and most Ancient times matters of this nature were always debated in General Councils or National Synods in the blessed Reformation the business was agitated by a Choice number of Divines who communicated their proceeding with Reformed Divines abroad and admitted some Strangers into their Consultations for the satisfaction of their Brethren and Peace of the Church 3. The publick Enemy of our Religion will take infinite advantage at every Alteration and especially at any that shall be resolved above by Lay-men 4. It must of necessity produce a dangerous Schism in the Church if without all Respect of Edification and satisfaction to the Parties different in judgment any conclusion should be imposed upon both without their consent 5. It is impossible that any Resolution taken in Heat and Passion can be so permanent but that time will discover a Necessity of fresh alterations to the shame of the whole Reformation 6. It is necessary to proceed in such a way as may not be Scandalous to the Churches abroad and may give satisfaction to both Parties opposite and contending at Home and may be Honourable Durable Obliging and Fortified with the consent and agreement of the Ecclesiastick and the Authority of the Parliament To effect which it is most agreeable to true Wisdom and Policy that both Houses of Parliament determine and declare for the present that the Laws Established for Church Government shall be obeyed And because all things in the first Reformation could not be fore-seen or some things were necessarily for other respects overseen which Time and great Liberty and Light have discovered and which may now be more fitly taken into consideration That therefore both Houses may be pleased to move His Majesty for the calling of a National Synod I mean of a Select number of Divines of all three Nations subject to His Majesty equally and impartially chosen of Moderate and Learned Men of both sides in which may be discussed and resolved a setled and uniform Model of Government to be presented unto the Parliament of all the Kingdoms there to receive Strength and Approbation In which Assembly Godly Men and lovers of Peace assisted by the Spirit of God may doubtlessly be induced to receive satisfaction from one another in
and Subdivisions made under them The first Head concerning the Disbanding of the Army First Head that is in the Forefront because it is first to be done and to make way for all the rest And of this four several Branches 1. The House of Commons desires the five Regiments to be first Disbanded according to the former Order agreed upon by both Houses 2. The Commissioners for the Scots to be desired to retire some of their Troops from the Teeze 3. That their Lordships would joyn with the House of Commons in an humble motion to his Majesty to declare these Five Regiments to be Disbanded and the rest of the Army as soon as Mony may be provided and for the punishment of those that shall refuse to Disband if any such should be 4. That the Lord General should be intreated forthwith to repair to the Army upon Saturday at the furthest at which time the Mony will be there And that the Lord Newport Master of the Ordnance may likewise be there to take care of the Ordnance and all things under his Charge The Second Head was Second Head That his Majesty will be pleased to allow a convenient time before his journey into Scotland that so the Army may first be Disbanded and that some of the important Affairs now depending in Parliament some in both Houses and other some in the House of Commons may be dispatched before his Majesties Journey This Proposition he backs with these Four Reasons 1. The Safety of his Majesties Person 2. The Removing of the Jealousies of his good Subjects 3. The Cutting off the hopes of those which are ill affected and have any Design of disturbing the Kingdom by means of the Armies 4. The great advantage in his Majesties own Affairs and contentment of his People if before his going the Royal Assent may pass to divers Bills concerning the Reformation of the Church and State whereof some are already sent up and others in Preparation as the Bill intended for further Grant of Tonnage and Poundage and other Customs That some time may be employed to Regulate the King's Estate and Revenue to free them of unnecessary Burthens and to employ them for the good of the Commonwealth All which require his presence in Parliament The Third Head was about his Majesties Councels Third Head 1. That his Majesty may be humbly Petitioned to remove such evil Counsellors against whom there shall be any just Exceptions And for the Committing of his own Business and the Affairs of the King to such Counsellors and Officers as the Parliament may have cause to conside in The Reasons Because all those ill effects we feel were produced by those ill Counsels in all the three Fundamentals before spoken of 1. In matters of Religion 2. In the King 's private Estate 3. In the good of the whole Kingdom All these Three have decayed but those of another Kind and Allay have much prospered of late amongst us as matters of Monopolies matters of Projects and new Inventions Here he told your Lordships a Tale of a Gardner who being demanded why the Weeds grew so fast and the Flowers so thin in his Ground-Plot answered That the Weeds were the true Children but the Flowers were but so many Slips and Bastards So saith he it is written That Kings should be our Nursing-Fathers and Queens our Nursing-Mothers but we have found here of late by reason of bad Counsellors no Nurses but Hirelings of the Publick State these therefore are especially to be removed for the reducing of the Kingdom to a better Condition and Posture Howbeit this Request is by the Commons recommended but in general for the present without pointing out or designing of particulars in hope the King will find them out himself Otherwise it will cause the House of Commons to reduce this Petition to Names of Particulars and therefore they desire your Lordships so to commend it to his Majesty that he would put the Affairs of his own and the Kingdom into such hands as his Majesty and the Parliament may confide in The Fourth Head concerns the Queens Majesty Fourth Head and consists of several Branches 1. That his Majesty will be graciouslyy pleased by Advice of his Parliament to persuade the Queen to take some of the Nobility and others of Trust into her Service in such Places as are now of her disposing Reason She shewed her self ready to do any thing for the Common good of the Kingdom and this is of that kind 2. That no Jesuit be entertained into Her Majesties Service nor any Priests Natives of his Majesties Dominions The Reasons of this First Because Banished in all other Courts of Catholique Princes Secondly Against the Laws of our Nation that Native Priests should be here 3. That the Colledg of Capuchins at Denmark House may be dissolved and the Persons sent away out of the Kingdom for these Four Reasons 1. Their being here is a Scandal to our Religion and a Danger to our Peace 2. Disaffection to the State manifested in Two Letters dated May 6. whereby many Slanders are cast upon the Parliament and the good Subjects under the Name of Puritans as disaffected and injurious to the Queens Person and thereupon the Cardinal excited to some Design against England 3. The Letter of Nathanael Phillips wherein by way of Reproach unto the Parliament he writes That the Protestation taken in both Houses is like the Scottish Covenant but somewhat worse 4ly That divers Informations are given of great quantity of Gold Transported by these Priests 4. The Fourth Branch concerning the Queen is upon the special Occasion of his Majesties absence That your Lordships would joyn with the House of Commons to Advise the King That some of the Nobility and others of Quality with a competent Guard may be appointed to attend the Queen for the Security of her Royal Person against all Designs of the Papists and others ill-affected to the Peace of the Kingdom The Reasons for this First To secure Her from Popish Attempts Secondly By the Watchfulness of those Worthy Persons Priests and Jesuits may be kept from the Court. He protested That herein they intended nothing of Disrespect he said it was a blessed thing to be kept from Temptation and to be rid of those Flies would gain the Queen the Love of the People in his Majesties Absence The Fifth Head concerning the Prince Fifth Head and the rest of the Royal Issue That some Person of Publique Trust and well-affected in Religion may by Advice of the Parliament be placed about the Prince and may take Care of his Education Especially in matters of Religion and the like Care to be taken of the rest of his Majesties Children The Sixth Head concerning Papists coming to Court Sixth Head consisted of Four Branches 1. Humbly desired by the Commons who desire your Lordships to Joyn with them in that Petition That his Majesty would be sparing in Licensing Papists to come to
hear my Lord Orrery's Account of it in his forementioned Book p. 10 11. where he saith E. of Orrery's Answer to Peter Walsh The Wisest of Men thought the Irish Papists fastned to his Majestie in the Year 1641 by the best of Governments and to the English Protestants by the strictest ties of Interest Friendship Marriage and which is more in their Esteem Gossipping and Fostering to the Publique Peace by their as flourishing so free Condition and to all by those Royal Graces which his Sacred Majesty at that time indulged their Commissioners such as themselves desired 't was but then ask and have Yet all this Honey was turned into Gall for at that very time wherein the King was Exercising such high Acts of Grace to them the Irish Papists plotted and soon after perpetrated the Worst of Rebellion the Worst Extensivè Exulcerating generally and Intensivè breaking forth with more Persidie Barbarism and Cruelty than can be parallel'd in any History The great motive at least in pretence was Religion For whereas Dr. Borlase in his Preface saith It is Evident they never had so free Exercise of their Religion as when the Rebellion began It is Evident that he is mistaken even by the Testimony of the Person of whose Book he saith p. 7th of his Hist Sir John Temple Irish Reb. P. 26.27 in the Margin It was a Piece of that Integrity few can Equal none Exceed who could have informed him that this free Exercise of Religion was only clancular and in private But they evidently saw that the Calumnies cast upon the late King as a Favourer of Popery was one of the principal Engines by which the Factious part of the Parliament of England alienated the affections of all his Majesties English and Scotch Protestant Subjects from him besides the Severities which the Parliament provoked the King upon his peril to inflict upon the Papists in England and Scotland was made Use of by the Popish Clergy to drive them into a Rebellion by insinuating That if the Parliament could bring the King under their Government there was nothing to be Expected but the total suppression of their Religion and the Eradication of their Nation In confirmation whereof it was confidently averr'd to them That a * Sir John Clotworthy Member of Parliament concern'd in Ireland did in the House of Commons declare in a Speech That the Conversion of the Papists in Ireland was only to be Effected by the Bible in one hand and the Sword in the other And I have been told by a Person of Honour and Worth that Mr. Pym gave out That they would not leave a Priest in Ireland Nor could their Committees who were here be ignorant of these Passages or being many of them Papists not communicate it to the Irish Papists Another Encouragement to this Rebellion was the Example of Scotland as appears plainly by Connelly's Deposition who was told by Mac-Mahon that they did this to imitate Scotland who got a Priviledg by that Course And the Confession of the Lord Mac-guire which the Reader shall presently see does not obscurely hint That the Earl of Argyle the Head of the Covenanting Rebellious Scotch Presbyterians was under-hand working the Irish into some Conspiracy against the King probably that his hands being full they might procure better Terms for themselves and divert the Storm of the English Arms which then were impending upon them Nor was the taking off the Earl of Strafford that Great Wise and Valiant Man a little contributing to this Irish Tragedy for besides that it is visible that the Irish Committees who were many of them Papists were highly instrumental in furnishing the English Parliament with matters of Complaint and Accusation against that Noble Lord for which they were mightily at that time thô known Papists caressed by the Earl's Enemies in the Commons House so it is no less Visible that this Design of theirs though it had been long contriving advanced more in half a Year after his Vigilant Eye was taken off their Actions and his Hand from the Reins of the Government then it had in all the time before as will plainly appear by Mac-guire's Confession And in Confirmation of this I think it a Debt due to the Illustrious Memory of that Great Man the Earl of Strafford whom I cannot name without and Pity Wonder to insert part of a Letter of his to his Dear and Intimate Friend Mr. Wandesford then Master of the Rolls and one of the Lords Justices in 1636 wherein he acquaints him with the account which he had given in to the King and Council of the state of Affairs in Ireland which he doth in these Words I Informed them That the Army was well Clad reasonably well Armed The State of the Army in the Earl of Strafford's Time 1636. but should be better well Exercised and well Paid which they had never been before That I had visited the whole Army seen every single man my self as well in his own person as in his Exercising where other Generals that had continued that Charge longer then my self had not taken a view so much as of one Company that in the Removes and Marches of the Army they pay'd justly for what they took and passed along with Civility and Modesty as other Subjects without Burden to the Country through which they went whereas formerly they took the Victuals and paid nothing for it as if it had been in an Enemies Country whence it was that the Soldier was now welcom in every place where before they were in abomination to the Inhabitants That by this means the Army in true account might be said to be double the Strength as it had been That this was so apprehended by the ill-disposed as there is neither Courage nor Hope left for opposition the good Subjects secured the bad kept in humility and fear by it That they were worthy of the Kings Entertainment and when they shall be seen will appear with a Company of gallant Gentlemen their Officers fit to serve a Great and Wise King whereas not much of this before but rather quite the Contrary That for my self I had a dead Stock in Horses Furniture and Arms for my Troop that stood me in 6000 l that so I was in readiness upon an hours warning to march nor did I this out of Vanity but really in regard I did conceive it became me not to represent so great a Monarch as his Majesty meanly in the sight of that People and that it was of mighty Reputation to the Service of the Crown when they saw me in such a Posture that I was upon an hours Warning able to put my self on Horseback and that the Soldiers should see I would not Exact so much duty from any private Captain as I did impose upon my self being their General Lastly it was my humble Advice That the Army as of absolute Necessity to the Government was rather to be reinforced then at all diminished as being an
sway in all their determinations and if they be not prevented are likely to devour the rest or to turn them into their own nature In the beginning of his Majesties Reign the Party begun to revive and flourish again having been somewhat dampt by the breach with Spain in the last year of King James and by his Majesties Marriage with France the Interest and Counsels of that State being not so contrary to the good of Religion and the Prosperity of this Kingdom as those of Spain and the Papists of England having been ever more addicted to Spain then France yet they still retained a Purpose and Resolution to weaken the Protestant Parties in all Parts and even in France whereby to make way for the Change of Religion which they intended at Home The first Effect and Evidence of their Recovery and Strength was the dissolution of the Parliament at Oxford after there had been given two Subsidies to his Majesty and before they received Relief in any one Grievance many other more miserable Effects followed The loss of the Rochel Fleet by the help of our Shipping set forth and delivered over to the French in opposition to the Advice of Parliament which left that Town without Defence by Sea and made way not only to the loss of that important Place but likewise to the loss of all the Strength and Security of the Protestant Religion in France The diverting of his Majesties course of Wars from the West-Indies which was the most facile and hopeful way for this Kingdom to prevail against the Spaniard to an expenceful and unsuccessful Attempt upon Cales which was so ordered as if it had rather bin intended to make us weary of War then to prosper in it The precipitate breach with France by taking their Ships to a great value without making recompence to the English whose Goods were thereupon imbar'd and confiscate in that Kingdom The Peace with Spain without Consent of Parliament contrary to the promise of King James to both Houses whereby the Palatine Cause was deserted and left to Chargeable and Hopeless Treaties which for the most part were Managed by those who might justly be suspected to be no Friends to that Cause The charging of the Kingdom with Billeted Soldiers in all Parts of it and that Concomitant Design of German Horse that the Land might either submit with Fear or be inforced with Rigour to such Arbitrary Contributions as should be required of them The dissolving of the Parliament in the second Year of his Majesties Reign after a Declaration of their Intent to grant five Subsidies The exacting of the like proportion of five Subsidies after the Parliament dissolved by Commission of Loan and divers Gentlemen and others imprisoned for not yeilding to pay that Loan whereby many of them contracted such sicknesses as cost them their Lives Great Summs of Money required and raised by Privy Seals An unjust and pernicious attempt to extort great Payments from the Subject by way of Excise and a Commission issued under Seal to that purpose The Petition of Right which was granted in full Parliament blasted with an illegal Declaration to make it destructive to it self to the Power of Parliament to the Liberty of the Subject and to that purpose printed with it and the Petition made of no use but to shew the bold and presumptuous injustice of such Ministers as durst break the Laws and suppress the Liberties of the Kingdom after they had been so Solemnly and evidently declared Another Parliament dissolved 4 Car. the Privilege of Parliament broken by imprisoning divers Members of the House detaining them close Prisoners for many Months together without the Liberty of using Books Pen Ink or Paper denying them all the Comforts of Life all Means of preservation of Health not permitting their Wives to come unto them even in time of their Sickness And for the compleating of that Cruelty after Years spent in such miserable durance depriving them of the necessary means of Spiritual Consolation not suffering them to go abroad to enjoy God's Ordinances in God's House or God's Ministers to come to them to administer Comfort unto them in their private Chambers and to keep them still in this oppressed Condition not admitting them to be bailed according to Law yet vexing them with Informations in inferior Courts Sentencing and Fining some of them for Matters done in Parliament and Extorting the Payments of those Fines from them inforcing others to put in Security of good Behaviour before they could be released The Imprisonment of the rest which refused to be bound still continued which might have been perpetual if necessity had not the last year brought another Parliament to relieve them of whom one died by the cruelty and harshness of his Imprisonment which would admit of no relaxation notwithstanding the Imminent Danger of his Life did sufficiently appear by the Declaration of his Physician And his release or at least his refreshment was sought by many humble Petitions And his Blood still cryes either for Vengeance or Repentance of those Ministers of State who have at once obstructed the course both of his Majesties Justice and Mercy Upon the Dissolution of both these Parliaments untrue and scandalous Declarations Published to asperse their Proceedings and some of their Members unjustly to make them odious and colour the Violence which was used against them Proclamations set out to the same purpose and to the great dejecting of the hearts of the People forbidding them to speak of Parliaments After the Breach of Parliament in the fourth year of his Majesty Injustice Oppression and Violence broke in upon us without any restraint or moderation and yet the first project was the great Sums exacted thorough the whole Kingdom for default of Knighthood which seemed to have some colour and shadow of a Law yet if it be rightly examined by that obsolete Law which was pretended for it it would be found to be against all the Rules of Justice both in respect of the persons charged the proportion of the Fines demanded and the absurd and unreasonable manner of their Proceedings Tonnage and Poundage hath been received without colour or pretence of Law many other heavy impositions continued against Law and some so unreasonable that the sum of the Charge exceeds the value of the Goods The Book of Rates lately inhansed to a high proportion and such Merchants as would not submit to their Illegal and unreasonable Payments were vexed and oppressed above measure and the ordinary course of Justice the common Birth-right of the Subject of England wholly obstructed unto them And although all this was taken upon pretence of Guarding the Sea yet a new and unheard of Tax of Ship-money was devised upon the same pretence By both which there was charged upon the Subject near 700000 Pounds some years and yet the Merchants have been left so naked to the violence of the Turkish Pirates that many great Ships of value and thousands of his Majesties Subjects
have a Copy of the Declaration against him and shall put in his Answer thereunto on Tuesday come seven Night The Commons were also in an extraordinary heat about the Halberdeers who were set to prevent Tumults and Riots Routs and unlawful Assemblies which now frequently resorted to Westminster to cry out against the Bishops and their Votes in Parliament some of the Halberdeers were called to the Bar and Examined and they giving the same Account as was before given to the Lords the Bailiff of Westminster the Constable of St. Clement Danes and the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex were ordered to be sent for to give an Account of the Reason of placing those Guards about the Parliament House And thereupon it was Voted Resolved c. That the setting of any Guards about this House Vote of the Commons concerning the Guard of Halberdeers set about the Parliament House without the Consent of the House is a breach of the Privilege of this House and that therefore such Guards ought to be dismissed And thereupon the Serjeant at Armes attending the House was appointed to Command them to depart which was done accordingly The House then sell into Debate concerning the treating with the Scottish Commissioners concerning raising Men for the relief of Ireland and upon the Question it was Resolved c. That this House doth Approve and Consent that his Majesties Commissioners named by the House and appointed to treat with the Scotch Commissioners shall treat with them for the raising of 10000 Scots for the Occasions of Ireland Sir Walter Earl then gave Information to the House of some dangerous Words spoken by several Persons but did not Name them whereupon it was Ordered That Mr. Speaker should issue out a Warrant to apprehend such Persons as Sir Walter Earl shall nominate to him for speaking Words of a dangerous Consequence This was one of the common Arts which they used to restrain those who were able from informing the People of the dangerous Consequences of their own Proceedings and Liberty of Speech seemed now to be wholly confined within the Walls of St. Stephen's Chappel or if any of that common Privilege of Mankind was indulged it was only to the Favourites of the Faction the Sectaries and Schismaticks who they were assured would be very serviceable to them in imploying that Liberty to traduce and Calumniate the King the Bishops the Government of the Church and whatever was either Orthodox or Loyal but for others if they once dared to Intrench upon the Privilege of the Pretended Sects or to correct those Liberties they took to defame the King and his Ministers the Church and her Governors or to arraign any of the violent Proceedings of the Faction these Religious Spies and Setters immediately gave Informations against them to some of the Members of the Commons and these Men had a certain devise to punish Men who had transgressed no known Law for Crimes which would not bear an Indictment or the Test of a Jury of their Peers by bringing them under the Rod of the Commons House for Words of dangerous Consequence for which constructive Offences their Persons were imprisoned and their Purses fleeced by the Serjeant and his Officers as if they had been the most notorious Malefactors Such precious beginnings had this Dawning of the glorious Day which they promised the People should be nothing but one continued Sun-shine of Liberty and Property without the least Cloud of Arbitrary or Exorbitant Government But as a great Man said upon another Occasion in this present Parliament Misera est servitus ubi jus est vagum et incertum Where known Law ends there Slavery begins And where our Law knows not how to lay an Indictment it must certainly be something Arbitrary that inflicts a Punishment But this was the Case of Loyalty Men were not only made Offenders for a Word but for such Words as were justifiable by the Laws of God and Man His Majesty whose Zeal for the Church was as Eminent as his Piety and Devotion were singular and most extraordinary observing what an Inundation of Schisme and Errors were flowing in upon the Church the Pretence of Reformation letting loose all the Schismaticks who pretended to be the great Reformers issued out a most Excellent Proclamation to prevent that Disorder Division and Separation which he too Prophetically foresaw would indanger the Subversion of the very Essence and Substance of Religion The Proclamation was as follows A Proclamation for Obedience to the Laws Ordained for Establishing of the True Religion in this Kingdom of England HIs Majesty considering that it is a Duty most beseeming A Proclamation for Obedience to the Laws for Establishing the true Religion in England Dec. 11. 1641. and that most obligeth Soveraign Authority in a Christian King to be careful above all other Things of preserving and advancing the Honor and Service of Almighty God and the peace and tranquility of the Church to which end His Majesty with his Parliament hath it under Consideration how all just Scruples might be removed And being in the mean time sensible that the present Division Separation and Disorder about the Worship and Service of God as it is Established by the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom in the Church of England tendeth to great Distraction and Confusion and may endanger the Subversion of the very Essence and Substance of true Religion hath resolved for the preservation of Vnity and Peace which is most necessary at this time for the Church of England to require Obedience to the Laws and Statutes Ordained for establishing of the True Religion in this Kingdom whereby the Honor of God may be advanced to the great Comfort and Happiness both of His Majesty and his good Subjects His Majesty doth therefore Charge and Command That Divine Service be performed in this His Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales as is appointed by the Laws and Statutes Estadlished in this Realm and that Obedience be given by all His Subjects Ecclesiastical and Temporal to the said Laws and Statutes concerning the same And that all Iudges Officers and Ministers Ecclesiastical and Temporal according to Iustice and their respective Duties do put the said Acts of Parliament in due Execution against all willfull Contemners and Disturbers of Divine Service contrary to the said Laws and Statutes His Majesty doth further Command That no Parsons Vicars or Curates in their several Parishes shall presume to introduce any Rite or Ceremonies other then those which are Established by the Laws and Statutes of the Land Given at His Majesties Palace of White-Hall the tenth Day of December in the Seventeenth Year of His Majesties Reign God save the KING But the Root of the Schism lay too deep to be Cured by a Proclamation and the Separatists knew where to take Sanctuary not only for their Disobedience to the Laws made in favor of the Church but of the Crown too or otherwise they would not in such riotous and Tumultuous Manner
Sollicitors to promote mischief that ever the Sun saw and used the utmost diligence to set such Petitions on foot and by all the Arts imaginable but more particularly by threatening the Timerous with the Parliaments displeasure so procure hands to such Petitions which were to be presented to the Houses as the Sense of the Nation by which way of procedure they endeavoured to put a fair Countenance upon their Actions as being the Results of the Desires of the People when as in reality they were their own Contrivances and those Petitions were most of them framed by a Juncto of the Faction at London and then by their Agents sent down and set afoot in the Country It was also Ordered That Sir Robert Cooke do repair to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and to desire him for the Expediting of the Service of that Kingdom to issue forth Commissions for the Raising of two Regiments in Ulster and also to hasten all other Commissions for the Raising of Men for that Kingdom and to acquaint him with the Two Orders for the Impressing of 3000 l. for the Raising Conducting and Transporting 2 Regiments of 1500 Men and to the Master of the Ordnance to deliver unto him such quantities of Powder as shall be thought necessary for the present Expedition to be sent into Munster in Ireland The Arch-Bishop of York Reports Friday Decemb. 17. That the Committee of this House met with the Select Committee of the House of Commons and waited on the King at White-Hall and delivered unto his Majesty the Petition and Remonstrance of both Houses touching the Priviledge of Parliament and his Majesty returns this Answer That he will send an Answer in convenient time in Writing The House of Lords then fell into debate about several Amendments to the Declaration to be offered to the King not to Tolerate the Popish Religion in Ireland or any other of His Majesties Dominions and it being moved That a Clause might be added That no Religion might be Tolerated but what is Established by the Laws of this Kingdom The Lords of the Faction being aware of the Consequence and being as much resolved to destroy the Religion by Law Established as the Papists could be for the hearts of them therefore stoutly opposed it and after a long Debate It was Ordered That this House approves of and confirms the Report with the Amendments and Alterations and that the Clause against Tolleration of Popish Religion shall go singly as it is and that the Amendments and Alterations be communicated to the House of Commons And it was further Ordered That the Earl of Bristol do draw a Declaration to this Effect That no Religion shall be Tolerated in his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland but what is or shall be Established by the Laws of this Kingdom and present the same to the Committee for Religion who are to meet on Tuesday next at such time and Place as the House shall appoint on Monday A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Sir Arthur Hazlerigg The Fast for Ireland to let their Lordship know That the Commons do fully agree to the three Days appointed for the Fast The Days were Wednesday next for both Houses of Parliament and London Thursday next for the City of Westminster and Thursday come Month for the whole Kingdom Then the House appointed the Lord Arch-Bishop of York to Preach the Fast Sermon in the Abby before the Lords in the Morning and the Lord Primate of Armagh to Preach in the Afternoon and Tuesday was appointed to be the day for gathering the Collection of the Lords towards the Relief of the poor distressed English who had been stripped and despoiled by the Rebels The Commons fell upon the Revived Affair of the Plot of the Army Mr. Daniel O Neal and Mr. Jermyn and Mr. Percy to be Impeached of High Treason and first the Impeachment of the Commons House of Parliament against Daniel O Neal Esq for High Treason was this Day read and Re-Committed to the same Committee to prepare it in such a way as that all the Evidence may be brought in Then it was Resolved c. That Mr. Jermyn Mr. Percy and Sir John Suckling shall be Accused by this House for the present and Impeached of High Treason The Question was propounded Whether Sir John Berkley shall be bailed upon the tender of such Bail as this House shall allow of and then the Question was put Whether this Question should be now put the House was divided the Yeas went forth with the Yeas 104 with the No. 98 so it passed in the Affirmative then the Question was put Whether Sir John Berkley should be bailed the House was divided again and the Yeas went out with the Yeas 122 with the No 84. Sir John Berkley ordered to be Bailed Whereupon it was Ordered That Sir John Berkely should be bailed A Petition from the County of Surrey was read and such Gentlemen as did attend were called in and did avow it and Mr. Speaker told them That this House did accept it in good Part and did not doubt of the Truth of it that they might get more Hands as is alledged in the Petition they are satisfied with those already gotten and for the procuring of more the House referred it to their Judgment Mr. Pym's report of the delivery of the Petition to his Majesty Mr. Pym Reported That the Committee who attended his Majesty had a suddain admittance and a gracious acceptance that the Lord Arch-bishop of York read the Petition and his Majesty said That as it had taken some time to prepare so he would take some time to answer it and that lest there might be some Mistakes in Words he would give his Aswer in Writing Then the House fell upon the Business of Ireland Votes concerning Ireland and it was Resolved c. That the Pay to the Officers of the new Levies shall continue for six Months according to the proportions formerly resolved upon if the Wars shall so long continue Resolved c. That the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland shall be directed to pay 562 l. 17. s. 4 d. according to the Rate agreed upon being a Months Pay for the Officers of his own Regiment Resolved That the Lord Dungaruan 's Troop shall have a Months Pay according to the Rate agreed upon Resolved c. That 114 l. 16 s. o. being a Months Pay shall be paid to the Officers of the four hundred Fire-locks consisting of two Companies Resolved c. That 800 l. shall be imprested for the Raising Conducting and Transporting into Ireland the said 400 Fire-locks and keeping them there till the first Muster Resolved c. That the Sum of 214 l. 13 s. 4 d. shall be paid to the Officers of the 500 Men in five Companies which are to go to Knockfergus for a Months Pay Resolved c. That the Sum of 1000 l. shall be paid for the Levying Conducting and Transporting
rid three Stages more as before is mentioned in order to the Royal Assent The Petition of the Inhabitants of Bucks which was delivered to his Majesty at Windsor was in these Words To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Buckinghamshire Sheweth THat your Petitioners having by vertue of your Highness Writ chosen John Hampden Knight for our Shire Bucks Petition to the King concerning Hampden in whose Loyalty we his Countrymen and Neighbours have ever had good cause to confide However of late to our no less amazement then grief we find him with other Members of Parliament accused of Treason And having taken to our serious consideration the manner of their Impeachment we cannot but under your Majesties favour conceive that it doth so oppugne the Rights of Parliament to the maintenance whereof our Protestation binds us that we believe it is the malice which their zeal to your Majesties Service and the State hath contracted in the enemies to your Majesty the Church and Common-wealth hath occasioned this foul Accusation rather then any deserts of theirs who do likewise through their sides wound the Judgment and Care of us your Petitioners and others by whose choice they were presented to the House Your Petitioners therefore most humbly pray that Master Hampden and the rest that lye under the burden of that Accusation may enjoy the just Priviledges of Parliament And your Petitioners shall ever pray c. To which his Majesty returned this Answer Windsor 13 Jan. 1641. HIs Majesty being graciously pleased to let his Subjects understand his care not knowingly to violate in the least degree any of the Priviledges of Parliament hath therefore lately by a Message sent by the Lord Keeper signified That he is pleased because of the doubt that hath been raised of the manner to Wave his former proceedings against Master Hampden and the rest mentioned in this Petition concerning whom his Majesty intends to proceed in an unquestionable way And then his Majesty saith It will appear that he had so sufficient Grounds to question them as he might not in Justice to the Kingdom and honour to himself have forborn and yet his Majesty had much rather that the said Persons should prove Innocent then be found guilty However he cannot conceive that their Crimes can in any sort reflect upon those his good Subjects who elected them to serve in Parliament It is Incredible what Advantages the Faction made of this Action of his Majesties in going to the Commons House in Person it shocked even many of his best Friends to that degree that they knew not what Construction to make of it insomuch that the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common-Council Men Many of which were Loyal Men yet in this Epidemical Petitioning time they were also seized with the Petitioning Disease for however warrantable modest Petitioning may be yet this sort of it was really the Effect of a distempered and crazy State and did extremely promote all the insuing Mischiefs and that State Calenture for which England was forced to bleed so severely The Petition together with his Majesties most excellent Answer were as follows To the Kings most Excellent Majesty The humble Petition of the Mayor Aldermen and Common Councel of the City of London MAy it please your most excellent Majesty The Petition of the Lord Mayor c. of the City of London concerning the Kings going to the House of Commons the often expressions of your most gracious acceptance of the manifestation of the Petitioners duty and loyalty and the frequent Declarations of your Majesties great care of the good and welfare of this City and of the true Protestant Religion and of protecting and preserving the Persons and Priviledges of your great Councel assembled in the high Court of Parliament Each encouraged the Petitioners to represent the great Dangers Fears and Distractions wherein the City now is by reason of the prevailing progress of the bloudy Rebels in Ireland fomented and acted by the Papists and their Adherents and want of Aid to suppress them and the several intimations they have had both Forreign and at Home of the driving on of their Designs tending to the utter ruin of the Protestant Religion and of the Lives and Liberties of your Majesties loyal Subjects the Putting out of Persons of Honour and Trust from being Constable and Lieutenant of the Tower especially in these times and the Preparations there lately made the fortifying of Whitehall with men and Munition in an unusual manner Some of which men with provoking language and violence abused divers Citizens Passing by and the drawing divers swords and therewith wounding sundry other Citizens in Westminster-hall that were unarmed the late endeavours used to the Inns of Court the calling in divers Canonneers and other assistance into the Tower the late Discovery of divers Fire-works in the hands of a Papist and the mis-understanding betwixt your Majesty and Parliament by reason of misinformation as they humbly conceive Besides all which the Petitioners fears are exceedingly encreased by your Majesties late going into the House of Commons attended with a great multitude of armed men besides your ordinary Guard for the apprehending of divers Members of that House to the endangering of your Sacred person and of the persons and Priviledges of that Honourable Assembly The effects of all which Fears do tend not only to the overthrow of the whole Trade of this City and Kingdom which the Petitioners already feel in a deep measure but also threatens the utter ruine of the Protestant Religion and the Lives and Liberties of all your loyal Subjects The Petitioners therefore most humbly pray your Sacred Majesty That by the advice of your great Councel in Parliament the Protestants in Ireland may be speedily relieved The Tower put into the hands of persons of trust That by removal of doubtful and unknown persons from about White-hall and Westminster a known and approved Guard may be appointed for the safety of your Majesty and Parliament and that the Lord Mandevill and the five Members of the House of Commons lately accused may not be restrained of Liberty or proceeded against otherwise then according to the priviledges of Parliament And the Petitioners as in all duty bound shall pray for Your Majesties most long and happy Reign c. His Majesties Answer to the Petition of the Mayor Aldermen and Common-Councel of the City of London His Majesty having fully considered the matter of this Petition is graciously pleased to declare that being unalterably resolved to make good all his Expressions and Declarations of his care of this City Of the true Protestant Religion and of the privileges of Parliament His Majesty takes in good part the intimation given by the Petitioners of the fears and distractions wherein the City now seems to be And though He conceives He did on Wednesday at the Guild-hall satisfie most of those particulars is pleased to add this further Answer
Authors of our miseries is the Bishops and their Adherents favourers of the Romish and Arminian faction that have with a high hand and stretched out Arm in their several places of Power and Jurisdiction both spiritual and temporal exercised crueâ—â—â— and tyranny over the Children and Saints of God binding the Consciences of free Subjects only to their opinions and commands in the Exercise of their Religion with extremity and greatest severity inflicting punishment upon those of tender Consciences that shall refuse the same enjoyning all of the Clergy under their Authority to teach only such things as may serve only to the defence and maintenance of their devised doctrines and Tenents of their superiours preaching the same out of Fear not Conscience these corrupt Bishops Lords over their brethren and fellow servants in the Administration of the Mysteries of Salvation have been the prime Authors of all the troubles we are now incumbred withal I speak not Master Speaker altogether against their persons but even their Offices and Places of authority as now they are used contrary to the true intent of the Apostles in the first admitting of the ordination of Bishops in these particulars as I under favour conceive First their denomination and style Lord Bishops we find not any where allowed nay not named in Scripture Secondly they joyn not with their authority teaching and constant preaching of the word of God warranted by the same but separated contrary thereto Thirdly joyning with their Spiritual Power temporal Jurisdiction usurping to themselves the only Office of the Magistrate Fourthly procuring to themselves places of Judicature chief Judges in great Courts as their High Commission late Star-Chamber and the like which are all contrary to the rules and ordinances of Divine-Writ We cannot otherwise conceive or expect as long as their Offices thus corrupted remain without limitation or correction that ever there will be true Religion setled in this Land or any peace or unity of hearts and affections in this Kingdom being too apparent to all the world that from age to age since the Prelates have had such power and command in the Common-Wealth they have bin either the roots and founders or Actors and Competitors with others of all the divisions and dissentions that have ever been in this Kingdom either between the Prince and his People or between the Prince and his Parliaments and still such persons of perverse Spirits possess such Offices Secondly I come to shew you these their practises how they have and still endeavour to bring to pass their wicked designs they are known already I verily believe both to you and almost all men that is * * Most notorious falshood by Innovating Religion joyning with the Church of Rome approving as well of the Doctrine as Ceremonies thereof endeavouring to bring all others into the same opinion with them especially the Lords and Grandees of this Kingdom to perfect this they raise divisions between the King and his Subjects between King and Parliament between Lords and Commons and between the Commons themselves to raise Mutinies Insurrections Rebellions amongst his Majesties good Subjects open Wars between his Majesties Kingdomes one against another and all under pretence of the Religion to defend the Office Power and Jurisdiction of Bishops above all others yea that their Spiritual power is above the Kings in Ecclesiastical causes and the like all which we have had woeful experience of Thirdly and lastly the means whereby we may remedy these evils is First to regulate and rectifie their unlawful and usurped Power and Jurisdictio and settle such a form of Government in Religion as shall seem to the Wisdom of this House to come nearest the Word of God And Secondly with all speed as we possibly can upon Triall bring to deserved punishment these Prelates and Bishops that have been the only Authors of all our miseries Thus did these Vultures and Harpies accuse the innocent Doves upon whom they intended to prey and Quarry but God be praised We have found though by woful Experience who were the Occasions of all those dreadful Miseries those Wars and Bloodshed that Tyranny and Usurpation under which the Nation so long groaned which from the Day that it saw the Bishops excluded from the Execution of their Function and from their Right never saw one happy Day till by the Miracle of Providence they were by the Restauration of the Illustrious Son of the Glorious Martyr repossessed of their Office and Rights Then Sir Philip Stapleton Reported the Paper of Thanks to be returned to the Scots Commissioners which was in these Words The House of Commons having considered The Thanks of the House of Commons to the Scots Commissioners for their Papers to the King and Parligment both that Paper given in to them from the Scottish Commissioners upon Saturday last as likewise their Advice lately given to his Majesty by occasion of the present Troubles which at the intreaty of the said House they have communicated to them and finding therein a large Testimony of their Fidelity to the King of Affection to this State and of Wisdom for the Honor Security and Peace of his Majesty and Kingdoms doth hereby declare That they have herein done that which is not only acceptable to this House but likewise that which is of great Advantage to both Nations and therefore have Ordered That Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Hampden Mr. Fiennes Mr. Pym Mr. Arthur Goodwin Sir Henry Vane ju or any three of them shall return them very hearty and affectionate Thanks in the Name of this House and this House doth further desire them That according to their Affections already expressed they will continue their Care and Indeavors to remove the present Distractions among us as also to preserve and confirm the Vnion between the two Nations so happily begun And that this might appear to be not only a verbal Acknowledgment It was this day Ordered That the Citizens that serve for the City of London do take Care that the Scots Commissioners do pay nothing for their House Rent and Furniture belonging unto the same and this House will undertake to see the same satisfied After this one Ralph Hope being at the Bar informed the House of Commons That 4th Jan. instant Serjeant Dendy came to Mr. Weekes his House at the Gate-House Information against Serjeant Dendy and required of him if Mr. Hollis lay there whereupon he asked the Serjeant What his Business was the Serjeant bid him tell him his Name he answered if he would tell him his Business he would tell him his Name whereupon he said I charge you upon your Life to tell me where Mr. Hollis is for he is a Traitor how dares Mr. Weekes lodg a Traitor in his House he said he must have him and would have him for he was a Traitor Whereupon it was Resolved c. That Mr. Dendy Serjeant at Arms shall be forthwith sent for as a Delinquent by the Serjeant at Arms attending
breach of and contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realm in that behalf established 19. That the said Earl having Taxed and Levied the said Impositions and raised the said Monopolies and committed the said Oppressions in his Majesties Name and as by his Majesties Royal Command he the said Earl in May the 15th Year of his Majesties Reign did of his own authority contrive and frame a new and unusual Oath by the purport whereof among many other things the party taking the said Oath was to swear that he should not protest against any of his Majesties Royal Commands but submit themselves in all Obedience thereunto Which Oath he so contrived to enforce the same on the Subjects of the Scottish Nation inhabiting in Ireland and out of a hatred to the said Nation and to put them to a Discontent with his Majesty and his Government there and compelled divers of his Majesties said Subjects there to take the said Oath some he grievously Fined and Imprisoned and others he destroyed and Exiled and namely the 10th of October Anno Dom. 1639. he fined Henry Steward and his Wife who refused to take the said Oath 5000 pounds apiece and their two Daughters and James Gray 3000 pounds apiece and Imprisoned them for not paying the said Fines The said Henry Steward's Wife and Daughters and James Gray being the Kings Liege People of the Scottish Nation and divers others he used in like manner And the said Earl upon that occasion did declare That the said Oath did not onely oblige them in point of Allegiance to his Majesty and acknowledgment of his Supremacy only but to the Ceremonies and Government of the Church established or to be established by his Majesties Royal Authority and said That the refusers to obey he would prosecute to the blood 20. That the said Earl in the 15 and 16 Years of his Majesties Reign and divers years past laboured and endeavoured to beget in his Majesty an ill Opinion of his Subjects namely those of the Scottish Nation and divers and sundry times and especially since the Pacification made by his Majesty with his said Subjects of Scotland in Summer in the 15th Year of his Majesties Reign he the said Earl did labour and endeavour to perswade incite and provoke his Majesty to an Offensive War against his said Subjects of the Scottish Nation And the said Earl by his Counsel Actions and Endeavours hath been and is a principal and chief Incendiary of the War and Discord between his Majesty and his Subjects of England and the said Subjects of Scotland and hath declared and advised his Majesty That the Demand made by the Scots in this Parliament were a sufficient cause of War against them The said Earl having formerly expressed the height and rancor of his mind towards his Subjects of the Scottish Nation viz. the tenth day of October in the 15 year of his Majesties Reign he said that the Nation of the Scots were Rebels and Traytors and he being then about to come to England he then further said That if it pleased his Master meaning his Majesty to send him back again he would root out of the said Kingdome meaning the Kingdom of Ireland the Scottish Nation both root and branch Some Lords and others who had taken the said Oath in the Precedent Article onely excepted and the said Earl hath caused divers of the said Ships and Goods of the Scots to be stayed seized and molested to the intent to set on the said War 21. That the said Earl of Strafford shortly after his Speeches mentioned in the last precedent Article to wit in the fifteenth year of his Majesties Reign came into this Realm of England and was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and continued his Government of that Kingdom by a Deputy At his arrival here finding that his Majesty with much wisedom and goodness had composed the troubles in the North and had made a Pacification with his Subjects of Scotland he laboured by all means to procure his Majesty to break that Pacification incensing his Majesty against his Subjects of that Kingdome and the proceedings of the Parliament there And having incensed his Majesty to an offensive War against his said Subjects of Scotland by Sea and by Land and by pretext thereof to raise Forces for the maintenance of that War he counselled his Majesty to call a Parliament in England yet the said Earl intended if the said proceedings of that Parliament should not be such as would stand with the said Earl of Strafford's mischievous designs he would then procure his Majesty to break the same and by ways of Force and Power to raise Monies upon the said Subjects of this Kingdom And for the incouragement of his Majesty to hearken to his advice he did before his Majesty and his Privy-Councel then sitting in Councel make a large Declaration that he would serve his Majesty in any other way in case the Parliament should not supply him 22. That in the month of March before the beginning of the last Parliament the said Earl of Strafford went into Ireland and procured the Parliament of that Kingdome to declare their assistance in a War against the Scots And gave directions for the raising of an Army consisting of 8000 Foot and 1000 Horse being for the most part Papists as aforesaid And confederating with one Sir George Radcliffe did together with him the said Sir George Trayterously conspire to employ the said Army for the ruine and destruction of the Kingdome of England and of his Majesties Subjects and of altering and subverting of the Fundamental Laws of this Kingdome And shortly after the said Earl of Strafford returned into England and to sundry persons declared his opinion to be That his Majesty should first try the Parliament here and if that did not supply him according to his occasions he might use then his Prerogative as he pleased to levy what he needed and that he should be acquitted both of God and man if he took some other courses to supply himself though it were against the will of his Subjects 23. That upon the thirteenth day of April last the Parliament of England met and the Commons house then being the representative Body of all the Commons in the Kingdome did according to the trust reposed in them enter into debate and consideration of the great grievances of this Kingdome both in respect of Religion and the publick liberty of the Kingdome and his Majesty referring chiefly to the Earl of Strafford and the Archbishop of Canterbury the ordering and disposing of all matters concerning the Parliament He the said Earl of Strafford with the assistance of the said Archbishop did procure his Majesty by sundry Speeches and Messages to urge the said Commons house to enter into some resolution for his Majesties Supply for maintenance of his War against his Subjects of Scotland before any course was taken for the relief of the great and pressing Grievances wherewith this Kingdom was then
counterfeit Coin was Treason and Justice Stamford fol. 331. 44. is of opinion that this or the conspiring to counterfeit the Great Seal is Treason The Statute is If any shall counterfeit the Great Seal conspiring to do it by the Book is Treason if a man take the Broad Seal from one Patent and put it to another here is no counterfeiting it 's tantamount and therefore Treason as is adjudged in 2 Hen. 4. fol. 25. and by the opinion of Stamford If Machination or Plotting a War be not within that clause of the Statute of Levying of War yet is within the first of compassing the death of the King as that which necessarily tends to the destruction both of King and People upon whose safety and protection he is to engage himself That this is Treason hath been adjudged both after the Statutes of 1 Hen. 4. Cap. 10. and 1 Queen Mary so much insisted upon on the other side In the Third year of King Henry 4th one Balshal coming from London found one Bernard at Plough in the Parish of Osley in the County of Hertford Bernard asked Balshal what news he told him that the news was That Richard the Second was alive in Scotland which was false for he was dead and that by Midsummer next he would come into England Bernard asked him What were best to be done Balshal answered Get Men and go to King Richard In Michaelmas Term in the Third year of Hen. 4th in the Kings-Bench Rot. 4. This advice of War adjudged Treason In Queen Mary's time Sir Nicholas Throckmorton conspired with Sir Thomas Wyat to Levy War within this Realm for alteration in Religion he joyned not with him in the execution This conspiracy alone declared to be Treason by all the Judges this was after the Statute of Queen Mary so much insisted upon That Parliament ended in October this opinion was delivered the Easter Term following and is reported by Justice Dyer fol 98. It 's true Sir Thomas Wyat afterwards did Levy War Sir Nicholas Throckmorton he only conspired This adjudged Treason One Story in Queen Elizabeths time practised with Foreigners to Levy War within this Kingdom nothing done in pursuance of the practice The intent without any adhering to enemies of the Queen or other cause adjudged Treason and he executed thereupon It 's true my Lords that year 13 Eliz. by Act of Parliament it 's made Treason to intend the levying of War this Case was adjudged before the Parliament The Case was adjudged in Hillary Term the Parliament begun not till the April following This my Lords is a Case judged in point that the practising to Levy War though nothing be done in execution of it is Treason Object It may be objected That in these Cases Object the Conspiring being against the whole Kingdom included the Queen and was a Compassing Her destruction as well as of the Kingdoms here the advice was to the King Answ The Answer is first That the Warrant was unknown to His Majesty Answ that was a Machination of War against the People and Laws wherein His Majesties Person was engaged for protection Secondly That the advice was to his Majesty aggravates the Offence it was an Attempt which was the Offence it was an Attempt not only upon the Kingdom but upon the Sacred Person and His Office too himself was hostis patriae he would have made the Father of it so to Nothing more unnatural nor more dangerous than to offer the King Poyson to drink telling him that it is a Cordial is a passing of his death the Poyson was repelled there was an Antidote within the Malice of the giver beyond expression The perswading of Foreigners to invade the Kingdom hold no proportion with this Machination of War against the Law or Kingdom is against the King they cannot be severed My Lords If no actual War within the Statute if the Counselling of War if neither of these single Acts be Treason within the Statute The Commons in the next place have taken it into consideration what the addition of his other Words Counsels and Actions do operate in the Case and have conceived that with this Addition all being put together that he is brought within the Statute of 25 E. 3. The words of the Statute are If any Man shall Compass or Imagine the death of the King the words are not If any Man shall Plot or Counsel the Death of the King No my Lords they go further than to such things as are intended immediately directly and determinatively against the Life and Person of the King they are of a larger extent to compass is to do by Circuit to Consult or Practise another thing directly which being done may necessarily produce this effect However it be in the other Treasons within this Statute yet in this by the very words there is room left for constructions for necessary inferences and consequences What hath been the Judgment and Practice of former times concerning these words of compassing the Kings Death will appear to your Lordships by some Cases of Attainders upon these words One Owen Owen's Case of Sandwich in Kent in King James His time in the 13th year of His Reign at Sandwich in Kent spake these words That King James being Excommunicated by the Pope may be killed by any Man which killing is no Murther Being asked by those he spake to how he durst maintain so Bloody an Assertion Answered That the matter was not so heinous as was supposed for the King who is the Lesser is concluded by the Pope who is the Greater and as a Malefactor being Condemned before a Temporal Judge may be delivered over to be Executed So the King standing Convicted by the Popes Sentence of Excommunication may justly be slaughtered without fault for the Killing of the King is the Execution of the Popes Supream Sentence as the other is the Execution of the Law For this Judgment of High Treason was given against him and Execution done My Lords there is no clear intent appearing that Owen desired the thing should be done only Arguments that it might be done this is a Compassing there is a clear Endeavour to corrupt the Judgment to take off the Bonds of Conscience the greatest security of the Kings Life God forbid saith one of better Judgment then he that I should stretch out my hand against the Lords Anointed No saith he the Lord doth not forbid it you may for these Reasons lawfully kill the King He that denies the Title to the Crown and plots the means of setting it upon anothers head may do this without any direct or immediate desiring the death of Him that wears it yet this is Treason as was adjudged in the 10 of Hen. 7 in these of Burton and in the Duke of Norfolk's Case 13 Eliz. This is a compassing of His Death for there can no more be two Kings in one Kingdom then two Suns in the Firmament he that conceives a Title counts it worth venturing
wonder and your Policy to be admired amongst the Nations After which his Majesty commanded the Clerk of the Parliament to pronounce the Royal Assent which he did in these words viz. Le Roy Remerciant ses bons Subjects accepte leur Benevolence ainsi le veult For the other two Bills his Majesty said Inregard he had not considered of them being Bills of great Consequence he would inform himself concerning the particulars and return an answer within few days After which the Commons with their Speaker returned to their House highly discontented that his Majesty had not passed the other two Bills for they presently after in some disorder adjourned themselves till Monday This day also Commissary Willmot Petitioned the House Commissary Wilmot's Petition rejected that he might have liberty upon Bail to go into the Country for the Recovery of his Health which was very much impaired by reason of his Imprisonment but the House being already in a great Ferment it was in an ill minute for him for whatever they might have done in a better humor his Petition was now utterly rejected The House of Commons met this Morning Monday July 5. but being highly discontented at the King 's delaying to pass the two Bills for abolishing the Court of Star-Chamber and the High-Commission Court they did not fall upon any business but within an hour the Gentleman-Usher of the Black-Rod came to the House to acquaint them that the King was come to the House of Lords and expected their attendance Upon their coming up his Majesty spake as followeth My Lords and Gentlemen I Come to do the Office which I did on Saturday last The King's Speech at Passing the Bills against the Star-Chamber and High-Commission Court July 5. 1641. to give determination to these Two Bills but before I do it I must tell you that I cannot but be very sensible of those reports of discontent that I hear some have taken for not giving my consent on Saturday Methinks it seems strange that any one should think I could pass two Bills of that Importance as these were without taking some fit time to consider of them for it is no less than to alter in a great measure those Fundamental Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil which many of my Predecessors have established c. If you consider what I have done this Parliament discontent will not sit in your hearts for I hope you remember that I have granted That the Judges hereafter shall hold their places quam diu benè se gesserint I have bounded the Forrest not according to My right but according to late Customes I have established the Property of the Subjects as witness the free-giving not taking away the Ship-mony I have established by Act in Parliament the Property of the Subject in Tonnage and Poundage which never was done in any My Predecessors time I have granted a Law for a Triennial Parliament and given way to an Act for the securing of moneys advanced for the disbanding of the Armies I have given free course of Justice against Delinquents I have put the Law in execution against Papists Nay I have given way to every thing that you have asked of me and therefore methinks you should not wonder if in some things I begin to refuse But I hope it shall not hinder your progress in your great Affairs and I will not stick upon trivial matters to give you content I hope you are sensible of these beneficial favours bestowed on you at this time To conclude You know by your consent there is a prefixed time set for my going into Scotland and there is an absolute necessity for it I do not know but that things may so fall out that it may be shortened therefore I hope you will hasten the dispatching of those great businesses that now are necessary to be done and leave trivial and superficial matters to another meeting For my part I shall omit nothing that may give you just contentment and study nothing more then your happiness and therefore I hope you shall see a very good Testimony of it by passing these two Bills Le Roy le veult This being done His Majesty said as followeth I have one word more to speak unto you and take now an occasion to present unto both Houses that thereby I hope all the World shall see that there is a good understanding between me and my people It is concerning my Nephew the Prince Elector Palatine who having desired Me and the King of Denmark to give way to a writing concerning the Dyet at Ratisbone with the Emperor I could not but send my Ambassador to Assist him though I am afraid I shall not have so good an answer as I expect which my Nephew fore-seeing hath desired me for the better countenancing of the same to make a Manifesto in my Name which is a thing of great Consequence And if I should do it alone without the advice of my Parliament it would rather be a scorn then otherwise Therefore I do propose it unto you that if you will advise me to it I do think it were very fit to be published in my name Mr. Rossetti the Popes Nuncio leaves England Treasurer after the House was returned acquaints them that Rossetti the Pope's Nuncio had left England WHereas William Shepherd now a Prisoner in the Fleet by the Sentence of this House Shepherd one of the Rioters at St. Saviours Southwark released for pressing in with others into the Church of St. Saviour's Southwark and violently breaking and pulling down of the Rails about the Communion Table which Sentence he the said William Shepherd acknowledging to be just and honourable It is Ordered That the said William Shepherd shall be released from his said Imprisonment for this Offence and set at Liberty In compliance with his Majesties Speech the House of Commons took the Prince Elector's condition into consideration the Manifesto was read and a Debate had upon it at which Sir Benjamin Rudyard made this Speech Mr. Speaker THis great Affair of the Palatinate concerneth this Kingdom in Nature Sir Benjamin Rudiard's Speech concerning the Palatinate in Honour in Reason of State in Religion We all know how near in Blood the Prince Elector is to his Majesty Many of us here know what solemn Protestations have been made in this place for the Recovery of the Palatinate by which we are bound in Honour to pursue it with our best Assistance God hath so framed the powers of Man and so ordered the course of things in this World as that in all Actions Right Reason and true Religion may well hold and go together If we consider Religion according to Reason of State we shall find that Christendom divides it self into two sides with the Pope against the Pope His Majesty is the greatest King of the Religion and therefore fittest to be the Head of that Party which will add a greater greatness to him then can be gotten any
Scottish Commissioners in a free and friendly manner to declare to them whether they have lately received any Instructions from the Parliament of Scotland to press His Majesty's present Repair thither in Person at the Parliament the 17th day of this present August Hereupon the Earl of Warwick Viscount Say and Seal Lord Wharton Lord Kimbolton and Lord Savile were appointed presently to go to the Scots Commissioners and desire from both Houses their Answer hereunto in writing The Lord Keeper reported That he had delivered the Reasons to the King in the name of both Houses concerning the staying of His Majesties Journey into Scotland for 14 days and his Majesty returns this Answer That the importance of your desires would require some time of deliberation The Kings Answer to the 4 Reasons for staying his Journey if the urgent Necessity of the business did not press the contrary and His Majesty said the same Necessity teacheth him to Answer the Necessity is two fold 1. The first and chiefest his Publick Faith given to his Kingdom to be present at the Parliament and His Majesty said That never any Prince was more strictly bound in Honour to perform any thing then he was to do this 2. The Vrgency of His Majesties Affairs there which indeed he said were very great To comply with both which he can stay no longer then Tuesday and so long he thought fit to stay that the Gentlemen of the House of Commons may so hasten the Scottish Treaty that he may give his Royal Assent thereunto some time to morrow for otherwise His Majesty shall be forced to pass it by that Commission which he leaves behind him but the earnest desire his Majesty hath of passing this Important Bill personally makes him stay thus long which he knows will be inconvenient unto him To conclude His Majesty desires your Lordships to remember That upon yoâ—r desires he hath already stayed one Month and that you by Publick Promises are engaged not to urge his stay longer then to morrow therefore remembring all engagements His Majesty expects that you press him no more in this for His Majesty said indeed he must go and for the Government of the Kingdom he hopes he shall leave behind him such Commissions as will serve especially since the Parliament is Sitting The Lord Brook was sent to find out the Scottish Commissioners and to desire them to expedite their Answer who presently returning brought it in writing which was read in these words AS we are very sensible of the great Care the Houses of Parliament have to keep a good Correspondency betwixt the two Nations Scottish Commishoners Answer to the 4 Reasons for the Rings stay and the Sense they have of the manifold Inconveniences which Scotland doth sustain by their frequent Meeting and Adjourning of the Parliament so we know nothing can more conduce for conserving that Correspondency and for removing these manifold prejudices we sustain through the frequent Prorogation of our Parliament then that the Treaty of Peace which by the blessing of God and His Majesties and the Parliaments Wisdom is now brought to a close may as a Sovereign Remedy of the great Evils which troubles both Kingdoms without further delay be Enacted here for the Peace and safety of both Kingdoms that the same may with all speed be Ratified in the Parliament of Scotland His Majesty hath by several Letters promised to hold the Parliament of Scotland in his own Royal Person and hath intimated the same by Publick Proclamation to all his Subjects there and although His Majesty by his Royal Letter of the 18th of May was obliged to have holden the Parliament of Scotland upon the 15th of July last in his own Royal Person or if any unexpected Occasion should happen to detain him that he would appoint a Commissioner for holding thereof at the day aforesaid to do every thing which might conduce to the Establishing of the True Religion Laws and Liberties of their Kingdom Yet such is the Affection and Respect of the Parliament of Scotland to the Parliament of England as notwithstanding their many pressing Difficulties they have condescended that his Majesty stay his Journey into Scotland until the 10th of August in respect that the Parliament of England did Assent to His Majesties going at that time which the Parliament of Scotland doth expect without any surther delay What may be the Condition or Importment of Affairs here or what Reason the Parliament hath which moveth them to Petition His Majesties stay is not proper for us we will therefore forbear to shew our selves beyond our Line but do remit the Consideration of this to the King and the Parliaments Wisdom And finally where it is desired by the Houses that we would in a friendly and free manner declare unto them whether we have lately received any Instructions from the Parliament of Scotland to press His Majesties repair thither in Person we do conceive that His Majesties former Promises of going thither in his own Person upon the 10th of August and the Assent of both Houses to his Journey and the Resolution of the Parliament of Scotland to prepare their business till the 17th of August and after that time that they will conclude and pass such Acts as they conceive necessary for the good of the Kingdom a sufficient Instruction for us both to press and expect His Majesties going against that time and the pressing necessity of the Affairs of that Kingdom as such cannot without danger of irreparable loss suffer longer delay This being read it was Communicated at a Conference to the House of Commons After a long Tugg the Commons finding the King resolute to pursue his Journey and the Lords unwilling to press His Majesty any further in the Matter they resolved to expedite matters so as if possible to settle them before His Majesty goes But lest this Sitting upon the Lords Day which the Presbyterians idolized even to down-right Judaism many of them thinking it unlawful even to dress Provision for their Families on that day should scandalize them the Commons were resolved to do something in Vindication of this so unusual a Sitting and to give the Nation the Reasons for it which Mr. Pym did in haec verba WHereas both Houses of Parliament found it fit to Sit in Parliament upon the 8th of August being the Lords Day The Reasons of the Sitting of the Parliament on the Lords Day for many urgent and unexpected Occasions concerning the Safety of the Kingdom and being so straitned in time by reason of his Majesties Resolution to begin his Journey towards Scotland on Monday following early in the morning it was not possible so to settle and order the Affairs of the Kingdom either for the Government thereof in the King's Absence or for the present Safety as was requisite upon these pressing Necessities though the Houses thought it necessary to Sit yet the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament think it meet to declare
Vote in favour of Mr. Small a Minister in Lincoln Shire The House then took into Consideration the Case of one Small a Minister in Lincolnshire sometime ago deprived of his Living by the Sentence of the High-Commission Court Conference about the Tower c. upon which it was Resolved c. That the deprivation of Edmond Small from his Living of Holm in Com. Lincoln by Sentence of the High Commission Court was Illegal and he shall be restored to his Living There was a Conference with the Lords about putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence as also about the Tower of London the Lieutenant Sir William Belfour being gone with the King into Scotland about some private Affairs of his own so that it was necessary that the Earl of Newport the Lord Constable of the Tower should take Care of it himself It was also there moved That Care might be taken of the Isles of Jersey Wight and Guernsey Which was agreed by the Lords and 50 men of the Hamlets to guard by Day and 50 by Night and 40 or 50 more to be added upon Emergent Occasion The Bill for Tonnage and Poundage for two Months longer was this day passed by Commission in the usual form and manner Monday August 16. Bill for Tonnage and Poundage for two Months passed by Commission * Incendiaries to be prosecuted and who those were After this the Interrogatories were delivered in to the Lords and read upon which the Scots Commissioners desire Witnesses may be Examined concerning the Earl of Traquayr Sir John Hayes Clerk Register in Scotland Sir Robert Spotswood and Dr. Walter Balcanquell and Mr. John Maxwell sometime Bishop of Ross who are pursued as Incendiaries The Interrogatories being approved of It was Ordered That the Lord Privy Seal E. Warwick E. Dover Viscount Say and Seal L. Wharton are appointed by this House to be Committees for the taking of the Examination of Witnesses in this Business and their Lordships or any Three or more to meet when they please to appoint Then the Lord Privy Seal E. Pembroke and L. Goring were sworn at the Clerks Table the Lord Keeper reading the Oath and are to be Examined concerning the Incendiaries Ordered also That John E. of Sterling Robert Young Printer William Warnor Corrector and Robert Chapman Compofer shall attend the Lords Committees this Afternoon and be Sworn and Examined in the business concerning the Incendiaries This was in order to the discovery of the Writer of the King 's large Declaration which was generally supposed to be Dr. Bellcanquel Dean of Durham which had so much Mordacis Veritatis of sharp and cutting Truth in it that the Scots thought there was no other Way to undo the Reputation of the Book but by ruining the Reputation of the Author and no way so Effectual for that as the Brand of an Incendiary burnt upon the forehead of his fame by this Publique Procedure which yet could not but even then be liable to suspition his Enemies being his Accusers and the Majority of these Lords Committees who were to report and in Effect therefore to be his Judges being apparently of the Scottish Party and Interest A Message was brought from the Commons by Mr. Strode Message about the Desperate Estate of the Kingdom and Hull to let their Lordships know That they have taken into Consideration the desperate Estate the Kingdom now stands in in the time of Disbanding the Army and they have Considered of the Danger the King's Ammunition at Hull is in if there should be any design upon it Therefore they desire their Lordships would joyn with them in some Course that the Ammunition there be not stirred nor removed from thence without the Order of both Houses of Parliament Hereupon it was Ordered That a Letter be sent to the Lord General to give Order That no Munition or Artillery of the Kings at Hull be removed or sent from thence but by Order from both Houses Mr. Pym reports from the Committee about the Commission for the Commissioners of both Houses who are to attend the King in Scotland Difficulty about the Commission for the Commissioners to go into Scotland That the first thing they took into Consideration was the Commission to give Power to these Commissioners and the doubt is Whether such a Commission may be granted or no the King being now out of the Kingdom so that the Royal Assent cannot now be had and it would be of much danger if such a Power may not be had and therefore they desire the Opinion of the House in this Point Upon which a Conference was desired with the Lords upon this Subject After which Mr. Pym Reported it to the House That the Lords were doubtful The Opinion of the Lords at a Conference about it and therefore propounded to have a Messenger sent to procure his Majesties Warrant and the Commissioners to stay here till the Messenger returned and that in the mean time they would consider of their Instructions This day the Earl of Dorset signified to the Lords House That he hath Waited on the Queen and hath acquainted her Majesty with the Humble Desires of this House touching restraining of the Capuchin Friers in Sommerset House from tampering and withdrawing the Kings People Her Majestie sayes The Queens Answer about the Capuchin Friers at Denmark-House Aug. 17. 1641. It is much against her Will that they have gone abroad or have endeavoured to pervert any from their Religion and her Majestie is also very unwilling that any English People should resort there to Chappel but her Majesty will give Order to prevent these for the future And the Earl of Dorset said He would obey their Lordships Command and send for the Chief of the Capuchins and give him a strait Command not to suffer any of the Friers to go abroad nor any English People to come to them or to hear Mass there The Impeachment brought up from the House of Commons against the 13 Bishops was read Votes in the House of Lords about the Impeachment of the 13 Bishops and the House fell into Debate what time they should have to Answer and whether in this Debate they should be present in the House And it was Resolved upon the Question That the Lords the Bishops that are Impeached may Sit in this House without Voting when it is in Debate whether they shall have further time to Answer or not Resolved c. That such of the Bishops as are Impeached shall not Sit here in this House when the Merits of the Cause is in Debate Resolved c. That when the disposing of the manner of the Proceedings of the Cause is in Debate the Bishops may Sit in this House but not Vote The Letter drawn by the Committees of both Houses to the Lord General concerning Hull The Letter to the Lord General concerning Hull was read as follows May it please your Excellency I Am commanded by the House of Peers
the performance hereof their Pleasure is That you should continue there to wait upon his Majesty till you receive further direction or that his Majesty be pleased to come away for England Instructions of the Lords and Commons in Parliament to the Committees of both Houses now Attending his Royal Majesty in Scotland I. YOU shall acquaint his Majesty Additional Instructions to the Committee in Scotland That by your Advertisement both Houses have taken Notice of the Examinations and Confessions taken in the Parliament of Scotland concerning a malicious design affirmed to be undertaken by the Earl of Craford and others against the Persons of the Marquiss of Hamilton the Earls of Argyle and Lannerick having taken the same into Consideration they have good Cause to doubt That such ill-affected persons as would disturb the Peace of that Kingdom are not without some malicious Correspondence here which if those wicked Purposes had taken Effect in Scotland would have been ready to attempt some such mischievous Practices as might produce Distempers and Confusions in this Kingdom to the Hazard of the Publique Peace for prevention whereof they have given Order for strong Guards in the Cities of London and Westminster * The Debate about the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom in order to their possessing themselves of the Militia was many Weeks before in the House only this was a fair occasion for the attempt and have resolved to take into their Care the Security of the rest of the Kingdom II. You shall further declare to his most Excellent Majesty That the States of his Parliament here do hold it a matter of great Importance to this Kingdom That the Religion Liberty and Peace of Scotland be preserved according to the Treaty and Articles agreed by his Majesty and confirmed by Act of Parliament of which they are bound to be careful not only by Publique Faith in that Treaty but by their Duty which they ow to his Majesty and this Kingdom because they hold it will be a great means of preserving Religion Liberty and Peace in England Ireland and his Majesty 's other Dominions and the Union of all his Loyal Subjects in maintaining the Common good of all will be a sure Foundation of Honor Greatness and Security to his Royal Person Crown and Dignity wherefore they have resolved to Employ their Humble and Faithful Advice to his Majesty the Power and Authority of Parliament and of this Kingdom for Suppressing of all such as by any Conspiracy Practice or other Attempts shall endeavour to disturb the Peace of Scotland and to infringe the Articles and the Treaty made betwixt the Two Kingdoms III. You shall likewise inform the King That whereas Orders have been given by his Majesty with the Consent of Parliament for the Disbanding the Garrisons of Carlisle and Berwick the first whereof is already wholly disbanded and all the House and Eight Companies of Foot sent out of Berwick and only Five Companies remaining which likewise should have been disbanded at or before the 15th of this Month if they had not been stayed by his Majesties Command signified to Sir Michael Ernley Lieutenant Governor according to direction in that behalf and whereas by Order of Parliament Ships have been sent for the Transporting his Majesties Munition Ordnance and other Provisions in that Town and the Holy Island all which have been of very great Charge to the Commonwealth the Commons now Assembled in Parliament have declared That they intend to be at no further Charge for the longer stay and Entertainment of those Men or for the Demurrage of the Ships if by occasion of this direction they be kept out longer than was agreed upon Ordered That Mr. Speaker do write a Letter to Mr. Secretary Vane that in case the Committee of both Houses be come out of Scotland before the Letter and Instructions now to be sent can be delivered there unto them that then he shall he desired by this House to present the same unto his Majesty Saturday Octob. 23. Order for the Bishops impeached to have Councel This day upon the humble Request of the Bishop of Rochester on his own behalf and the rest of the Bishops which are impeached by the House of Commons before their Lordships concerning the late Canons c. It is Ordered That Mr. Serjeant Jerman Mr. Herne Mr. Chute and Mr. Hales being publiquely named in this House by the said Bishop and approved of by the House shall be assigned to be of Counsel with the Bishops that are impeached With this Proviso nevertheless That if any of the said Counsel shall upon just Cause desire to be Excused here and the House approve of the said Excuse That then he or they shall not be compelled to be of the said Bishops Councel as aforesaid The Commons being met there was a Report made of certain Troopers who had made a disturbance about a Tavern-Reckoning and the Guard in the Pallace-Yard being called to quiet them they fell upon them and cut the Drum but being taken and committed to Custody and one of them saying in Bravado That there were a thousand of them about the Town who if they were there would help them and make the Pallace too hot for the Guards they were Ordered to be sent to the Lords Bar to receive their Censure for this Misdemeanor But it struck such a fear into some of the Members of the Commons House that they immediately Voted what they had so often denied the King though his Word and Honor were engaged to the Spanish Ambassador to let him have some of the disbanded Troops for it was Votes to let the disbanded Soldiers past beyond Sea Resolved c. That the House is of Opinion and holds fit that Orders should be sent to the Officers of the several Ports requiring them to permit all such Soldiers of the late disbanded Army as shall desire it to pass beyond the Seas provided that they take such Oaths and perform such other Duties as are usually required according to the Laws Resolved c. That this House is further of Opinion and holds it fit That such other Soldiers of the late disbanded Army as are Strangers and not Subjects or Natives of this Kingdom shall have liberty to pass out of this Kingdom and to receive Entertainment of any Forreign Prince Sir Gilbert Gerrard carries up the Bill for dissabling all Persons in Holy Orders to exercise any temporal Jurisdiction or Authority and acquainted the Lords That the House of Commons desired there might be all speed in the passing of it for it much concerns the good of the Common-Wealth The Lord General Thanks given to the L. General by the House of Lords the Earl of Holland being now returned and having at a Conference given an Account of the disbanding of the Army It was Ordered by the Lords That this House gives Thanks to the Earl of Holland late Lord General of his Majesties Army in the North for
this Parliament Assembled hath ordained ut sequitur in the Act. And these Acts made by the King the Lords Temporal and Commons only were upon the Clamorous complaints of the Commons about the giving of the Benefices of England to strangers and others who never were Resident upon the Benefices This Report being made the House took the same into Consideration and for the better debate of the Propositions the House was adjourned into a Committee during pleasure And the Question was Whether those Thirteen Bishops that stood Impeached of those Crimes by the House of Commons shall be suspended from their Votes in this House until they stand Recti in Curia After a long debate herein the House was resumed and it is Ordered That the further Consideration of the Propositions which came from the House of Commons and the Bill entituled an Act for disabling Persons in Holy Orders to Exercise any Temporal Jurisdiction shall be both deferred until the Tenth day of November next A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Arthur Goodwin Esquire to let their Lordships know That whereas at a Conference Yesterday touching the Bishops which were Impeached for making of Canons the House of Commons did tell their Lordships That they had a Witness a Member of their House Mr. Wheeler to prove that the said Bishops did Subscribe to those Canons he having seen the Register Book with their Names written with their own Hands all which he is now ready upon Oath to prove if their Lordships shall rest herein satisfied the Register Book being in a House which is visited with the Plague The Reader will see by these Arguments of Mr. Solicitor St. John the utmost Strength of the Reason which they had to exclude the Bishops from their Votes and Peerage Now in regard the same thing has been again moved and the Arguments revived by the Successors of the same Faction who still retain the old Principles and Kindness to the Lords the Bishops looking upon them as a kind of Supernumeraries in the House of Lords who may well be spared and not as in reality they are a third Estate to stop the Progress so far as I am able of such an Error dangerous to the very being and Fundamental Constitution of our Parliaments I here present the Reader with a short Abstract out of the Learned Piece writ upon this Subject Entituled The Grand Question concerning the Bishops Right to Vote in Parliament in Cases Capital Stated and Argued c. I confess I have not followed the Author's Method nor was it possible to do it without great Inconvenience his Book being an Answer to some Papers writ against the Peerage and Jurisdiction of Bishops c. But I hope I have not done him or the Subject any Injustice by making use of the Matter and accommodating it more to my purpose which is among such Infinite Plenty and Variety of Matter to study all the conciseness and brevity I can I have therefore reduced the Subject to these four Heads First That the Bishops are Pares Regni Peers of the Realm and Peers in Parliament Secondly That they have a Right to Sit and Vote in Parliament in all Causes whatsoever even in Causa Sanguinis in Capital Cases Thirdly That the Lords Spiritual the Bishops are a third Estate in Parliament Fourthly To answer such Objections as have been made against their Peerage and Jurisdiction Which Abstract follows First Position That the Bishops are Pares Regni Peers of the Realm An Abstract of the Grand Question about the Peerage and Jurisdiction of the Bishops in Parliament Marculph Form lib. 1. c. 25. and Peers in Parliament The Author Learnedly proves That as soon as ever Christianity was settled in these Northern Nations Bishops were admitted into all publick Councils and Courts of Judicature So he instances in France from the Testimony of Marculphus That the King Sate in Judgment unà cum Dominis Patribus nostris Episcopis together with the Lords and Fathers the Bishops and that the greater Causes were heard by the King himself or the Comes Palatii Episcopis proceribus Assidentibus the Bishops and Nobility being Assessors with him In Spain during the Gothick Race of Kings the greatest Affairs of State were managed by the greatest of the Clergy and Nobility Concil Tolet. 4. c. 75.5 c. 7.6 c. 17. passim albi as appears by the several Councils of Toledo and particularly in the 13 Council Cap. 2. A case of Impeachment of Treason was brought before them And yet from one of these Councils of Toledo it is that all the Dust hath been raised and the Canon Law objected urged against Bishops That they ought not to be present or concerned in Cases of Blood In Germany Goldastus Rer. Alem. An. To. 2. the first Laws that were published by Lotharius were composed 33 Bishops 34 Dukes 72 Counts besides the People being present and assisting Arumaeus de Comitiis n. 35. c. 4. n. 98. and Arumaeus a Protestant Lawyer informs us that the Bishops of Germany Sate in the Diet in a double Capacity as Bishops and Princes of the Empire which Constitution he applauds as prudent for the Administration of Justice Honourable and safe for Religion In Bohemia Goldast Bohem. lib. 5. cap. 1. the same Goldastus a Protestant too acquaints us that there were three Estates prelates Nobles and Commons till the time of Sigismund In Hungary Decret Ladisl p. 12. so soon as ever the Christian Religion prevailed and was settled the Laws were framed by the King with the Advice and Consent of Bishops Nobles Staravols Polon p. 263. Herbart Stat. Regni Pol. p. 262. and the whole Clergy and People In Poland the Constitution of the Government is composed of the Bishops Barons and Delegates who are called Nuncii terrestres who are Summoned to the Dyet by the King and that with the entrance of Christianity as the publick Religion the Bishops entred into the Senate and had the first Seat in that Court Adam Brem de Situ Dan. n. 85. Loccen Antiq. Sueco-goth c. 8. Jus aulicum Norvey c. 3. c. 36. In Norway Denmark and Sweden the same Constitution entred with the prevalency of Christian Religion viz. Bishops Nobles Knights and Deputies In England after the Conversion of the Saxons during the whole time of that Monarchy there is not in all our Records one Council wherein the Bishops had not a part From whence the Author strongly Argues that it would be a very unaccountable thing that we of all the Nations of the Christian World who profess to have the best Government and the best Reformed Religion should Exclude those from any share in that Government who were by all others admitted into it as soon as they admitted the Christian Religion to be the publick Profession of their Country That the Bishops since the coming in of the Norman Race were always Esteemed Peers of the Realm and Peers of Parliaments
found to be false and so the Messenger departed with Directions that if the Earls death were true he should repair into the Low-Countries to Colonel Owen O Neale and acquaint him with his Commission from the Earl whereof it was thought he was not Ignorant and to return an Answer sent by him and to see what he would Advise or would do himself therein But presently after his Departure the certainty of the Earls Death was known and on further Resolution it was Agreed That an Express Messenger should be sent to the Colonel to make all the Resolutions known to him and to return speedily with his Answer And so one Toole O Comely a Priest as I think Parish Priest to Mr. Moore was sent away to Colonel O Neale In the interim there came several Letters and News out of England to Dublin of Proclamations against the Catholicks in England and also that the Army raised in Ireland should be Disbanded and Conveyed into Scotland And presently after several Colonels and Captains Landed with Directions to carry away those Men amongst whom Colonel Plunkett Colonel Burne and Captain Bryan O Neale came but did not all come together for Plunkett Landed before my coming out of Town and the other two after wherein a great sear of Suppressing of Religion was conceived and especially by the Gentry of the Pale and it was very common amongst them that it would be very inconvenient to suffer so many Men to be Conveyed out of the Kingdom it being as was said very confidently reported that the Scottish Army did threaten never to lay down Arms until an Uniformity of Religion were in the three Kingdoms and the Catholick Religion suppressed And thereupon both Houses of Parliament began to oppose their going and the Houses were divided in their Opinions some would have them go others not but what the definitive conclusion of the Houses was touching the Point I cannot tell for by leave from the House of Lords I departed into the Country before the Prorogation But before my Departure I was informed by John Barnewall a Fryer that those Gentlemen of the Pale and some other Members of the House of Commons had several Meetings and Consultations how they might make Stay of the Souldiers in the Kingdom and likewise to Arm them in Defence of the King being much injured both of England and Scotland then as they were informed and to prevent any Attempt against Religion and presently after I departed into the Country and Mr Reyly being a Member of the House of Commons stayed the Prorogation and on his coming into the Country sent to me to meet him and I came to his House where he told me that he heard for certain that the former Narration of Barnewall to me for I did acquaint him with it was true and that he heard it from several there also was Emar Mac Mahone made firmly privy to all our Proceedings at Mr. Reylys lately come out of the Pale where he met with the aforenamed John Barnewall who told him as much and he formerly told me and moreover that those Colonels that lately came over did proffer their Service and Industry in that Act and so would raise their Men under Color to Convey them into Spain and then seize on the Castle of Dublin and with their Arms there to Arm their Soldiers and have them ready for any Occasion that should be Commanded them but that they had not concluded any thing because they were not Assured how the Gentlemen of the remote Parts of the Kingdom and especially of Vlster would stand Affected to that Act and that Assurance of that Doubt was all their Impediment Then we three began to think how we might assure them Help and of the Assistance of Vlster Gentlemen It was thought that One should be sent to them to acquaint them therewith and they made Choice of me to come by reason as they said that my Wife was allyed to them and their Country-Woman and would believe me trust me sooner than other of their Parts they or most of them being of the Pale And so without as much as to return Home to furnish my self for such a Journey Volens Nolens they prevailed or rather forced me to come to Dublin to confer with those Colonels and that was the last August was Twelve-Month Coming to Town I met Sir James Dillon accidentally before I came to my Lodging who was one of those Colonels and after Salutations he demanded of me where my Lodging was which when I told him and parted the next Day being abroad about some other Occasions in Town I met him as he said coming to wait on me in my Chamber but being a good Way from it he desired me to go into his own Chamber being near at hand And then began to discourse of the present Sufferings and Afflictions of that Kingdom and particularly of Religion and how they were to expect no Redress the Parliament in England intending and the Scots resolving never to lay down Arms until the Catholick Religion were suppressed Then he likewise began to lay down what Danger it would be to suffer so many Able Men as was to go with them to depart the Kingdom in such a time Neither said he do their other Gentlemen that are Colonels and my self affect our own private Profit soas to prefer it before the general Good of the Kingdom And knowing you are well Affected thereunto and I hope said he ready to put your helping-hand to it upon Occasion I will let you know the Resolution of those other Gentlemen and Mine which is if weare ready to raise our Men and after to Seize on the Castle where there is great store of Arms and Arm our Selves This was the first Motion that ever I heard of taking the Castle for it never came into our Thoughts formerly nor am I perswaded ever would if it had not proceeded from those Colonels who were the first Motioners and Contrivers thereof for ought known to me and then to be ready to prevent and resist any Danger that the Gentlemen of the Kingdom like thereof and help us For we of our selves neither are able nor will do any thing therein without their Assistance I began according to the Directions that were sent with me to approve of their Resolution and also to let him know how sure he might be of the Assistance of those of Vlster Then he told us that for my more Satisfaction I should Confer with the rest of the Colonels themselves as many as are Privy to the Action and accordingly a Place of Meeting was appointed that After-Noon and on the Time and Place appointed there met Sir James himself Colonel Bourne and Colonel Plunket And that former Discourse being renewed they began to lay down the Obstacles to that Enterprise and how they should be Redressed First If there should War ensue how there should be Money had to Pay the Soldiers Secondly How and where they should procure Succors
Time The Parliament indeed had one sent over from the Lords Justices in Ireland and I find in the Journal of the Lords that it was read in their House but in regard though it had some Scandalous Reflections upon the King as being willing to favour their Religion which in due time we shall prove utterly false and that in this common Calumny they agreed with the English Rebels yet in regard it seemed and that not without great probability to charge the Rebellion upon the Parliament and their present Proceedings and future Intentions the thing was at that time smothered for it is neither Entred in the Journal as usually Papers of that Importance were wont to be nor can I find any Order for the Printing or Publishing of it or for any Answer to take off the Charge of the Rebels against the Parliament Take it however as I find it in Print The Remonstrance of the Rebels in Ireland WHEREAS we the Roman Catholicks of this Kingdom of Ireland The Remonstrance of the Irish Rebels Oct. 23. 1641. have been continual Loving and Faithful Subjects to his Sacred Majesty and notwithstanding the General and Hard Oppressions suffered by Subordinate Governors to the Ruine of our Lives Honors and Estates Yet having some Liberty of Religion from his Majesty out of the Effluence of his Princely Love unto Vs We weighing no Corporal Loss in respect of that great Immunity of the Soul are inviolably resolved to infix our Selves in an immutable and pure Allegiance for ever to his said Royal Majesty and his Successors Now so it is That the Parliament of England Maligning and Envying any Graces received from his Majesty by our Nation and knowing none so desired by us as that of Religion And likewise perceiving his Majesty to be inclining to give us the Liberty of the same drew his Majesties Prerogative out of his Hands thereby largely pretending the General Good of his Majesties Kingdoms But We the said Catholicks and Loyal Subjects to his Majesty do probably find as well by some Acts to pass by them the said Parliament touching our Religion in which the Catholicks of England and Scotland did suffer as also by Threat to send over the Scottish Army with the Sword and Bible in Hand against us that this whole and studied Plot was and is not only to extinguish Religion by which we altogether live Happy but likewise to supplant us and raze the Name of Catholick Irish out of the whole Kingdom And seeing this Surprize so dangerous tending absolutely to the overthrow of the Liberty of our Consciences and Country and also our Gracious King's Power forced from him in which and in whose prudent Care over us our sole Quiet and Comfort consisted and without the which the Fear of our present Ruines did prescribe the Opinion and premonish us to save our Selves We therefore as well to regain his Excellent Majesties said Prerogative being only due to him and his Successors and being the Essence and Life of Monarchy hoping thereby to Confirme a Strong and Invincible Vnity between his Royal and ever happy Love unto us and our faithful Duty and Loyalty to his incomparable Majesty have taken Arms and possessed our Selves of the best and strongest Forts of this Kingdom to enable us to serve his Majesty and defend us from the Tyrannous Resolutions of our Enemies Thus our Consciences as we wish the Peace of the same to our selves and our Posterity is the Pretence and true Cause of our present Rising in Arms by which we are resolved to perfect the Advancement of the Truth and the Safety of our King and Country Thus much we thought in General fitting to publish unto the World to set forth our Innocent and just Cause the particular whereof shall be speedily declared Dated 23 October 1641. We do declare unto God and the World That what we do or have done is for the Maintenance of the Kings and our Religion and for fear these our Doings should be misconstrued We thought good to make known unto the World by this our Declaration and Remonstrance 1 The several private Meetings of Factious and Ill-disposed People unto our Government and Common-Wealth at several Places Plotting and Devising our utter Ruine and the Extirpation of our Religion 2 Several Men imployed by them with Instruments ready drawn for to get Hands thereunto to be preferred to the Parliament of England whereby they would have the Papists as they call them and the Protestant Bishops of the Kingdom whom they joyn with the Papists and hate as they hate the Papists the Bishops to be deposed and the Papists banished or otherwise rooted out of this Kingdom 3 The Government of this Kingdom successively put into the hands of so many Needy and Poor Ministers who for raising of themselves have by scruing Inventions Poll'd the Gentry and Commons of this Kingdom that no Man was secured of any thing he had 4 We saw his Majesty to whom we thought to Address our selves was so oppressed by the Arrogancy of such Faithless and Disloyal Subjects and as it were cut off from all Prerogative that we could not expect any Redress as long as they ruled in his Kingdom as now they do All which we taking into our serious Consideration did fear we should be circumvented on the suddain and for our Security did think fit to arm our Selves for our own Defence and Safety of his Majesty from such wicked Perturbers of all Common-Wealths where they get any Superiority that they will not admit either of the Kings or Bishops as well Witness Germany and for the Places we have taken we will yield them up when his Majesty pleaseth to Command us and takes a Course for Securing of us and the Protestants of this Kingdom who are only his true and obedient Subjects against such Factious and Seditious Puritanes the Disturbers of all States as had brought the like Misery on Queen Elizabeth and King James had they not been by them and their wise Councels prevented which we thought fit to intimate unto the good Subjects that they may the more willingly assist us until we be at better leisure to make our great Grievances known unto his Majesty and he have more power to relieve us And because they nor any others shall have any reason to accuse me with Partiality I here present the Reader with a Narrative which I find Printed in P. W.'s Answer to the Lord Orrery as follows THey therefore meaning the English Nation and the whole World A Narrative of some things done in the beginning of the Rebellion which Irish Papists plead in mitigation of their taking Arms. may be pleased to know That We speaking of the Irish are so far from justifying any horrid Actions perpetrated at that time when but a few of any Quality raised a Rebellion in the North as we have and still make it our request That those Crimes and all Massacres and Murthers then or after committed whoever shall be
Garrisons there and that a convenient Number of Men shall be sent from the North Parts of England for the better Guard and Defence of those Forts and Countries adjoyning and that a large proportion of Arms and other Munition shall be speedily conveyed out of his Majesties Stores to West-Chester to be disposed of according to the Direction of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for arming the Men to be sent from England and such other of his Majesties Loyal Subjects as may be raised in Ireland 5. And because we understand That the Rebels are like with great strength to attempt the ruin and destruction of the Brittish Plantation in Ulster we humbly Advise his Majesty by the Council and Authority of his Parliament in Scotland to provide that one Regiment consisting if 1000 men furnish't and accomplish't with all necessary Arms and Munition as shall seem best to their Great Wisdoms and Experience may with all possible speed be Transported into Ireland under the Command of some Worthy Person well affected to the Reformed Religion and the Peace of both Kingdoms and well Enabled with Skill Judgment and Reputation for such an Employment which Forces we desire may be Quartered in those Northern Parts for the Opposing the Rebels and Comfort and Assistance of his Majesties good Subjects there with Instructions from his Majesty and the Parliament of Scotland that they shall upon all Occasions pursue and observe the Directions of the Lord Lieutenant his Lieutenant General or the Governor of Ireland according to their Authority derived from his Majesty and the Crown of England 6. And as touching the Wages and other Charges needful which this Assistance will require We would have You in our Name to beseech His Majesty to commend it to our Brethren the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland to take it into their Care on the behalf of His Majesty and this Kingdom to make such agreements with all the Commanders and Soldiers to be imployed as they would do in the like Case for themselves and to let them know For Our parts We do wholly rely upon their Honorable and Friendly dealing with us and will take Care that Satisfaction be made accordingly 7. You shall represent to his most Excellent Majesty this our Humble and Faithful Declaration that we cannot without much grief remember the great Miseries Burthens and Distempers which have for divers Years afflicted all his Kingdoms and Dominions and brought them to the last point of Ruine and Destruction all which have issued from the Cunning False and Malicious Practices of some of those who have been admitted into very near Places of Council and Authority about him who have been Favourers of Popery Superstition and Innovation Subverters of Religion Honor and Justice Factors for promoting the Designs of Forreign Princes and States to the great and apparent danger of His Royal Person Crown and Dignity and of all his People Authors of False Scandals and Jealousies betwixt his Majesty and his Loyal Subjects Enemies to the Peace Vnion and Confidence betwixt Him and his Parliament which is the surest Foundation of Prosperity and Greatness to his Majesty and of Comfort and Hope to them That by their Councils and Endeavours those great Sums which have been lately drawn from the People have been either consumed unprofitably or in the maintenance of such Designs as have been Mischievous and Destructive to the State and whilest we have been labouring to Support his Majesty to purge out the Corruptions and restore the Decayes both of Church and State others of their Faction and Party have been contriving by Violence and Force to suppress the Liberty of Parliament and indanger the Safety of those who have opposed such wicked and pernicious Courses 8. That we have just Cause to believe That those Conspiracies and Commotions in Ireland are but the Effects of the same Councils and if persons of such Aims and Conditions shall still continue in Credit Authority and Imployment the great Aids which we shall be inforced to draw from his People for subduing the Rebellion in Ireland will be applied to the Fomenting and Cherishing of it there and Encouraging some such like attempt by the Papists and ill-affected Subjects in England and in the End to the Subversion of Religion and destruction of his Loyal Subjects in both Kingdoms And do therefore most humbly beseech his Majesty to change those Councils from which such ill Courses have proceeded and which have Caused so many Miseries and Dangers to himself and all his Dominions and that he will be graciously pleased to imploy such Councils and Ministers as shall be approved of by his Parliament who are his greatest and most Faithful Council that so his People may with Courage and Confidence undergo the Charge and Hazard of this War and by their Bounty and Faithful Endeavours with Gods Blessing restore to his Majesty and this Kingdom that Honor Peace Safety and Prosperity which they have Enjoyed in former times And if herein his Majesty shall not vouchsafe to condescend to our humble Supplication although we shall always continue with Reverence and Faithfulness to his Person and to his Crown to perform those Duties of Service and Obedience to which by the Laws of God and this Kingdom we are Obliged Yet we shall be forced in discharge of the Trust which we ow to the State and to those whom we represent to Resolve upon some such way of defending Ireland from the Rebels as may concur to the Securing our selves from such Mischievous Councils and Designs as have lately been and still are in practice and agitation against us as we have just cause to believe and to commend those Aids and Contributions which this great Necessity shall require to the Custody and Disposing of such Persons of Honor and Fidelity as we have Cause to confide in The Faction as the Reader may before have observed had upon all Occasions indeavoured to lay hold upon the Soveraign Power of the Sword and indeed nothing less could Protect them from their own Fears of a future Reckoning which they were affraid they must make if ever the King's Affairs came into a prosperous Condition and setled Posture But certainly next to the Execrable Rebellion in Ireland it was one of the most barbarous Outrages to a most Excellent Prince whose Indulgence was his greatest Crime not only to charge him with the Fomenting and in a manner Contriving this most wicked Rebellion as is evident by these Venemous Reflections they intended to do but to take this advantage of the Misfortune of his Affairs to wrest from him that little remainder of Power and Regal Authority which he had not hitherto divested himself of But this was the Resolution of these Ingrateful and Ungenerous Subjects whose unbounded Ambition all the Streams of Royal Bounty were not able to satisfie so long as the King was the Fountain of them and they were determined to make use of his Majesties extreme Necessity as they had
Law and immediately sent down to the Commons by Serjeant Finch and Serjeant Glanvile A Message was sent to the Commons to let them know That the Queen hath desired the Inlargement of Phillips the Priest and that the Lords being satisfied with his Submission and having nothing against him further depending in their House are inclinable to release him but resolved according to their Engagement to let the House of Commons be first acquainted with it Upon which the Commons made this Answer That they desire he may be continued still in his Restraint in regard he is a Priest and complained of for seducing his Majesties Subjects Several Bills were sent up to the Lords two private ones a third for the laying down of the Privilege of Parliament concerning Protections in some Cases c. a fourth for the Forfeiture of the Lands of John James who stabbed Justice Heywood at White-Hall and for his further Punishment c. An Ordinance was also brought into the House of Commons for reimbursing the City the 50000 l. last borrowed and the 50000 l. formerly lent to the Peers in the Northern Expedition The Commissioners being now returned from Scotland Wednesday Novemb. 24. The Commissioners return from Scotland the Lord Keeper was commanded in the Name of the House of Lords to let the Lord Howard of Eskrik know That the House doth acknowledg that his Lordship hath very carefully and faithfully discharged that Trust which this House reposed in him in his Imployment in Scotland as a Committee for this House for which the House gives his Lordship Thanks and will be ready upon all Occasions for his Good to Recommend him to the King The House of Lords being Yesterday adjourned in regard they were informed of his Majesties coming from Scotland Thursday Novemb. 25. sate not till Friday and that it may a little recreate the Reader who may well be tired with so much Tragedy and the repeated Troubles of Rebellions Plots and Conspiracies of which this unhappy Age was so Fertile I will present him with the short Sun-shine of that Days Solemnity which hath so often been resembled to the Treacherous Hosannas which preceded the Crucifixion of the Glorious Redeemer of the World and not without Reason for while he made that short Ovation in London the Scribes and Pharisees of the Faction at Westminster were in Consultation of that Remonstrance which was to crucify his Reputation and was the first bold Step to the taking away his Crown and Life Notice having been given of his Majesties Return this day to White-Hall the Nobility Gentry Lord Mayor Aldermen and Recorder The King returns from Scotland and the-manner of his Reception by the City with many of the Principal Citizens went to attend his Majesty and Conduct him to the City So soon as they met him Mr. Recorder of London Addressed himself with all due Respects to his Majesty in this congratulatory Speech May it please Your Majesty THis is a day of Exceeding great Joy to your Citizens of London Mr. Recorder of London's Speech to the King at his return from Scotland joy exalted to the highest degree to see you return in safety after a long absence and to see this happy meeting with your Dearest Consort our good and gracious Queen and with these blessed Children that are the Fruits of your Loves and Pledges to us of a fruitful and hopeful Succession I can truly say this from the Representative Body of your City from whence I have my Warrant they meet Your Majesty with as much Love and Affection as ever Citizens of London met with any of Your Royal Progenitors King or Queen of this Kingdom and with as hearty a desire to shew it self fully Pardon their failers where you meet with any We tender unto You no formal Present it would but lessen us whatever it were I am sure it would be far short of our meaning but we present unto You our hearts and affections hearts of true Subjects full of Loyalty to You our King and Sovereign 'T is true in this we offer Your Majesty but your own they were by just right Yours before but upon this new and enlivening occasion be pleased to take them as a new gift we offer them chearfully vouchsafe to accept them graciously and with the Influence of those Excellent and Princely Vertues which we know by great assurance to be eminent in Your Royal Person we doubt not but Your Majesty will continue the defence of our Establisht Religion and the clear Current of Justice through all the Streams of which Your Majesty is the Royal Fountain Vouchsafe likewise to uphold and countenance that Ancient Form and Frame of Government which hath been long Established in the City that Power and Authority of Yours which You have committed to Your Lord Mayor your true and faithful Subject and Servant and the fit reverence and respect due to the Aldermen his Brethren who are to assist him in his Government we shall be thereby the better enabled to serve Your Majesty and constantly to render to You the Fruits of a true Obedience And as our Duty binds us we shall never cease to Bless You and Pray for You and Your Dearest Consort our gracious Queen and for this Your Royal and Princely Off-spring for Your Majesties long Life and prosperous Reign over us in Peace and Glory and with full contentment And I doubt not but every true Subject will joyn with us in this and say Amen These Expressions of Joy of Love of Loyalty and these hearty wishes and desires which I have mentioned I meet with every where from your Citizens of London they are the soft and still Musick prepared for Your Majesties Welcom and Entertainment this Day The joyful Acclamations of Your People upon the sight of your Royal Person will make it louder and all chearfully bearing their agreeing parts together shall I hope this Day make up to Your Majesty a full and pleasing Harmony To which His Majesty immediately returned this Gracious Answer Mr. Recorder I Must desire you The King's Answer to the Recorder of London's Speech because My Voice cannot reach to all those that I desire should hear Me to give most hearty thanks to all the good Citizens of London for their hearty Expressions of their Love to Me this Day And indeed I cannot sufficiently express the contentment I have received therein For now I see that all these former Tumults and Disorders have only risen from the meaner sort of People and that the Affections of the better and main part of the City have ever been Loyal and Affectionate to My Person and Government And likewise it comforts Me to see That all those misreports that have been made of Me in My absence have not the least power to do Me prejudice in your Opinions as may easily be seen by this days Expressions of Joy And now I think it fit for Me to assure you That I am returned with as
and Burdensom and must be cried out upon as great and insupportable Grievances yea though the things in themselves be never so indifferent of never so long continuance in Use and Practice and never so much desired and affected by others so that where three or four of them be in a Parish though 500 others desire the use and continuance of things long used all must be altered or taken away as Scandals and Grievances for these three or four though to the Offence of many others and what ever they will have introduced must be imposed upon all others and must by all be admitted without Scandal or Offence whereby multitudes of Godly People and well affected are in some things deprived or abridged of what they desire and take comfort in and have had so long and lawful Use and Practise of and other things imposed upon them against their Wills and Liking as if no account were to be made of them or no Liberty of Conscience left unto them Which bold Attempts of some few to arrogate to themselves and to exercise over all others what high Presumptionis it and how great a T yranny may it prove over the Minds and Consciences of Men The great increase of late of Schismaticks and Sectaries and of Persons not only separating and sequestring themselves from the Publick Assembly at Common Prayers and Divine Service but also opposing and tumultuously interrupting others in the performance thereof in the Publick Congregation the frequent and many Conventicles held amongst them and their often Meetings at all publick Conventions of Assizes Sessions Fairs Markets and other publick Assemblies their earnest labouring to sollicit and draw the People to them and the general Correspondence held among them to advance their Ends herein Of these things we cannot but take Notice and must needs express our just Fears that their Desires and Endeavors are to work some great Change and Mutation in the present State of the Church Government and in the Form of the Publick Worship of God and Divine Service and Common Prayers Of the common Grievances of the Kingdom we as others have been and are sensible and do profess that we have just Cause with Joy and Comfort to remember and with thankfulness to acknowledg the pious Care which is already taken for the Suppressing of the Growth of Popery the better supply of able and painful Ministers and the removing of all Innovations and we doubt not but in your great Wisdoms you will regulate the Rigor and Exorbitancy of the Ecclesiastical Courts to suit with the Temper of our Common Laws and the Nature and Condition of Freemen and we hope and humbly Pray that the present Form of Church Government and of Church Service and Common Prayers now Established by the Statutes of this Kingdom shall be setled and that all such as shall oppose themselves against the same or shall do or speak any thing in derogation or depraving of the said Divine Service or Book of Common Prayer may without any further Tolleration or Connivence undergo the Pains Punishment and Forfeitures due therefore and that such Care shall be taken for placing of Orthodox and Peaceable Men Lecturers in all Places whose Doctrine may tend rather to sound Instructions and Edification than lead to Schism and Faction All which We humbly Submit to your great Judgments and shall pray to God to assist and direct you from above with his heavenly Wisdom to guide and bring all your Consultations to happy Conclusions In the Commons House the Message concerning the Priests was delivered by Sir John Culpeper A Committee was appointed to prepare an Order to be presented to the House of Lords whereby the Commissioners for the Treasury may be enjoyned not to dispose of the Money received or to be received upon the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage till provision be made out of the same for the defence of the Narrow Sea Thus did they by the late Bill of Tonnage and Poundage make such a Present to His Majesty as the Biscainers do to the King of Spain when he comes into that Province who present him with a Bag of Money upon the Top of a Lance but withal inform him that he must not meddle with it The Committee which was appointed to draw up the Instructions for the Commissioners to Treat with the Scottish Lords were also Ordered To prepare Heads for a Conference with Reasons to be delivered to the Lords to induce them to joyn with this House to move His Majesty to declare that a Toleration of Religion may not be granted to the Rebels in Ireland nor in any of His Majesties Dominions This was another of those invidious Insinuations by which under a pretence of great Zeal to the Protestant Religion they did not only secretly Calumniate His Majesty as a favourer of Popery but by putting the Rebels out of all hopes of Liberty or Connivence for their Religion was one of the things which contributed to render them more desperate and to drive on the Rebellion to the utmost Extremity Thursday Decemb. 9. Message of Commons to the Lords concerning Instructions to treat with Scots for Ireland Lords Resolution upon it to acquaint the King A Message was this day brought from the House of Commons by Mr. Pym to let their Lordships know That the Commons do agree to the Addition which their Lordships made to the Instructions sent down to them Yesterday and they desire this Addition and those Instructions brought up Yesterday from the House of Commons may be annexed to the Commission Upon this the House of Lords agreed That all the Instructions shall be presented to the King and to this purpose the Earl of Bedford and the Lord Howard of Escrick were appointed presently to attend the King with them for his approbation The Earl of Bedford Returning Reported The King approves them That he had acquainted the King with the Instructions to be given to the Commissioners of both Houses who are to Treat with the Scots Commissioners and that the King after he had read them approved of them and said He would send by His Secretary to the Lord Keeper with Directions that they may be annexed to the Commission After which it was Ordered Committee for Scandalous Pamphlets revived That the Committee appointed to consider of the Printing of unlawful Books and Pamphlets shall meet on Monday next at Eleven of the Clock and that the Lord Privy Seal Lord Wharton and Lord Bruce be added to the said Committee for Printing It was this day Ordered That James Watts License to several Persons to raise Recruits for the English Captains in the Dutch Service Ensign unto the Company of Captain Francis Gregory shall have Power by Virtue of this Order to Entertain and Transport into the Low Countries for the Service of the States of Holland the number of 300 Men by way of Recruits according to former Liberty granted by His Majesty for the supplying of the said
but by Authority of Parliament and that a free Synod of this Nation * * That is from the Law which appoints it and gives the Members equal Privilege and Protection with the Members of the H. of Commons differing in the whole Constitution from the present Convocations of the Clergy now in Vse among us might be as the Petitioners apprehend of great Vse for that purpose and that not only this but all other your great Consultations might be much furthered by a more earnest and assiduous seeking of God by the joint and publick Fasting and Prayers of the whole Kingdom in these sad times so full of distractions and Hellish Conspiracies at home and bloody Cruelties of those Popish Rebels against our own Flesh and our Bones in Ireland The Petitioners humbly pray That you would vouchsafe to lay hold upon the first opportunity that your important Affairs will permit of reassuming into your further consideration their former Petition and to proceed thereupon as you shall find cause either by committing the same to the Debate and Disquisition of a free Synod or otherwise and in the mean time to become Mediators to His Gracious Majesty who could not take notice of their former Petition to this Honourable House for some relaxation in matters of Ceremonies and of reading of the whole Liturgy which as the Petitioners verily believe and hope to prove have been of late times urged further then ever the Law intended And a free Synod of Grave Learned and Judicious Divines of this Kingdom the Dominion of Wales and the Islands adjacent may be by the Authority of Parliament Indicted for the more through and fruitful Debate of the Premisses to expedite a full Reformation by the High Court of Parliament for the setling of a Godly and Religious Order and Government in this Church as your Wisdom shall find convenient And that a publick Fast may be Commanded and Religiously observed throughout the Kingdom once in every Month during your sitting in Parliament for the more effectual procuring of Gods protection of your Persons and of his blessing upon your proceedings and till the miseries of our Brethren in Ireland be happily put to an end And the Petitioners shall be ready further to attend the pleasure of this House with their Reasons of their present Suit for a free Synod of this Nation and of a new Constitution thereof differing from those now in Being when they shall be required and to pray without ceasing c. Were I to give Instructions to draw the Exact Pourtraicture of a Non-Conforming-Conforming Church Hypocrite with Peace in one hand and Fire and Sword in the other with a Conscience like a Cockle-shell that can shut so close when he is under the fear of the Law or losing his Living that you cannot Croud the smallest Scruple into it but when a tide of liberty wets him can lay himself open and display all his resentments against that Government in the Church to whose Laws he had sworn obedience and by that horrid sin of Perjury must confess himself a Villain of no manner of Conscience to Swear without due Consideration and to break his Oath without a lawful Determination that it was unlawful I would recommend this Petition as a rare Original to Copy after I cannot tell how it will relish with the Readers Palate but I must profess my self so tyred with this miserable Crambe that I am under the irresistable temptation of refreshing my self with laying aside for one moment the Gravity of an Historian and Burlesquing the intolerable Flatteries of this Petition and these Hypocritical Petitioners by making them speak Truth for in their Courtship to the Faction for whose Goust this delicate Petition was Cook't and Spiced when they recount their wonderful Atchievments in the Work of Reformation there is still I find a Supplement of some material Truth in matter of plain Fact wanting which I will make bold to add They acknowledge the Pains and Piety of the Faction manfested in many things of high concernment for the Glory of God by affronting his Solemn-publick Established Worship the Honor of the King by indeavouring to degrade him and divert him of the Beams of Majesty his Royal Prerogative the purging of the Church by purging it quite out of the Kingdom they commend their Zeal and Courage for the true Religion against all Popish Idolatry and Superstitious Innovations manifested by letting in a whole Flood of Errors Heresies Sects and Schisms at the Breach of the Banks of the Church-Government by tender Conscience in encouraging Preaching of Sedition and Disobedience to Laws Government and Governors and justling out all Praying out of the Church except the Wild Extravagant Dangerous Libelling Extempory Enthusiasms of bold and presumptuous Men who called their own acquired Art of Impudent Non-sence a gift of the Spirit as doubtless it was of that Spirit which rules in the Children of Disobedience in encouraging painful godly Ministers formerly set aside and justly for Preaching Sedition Schism and Faction for good Divinity in discountenancing bold and unmeet Men that darst Preach the Doctrine of rendring to Caesar the things of Caesar and to God the things of God that without sufficient calling presumptuously intruded into that Holy Office by only gently reproving them for the present and afterwards permitting Tagg and Ragg Godly Coblers and Gifted Tinkers Zealous Taylors and the most sordid illiterate Mechanicks to invade the Pulpit to vilifie the Petitioners with the Title of Hirelings dumb Dogs Baal 's Priests c. by Adonibezeck 's Law without Controul or Animadversion from the Honorable Faction for taking away the Tyranny of the High-Commission and Ecclesiastical Courts and setting Mens Tongues at liberty to Rail without Reason to Quarrel with their Superiors without Cause to affront them with impunity and in conclusion to Murther them Religiously and in the Fear of the Lord for their worthy Orders for removing illegal Rites and Ceremonies Superstitious and Scandalous Pictures and other Innovations and setting up in their stead the Bell and Dragon of these Mens Inventions and for bringing in the greatest Innovations a Church without a Bishop a Religion without Divine Service a Minister without Lawful Ordination a Christian without Baptism a Sacrament without Consecration and at last a Heaven without Repentance of any or all these horrid Sins and Incapacities For their Care to suppress the Irish Rebellion and Butcheries of the bloody Papists by imploying the Men and Money raised for that Service to butcher the Loyal Protestants in England who held the Popish and Malignant Doctrine that they ought to Fear God and Honor the King and die at the Feet of their Sacred Sovereign in defence of his Person Crown and Dignity against these Religious Rebels But Manum de Tabulâ I will not Tire my self and the Reader with Epitomizing their Villanies which are able to fill Volumes and with which he will find these stow'd Tuesday Decemb. 21. Message from the
then the very Act which this Parliament obtained from the King that they should not be dissolved or prorogued by the King without their own Consent which was a plain Confession that till his Majesty had in this Particular by giving the Royal Assent to that fatal Bill limited the undoubted Power of his Prerogative it was an inherent Right annexed to the Imperial Crown of this Realm that the King was the sole Judg of the Calling Continuance and Dissolution of Parliaments And though some Seditious Pens and particularly the Apostate Author of the Life of Julian the Apostate have taken great Pains to revive and furbish up this Opinion and to reflect upon his present Majesty as the Rebels of this Parliament did upon his Royal Father for breaking up of some Mutinous and Troublesome Parliaments in the beginning of his Reign which plainly shews them to be of the Temper of the ill Men of those ill times yet I think they ought to stay before they Preach this Doctrine to the People for a true Privilege of Parliament till they have got such another Act of Perpetuation in one Hand and a Sword to maintain it in the other which is the only Argument that at long run such Seditious People must have Recourse to and I hope it may be some time before such another Act will be obtained and longer before they can get the Power of the Sword to maintain it And certainly were there no other Inconveniences yet the dismal Effects which the continuance of this Parliament brought upon the King and Kingdom to the intire Ruin of the Government Laws Liberty and Property of the English Nation are sufficient to give all Loyal and Honest Subjects very terrible Apprehensions not only of the thing it self but that the Persons who revive and propagate such Opinions must have Designs to compass and effect the same Mischiefs over again which like an Inundation drowned the Kingdom in Blood by the Breach of this Bank of Royal Prerogative of the Kings being the sole Judg of the continuance and dissolving of Parliaments Mr. Glyn's Speech upon this Subject was as followeth Mr. Speaker WE sit now upon that grand business of the Breaches of the Rights and Priviledges of Parliaments which are so many and great Mr. Glyn's Speech about Breach of Priviledges Jan. 5. 1641. so carefully preserved and defended and having in former times severely punished the infringers thereof that I had thought and conceived that no Subject of what degree or dignity soever would either in their own persons or by misinforming his Majesty concerning the same would have presumed to have intrenched in the least measure upon the free Liberty Rights and very Beings of Parliaments or tending to the Breach thereof But Mr. Speaker I perceive the perverseness of divers persons in places of Authority that they dare not only presume to provoke his Majesty by their politick mis-informations but dare attempt of themselves to resist the lawful power both of the King and his high Court of Parliament Mr. Speaker These Men notwithstanding they apparently perceive that their wicked practices and malicious designs cannot take effect according to their expectation but are rejected and detected as well by his Sacred Majesty as his Lords and his whole Council dare venture to endeavour by casting aspersions and spreading abroad evil reports not only of the Members but of the Proceedings of the House of Commons against them and others of their Adherents and Favourits in their wicked and desperate Actions and Designs against their lawful Soveraign and his Liege People I conceive Mr. Speaker did these persons but remember the many Presidents yet extant of the just and deserved punishments inflicted by former Parliaments upon such Miscreants as witness the Arch-Bishop of York the Duke of Suffolk Chief Justice Belknap and the rest of that Conspiracy in the Reign of King Edward the Second they would have prejudged to themselves the like danger would follow upon them for their evil Actions Nay Mr. Speaker did these men but consider with themselves the just judgments of God that have immediately lighted upon the necks of such as have been the troublers of Kingdoms and Common-wealth whereof they have been Members as well recorded in Sacred Writ as of late times in this Kingdom yet still in fresh Memory they would have laid their hands upon their Mouths and hearts when they went about to speak or do any thing tending to the dishonour of Almighty God in innovating of his true Religion corrupting the sincere Doctrine and discipline of Christ and his Apostles as also any thing tending to the dishonour and perpetual destruction of his Royal Majesty however otherwise they may pretend the Fundamental Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom the Rights and Priviledges of Parliaments and the very being thereof but surely Mr. Speaker they are altogether benummed and stupified their Consciences dead and seared their Lives and Conversations altogether devoted to the works of darkness and impurity their desires altogether sensual carnal and devilish forgetting God kicking and spurring with maliciousness against all Piety and Godliness or else they would never have adventured to practice such things as it is too too manifest they have done Mr. Speaker I intend to be brief in that which I am to speak concerning the Breaches of the Priviledges of Parliament First To inform his Majesty of any Proceedings in the House of Commons upon any businesses whatsoever before they have concluded finished and made ready the same to present to his Majesty for his Royal Assent thereunto is a Breach of the Priviledges of Parliament Secondly To mis-inform his Majesty contrary to the Proceedings in Parliament thereby to incense and provoke him against the same is a Breach of Priviledge of Parliament Thirdly To cause or procure any Information or Accusation to be brought or preferred without the knowledge or consent of the Parliament into the House against any of the Members thereof is a Breach of Priviledge of Parliament Fourthly To apprehend any such Accused to imprison their persons to seize upon their Goods or Estates to prosecute and proceed against them to their Tryal and Judgment to Condemn or Execute them upon such Accusation without the consent or advice of the Parliament is a Breach of the Priviledges thereof Fifthly To endeavour to cast an evil opinion of such Members Accused into the hearts of his Majesties Loyal Subjects whereby they disaffecting them may be ready and willing to put in execution any Command or Warrant for their apprehension and imprisonment is a Breach of the Priviledges of Parliament Sixthly To come in open Parliament for any Officer or Serjeant to demand and arrest any such Member accused be it of high Treason or any other Crime whatsoever without the knowledge of the whole House is a Breach of the Priviledges of Parliament Seventhly to come to a Parliament sitting in free consultation assisted and guarded with Armed Men and with them be sitting the
Faithful endeavours may be any way useful we shall be most ready at all occasions to contribute the same 15th of Jan. 1641. Ja. Primrose The very same Paper Verbatim was 〈◊〉 their request presented to the Lords by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland After the reading of this Paper Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Long and Mr. Arthur Goodwin were Ordered to return thanks from the House of Commons to the Scotch Commissioners for their good Affections Exprest to this State and Parliament and likewise to desire to know of them what it is that they have sent unto his Majesty by way of Advice To which Sir Philip Stapelton brought this answer That most of the Commissioners were gone from the place of Meeting not expecting any Message from this House besides they have not as yet sent the Paper to the King by reason they could not get Post-Horses and till such time as his Majesty hath first received the same they conceive it not so fit it should be made known But upon Monday morning they make no doubt to give this House full satisfaction I know no reason I have to make the Reader stay till Monday whose Expectation may be as willing to be gratified with a sight of this Paper as the House of Commons were and therefore I present him with it as followeth To the King 's most Excellent Majesty The Humble desires of the Commissioners of his Majesties Kingdom of SCOTLAND WE your Majesties humble and faithful Subjects The Petition and advice of the Commissioners of Scotland to the King by way of Mediation considering that the Mutual Relation betwixt your Majesties Kingdoms of Scotland and England is such as they must stand or fall together and the disturbance of the one must needs disquiet and distemper the Peace of the other as has been often acknowledged by them both and especially in the late Treaty which is ratified in Parliament and confirmed by the publick Faith of the Estates of your Majesties ancient and Native Kingdom of Scotland so that they are bound to maintain the Peace and Liberties of one another being highly concerned therein as the assured means of the safety and preservation of their own And finding our selves Warranted and obliged by all means to labour to keep a right Vnderstanding betwixt your Majesty and your People to confirm that Brotherly Affection betwixt the two Nations to advance their Vnity by all such ways as may tend to the Glory of God and Peace of the Church and State of both Kingdoms and aykways to proffer our service for removing all Jealousies and mistakes which may arise betwixt your Majesty and this Kingdom and our best endeavours for the better Establishment of the Affairs and quiet of the same that both your Majesties Kingdoms of Scotland and England may be Vnited in the enjoying of their Liberties in Peace under your Majesties Scepter which is the most assured Foundation of your Majesties Honour and Greatness and of the security of your Royal Person Crown and Dignity We have taken the Boldness to shew your Majesty that we are heartily sorry and grieved to behold these Distractions which increase daily betwixt your Majesty and your People and which we conceive are entertained by the wicked Plots and Practices of Papists Prelates and their Adherents whose aim in all these Troubles has not been only to prevent all further Reformation but also to subvert the Purity and Truth of Religion within all your Majesties Kingdoms for which end their constant Endeavours have been to stir up Divisions betwixt your Majesty and your People by their Questioning the Authority of Parliaments the lawful Liberties of the Subjects and real Weakning your Majesties Power and Authority nay all upon pretence of Extending the same whereof by Gods Providence being disappointed in your Majesties Kingdom of Scotland these have now converted thir Mischievous Councels Conspiracies and Attempts to produce these distempers in your Majesties Kingdoms of England and Ireland And therefore according to our Duty to your Majesty to testifie our Brotherly Affection to this Kingdom and acquit our selves of the trust Imposed in us We do make offer of our humble Endeavours for composing of these differences And to that purpose do beseech your Majesty in these Extremities to have Recourse to the sound and faithful advice of the Honourable Houses of Parliament and to repose thereupon as the only assured and happy means to Establish the Prosperity and quiet of this Kingdom And in the depth of your Royal Wisdom to consider and prevent these Apprehensions of Fear which may possess the Hearts of your Majesties Subjects in your other Kingdoms if they shall conceive the Authority of Parliament and the Rights and Liberties of the Subject to be here called in Question And we are confident that if your Majesty shall be graciously pleased to take in good part and give Eare to these our humble and faithful Desires that the success of your Majesties Affairs howsoever perplexed shall be happy to your Majesty and joyful to all your People over whom that your Majesty may long and prosperously Reign is the Fervent and Constant Prayer of us your Majesties Faithful Subjects and Servants It was likely to come to a hopeful issue for his Majesty and all his Loyal Friends when those who had by Rebellion wrested from him so great a share of his Sovereignity and Regal Authority undertook to be Umpires and Mediators in a difference to which they were Principal Parties and to compose those differences which the Faction following their Example were resolved should be determined by no other terms of Accommodation then his Majesties parting with the Sword which Guarded his Septer and which they were resolved either to have or to force it from him by the down-right strength of a most deep rooted and formidable Rebellion But what thanks soever they had for this officious diligence from the King they received many thanks from both Houses for the affection expressed to the Kingdom in the advice which they gave the King in this Paper which was mightily to the Grace of the Faction and Tuned to the humor of the Times which charged all the Miseries and Distractions upon the King 's refusing the sound advice of his great Council the Parliament This day an Order was made in the Lords House Munday January 17. The Lo. Nettervile's Son ordered to be brought before the Lords for the bringing up to the Lords in Parliament Mr. Thomas Netterville Son to the Lord Neterville who was stayed in Chester by the Mayor of the place upon Suspicion and the Lord Admiral was Ordered to write to the Mayor thanks from the House of Lords for his care in staying the said Mr. Netterville Then the Lord Duke of Richmond Reported the King's Answer to the Message delivered to him Jan. 15th The King's Answer to the Bill for adjournment Hull c. 1. Concerning his Majesties Assent to be given to the Bill for the Adjourning of the Parliament
fruition of your future favours The fixion our Confidence in you before any other of the Peers and privy Councellors of the Kingdom doubleth this Obligation Your Lordship may therefore be pleased to acquaint the Lords Justices and Councel to be imparted unto his Sacred Majesty with our Grievances and the causes thereof the reading of which we most humbly pray and the manner of it First the Papists in the neighbouring Counties are severely puniâ—â—ed and their miseries might serve as Beacons unto us to look unto our own when our Neighbours Houses are on fire And we and other Papists are and ever will be as loyal Subjects as any in the King's Dominions For manifestation whereof we send herein inclosed an Oath solemnly taken by us which as it received indelible Impression in our hearts shall be sign'd with our hand and seal'd with our Blood Secondly There is an incapacity in the Papists of Honour and the Immunities of true Subjects the royal Marks of distributive Justice and a disfavour in the Commutative which rais'd Strangers and Forreigners whose valour and vertue was invincible when the old Families of the English and the Major part of us the meer Irish ddi swim in blood to serve the Crown of England and when Offices should call Men of worth Men without Worth and merit obtain them Thirdly The Statute of the 2 Eliz. of force in this Kingdom against us and they of our Religion doth a little disanimate us and the rest Fourthly The avoidance of Grants of our Lands and Liberties by Quirks and Quiddities of the Law without reflecting upon the Kings Royal and real Intention for confirming our Estates his Broad Seal being the pawn betwâ—â—t his Majesty and his people Fifthly The restraint of purchase in the meer Irish of Lands in the Escheated Counties and the taint and blemish of them and their posterities doth more discontent them than that plantation Rule for they are brought to that Exigent of poverty in these late times that they must be sellers and not buyers of Land And we conceive and humbly offer to your Lordships consideration Principiis obsta that in the beginning of this Commotion Your Lordship as it is hereditary for you will be a Physitian to cure this Disease in us and by our Examples it will doubtless beget the like auspicious scucess in all other parts of the Kingdom For we are of opinion it is one sickness and one pharmach will suffice Sublata causa tollitur Effectus And it will be recorded that you will do service unto God King and Countrey And for salving every the aforsaid Soars your Lordship is to be an humble Suitor in our behalf and of the rest of the Papists that out of the abundance of his Majesties Clemency there may be an Act of Oblivion and general pardon without restitution or Account of Goods taken in the time of this Commotion a liberty of our Religion a repeal of all Statutes formerly made to the contrary and not by Proclamation but Parliamentary way A Charter free Denizen in ample manner for meer Irish All which in succeeding Ages will prove an Union in all his Majesties Dominions instead of Division a Comfort in Desolation and a Happiness in perpetnity for an eminent Calamity And this being granted there will be all things Quae sunt Caesaris Caesari and Quae sunt Dei Deo And it was by the Poet written though he be prophane in other matters yet in this prophetically Divisum Imperium cum Jove Caesar habet All which for this present we to leave your Honourable Care And we will as we ever did and do remain Your very humble and assured ever to be Commanded Hugh mac Gillernow Farrall James Farrall Bryan Farrall Readagh Farrall Edmond mac Cael Farrall John Farrall in Carbuy Garret Farrall Lisagh mac Conel Farrall Bryan mac William Farrall James mac Trig Farrall his Mark Morgan mac Carbry Farrall Donnagh mac Carbry Farrall Richard mac Conel Farrall William Mac James Farrall James Farrall Taghna mac Rory Farral Cormack mac Rory Farrall Conock mac Bryne Farrall John mac Edmund Farrall John Farrall Roger mac Bryne Farrall Barnaby Farrall Redeagh mac Lisagh Farrall Connor Oge mac Connor Farrall Edmond mac Connor Farrall Cahel mac Bryne Farrall Before the Parliament broke up the Popish Lords deputed the Lord Dillon to go into England to carry over their Desires to the King and to represent the Means which they thought fittest for the suppressing of the Rebellion and he with the Lord Taaf imbarqued for England but by stress of Weather the Vessel was driven into Scotland and they took their way by Land for London But the Parliament having notice of their coming they were by Order of the Commons seized upon and brought up in safe Custody and all their Papers searched and Examined So unwilling it seems was the Faction that any Address should be made to the King or that any Steps should be made towards the reducing that Kingdom to his Majesties Obedience by any sort of Treaty or Accommodation By this procedure though they gained upon the good Opinion of the People whose favor they most industriously courted and to whom nothing sounded more pleasant then what seemed to express a Hatred and Detestation of the Irish Rebellion and Religion yet certainly was it a means of running the Rebels into such Extremities as dispair of Mercy are wont to produce in those who have transgressed the Bounds of Law and Duty and know their Lives and Estates without it to be forfeited to Justice But for the better understanding of this and some other Particulars the Reader may peruse the following Extracts of some Letters from the Board in Ireland which I found among the old Papers of the Clerk of the Parliaments Office Extract of a Letter of the Lords Justices and Council of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant dated the 25th of November 1641. THe Rebels in the County of Wexford increasing daily Extract of divers Letters of the Lords Justices Council of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant received the 6 of December by Mr. Fitz-Girald read Dec. 10. 1641. have taken the Castles of Arickloe Limbrick the Lord Esmond 's House and Fort-Chichester places of good Strength and Importance The Rebels also in the County of Wickloe have laid Siege to his Majesties Castle of Wickloe those in that Castle were in fight with them Yesterday what the issue is we yet hear not and some of those Rebels in the County of Wickloe have dared to come within four Miles of this City and swept away great droves of Cattle And in both Counties as well Wickloe as Wexford all the Castles and Houses of the English with all their substance are come into the hands of the Rebels and the English with their Wives and Children strip'd naked and banished thence by their fury and rage The Rebels in the County of Longford do still increase also as well in their Numbers as in their
Violence The Ulster Rebels are grown so strong as they have sufficient Men to leave behind them in the places they have gotten Northward and to lay Siege to some not yet taken as Emiskillin in the County of Fermanagh and Agher in Tirone and yet to come many thousands to besiege Drogheda in view whereof within 3 or 4 Miles they have stood with their Colours flying since Sunday the 21st of November expecting more Forces from Cavan and that way to gird the Town round about They have already taken Mellifont the Lord Moor 's House though with the loss of about 120 Men of theirs and there in cold blood they murdered Ten of those that manfully defended that place We hear also that the whole County of Lowth both Gentry and others are joyned with the Rebels and that the Sheriff and John Bellew Esq is likewise with them this County being one of the five of the English Pale having formerly still been true to the Crown In the County of Meath also being the most considerable of the five all the Common People and many of the younger Sons of the Gentry beyond the River of Boyne Twenty Miles from Dublin do either joyn with the Rebels or otherwise rob and spoil the English Protestants till within Six Miles of Dublin We sent to Drogheda 1100 Foot and 3 Troops of Horse and caused Four other Foot Companies to be raised there and this day we send thither 600 Foot more raw Men and unexperienced and another Troop of Horse And we provide the best we may for the defence of this City yet most of the Men we have are not Trained nor Exercised and many of them are Irish for others we have not and we fear that when we come to blows many of those will forsake their Commanders and side with the Rebels as they have done in the Counties of Cavan and Wickloe where of Companies of 40 Men of our Soldiers not above six or seven stayed on our side but took part with the Enemy Our main indeavour is to preserve this City and Castle for his Majesty The Rebels have now framed an Oath which they Administer to all that joyn with them the Copy whereof you have here inclosed as it was taken out of some Copies scattered abroad for all Mens view To conclude we renew our Suit for our Supplies of 100000 l. in Money 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse in present and Arms and Munition for them and for the Stores and Places of Defence not yet lost and that so much Money Men and Arms as are already gotten may be sent onward and the rest to be sent after and that the third part of the Shot be Callivers and the other two parts bastard Muskets as more suiting with the Service of this Kingdom and if those Supplies be not immediately sent away the Kingdom will be in danger to be lost Extract of a Letter of the said Lords Justices and Council of the 26th of November to the said Lord Lieutenant WE have received information That the Lord Viscount Dillon who Two Months since was admitted to be a Member of this Board and is now imployed by the Lords House of Parliament here to attend his Majesty carries along with him or is to have sent after him some Writing Signed by many Papists of the Nobility and Gentry of this Kingdom which Writing as we are Informed contains a profession of Loyalty to his Majesty and an offer of themselves by their Power to reprieve this Rebellion without Aids of Men from England which if there be any such his Lordship though a Member of this Board hath not Communicated with us the Justices who ought to be made acquainted with what may have Relation to the Safety of the Kingdom But if the Lord Dillon 's Counsel shall tend any way to stay the Succours intended to be sent us out of England or to entertain his Majesty with a belief that those here will raise sufficient Force to reduce this Kingdom we humbly beseech leave to declare our Opinions herein That is that if our expected Succours from England be kept from us undoubtedly the English and Protestants of this whole Kingdom will be either put to the Sword or be forced to forsake the Kingdom and the sole Power and Sway in all Magistracy must necessarily fall into the hands of the Irish which will at their own pleasure shake off the Government of England and set up their Idolatrous Religion and prove the most dangerous Enemies to England We do confide so much in the Wisdom of His Majesty and the Parliament of England and your Lordships prudent Conduct of a matter so highly importing the State as that they will not to save a little charge expose both Kingdoms to such Dangers after the expence of so much English Blood and Treasure as hath been spent to gain this Kingdom nor will the charge be lost in overcoming this Rebellion by the Wisdom and Valour of England when it shall be abundantly recompenced not only in the settlement of a more firm Peace and Safety to England but also in raising a greater and more considerable Revenue here to the Crown then formerly out of the Estates of the Authors of the mischief The Rebels keep from us all Accesses to our Markets to starve us as they say nor can we help it for want of Men to send abroad several ways So it will be absolutely necessary that the Magazine of Victuals on the English Sea-Coasts on this side be fully stored with all speed that Supplies be hastened hither to Dublin A Regiment of a 1000 Men raised in Munster by Colonel Garret Barry for Spain was Commanded to Disband by the Lord President but they continue still as they were increasing in their numbers We have not yet sufficient force to compel them and it is doubted that he expects there some Arms from Foreign Parts so as it appears necessary that the Shipping designed for guarding those Coasts be hastened away speedily Extract of a Letter of the Lords Justices and Council to the Lord Lieutenant Dated the 27th of November 1641. WE hear that some have given out that our Dangers here are not so great as we declare which misinformations if they should gain credit there might cause the lessening or retarding our Supplies which perhaps may be the aim of those that have so misinformed if any can be so wicked and though we hope that such reports cannot be of equal value or estimation with the joynt representations of this State yet we crave leave to declare that the Rebellions are such and so great as we have formerly represented and far more dangerous then Words can express and we affirm That if those Supplyes come not speedily the Danger will be found far more lamentable to both Kingdoms and we beseech that no Credit be given to the contrary The Disturbances are now grown so general that in most Places and even round about this City within 4 Miles of us not the
Estate sufficient to maintain his Quality in the Rank of Reputation which he held in the World but he was also born with a Mind so Great and Generous and a Genius so Elevated above the Lower Orb wherein he moved as could not suffer him to continue long in that safe Obscurity of a private Gentleman King James dying left his Son a Discontented State and an Empty Treasury two Misfortunes then which no Prince can well be supposed to have greater Necessitous Princes having ever been forced to part with a great measure of their Prerogative to inable them to keep and support the remainder and King Charles the First coming to the Crown found it stuck with Thorns instead of many of those Jewels which had adorned the Temples of his Royal Predecessors To Extricate himself out of those Difficulties he Summons a Parliament and layes before them the Necessities of the Crown and demands their assistance by Supplies of Money for managing the Palatinate Warr in which they had involved his Father and which with the Crown was devolved upon him but the Commons instead of Money presented him with Two Petitions one about Religion the other about Grievances and in the Conclusion they fell severely upon the Duke of Buckingham who by reason of the Great Favour of his Prince was fallen under the Popular Envy and Hatred and the Debates running very high the King Dissolved the Parliament and a Second being in the same strain and no Money to be had had also the same period of which the Reader will receive a more full Account in the Introduction to these Historical Collections whither to avoid Repetition he is referred The Necessities of the King daily increasing recourse was had to Extraordinary Methods of raising Money and among the Rest that of Loan by virtue of a Warrant under the Privy Seal to Gentlemen of Estates was made Use of and one of these Seals being sent to Sir Thomas Wentworth for 40 l he declined the Payment of the Money as intrenching upon the Property of the Subject whereupon he was confined as were several other Gentlemen upon the same Occasion By which suffering he became Exceeding Popular and look't upon as a Confessor for the Liberty and Property of the People and in the Following Parliament whereof he was a Member and in which he began to display his great Parts and Abilities upon this Occasion he came to be much taken notice of and observed even at the Court as a Person of uncommon Abilities and the gaining of him to the Kings Interest was by those who managed the Publique Affairs thought might contribute much to the advancement of the Kings Interest and Service But how unsuccessful this Procedure of gaining Men of Ability by Preferments and rebating the Edge of Popular Spirits by Honors and Advancements to Places of Trust proved to the Interest of the King not only the Event but Reason upon which it is Naturally Founded does most plainly manifest for Ambition or the natural Desire of Honour becomes hereby a perfect Hydra and the Prince cannot sooner remove one Head but immediately another rises in the place and at the same time that a Popular Opponent is converted by Court Preferment he becomes the Envy of all those whose Party he seems to have abandoned and the greatest Abilities and real Services he shall render to his Benefactor will not only be ill represented but by how much the greater his Interest Power and Abilities are by so much will he be Esteemed more dangerous and in proportion both Envy'd and Hated However it seems these were not the Sentiments at that time of those who managed the Affairs of State for a Train was laid for an Interview between Sir Richard Weston then Lord Treasurer and afterwards Earl of Portland and Sir Thomas Wentworth which being Effected the Interview begot an acquaintance and the acquaintance in a little time grew to a most Firm and Solid Friendship Great Minds being with little Difficulty invited to and Established in those Generous Friendships which are begotten not out of Wantonness or trifling formality but by the inward harmony and likeness which Noble Souls quickly discover in Each other It happened that in some of the divertive Entertainments of their agreeable Conversation these Two Great Men falling upon the Discourse of the Popular Humor in the Commons House which the Lord Treasurer wisely judged could never either portend or promote any real advantage to the Nation Sir Thomas declared himself to be in his Judgment an absolute Enemy to the consequences and dreadful Effects which usually attend Popular Commotions and disturbances which generally produce the very same or worse miseries then those which they pretend to redress and pursuing his ingenious discourse he offered some Expedients so rational and persuasive towards a Mediation and Reconcilement of the present Differences and some things so apposite to the present juncture of Affairs as Extremely raised the value of his Prudence and Wisdom in the Esteem of the Lord Treasurer who daily discovered more and more the penetrating Abilities of his Mind mingled with a solid firmness of Reason and Judgment It will easily be believed that the Lord Treasurer having as he could not but conclude found a Jewel fit for a Princes Cabinet was not backward in representing Sir Thomas Wentworth to his Majesty with a Character no ways disadvantagious to him nor was there any great difficulty to introduce him into his Majesties Esteem and Favour who was already possessed with a belief and knowledg of his Merit and how serviceable a Person of his Interest and Qualifications might be to his Affairs He was no sooner come under the warm influence of Majesty but he was made sensible of the Beams of Honour which are derived from the Royal Fountain of it and in a little time he was created Baron Wentworth and the Ascendant of his wisdom daily gaining upon his Majesties Favour and Esteem he was shortly advanced to the Honour of Viscount Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse made one of his Majesties most Honorable Privy-Council Lord Lieutenant of the County of York and Lord President of the Court and Council of the North. And here give me leave to mention a little and in appearance a trifling accident of Honour which proved the great if not the only occasion of his Ruin among the rest of his Honours he had the Title of Baron of Raby an Honour to which Sir Henry Vane one of his Majesties Secretaries of State who was possessed of the Castle of Raby and the Demeasns thereunto belonging had some pretensions and was not a little ambitious of but being overshadowed by this lofty and spreading Cedar he was so stung with the disappointment and so thirsty of Revenge that though he warily smothered his Resentments yet he was ever an Enemy to this Noble Lord and as it appeared for his sake to his Royal Master and as it may from hence be not improbably conjectured judging himself far more
and Goodness My Lords they are the Beauty of the Soul they are the Perfection of all created Natures they are the Image and Character of God upon the Creatures This Beauty Evil Spirits and Evil Men have lost but yet there are none so wicked but they desire to march under the shew and shadow of it though they hate the reality of it This unhappy Earl now the Object of your Lordships Justice hath taken as much care hath used as much cunning to set a face and countenance of Honesty and Justice upon his Actions as he hath been negligent to observe the Rules of Honesty in the Performance of all these Actions My Lords it is the greatest baseness of Wickedness that it dares not look in his own Colours nor be seen in its natural Countenance But Virtue as it is amiable in all respects so the least is not this That it puts a Nobleness it puts a Bravery upon the Mind and lifts it above Hopes and Fears above Favour and Displeasure it makes it always uniform and constant to it self The Service Commanded me and my Colleagues here is to take off those Vizards of Truth and Vprightness which hath been sought to be put upon this Cause and to shew you his Actions and his Intentions in their own natural Blackness and Deformity My Lords He hath put on a Vizard of Truth in these words wherein he says That he should be in his Defence more careful to observe Truth than to gain Advantage to himself He says He would endure any thing rather than be saved by Falshood It was a noble and brave Expression if it were really true My Lords He hath likewise put on the Vizard of Goodness on his Actions when he desires to recite his Services in a great many Particulars as if they were Beneficial to the Common-wealth and State whereas we shall prove them Mischievous and Dangerous It is left upon me My Lords to take off these Vizards and Appearances of Truth and Goodness in that part of his Answer which is the Preamble And that I shall do with as much Faithfulness and Brevity as I can 1. The First thing My Lords that I shall observe in the Preamble is this That having recited all those great and honourable Offices which he hath done under his Majesty he is bold to affirm That he hath been Careful and Faithful in the Execution of them all My Lords If he might be his own Witness and his own Judge I doubt not but he would be Acquitted It is said in the Proverbs of the Adulterous Woman That she wipes her mouth and says she had done no Evil. Here is a wiping of the mouth here is a verbal expression of Honesty But My Lords the foulness and unjustness will never be wiped off neither from his Heart nor from his Actions I mean for the time past God may change him for the time to come That is the first thing I observe 2. My Lords In the second place out of his Apologetical Preamble I shall observe this He doth magnifie his own Endeavours in five particulars 1. That he hath Endeavoured the maintenance of Religion I may miss in words I shall not miss in sense 2. That he hath Endeavoured the Honour of the King 3. The Encrease of his Revenue 4. The Peace and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom 5. The Quiet and Peace of the People These are his five particulars and I shall give a short Answer to every one of them 1. For Religion My Lords we say and we shall prove that he hath been diligent indeed to favour Innovations to favour Superstitions to favour the Incroachments and Vsurpations of the Clergy But for Religion it never received any advantage by him nay a great deal of hurt 2. For the Honour of the King My Lords We say it is the Honour of the King that He is the Father of His People that He is the Fountain of Justice and it cannot stand with His Honour and Justice to have His Government Stain'd and Polluted with Tyranny and Oppression 3. For the Encrease of His Revenue It is true there may be some Addition of Sums but we say There is no Addition of Strength nor Wealth because in those parts where it hath been increased this Earl hath taken the greatest share himself And when he hath spoiled and ravined on the People he hath been content to yield up some part to the King that he might with more security enjoy the rest 4. For the Strength and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom My Lords In a time of Peace he hath let in upon us the Calamities of War Weakness Shame and Confusion 5. And for the Quiet of the Subjects he hath been an Incendiary he hath Armed us amongst our selves and made us weak and naked to all the World besides This is that I shall answer to the second Head of his Apology 3. The Third is this My Lords That by his means many good and wholesome Laws have been made since his Government in Ireland Truly My Lords if we should consider the particulars of these Laws some of them will not be found without great Exception But I shall make another Answer good Laws nay the best Laws are no advantage when Will is set above Law when the Laws have force to bind and restrain the Subject but no force to Relieve and Comfort him 4. He says in the Fourth place He was a means of calling a Parliament not long after he came to his Government My Lords Parliaments without Parliamentary Liberties are but a fair and plausible way into Bondage That Parliament had not the Liberties of a Parliament Sir Pierce Crosby for speaking against a Bill in the Commons House was sequestred from the Council-Table and Committed to Prison Sir John Clotworthy for the same Cause was threatned that he should lose a Lease that he had Mr. Barnewell and two other Gentlemen were threatned they should have Troops of Horse put upon them for speaking in the House Proxies by dozens were given by some of his Favourites And My Lords Parliaments coming in with these Circumstances they be Grievances Mischiefs and Miseries no works of Thanks or Honour 5. The Fifth is That he hath been a means to put off Monopolies and other Projects that would have been Grievous and Burdensome to the Subjects if he had hated the Injustice of a Monopoly or the Mischief of a Monopoly he would have hated it in himself he himself would have been no Monopolist Certainly My Lords It was not the love of Justice nor the Common Good that moved him And if he were moved by any thing else he had his Reward It may be it was because he would have no man gripe them in the Kingdom but himself his own Harvest-Crop would have been less if he had had sharers It may be it was because Monopolies hinder Trade he had the Customs and the benefit of the Customs would have been less when we know the
ready to assist His Majesty in any other way Sir Robert King deposed to Sir George Ratcliff's words about 30000 men and 400000 l and that the King could not want Money Sir Rob. King he had an Army The Lord Ranulagh deposed to the same Effect concerning Sir George Radcliff Lord Ranulagh Sir Tho. Barrington deposed Sir Thomas Barrington That on private discourse about the Parliament Sir George Wentworth said The Commonwealth was sick of Peace and will not be well till it be Conquered again Sir Robert King further said That the Lord Ranulagh was displeased at Sir George Ratcliff 's words conceiving it was an intention to raise Money forcibly in England and that they must turn their Swords upon them from whom they were descended and cut their Throats for their own Safety which the Earl confirmed by offering to sell the said Lord his Estate in Ireland though he thought they would be quieter there than in England From whence the Managers inferred his Design was against England To prove this Design Sir Tho. Jermin deposed Sir Thomas Jermin That he heard my Lord Strafford say something of the Parliaments forsaking the King The Earl of Bristol deposed The Earl of Bristol That discoursing of the Distractions of the Times the Mutiny of the Soldiers and Danger of a War with Scotland he proposed the Summoning a new Parliament as the best way to prevent those Desperate Vndertakings which discourse and his Reasons my Lord Strafford seemed not to dislike but said He thought it not counselable at that time in regard of the slow Proceedings of Parliaments and the real and pressing Dangers and that the Parliament had refused Supplies and therefore the King was to provide for the Safety of the Kingdom Salus Reipublicae being Suprema Lex and that the King must not suffer himself to be mastered by the stubborness and undutifulness of his people or rather Stubberness and disaffection of some particular men meaning some Members of Parliament as he conceives being discoursing of the Parliament The Lord Newborough deposed That he heard words to this Effect Lord Newborough That seeing the Parliament had not supplyed the King His Majesty might take other courses for Defence of the Kingdom But thô he cannot swear the Earl spake these words Earl of Holland he verily believes he heard him speak something to that purpose The Earl of Holland deposed much to the same Purport Then they proceeded to the 23. Article and the Examination of the Earl of Northumberland was read That in case of Necessity for Defence of the Kingdom if the People refuse to Supply the King the King is absolved from Rules of Government and that every thing is to be done for the Preservation of the King and his People and that by some discourses to His Majesty he believes if the King was not supplyed by Parliament some Course was intended to raise Money by Extraordinary wayes but that the Irish Army was to land in the West of Scotland and he hath not heard that these Forces were to be imployed in England to compel or awe the Subjects to pay Taxes imposed Sir Henry Vane deposed Sir Hen. Vane That upon debate of the Question Whether Offensive or Defensive War the Earl said Your Majesty having tryed all wayes and being refused in case of Extream Necessity for the Safety of the Kingdom you are loose and absolved from all Rules of Government you are acquitted before God and Man You have an Army in Ireland you may imploy it to reduce this Kingdom But he will not interpret whether my Lord meant England or Scotland but afterwards he said positively to reduce this Kingdom applying it to England Mr. Whitlock summed up the Evidence That it was clear my Lord of Strafford had a strong Design and Endeavour to Subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of England and to bring in an Army upon us to force this Kingdom to submit to an Arbitrary Power That he would not aggravate these words which were to allay them having in them more Bitterness and Horror than he is able to Express After some little pause The Earl's Defence the Earl made his Defence And first to the Earl of Traquair's Deposition the said Earl sayes That it was the Resolution of the Council-Board and that he gave his Vote among the other Lords That if the Commissioners of Scotland gave not Satisfaction the King might put himself into a posture of War So that his Opinion was the same with the rest and he thinks himself in great Safety having the Concomitant Opinion of so many wiser Persons than himself And for the Earl of Moreton 's Deposition he hopes when the Council of England had resolved it it was no great Crime for him to say That the unreasonable Demands of Subjects in Parliament was a good ground for the King to put himself into a posture of Defence and for his saying it was not Religion but the Root of Government they strook at that he thinks he and every man that thought so had reason to say as he did As to Sir H. Vane the War being resolved and whether Offensive or Defensive the Question he hopes it is not Treasonable for a Privy Councellor to give his Opinion according to his Conscience to do so being their Duty and according to their Oaths and that he was as free to give his Reasons one way as any other person another As to the seizing the Ships Barnwell 's Testimony is only by hearsay but he will inform their Lordships by proof that the Scots Ships were stayed by the Lord Admiral 's Warrant which Mr. Slingsby attested so that the Earl said it might appear he was no such Stirrer or Incendiary between the King and his Subjects as he was represented To the 21 Article and the Lord Primate's Examination about the King 's using his Prerogative it is but singularis testis and only in way of Argument but that the words fairly construed and clearly understood have no ill sence for the King may use his Prerogative as he pleases because the King's Pleasure is always just and to think the King will use his Prerogative otherwise were a high Offence or to think he will use his Prerogative otherwise then as befits a Christian and Pious King To my Lord Conway 's Testimony That the King might help himself though it were against their Will He answered That to help a man's self is Natural for Self is the last Creature that leaves any person and what is natural to every man is so to the King who is accountable not only for Himself but his People To Mr. Secretary Vane 's Testimony That if the Parliament should not succeed he would be ready to assist His Majesty any other way He sees not where the heynousness or venom of the words is to endanger his Life and Honor and he conceives Mr. Treasurer said as much and the Wayes the King could command
I remember Lastly in farther taking away of this Testimony I have proved it by a great many Witnesses beyond all exception that there was never any such intendment of the bringing this Army into England nay that the Design was quite otherwise and this hath been apparently cleared before your Lordships By the Testimony of my Lord of Northumberland Marquess of Hamilton Sir Thomas Lucas and Mr. Slingsby And might have been further justifi'd by the Testimony of my Lord of Ormond President of Munster and Sir John Burlace Master of the Ordnance in Ireland if they had been here to have been produced So that all these laid together the strong and clear proof on my part the producing of a single Witness which by the Proviso of 1 Edw. 6. cannot rise in Judgment against any man for High-Treason I trust all these laid together I shall appear to your Lordships clear and free from these two points whereupon they enforce me to be within the compass of Treason by the Statute alleadged The Third Treason that is laid to my Charge is upon the 27th Article where Four Musquettiers being sent to Egton by Sergeant Major Yaworth to call for their Eight pence a day is prest upon me as a Levying of War upon the King and His People and to be High-Treason upon the Statute of 25 E. 3. These be wonderful Wars if we have no greater Wars then such as four men are able to raise by the Grace of God we shall not sleep very unquietly But How do they prove this to be done by me they produce to your Lordships the Warrant of Sir William Pennyman but had no Warrant at all of mine to shew Sir William Pennyman doth not alledge any Warrant of mine to that purpose he speaks of a General Warrant wherein I and the Deputy-Lieutenants joyn for the paying of the Fortnights pay as they call it and that is very true but that I should give Warrant to Levy by Soldiers no such thing is proved no such thing is shewed no such thing is alleadged by Sir William Pennyman that best knew it and should do it in his own Justification if there were such a thing but on the other side I must humbly beseech your Lordships to mind you what a clear and full proof I made thereof to you till you were weary though I think I I could have continued it a year longer if need had been that there was nothing done by me in the Levying of the first Months pay or the second Fortnights pay but with full consent of the Country nothing being of Constraint nothing being of force put upon them The Second Point was a Warrant shewed to your Lordships or at least pretended from Sir Edward Osborne the Vice-President wherein he charges them to obey and persue the substance and direction of his Warrant on pain of Death and this must likewise be laid to me My Lords I confess I have faults enough more than a good many though I trust neither so crying nor grievous as some would pretend them to be but Faults I have more then too many I need not take nor add to my self other Mens but whether this be a Fault or no I cannot undertake to Judge But certainly I am in no Fault for I was at when this Warrant issued from Mr. Vice-President and I dare say he is a Gentleman so worthy and noble and so great a Lover of Truth that let him be examined upon Oath if he shall not absolutely clear me from Privity or Direction of it I so much rely on him that I will be thought Guilty before your Lordships for this Charge Now my Lords having gone over all that first part which I thought fit to apply my self to and that is Statute-Treason There is no Statute-Treasons in the whole Charge nor colour or pretence thereof save onely that of Newcastle which was waved In these my Lords I hope I am clear before your Lordships and sure I am they give me little disquiet for in good faith I am clear in my own poor Judgment Then comes in the second Condition of Treason in the Charge and that is Constructive Treason and it is laid down in the first Article of the General Charge For my Lords I must tell you the First Articles exhibited are Grounds and Foundations whereupon the rest are gathered and to which they resort and apply themselves severally I do conceive my self in a manner by themselves clear of seven of these for they have in a manner relinquished Five of them So that the First Article is the main Article whereupon I must be touched and that is laid in the Charge thus That I have Trayterously endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of the Realms of England and Ireland and have by Trayterous Words Councils and Actions declared the same and have advised His Majesty to Compel his Subjects to submit thereunto by force My Lords I must confess I have many times with my self considered with wonder at the Wisdom of our Ancestors that set the Pillars of this Monarchy with that singular Judgment and Providence that I have ever observed that so oft as either the Prerogative of the Crown or Liberty of the Subject Ecclesiastical or Temporal Powers exceed those modest bounds set and appointed for them by the sobriety and moderation of former times the exercise of it over-turn'd to the Prejudice and to the Detriment of the Publick Weale all the Strings of this Government and Monarchy have been so perfectly tuned through the skill and attention of our Fore-Fathers that if you wind any of them any thing higher or let them lower you shall infallibly interrupt the sweet accord that ought to be entertained of King and People With this Opinion I had the honour to sit many years in the Commons House and this Opinion I have carry'd along with me exactly and intirely for Fourteen Years in the King's Service ever Resolving in my heart Stare super vias antiquas to promote with equal care the Prerogative of the Crown and the Liberty of the Subject to Introduce the Laws of England into Ireland ever setting before my self a Joynt and Individual well-being of King and People for either they must be both or neither which made my Misfortune the greater to be now in my Gray Hairs charged as an under-worker against that Government a Subverter of that Law I wost affected and a Contriver against that Religion to the truth whereof I would Witness by the Sealing of it with my Blood My Lords As to the latter part concerning my Religion they have quitted me and I have nothing to answer to that because it is waved and I trust my Lords I shall clear my self in the first part concerning my being a Subverter of the Fundamental Laws that I shall stand clear to your Lordships Judgments in that Case My Lords This Subversion must be by Words by Councils and by Actions in Ireland and in England My Lords
operation upon the courage of a Nation by embasing the hearts of the People A servile condition does for the most part beget in men a slavish temper and disposition Those that live so much under the Whip and the Pillory and such servile Engines as were frequently used by the Earl of Strafford they may have the dregs of Valour Sullenness and Stubborness which may make them prone to mutinies and discontents But those Noble and Gallant affections which put men to brave designs and attempts for the preservation or enlargement of a Kingdom they are hardly capable of Shall it be Treason to embase the King's Coin though but a piece of Twelve-pence or Six-pence and must it not needs be the effect of a greater Treason to embase the Spirits of his Subjects and to set a Stamp and character of Servitude upon them whereby they shall be disabled to do any thing for the Service of the King and Commonwealth The Fifth Consideration is this that the exercise of this Arbitrary Government in times of suddain danger by the invasion of an enemy will disable His Majesty to preserve himself and His Subjects from that danger This is the only pretence by which the Earl of Strafford and such other mischievous Counsellors would induce his Majesty to make use of it and if it be unfit for such an occasion I know nothing that can be alledged in maintainance of it When War threatens a Kingdom by the coming of a Forraign Enemy it is no time then to discontent the people to make them weary of the present Government and more inclinable to a change The supplies which are to come in this way will be unready uncertain there can be no assurance of them no dependance upon them either for time or proportion And if some Money be gotten in such a way the distractions divisions distempers which this course is apt to produce will be more prejudicial to the publique safety than the Supply can be advantagious to it and of this we have had sufficient experience the last Summer The Sixth That this crime of Subverting the Laws and introducing an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government is contrary to the Pact and Covenant betwixt the King and his People that which was spoken of before was the legal union of Allegiance and Protection this is a personal union by mutual agreement and stipulation confirmed by Oath on both sides The King and his People are obliged to one another in the nearest relations he is a Father and a Child is called in Law pars patris He is the Husband of the Commonwealth they have the same interests they are inseparable in their condition be it good or evil he is the Head they are the Body there is such an incorporation as cannot be dissolved without the destruction of both When Justice Thorp in Edward the III. time was by the Parliament condemned to death for bribery the reason of that Judgment is given because he had broke the King's Oath not that he had broke his own Oath but he had broken the King's Oath that solemn and great Obligation which is the security of the whole Kingdom If for a Judge to take a small summ in a private Cause was adjudged capital how much greater was this offence whereby the Earl of Strafford hath broken the King's Oath in the whole course of his Government in Ireland to the prejudice of so many of his Majesties Subjects in their Lives Liberties and Estates and to the danger of all the rest The Doctrine of the Papists Fides non est servanda cum Haereticis is an abominable Doctrine yet that other Tenet more peculiar to the Jesuits is more pernicious whereby Subjects are discharged from their Oath of Allegiance to their Prince whensoever the Pope pleaseth This may be added to make the third no less mischievous and destructive to humane Society than either of the rest That the King is not bound by that Oath which he hath taken to observe the Laws of the Kingdom but may when he sees cause lay Taxes and Burthens upon them without their consent contrary to the Laws and Liberties if the Kingdom This hath been Preached and published by divers And this is that which bath been practised in Ireland by the Earl of Strafford in his Government there and endeavoured to be brought into England by his Counsel here The Seventh is this It is an offence that is contrary to the end of Government The end of Government was to prevent oppressions to limit and restrain the excessive power and violence of great men to open the passages of Justice with indifferency towards all This Arbitrary Power is apt to induce and encourage all kind of insolencies Another end of the Government is to preserve men in their Estates to secure them in their Lives and Liberties but if this design had taken effect and could have been setled in England as it was practised in Ireland no man would have had more certainty in his own then Power would have allowed him but these two have been spoken of before there are two behind more important which have not yet been touched It is the end of Government that Vertue should be cherish'd Vice supprest but where this Arbitrary and unlimited Power is set up a way is open not only for the security but for the advancement and encouragement of evil such men as are apt for the execution and maintenance of this Power are only capable of preferment and others who will not be instruments of any unjust commands who make a conscience to do nothing against the Laws of the Kingdom and Liberties of the Subject are not only not passable for employment but subject to much jealousie and danger It is the end of Government that all Accidents and Events all Counfels and Designs should be improved to the publique good But this Arbitrary Power is apt to dispose all to the maintainance of it self The wisdom of the Council-Table The authority of the Courts of Justice The industry of all the Officers of the Crown have been most carefully exercised in this the Learning of our Divines the Jurisdiction of our Bishops have been moulded and disposed to the same effect which though it were begun before the Earl of Strafford's imployment yet it hath been exceedingly furthered and advanced by him Under this colour and pretence of maintaining the King's Power and Prerogative many dangerous practises against the peace and safety of the Kingdom have been undertaken and promoted The increase of Popery and the favours and encouragement of papists have been and still are a great grievance and danger to the Kingdom The innovation in matters of Religion the Usurpations of the Clergy the manifold burthens and taxations upon the people have been a great cause of our present distempers and disorders and yet those who have been chief furtherers and actors of such mischiefs have had their Credit and Authority from this that they were forward to maintain this
but I confess this unfortunate thing forth of the way towards that blessed agreement which God I trust shall ever establish between You and Your Subjects Sir My Consent shall more acquit you herein to God than all the World can do besides To a willing man there is no injury done and as by Gods Grace I forgive all the World with a calmness and meekness of infinite contentment to my dislodging Soul So Sir to you I can give the life of this world with all the chearfulness imaginable in the just acknowledgment of your exceeding favours and only beg that in Your Goodness You would vouchsafe to cast Your Gracious regard upon my poor Son and his Three Sisters less or more and no otherwise than as their in present unfortunate Father may hereafter appear more or less guilty of this death God long preserve Your Majesty Tower May 4. 1641. Your Majesties most Faithful And Humble Subject And Servant STRAFFORD And for suppressing the Tumults the Commons Ordered Dr. Burgess to read the Protestation to the People and to tell them The Parliament desired them to return home which he did and thereupon they departed by which it is Evident who raised influenced and Governed the Tumults Upon Wednesday May the 5th Wednesday May 5. there happened a strange hubbub in the City which was now wholy set upon Tumults and Disorders which was upon this ridiculous occasion Sir Walter Erle was making a Report of a Design to blow up the House of Commons whereupon Mr. Middleton and Mr. Moyle two corpulent men and some others standing up to hear the Report a board in the Gallery broke and gave such a Crack that some apprehended the House was blown up indeed and Sir John Wray crying out He smelt Gun-Powder they hurried out of the House and frighted the People in the Lobby who ran into the Hall crying out The Parliament House was falling and the Members slain and the People running in confusion through the Hall Sir Robert Mansel drew his Sword and bid them stand for shame he saw no Enemy to hurt the Parliament and that there was no danger but some of the Zealots by water gave the alarm so that the Drums beat and a Regiment of Train Bands marched as far as Covent-Garden and the Rabble of Volunteers down to the House to save the Parliament which ridiculous Accident though at present it occasioned no other effect but laughter yet did strangely embolden the Factious who now plainly discovered the Influence they had over the Multitude and that they were perfectly at their Devotion Things being in this Distraction and few of the Lords daring to appear at the House Judges Opinion about the Earl of Strafford yet the Bill went on but slowly but in conclusion the Judges to give the better Countenance to the Matter being demanded their opinion and the Lord Chief Justice of the King's-Bench delivering it as their Unanimous Opinion That upon all that which their Lordships have Voted to be proved the Earl of Strafford doth deserve to undergo the pains and forfeitures of High-Treason and the Bill for perpetuating the Parliament which was brought up from the Commons the day before being quickly dispatched read and passed the next being Saturday May the 8th Saturday May 8. The Bill of Attainder was also passed the House of Lords but yet not without Opposition for all the Lords except 45 being absent of those is was carried but by 7 Votes 19 giving their Not-content to 26 that gave their content to the passing of this Fatal Bill The great Difficulty after all was to be yet overcome in procuring the Royal assent and for this purpose both the Houses attended his Majesty in the Banquetting-House to move him to it to which they received Answer That upon Monday they should know His Majesties Resolution All Sunday the King struggled with himself what to do in this Affair and certainly never was any Poor Prince so harrased between the Importunities of pretended necessity of State and the doubts of his own Conscience which told him the Earl was Innocent of what he was to die for the Lord-Chamberlain told him he acted like David and cited 2 Chron. 19. from Vers the 5 to 8. and that should he deny this it would be construed that he loved his Enemies and hated his Friends and that if he did not speak comfortably to the People they would desert him which would be worse then all the Evils that had befallen him in his life The King sent for the Judges and the Bishops to assist him the Bishops referred him to the Judges yet told him That in his Conscience he found not the Earl guilty in matter of Fact he ought not to pass the Bill but for matter of Law what was Treason they referred him to the Judges who according to their Oath ought to carry themselves indifferently between him and his Subjects only Doctor Juxon resolutely told him that if he were not satisfied in his Conscience he ought not to do it whatsoever happened the King complained of the Judges that they had not satisfied him nor indeed durst they give their Opinions freely for the satisfaction of his Conscience their own Consciences being over-awed and terrified their very Courage and Reason having deserted them in this Common Extremity and by their dubious answers abusing him as he said not easing him of his Scruples The general advice was to submit to the present necessity but how dearly both the King and they paid for making Religion truckle to reason of State hear him speak himself in his own Book concerning the Death of this Great Man I Looked upon my Lord of Strafford as a Gentleman 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upon the Earl of Straffords Death whose great abilities might make a Prince rather afraid than ashamed to imploy him in the greatest affairs of State For those were prone to create in him great confidence of undertakings and this was like enough to betray him to great Errors and many Enemies whereof he could not but contract good store while moving in so high a Sphear and with so vigorous a Luster he must needs as the Sun raise many envious exhalations which condensed by a Popular odium were capable to cast a cloud upon the brightest merit and integrity Though I cannot in my Judgment approve all he did driven it may be by the necessities of times and the temper of that people more than led by his own disposition to any height and rigor of Actions yet I could never be convinced of any such criminousness in him as willingly to expose his life to the stroke of Justice and Malice of his enemies I never met with a more unhappy conjuncture of affairs than in the business of that unfortunate Earl when between my own unsatisfiedness in Conscience and a necessity as some told me of satisfying the importunities of some people I was perswaded by those that I think wished me well to chuse
Protestation I hope Gentlemen you do think that neither the fear of Loss nor love of Reputation will suffer me to belye God and mine own Conscience at this time I am now in the very door going out and my next step must be from time to Eternity either of Peace or Pain To clear my self before you all I do here solemnly call God to witness I am not Guilty so far as I can understand of the great Crime laid to my Charge nor have ever had the least inclination or Intention to damnifie or prejudice the King the State the Laws or the Religion of this Kingdom but with my best endeavours to serve all and to support all So may God be merciful to my Soul Then rising up he said He desired to speak something to the People but was affraid he should be heard by few in regard of the Noise but having first fitted himself to the Block and rising again he thus addressed himself to the Spectators MY Lord Primate of Ireland and my Lords The Earl of Strafford's Speech upon the Scaffold May 12. and the rest of these Noble Gentlemen It is a great Comfort to me to have your Lordships by me this day because I have been known to you a long time and I now desire to be heard a few words I come here my Lords to pay my last Debt to Sin which is Death And through the Mercies of God to rise again to Eternal Glory My Lords If I may use a few words I shall take it as a great Courtesie from you I come here to submit to the Judgment that is passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented Mind I do freely forgive all the World a forgiveness not from the Teeth outward as they say but from my heart I speak in the presence of Almighty God before whom I stand that there is not a displeasing thought that ariseth in me against any Man I thank God I say truly my Conscience bears me Witness that in all the Honour I had to serve His Majesty I had not any Intention in my heart but what did aim at the Joynt and Individual prosperity of the King and His People although it be my ill hap to be misconstrued I am not the first Man that hath suffered in this kind It is a Common Portion that befals men in this Life Righteous Judgment shall be hereafter here we are subject to Error and Misjudging one another One thing I desire to be heard in and do hope that for Christian Charities sake I shall be believed I was so far from being against Parliaments that I did always think Parliaments in England to be the happy Constitution of the Kingdom and Nation and the best means under God to make the King and his People happy As for my death I do here acquit all the World and beseech God to forgive them In particular I am very glad His Majesty conceives me not meriting so severe and heavy a punishment as the utmost Execution of this Sentence I do infinitely rejoyce in it and in that Mercy of His and do beseech God to Return Him the same that he may find Mercy when he hath most need of it I wish this Kingdom all prosperity and happiness in the World I did it Living and now Dying it is my Wish I profess heartily my apprehension and do humbly recommend it to you and wish that every Man would lay his hand on his heart and consider seriously Whether the beginning of the Peoples happiness should be written in Letters of Blood I fear they are in a Wrong Way I desire Almighty God that no one drop of my Blood rise up in Judgment against them I have but one word more and that is for my Religion My Lord of Armagh I do profess my self seriously faithfully and truly to be an obedient Son of the Church of England In that Church I was born and bred in that Religion I have lived and now in that I dye Prosperity and Happiness be ever to it It hath been said I was inclined to Popery if it be an Objection worth the answering let me say truly from my heart That since I was Twenty one years of age unto this day going on 49 years I never had thought or doubt of the truth of this Religion nor had ever any the boldness to suggest to me the contrary to my best remembrance And so being reconciled to the Mercies of Jesus Christ my Saviour into whose bosom I hope shortly to be gathered to enjoy Eternal Happiness which shall never have an end I desire heartily to be forgiven of every Man if any rash or unadvised Words or Deeds have passed from me and desire all your Prayers and so my Lord Farewel and farewel all things in this World The Lord strengthen my Faith and give me Confidence and Assurance in the Merits of Christ Jesus I trust in God we shall all meet to live Eternally in Heaven and receive the accomplishment of all Happiness where every Tear shall be wiped from our Eyes and sad thoughts from our Hearts and so God bless this Kingdom and Jesus have Mercy on my Soul Then turning himself about he saluted all the Noblemen and took a solemn leave of all considerable persons on the Scaffold giving them his Hand And after that he said Gentlemen I would say my Prayers and I intreat you all to pray with me and for me Then his Chaplain laid the Book of Common-Prayer upon the Chair before him as he kneeled down on which he prayed almost a quarter of an hour then he prayed as long or longer without a Book and ended with the Lords Prayer then standing up he spyed his Brother Sir George Wentworth and call'd him to him and said Brother We must part remember me to my Sister and to my Wife and carry my Blessing to my Eldest Son and charge him from me That he fear God and continue an Obedient Son of the Church of England and that he approve himself a Faithful Subject to the King and tell him That he should not have any private Grudge or Revenge towards any concerning Me and bid him beware to meddle not with Church Livings for that will prove a Moth and Canker to him in his Estate and wish him to content himself to be a Servant to his Countrey as a Justice of Peace in his County not aiming at higher Preferments Carry my Blessing also to my Daughter Ann and Arrabella charge them to fear and serve God and he will bless them not forgetting my little Infant that knows neither good nor evil and cannot speak for it self God speak for it and bless it Then said he I have nigh done One stroke will make my Wife Husbandless my dear Children Fatherless and my poor Servants Masterless and seperate me from my dear Brother and all my Friends but let God be to you and them all in all After that going to take off his Doublet and to make
But Obedience due to Kings is only for certain Respects of Order and Policy 11. 11. Ibidem That those very Church-men that are Born and Inhabit in Soveraign Princes Countries are notwithstanding not their Subjects and cannot be Judged by them although they may Judge them 12. 12. Ibidem And that the Obedience that Church-men give to Princes even in the meanest and meer Temporal Things is not by way of any necessary Subjection but only out of Discretion and for Observation of good Order and Custom Here we find what base Estimation Prelates had of Princes may we not then justly except against their delivery as it is by them urged No Bishop No King Whoever will have the Patience to read over this long and tedious Speech and compare it with the Histories of those Authors which he has gleaned it from may possibly find the matters of Fact either mistaken or falsly represented nor indeed can we give intire credit to all that was written by the Monks of those Times who being great Enemies to the Bishops may be supposed very partial in relating some Passages of their Lives however it is not my Province to vindicate the Ill Actions of any sort of men whatever and is confessedly known that several of those Bishops as particularly Becket the famous Romish Saint were notorious Traytors and ill men But that which I think ought not to be passed by without animadversion is the Weakness of this Gentleman's Argumentation for it is evident that the main stress of his Argument is from the Actions of former ill Bishops to prove the necessity not only of taking from them all Temporal Power and Estate but also to Abolish and Extirpate the very Office for when ever he or any of his Party talk of Reformation as he does when he tells you They were degenerated from the Primitive Institution and that he only wishes there were Reformation not Demolishing but Amendment and Restitution the Reader is to Understand that by those soft Words of Reformation Amendment Restitution and Primitive Institution is meant the Utter Extirpation of Episcopacy as then it stood and the Reducing it to the Geneva standard which with them was a Restitution of it to its Primitive Institution Now how weak and inconsequential the Argument is from the Abuse of any Office Power Dignity Trust or Order to argue the Abolition or Taking it away there needs little more to be said then that Admitting the truth of this for a Practicable and Necessary Maxim all Laws Government and Order must cease in the World for it will as necessarily follow That because there have been ill Kings and Parliaments Magistrates and Laws Therefore they ought wholly to be taken away as because there have been ill Bishops that therefore the whole Order ought to be Abolished And indeed a few Years succeeding brought the same Consequences and Effects upon the King and House of Lords as it had done upon the Bishops who for Mal-administration and pretended Miscarriages by the Usurpation of these soft Reformers and Reducers of Men to their Primitive Institution were both Exauctorated and discharged of any share in the Government and many of them with the King himself of his Royal Crown and Innocent Lives verifying literally to a tittle what he takes such pains to confute in the Close of his Speech as a false and foolish Maxim No Bishop No King And certainly this Gentleman ought to have considered that Ecclesiastical Persons have in all Ages in all Places of the World under all Governments among all Religions Pagan Jew Christian Mahometan universally had a share in the Administration of Civil Affairs and particularly in Legislation so far as the preparing of Laws for the Royal Impress amounts to and with very good reason by a Rule which upon some Occasions these Gentlemen have a Great Veneration for Quod tangit Omnes ab Omnibus debet tractari and Ecclesiasticks as well as others being to be bound by Laws ought to have their part in preparing and consenting to them And further he ought to have considered that Under the Jewish Oeconomy instituted by the Only Wise God himself the chief Administration of all Civil as well as Religious Affairs was Vested in the Ecclesiasticks And for our English Constitution the Laws had incorporated the Episcopal Order into the Very Fundamentals of the Government making them one of the Three Estates of the Land as they are by several Acts declared and to their Sitting not only in Parliament but in all Great Councels during the Saxon Government all Records so long as we have any unanimously inform us so that they had an immemorial Prescription for their Right and it was an ill presage what the future Reformation would prove when it was begun with the over-turning of one of the three Fundamental Pillars upon which the Weighty Frame of the Government was built After all the long Harangue of the ill Actions of former Bishops in the times of Popery when he comes in the period of his Speech as one would reasonably have Expected to speak something to purpose of the Protestant Bishops instead of that as if he had designed to Gratifie the Papists he falls to calumniate the first Reformers Cranmer Ridley c. as factious turbulent Traytors and Incendiaries and when he comes to those of his own time the Pope of Lambeth and his Cardinals Wren and others as he is pleased to stile the Archbishop and Bishops he makes a most hideous Out-cry of Popery Arminianism Idolatry and what not of irreligion to the Deity mischief and danger to the King and prejudice to the People and Kingdome without offering so much as one single testimony or proof by any Action Word or Writing of theirs to support so gross and black a Charge But this was a Method these Worthy Patriots had learnt from the Jesuits Fortiter calumniare aliquid haerebit to throw all the dirt imaginable upon the Albs and Lawn Sleeves of the Bishops not doubting but some of it would stick to them in the opinion of the People and they were such great Masters in the Art of Blackening that I think even the Great Master of the Black Art who has his name from calumniating and falsly accusing the Innocent might have been their Schollar as doubtless he was their Tutor in this hellish Trade But to leave Mr. Thomas with his long Speech let us return to the other Affairs the Faction was now under great Fears of both the Northern Armies who were not only Discontented for want of Pay both Scots and English but several of the latter seeing Evidently whither this procedure of the Anti-Episcopal Faction tended had some warm thoughts about them to endeavour to prevent it while they had the power in their hands knowing that as soon as possible the King would be stript of this Power and those Forces be Disbanded but the matter it seems was either not so well contrived or so secretly managed but that
nor can except any particular from an universal Proposition by God himself delivered I will therefore take these two as granted first that they ought by our Law to intermedle in Temporal Affairs secondly that from doing so they are not inhibited by the Law of God it leaves it at least as a thing indifferent And now my Lords to apply my self to the business of the Day I shall consider the conveniency and that in the several Habitudes thereof but very briefly first in that which it hath to them meerly as Men qua tales then as parts of the Common-welth Thirdly from the best manner of constituting Laws and lastly from the practice of all times both Christian and Heathen Homo sum nihil humanum à me alienum puto was indeed the saying of the Comedian but it might well have becom'd the Mouth of the greatest Philosopher We allow to sense all the Works and Operations of Sense and shall we restrain Reason Must onely Man be hindred from his proper Actions They are most fit to do reasonable things that are most reasonable For Science commonly is accompanied with Conscience So is not Ignorance they seldome or never meet And why should we take that capacity from them which God and Nature have so liberally bestowed My Lords the Politick body of the Common-wealth is analogical to the Body natural every Member in that contributes something to the constitution of the whole the superfluity or defect which hinders the performance of that duty your Lordships know what the Philosopher calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Natures sin And truely my Lords to be part of the other Body and do nothing beneficial thereunto cannot fall under a milder Term. The Common-wealth subsists by Laws and their Execution and they that have neither Head in the making nor Hand in the executing of them confer not any thing to the being or well-being thereof And can such be called Members unless most unprofitable Ones only fruges consumere nati Me thinks it springs from Nature it self or the very depths of Justice that none should be tied by other Laws than himself makes for what more Natural or Just than to be bound only by his own Consent To be ruled by anothers Will is meerly Tyrannical Nature there suffers Violence and Man degenerates into Beast The most flourishing Estates were ever governed by Laws of an universal Constitution witness this our Kingdom witness Senatus Populusque Romanus the most glorious Common-wealth that ever was and those many others in Greece and elsewhere of eternal Memory Some things My Lords are so evident in themselves that they are difficult in their Proofs Amongst them I reckon this inconveniency I have spoken of I will therefore use but a Word or two more in this Way The long experience that all Christendom hath had hereof for these 1300 Years is certainly argumentum ad hominem Nay My Lords I will go further for the same Reason runs thorow all Religions never was there any Nation that employed not their religious Men in the greatest Affairs But to come to the Business that lies now before your Lordships Bishops have voted here ever since Parliaments began and long before were imployed in the Publick The good they have done your Lordships all well know and at this day enjoy for this I hope ye will not put them out nor for the evil they may do which yet your Lordships do not know and I am consident never shall suffer A position ought not to be destroyed by a supposition à posse ad esse non valet consequentia My Lords I have done with proving of this positively I shall now by your good Favors do it negatively in answering some Inconveniencies that may seem to arise For the Text No Man that Wars Object 1 intagles himself with the Affairs of this Life which is the full Sense of the Word both in Greek and Latine it makes not at all against them except to intermedle and intangle be Terms equivalent Besides My Lords though this was directed to a Church-man yet it is of a general Nature and reaches to all Clergy and Laity as the most learned and best expositors unanimously do agree To end this Argumentum symbolicum non est argumentativum It may be said that it is inconsistent with a Spiritual Vocation truely Object 2 My Lords Grace and Nature are in some respects incompossible but in some others most harmoniously agree it perfects Nature and raises it to a heigth above the common Altitude and makes it most fit for those great Works of God himself to make Laws to do Justice There is then no inconsistency between themselves it must arise out of Scripture I am confident it doth not formally out of any Place there nor did I ever meet with any learned Writer of these or other times that so expounded any Text. But though in strict Terms this be not inconsistent yet it may peradventure hinder the duty of their other calling My Lords there is not any that fits here more for preaching than I am I know it is the ordinary means to Salvation Object 3 yet I likewise know there is not that full necessity of it as was in the Primitive Times God defend that 1600 Years acquaintance should make the Gospel of Christ no better known unto us Neither My Lords doth their Office meerly and wholly consist in Preaching but partly in that partly in Praying and administring the Blessed Sacraments in a Godly and exemplary Life in wholsome Admonitions in Exhortations to Vertue dehortations from Vice and partly in easing the burdened Conscience These My Lords compleat the Office of a Churchman Nor are they altogether tied to time or place though I confess they are most properly exercised within their own Verge except upon good Occasion nor then the Omission of some can be termed the breach of them all I must add one more an essential one the very Form of Episcopacy that distinguisheth it from the Inferiour Ministry the orderly and good Government of the Church and how many of these I am sure not the last My Lords is interrupted by their sitting here once in 3 Years and then peradventure but a very short Time and can there be a greater Occasion than the common good of the Church and State I will tell your Lordships what the great and good Emperor Constantine did in his expedition against the Persians he had his Bishops with him whom he consulted with about his Military Affairs as Eusebius has it in his life Lib. 4. c. 56. Reward and Punishment are the great Negotiators in all Worldly Businesses Object 4 these may be said to make the Bishops swim against the Stream of their Consciences and may not the same be said of the Laity Have these no Operations but only upon them Has the King neither Frown Honor nor Offices but only for Bishops Is there nothing that answers their Translations Indeed My Lords I must needs say that
be the greater because it redounds unto the God of glory My Motion is that those Sheets last presented to you may be laid by and that we may proceed to reduce again the old Original Episcopacy If this Gentleman had thoroughly consulted the Church History he would have found both that Episcopacy was ever accounted a Distinct Order from and above Presbytery and that the most Primitive Bishops exercised the same Jurisdiction and Power in the Church even over Presbyters themselves as the present English Bishops did and for their Temporal Baronies and Lordships it was never esteemed any ways Essential to the Office but only a Concomitant Adjunct which by the Fundamental Constitution of the Government by the Kings annexing Temporal Baronies to their Spiritual Office rendred them one of the three Estates of the Realm And indeed it was this Temporal Honor and their Secular Estates Lands and Tenements which raised the envy of some and the Covetousness of others against not only the Persons but the Order it self Sir Benjamin Rudyard also spake as follows Mr. Hide WE are now upon a very great Business Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech concerning Bishops Deans and Chapters at a Committee of the whole House June 21. 1641. so great indeed as it requires our soundest our saddest consideration our best judgment for the present our utmost foresight for the future But Sir one thing doth exceedingly trouble me it turns me round about it makes my whole Reason vertiginous which is that so many do believe against the wisdom of all Ages that now there can be no Reformation without destruction as if every sick Body must be presently knockt in the Head as past hope of Cure Religion was first and best planted in Cities God did spread his Net where most might be caught Cities had Bishops and Presbyters were the Seminaries out of which were sent Labourers by the Bishops to propagate and cultivate the Gospel The Clergy then lived wholly upon the Freewill-Offering and Bounty of the People Afterwards when Kings and States grew to be Christians the outward settlement of the Church grew up with them They Erected Bishopricks Founded Cathedral Churches Endowed them with large Possessions Landlords built Parish Churches gleab'd them with some portion of Land for which they have still a Right of Presentation I do confess That some of our Bishops have had Ambitious Dangerous Aims and have so still that in their Government there are very great Enormities But I am not of their Opinion who believe that there is an Innate ill Quality in Episcopacy like a Specifical Property which is a Refuge not a Reason I hope there is not Original Sin in Episcopacy and though there were yet may the Calling be as well Reformed as the Person Regenerated Bishops have governed the Church for 1500 years without interruption And no man will say but that God hath saved Souls in all those times under their Government Let them be reduc'd according to the usage of Ancient Churches in the best times so restâ—â—â—â—d as they may not be able hereafter to shame the Calling I love not those that hate to be Reformed and do therefore think them worthy of the more strict the more close Reformation We have often complained That Bishops are too absolute too singular Although Cathedral Churches are now for the most part but Receptacles of Drones and Non-Residents yet some good Men may be found or placed there to be Assessors with the Bishops to assist them in Actions of moment in Causes of Importance there is maintenance already provided for them If either in Bishopricks or Cathedral Churches there be too much some may be pared off to relieve them that have too little If yet more may be spared it may be employed to the setting up of a Preaching Ministry through the whole Kingdom And untill this be done although we are Christians yet are we not a Christian State There are some places in England that are not in Christendom the people are so ignorant they live so without God in the World for which Parliaments are to answer both to God and Man Let us look to it for it lies like one of the Burdens of the Prophet Isaiah heavy and flat upon Parliaments I have often seriously considered with my self what strong concurrent Motives and Causes did meet together in that time when Abbies and Monasteries were overthrown Certainly God's hand was the greatest for he was most offended The profane Superstitions the abominable Idolatries the filthy nefandous wickedness of their Lives did stink in God's Noistrils did call down for Vengeance for Reformation A good Party of Religions Men were Zealous Instruments in that great work as likewise many Covetous Ambitious Persons gaping for fat Morsels did lustily drive it on But Mr. Hide there was a principal Parliamentary motive which did facilitate the rest for it was propounded in Parliament that the Accession of Abby-Lands would so inrich the Crown as the people should never be put to pay Subsidies again This was plausible both to Court and Countrey Besides with the Over-plus there should be maintained a standing Army of Forty Thousand Men for a perpetual defence of the Kingdom This was Safety at home Terrour and Honour abroad The Parliament would make all sure Gods part Religion by his blessing hath been reasonably well preserved but it hath been saved as by fire for the rest is consumed and vanished the people have payed Subsidies ever since and we are now in no very good Case to pay an Army Let us beware Mr. Hide that we do not look with a worldly carnal evil Eye upon Church Lands let us clear our Sight search our Hearts that we may have unmixt and sincere Ends without the least thought of saving of our own Purses Church Lands will still be fittest to maintain Church Men by a proportionable and orderly distribution We are very strict and curious to uphold our own Propriety and there is great reason for it Are the Clergy only a sort of Men who have no Propriety at all in that which is called theirs I am sure they are Englishmen they are Subjects If we pull down Bishopricks and pull down Cathedral Churches in a short time we must be forced 〈◊〉 pull Colledges too for Scholars will live and dye there as in Cells if there be not considerable Preferment to invite them abroad And the example we are making now will be an easie Temptation to the less pressing necessities of future times This is the next way to bring in Barbarism to make the Clergy an unlearned contemptible Vocation not to be desired but by the basest of the People and then where shall we find men able to convince an Adversary A Clergy-men ought to have a far greater proportion to live upon than any other Man of an equal Condition He is not bred to multiply Three-pences it becomes him not to live Mechanically and sordidly he must be given to Hospitality I do know my self a
of the Palatinate by whose only means he had suffered the same to be lost to the Emperor and that therefore he should presently press that King either to give a full and direct Answer under his Hand and Seal for the Restitution thereof or else to joyn his Armes with his Majesty against the Emperor for the Recovery of the same But this matter as it further appears by the Original Journal-Books of the Lords House being either not throughly pressed or notably dissembled so many delays ensued one upon the neck of another as in the Issue it drew his Royal Majesty then Prince of Wales to undertake that dangerous and remote Journey unto that Nation which hath been the long and hereditary Enemy of England This Journey was chiefly undertaken by so great a Prince to add an end one way or other to that unfortunate Treaty and his stay in Spain did causally proceed from his earnest desire to have effected a peaceable Restitution of the Palatinate and therefore I doubt not but he shall now live to verifie that Excellent and Heroick Expression which he made to the Conde de Oilvarez a little before his coming out of that Kingdom Look for neither Marriage nor Friendship without the Restitution of the Palatinate And I assure my self That the Force and Power of Great Britain which was lately by subtil and wicked Instruments divided against it self being now united in One again will be able to Effect such Great and Considerable Actions as shall render his Majesties Name and Reign Glorious to all Posterity The Two Houses of Parliament at that time received the before-mentioned Declaration with so much resentment as having rendred Glory to God that had so seasonably discovered the Spanish Frauds and next their humble acknowledgments to their then Gracious Soveraign for requiring their Counsels in a business of so great Importance they did unanimously advise him to break off the said two Treaties touching the Marriage and the Restitution of the Palatinate ingaging no Less than their Persons and Purses for the Recovery of the then Prince Elector's Ancient and Hereditary Dominions It appears also in the Original Journal-Book of this House De Anno 1. Caroli That this great Business was again taken into Consideration but was finally intombed with other Matters of great Moment by the fatal and abortive Dissolution of that Parliament If therefore this Great Council of the Kingdom did in those two former Parliaments account the Restitution of this Illustrious and Princely Family to be of such great necessity for the preserving of True Religion abroad and securing our selves at home as to ingage themselves for an Assistance therein Certainly we may upon much better grounds undertake the same now when I assure my self we may go as far with a Thousand pounds for the present as we could have done with Ten thousand at that time for let us but take a short View of the Estate of Christendom what it was then and what it is now and we shall easily perceive a great Alteration in the ballance thereof In France where Monsieur de Luynes did then rule all being himself acted by the Pope's Legate that King Contrary to the Examples of Francis the First Henry the Second and of Henry the Great his own Father and Contrary to the Maximes and Interest of that State and his own Safety advanced the Formidable Power and Spreading Greatness of the House of Austria but now the same French King's Eyes have been so opened that shaking off that former unhappy Slumber he was in he hath by his Arms and Power to his immortal Honour and Glory for divers years last past endeavoured to restore again that Liberty to the German Empire in the Ruin of which himself had so fatally before Concurred The Swedes were then involved in several Wars or Jealousies with the Pole and inforced to keep at home to defend their own but now have a strong Army and possess divers Pieces of Important Consequence within the very Bowels of the Empire The Episcopal Electors with the other Pontifician Princes and Prelates the sworn Enemies of the Protestant Religion were then Rich and Potent but since most of their Countries and Territories have tasted of the same Calamities of War which they had formerly brought upon their Neighbours so as now they are most of them scarce able to defend their own much less to offend any other The Pseudo-Lutheran Elector of Saxony that is Causally guilty more than any other single person Living of all those Calamities and Slaughters which have for so many Years wasted Germany and was then so Liberal of his Treasure and so forward with his Arms to ancillate to the Emperor's Designs to the almost utter Subversion of the True Religion in Germany is now after the reiterated temeration of his Faith and Promises the Fatal Survivor of the several Devastations of his own Country and Dominions so as all those vast difficulties and great dangers which might well have retarded the forwardness of those two former Parliaments the first being held in the 22d Year of his Majesty's Royal Father and the Later in his Own first Year being now removed we have greater Encouragements than ever to Concur with our Sacred Soveraign in the Asserting of this his most Just and Princely Manifesto For mine own part I expect no good Issue of the present Treaty at Ratisbonne I know the Duke of Bavaria's Ambition too well ever to imagine that he will part with those Large Revenues and much less with the Septem-Viral Dignity and Suffrage he hath obtained by the Prince Elector's Calamity and Misfortune unless it be Extorted from him by force of Arms. My humble Advice therefore is That we send up to the Lords to desire a speedy Conference with them in which we may acquaint their Lordships how far we have proceeded in our Approbation of his Majesties most Royal Manifesto and to move them to Concur with us therein After a long Debate the House came to this Resolution Resolved c. That this House doth Approve of his Majesties Pious Intention in the behalf of his Royal Sister the Queen of Bohemia Vote about the Manifesto and his Nephew the Prince Elector Palatine and the rest of the Princes of that Family and of the Publishing the Manifesto to that purpose and this House will be ready to give his Majesty such Advice and Assistance therein by Parliament as shall stand with the Honour of His Majesty and the Interest and Affection of this Kingdom if the present Treaty shall not succeed But these were only Words and they were so far from giving his Majesty or the Electoral Family any Assistances that having Encouraged the King of England to put out this Manifesto and then failing him of all Assistances to make it good they rendred Themselves the English Nation and the King himself Cheap in the Esteem of Forreign Nations however Mr. Pym was Ordered to go up to the Lords to desire a
Friday July 9. at which Mr. Denzil Hollis made this following Speech My Lords THe Knights Mr. Denzil Hollis his Speech about the Palatinate July 9. 1641. Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons have commanded me to let your Lordships know that they have taken into their serious Consideration His Majesties Proposal unto them of the Manifesto in which he is graciously Pleased to declare his Pious Intentions concerning his Royal Sister the Prince Palatine her Son and the rest of the Electoral Family They do with all Humbleness acknowledg His Majesties Favor in communicating unto them any part of His Royal Thoughts and asking their Advice and Counsel in a Business that doth so neerly concern Him as needs must the Happiness nay the Subsistence of these Distressed Princes of so Glorious an Extraction their Veins being enriched with the same Blood that is from so Royal Ancestors derived with Glory into his Sacred Person And in that Relation the House of Commons looks upon them with an Eye of Tenderness wishing that every drop of that Princely Blood may ever be illustrated with Honor and Happiness That His Majesty may be Crowned with this Blessing To see nothing but Glory in himself and in all that belong unto him To hear then that these Princes so nearly allyed unto the King should suffer that which is so unworthy of them instead of Honor of Greatness to find Oppression instead of a Fortune answerable to their Birth and Relation to have their ancient Patrimony torn from them and deteined by a Hand of Violence is a Thing which makes our Ears to tingle and our Hearts to rise within us My Lords The Loyal Subject of England is so well tuned in a sweet agreeing Harmony to the Person of his Prince that he is affected with the least Touch upon any part of the Princely String and Answers it instantly with a Sound proportionable If it be Good and Pleasant with Joy and Exultation if harsh and displeasant with Sorrow and Lamentation but a Sorrow not Womanish and Effeminate but accompanied with Indignation and vigorous magnanimous Resolution to be avenged upon whosoever dare give Offence to our Royal Sovereign This then is enough to make us zealous for the Redress of the Prince Electors Wrongs to desire with impatience to see him reinvested in his rightful Possessions were there nothing else to move us to it but our Love and Affection and our Duty to the King But My Lords There is yet another Motive which hath a strong irresistable Operation with us and it is the consideration how much this is of Importance to the good of Religion the advancement of the Protestant party and the redeeming many Souls from their Anti-Christian Bondage which hath a double Aspect and relates to us not only as we are Fellow-Members with them of the true Church which obliges us to a Care and Defence of them and gives us an assurance of a Reward in Heaven But doth more particularly concern us in point of Policy and Reason of State by supporting our Allies to advance this Kingdom to the highest pitch of Greatness and Reputation to make us formidable abroad to the Enemies of our Church and State and so injoy Peace and Safety and Tranquillity at Home For My Lords The Protestant Religion and this Kingdom are like Hippocrates's Twins that must both Live and Die together It is madness to think this State can subsist if Religion be subverted and as great a madness to think our Religion can continue here if we suffer it to be destroyed and eradicated out of our Neighbour Countries which can no more be that is our Religion and this Kingdom be preserved when our Neighbours of the same Religion and Belief with us be consumed then a Fort can hold out when all the Out-Works be taken or the Heart preserved when a Gangrene hath seized on the outward Parts of the Body My Lords As the true Religion is in the Truth the Heart of England which gives it Life and makes it flourish with Strength and Power so is England in Politick Respect the Heart of the Protestant Religion in all the other Parts of Christendom and upon Occasion must send out Supply into all the Neighbouring Countries professing the same Religion with it which to be themselves in safety must be under the Protection of this Fort under Contribution to this Garrison And on the other side if these Countries be one after another Invaded and Possessed by the Enemies of Religion that great Tye of Religion between us and those Bonds be Dissolved which only can Unite and Strengthen our mutual Affections and Relations as if they get one Part their Appetite will increase soon to swallow up another First The Palatinate then the other Parts of Germany afterwards the Low Countries and then Let us think in what Condition England will stand It will be left as a Cottage in a Vineyard as a Lodg in a Garden of Cucumbers as a besieged City when all the Defences are gone it will soon fall to be a Prey to the Enemy My Lords This Consideration likewise works with the Commons of England and as the Wise-Man is to have his Eyes in his Head and look before him so they do look before them and had rather see this Evil met half-way then stay till it come to them rather see the eating Gangrene of the Austrian Ambition stop'd in Germany then tarry till it seize upon the Vital Parts of this Island and the death of Religion inevitably follow Sir Benjamin Rudyard also at a Committee of the whole House Mr. Whitlock being in the Chair spoke to this business as follows Master Whitlock IF we may do the Prince Elector good by our good word Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech at a Committee of the whole House about the Palatine July 9. 1641. I hope we shall not stick to afford it him A word spoken in due Season is worth more then Gold and Silver at an other time His Majestie 's Ambassador is now at the Dyet at Ratisbon where the Emperor and other Princes are by Friendly Treaties endeavouring to make up the Breaches of Germany If this opportunity be omitted His Highness's Affairs will be exceedingly cast behind-hand It is true that our Treaties heretofore have not been prosperous the reason hath been because of the unhappy distance between the King and His People which brought a Disvalue upon this Kingdom abroad But now when the World shall take notice of the good understanding between His Majesty and His Subjects by an earnest and solemn joyning of the whole Parliament with His Majestie 's Declaration the Propositions coming from hence will carry with them more Weight more Authority which is the way to redeem our engagement at an easie rate to save those great charges which some do so much fear If we should be backward in this great work we shall cancel the obligations of Nature of Honour of Reason of State of Religion which
from the King in haec verba His Majesty hath commanded Me to tell you Munday July 19 Message from the King about a Priest of the Venetian Ambassadors that upon a Complaint of the Venetian Ambassador for the imprisoning of a Priest being His Majesties Subject he thinks fit that these two Things be done First That all Ambassadors should have it declared to them in His Majesties Name that they retain no Priests Natives of any of His Majesties Dominions Secondly That the Priest belonging to the Venetian Ambassador be presently sent out of the Kingdom and not to return again but at his Peril This Favour His Majesty thinks fit to shew the Venetian Ambassador seeing the particular Person as His Majesty is informed hath been his Servant these three Years and was brought over with him when he came the Ambassador being ignorant of the Laws of the Kingdom Whereupon it was Ordered That the Committee of Ten inform themselves of the truth of the Ambassadors Complaint and the State of the Case Bill about the Marches of Wales A Message was brought from the Commons by Sir Robert Harlow who also brought up a Bill which had passed that House for freeing five Counties from the Jurisdiction of the Marches of Wales Mr. Bellasis also brought up another Bill Bill for Billet Money c. which had passed the House of Commons Entituled an Act for securing of such Monies as are or shall be due to the Inhabitants of the County of York and the other Counties adjoyning wherein His Majesties Army is or hath been Billetted for the Billet of the Soldiers of the said Army as also to certain Officers of the said Army who do forbear part of their Pay according to an Order in that behalf in the Commons House of Parliament this present Session for such Use of their parts as they shall forbear Five new Heads added to the Ten former Propositions July 20. 1641. The Earl of Bristol Reports from the Committee of both Houses for the Ten Heads That the House of Commons have presented to their Lordships five Propositions which they desire may be added to the other Ten Heads and that their Lordships after Consideration of them would joyn with them to move His Majesty therein the Heads were these viz. I. The House of Commons doth declare That no Forreign Ambassador what soever ought to shelter or harbor any Popish Priests or Jesuits that are Natives of the Kings Dominions under pretence of being their Servants or otherwise and that the select Committee of their House for the Ten Propositions shall present this Declaration to the Committee of this House to the end that their Lordships may joyn with them to Petition His Majesty that this may accordingly be observed II. That Care may be taken concerning several Commissions granted for the Levying of Men in Ireland to the number of Fourteen Thousand Men as is informed and all of them Papists to the end to be transported as is conceived to Princes not well affected to this Kingdom and that Popish Commanders may not have such Power by Commissions as is of late granted to them III. Also that no Papist hereafter may have the keeping of any Castle Fort Chace Forrest Park or Walk within England and Wales and that such as are in Possession may be outed according to Law IV. That the King be moved to let the House of Commons have such Gun-powder out of His Majesties Stores as may be spared and they will pay after the rate of ten Pence per Pound for it as soon as they can get Monies V. And lastly To move His Majesty that the Arms which have been taken from the several Counties may be restored to them and if His Majesty can spare any Arms out of His Store they will buy them Hereupon the Lords taking these five Propositions into Consideration Ordered To joyn with the House of Commons humbly to move His Majesty that he would please to Assent to them To this purpose Earl of Essex Earl of Warwick Earl of Cambridge Earl of Bristol Viscount Say and Seal were appointed to attend His Majesty for His Answer After which William Smyter William Shepheard Toby Gratwick Rioters at St. Olaves released George Ewer Hugh Barcok Thomas Low George Pitcher and Edward Symonds upon their Humble Petition and Acknowledgment of their Misdemeanors in the Tumult at St. Olaves and St. Saviors were released from their Imprisonment A Conference having been had-with the Lords about the French Ambassadors Tuesday July 20. French Ambassador desires to have the Disbanded English Army for his Masters Service desire to have some of the disbanded Troops Sir John Culpeper Reports That the French Ambassador had waited upon His Majesty to desire that upon disbanding of the English Army he might have liberty to carry such Men over for his Masters Service as he could agree with and that His Majesty had told him that he would give no Answer till he had acquainted the Parliament with it Whereupon it was Ordered That the House should consider of it on Thursday Morning The engrossed Articles against the Bishop of Ely were this Day carried up to the Lords by Sir Thomas Widdrington who at the reading of them made this following Oration to blacken the Lawn Sleeves which was then the greatest Perfection of Eloquence and of Religion to be highly uncharitable My Lords I am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses now Assembled for the Commons in Parliament to deliver to your Lordships these Articles against the Bishops of Ely May it please your Lordships first to hear them read MY Lords These Articles are dipped in those Colours Sir Thomas Widdrington's Speech at the reading of the Articles against the Bishop of Ely 20 1641. in which this Bishop rendred himself to the Diocess of Norwich they need no Gloss nor Varnish In them you may behold the spirit and disposition of this Bishop hear the groans and cryes of the People see a Shepherd scattering I had almost said devouring his own Flock He that was desired to paint Hercules thought he had done enough when he had made a resemblance of the Lyons Skin which he was wont to carry about him as a Trophy of his Honor. I will say that in these you will not find a resemblance of the Lyons Skin I am sure you will find the resemblance of the Skins that is to say the tattered and ruin'd Fortunes of Poor Innocent Lambs who have extreamly suffered by the violence of this Bishop In the year 1635 this man was created Bishop of Norwich he is no sooner there but he marcheth furiously In the Creation of the World Light was one of the first productions the first visible action of this Bishop after his Creation into the See was to put out many burning and shining Lights to Suspend divers Able Learned and Conscientious Ministers he that should have been the golden Snuffer of these Lights became the Extinguisher and
and came immediately to these Votes upon it Resolved c. That this House doth conceive that the Protestation made by this House is fit to be taken by every Person that is well affected in Religion and to the good of the Common-Wealth Votes about taking the Protestation and impeaching the Bishops and therefore doth declare that what Person soever shall not take the Protestation is unfit to bear Office in the Church or Common-Wealth Resolved c. That the Knights Citizens and Burgesses and the Barons of the Cinque Ports respectively shall forthwith send down to the several Places for which they serve Copies of this Vote of the House concerning the Protestation Resolved c. That these Votes shall be printed and Attested under the Clerks Hand It was also Ordered That a Committee shall prepare an Impeachment against the Bishops the Makers of the New Canons and Oath upon the Votes that have past both Houses concerning these Canons and Oath to meet this Afternoon in the Inner Court of Wards The farther Debate concerning the Bill for abolishing Episcopacy Saturday July 31. was this Day reassumed by the Commons who were extremely Nettled at the throwing out the Bill for taking the Protestation out of the Lords House and it was Ordered That the Knights and Burgesses of every County bring in the Names of nine Persons who were to be Ecclesiastical Commissioners upon whom the Power of the Church Government should be devolved and that no Clergy-Man should be of the Commission So that upon the Matter here was to be a thorough Reformation indeed and not only the Bishops were to be excluded from Government but even all the Inferior Clergy A Government so far from Primitive that no Age ever saw any thing like it and which had it succeeded would have justified the Vulgar Scomm of the Papists that our Religion is a Parliament Religion The Treasurer of the Nvay made a Report that there is due to the King's Navy 113000 l. In the House of Lords this Day An Order of the Lords for secure conveyance of the Money to the Army was made an Order for the more secure conveyance of the Money to the Army WHereas His Majesties Treasure for his Army is forthwith to pass thorough several Counties unto York forasmuch as it is held fit for the more safe Conveyance of it that the same should be guarded by Day and Watched by Night These are therefore in the Name of the House of Parliament straightly to Charge and Require you in your several Counties respectively to appoint some able and sufficient Persons of Quality to aid and guard his Majesties said Treasure from Time to Time and from Place to Place through the several Counties and to appoint some like Able and Sufficient Men to Watch and Guard the same by Night at every Town and Place where the same shall stay as Occasion requires You are likewise to provide convenient Rooms for the Treasure and Lodging of those that attend it and Carts and Teams for the conveyance thereof paying the usual Rates wherein you may not fail to use all possible Care and Diligence as you tender the high Displeasure of this House and will answer the contrary at your utmost Perils for which this shall be a sufficient Warrant Dated the second Day of August 1641. To all Majors Sheriffs Justices of Peace Bailiffs Constables Headboroughs and all other his Majesties Officers and loving Subjects whom it may concern month August 1641. to be aiding and assisting to William Harrison and Nicholas Goldsborough and other Conductors of the said Treasure The Lords being startled at this way of Procedure Monday August 2. Difference between the Lords and Commons about printing the Votes for taking the Protestation in the Commons in the Votes of Friday about the Protestation sent a Message to them for a Conference but the Message not expressing the Subject of it the Commons took it ill and refused to meet as being contrary to the Custom of Parliament but afterwards they sent by Messengers of their own desiring to know of their Lordships the Occasion of their former Message upon which their Lordships informed them that it was about the printed Papers injoyning the taking of the Protestation Whereupon a Conference being had the Lords acquainted them that they desired there might be a fair Correspondence between both Houses and in Order thereunto they desired to be satisfied of two things by the Commons 1. Whether those Printed Papers were the Votes of their House 2. Whether they were Printed by their Command To both which they were Answered affirmatively and that they would give their Lordships further satisfaction in it This Day these Bills being thrice read in the Lords House Several Bills passed the Lords House for Hool Chappel for Gun-Powder and for Stannery Court and Eggars Free-School and put to the Question were passed there 1. The Bill for making the Chappel of Hool a Parish Church 2. The Bill for free bringing in of Gun-Powder and Sal-Petre from Forreign Parts and for the Free making of Gun-Powder in this Realm 3. The Bill for regulating the Stannery Courts 4. The Bill for Eggars Free-School in Alton in Com. Southam At a Conference this Day with the Lords Tuesday August 3. Mr. Hollis made this following Speech in Justification of the Votes of the Commons upon Friday concerning the General taking of the Protestation My Lords Mr. Hollis's Speech in justification of the Votes for taking the Protestation Aug. 3. 1641. I Am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses to present unto your Lordships their Answer to what was proposed yesterday 1. They take notice of your Lordships desire that a true intelligence may he kept between the two Houses for so your Lordships did express it In this they do with all cheerfulness concur with your Lordships as knowing this conjunction between your Lordships and them is the Golden Chain which binds up in one Gordian knot the Strength the Beauty the Happiness of this Kingdom which so knit together is not to be broken in sunder of the fiercest violence Therefore who desires to unlink this Chain and dissolve this Knot or fails of his part to the preserving and continuing it fast and firm and entire let the sin of it lye at his Door nay let it come into the midst of his House and consume it let him perish and his posterity Inherit only his shame So careful will the House of Commons be to cherish and maintain this good correspondency with your Lordships in all things Then for the business about which your Lordships were then pleased to confer with them which was a Printed Paper you had met withal as you said in your House setting forth some Resolutions of the House of Commons concerning which you have put unto us these two Interrogatories viz. The first and second Votes which were read As before Friday 30 July And not finding this Paper attested by the
Counties in this Kingdom but they conceive that their Names will be unacceptable and their Persons unwelcome and being thus Impeached to become Judges of Mens Lives and Estates will be a thing of great offence and distraction Therefore the House of Commons desired that all the Commissions granted to the Peccant Judges may be superseded and that their Names may be no more Vsed in Commissions and when the great Affairs now in agitation be dispatched they desired their Lordships to take their Impeachments into Consideration and proceed therein according to Justice Ordered That this House Consents to both these Requests of the House of Commons touching the aforesaid Judges This day the Lord Bruce was introducted with the usual Ceremonies his Patent bearing Date Aug. 2. 1641. Lord Bruce introducted The Earl of March reported to this House The Kings Answer about the Irish Acts. That His Majesty is pleased to like well of the Advice of this House concerning the staying of the Acts of Grace and Favour which were to be passed for the Kingdom of Ireland and will give order it shall be done accordingly until this House hath considered of the Letter sent to the Lord Keeper from the Speaker of the Lords House in Ireland Propositions of the Scots Commissioners and Answers of the English Lords Commissioners August 5. 1641. Propositions for the concluding the Peace with the Scots The Earl of Bristol reported the Propositions and Articles given in by the Scots Commissioners after the Lord Lowdon's return from the Parliament of Scotland which were read as followeth That the Treaty of Peace may be brought to a speedy and happy Close we do offer to your Lordships Consideration the following Particulars I. That as soon as the Scottish Army shall remove out of England to Scotland the English Garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle may remove simul semel II. Lest Malefactors who have committed Murder and the like Crimes crave the Benefit of the Act of Pacification and Oblivion for whom it is no ways intended there would be an Exception from the said Acts of all Legal pursuits intended or to be intended within the space of one year after the Date of the Treaty against Thieves * A Scotch word for Excommunicate Persons Horners Out-lawers Fugitives Murderers Broken men or their Receptaries for whatsoever Thefts Rifes Hardships Oppressions Depredations or Murders done or committed by them and all Lawful Decrets given or to be given by the Parliament or any Commissioners to be appointed by them for that effect who shall have power to Dignosce and take Cognition whether the same falls within the said Act of Pacification or Oblivion or not III. It is desired that the demand concerning the not making or denouncing War with Forreigners without consent of both Parliaments may be condescended unto by the King and the Parliament of England which is Ordained and Universally observed in all mutual Leagues which are both Offensive and Defensive and because the Wars denounced by one of the Kingdoms with Forreigners although made without consent of the other Kingdom will Engage them by necessary Consequence Or if the Consideration of this Proposition shall require longer time then the present Condition of the Important Affairs of the Parliament may permit and lest the speedy Close of the Treaty be thereby impeded it is desired that this Demand with the other Two Articles of the same Nature the one concerning Leagues and Confederations and the other concerning mutual Supply in case of Forreign Invasion may all three be remitted to Commissioners to be chosen by both Parliaments who shall have Power to Advise and Treat thereupon for the good of both Kingdoms and Report to the Parliament Respectively IV. It is desired That the Articles concerning Trade and Commerce Naturalization mutual Priviledge and Capacity and others of that nature already demanded may be condescended unto by the King and Parliament of England and namely that demand anent the Pressing of Men and Ships by Sea or Land Or if shortness of time may not permit the present determination of these Demands it is desired that the same except so many of them as are already agreed unto by the Commissioners for Trade may be remitted to Commissioners to be chosen by both Parliaments who shall have Power to Treat and Advise thereof for the good of both Kingdoms and to make Reports to the Parliament respectively and that the Charters or Warrants of the Scottish Nation for freedom of Shipping in England or Ireland from all Customs Imports Duties and Fees more then are paid by the Natives of England or Ireland granted by King James under the Great Seal of England upon the 11th day of April in the 13th year of his Reign and Confirmed by King Charles upon the 19th of April in the 8th year of his Reign may be Enacted and Ratified in this Parliament V. That the Extracts of Bonds and Decrets upon Record and Registers in Scotland may have the like Faith and Execution as the French Tabellons have in England and Ireland seeing they are of a like Nature and deserves more Credit and if this cannot be done at this time that it be remitted to the former Commission from both Parliaments VI. The manner of Safe Conduct for Transporting the Monys from England or Scotland by Sea or Land would be condescended unto in such way as the Charges be not Exorbitant and may be presently known VII The Tenor of the Commission for Conserving of Peace would be condescended unto together with the Times and Places of meeting and whole frame thereof the draught whereof when it is drawn up in England is to be represented to the Parliament of Scotland that they may make the like Commission and name their Commissioners for that effect VIII The Parliament of Scotland do join their earnest and hearty desires and craves the Parliament of England's Concurrence that none be placed about the Prince's Highness but such as are of the Reformed Religion IX That an Act of Parliament of Publick Faith for payment of the 220000 l. which is Arrear of the Brotherly assistance may be presently framed and expedited according to the Terms agreed upon X. It is desired that the Quorum to whom the Scots should Address themselves for payment of the 220000 l. be condescended upon XI That the Order for recalling all Proclamations made against His Majesties Subjects of Scotland be drawn up and intimate in due Form and Time with the Public Thanksgiving at all the Parish Churches of His Majesties Dominions XII It is desired That the Articles concerning the Castle of Edinburgh and other Strengths of that Kingdom may be understood to be that the same shall be disposed of for the Weal of the Kingdom as the King and Parliament shall think Expedient The English Lords Commissioners Answers THat upon the disbanding the Scottish Army the Garrisons of Berwick and Carlisle shall be removed according to the Articles of the Treaty in that
Mr. D'avenant was before Col. Goring went to Portsmouth Whensoever Sir John Suckling spake with him concerning any particular Intimations to the Army though Mr. D'avenant was then present he whispered yet he spake some Generals openly That the French would assist That the Clergy would maintain 1000 Horse That part of the Commons House was much distasted with the Letter that came from the Army The only Proposition was to know their Inclinations for their accepting Col. Goring for their Lieutenant General Mr. Wilmot Mr. Ashburnham and Mr. Pollard told him That the House of Commons had real Intentions towards the Army and that they should have Martial Law if it would stand with the Conveniency of the Common-wealth and this they spake with much Earnestness Sergeant Major Willis told him upon the Way That the Clergy would furnish a Thousand Horse Saturday August 14. A Letter was Ordered to be sent to the Lord General about the Affairs of the Army which was as followeth May it Please your Excellency Letter to L. General from the Lords about the Scots marching by Barwick THe Treaty of Pacification between the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland being come to a Happy and Peaceable Conclusion and a Day prefixed for the Scottish Army to March over the Tweed for the more Expedition thereof the Scottish Commissioners have made their Request to the Parliament that they might be permitted to pass with their Army Munition and Artillery over Barwick Bridge To which desire both Houses of Parliament have consented to be in such sort as shall be agreed and settled there by the General and Governor of Barwick Wherefore the Lords have commanded me to recommend the Manner and Way thereof to your Excellency's Care and Judgment not doubting but your Excellency will give such Directions to the Governor of Barwick both for the number of Soldiers that shall March in a Company together as also how to preserve his Majesties Ordinance and Munitions there and secure the safety of the said Town And so I humbly remain Your Excellency's Servant to Command John Banks Speaker of the Lords House A Complaint having Yesterday been made by the House of Commons that the Capuchin Friers in Denmark House Capuchin Friers at Denmark House to keep in were very active in Preverting the Kings Subjects from the True Religion the Earl of Dorset was Ordered to attend the Queen and move her Majesty from this House in it and humbly to desire her Majesty That the said Friers may be kept in and not suffered to go abroad to pervert the People and draw them to be reconciled to the Church of Rome And further That the Earl of Dorset do send for the Chief of the Capauhins and give him warning that he obey this Command Upon reading the Petitions of the Lord Major of London Order about L. Major and Citizens for a Reference and the six Persons chosen by the Commonalty of the said City It is Ordered That both sides shall give Copies to each other of their Petitions and attend the Lords Committees appointed to compose the Differences between them on Munday next in the Afternoon at Two of the Clock in the Painted Chamber A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Mr. Message that a convenient number of Lords may stay in Town Hotham to desire That a convenient number of Lords may be kept together in this House until the Armies be disbanded and the necessary Defence of the Kingdom settled The Answer hereunto was That their Lordships will take Care as is desired WHereas this House hath been Informed That Thomas Bushell Esq Undertaker of His Majesties Mines Royal in the County of Cardigan by his great Charge and Industry in cutting Additts hath gained His Majesties old drowned and forsaken Works of Talabant The Order of the House of Lords about Mines Royal in Wales Aug. 14. 1641. and other Works and made new Discoveries of Royal Mines there which are already very Considerable And whereas divers Persons of Quality encouraged by His Majesties Letters to them directed do intend to adventure great Summs of Money in the said Work which in time if well incouraged may prove of great consequence both for Honor and Profit to His Majesty and this Kingdom And whereas also it appeareth unto this House by divers Affidavits and Certificates of Credit that some Persons ill affected to these Honourable and Publick Services who in time may receive deserved Punishment have disturbed the possession of the said Thomas Bushell in some of His Majesties Mines Royal and Edifices appertaining to the Royal Work and have plucked up divers Pumps cast in the Rubbish and drowned and so much as in them did lie destroyed the said Works so as it hath been a labour of 4 Years Night and Day to recover the same and that the said Thomas Bushell hath been disturbed in the getting of Turf and Peate for the Service of His Majesties Works being an invention of his own very commendable and commodious for the preserving of Wood which hath been heretofore by the former Undertakers much wasted in those Parts Now for the Remedy of such mischiefs and that the said Thomas Bushell and his Assigns and such Persons as are or shall be Undertakers and Adventurers with him in the said Service may receive a due encouragement and assistance in these chargeable Undertakings It is Ordered by the Lords in the upper House of Parliament now Assembled That the Speaker of this House in the Name and by the Authority of the same shall direct his Letters unto the Judges of Assizes and Justices of the Peace of the said County of Cardigan requiring them that they do in all Lawful things endeavour to advance and encourage the said Service in His Majesties Royal Mines and assist the said Thomas Bushell and other Undertakers in all things so far as Lawfully they may for the continuance of his Lawful Possession and the quiet and peaceable Working of the said Mines until he shall be ejected by due Course of Law as also for getting and working of Turf or Peate according to his Legal Right upon His Majesties Wasts and other places Lawful and all other Lawful accommodations of necessary passages and other Legal things which may any ways advance His Majesties Service in the said Royal Mines Commissioners to attend the King in Scotland It was this day Ordered by the Commons That two Members only of this House shall go Commissioners into Scotland with the Earl of Bedford and Mr. Hambden and Sir Philip Stapleton to be the Persons A Committee was also appointed to draw Instructions for them Petition against the Minister of St. Ann's Aldersgate A Petition was read against the Minister of St. Anns Church near Aldersgate for speaking Words against the Parliament for so they called the House of Commons saying It would not last alwayes but they would hereafter be questioned for some things they have done
inconstancy in him but it was certainly out of a true and peculiar understanding his power The present State of Christendom is apparent That the House of Austria begins to diminish as in Spain so consequently in Germany That the French do swell and enlarge themselves if they grow and hold they will be to us but Spain nearer hand Alliances do serve well to make up a present Breach or mutually to strengthen those States who have the same ends but politick Bodies have no Natural affections they are guided by particular interest and beyond that are not to be trusted Although it may be good Policy to breed a Militia at the charge of other States abroad for our own use and occasions at home yet that ought rather to be done amongst Friends of the same way and so the Low-Countries have been an Academy to us His Majesty hath now an Ambassador Treating with the Emperor about the Palatinate If we send away our Men it will so damp and discountenance the affairs of the Prince Elector as the World will believe we never had nor ever shall have any intentions to assist him at all I have observed for divers years That England is not so well Peopled but we do want Work-folks to bring in Harvest our Disbanded Soldiers will least dislike that kind of Work and if they be speedily Dissolved that employment will entertain them for the present and inure them to labour for hereafter Upon these considerations Mr. Speaker I cannot give my advice to add more strength to France by weakning both our selves and our Friends As for sending the Irish into Spain truly Sir I have been long of Opinion that it was never fit to suffer the Irish to be promiscuously made Soldiers abroad because it may make them abler to trouble the State when they come Home Their intelligence and practice with the Princes whom they shall serve may prove dangerous to that Kingdom They may more profitably be employed upon Husbandry whereof that Kingdom hath great need Besides it will be exceeding prejudicial to us and to our Religion if the Spaniard should prevail against the Portuguez It were better for us he should be broken into lesser Pieces his Power shivered If the King of Portugal had desired these Irish I should rather have given my Vote for him then for the King of Spain because it will keep the Ballance more even Spain hath had too much of our Assistance and Connivence heretofore I am sure it lost us the Palatinate Now that it is come to our turn to advise I hope we shall not do over other mens faults again If the present Government of Ireland be not able to restrain their disordered People there is a Noble Lord already designed to that Charge who by his knowledge in Martial Affairs and other his great Abilities will be no doubt abundantly capable to reduce them to a due obedience Wherefore Mr. Speaker upon the whole matter My Opinion is that we should not be forward to spend our Men but rather to preserve and husband them for our own use and employments for our Friends for our Religion Whether the Close of this Speech did not cast an Ominous Aspect upon the succeeding Actions of this Parliament what ever the Speaker meant let the Reader judge However there is no doubt but this Prohibiting the Irish Army to pass into the Service of the King of Spain had a most direful Influence upon all the following Miseries which befell these Kingdoms After which the House came to these Votes Resolved upon the Question That this House holds it not fit nor gives Assent that there should be any levies of Men in Ireland for the service of the King of Spain Resolved c. That this House thinks it not fit nor gives Assent that there should be any levies of Men in any of his Majesties Dominions for the French King's Service Upon this a Conference was desired with the Lords which was to this Effect Conference about Soldiers for Forreign Ambassadors That the Spanish Ambassador formerly did move the King that he might have leave to Levy and Transport four Regiments of Soldiers in Ireland for the Service of the King of Spain his Majesty was pleased to declare that he would do nothing herein without the Advice of both Houses of Parliament and since they understand his Majesty hath been informed that the Parliament did Assent to the Levying and Transporting of the said Soldiers to the end that it may appear that the House of Commons are far from giving their Assent therein they have resolved and declared that they hold it not fit nor give Assent that there be any Levies of Men in Ireland for the Service of the King of Spain and hold it fit that there be a suddain stop made of the Ships contracted for by the Spanish Ambassador for the Transporting of the Soldiers out of Ireland And further they hold it not fit nor give Assent that there should be any Levies of Men for the French King's Service within any of his Majesties Dominions for that they know not what Vse this Kingdom may have of Men. Upon which the Lords having debated the Matter passed the same Votes with the Commons and further Ordered Sir John Pennington should stay all the Ships in the Downes which were hired by the Spanish Ambassador to transport these Men as also to stop such Ships as were riding in the River of Thames till the further pleasure of the House be known An Order was also sent to the Lord Newport Constable of the Tower to tender the Protestation to all such Persons as he takes into the Tower for the Guard and Defence of it and if any of them refuse not to admit them to be of the Guard A further Order was this Day pass'd both Houses Monday August 30. concerning the Thanksgiving for the Pacification the Scots it seems being not content after having invaded England in a Hostile manner put the Nation to above a Million of Mony through the Interest they had in the Presbyterian Faction to purchase a Peace even upon their own Conditions unless they might be publickly declared Loyal and Faithful Subjects to such hard Terms did the Obstinate Faction drive his Majesty even while they made him all the Protestations of Humility Duty Loyalty and Allegiance which certainly to a great Monarch who by Proclamation had justly stiled them Rebels and had lead an Army against them was a severe Request not to call it an Imposition and which none but Presbyterians or their Off-Spring would have attempted but such was the Fury and Violence of the Current that there was no stopping or stemming of it and his Majesty found himself under such hard Circumstances and Difficulties that he was even compelled to yield to this most extravagant Request See here the Order WHereas according to the Act of this present Parliament for Confirmation of the Treaty of Pacification An Order to declare the Scots
certainly by the informing Sectaries who were very diligent in springing Game for the Committee and Sub-Committees for Religion the Ministers Remonstrance and for Scandalous Ministers Mr. White 's Mr. Corbet's Sir Robert Harlow's and Sir Edward Deering's Committees And then these Godly Informers must be gratified for their Petitions Informations and such like good Service to the Common-Wealth by the Imprisonment Scorn and Contempt Charges and many times utter Ruine of the truly Loyal and Orthodox Clergy of the Church of England And whoever will take the pains to Rake in that Libel of Mr. White 's called The first Century of Scandalous Malignant Priests will find that the greatest Crimes which many of the Clergy were Accused for and turned they and their Families naked to the wide World were the disobeying this Order For Bowing at the Name of Jesus Examples 33 and 43. For setting up the Name of Jesus in the Church Ex. 72.83 Preaching against Sacriledge Ex. 22. Bowing the Body in God's House Ex. 7. But to return to the House of Commons after the Voting of this Declaration they fell upon the business of the Recess and preparing Instructions for the Committee which was to Sit during the time of the Adjournment And Mr. The standing Committee during the Recess of the Parliament Pym Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Franklin Sir John Culpeper Mr. Wheeler Sir Henry Mildmay Mr. Bridgman Sir Thomas Bowyer Sir Thomas Barrington Sir Edward Hales Sir William Litton Sir Richard Cave Mr. Robert Goodwin Sir Samuel Luke Mr. Wingate Sir Robert Pye Alderman Soams Alderman Pennington Captain Venn Mr. Vassal Lord Falkland Capt. Rainsborough Mr. Bence Sir Peter Wroth Sir John Holland Mr. Winwood Mr. John Goodwin Sir Thomas Dacres Mr. Morley Mr. Henry Martin Mr. Arthur Goodwin Sir John Clotworthy Mr. White Mr. Sollicitor Mr. Spurstow Mr. Laurence Whitacre Serjeant Wild Mr. Strode Sir Henry Vane Mr. Glyn Sir Symon D'Ewes Sir William Drake Mr. Beddingfield Sir Gilbert Pickering Mr. Blakston Mr. Waller were appointed to be a Committee during the Recess This Committee to meet on Saturday next in the Exchequer-Chamber at Nine of the Clock in the Fore-noon Directions for the Committee during the Recess and they are to meet every Tuesday and Saturday in every Week and at such other times as they think fit during the Recess and they or any Six of them have power to meet with the Commissioners of the Lords appointed during their Recess at such times as they shall appoint They have Power to receive open and answer such Letters as come from the Committee in Scotland according to former Instructions and Orders of this House To take Care that the Orders of this House be punctually observed concerning Disbanding the Army Train of Artillery and Garrisons and for the Issuing and sending down of Money to those purposes To Recall the Committee in Scotland if they see Cause To go on in preparation of Proceedings against the Principal of such Delinquents as are already Voted or Complained against and to report Vpon any Informations of Riots or Tumults to have Power to send to all Sheriffs Justices of Peace and other Officers to stir them unto their Duties in repressing them and to report To Examine the Entries of the Clerks Books and that the Committee may not mistake any past Actions of the House a Clerk to be left there with the Books To take Care of the Preparations for his Majesties Revenue and to take into Consideration any Accounts to his Majesty To go on in prosecution of the Consideration of a West-Indian Company To take into Consideration the Fishing upon the Coasts of England Scotland and Ireland To take into Consideration the Resolutions of the Abuses in Exchange and Transporting of Money and the Regulating of the Par between this and other Nations To prepare the Irish Laws depending to be either at the Access transmitted to the Lords or recommended to the Irish Parliament To consider about Sal Petre and Gunpowder To send for any Persons Writings and Records To prepare a Discharge for the Earl of Warwick according to those Acquittances he hath given concerning the Northern Counties After which the Speaker desired he might have leave to go into the Country during the Recess which being granted the House was Adjourned till October 20. at Eight of the Clock in the Morning Happy had it been for England had they never met again to be the Authors of the most Dismal Tragedy that ever was Acted upon the Theatre of England but Providence whose Wisdom is unsearchable had Ordained them to be a Scourge to a People Wanton with Long Peace Ease Plenty and Even Religion it self The day to which the Parliament was Adjourned being now come Wednesday Octob. 20. both Houses met And the Lords being sate in their House and divers of them observing the Palace Yard full of Armed Men it was moved That it might be known upon what Grounds and Reasons the Trained Bands of Westminster were in the Old and New Palaces assembled The Lord Chamberlain being Captain General of the South Parts of this Kingdom during the King's absence in Scotland by Command of the House signified That his Lordship received a Desire from the Committee of the House of Commons which sate during the time of the late Recess that there might be a Guard of Souldiers about the Parliament to prevent the Insolence and Affronts of Souldiers at this time about the Town and to secure the Houses against other Designs which they have reason to suspect untill the Parliament meets and gives further Order therein Hereupon it was Ordered The Parliament takes a Guard of the Trained Bands of Westminster That the Lord Chamberlain shall by virtue of this Order continue a Guard of Souldiers to guard the Parliament Houses until the further Pleasure of the Parliament be known and that the Number of the said Soldiers shall be wholly left unto the discretion and management of the said Lord Chamberlain Captain General After this the Lord Keeper informed the House That he had received a Letter from the Lord Howard in Scotland dated the 14th of October which was read The Conspiracy in Scotland declaring That upon Monday Night then last there fell out a great Interruption in the Business there by reason of an Information given to the Marquiss of Hamilton the Earl of Argyle and the Earl of Lannerick That there was a Design to seize upon their Persons that Night whereupon they removed their Lodgings and stayed in the City all Night and relation being made hereof the next day to the Parliament the Earl of Crawford Colonel Steward and Colonel Cockram were restrained and after a further Examination his Lordship will give this House a further Information The first thing that was done in the House of Commons Mr. Pym's Report of what was done during the Recess Mr. Pym Reports what was done during the Recess THE first thing we had in Charge was
in the Margin he calls Richard Belling R. B. a zealous Nuncionist Whereas though it is true that he was imployed by the Supreme Council to Rome and his Negotiation was the occasion of sending the Nuncio over into Ireland yet when he found the Nuncio and that Party to have other Designs then meerly the obtaining Liberty for their Religion as at first they pretended none were more zealous in opposing them then Mr. Belling or in promoting the Peace and submitting the Irish to the King's Authority he was one among others of the supreme Council who disavowed and appealed from the Sentence of Excommunication procured against the Lord Lieutenant and his Adherents as is evident by a Book which he wrote in answer to one published by French the Titular Bishop of Fernes written in Justification of the Rebellion and the aforesaid Excommunication Pag. 5th of the Preface he saith The Cessation was managed by subtile Instruments of State And because these Words are a little Mysterious p. 29th of the said Preface he Explains himself speaking his own Sentiments in the Language of Col. Crafford's Remonstrance where he hath this passage When I first enter'd on this History I propos'd to my self a Series of the Whole but prest with my own Affairs and matter increasing plentifully upon me I held it rational to Sum up the Whole after I had brought it to the Cessation which some * Col. Crafford's Remonstrance pag. 5. had an apprehension was not a less Plot to deliver the Remainder of his Majesties true Subjects into the Rebels hands and to root out the Protestant Religion Observe this passage then what was commenced the 23 of October 1641. But the Articles of that Cessation speak otherwise necessity being the Ground thereof legible in His Majesties Motives to a Cessation the 19th of September 1643. Which afterwards was highly Controverted and in the end so infeebled as the War according to the first intent was after the Long Parliament grasp'd all pursued with vigour and success The Regicides and Irish Papists might have sharper Swords but surely they had not blacker Ink then Dr. Borlase for either he thought that this passage Of some thought the Cessation a greater Plot against the Protestant Interest and Religion then that of the Irish Papists Octob. 23 1641 was either True or else the most malicious Compendium of Scandal that ever the Regicides or Irish Rebels endeavoured to fix upon His Majesty if he thought it false he should without mumbling the matter between the Teeth of so many Parentheses as he does where he seems to contradict it from His Majesties motives and the Articles I say he ought either not to have mentioned it at all or to have given it a lasting brand of Infamy For by this intolerable Reflection the Character of a worse Plot is put upon His Majesty then the execrable Irish Rebellion to betray the Protestants and their Religion since he himself in the 118 121 124 and 132 pages of his History produces His Majesties Letters to the then Marquess now Duke of Ormond and the Lords Justices Borlase and Tichburn expresly commanding the making of that Cessation for one year And I think to fix this upon the King exceeds even the Exit Tyrannus Regum Vltimus of the Rebels And therefore all along his History he makes some body or other still thinking this Cessation a great Plot against the Protestants and extolls the management of the Parliament who were against it after they had grasp'd all for vigorously and successfully prosecuting the War and indeed it is very suspicious that he both thinks and would have others think this Cessation a Real Plot and that he hath a great Kindness for the English Parliament Rebels appears by the Tenderness he expresses for them as in this Place as if they were in good earnest against the Irish Rebels and the King in good Earnest for them so also P. 135. where he hath these sweetning Words And indeed to give the Parliament their due when they had reduc'd the Affairs of England to their own Module the Rebels of Ireland were frequently Chastized and so affectionately pursued that neither Men Money or Courage was wanting to that Service Expressions so kind and tender that one is tempted to believe these were some of the Nameless Worthies he mentions in his Preface Pag. 25. It may be saith he some whose Excellency consists in Detraction will think by this I had a particular Design besides the History to preserve the Memory of * If these Some were not some of the Illustrious Parliament Regicides as Ireton Cromwell c. why does he not Name them some who otherwise in tract of time might be lost in the Common Rubbish and I dare not disown those Conjectures the deserving being to be in Everlasting Remembrance Nor hath it in all Ages and amongst the Worthiest Persons been esteemed Pride but Justice to Erect Memorials and Altars to Meriting Heroes And I think by this Passage he did not intend to put the Greatest Hero and Martyr into his Calender unless it be to Note him Nigro Carbone I shall have Occasion to satisfie the Reader more particularly when I come to the Vxbridge Treaty and the Papers which then passed betwixt the King and the Parliament in the mean time in short this was the true State of the Matter and then let the World judge what Ground Dr. Borlase hath to revive this black Scandal against his late Majesty and his Grace the Duke of Ormond The Reasons for making this Cessation were plainly the miserable Condition which that part of the English Army under the Command of the Marquiss of Ormond was reduced unto because neither he nor the Officers and Soldiers under his Command could be threatned or perswaded to favor the two Houses of Parliament in the War they made against the King whilest the Scotch Army were at the same time plentifully provided for so that those who would not be of their Party had no choice beside the Cessation but to forsake their Allegiance or Starve Besides the Parliament saw evidently That if a Cessation were concluded and a Peace should follow upon it the King would receive considerable Supplies of Men from Ireland which made them to save their own Heads forfeited to Justice so violently Oppose the Cessation thò they pretended other Reasons of Religion and Conscience under which Cloaks they covered the most Impious and daring Villainies which ever the Sun beheld I might produce other Passages but must desire the Readers Excuse for the present till they naturally fall in my Way but I cannot omit one more P. 304. where he hath these very Words And certainly whatsoever conspired to complete so execrable a Design as the Murther of the King nothing contributed more than the Irish deluding his Sacred Majesty so long with their Promises of a Competent Army whereby he relying on them too confidently Assured of their Ability and Power to perform it
Excellent Minister and Assistant in the Execution of the Kings Writs the great Peace-maker betwixt the Brittish and Natives betwixt the Protestant and the Papist and the chief Securer under God and his Majesty of the Future and Past Plantations His Lordship also moved That he might be permitted to keep a constant Fund of 20000 l. in the Exchequer in Ireland to be ready upon all occasions And certainly had he continued his Life and this Well-laid Way of Managing the spirits of some of the Old Irish Especially there is all the probability that humane affairs can afford that the Irish had not made themselves so miserable a Nation as by that Barbarous Rebellion they did and that the English Rebellion which was wonderfully influenced by it either had not been at all or had never arrived to those accursed Successes and Period for at least he would have kept the Scots imployed at home if he had not assisted the King with Men here in England against the Rebels But to proceed what ever Fucus of Religion these as well as the English Rebels afterwards might make Use of to paint the Jezabel of Treason there was a Desire of shaking off the Government and Dependency upon the Crown of England at least in some of the Irish as will plainly appear in their Ensuing Actions and what ever the other Motives and Occasions of this Defection were undoubtedly the English Rebellion which followed this so closely at the heels disabled the King from having the Power as he had the Will to have hazarded his Royal Person to suppress it in its Infancy by reason whereof it came to be of so long Continuance and Ireland to drink so deeply of the Calamities which attended this Dreadful Rebellion There were several other Concomitant Actions even of the Governing part of the Nation who were many of them Parliamentarians in Heart and afterwards violently so in their Actions which did increase and heighten the despair of the Irish and I have seen some Minutes of the Council-Board which aver That Sir Charles Coot said That when Sir Luke Fitz-Gerald misdemean'd himself before the Board by incivil Words toward a Member of the Board he let him have the line and would not reprehend him in hope he would go into Rebellion for he saw he would do so and that the more that were in Rebellion it was the Better And certainly there were some unjustifiable Severities Used by the Lords Justices and Council as prohibiting the Irish to come to Dublin upon pain of Death by Three successive Proclamations and afterwards burning their Houses c. for giving Entertainment to the Army of the Rebels one of the two being unavoidable their making Prisoners and Indicting such of them as came in and submitted to the Marquess of Ormond in hopes of kind Usage notwithstanding his Intercession for them and the advantage they might reasonably Expect such Clemency would be to them in order to reclaiming the more Moderate and such as had complied with the Rebels out of pure Necessity of which ill Treatment I shall produce one of their Letters to the Marquess of Ormond with an Express Command from the Lords Justices and Council for his so doing Which Letter was as followeth AFter Our very hearty A Letter from the Lords Justices and Council to E. of Ormond to prosecute the Rebels with Fire and Sword c. Martii 9. 1641. c. We the Lords Justices have received your Lordships Letters of this dayes date which we communicated with the Council and having taken the same into Serious Consideration after deliberate Advisement thereof at this Board We have thought fit to return your Lordship this Answer That calling to mind the Reasons moving this Board to take the Resolution Expressed in our Order dated the 3d. of this Month concerning the present Expedition and considering divers other Weighty Reasons now appearing to us in Council and for that also we have by our last Letters into England as your Lordship knowes made known thither That your Lordship with 3000 Foot and 500 Horse was immediately to March into the Pale to burn spoyl and destroy the Rebels of the Pale without excepting of any And for that the direction we Expected forth of England concerning the Lords of the Pale did not concern this Matter We therefore think fit First That according to that Order of this Board you pass not beyond the River of Boyne but March in such places between the Boyne and the Sea as your Lordship shall think fit Secondly That those that offer to come in ☞ be in no other manner taken in then as Prisoners taken by the Power and Strength of his Majesties Army as in truth it is and if any of them come to the Army that if it may be the Soldiers do seize on them before they have access to your Lordship and that afterwards they be denyed access to your Person Thirdly That no difference be made between the Noblemen that are Rebels and other Rebels but that their Houses and Goods be dealt with as other Rebels are in manner as in our said Order dated the 3d of this Month is Expressed which we now again recommend to your Lordships observation In the last place We render Thanks to your Lordship for your Letters praying your Lordship to be as Frequent as you may in Advertisements to us during your Absence And in case you find the necessity of the Service to require your absence from hence for a longer time then the 8. days mentioned in our Order of the 3d of this Month We are pleased That your Lordship be absent two or three days longer if you find all things concurring therein to the advantage of the Publique Service in case in the interim you receive no direction from us to the contrary And observing no mention in your Letters of having consulted with Sir Richard Greenfield as with other Commanders We pray your Lordship That as there may be occasion you call him to such Consultations And so we bid c. from his Majesties Castle of Dublin the 9th of March 1641. Your Lordships very Loving Friends William Parsons John Borlase R. Dillon J. Temple Charles Coote Th. Rotherham Fr. Willoughby R. Meredith Postscript WHen Your Lordship shall have perused and signed the inclosed We pray you to cause it to be conveyed to Sir Henry Tichburne To our very good Lord James Earl of Ormond c. The Reader will meet with several others of these fierce Commands in the Series of their due time only I could not omit inserting this in this place though a little before its proper time to clear this Point and to vindicate the Reflections of his late Majesty in his Remarques upon this Rebellion as well as his future Actions in displacing some of these fiery Men and putting others of better Temper in their places which it will appear he did with great Justice and Prudence and if he erred in any thing it seems to
were disposed to free themselves furtherly from the like inconvenience and get good Conditions for themselves for regaining their Ancestors or at least a good part thereof Estates they could never desire a more convenient time than that time the distempers of Scotland being then on foot and did ask me what I thought of it I made him answer that I could not tell what to think of it such Matters being altogether out of my Element Then he would needs have an Oath of me of Secrecy which I gave him and thereupon he told me that he spoke to the best Gentry of Quality in Lemster and a great part of Connaght touching that matter and he found all of them willing thereunto if so be they could draw to them the Gentry of Vlster for which cause said he I came to speak to you then he began to lay down to me the case that I was in there overwhelmed in Debt the smalness of my Estate and the greatness of the Estate my Ancestors had and how I should be sure to get it again or at least a good part thereof and moreover how the welfare and maintaining of the Catholick Religion which he said undoubtedly the Parliament now in England will suppress doth depend on it For said he it is to be feared and so much I hear from every understanding man the Parliament intends the utter Subversion of our Religion by which perswasions he obtained my consent And so he demanded whether any more of Vlster Gentry were in Town I told him that Phillip Reyly Mr. Torlagh O Neal Brother to Sir Phelim O Neal and Mr. Cosloe Mac Mahone were in Town so for that time we parted The next day he invited Mr. Reyly and I to dine with him and after Dinner he sent for those other Gentlemen Mr. Neale and Mr. Mac Mahone and when they were come he began the discourse formerly used to me to them and with the same perswasion formerly used to me he obtained their consent And then he began to discourse of the manner how it ought to be done of the fesibility and easiness of the Attempt considering Matters as they then stood in England the Troubles of Scotland the great Numbers of able Men in the Kingdom meaning Ireland what Succours they were more then to hope for from abroad and the Army then raised all Irish-men and well armed meaning the Army raised by my Lord Strafford against Scotland First that eveâ— one should endeavour to draw his own Friends into that Act and at least those that did live in one County with them and when they had so done they send to the Irish in the Low-Countreys and Spain to let them know of the Day and Resolution so that they be over with them by that day or soon after with supply of Arms and Ammunition as they could that there should be a set day appointed and every one in his own Quarters should rise out that day and seize on all Arms he could get in his County and this day to be near Winter so that England could not be able to send Forces into Ireland before May and by that time there was no doubt to be made but that they themselves should be supplied by the Irish beyond Seas who he said could not miss of help from either Spain or the Pope but that his resolutions were not in all things allowed For first it was resolved nothing should be done until first they had sent to the Irish over-Seas to know their advice and what hope of success they could give for in them as they said all their hope of Relief was and they would have both their Advice and Resolution before any further proceedings more than to speak to and try Gentlemen of the Kingdom every one as they could conveniently to see in case they would at any time grow to a resolution what to be and Strength they must trust to Then Mr. Moore told them That it was to no purpose to spend much time in speaking to the Gentry For there was no doubt to be made of the Irish that they would be ready at any time And that all the doubt was in the Gentry of the Pale but he said That for his own part he was really assured when they had risen out the Pale Gentry would not stay long after at least that they would not oppose them in any thing but be Neuters and if in Case they did That they had Men enough in the Kingdom without them Moreover he said he had spoke to a great Man who then should be nameless that would not fail at the appointed day of rising out to appear and to be seen in the Act. But that until then he was sworn not to reveal him and that was all that was done at that Meeting only that Mr. Moore should the next Lent following make a Journey down into the North to know what was done there and that he also might inform them what he had done and so on parting Mr. Philip Reyly and I did importune Mr. Moore for the knowledge of that great Man that he spake of and on long Entreaty after binding us to new Secrecy not to discover him till the Day should be appointed he told that it was the Lord of Mayo who was very powerful in Command of Men in those Parts of Connaght wherein he lived and that there was no doubt to be made of him no more than was of himself and so we parted The next Lent following Mr. Moore according to his promise came into Vlster by reason it was the time of Assizes in several Counties there he met only with Mr. Reyly and nothing was then done but all Matters put off till May following where we or most of us should meet at Dublin it being both Parliament and Term-time In the mean time there Landed one Neale O Neale sent by the Earl of Tyrone out of Spain to speak with the Gentry of his Name and Kindred to let them know that he had treated with Cardinal Richelieu for obtaining Succor to come for Ireland and that he prevailed with the Cardinal so that he was to have Arms Ammunition and Mony from him on Demand to come for Ireland and that he only expected a convenient Time to come away and to desire them to be in a readiness and to procure all others whom they could to be so likewise which Message did set on the Proceedings very much so that Mr. Moore Mr. Reyly my Brother and I meeting the next May at Dublin and the same Messenger there too It was Resolved That he should return to the Earl into Spain with their Resolution which was That they would rise out twelve or fourteen Days before or after Allhallontide as they should see Cause and that he should not fail to be with them by that time There was a Report at that time and before that the Earl of Tyrone was killed which was not believed by reason of many such Reports formerly which we
of the Low-Countreys by Colonel O Neal who was sent after the Messenger sent by us formerly to the said Colonel was by him disappointed with his Answer to encourage us in our Resolution and to speedy Performance with assurance of Succour which he said would not fail of the Colonel's behalf and for the more certainty of help from him and to assure us that the Colonel had good hopes to procure Aid from others he said that it was he himself that was imployed from him to Cardinal Richelieu twice that some men who gave very fair promises to assure the Colonel's expectations with which he said that the said Colonel was really with himself assured of the Cardinal's Aid and that he was likewise commanded by the Colonel upon our Resolution of the day to give notice thereof to him and that he would be within 14 days over with them with Aid but he landed 9 or 10 days before and meeting with Captain Brian O Neal who made him acquainted with what was Resolved he did write all the matter to Colonel O Neal so as he was sure of his speedy coming And so that Evening he and I came to meet the other Gentlemen and there were met Mr. Moore Colonel Bourne Colonel Plunkett Captain Fox and other Lemster Gentlemen a Captain I think of the Bournes but I am not sure whether a Bourne or a Toole and Captain Brian O Neale and taking an account of those that should have been there it was found that Sir Phelim O Neale Mr. Collo mac Mahone did fail of sending their Men and Colonel Bourne did miss Sir Morgan Cavanagh that had promised him to be there but he said he was sure he would not fail to be that Night or the next Morning in Town And of the two hundred men that were appointed there were only eighty present yet notwithstanding they were resolved to go on in their Resolution and all the difference was at what time of the day they would set on the Castle and after some debate it was resolved in the Afternoon and the rather hoping to meet the Colonel there then for they said if they should take the Castle and be enforced by any extremity for not receiving timely succour out of the Country having them they could not want and so parted that Night but to meet in the Morning to see further what was to be done and immediately thereupon I came to my Chamber and about Nine of the Clock Mr. Moore and Captain Fox came to me and told me all was discovered and that the City was in Arms and the Gates were shut up and so departed from me And what became of them and of the rest I know not nor think that they escaped but how and at what time I do not know because I my self was taken that Morning But how long soever this Plot was contriving and how much soever the Parliament by their Papers Answers and Declarations indeavoured secretly to reflect upon the King and by the Mercenary Tongues and Pens of their Infamous Agents more openly that the Rebellion began by his Knowledge and Connivance and by that wicked Calumny laid all the Massacres and Murthers which they heightned to the utmost at His Majesties door thereby to dispossess him of the Allegiances and Affections of his Subjects yet it is more then probable the Rebellion would not have broke out then if ever had not the Committee of the Parliament of Ireland some of which were the Continuers of and Actors in it had too near a prospect of a Rupture between the King and the Two Houses and that it would inevitably and quickly come to a War for all other Circumstances in that Juncture threatned their unavoidable Ruine in the Attempt unless England and Scotland were Embroiled so as not to be able to suppress them as if it had not been for the succeeding Rebellion in England they could not but know would be very easily done and none but people mad and senseless would without such almost a certain prospect of the English Rebellion have been tempted to forfeit not only the Extraordinary Graces they had newly received from the King and the Indulgence afforded them in the Exercise of their Religion but their Lives and Fortunes also And for any hopes of Foreign Assistance the French and the Spaniard were at War and under all the Consequences of it necessity of Men and Money to supply their own Affairs and as the Reader may remember both the Ambassadors of those Princes were pressing both the King and Parliament for Men out of Ireland so far were they from supplying the Trish with any And for the Pope besides that he is never over liberal of the Temporal Treasure of the Church he was at a Distance too Remote and too impotent in Shipping to give them any Assistance indeed he might probably be very Prodigal of those cheap and useless Spiritual Treasures of the Church Indulgences Blessings Reliques and promises of Miracles in their Favour but had he imployed both the Swords and unlocked all the Treasures with St. Peter's Keys yet could he not without a real Miracle nay many have saved them from most unavoidable Ruine and Destruction had England and Scotland continued in Peace so that it will plainly appear that if not the Design yet the Execution of it at that time depended wholly upon the certain expectations of a Civil War and the Confusions that attend it which it was not difficult for the Irish Committees who were upon the Earl of Strafford's account very intimate with the Faction of the Parliament to discover and foresee And this is most certain that the Rebels of each side made great advantages of the Rebellion and as in probability the Irish had not then broke out but that they had the English Rebellion in view so the English Rebels made their first Levies of Men and Money with which they fought against the King under colour of suppressing the Irish Rebellion And this is most certain That had Ireland continued in Peace Scotland darest not have stirred as they did to give assistance to the English Rebels and indeed to give the Fatal Turn to the ballance of the War which then seemed to incline to the Royal Party and the great things Montross did there with a handful of Men easily shew what might have been done to the King's Assistance if Ireland had been in Peace So that if these Rebellions did not beget one another as 't is very probable they did 't is certain they fed and supported each others Flames and betwixt them burnt down both Church and State in these three miserable Kingdoms And that the Reader may see what the Irish Rebels said for themselves I have here subjoyned the Remonstrance which they published for their Vindication a Copy of which was procured from one Mr. Wentworth who had it from them while he was Prisoner among them and being Printed I find it among the Collection of the Prints of that
before been said concerning the beginning of this Execrable and Unparallel'd Rebellion take the Words of an * Excellent and Noble Author upon that Subject THe Irish Nation A M. S. S. in the custody of his Grace the Duke of Ormond written by the Right Honourable the Earl of Clarendon saith he was possessed of the most blessed and happy Condition before their own to say no worse unskilful Rage and Fury brought this War upon them and they have since had leisure enough thoroughly to consider and value the wonderful Plenty Peace and security which they enjoyed till the year 1641 when they wantonly and disdainfully flung those Blessings from them They were arrived to a mighty increase of Traffick Improvement of Land Erection of Buildings and whatever else might be profitable or pleasant to any People and these desirable Advantages and Ornaments the Policy and Industry of that Nation was utterly unacquainted with till they were brought to them by the skill and labour of the English planting and living Charitably Friendly and Hospitably among them Taxes and Tillages and other Contributions were things hardly known to them so much as by their Names whatever their Lands Labour or Industry produced was their own and they were not only free from the fear of having it taken from them by the King upon any pretence whatsoever without their own consents but also so secured against Thieves and Robbers by the Execution of good Laws that Men might and did Travel over all Parts of the Kingdom with considerable Sums of Money unguarded and unconcealed If this happy posture of Affairs It were well if our English Non-conformists would look in this Glass they would see their own pourtaict exactly and may by timely consideration avoid the same destiny was undervalued under the Notion of being but Temporal Blessings and the want of Freedom be alledged as to the Exercise of the Romish Religion to which that Nation was generally addicted it cannot be denied but that though by the Laws and Constitutions of that Kingdom the Power and Authority of the Bishop of Rome is not in any degree allowed or submitted to by the Government yet by connivance the whole Catholique Body of that Nation enjoyed an undisturbed Exercise of that Religion and even at Dublin where the Seat of the King 's chief Governour was such was the indulgence of Authority then towards them that they went as uninterruptedly to their Devotions as the Governor did to his Bishops Priests and all Degrees and Orders of the Secular and Regular Clergy lived and exercised their Functions among them And though there were some Laws against them still in force which the Necessity and Wisdom of former Ages had caused to be Enacted to suppress those acts of Treason and Rebellion which that People frequently fell into and the Policy of the present Times kept unrepealed to prevent the like Distempers and Designs yet the Edge of those Laws was so totally rebated by the Clemency and Compassion of the King that no Man could say he had suffered prejudice or disturbance in or for his Religion which is another kind of indulgence then the Subjects professing a faith contrary to that which is Established by the Laws of the Land can boast of in any other Kingdom in the World When in the Year 1640 they discerned some Distempers arising in England upon the Scots Invasion and perceived the Support and Countenance that People then found in both Houses of Parliament in England they would likewise bear a part and bring in their Contribution to the work in hand then they began to Transplant those dangerous humors of Jealousies and Discontents which they found springing up Seditiously in the Parliament at Westminster into Ireland and with the same Passion and Distemper cherished them in the Parliament at Dublin They fell to Accusing upon general and unreasonable Imputations the principal Councellors and Ministers of State who were intrusted by the Crown in that Kingdom impeaching them of High Treason and thereby according to the Rule unjustly then prescribed at Westminster they removed those Persons from any Power in Publick Affairs there whose wisdom might probably otherwise have prevented the mischiefs which have since ensued Then did they most weakly and childishly concur with the greatest Enemies their Nation or Religion had in the Conspiracy against the life of the Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of that Kingdom by whose Wisdom and most prudent Government that Nation had reaped great advantages and was daily receiving greater and sent a Committee from Dublin to Westminster to join in the Prosecution of him and having in the end procured the miserable and never enough lamented Ruin of that great Person they powerfully opposed and hindred the conferring of that charge upon any of those His Majesty had designed to undertake it and at the last by their repeated importunities they got it devolved into such hands as were most unlike to grapple with the difficulties which they were sure to meet with and having thus to their uttermost power fomented the divisions in England and discountenanced and weakened the Regal Power in Ireland by raising the same Factions against it there on the sudden upon the 23d day of October 1641 without the least pretence of Quarrel or Hostility so much as apprehended by the Protestants great multitudes of Irish Roman Catholicks in the Province of Vlster and shortly after in other Provinces and parts of the Kingdom Tumultuously assembled together put themselves in Arms seised upon the Forts Castles Towns and Houses belonging to the Protestants which by their force they could possess themselves of and with most Barbarous Circumstances of Cruelty within the space of a few days murthered an incredible number of Protestants Men Women and Children promiscuously and without distinction of Age or Sex and of all those who were within the reach of their Power they who escaped best were robbed of all that they had to their very skins and so turned naked to indure the sharpness of that Season and by that means and for want of Relief many thousands of them perished by hunger and cold the Design which was at the same time laid for the surprise of the Castle of Dublin the Residence of the King 's chief Governors and His Majesties principal Magazine of Arms and Ammunition wherewith it was then plentifully stored being discovered by a person trusted and thereby disappointed that place was left singly to consult of the best means to oppose the Torrent which was like to overwhelm the whole Kingdom and for a Refuge to the poor Protestants who from all parts of the Kingdom flocked thither Despoiled Robbed and Stripped with the sad Relations of the most inhumane Cruelties and Murthers exercised upon their Friends Kindred and Neighbours which have been ever heard of amongst Christians It is not All the Irish not Guilty of the Rebellion adds he the purpose of this Discourse to lay any imputations of this Rebellion and
Savage Cruelty upon the whole Irish Nation and all the Catholicks of that Kingdom many Persons of Honour were never in the least degree tainted with that Contagion but on the contrary have always given as signal Testimonies of their Affection and Duty to the King and of their detestation of that Odious and Bloody defection as any of his Subjects of either of his other Kingdoms have done whose memories must with equal justice and care be transmitted to Posterity as pretious Examples of Honour and Integrity others there were who by the Passion and Rigour of those who were then in Authority and had power enough to destroy whom they had inclination to suspect or accuse were driven to put themselves into the Protection of those whose ways and courses they totally disapproved and hated and many who were by mis-information and mis-belief ingaged in the carrying on and possibly contriving the War and Insurrection yet were mortally averse to those barbarous actions of Blood Rapine and Inhumanity which dishonour even the most just and lawful War One Circumstance of unhappy and impious Policy must not be forgotten by which the Bold Authors of that unnatural War in the first entrance into it promised to themselves notable advantages and which in truth as most of the policies of that kind brought unspeakable misery and devastation upon that Nation for the better seducing the People who having lived so long in Peace and Amity with the English were not without some Reverence to that Government and so could not in plain and direct terms be easily led into an avowed Rebellion against their King they not only declared and with great skill and industry published throughout the Kingdom that they took Arms for the King and the Defence of his Lawful Prerogative against the Puritanical Parliament of England which they said invaded it in many Parts and that what they did was by His Majesties Approbation and Authority And to gain Credit to that Fiction they produced and shewed a Commission to which they had fastened an impression of the Great Seal of England which they had taken off from some Grant or Patent which had Regularly and Legally passed the Seal and so it was not difficult to perswade weak and unexperienced Persons to believe that it was a true Seal The Rebels of Ireland counterfeit the King's Commission and Great Seal prejudicial to the King but Ruinous to them and real Commission from the King And by this Fatal Stratagem they cast so Odious an Imputation upon the King and upon those Persons who were worthily nearest him in his Affection and Councils that the Seditious Party in England who were then contriving all the Mischief they afterwards brought to pass used all their Arts to propagate those horrible Calumnies and to infuse into the Hearts of the People an Irreverence and Jealousy of the King Queen and those of nearest Trust to either of them so that his Majesty was even compelled for his own Vindication and lest he might be thought too faint a Prosecutor of an Enemy whose Insurrection it was said he himself had fomented to commit the whole Management of that War to the two Houses of Parliament and they having obtained this Power Interessed and trusted such Members of their own Body with the Ordering and Directing of the same as were resolved with most Passion Uncharitableness and Violence to Prosecute that whole Nation and the Religion that was most generally Exercised there and by this means all Persons who were to conduct both the Civil and Military Affairs in Ireland were drawn to a Dependence upon the Two Houses of Parliament at Westminster all Officers and Commanders for that War were Nominated and approved by them all Monies raised for that Service was Issued and Disposed only by their Orders from whence it came to pass that they who craftily intended to derive a Support and Countenance to themselves by using the King's Name to Purposes which he abhorred foolishly thereby defrauded and deprived themselves of that Protection and Mercy which his Majesty might have vouchsafed to them for their Reduction and Preservation for from this time when any thing was proposed of Extravagancy or overmuch Rigor which the Proposers said was necessary for the Carrying on of that War or if the King made any Scruple or Pause in giving his Consent to the same they straight declared That they were obstructed in sending Relief to the Poor Protestants in Ireland and then they published some particular Relations of the lamentable and inhumane Massacre made there by the Irish which were confirmed by Multitudes of miserable undone People who landed from thence in the several Parts of England who likewise reported the Rebels Discourse of executing all their Villainies by the King's Direction so that indeed it was not in his Power to deny any thing which they thought fit to say was necessary to the good Work in Hand Thus he was compelled to put all the Strong-Holds Towns and Castles in the Province of Vlster into the Possession of the Scots who were at that time by the greatest Managers believed to be more worthy to be trusted then the English with unusual Circumstances of Power and even an independency upon the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and when his Majesty did but desire them to re-consider their own Proposition and reflect how much it might Trench upon the English Interest they suriously Voted That whosoever Advised his Majesty to that delay was an Enemy to the Kingdom and a Promoter of the Rebellion in Ireland thus his Majesty was necessitated to Consent to that Bill by which so great a Latitude was given to the disposal of Lands in the several Provinces of that Kingdom to those who adventured Mony in the War as that without the Interposition Shelter and Mercy of the Soveraign Power almost that whole People and their Fortunes were given up to the Disposal of their most Cruel and Mortal Enemies And lastly by this groundless and accursed Calumny thus raised upon the King full Power was devolved into their Hands who too much imitated the Fury and Inhumanity of the Irish in carrying on the War and proceeded with that Rigor and Cruelty in the shedding of Blood as was most detested by his Majesties Gracious and Mercisul Disposition Thus far this Excellent Author whose Words thô not Exactly accommodated to the Period of Time I have thought fit to insert here because they give the Reader a Landscape or short Map of all the Tragical Actions which filled the Scene of Ireland with Blood and Desolation and will be of excellent Use to the understanding of many future Passages in the Historical Account both of that and our own Miserable and Bleeding Nation Having given this Account of the beginning of the horrid Rebellion in Ireland Tuesday Novem. 2. the Reader must expect the continuation of it to be interwoven with the other great Affairs which were the misfortune of the present and will be the Wonder
which by reason of his Majesties absence out of the Kingdom cannot be done by His Majesties immediate Warrant so speedily as the imminent danger and necessity of that Kingdom doth require and for that His Majesty hath especially recommended the Care of the Preservation of that Kingdom unto both the Houses of Parliament It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That Mountjoy Earl of Newport Master of His Majesties Ordnance shall deliver to the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or to such other person or persons as he shall appoint to receive the same the full number of 1000 Arms for Horse-men and 8000 Arms for Foot and the quantity of 10 Last of Powder and such other Munition Tents and Provisions of all sorts as shall be needful for this Service according to a List to be agreed upon and allowed by the said Lords and Commons hereunto annexed out of His Majesties Stores and Magazines in the Tower of London the City of Carlisle the Town of Hull or elsewhere and for so doing this shall be a sufficient Warrant as well for his Lordship as for any of his Deputies or Vnder-Officers in that behalf An Ordinance also for providing Shipping for Transportation of Men and Munition was read and passed in haec verba WHereas by Order of Parliament Men Arms The Ordinance of the Lords and Commons to impower the L. High Admiral to provide Shipping c. Munition and other Provisions are suddenly to be transported from several Ports in this Realm viz. Bristol Chester and others for which Service it will be requisite that Ships be provided with all expedition It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that the Lord High Admiral of England be desired to take care that Ships be accordingly provided in the several Ports respectively within this Kingdom from whence the aforesaid Men Arms Ammunition and other Provisions are Ordered to be Transported into Ireland which is to be done with all expedition the Parliament having resolved to see Moneys supplied for the performance of this Service After this the Lord Keeper reported the Conference with the House of Commons to this effect That the House of Commons have presented to their Lordships some Propositions which have been Voted in their House The Report of the Conference about Capuchins c. and desires their Lordships to take them into Consideration and join with them therein 1. Concerning the Dissolving the House of the Capuchins and the speedy sending them away according the former desires of their House 2. That the Ambassadors may be sent to from both Houses to deliver up such Priests of the King's Subjects as are in their Houses 3. That a List may be brought in of the Queens Priests and other her Servants and that a List may be likewise brought in of the Prince's and other of the King's Childrens Servants 4. That a Proclamation may issue for the Commanding that all Strangers that are not of the Protestant Religion except such as are Men of Rank and Quality and live here in such a publick way whereby notice is taken of them and of the Cause of their aboad in this Kingdom do deliver in Tickets of their Names and an account of their stay here within two days after the issuing forth of the Proclamation or else depart the Kingdom forthwith And likewise requiring that all Inn-keepers or others that entertain Lodgers to give Tickets of the Names of such as lodge in their Houses within two days likewise after the issuing forth of the said Proclamation and that these Tickets be given by those in the City of London to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the Wards respectively where they reside and by those of Middlesex and Surrey and other Places within 10 Miles of London to the Justices of the Peace next adjoining to the place of their Residence and this Order to extend to the City of London and Ten Miles about 5. That the House of Commons had presented their Lordships with some Scottish Papers being Examinations concerning the late Design against the Lord Marquess Hamilton Earl of Arguile and the Earl of Lannerick Likewise they produced written from their Committees at Edinburgh Letters dated the 27th of October with an enclosed Paper containing as follows viz. The Paper of the 5th of October Exhibited by the English Committee October the 7th 1641. THE Committees of the Parliament of England have now sent down sufficient Moneys for the Total Disbanding of the Garrisons of Barwick and Carlisle Some Transactions between the English Committee at Edinburgh and the Scottish Parliament and have Ordered That it shall be Effected by the 10th of this present Month And have likewise taken a Course for removing the Ammunition and Ordnance and for slighting of the Works according to the Treaty We desire therefore That that part of the Army which is yet on foot may be forthwith Disbanded and that what new Fortifications have been made in Scotland by occasion of the late Troubles may be presently demolished according to the same Treaty The Answer to the Paper delivered in by the English Committees to the Committee of the Army Exhibited 7. Octobris 1641. THat the Regiments which are yet on foot may be speedily Disbanded they are drawn according to the Order already given near towards Edenburgh to the Effect they may with greater Conveniency be Mustered and thereafter money may be given for their Pay and forthwith disbanded And any new Fortifications which have been made in Scotland by Occasion of the late Troubles shall presently be demolished that every Condition on our part may to your full Satisfaction be performed according to the Treaty And we do no wise doubt to find mutual performances and that the Garrisons at Barwick and Carlisle according to the Orders of the Parliament be totally Disbanded which being shewn to the Parliament of England we hope will give them Satisfaction 22 October 1641. Produced by the Lord Chancellor and read in Audience of his Majesty and the Parliament who nominates the Lord Burgley in place of the Earl of Argyle to be upon the Committee for providing Money to pay the Regiments And also Ordains An Order to be given to the Lord General for causing the demolishing the Fortifications at Mordington which was accordingly done Alex. Gibsone 6. Concerning the putting the Custody of the Isle of Wight into another hand as formerly was desired 7. Concerning the securing of the persons of Papists upon the former Propositions 8. That the Earl of Essex may have Power from both Houses to Command the Trained Bands on this side Trent upon all Occasions for the Defence of the Kingdom and that this power may continue until the Parliament shall take further Order This Report being Ended the House caused those particulars to be distinctly read again and gave these Resolutions upon them Resolved upon the Question Nemine Contradicente That the House or Covent of Capuchins here
ever hitherto done to advance their own wicked Intendments and rather then fail of them to raise a more desperate Rebellion in England instead of applying themselves vigorously as they were in Duty Honor and Conscience bound to assist his Majesty to suppress the other in Ireland and let their Pretences be never so glorious for the Preservation of the Reformed Religion and Interest yet it is evident that even from the very first Eruption of this Rebellion they had a Design to make their own Terms with the King and to oblige him under the Pretence of abandoning Evil Counsellors to devolve the intire Trust of the whole Nation and consequently his Crown and Dignity into their Hands and to leave him only the vain shaddow of Sovereignty and Majesty and unless he would Consent to this they must as they say be obliged to take other Measures for the fecuring themselves from such mischievous Councils and Designs as have lately been in Practice and Agitation against them and a little time discovered what ways those were for in Reality this was no new Design the crucifying Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom had been long hewing and these were but some Chips of that Block only they were wanting a fit Occasion and this offering it self they were resolved to lay fast hold upon it But in regard though they had sorely shaken and disabled the third Estate of the Lords Spiritual in Parliament by the repeated Batteries of Impeachments and Bills to take away their Voices yet there was a great Number of the Lords Temporal whose unstained Loyalty and Fidelity to the Crown and Royal Interest might prove dangerously Obstructive to their wicked Intentions they were resolved to attempt to deceive as many of them as they could by their popular Rhetorick upon this Topique of the danger of evil Counsels and Counsellors and if any proved refractory or had Constitutions too strongly amuletted with Loyalty against this insinuating Poison they had other more severe Methods of purging the Body Politick and Representative to be made use of upon Occasion as we shall see hereafter Upon this Subject of evil Councils and Counsellors Mr. Pym the great Oracle of the Faction took Occasion at this last Conference to display his Talent in these Terms HE said he was to speak touching the ill Councils Mr. Pym's Speech at the Conference concerning ill Councils November 10. which he laid down in these several Steps 1 First That the Dangers which come to the State by ill Councils are the most pernitious of all others and since it is usual to compare Politick Bodies with the Natural the Natural Body is in danger divers Wayes either by outward Violence and that may be foreseen and prevented or else by less appearing Maladies which grow upon the Body by Distempers of the Air immoderate Exercise Diet c. and when the Causes of the Disease are clear the Remedy is easily applied but Diseases which proceed from the inward Parts as the Liver the Heart or the Brains the more noble Parts it is a hard thing to apply Cure to such Diseases Ill Councels they are of that Nature for the Mischiefs that come by evil Councel corrupt the Vital Parts and overthrow the Publick Government 2 * If this had been applied to himself and his Faction he never spoke more truth in his whole life The second Step is That there have been lately and still are ill Councils in this Kingdom and about the King 1 That there hath been lately you will not doubt when the main Course of the Government hath been so imployed as Popery thereby hath been maintained the Laws subverted and no distinguishing between Justice and Injustice and that there is still reason to doubt is apparent by the Courses taken to advance mischievous Designs but that his Majesties Wisdom and Goodness kept them from the Heart though they were not kept out of the Court so most Principal and mischievous Designs have been practised by such as had near Access unto his Majesty though not to his Heart and the Apologists and Promoters of ill Counsels are still preferred 3 The third Step is That the ill Counsels of this Time are in their own Nature more mischievous and more dangerous then the ill Counsels of former Times former Counsels have been to please Kings in their Vices * A remarkable Testimony from an Enemy of the King's Innocence from which our King is free and sometimes for racking of the Prerogative if it had gone no further it had brought many Miseries but not Ruine and Destruction but the ill Counsels of this Time are destructive to Religion and Laws by altering them both therefore more Mischievous in their own Nature then those of former Times 4 The fourth Step is That these ill Counsels have proceeded from a Spirit and Inclination to Popery and have had a Dependance on Popery and all of them tend to it the Religion of the Papists is a Religion incompatible with any other Religion destructive to all others and doth not indure any thing that opposeth it whosoever doth withstand their Religion if they have Power they bring them to Ruin There are other Religions that are not right but not so destructive as Popery is for the Principles of Popery are destructive to all States and Persons that oppose it with the Progress of this mischievous Councel they provide Counsellors fit Instruments and Organs that may execute their own Designs and to turn all Councils to their own Ends and you find that now in Ireland that those Designs that have been upon all the Three Kingdoms do end in a War for the maintenance of Popery in Ireland and would do the like here if they were able they are so intentive to turn all to their own Advantage 5 The fifth Step That unless these ill Councils be changed as long as they continue it is impossible that any Assistance Aid or Advice that the Parliament can take to reform will be effectual for the Publick Orders and Laws are but dead if not put in Execution those that are the Instruments of State they put things into Action but if acted by Evil Men and while these Counsels are on foot we can expect no good it is like a Disease that turns Nutritives into Poyson 6 The sixth Step is That this is the most proper time to desire of his Majesty the Alteration and Change of the evil Counsellors because the Common-Wealth is brought into Distemper by them and so exhausted that we can indure no longer Another Reason why we cannot admit of them is to shew our Love and Fidelity to the King in great and extraordinary Contributions and Aids when God doth imploy his Servants he doth give some Promise to rouse up their Spirits and we have reason now to expect the King's Grace in great abundance this is the time wherein the Subject is to save the Kingdom of Ireland with the hazard of their Lives and Fortunes And
therefore expect from his Majesty in a more larger and bountiful Manner then at other times A time of great Agitation and Action their State is ready by preparation to annoy us and ill and false Councils at home may quickly bring us to Ruin as we have weakness at home so we ought to decern the Actions abroad where great Provisions are made and a carelesness and improvidence herein when our Neighbours are so provided and have such great Fleets at Sea as will open a Way to suddain Ruin and Destruction before we can be prepared and therefore now the fittest time to move the King 6 The seventh and last Step is That this Alteration of Councils will bring great Advantages to the King in his own Designs In all our Actions our Prayers to God should be that his Name should be Glorified so our Petitions to his Majesty should bring Honor and Profit and Advantage to him by a discouragement to the Rebels a great part of their Confidence resting in the Evil Counsels at home as by the Examinations appeareth it will be a great Encouragement to the King 's good Subjects at home who hazzard their Lives and give Aid and Contribution to have things governed for the Publick Good it will make Men afraid to prefer Servants to the King that are ill Counsellors when they shall come to the Examination of the Parliament for many times Servants are preferred to Princes for advantage of Forreign States This will put an Answer into the King's Mouth against all Importunities that he is to prefer none but such as will be approved on by Parliament those that are Honorable and most Ingenious are aptest to be troubled in this kind and not to deny therefore the King may Answer he hath promised his Parliament not to admit of any but by Advice in Parliament this will Answer them all These are Domestick Advantages but it will also make us fitter to enter into Union and Treaty with Foreign Nations and States and to be made partakers of the Strength and Assistance of others It will fortifie us against the Designs of Foreign Princes there hath been common Council at Rome and in Spain to reduce us to Popery if good Counsel at Home we shall be the better prepared to preserve Peace and Union and better Respect from Abroad Lastly it will make us fit for any Noble Design Abroad Let us but turn the Tables and imagine this Speech spoken by some Loyal Gentleman against Mr. Pym and his Confederates and we shall find all those mischiefs and dangers from ill Counsels and Evil Counsellors the Alteration of Religion and Subversion of Laws the Encouragement of the Irish Rebellion the Impoverishment of the Nation the Loss of Liberty and Property the Ruin of the King and Kingdom to be the Natural Effects of their Consultations and Actions But in Order to accomplish their Wicked Designs the People must be affrighted with the danger of approaching Popery the present Government traduced with intentions of re-introducing it and the King must be Wounded through the Sides of the most Faithful of his Friends These were the Popular Arts by which after they had by repeated Flatteries Importunities and Promises obtained from the King those Fatal Concessions before mentioned they pursued their Design and by Arming those People whom they had deluded with the pretence of Religion and hurrying them on into Actual Rebellion they sought by Violence to obtain that which they could not do by Fraud and Flattery But to proceed After this an Order was read in the House of Lords made by the House of Commons Dated Nov. 9. 1641. That an Ordinance of Parliament may pass to engage the Honor Credit and Authority of both Houses of Parliament for the securing and repaying to the City the 50000 l. with Interest desired to be borrowed of them for the Occasions of Ireland and that a provisional Act shall pass with all Speed for repayment of the said Summ with Interest within six Months Next an Ordinance of Parliament was read concerning the Irish Affairs in haec verba viz. WHEREAS there is just Cause to conceive The Ordinance of Parliament prohibiting any Irish to pass out of England without License c. that diverse ill Affected Persons here being Natives or Inhabitants of Ireland do intend to pass over thither to joyn with the Rebels It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that no Irish Man shall pass out of any the Parts of this Kingdom to return into Ireland without special License of the Committees of both Houses for Irish Affairs or the Lords of his Majesties most Honorable Privy Council or of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland It is further Ordered That no Arms Munition or Powder shall be transported without such License as is aforesaid It is likewise Ordeined by the said Lords and Commons That whereas upon the perusal of diverse Letters and other Intelligence here there is just Cause to suspect that diverse of his Majesties Subjects in Ireland had some Hand in the Conspiracy and Rebellions of the Irish That the Lord Lieutenant shall certifie from time to time during his Aboad in England into Ireland the Names of such suspected Persons and the the Grounds and Reasons of the Suspition and that thereupon the Lords Justices of Ireland and the rest of his Majesties Council there shall enter into Examination of the said Parties and shall have Power to commit them to Prison till the Truth may be fully discovered that so they may either be cleared if they be Innocent or if they be found Guilty they may be proceeded against according to the Laws And that this Ordinance of Parliament shall be a sufficient Warrant to the Lord Lieutenant Lords Justices and Council aforementioned The Lord Admiral then acquainted the House That he had Command and Directions from his Majesty to send some Ships for the Guuarding of the Irish Coasts and also some Ships to keep the Narrow Seas because his Majesty conceives that the Rebellion from Ireland is fomented from abroad and that they expect some Supply from Foreign Parts And his Lordship desires to have the Directions of the Parliament herein what to do Whereupon it was ordered to have a Conference with the Commons about it Divers Orders were read which were made by the House of Commons concerning the Irish Affairs to which they desired their Lordships concurrence that so they may be put in Execution That the Merchants Some Orders of the House of Commons concerning the Affairs of Ireland who have made the Proposition to their House of Transporting Spanish Money in specie into Ireland for the present Occasions of that Kingdom shall have Liberty to Transport so much only as the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall from time to time give them Order and Direction for paying it there as it passes by Proclamation and that all Sums so Transported shall be Registred in the Custom-House and that they shall bring Certificates
Reasons hereafter as they shall think fit The Lords Adjourned their House into a Committee during pleasure to Debate these Matters the Proposition concerning securing Recusants was deferred till the Commons brought up a List of the Particular Names of the Recusants they desired should be Secured When the other Proposition about the Isle of Wight came under Consideration the Earl of Portland affirmed That his Father lived and died a Protestant as he can make it appear by credible Witnesses that were with him when he died if his Wife be one it was against his Will and for himself his Lordship protested That his Father bred him a Protestant and he would ever live and die one Which giving good satisfaction to the House it was Ordered to be put in Writing and delivered at a Conference to the House of Commons Mr. William Crofts was Sworn and Ordered to be Examined before the Deputed Lords The Earl of Holland Reported Message from the Venetian Ambassador That the Venetian Ambassador had been with him and desired That the ill Expressions in his Paper may be Excused for he professes he meant nothing in derogation of any Member of this House but spoke it as what Reputation other States had of such an Action and that he further signified That he hath written a fair Letter to the State of Venice concerning the opening of his Letters which he hopes will satisfie them This day Wall upon his Petition was Released from the Fleet Wall released where he had been committed for neglecting to deliver the Order of the House to search for Priests and Jesuits but with this condition not to be admitted any more to the Service of the House Inquiry after the transporting of Horses It was Ordered in the Commons House That the Knights and Burgesses of the County of Kent and the Barons of the Cinque-Ports do forthwith send to the Officers that do register the Horses that are Transported beyond the Seas and to send up a List of the Number of them that have been Transported within these 12 Months and by what Warrant and by whom such Warrants were obtained Though Disloyalty to the King and Disobedience to the Church which rarely are seen asunder began now to be much in Fashion and Esteem and to depress the Prerogative and oppress the Church were accounted Great Recommendations for men to set up for Patriots of the Country and Reformers of Religion yet wanted there not some Brave Spirits who to their Eternal Reputation darest even in the face of the Breach indeavour to stop the Deluge of Schism and the Inundations of Errors which they apparently saw must overwhelm the Church upon throwing down the Banks of Episcopal Order and Government How Unwelcom these bold Truths were to the Faction appears by an Order of the House of Commons of this Day made purposely to discountenance Petitions of this Nature for maintaining the Church Government as by Law it was Established and to deterr others from attempting to give them any Interruption in their pretended Reformation Order to discourage Petitioners for Episcopacy Ordered That it be referred to the Committee for the Ministers Remonstrance to consider what indiscreet and irregular Wayes and Means have been Vsed to procure Hands to Petitions presented or to be presented for or against Episcopacy This latter clause or against was only for colour to make the other pass more fairly for it is Evident that they themselves were the Great Promoters of Petitions not only against that but for whatever they had a design to obtain as will hereafter upon occasion appear But upon this Occasion I cannot but present the Reader with a Petition which I find in a Collection of Petitions of the like Nature Printed by His Majesties particular Order which though it came from one of the smallest Counties of England yet had not the least Learning or Reason And if it received neither Countenance nor Answer it is not much to be wondred at being indeed Unanswerable The Petition was as follows To the High and Honorable Court of Parliament The Humble Petition of the Knights Esquires Gentlemen and Householders in the County of Rutland in behalf of our Selves and our Families And of the Parsons Vicars and Curates for the Clergy in behalf of themselves and their Families THat whereas there have been diverse Petitions exhibited to this Honorable Court The Rutland-Shire Petition for Episcopacy Nov. 18. 1641. by Persons disaffected to the present Government for the utter Extirpation of the Apostolical Government of the Church by Bishops they by Sedulity and Zeal supplying the want of fair Pretences for the Abolition of that which we hope no just Reason can Condemn And on the other side many Pious Persons true Sons of the Church of England have represented their just Desires of the continuance of it upon great and weighty Causes both in Divinity and true Policy We also lest We might seem unconcerned and for fear lest our Silence should be exacted as a Crime at our Hands if We be deficient to what We are persuaded is the Cause of God In pursuance of their pious Intendments and in allowance of their Reasons do also press to your great Tribunal to beg of you to do that which is the Honor of Kings to be Nutricii of the Church and her most Ancient and Successive Government We therefore humbly beg of you to leave us in that state the Apostles left the Church in That the Three Ages of Martyrs were governed by That the 13 Ages since them have always gloried in by their Succession of Bishops from the Apostles proving themselves members of the Catholique and Apostolick Church That our Laws have Established so many Kings and Parliaments have protected into which we were baptized as certainly Apostolical as the Observation of the Lords Day as the distinction of Books Apocryphal from Canonical as that such Books were written by such Evangelists and Apostles as the Consecration of the Eucharist by Presbyters as any thing which you will do by upholding the Government of the Church by Bishops which we again and again beg of you to do having Pity on our Consciences and not forcing us to seek Communion as yet we know not where So shall we be bound to pray with a Multiplyed Devotion for the increase of Publique and Personal Blessings to your Honorable Assembly to your Noble Persons We also do with all humility beg leave to represent these our Considerations subjoyned which we hope you will favourably Expound to be a well-meant Zeal and at least a Conscience of Duty and Charity to those our Fathers from whom we have received and daily hope to receive many issues of Spiritual Benedictions 1. We Consider That Christ either left his Church without a lasting Government or else Bishops and Presbyters under them are that Government the former we fear to say lest we might seem to accuse the Wisdom of the Father of Improvidence in the not providing
from many who before they saw that this pretended Reformation must inevitably End in Anarchy and Confusion in the Church appeared Vigorously for it And here I cannot omit a very Remarkable Passage and Speech of Sir Edward Deering's Collection of his own Speeches which take in his own Words UPon occasion of the Remonstrance 19th Novemb. wherein divers passages then were concerning Religion and the Church Government and some in particular as I conceived very aspersive to our Religion in the solemn Practice of it by our publick Liturgie * This Charge upon this occasion was afterwards Expunged the Declaration charging it in Hypothesi with vain Repetitions and with savour of Superstitions I did humbly move That some of that Committee who framed up that Remonstrance for us would please to assign what those vain Repetitions are in our Liturgy and what passages of Superstition Nothing at all was said as I remember to that point of Superstition But at length a Gentleman did adventure to name that which he seemed to think to be vain Repetition He said That the Lords Prayer is 8 or 9 or 10 times repeated I did with the Leave of the House reply That such Repetition toties quoties how oft soever was if heart and words did go together far from vain That in my Book the Lords Prayer was but twice in the whole Morning Service unless the additionals of Baptisme Churching Communion Burial c. did occur That then in every several Act of Divine Service it was once and but once repeated as the high compleature of all our devout Expressions That this Repetition in it self was warrantable as by our Saviours Example who although he had not the Spirit by measure yet in the Garden he prayed three times using the same Words The further debate of this was put off till the next day and then it did grow toward a Question Whether all Exceptions against the Liturgie should be totally laid by or further debated I did not hold our selves the proper Judges of this point I did think that from hence occasion might again be taken inductive to renew my Motion for a free National Synod which I desired to enforce the best I could Especially there being now obtained a general promise of a Synod in this very part of that Declaration or Remonstrance Hereupon I thus adventured Mr. Speaker Sir Edward Deering's Speech about the Declaration of the State of the Kingdom Nov. 20. 1641. THe Question is whether these Clauses concerning some pretended Erroneous Passages in our Liturgy shall be laid by or not I am of Opinion to decline them here but not to bury them in a perpetual silence In this very Period you give us in general terms a promise of a National Synod I do still wish the presence thereof it being to my understanding the only proper Cure and Remedy for all our Church distractions and may be proved if proof be needful to have been practised in the Book of God This promised Synod is too far off let me have a better assurance then a promise which that I may obtain I will be bold to give you some reasons to introduce that Assembly is to speed it also Mr. Speaker much hath been said and something attempted to be done to regulate the Exterior Part of our Religion but Sir we bleed inwardly Much endeavour hath been to amend the deformed Forms we were in and to new Govern the Government Yet Sir this is but the leaves of good Religion fit I confess notwithstanding to be taken care of for Beauty and for Ornament Nay some leaves are fit and necessary to be preserved for shaddow and for shelter to the Blossoms and the Fruit. The Fruit of all is good life which you must never expect to see unless the Blossoms be pure and good that is unless your Doctrines be sound and true Sir Sir I speak it with full grief of heart whil'st we are thus long Pruning and Composing of the Leaves or rather whil'st some would pluck all Leaves away our Blossoms are blasted and whilst we sit here in Cure of Government and Ceremonials we are poysoned in our Doctrinals And at whose door will the Guilt and Sin of all this lye Qui non vetat peccare cum potest jubet It is true that this mischief grows not by our consent and yet I know not by what unhappy fate there is at present such an all-daring Liberty such a lewd licentiousness for all Mens venting their several Sences senceless Sences in matter of Religion as never was in any age in any Nation until this Parliament was met together Sir it belongs to us to take heed that our countenance the countenance of this Honourable House be not prostituted to sinister ends by bold Offenders If it be in our power to give a remedy a timely and a seasonable remedy to these great and growing Evils and that we being also put in mind shall neglect to do it we then do pluck their sins upon our own heads Alienum qui fert scelus facit suum Shall I be bold to give you a very few instances one for a hundred wherewith our Pulpits do groan Mr. Speaker There is a certain new-born unseen ignorant dangerous desperate way of Independency Are we Sir for this Independant way Nay Sir are we for the elder Brother of it the Presbyterial Form I have not yet heard any one Gentleman within these walls stand up and assert his thoughts here for either of these ways and yet Sir we are made the Patrons and Protectors of these so different so repugnant Innovations witness the several dedications to us Nay both these ways together with the Episcopal come all rushing in upon us every one pretending to a Fore-head of Divinity 1. Episcopacy says its by divine right and certainly Sir it comes much nearer to its claim then any other 2. Presbytery That says it 's by divine right 3. Nay this Illegitimate thing this New-born Independency that dares to say it 's by divine right also Thus the Church of England not long since the Glory of the Reformed Religion is miserably torn and distracted You can hardly now say which is the Church of England Whither shall we turn for Cure Another instance If I would deal with a Papist to reduce him He answers I have been answered so already To what Religion would you perswade me What is the Religion you profess Your 39 Articles they are contested against your publick solemn Lyturgy that is detested * * Protestation protested denies the Church of England to have the 3 Marks of a true Church And which is more then both these the 3. Essential proper and only Marks of a true Church they are protested against what Religion would you perswade me too where may I find and know and see and read the Religion you profess I beseech you Sir help me an answer to the Papist Nay Sir the Papist herein hath assistance even among our selves
a full and just satisfaction for the same do hereby declare That this said Sum of 50000 l. lent for the Irish Affairs and the Sum of 50000 l. more lent by the said City unto the Peers attending His Majesty in the Northern Parts before the beginning of this present Parliament and such other Sums lent by the said City unto this Parliament which are not yet paid or otherwise secured shall be fully satisfied and repaid unto the said City of London with Interest after the rate of 8 l. per cent for a Year out of such Moneys as are or shall be raised by Authority of Parliament and for that purpose will Exhibit a Bill and become humble Suiters to His Majesty that the same may be passed with all Expedition Provided always that this present Declaration shall not be in any wise prejudicial to any Members of the said House of Commons who have formerly lent any Sums of Money to this Parliament nor to the Northern Counties nor to any persons whatsoever to whom the Houses of Parliament or the House of Commons have formerly Ordered the Payment of any Sums of Mony nor to any security given to them before the making of this Declaration Mr. The Commons Reasons for the Continuance of Guards Pym presents from the Committee the Reasons of both Houses of Parliament for the continuance of a Guard viz. 1. The great numbers of disorderly suspicious and desperate Persons especially of the Irish Nation lurking in obscurâ—â— Allies and Victualling Houses in the Suburbs and other places near London and Westminster 2. The Jealousie conceived upon the discovery of the Design in Scotland for the surprising of the Persons of divers of the Nobility Members of the Parliament there which had been spoken of here some few days before it broke out not without some whispering intimation that the like was intended against divers Persons of both Houses which found more Credit by reason of the former attempts of bringing up the Army to disturb and inforce this Parliament 3. The Conspiracy in Ireland managed with so much secresie that but for the happy discovery at Dublin it had been Executed in all parts of the Kingdom upon one and the same day or soon after and that some of the chief Conspirators did profess that the like course was intended in England and Scotland which being found in some degree true in Scotland seemed the more probable likewise to be done in England 4. Divers Advertisements from beyond the Seas which came over about the same Time that there would be a great alteration in Religion in England in a few days and that the necks of both the Parliaments should be broken 5. Divers Examinations of dangerous Speeches of some of the Popish and discontented party in this Kingdom 6. The secret Meetings and Consultations of the Papists in several Parts their frequent Devotions for the prosperity of some great Design in hand These several Considerations do move the Parliament to desire a Guard under the Command of the Earl of Essex and they do conceive there is just Cause to apprehend that there is some wicked and mischievous practice to interrupt the peaceable proceedings of the Parliament still in hand for preventing whereof it is fit the Guards should be still continued under the same Command or such other as they should chuse But to have it under the Command of any other not chosen by themselves they can by no means consent to and will rather run any hazard then admit of a Precedent so dangerous both to this and to future Parliaments And they humbly leave it to His Majesty to consider whether it will not be fit to suffer his High Court of Parliament to enjoy that Priviledge of providing for their own safety which was never denied other inferior Courts And that he will be pleased graciously to believe that they cannot think themselves safe under any Guard of which they shall not be assured that it will be as faithful in defending His Majesties safety as their own whereof they shall always be more careful then of their own Among all these Reasons here is not one word of Beal the Taylors Discovery of the 108 Men which for 40 s. apiece were to do such strange things it seems by this time they found it an incredible Story and it is very probable that if the other grounds of their fears did not proceed from their own Quiver yet if they had Examined them they would have found them as frivolous as that or the Scotch Design against Hamilton and Arguile which upon the strictest Scrutiny would not afford more proof then to make a noise about the Streets of Plots against the Parliament the better to incite the unruly Multitude to Tumults and Insurrections which they now began to raise again to cry out No Bishops and with unheard of Insolence to affront His Majesty and whoever was Loyal But the King having Ordered them a Guard of the Trained Bands they were so displeased not at the thing for they had made use of them before but at His Majesties appointing them that it was Ordered in the House of Commons That the Guard should be dismissed and without giving His Majesty an Account or presenting him with the Reasons above recited the very same day Mr. Glyn and Mr. Wheeler were Ordered to require the High Constable of Westminster to provide a strong and sufficient Watch in their stead But to make a little flourish of Loyalty and tenderness for the King's Honour and Reputation it was this day Ordered That a Declaration be drawn for clearing His Majesties honour from false Reports cast upon him by the Rebels in Ireland and a Provision to be made Order for a Declaration to clear the Kings Honor from the Scandals of the Irish Rebels that there may be no Conclusion of that War to the prejudice of this Kingdom There might be malice even in this seeming kindness for whilst they pretended to vindicate His Majesties Honour they divulged the Scandal to the whole Nation and by their subsequent Actions and Declarations which within a little while after they published to improve the belief of that Scandal one would think they intended to prepare the way for it by this plausible pretence of a Vindication And most certainly they could intend him no real Reparation when themselves were this Day resolved to defame his Government from the very beginning of his Reign by that Scandalous Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom for this very Day Mr. Pym Sir Symon D'Ewes The Names of the Committee who were appointed to deliver the Remonstrance Sir Arthur Ingram Sir John Thyn Sir Henry Bellasis Lord Gray Sir Christopher Wray Lord Fairfax Sir Ralph Hopton Sir Richard Winn Sir John Corbet Sir Edward Deering and Sir Arthur Haslerig were Ordered to wait upon his Majesty what time he appoints with the Petition and Declaration and indeed all their Actions seemed to carry Fire in one Hand and
preparing of Articles against him but they shall be ready in convenient time to give him a Charge And in regard they hear he is not well they are contented he shall be removed to * Now Somerset-House Denmark House he putting in Caution not to go to Court and to appear when he shall be required Hereupon it was Ordered That Phillips shall upon these Cautions finding Sureties be released from his imprisonment in the Tower It was also Ordered That the Lords the Bishops that are Impeached shall be heard by their Council on Friday next at the Bar what they can say why this Motion should not be granted But the Faction of the Commons were resolved Tumults as before they had done in the Case of the Earl of Strafford to obtain that by the Force of Tumults that they could not obtain by Law or Reason The Lords however were so sensible of this affront put upon the Freedom of the Parliament that it was Ordered That all the Judges do consult among themselves what Course is fit to be taken to prevent Riots Routs and unlawful Assemblies and having considered of the Laws and Statutes in this Case to present their opinions to the House to morrow Morning and in the mean time to have a Conference with the Commons concerning the Tumults In the Commons House Serjeant Wild Reports the Conference That the Lord Keeper told the Committee That their Lordships had received Information of great numbers of People gathered together in a Tumultuous Vnusual and Disorderly manner about the Houses of Parliament and therefore desired the Commons House to joyn with them in a Declaration to remove them and that for these Two Reasons First If these disorders should continue they might render the good Acts and Provisions of this Parliament of suspicion to Posterity by the interpretation of ill Ministers Secondly Because it did not stand with the Dignity of Parliament to suffer such Tumults to be so near the Houses of Parliament The House being informed That Phillips had a Trunk brought to him to the Tower by Two Capuchins it was Ordered That the Lieutenant of the Tower and Sir William Parkhurst shall search his Trunk and if there be any Papers that concern the State to secure them till the pleasure of this House be known The Committee formerly named to wait upon the King with the Petition and Declaration were Ordered to go forthwith to present them to the King Sir Edward Deering to read it to His Majesty and in his absence Sir Ralph Hopton to read it If he be absent the Committee to appoint the Person that shall read it Accordingly the Committee went this day and attended His Majesty with the said Petition and Remonstrance which as I find it Printed in Husband's Collections was in these words The Petition of the House of Commons which Accompanied the Declaration of the State of the Kingdom Most Gracious Soveraign YOur Majesties Most Humble and Faithful Subjects the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled The Petition and Declaration of the State of the Kingdom delivered by the Commons to the King at Hampton-Court Dec. 1. 1641. do with much thankfulness and joy acknowledge the great Mercy and Favour of God in giving your Majesty a safe and peaceable return out of Scotland into your Kingdom of England where the pressing dangers and distempers of the State have caused us with much earnestness to desire the comfort of your Gracious Presence and likewise the Unity and Justice of your Royal Authority to give more Life and Power to the Dutiful and Loyal Counsels and endeavours of your Parliament for the prevention of that imminent ruine and destruction wherewith your Kingdoms of England and Scotland are threatned The Duty which we ow to your Majesty and our Country cannot but make us very sensible and apprehensive that the multiplicity sharpness and malignity of those Evils under which we have now many years suffered are fomented and cherished by a corrupt and ill-affected Party who amongst other their mischievous devices for the alteration of Religion and Government have sought by many false scandals and imputations cunningly insinuated and dispersed amongst the People to blemish and disgrace our Proceedings in this Parliament and to get themselves a Party and Faction amongst your Subjects for the better strengthening of themselves in their wicked courses and hindring those Provisions and Remedies which might by the wisdom of your Majesty and Council of your Parliament be opposed against them For preventing whereof and the better Information of your Majesty your Peers and all other your Loyal Subjects we have been necessitated to make a Declaration of the State of the Kingdom both before and since the Assembly of this Parliament unto this time which we do humbly present to your Majesty without the least intention to lay any blemish upon your Royal Person but only to represent how your Royal Authority and Trust have been abused to the great prejudice and danger of your Majesty and of all your good Subjects And because we have reason to believe that those Malignant Parties whose Proceedings evidently appear to be mainly for the advantage and encrease of Popery is composed set up and acted by the subtile practice of the Jesuits and other Engineers and Factors for Rome and to the great danger of this Kingdom and most grievous affliction of your Loyal Subjects have so far prevailed as to corrupt divers of your Bishops and others in prime places of the Church and also to bring divers of these Instruments to be of your Privy-Council and other employments of trust and nearness about your Majesty the Prince and the rest of your Royal Children And by this means hath had such an Operation in your Council and the most Important Affairs and Proceedings of your Government that a most dangerous division and chargeable Preparation for War betwixt your Kingdoms of England and Scotland the encrease of jealousies betwixt your Majesty and your most Obedient Subjects the violent distraction and interruption of this Parliament the Insurrection of the Papists in your Kingdom of Ireland and bloody Massacre of your people have been not only endeavoured and attempted but in a great measure compassed and effected For preventing the final accomplishment whereof your poor Subjects are enforced to engage their Persons and Estates to the maintaining of a very expenceful and dangerous War notwithstanding they have already since the beginning of this Parliamenâ— undergone the Charge of 150000 Pounds Sterling or thereabouts For the necessary support and supply of your Majesty in these present and perillous Designs And because all our most faithful endeavours and engagements will be ineffectual for the Peace Safety and Preservation of your Majesty and your People if some present real and effectual course be not taken for suppressing this wicked and malignant Party We Your Most Humble and Obedient Subjects do with all faithfulness and humility beseech your Majesty 1. THat you will be
Declaration against the House of Commons was published in His Majesties Name which yet wrought little Effect with the People but only to manifest the Impudence of those who were Authors of it A forced Loan of Money was attempted in the City of London The Lord Mayor and Aldermen in their several Wards injoyned to bring in a List of the Names of such Persons as they judged fit to lend and of the Sum they should lend And such Aldermen as refused so to do were committed to Prison The Archbishop and the other Bishops and Clergy continued the Convocation and by a new Commission turned it to a Provincial Synod in which by an unheard-of presumption they made Canons that contain in them many Matters contrary to the King's Prerogative to the Fundamental Laws and Statutes of the Realm to the Right of Parliaments to the Property and Liberty of the Subject and Matters tending to Sedition and of dangerous Consequence thereby establishing their own Usurpations justifying their Alter-Worship and those other Superstitious Innovations which they formerly introduced without Warrant of Law They Imposed a new Oath upon divers of his Majesties Subjects both Ecclesiastical and Lay for maintenance of their own Tyranny and laid a great Tax upon the Clergy for Supply of his Majesty and generally they shewed themselves very Affectionate to the War with Scotland which was by some of them styled Bellum Episcopale and a Prayer Composed and Injoyned to be read in all Churches calling the Scots Rebels to put the two Nations into Blood and make them irreconcileable All those pretended Canons and Constitutions were armed with the several Censures of Suspension Excommunication Deprivation by which they would have thrust out all the good Ministers and most of the Well-Affected People of the Kingdom and left an easie Passage to their own Design of Reconciliation with Rome The Popish Party injoyned such Exemptions from the Penal Laws as amounted to a Toleration besides many other Encouragements and Court Favours They had a Secretary of State Sir Francis Windibank a powerful Agent for the speeding of all their desires a Popes Nuntio residing here to Act and Govern them according to such Influences as he received from Rome and to intercede for them with the most powerful Concurrence of the Forreign Princes of that Religion By his Authority the Papists of all sorts Nobility Gentry and Clergy were convocated after the manner of a Parliament new Jurisdictions were erected of Romish Archbishops Taxes levied another State moulded within this State independant in Government contrary in Interest and Affection secretly corrupting the ignorant or negligent Professors of our Religion and closely uniting and combining themselves against such as were Sound in this Posture waiting for an Opportunity by force to destroy those whom they could not hope to seduce For the effecting whereof they were strengthened with Arms and Munition encouraged by superstitious Prayers enjoyned by the Nuncio to be weekly made for the prosperity of some great Design And such Power had they at Court that secretly a Commission was issued out intended to be issued to some great Men of that Profession for the levying of Soldiers and to Command and Imploy them according to private Instructions which we doubt were framed for the advantage of those who were the Contrivers of them His Majesties Treasure was consumed his Revenue anticipated His Servants and Officers compelled to lend great Sums of Money Multitudes were called to the Councel Table who were retired with long attendances there for refusing illegal Payments The Prisons were filled with their Commitments many of the Sheriffs summoned into the Star-Chamber and some imprisoned for not being quick enough in levying the Ship-Money the People languished under Grief and Fear no visible hope being left but in desperation The Nobility began to be weary of their Silence and Patience and sensible of the duty and trust which belongs to them and thereupon some of the most eminent of them did Petition his Majesty at such a time when evil Councels were so strong that they had reason to expect more hazard to themselves then redress of those publick Evils for which they interceded whilest the Kingdom was in this agitation and distemper the Scots restrained in their Trades Impoverished by the loss of many of their Ships bereaved of all possibility of satisfying his Majesty by any naked Supplication entred with a powerful Army into the Kingdom and without any Hostile Act or Spoil in the Country as they passed more than forcing a Passage over the Tyne at Newborne near New-Castle possessed themselves of New-Castle and had a fair opportunity to press on further upon the King's Army but Duty and Reverence to his Majesty and brotherly love to the English Nation made them stay there whereby the King had leisure to entertain better Counsels wherein God so blessed and directed him that he summoned the great Council of Peers to meet at York upon the twenty fourth of September and there declared a Parliament to begin the Third of November then following The Scots the first day of the great Council presented an humble Petition to His Majesty whereupon the Treaty was appointed at Rippon A present Cessation of Arms agreed upon and the full Conclusion of all Differences referred to the Wisdom and Care of the Parliament At our first Meeting all Oppositions seemed to vanish the Mischiefs were so evident which those Evil Counsellors produced that no Man durst stand up to defend them Yet the Work it self afforded difficulty enough The multiplied Evils and Corruption of sixteen years strengthened by Custom and Authority and the concurrent Interest of many powerful Delinquents were now to be brought to Judgment and Reformation The King's Houshold was to be provided for they had brought him to that Want that he could not supply his ordinary and necessary Expences without the Assistance of his People Two Armies were to be payed which amounted very near to eighty thousand Pounds a Month the People were to be tenderly charged having bin formerly exhausted with many burthensome Projects The difficulties seemed to be insuperable which by the Divine Providence we have overcome The Contrarieties incompatible which yet in a great measure we have reconciled Six Subsidies have been granted and a Bill of Poll-Money which if it be duly levyed may equal six Subsidies more in all six hundred thousand pounds Besides we have contracted a Debt to the Scots of 220 thousand pounds and yet God hath so blessed the endeavours of this Parliament that the Kingdom is a great gainer by all these charges The Ship-Money is abolished which cost the Kingdom above two hundred thousand pounds a year The Coat and Conduct Money and other Military charges are taken away which in many Countries amounted to little less then the Ship-Money The Monopolies are all supprest whereof some few did prejudice the Subject above a Million yearly The Soap an hundred thousand pounds the Wine three hundred thousand pounds
so impudent as to tell his Majesty that we have done nothing for him As to the Second Branch of this slander we acknowledge with much thankfulness that his Majesty hath passed more good Bills to the advantage of the Subjects then have been in many ages but withal we cannot forget that these venemous Councils did manifest themselves in some endeavours to hinder these good Acts and for both Houses of Parliament we may with truth and modesty say thus much That we have ever been careful not to desire any thing that should weaken the Crown either in just profit or useful power The Triennial Parliament for the matter of it doth not extend to so much as by Law we ought to have required there being two Statutes still in force for a Parliament to be once a year and for the manner of it it is in the Kings Power that it shall never take effect if he by a timely Summons shall prevent any other way of assembling In the Bill for continuance of this present Parliament there seems to be some restraint of the Royal Power in dissolving of Parliaments not to take it out of the Crown but to suspend the execution of it for this time and occasion only which was so necessary for the Kings own security and the publick Peace that without it we could not have undertaken any of these great charges but must have left both the Armies to disorder and confusion and the whole Kingdom to Blood and Rapine The Star-Chamber was much more fruitful in Oppression then in profit the great Fines being for the most part given away and the rest stalled at long times The Fines of the High Commission were in themselves unjust and seldome or never came into the Kings Purse These four Bills are particularly and more specially instanced in the rest there will not be found so much as a shadow of prejudice to the Crown They have sought to diminish our reputation with the people and to bring them out of love with Parliaments the aspersions which they have attempted this way have been such as these that we have spent much time and done little especially in those Grievances which concern Religion That the Parliament is a burthen to the Kingdom by the abundance of Protections which hinder Justice and Trade and by many Subsidies granted much more heavy then any they formerly endured to which there is a ready Answer if the time spent in this Parliament be considered in relation backward to the long growth and deep root of those Grievances which we have removed to the powerful supports of those Delinquents which we have persued to the great necessities and other charges of the Commonwealth for which we have provided or if it be considered in relation forward to many advantages which not only the present but future Ages are like to reap by the good Laws and other Proceedings in this Parliament we doubt not but it will be thought by all indifferent judgments that our time hath been much better imployed then in a far greater proportion of time in many former Parliaments put together and the charges which have been laid upon the Subject and the other inconveniencies which they have born will seem very light in respect of the benefit they have had and may receive And for the matter of Protections the Parliament is so sensible of it that therein they intend to give them whatsoever ease may stand with Honour and Justice and are in a way of passing a Bill to give them satisfaction They have sought by many subtile practices to cause Jealousies and divisions betwixt us and our Brethren of Scotland by slandering their proceedings and intentions towards us and by secret endeavours to instigate and incense them and us one against another They have had such a Party of Bishops and Popish Lords in the House of Peers as hath caused much opposition and delay in the Prosecution of Delinquents and hindred the Proceedings of divers good Bills passed in the Commons House concerning the reformation of sundry great abuses and corruptions both in Church and State They have laboured to seduce and corrupt some of the Commons House to draw them into Conspiracies and Combinations against the Liberty of the Parliament And by their instruments and Agents they have attempted to disaffect and discontent his Majesties Army and to engage it for the maintenance of their wicked and Traiterous Designs the keeping up of Bishops in Votes and Functions and by force to compel the Parliament to order limit and dispose their proceedings in such manner as might best concur with the intentions of this dangerous and potent Faction And when one mischievous Design and Attempt of theirs to bring on the Army against the Parliament and the City of London had been discovered and prevented they presently undertook another of the same damnable Nature with this Addition to it to endeavour to make the Scottish Army neutral whil'st the English Army which they had laboured to corrupt and invenome against us by their false and slanderous suggestions should execute their Malice to the subversion of our Religion and the dissolution of our Government Thus they have been continually practising to disturb the Peace and Plotting the Destruction even of all the Kings Dominions and have employed their Emissaries and Agents in them all for the promoting of their Devilish Designs which the vigilancy of those who were well affected hath still discovered and defeated before they were ripe for Execution in England and Scotland only in Ireland which was farther off they have had time and opportunity to mould and prepare their work and had brought it to that perfection that they had possessed themselves of that whole Kingdom totally subverted the Government of it rooted out Religion and destroyed all the Protestants whom the conscience of their duty to God their King and Country would not have permitted to joyn with them if by Gods wonderful providence their main enterprize upon the City and Castle of Dublin had not been detected and prevented upon the very Eve before it should have been executed Notwithstanding they have in other parts of that Kingdom broken out into open Rebellion surprized Towns and Castles Committed Murders Rapes and other Villanies and shaken off all bonds of obedience to his Majesty and the Laws of the Realm and in general have kindled such a fire as nothing but God's Infinite Blessing upon the wisdom and endeavours of this State will be able to quench it and certainly had not God in his great Mercy unto this Land discovered and confounded their former Designs we had been the Prologue to this Tragedy in Ireland and had by this time been made the lamentable spectacle of Misery and Confusion And now what hope have we but in God when as the only means of our subsistence and Power of Reformation is under him in the Parliament but what can we the Commons without the conjunction of the House of Lords and what
conjunction can we expect there where the Bishops and Recusant Lords are so numerous and prevalent that they are able to Cross and Interrupt our best endeavours for Reformation and by that means give advantage to this malignant party to traduce our Proceedings They infuse into the People that we mean to abolish all Church-Government and leave every Man to his own Fancy for the Service and Worship of God absolving him of that obedience which he ows under God unto his Majesty whom we know to be intrusted with the Ecclesiastical Law as well as with the Temporal to regulate all the Members of the Church of England by such Rules of Order and Discipline as are established by Parliament which is his great Council in all Affairs both in Church and State We confess our Intention is and our Endeavors have been to reduce within Bounds that exorbitant Power which the Prelates have assumed unto themselves so contrary both to the Word of God and to the Laws of the Land to which end we past the Bill for the removing them from their Temporal Power and Imployments that so the better they might with Meekness apply themselves to the discharge of their Functions which Bill themselves opposed and were the principal Instruments of crossing it And we do here declare that it is far from our purpose or desire to let loose the golden Reins of Discipline and Government in the Church to leave private Persons or particular Congregations to take up what form of divine Service they please for we hold it requisite that there should be throughout the whole Realm a Conformity to that Order which the Laws enjoyn according to the Word of God and we desire to unburthen the Consciences of Men of needless and superstitious Ceremonies suppress Innovations and take away the Monuments of Idolatry And the better to effect the intended Reformation we desire there may be a general Synod of the most Grave Pious Learned and Judicious Divines of this Island assisted with some from foreign Parts Professing the same Religion with us who may consider of all things necessary for the Peace and good Government of the Church and represent the results of their Consultations unto the Parliament to be there allowed of and confirmed and receive the Stamp of Authority thereby to find Passage and Obedience throughout the Kingdom They have maliciously charged us that we intend to destroy and discourage Learning whereas it is our chiefest Care and Desire to advance it and to provide a competent Maintenance for conscionable and preaching Ministers throughout the Kingdom which will be a great Encouragement to Scholars and a certain means whereby the want meanness and ignorance to which a great part of the Clergy is now subject will be prevented And we intend likewise to reform and purge the Fountains of Learning the two Universities that the Streams flowing from thence may be clear and pure and an Honor and Comfort to the whole Land They have strained to blast our proceedings in Parliament by wresting the Interpretations of our Orders from their genuine Intention They tell the People that our medling with the power of Episcopacy hath caused Sectaries and Conventicles when Idolatry and Popish Ceremonies introduced into the Church by the command of the Bishops have not only debarred the people from thence but expelled them from the Kingdom Thus with Eliah we are called by this Malignant party the Troublers of the State and still while we endeavor to reform their Abuses they make us the Authors of those Mischiefs we study to prevent for the perfecting of the work begun and removing all future Impediments we conceive these Courses will be very effectual seeing the Religion of the Papists hath such Principles as do certainly tend to the Destruction and Extirpation of all Protestants when they shall have opportunity to effect it It is necessary in the first Place to keep them in such Condition as that they may not be able to do us any hurt and for avoiding of such connivence and favor as hath heretofore bin shewed unto them That his Majesty be pleased to grant a standing Commission to some choice Men named in Parliament who may take notice of their increase their Counsels and Proceedings and use all due means by execution of the Laws to prevent any mischievous designs against the Peace and Safety of this Kingdom That some good Course be taken to discover the counterfeit and false Conformity of Papists to the Church by color whereof Persons very much disaffected to the true Religion have been admitted into Place of greatest Authority and Trust in the Kingdom For the better preservation of the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom that all illegal Grievances and Exactions be presented and punished at the Sessions and Assizes and that Judges and Justices be careful to give this in charge to the Grand-Jury and both the Sheriff and Justices to be sworn to the due execution of the Petition of Right and other Laws That his Majesty be humbly petitioned by both Houses to imploy such Counsellors Ambassadors and other Ministers in managing his Business at Home and Abroad as the Parliament may have Cause to confide in without which we cannot give his Majesty such Supplyes for support of his own Estate nor such Assistance to the Protestant party beyond the Sea as is desired It may often fall out that the Commons may have just Cause to take Exceptions at some Men for being Counsellors and yet not charge those Men with Crimes for there be grounds of Diffidence which lye not in Proof there are others which though they may be proved yet are not legally Criminal to be a known favorer of Papists or to have been very forward in defending or countenancing some great Offenders questioned in Parliament or to speak contemptuously of either Houses of Parliament or Parliamentary Proceedings or such as are Factors or Agents for any Foreign Prince of another Religion such as are justly suspected to get Counsellors Places or any other of Trust concerning publick Imployment for Money For all these and diverse others we may have great reason to be earnest with his Majesty not to put his great Affairs into such Hands though we may be unwilling to proceed against them in any Legal way of Charge or Impeachment that all Counsellors of State may be sworn to observe the Laws which concern the Subject in his Liberty that they may likewise take an Oath not to receive or give Reward or Pension from any Foreign Prince but such as they within some reasonable Time discover to the Lords of his Majesties Council And although they should wickedly forswear themselves yet it may herein do good to make them known to be False and Perjured to those who imploy them and thereby bring them into as little Credit with them as with us that his Majesty may have cause to be in love with good Council and good Men by shewing him in an humble and dutiful
Manner how full of Advantage it would be to himself to see his own Estate setled in a plentiful Condition to support his Honor to see his People united in Wayes of Duty to him and indeavours for the Publick Good to see Happiness Wealth Peace and Safety derived to his own Kingdom and procured to his Allies by the Influence of his own Power and Government That all good Courses may be taken to unite the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland to be mutually Aiding and Assisting one another for the common Good of the Island and the Honor of both to take away all Differences among our Selves for Matters indifferent in their own Nature concerning Religion and to unite our selves against the Common Enemies which are the better enabled by our Divisions to destroy us as they hope and have often indeavoured to labor by all Offices of Friendship to unite the Foreign Churches with us in the same Cause and to seek their Liberty Safety and Prosperity as bound thereunto both by Charity to them and by Wisdom for our own Good For by this means our Strength shall be increased and by a mutual concurrence to the same common end we shall be enabled to procure the good of the whole Body of the Protestant Profession If these things may be observed we doubt not but God will Crown this Parliament with such Success as shall be the Beginning and Foundation of more Honour and Happiness to his Majesty then ever yet was enjoyed by any of his Royal Predecessors A Habeas Corpus was this day also Ordered to be sent down to remove one William Chorley from Lancaster Goal Thursday December 2. to be Examined of Matters of great Consequence His Majesty came this day to the House of Lords to pass the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage and being sate in the Chair of State the King gave Command to the Gentleman-Usher to give the House of Commons notice to come up who being come after three Obeysances made their Speaker made this Speech as followeth Most Dread Sovereign THe Observation taken from the unlike Compositions The Speakers Speech at the Passing the Bill for Tonnage and Poundage Dec. 2. 1641. and various Motions of the World made the Philosophers conclude Tota hujus Mundi Concordia ex Discordibus constat The happy Conjuncture of both these Nations in the Triumph and Joy of your Sacred presence extracted from the different and divided Opinions give us cause to observe and admire these blessed Effects from such contrary Causes We may without Flattery commend your Sacred Majesty as the glorious Instrument of this happy Change whose Piety and Prudence directed by the hand of God hath contracted this Vnion from those various discords * * Most undoubtedly Especially that Rebellion should be esteemed Loyalty and the Ruin of the Church a Reformation The story of these times will seem Paradoxes in following Generations when they shall hear of Peace sprung from the Root of Dissention of Vnion planted upon the stock of Divisions two Armies in the Field both ready to strike the first blow and both united without a stroke Nothing can reduce these Truths into a belief but the knowledge of your Piety and Justice who have accomplished these Acts of Wonder by Goodness and Gentleness without Force or Violence This way of Conquest this Bellum Incruentum hath been the Rule of the most Valiant and Puissant Monarchs advancing Your Glory in the safeguard of one Subject more then in the Death of a Thousand Enemies Thus have you Erected a Monument of Glory to your Sacred Memory for all Generations And as your Care and Piety for the welfare of your Northern Kingdom called you to that Work for the great Comfort of your People which your wisdom hath so happily consummated so now the Distemper of your other Kingdom fomented by the same Spirit whose presence admits no Peace in Israel calls on your Providence to heal the Diseases of that Nation The one from whence you returned hath with Abel though the younger Brother offered an acceptable Sacrifice the other with Cain hath Erected Altars of Blood and Revenge the Innovations of Jesuitical Priesthood which Invokes the necessity of your Justice the one to a Natural hath added a Politic Brotherhood the other of Brothers I am sorry to say it are become Strangers The Fidelity of the one hath written a story of Admiration to the World the Disloyalty of the other hath Parallel'd that horrid Design matchless before amongst all Generations first their Intentions the destruction of a Kingdom even when Vnity and Peace was tying the knot of Religion and Safety In the Discovery a moment of time prevented the Execution In the Actors Jesuits and Priests without whom the malice of the Devil could not have found a Party in the World fitted to act over the like bloody Tragedy But this among our many Joys we receive by your happy return is not the least That that Providence which protected that Gracious King your most Religious Father from their bloody attempts and encreased the blessing of a long and happy Reign hath also defended your Sacred Throne from all their Machinations Thus we see Religion is the greatest Policy the never-failing support of King and Kingdom that which firms you and your Posterity to your Throne and our Duty and Obedience to it Give me leave here most Gracious Sovereign to sum up the sense of 11 Months Observation without intermission scarce of a day nay an hour in that day to the hazard of Life and Fortune and to reduce all into this Conclusion The endeavours of Your Commons Assembled guided by Your Pious and Religious Example is to preserve Religion in its Purity without Mixture or Composition against these subtile Invaders and with our Lives and Fortunes to Establish these Thrones to your Sacred Person and those Beams of Majesty Your Royal Progeny against all Treason and Rebellion The Way that conduces to this End are the Defence of the Land and Sea for the one we have already Voted to raise Mony for the other this Bill in some Measure will accomplish for a little time and to that end I by the Command of the Commons humbly beseech Your Royal Assent This being done the Bill was passed by His Majesty according to the usual and accustomed Form Then the King made this ensuing Speech My Lords and Gentlemen I Think it fit The King's Speech after his Return from Scotland Dec. 2. 1641. after so long absence at this first occasion to speak a few words unto you But it is no ways in Answer to Mr. Speaker's Learned Speech Albeit I have stayed longer than I expected to have done when I went away yet in this I have kept my promise with you that I have made all the haste back again that the setling of My Scotch Affairs could any ways permit In which I have had so good success that I will confidently affirm to you that I have
Instructions were read in haec verba YOV shall be careful to Express to the Commissioners of Scotland His Majesties Gracious Acceptance Instructions to the Commissioners appointed to treat with the Scots Commissioners concerning assistance for Ireland and the thanks of both Houses of Parliament for their readiness to assist this Kingdom against the Rebels of Ireland You shall receive the Answer of the Parliament and State of Scotland concerning the 5000 Men which we formerly desired might be sent from thence into Ireland and upon what Conditions of Imprest Mony for raising of them and Wages for their Entertainment or otherwise how they shall be sent Furnish'd and Transported for His Majesties Service and the assistance of this Kingdom against the Rebellious Irish And you shall by the best Ways and Means you can Expedite the Raising and Sending over of these Men. These Instructions the House agreed to but because it was conceived they were short in one particular the Lords thought fit this Aâ—dition following should be made unto them viz. You shall from time to time before you grow to any perfect agreement give an account of what is propounded in this Treaty unto His Majesty and the two Houses of Parliament and receive their Directions before you come to any binding Conclusion Which was accordingly the next day Voted in the Commons House to be added to the said Commissioners Instructions The Lord Steward delivered in a Petition from Huntingdon-shire touching Episcopacy which was in these Words To the Right Honorable The Huntingdon-shire Petition for Episcopacy c. delivered Decemb 8. 1641. the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition and Remonstrance of the County of Huntingdon for the continuance of the Church-Government and Divine Service or Book of Common Prayer Sheweth THat whereas many Attempts have been practised and divers Petitions from several Counties and other Places within this Kingdom framed and Penned in a close and subtile Manner to import more then is at first descernable by any ordinary Eye or that was imparted to those who signed the same have carried about to most Places against the present Form and Frame of Church-Government and Divine Service or Common Prayer and the Hands of many Persons of ordinary Quality solicited to the same with Pretence to be presented to the Honorable Assembly in Parliament and under colour of removing some Innovations lately crept into the Church and Worship of God and reforming some Abuses in the Ecclesiastical Courts which we conceiving and fearing not so much to aim at the taking away of the said Innovations and Reformation of Abuses as tending to an absolute Innovation of Church Government and Subversion of that Order and Form of Divine Service which hath happily continued among us ever since the Reformation of Religion out of a tender and zealous regard hereunto We have thought it our Duty not only to disavow all such Petitions but also to manifest our Publick Affections and Desires to continue the Form of Divine Service and Common Prayers and the present Government of the Church as the same have been continued ever since the first Reformation and stand so established by the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom For when We consider That the Form of Divine Service expressed and contained in the Book of Common Prayer was with great Care Piety and Sincerity revised and reduced from all former Corruptions and Romish Superstitions by those holy and selected Instruments of the Reformation of Religion within this Church and was by them restored to its first purity according as it was instituted and practised in the Primitive Times standeth Confirmed Established and Injoyned by Act of Parliament and Royal Injunction and hath ever since had the general Approbation of the Godly and a publick Use and continuance within this Church And that Bishops were instituted and have had their being and continuance ever since the first Planting of Christian Religion among us and the rest of the Christian World that they were the Lights and glorious Lamps of God's Church that so many of them sowed the Seeds of Christian Religion in their Bloods which they willingly pouered out therefore that by them Christianity was rescued and preserved from utter extirpation in the fierce and most cruel Persecutions of Pagan Emperors that to them we owe the Redemption of the purity of the Gospel and the Reformation of the Religion we now profess from Romish Corruption that many of them for the propagation of that Truth became glorious Martyrs leaving unto us an holy Example and an honorable Remembrance of their Faith and Christian Fortitude that divers of them lately and yet living with us have been so great Assertors and Champions of our Religion against the common Enemy of Rome and that their Government hath been so Ancient so long Approved and so often Established by the Laws and Statutes of this Kingdom and as yet nothing in their Doctrine generally taught dissonant from the Word of God or the Articles Established by Law and that most of them are of singular Learning and Piety In this Case to call the Form of Divine Service and Common Prayers Erronious Popish Superstitious Idolatrous and call the Government by Bishops a perpetual Vassalage and intolerable Bondage and at the first Step and before the Parties concerned be heard to pray the present removal of them or the utter Dissolution and Extirpation of them their Courts and their Officers as Antichristian and Diabolical we cannot conceive to savor or relish of Piety Justice and Charity nor can we joyn with them herein but rather humbly pray a Reformation of the Abuses and Punishment of the Offenders but not the Ruin or Abolition of the Innocent Now on the contrary when We consider the Tenor of such Writings as in the Name of Petition are spread among the Common People the Contents of many printed Pamphlets swarming at London and over all Countries the Sermons preached publickly in Pulpits and other private Places and the bitter Invectives divulged and commonly spoken by many disaffected Persons all of them shewing an extreme averseness and dislike of the present Government of the Church and Divine Service or Common Prayers dangerously exciting a Disobedience to the established Form of Government and Church Service their several Intimations of the desire of the Power of the Keys and that their Congregations may be independent and may execute Ecclesiastical Censures within themselves whereby many Sects and several and contrary Opinions will soon grow and arise whereby great Divisions and horrible Factions will soon insue thereupon to the Breach of that Union which is the sacred Bond and Preservation of the Common Peace of Church and State their peremptory desires and bold assuming to themselves the Liberty of Conscience to introduce into the Church whatsoever they Affect and to refuse and oppose all things which themselves shall dislike and what they dislike must not only to themselves but also to all others be Scandalous
the People here 's the Kingdom to be put into a posture of Defence and a Protestation to assist the Parliament against all wicked Counsellors and Malignant Opposers to the utmost hazard of Life and Estate so that there wanted only an occasion to break out into actual Arms and open Rebellion if these Requests were not Granted This was the way of Petitioning of that time For the Faction now began to be bold and daring and under the Countenance and Protection of their Patriots in the two Houses to affront the Government in the most Insolent Manner imaginable and under the Pretence of Petitioning the Commons to gather together in such tumultuous Routs and Riots as if they would bid open Defiance to the King and the Laws and in truth such an Assembly as upon this Occasion met at Blackheath to subscribe such another Petition threatning what they would do if the Bishops c. were not thrown out of the Lords House would in any other Age have been reputed a plain Rebellion as in truth it was a Prologue to it and a kind of general Muster of the Strength and Effective numbers which the several Tribes of the Schismaticks were able upon Occasion at the Beat of their Pulpit or Petition Drums to bring into the Field against the King the Laws and the Established Government It was upon the Notice of these Tumultary Proceedings and Threatnings that the Guards were raised and placed about Westminster which the Faction in the two Houses who knew by Experience the use of these Tumults took so hainoufly and lest the Well-Affected should meet any discouragement in this Scottish Presbyterian Way of Reformation and fall into the Hands of the Law and Justice they resolved to tye the Hands of Justice behind her and to bind the Laws to the Peace and Good Behaviour which otherwise would have handled these Petitioners very severely with Riotosè's and Routoses contra pacem Domini Regis Tumultuary Petitioning incouraged and protected by the Faction in the Commons House And therefore for fear of the Worst It was Ordered in the House of Commons That the Vnder-Sheriff of Surrey be injoyned not to suffer any Proceedings to be made upon an Inquisition that concerns any Persons that met to subscribe a Petition to be preferred to this House till he shall receive further Order from the House And in truth the Faction in the two Houses carried all before them with that Violence and Impetuosity that many both of the Lords and Commons seeing themselves unable to do any thing towards cooling their Heats or abating their Rigors and that who ever did in the least oppose their Proceedings inevitably drew upon himself some furious Vote or a Prison as a mark of their Displeasure withdrew themselves from the Parliament which as it gave the Faction great Encouragement so likewise it gave them opportunity to do what they pleased without control His Majesty taking notice thereof issued forth the following Proclamation to command their Attendance who were absent as follows By the KING A Proclamation for the Attendance of the Members in both Houses in Parliament HIs Most Excellent Majesty having Summoned this present Parliament A Proclamation for absent Members to attend the Parliament Dec. 12. 1641. in His princely Care of the good and Welfare of His lobing Subjects In the continuance of the same Care doth with Advice of His Privy Council by this His Royal Proclamation declare His Royal Will and Pleasure to be That all the Members of both Houses of Parliament do repair to the Parliament at Westminster at or before the Twelfth of January next and give their due and diligent Attendance in Parliament To the end that this Kingdom may fully injoy the Benefit and Happiness which His Majesty intendeth unto them by Summoning and continuing of this Parliament And of his Majesties Will and Command they are to take Notice by this His Proclamation and to give a just Observance thereunto upon such pains and penalties as by Law and Iustice may be inflicted upon them Given at His Majesties Palace of White-Hall the Twelfth day of December in the seventeenth year of his Majesties Reign God save the KING The Lords at a Conference this day with the Commons Monday Decemb. 13. agreed That the English Commissioners should have power to Treat with the Scottish Commissioners for the Raising of 10000 Men for the Service of Ireland The Commons also informed the Lords That they had taken the Request of the French Ambassador concerning banishing the Seven Condemned Priests into consideration and desire the concurrence of their Lordships that Execution may be done upon five of them viz. upon Hamond Rivers alias Abbot Walter Coleman alias Colmer Francis Tornam alias Winmore and one Frier Whereupon it was upon the Debate in the Lords House Resolved to have a Conference To know the Reasons that induced the Commons to be of Opinion that five should be Executed and two Saved In the Commons House Mr. Glyn Reported the Conference concerning the 13 Bishops that stood impeached that the Lord Keeper said That the Bishops Council insisted still upon the Plea and Demurrer and that they took exceptions to the last Conference because there was delivered to the Reporter of the Lords House the Arch-bishop of York a Paper intituled A Report made by Serjeant Wild from the Committee for the 13 Bishops He said he conceived for his part that it was the Vote of the House but to satisfie that Objection desired to know the Answer of the House I told his Lordship it passed the Vote of the House and that Paper was but as a Memorandum to the manager of that Conference and delivered by him at that time to the Reporter of the Lords House to enable him to Report but did not conceive this Vse would have been made of it or that it should have been shewed to the Bishops Council Tuesday Decemb. 14. Several invidious things proposed by the Commons at a Conference viz. a Declaration against Tolleration of the Romish Religion c. The Lord Keeper Reported this day the Conferences Yesterday with the Commons That divers Papers were read brought from the House of Commons The first Paper consisted of Motives which induced the House of Commons to make their particular Requests The second Paper was the desires of the House of Commons That the Lords would joyn with them in an humble Petition to the King against Toleration of the Romish Religion in England and Ireland and that his Majesty would make a Declaration to this purpose The third Paper was a draught of a Declaration to that purpose The Fourth Paper was a Declaration to be made by the Queen upon the Petition of both Houses to His Majesty to perswade her thereunto That for preventing of all Scandalous Reports and Apprehensions of the Queens Majesty as if she had or would favour and incourage the Rebels in Ireland His Majesty would be graciously pleased to advise
his Majesty evidently saw that their Design was to render his Person Reputation and Government Cheap Contemptible and Odious to his Subjects and this put him upon Printing likewise his Answer to the Remonstrance and issuing out a Declaration to all his Loving Subjects for his own Vindication And here began the Paper-War between the King and Faction of the two Houses in which they were plainly the Aggressors of his Honor Dignity and Reputation His Majesty only standing upon the Defensive The Answer to the Petition and the Declaration were in these Terms WE having received from you The King's Answer to the Petition which accompanied the Remonstrance as also the Declaration concerning it Dec. 1641. soon ofter Our Return out of Scotland a long Petition consisting of many Desires of great Moment together with a Declaration of a very unusual Nature annexed thereunto We had taken some time to consider of it as befitted Vs in a matter of that Consequence being confident that your own reason and regard to Vs as well as Our express intimation by Our Comptroller to that purpose would have restrained you from the Publishing of it till such time as you should have received Our Answer to it But much against Our expectation finding the contrary that the said Declaration is already abroad in Print by Directions from your House as appears by the printed Copy We must let you know that We are very sensible of the disrespect Notwithstanding it is Our Intention that no failing on your part shall make Vs fail in Ours of giving all due Satisfaction to the Desires of Our People in a Parliamentary Way And therefore We send you this Answer to your Petition reserving Our self in Point of the Declaration which We think unparliamentary and shall take a Course to do that which We shall think fit in Prudence and Honor. To the Petition We say That although there are divers things in the Preamble of it which We are so far from admitting that We profess We cannot at all understand them as Of a wicked and malignant Party prevalent in the Government Of some of that Party admitted to Our Privy Council and to other Imployments of Trust and nearest to Us and Our Children Of Endeavors to sow amongst the People false Scandals and Imputations to blemish and disgrace the Proceedings of the Parliament All or any of which did We know of We should be as ready to remedy and Punish as you to Complain of That the Prayers of your Petition are grounded upon such Premisses as We must in no Wise admit yet notwithstanding We are pleased to give this Answer to you To the first concerning Religion consisting of several Branches We say that for the preserving the Peace and Safety of this Kingdom from the designs of the Popish Party We have and will still concur with all the just Desires of Our People in a Parliamentary Way That for the depriving of the Bishops of their Votes in Parliament We would have you consider that their Right is grounded upon the Fundamental Law of the Kingdom and constitution of Parliament This We would have have you consider but since you desire Our concurrence herein in a Parliamentary Way We will give no further Answer at this time As for the abridging of the inordinate Power of the Clergy We conceive that the taking away of the High Commission Court hath well moderated that but if there continue any Vsurpations or Excesses in their Jurisdictions We therein neither have nor will protect them Vnto that Clause which concerneth Corruptions as you style them in Religion in Church-Government and in Discipline and the removing of such unnecessary Ceremonies as weak Consciences might check at That for any illegal Innovations which may have crept in We shall willingly concur in the removal of them That if Our Parliament shall advise Vs to call a National Synod which may duly examine such Ceremonies as give just cause of Offence to any We shall take it into Consideration and apply Our Self to give due Satisfaction therein But We are very sorry to hear in such general Terms Corruption in Religion objected since We are perswaded in Our Conscience that no Church can be found upon the Earth that professeth the true Religion with more purity of Doctrine than the Church of England doth nor where the Government and Discipline are joyntly more beautified and free from Superstition then as they are here established by Law which by the grace of God We will with Constancy maintain while We live in their Purity and Glory not only against all Invasions of Popery but also from the irreverence of those many Schismaticks and Separatists wherewith of late this Kingdom and this City abounds to the great dishonor and hazard both of Church and State for the suppressing of whom We require your timely Aid and active Assistance To the second Prayer of the Petition concerning the removal and choice of Counsellors We know not any of Our Councel to whom the Character set forth in the Petition can belong That by those whom We had exposed to Trial We have already given you sufficient Testimony that there is no Man so near unto Vs in Place or Affection whom We will not leave to the Justice of the Law if you shall bring a particular Charge and sufficient Proofs against him and of this We do again assure you but in the mean time We wish you to forbear such general Aspersions as may reflect upon all Our Councel since you name none in particular That for the choice of Our Counsellors and Ministers of State it were to debar Vs that natural Liberty all Freemen have and it is the undoubted Right of the Crown of England to call such Persons to Our secret Councels to publick Imployment and Our particular Service as We shall think fit so We are and ever shall be very careful to make Election of such Persons in those Places of Trust as shall have given good Testimonies of their Abilities and Integrity and against whom there can be no just Cause of exception whereon reasonably to ground a diffidence and to choices of this Nature We assure you that the mediation of the nearest unto Vs hath always concurred To the third Prayer of your Petition concerning Ireland We understand your Desire of not alienating the forfeited Lands thereof to proceed from your much Care and Love And likewise that it may be a Resolution very fit for Vs to take but whether it be seasonable to declare Resolutions of that Nature before the Events of a War be seen that We much doubt of Howsoever We cannot but thank you for this Care and your chearful ingagement for the suppressing of that Rebellion upon the speedy effecting thereof the Glory of God in the Protestant Profession the safety of the British there Our Honor and that of the Nation so much depends all the Interests of this Kingdom being so involved in that Business We cannot but quicken your
Affections therein and shall desire you to frame your Councels and to give such Expedition to the Work as the Nature thereof and the pressures in point of Time requires and whereof you are put in Mind by the daily insolence and increase of those Rebels For Conclusion your promise to apply your selves to such Courses as may support Our Royal Estate with Honor and Plenty at Home and with Power and Reputation abroad is that which We have ever promised Our Self both from your Loyalties and Affections and also for what We have already done and shall daily go adding unto for the Comfort and Happiness of Our People His Majesties Declaration to all His Loving SUBJECTS Published with the advice of His Privy-Council ALthough We do not believe that Our House of Commons intended by their Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom to put Vs to any Apology either for Our past or present Actions Notwithstanding since they have thought it so very necessary upon their Observation of the present Distemper to publish the same for the satisfaction of all Our Loving Subjects We have thought it very suitable to the duty of Our place with which God hath trusted Vs to do Our part to so good a Work in which We shall not think it below our Kingly Dignity to descend to any particular which may compose and settle the Affections of Our meanest Subjects since we are so conscious to Our Self of such Vpright Intentions and Endeavours and only of such for which We give God thanks for the Peace and Happiness of Our Kingdom in which the prosperity of Our Subjects must be included that We wish from Our bears that even Our most Secret thoughts were published to their View and Examination Though We must confess We cannot but be very sorry in this Conjuncture of time when the unhappiness of this Kingdom is so generally understood abroad there should be such a necessity of publishing so many particulars from which We pray no inconveniencies may ensue that were not intended We shall in few words pass over that part of the Narrative wherein the Misfortunes of this Kingdom from Our first entring to the Crown to the beginning of this Parliament are remembred in so sensible Expressions And that other which acknowledgeth the many good Laws passed by Our Grace and Favour this Parliament for the Security of Our People of which We shall only say thus much That as We have not refused to pass any Bill presented to Vs by Our Parliament for redress of those Grievances mentioned in the Remonstrance so We have not had a greater Motive for the passing those Laws then Our own Resolution grounded upon Our Observation and understanding the State of Our Kingdom to have freed Our Subjects for the future from those Pressures which were grievous to them if those Laws had not been propounded which therefore We shall as inviolably maintain as We look to have Our own Rights preserved not doubting but all Our Loving Subjects will look on those Remedies with that full gratitude and affection that even the memory of what they have formerly undergone by the Accidents and Necessities of those Times will not be unpleasant to them And possibly in a Pious Sence of Gods Blessing upon this Nation how little share soever We shall have of the acknowledgment they will confess they have enjoyed a great measure of Happiness even these last sixteen years both in Peace and Plenty not only comparatively in respect of their Neighbours but even of those times which were justly accounted Fortunate The Fears and Jealousies which may make some Impression in the minds of Our People We will suppose may be of two sorts either for Religion or Liberty and their civil Interests The Fears for Religion may haply be not only as Ours here Established may be invaded by the Romish Party but as it is accompanied with some Ceremonies at which some tender Consciences really are or pretend to be Scandalized for of any other which have been used without any legal Warrant or Injunction and already are or speedily may be abolished we shall not speak Concerning Religion as there may be any suspicion of favour or inclination to the Papists We are willing to Declare to all the World That as We have been from Our Child-hood brought up in and practised the Religion now Established in this Kingdom so it is well known We have not contented simply with the Principles of Our Education given a good proportion of Our time and pains to the Examination of the Grounds of this Religion as it is different from that of Rome and are from our Soul so fully satisfied and assured that it is the most pure and agreeable to the Sacred Word of God of any Religion now practised in the Christian World That as We believe We can maintain the same by unanswerable Reasons so We hope We should readily Seal to it by the Effusion of Our Blood if it pleased God to call Vs to that Sacrifice And therefore nothing can be so acceptable unto Vs as any proposition which may contribute to the advancement of it here or the propagation of it abroad being the only means to draw down a Blessing from God upon Our Selves and this Nation And We have been extreamly unfortunate if this profession of Ours be wanting to Our People Our constant practice in Our own Person having always been without ostentation as much to the Evidence of Our Care and Duty herein as We could possibly tell how to express For differences amongst Our Selves for matters indifferent in their own Nature concerning Religion We shall in tenderness to any number of Our Loving Subjects very willingly comply with the advice of Our Parliament that some Law may be made for the exemption of tender Consciences from punishment or prosecution for such Ceremonies and in such cases which by the judgment of most Men are held to be matters indifferent and of some to be absolutely unlawful Provided that this ease be attempted and pursued with that modesty temper and submission that in the mean time the peace and quiet of the Kingdom be not disturbed the decency and comeliness of Gods Service discountenanced nor the Pious Sober and Devout actions of those Reverend Persons who were the first Labourers in the blessed Reformation or of that time be scandal'd and defamed For We cannot without grief of heart and without some Tax upon Our Self and Our Ministers for the not Execution of Our Laws look upon the bold Licence of some Men in Printing of Pamphlets in Preaching and Printing of Sermons so full of bitterness and malice against the present Government against the Laws Established so full of Sedition against Our Self and the peace of the Kingdom that we are many times amazed to consider by what Eyes these things are seen and by what Ears they are heard And therefore We have good cause to Command as We have done and hereby do all Our Judges and Ministers of Justice
Our Attorney and Sollicitor General and the rest of Our Learned Councel to proceed with all speed against such and their Abettors who either by writing or words have so boldly and maliciously violated the Laws disturbed the Peace of the Common-wealth and as much as in them lies shaken the very Foundation upon which that peace and happiness is Founded and Constituted And we doubt not but all Our Loving Subjects will be very sensible that this busie virulent demeanour is a fit Prologue to nothing but Confusion and if not very Seasonably punished and prevented will not only be a blemish to that wholsome accommodation We intend but an unspeakable Scandal and Imputation even upon the Profession and Religion of this Our Kingdom of England Concerning the Civil Liberties and Interest of Our Subjects We shall need to say the less having erected so many lasting Monuments of Our Princely and Fatherly Care of Our People in whose many excellent Laws passed by Vs this Parliament which in truth with very much Content to Our Self We conceive to be so large and ample that very many sober Men have very little left to wish for We understood well the Right and Pretences of Right We departed from in the consenting to the Bills of the Triennial Parliament for the continuance of this present Parliament and in the preamble to the Bill of Tunnage and Poundage the Matter of which having begot so many Disturbances in late Parliaments We were willing to remove that no Interest of Ours might hereafter break that Correspondence abundantly contenting Our Self with an Assurance which We still have that We should be repaired and supplied by a just proportion of Confidence Bounty and Obedience of Our People In the Bills for the taking away the High Commission and Star-Chamber Courts We believed We had given that real Satisfaction that all Jealousies and Apprehensions of Abitrary Pressures under the Civil or Ecclesiastical State would easily have been abandoned especially when they saw all possible Doubts secured by the Visitation of a Triennial Parliament These and others of no mean Consideration We had rather should be valued in the Hearts and Affections of Our People then in any mention of Our own not doubting but as We have taken all these Occasions to render their Condition most comfortable and happy so they will always in a grateful and dutiful relation be ready with equal tenderness and alacrity to advance Our Rights and preserve Our Honor upon which their own Security and Subsistence so much depends And We will be so careful that no particular shall be Presented unto Vs for the Compleating and Establishing that Security to which We will not with the same readiness contribute Our best Assistance If these Resolutions be the Effects of Our present Councels and We take God to witness that they are such and that all Our loving Subjects may confidently expect the benefit of them from Vs Certainly no ill Design upon the Publick can accompany such Resolution neither will there be greater Cause of suspition of any Persons preferred by Vs to degrees of Honor and Places of Trust and Imployment since this Parliament And We must confess That amongst Our Misfortunes We reckon it not the least That having not retained in Our Service nor protected any one Person against whom Our Parliament hath excepted during the whole sitting of it and having in all that time scarce vouchsafed to any Man an instance of Our Grace and Favor but to such who were under some eminent Character of Estimation among Our People there should so soon be any mis-understanding or jealousy of their Fidelity and Vprightness especially in a time when We take all Occasions to declare That We conceive Our Self only capable of being served by Honest Men and in honest Ways However if in Truth We have bin mistaken in such Our Election the Particular shall be no sooner discovered to Vs either by Our own Observation or other certain Information then We will leave them to publick Justice under the Marks of Our Displeasure If notwithstanding this any Malignant Party shall take Heart and be willing to Sacrifice the Peace and Happiness of their Country to their own sinister Ends and Ambitions under what pretence of Religion and Conscience soever If they shall endeavor to lessen Our Reputation and Interest and to weaken Our lawful Power and Authority with Our good Subjects if they shall go about by discountenancing the present Laws to loosen the Bonds of Government that all Disorder and Confusion may break in upon Vs We doubt not but God in his good time will discover them unto Vs and the wisdom and courage of Our High Court of Parliament joyn with Vs in their Suppression and Punishment Having now said all that We can to express the cleerness and uprightness of Our Intentions to Our People and done all We can to manifest those Intentions We cannot but confidently believe all Our good Subjects will acknowledg Our part to be fully performed both in Deeds past and present Resolutions to do whatsoever with Justice may be required of Vs and that their quiet and prosperity depends now wholly upon themselves and is in their own power by yielding all Obedience and due Reverence to the Law which is the Inheritance of every Subject and the only security he can have for his Life Liberty or Estate and the which being neglected or dis-esteemed under what specious shews soever a very great measure of Infelicity if not an irreparable confusion must without doubt fall upon them And We doubt not it will be the most acceptable Declaration a King can make to His Subjects that for Our part We are resolved not only duly to observe the Laws of Our Self but to maintain them against what opposition soever though with the hazard of Our being And Our hope is that not only the Loyalty and good Affections of all Our loving Subjects will concur with Vs in the constant preserving a good understanding between Vs and Our People but at this time their own and Our interest and compassion of the lamentable Condition of our poor Protestant Subjects in Ireland will invite them to a fair Intelligence and Vnity amongst themselves that so We may with one Heart intend the relieving and recovering that unhappy Kingdom where those barbarous Rebels practice such Inhumane and unheard of Outrages upon Our miserable People that no Christian Ear can hear without horror nor story parallel And as We look upon this as the greatest affliction it hath pleased God to lay upon Vs so Our unhappiness is increased in that by the Distempers at home so early Remedies have not bin applyed to those growing Evils as the Expectation and necessity there requires though for Our part as We did upon the first Notice acquaint Our Parliament of Scotland where We then were with that Rebellion requiring their Aid and Assistance and gave like speedy Intimation and Recommendation to Our Parliament here so since Our Return
for the present being not very welcome These People notwithstanding the rebuke which Sir Thomas Aston had met with for a Petition of this Nature yet in the midst of these wicked Times durst be honest and publickly avow themselves so which was far more The Petition as I find it in a Collection of Petitions printed afterwards by his Majesties Command at York to let the World see that a very considerable Part of the Nation was utterly against the pretended Reformation was as follows To the King 's Most Excellent Majesty and to the Right Honorable the Lords and the Honorable the House of Commons Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition of divers of the Nobility Justices Gentry Ministers Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the County Palatine of Chester whose Names are contained in the Schedule Annexed YOur Petitioners with all Cheerfulness and Contentation The Cheshire Petition for the Common Prayer and suppression of Schismaticks c. affying in the happy settlement of the Distractions both of Church and State by his Majesties pious Care and the prudent and religious Indeavors of this Honorable Assembly and with due Humility and Obedience submitting to the unanimous Conclusions thereof yet conceive themselves bound in Duty Humbly to represent to your mature Considerations That the present Disorders of many Turbulent and Ill-disposed Spirits are such as give not only Occasion of present discontent to your Petitioners but seem to import some ill event without early prevention The pure Seed of our Faith the Doctrine of the Reformed Protestant Religion Established by so many Acts of Parliament and so harmoniously concurring with the Confessions of all other Reformed Churches being tainted with the Tares of divers Sects and Schismes lately sprung up amongst Vs Our Pious Laudable and Ancient Form of Divine Service composed by the Holy Martyrs and worthy Instruments of Reformation Established by the prudent Sages of State your religious Predecessors honored by the Approbation of many learned Foreign Divines subscribed by the Ministry of the whole Kingdom and with such general Content received by all the Laity that scarce any Family or Person that can read but are furnished with the Books of Common Prayer in the conscionable Vse whereof many Christian Hearts have found unspeakable Joy and Comfort wherein the famous Church of England our dear Mother hath just Cause to Glory and may She long flourish in the Practise of so blessed a Liturgy * * This the Reader will see presently in a Petition by Dr. Burgess c. of this Day Yet it is now not only depraved by many of those who should teach Conformity to Established Laws but in Contempt thereof in many Places wholly neglected All these dayly practised with Confidence without Punishment to the great dejection of many sound Protestants and occasioning so great insultation and rejoycing in some Separatists * * The true temper of the Separatists and Schismaticks from their first original to this Day as they not only seem to portend but menace some great Alteration and not containing themselves within the Bounds of Civil-Government do commit many tumultuous if not Sacrilegious Violences both by Day and Night upon divers Churches Therefore your Petitioners being all very apprehensive of the dangerous Consequences of Innovation and much scandalized at the present Disorders Do all unanimously Pray That there be admitted no Innovation of Doctrine or Liturgy that Holy Publick Service being so fast rooted by a long setled continuance in this Church that in Our Opinion and Judgments it cannot be altered unless by the Advice and Consent of some National Synod without an universal Discontent and that some speedy Course be taken to suppress such Schismaticks and Separatists whose factious Spirits do evidently indanger the Peace both of Church and State And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. Signed by Lords Knights Justices of the Peace and Esquires 94 By Gentlemen of Quality 440 By Divines 86 By Free-holders and others in all 8936 In all 9556 And in regard their Piety and Loyalty deserves a place in the Records of time and that in these Petitions the Reader will see the Temper and Genius of these Seditious and Turbulent Sectaries and Schismaticks the very Pests of Church and State the main Occasioners Managers Promoters Contrivers Encouragers Supporters and Conductors of this most Execrable Rebellion from its first Original till its last fatal Period most accurately pointed out in the just and too modest complaints of these Petitions for the Times and Persons would not bear truth unless apparelled in the most submissive Garb and Posture I will here subjoyn Sir Thomas Ashton's Petition which was presented to the Lords and for which he received a smart rebuke and narrowly escaped a Prison which I should have done in its proper place had this Collection of Petitions then come to my hands The Petition was as follows To the High and Honorable Court of Parliament The Nobility Knights Gentry Minsters Freeholders and Inhabitants of the County Palatine of Chester whose Names are Subscribed in several Schedules hereunto Annexed Humbly Shew THat whereas divers Petitions have lately been carried about this County against the present Form of Church Government The Cheshire Petition delivered to the House of Lords by Sir Thomas Ashton and the hands of many Persons of ordinary Quality sollicited to the same with pretence to be presented to this Honourable Assembly which we conceive not so much to aim at Reformation as absolute Innovation of Government and such as must give a great advantage to the Adversaries of our Religion We held it our Duty to disavow them all and humbly pray That we incur no mis-censure if any such Clamours have without our privity assumed the Name of the County We as others are sensible of the common Grievances of the Kingdom and have just cause to rejoyce at and acknowledge with thankfulness the pious Care which is already taken for the suppressing of the Growth of Popery the better to supply able Ministers and the removing of all Innovation and we doubt not but in your great Wisdoms you will regulate the Rigor of the Ecclesiastical Courts to suit with the Temper of our Laws and the Nature of Free-men Yet when we consider That Bishops were instituted in the time of the Apostles that they were the great Lights of the Church in all the first General Councils that so many of them sowed the Seeds of Religion in their Bloods and rescued Christianity from utter Extirpation in the Primitive Heathen Persecutions That to them we ow the Redemption of the purity of the Gospel we now profess from Romish Corruption that many of them for the propagation of the Truth became such Glorious Martyrs that divers of them lately and yet living with us have been so great Assertors of our Religion against the Common Enemy of Rome and that their Government hath been so long approved so oft Established by the Common and Statute Laws of
Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament The Humble Petition of sundry Ministers intrusted to Sollicite the Petition and Remonstrance formerly Exhibited to this Honourable House and many of their Brethren Most Humbly Sheweth THat the Petitioners do most thankfully value The Petition of the Remonstrating Ministers Dec. 20. 1641. and heartily acknowledge the indefatigable Pains and Piety of this Honorable Assembly manifested in very many things of high Concernment for the Glory of God the Honor of the King the Purging of the Church and the Safety and Prosperity of this and the rest of His Majesties Kingdoms but more especially in procuring that publick Fast at your first Sitting which hath prevented many Mischiefs and drawn down many Blessings upon the Kingdom ever since in your Zeal and Courage for the True Religion professed among us against all Popish Idolatry and Superstitious Innovations expressed by your Religious Protestation and Vow * * And discountenancing the publick Liturgy and the most indispensible Duty of Praying to make room for this Seditious Preaching In countenancing the Sacred Ordinance of Preaching after long and deep contempt cast upon it by too many who had almost Exiled it from divers Parts of this Kingdom In incouraging painful and godly Ministers formerly set aside and now again profitably imployed in many Congregations greatly needing them In discountenancing bold and unmeet Men that without sufficient calling have presumptuously intruded into that Holy Office as also of all Vnworthy and Scandalous Ministers that have been Convented before you In accepting a former Petition and Remonstrance from the Petitioners taking the same into your grave Consideration and vigorously prosecuting some part thereof In freeing divers godly Ministers out of Prison and Exile and many others from heavy Censures unjustly inflicted In preventing the utter Ruin of the Petitioners and of many more by breaking that wicked Yoak of the late pernicious Oath and Canons justly branded by both Houses of Parliament and by taking away the late dreadful Tyranny of the High-Commission Court and other illegal heavy pressures of the rest of the Courts Ecclesiastical In your worthy Orders for removing of all Illegal Rites and Ceremonies superstitious and scandalous Images and Pictures and other Innovations out of all Churches and Chappels In your prudent happy and timely re-uniting without spilling of Christian Blood the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a firm and Religious Peace unhappily disturbed to the apparent endangering of both in your honourable endeavours to relieve and rescue our distressed Brethren in Ireland from the barbarous Outrages and Butcheries of the Popish Rebels there In your constant Vigilancy to discover and defeat the many desperate and devilish Conspiracies against the King Parliament and the Kingdom plotted by Papists and their Malignant adherents implacable Enemies to our Religion and Peace together with all your excellent Labours for Reforming and settling the Affairs of the Common-wealth whereof the Petitioners do also with others Enjoy the comfort and the large and blessed Hopes given to the Petitioners of your further indeavours for perfecting the Reformation of Religion and the Church according to the necessity thereof in a Way best becoming the Honour of such a Grave and Religious Body All of which do much Encourage them to pour out their Souls in all possible thankfulness to God for you and to put up more fervent Prayers publiquely and privately upon all occasions in your behalf at the Throne of Grace But so it is That whereas your Petitioners did in their former Petitions represent unto you divers unsufferable Grievances arising from sundry Invasions made upon the publick Doctrine of this Church from some mixtures and blemishes in the publick Worship of God by Law Established as well as from sundry gross Innovations and Superstitions iâ— Rites and Ceremonies without Law introduced from many Exorbitancies and unsupportable Vsurpations in Ecclesiastical Government and from the scandalous defect of Ministers maintenance in too many places All of which do yet remain in greatest part unremoved by reason of your many necessitated diversions from this great work for the preservation of the very Being of this Kingdom and by means hereof many distractions and disorders about matters of Religion and the Church have to the great scandal and grief of the Petitioners happen'd and are still continued which puts them upon a necessity of renewing their former Suit for redress of the aforesaid Evils and for removing whatever shall appear to your Wisdom to be the Root and Cause of them And whereas further the Petitioners and very many others in whose name and behalf they now humbly supplicate desirous in all things to submit to the Laws so far as possibly they may yet meerly out of tenderness and scruple of Conscience dare not continue as formerly they did the Vse and Exercise of some things as now they-stand injoyned not only because they have more seriously weighed the Nature and Scandal of them and that sundry Bishops and other grave Divines called to their assistance by Order of the House of Peers have as they are informed discovered divers particulars needing alteration in the Liturgy and the Vse thereof and that there is not as they humbly conceive at this day commonly extant any Book of Common Prayer without so many Variations Alterations and Additions as render it in many Parts another thing from that which was by Law Established but chiefly because you also have vouchsafed to be so far sensible of the Defects thereof and of the just Scruples of the Petitioners thereabout as to take the Reformation thereof under Consideration which they hoped would be some shelter against the strict pressing the Vse of it till your pleasure upon the full Debate thereof had been declared in a Parliamentary Way for that it seems most equal that the Consciences of Men should not be forced upon that which a Parliament it self holds needful to consider the Reformation of and give Order in till the same be accordingly done And the Petitioners having been comfortably assured of some ease therein do now to their great sorrow apprehend that the same things are anew reinforced which contrary to the blessed Inclination and Intention of His Gracious Majesty may occasion much trouble and vexation to sundry worthy and peaceable Ministers which the Petitioners have more cause to fear because sundry of their Brethren have since the beginning of this Parliament been Indicted upon the Statute of 1 Eliz. 2. And others threatned for bare omissions of some things complained of to this High Court and still depending before you whiles in divers places your Religious Orders necessarily made and published for removing of things illegal are not observed and in other places where superstitious Rites and Practices had by virtue thereof been laid aside the same are again called back and re-practised without any Check or Animadversion And because the Premisses are of extraordinary Consequence and cannot receive a perfect Cure
They find ill Consequences already by his being Lieutenant for Merchants have already withdrawn their Bullion out of the Mint and Strangers which have Ships lately come with great store of Bullion do forbear to bring it into the Mint because he is Lieutenant of the Tower and by this Means Money will be scarce to come by which will be prejudicial and obstructive to the pressing Affairs of Ireland The House of Commons took it much to Heart that their Lordships did not joyn with them to Petition his Majesty Hereupon they have made a Declaration for themselves and desired That the same may be entred into the Journal Book of this House as they have done the like in their House Which was read in these Words WE the Knights The Declaration of the Commons concerning the Tower Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament being very sensible of the great and emminent Danger of the Kingdom through the Designs of the Papists and other Persons disaffected to the Publick Peace and finding by frequent and emminet Symptomes that the same groweth very near to maturity amongst which We reckon this not to be the least that the Tower being a Place of such Importance to the safety of the City and of the whole Kingdom should be put into the Hands of a Man so unworthy and of so dangerous a Disposition as by divers Testimonies Colonel Lunsford is affirmed to be which caused Us yesterday upon the Petition of the Citizens of London to desire your Lordships to joyn with us in an humble Suit to his Majesty that a Place of that great Consequence might not be disposed in such a manner as to hazzard the Safety Peace and Content of the City and of the whole Kingdom and perceiving that your Lordships have refused to joyn with us in so important and necessary Request do hereby declare before God and the whole Kingdom that from the beginning of this Parliament we have done our uttermost to preserve the State from Ruine and having through God's Blessing prevailed so far that the Design of the Irish Army of Papists the other Designs of bringing up the English Army several times attempted a former Plot of Possessing the Tower without which Treason could not be so mischievous to the State were all prevented although strongly bent to the Destruction of Religion the Parliament and the Common-Wealth do now find themselves incountred with as great Difficulty as ever the Papists Rebellion in Ireland giving such Encouragement to the Malignant Party here that they likewise receiving such advantage by the Delays and Interruptions which we have received in the House of Peers as we conceive by the great number of Bishops and Papists notoriously disaffected to the Common Good And do therefore hold our Selves bound in Conscience to declare and protest that we are Innocent of the Blood which is like to be spilt and of the Confusions which may overwhelm this State if this Person be continued in his Charge and do intend to resort to his Majesty in an humble Petition that he will be pleased to afford us his Royal Protection that the Kingdom and our Selves may be preserved from this wicked and dangerous Design and that he will grant Commissions and Instructions as may inable us to defend his Royal Person and his Loyal Subjects from the Cruelty and Rage of the Papists who have long Plotted and Endeavoured to bring in a bloody Change of Religion to the apparent Ruine of the whole Kingdom and if any of your Lordships have the same Apprehensions that we have we hope they will likewise take some Course to make the same known to his Majesty and will further do what appertains to Persons of Honor and Fidelity for the common Good After the reading of this Paper it was moved to adjourn the debate of this Matter till Monday by some that it might be debated presently Hereupon the Question was put Whether the Debate upon this Report shall be put off until Monday next or not and it was resolved to be put off until Monday next Which being done these Lords following did disassent to this Vote and before the putting of the Question did claim their Right to enter their Protestation against it which was as followeth The Protestation In respect the Conference brought up The Protestation of divers Lords against the Vote to put off the debate of the Message concerning the Tower and reported from the House of Commons doth as it thereby declared concern the instant Good and Safety of the King and Kingdoms I do protest against the deferring of the Debate thereof until Monday to the end to discharge my self of any ill Consequence that may happen Lo. Admiral Similiter Lo. Chamberlain E. Pembroke E. Bedford E. Warwick E. Bolingbroke E. Newport Viscount Say and Seal E. Suffolk E. Carlisle E. Holland E. Clare E. Stamford Lo. Wharton Lo. St. Johns Lo. Spencer Lo. North Lo. Kymbolton Lo. Brook Lo. Grey de Werke Lo. Roberts Lo. Howard de Escrick After which upon reading of the Petition of the Lord Bishop of London William Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells and Matthew Lord Bishop of Ely The Bishops of London Ely Bath and Wells released concerning Tenths upon the Poll Bill shewing that they had paied 60 l. apiece for the Poll-Money and deposited other Monies according to a Proportion of the double Tenths of their Bishopricks But because their Bishopricks are freed by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England from paying or accompting for any Tenths It was Ordered by the Lords in Parliament That Mr. Parramour with whom the said Monies were deposited shall forthwith upon sight thereof if he hath so much in his Hands of the Poll-Money and if not then as soon as so much Money shall come in unto him repay unto the said Lords the Bishops their Assigns or Agents all such Sums of Money as he hath received from their Lordships respectively above the 60 l. apiece as is aforesaid In the House of Commons the same Petition from the Merchants c. was read which was preferred to the Lords also upon the Lords refusing to joyn with them to Petition the King for Lunsford's removal they presently came to this Vote Resolved Vote against Colonel Lunsford c. That this House holds Colonel Lunsford unfit to be or continue Lieutenant of the Tower of London as a Person in whom the Commons of England cannot confide in Then Mr. Hollis Mr. Pym Mr. Strode Sir Edmond Montfort Mr. Glyn Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Martin and Sir John Hotham were Ordered to draw Heads for the Conference before recited This Day it was moved that Sir John Berkley might be bailed Sir John Berkley bailed and thereupon Resolved c. That this House doth approve and allow of the Earls of Dorset and Stamford to be Bail for Sir John Berkley a Prisoner in the Tower the principal to be bound in the Sum of 10000 l. the Security in the
Holiness and love of Sin Will work their destruction which now doth begin Their Curbing the Gospel will kill their own growth Go Toll the Bell for them and eke for their Broth. Nor were they who pretended to be Poets on the other side idle but pelted them with Rolands much like the others Olivers I will give the Reader but Two or Three Stanza's of a Litany month January 1641. lest I surfeit him of this sort of Mechanick Wit which yet wanted not Truth From all dissembling Sep'ratists and those That snuffle their unlearned Zeal in Prose As if the way to Heaven was through the Nose Libera nos c. From those that dare work ill in every Season And are so far from Sanctity or Reason They dare believe there 's Piety in Treason Libera nos c. From them which nothing but false Rumors Rear And likewise those which lend such Men an Ear Who publish for a Truth all which they hear Libera nos c. From those indiff'rent Men that know no Guide Who are from their Allegiance so wide That come what will they 'l take the strongest side Libera nos c. But the number of the Malicious and Seditious Pamphlets did far exceed those that had any thing honest in them And how trivial soever such things may appear yet it is incredible what mischief they do and what Impressions they make upon the credulous Vulgar and it may be a piece of Policy not misbecoming the wisest States-men to obviate such Arts as seeming little yet are of such universal dangerous influence upon the lower Ranks of People whose hands act those mischiefs which the more cunning heads of the Faction contrive and I know not any one thing that more hurt the late King then the Paper Bullets of the Press it was the Scandalous and Calumniating Ink of the Faction that from thence blackned him and represented all his Words and Actions to the misguided People who would difficultly have been perswaded to such a horrid Rebellion if they had not been first prepossessed by the Tongues and the Pens of the Faction of strange and monstrous Designs which they said the King and his evil Councellors the Bishops and Malignants who were all by these Pamphlets stiled Papists and Atheists had against their Lives Liberties and Religion But I crave the Reader 's pardon for this seeming digression and now let us pursue our Voyage through this Tempestuous New Year The King that the whole World might see how sollicitous he was in every thing for the deplorable State of Ireland which the Faction were so far from relieving in good earnest that they were angry at the beating up of Drums for Volunteers for that Service issued out his Royal Proclamation for the suppressing of those Rebels as follows By the KING A Proclamation for the suppressing the Rebellion in Ireland Jan. 1. 1641. WHereas divers lewd and wicked Persons have of late risen in Rebellion in Our Kingdom of Ireland surprized divers of Our Forts and Castles possessed themselves thereof surprized some of Our Garrisons possessed themselves of some of Our Magazins and Munition dispossessed many of Our Good and Loyal Subjects of the British Nation and Protestants of their Houses and Lands robbed and spoiled many thousands of Out good Subjects of the British Nation and Protestants of their Goods to great Values Massacred Multitudes of them imprisoned many others and some who have the Honor to serve Vs as privy Counsellors of that Our Kingdom We therefore having taken the same into Our Royal consideration and abhorring the wicked Disloyaity and horrible Acts committed by those Persons do hereby not only declare Out just Indignation thereof but also do declare them and their Adherents and Abettors and all those who shall hereafter joyn with them or commit the like Acts on any of Our good Subjects in that Kingdom to be Rebels and Traitors against Out Royal Person and Enemies to Our Royal Trown of England and Ireland And We do hereby strictly Charge and Command all those Persons who have so presumed to rise in Arms against Vs and Our Royal Authority which We cannot otherwise interpret then Acts of High Rebellion and detestable Disloyalty when therein they spoil and destroy Out good and loyal Subjects of the British Nation and Protestants that they do immediately lay down their Arms and forbear all further Acts of Hostility wherein if they fail We do let them know That We have Authorized Our Iustices of Ireland and other Our Chief Governor or Governors and General or Lieutenant General of Our Army there and do hereby accordingly require and authorize them and every of them to prosecute the said Rebels and Traitors with Fire and Sword as Persons who by their high Dissoyalty against Vs their Lawful and undoubted King and Sovereign have made themfewes unworthy of any Mercy or Favour wherein Our said Iustices or other Chief Governor or Governors and General or Lieutenant General of Our said Army shall be countenanc'd and supported by Vs and by Our powerful Succors of Our good Subjects of England and Scotland that so they may reduce to Obedience those wicked Disturbers of that Peace which by the blessing of God that Kingdom hath so long and so happily injoyed under the Government of Our Royal Father and Vs and this Our Royal Pleasure We do hereby require Our Iustices or other Chief Governor or Governors of that Our Kingdom of Ireland to cause to be publish't and Proclaimed in and throughout Our said Kingdom of Ireland Given under Our Signet at Our Palace at Westminster the first day of January in the Seventeenth Year of Our Reign 1641. God save the King The King at his last being in Scotland Munday January 3. had gained Informations there of the secret Intrigues of the Faction and their Contrivances to promote the Scottish Invasion and Rebellion and that they were Meditaâ—ing the same Course in England And therefore this day the Lord Keeper Signified to the House of Lords That he was commanded by the King to let their Lordships know that his Majesty hath given Mr. Attorney General Command to Acquaint their Lordships with some Particulars from him Hereupon Mr. Attorney standing at the Clerks Table said That the King had Commanded him to tell their Lordships that divers Great and Treasonable Designs and Practices against him and the State have come to his Majesties knowledge for which the King hath given him Command in his Name to Accuse And did Accuse six Persons of High Treason and other High Misdemeanors by delivery of the Articles in Writing which he had in his hand which he received from his Majesty and was Commanded to desire your Lordships to have it read In which Articles the Persons Names and the Heads of the Treason were contained Which Articles were Commanded to be read and were in these words Articles of High Treason and other High Misdemeanors against the Lord Kymbolton Mr. Denzil Hollis Sir Arthur Hasterigg
Soams Alderman Pennington and Mr. Venn do repair to the Common-Council of the City of London when they are sitting and to acquaint them with the Information this House received what Practices have been used to the Inns of Court and those other Informations of the like Nature that have been given to this House of the Preparations of Armed Men about White-Hall and those other Preparations at the Tower And to inform them in what danger the Parliament the Kingdom and the City is in It was also Ordered That Mr. Whittaker Sir Robert Pye and Mr. Pury do presently repair to the House of the Marquess de Neuf-ville and see if his House be furnished with Warlike Ammunition as the House is informed Memorandum Mr. Hollis Mr. Pym Sir Arthur Haslerigg Mr. The 5 Members appearance Entred in the Journal Hampden and Mr. Strode appeared to day according to the Injunction of the House And I find among the Prints of that time a Speech of Mr. Hampden's upon the occasion of his Impeachment which confirms this Memorandum which was as followeth Mr. Speaker IT is a true Saying of the Wise Man That all things happen alike to all Men Mr. Hampden's Speech in Vindication of himself against his Impeachment Jan. 4. 1641. as well to the good Man as to the bad There is no state or condition whatsoever either of Prosperity or Adversity but all sorts of Men are sharers in the same no man can be discerned truly by the outward appearance whether he be a good Subject either to his God his Prince or his Country until he be tryed by the Touchstone of Loyalty Give me leave I beseech you to parallel the Lives of either sort that we may in some measure discern Truth from Falshood and in speaking I shall similize their Lives 1. In Religion towards God 2. In Loyalty and due Subjection to their Soveraign in their Affection towards the Safety of their Country 1. Concerning Religion the best means to discern between the True and False Religion is by searching the Sacred Writings of the Old and New Testament which is of it self pure indited by the Spirit of God and written by Holy Men unspotted in their Lives and Conversations and by this Sacred Word may we prove whether our Religion be of God or no and by looking in this Glass we may discern whether we are in the Right Way or no. And looking into the same I find that by this Truth of God that there is but one God one Christ one Faith one Religion which is the Gospel of Christ and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles In these two Testaments is contained all things necessary to Salvation if that our Religion doth hang upon this Doctrine and no other secondary Means then it is true to which comes nearest the Protestant Religion which we profess as I really and verily believe and consequently that Religion which joyneth with this Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles the Traditions and Inventions of Men Prayers to the Virgin Mary Angels Saints that are Used in the Exercise of their Religion strange and Superstitious Worshipping cringing bowing creeping to the Altar using Pictures Dirges and such like cannot be true but Erroneous nay devillish and all this is used and maintained in the Church of Rome as necessary as the Scripture to Salvation therefore is a false and Erroneous Church both in Doctrine and Discipline and all other Sects and Schisms that leans not only on the Scripture though never so contrary to the Church of Rome is a false worshipping of God and not the true Religion And thus much concerning Religion to discern the truth and falshood thereof 2 I come now Mr. Speaker to the second thing intimated unto you which was how to discern in a state between good Subjects and bad by their Loyalty and due Subjection to their Lawful Sovereign in which I shall under favour observe two things 1. Lawful Subjection to a King in his own Person and the Commands Edicts and Proclamations of the Prince and his Privy Council 2. Lawful Obedience to the Laws Statutes and Ordinances made Enacted by the King and the Lords with the Free Consent of his Great Council of State assembled in Parliament For the First To deny a willing and dutiful Obedience to a Lawful Soveraign and his Privy Council for as Cambden truly saith The Commands of the Lords Privy Councellors and the Edicts of the Prince is all one for they are inseparable the one never without the other either to defend his Royal Person and Kingdoms against the Enemies of the same either publique or private or to defend the Antient Priviledges and Prerogatives of the King pertaining and belonging of Right to his Royal Crown and the maintenance of his Honor and Dignity or to defend and maintain true Religion Established in the Land according to the truth of God is one sign of an Evil and Bad Subject Secondly To yield Obedience to the Commands of a King if against the true Religion against the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of the Land is another sign of an ill Subject Thirdly To resist the Lawful Power of the King to raise Insurrection against the King admit him adverse in his Religion to Conspire against his Sacred Person or any wayes to Rebel thô Commanding things against our Consciences in Exercising Religion or against the Rights and Priviledges of the Subject is an absolute sign of a Disaffected and Trayterous Subject And now having given the Signs of discerning Evil and Disloyal Subjects I shall only give you in a word or two the Signs of discerning which are Loyal and Good Subjects only by turning these Three Signs already shewed on the contrary side 1. He that willingly and chearfully endeavoureth himself to obey his Soveraign's Commands for the Defence of his own Person and Kingdoms for the Defence of True Religion for the Defence of the Laws of his Country is a Loyal and good Subject 2. To deny Obedience to a King commanding any thing against Gods true Worship and Religion against the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of the Land in endeavouring to perform the same is a good Subject 3. Not to resist the Lawful and Royal Power of the King to raise Sedition or Insurrection against his Person or to set Division between the King and his good Subjects by Rebellion although commanding things against Conscience in the Exercise of Religion or against the Rights and Priviledges of the Subject but patiently for the same to undergo his Prince's Displeasure whether it be to his Imprisonment Confiscation of Goods Banishment or any other Punishment whatsoever without Murmuring Grudging or Reviling against his Soveraign or his Proceedings but submitting willingly and chearfully himself and his Cause to Almighty God is the only sign of an Obedient and Loyal Subject I come now to the Second Means to know the difference between a good Subject and a bad by their Obedience to the Laws Statutes and Ordinances made
charged for no less then Treason before I write next doubt not but to have them in the Tower or their Heads from their Shoulders The Sollicitor and Fiennes and Earl we must serve with the same Sauce And in the House of Lords the Lord Mandeville is touched but Essex Warwick Say Brooke and Paget must follow or else we shall not be quiet Falkland and Culpeper are made Friends to our side at least-wise they will do us no hurt The Protestants and Puritans are so divided that we need not fear them the Protestants in great part will join with us or stand Neuters while the Puritan is suppressed if we can bring them under the Protestants will either fall in with us generally or else if they do not they are so indifferent that either by fair or foul means we shall be able to command them The mischievous Londoners and the Apprentices may do us some hurt for the present but we need not much fear them they do nothing Orderly but Tumultuously therefore we doubt not much but to have them under Command after one brunt for our Party is strong in the City especially Holbourn in the new Buildings and Westminster We are afraid of nothing but the Scots appearing again but we have made a Party there at the King's last being there which will hold their hands behind them †The very stile of a Canting Puritan as no doubt he was that forged this Letter while we Act our part at home Let us acquit our selves like Men for our Religion and Country Now or Never The King's heart is Protestant but our Friends can perswade him and make him believe any thing He hates the Puritan Party and is made irreconcilable to that side so that the Sun the Moon and the Seven Stars are for us * * A notorious untruth in fact as to matter of Number There are no less then 20000 Ministers in England the greater half will in their places be our Friends to avenge the Bishops dishonour let our Friends be incouraged the work is more then half done Your Servant R. E. I cannot tell whether it will not appear equally ridiculous as the Letters themselves to indeavour to manifest that this Letter with the inclosed were mere Fictions since it seems they thought little better of them themselves for when these Letters were sent up to the Lords by Sir John Hotham he delivered the Message in these words That he was sent to inform their Lordships of two Letters one sent to Mr. Orlando Bridgman a Member of the House of Commons another written to one Mr. Anderton which they offer to their Lordships to make use of them as they think fit which kind of slight recommendation their Lordships it seems understood so well that they were only read and laid by without further notice taken of them But there was a further use for them for these Letters quickly got into Print and contributed not a little by those cursed Reflexions with which they were stuffed to blacken the Reputation of the King and Queen and confirm the Credulous Multitude in the belief of a great and horrid Plot of the Papists and Episcopal Protestants against the Parliament which was a point absolutely necessary to be gained by the Faction in order to what was now too apparent to all Honest and Loyal Men the carrying on a Plot of the Puritans as they were then called by Rebellion to accomplish the work of Reformation But to put the matter out of dispute having occasion to search among the old musty Papers of that time in the Clerk of the Parliaments Office I found these very Original Letters and being strongly possessed in my imagination that by comparing of hands there being something very particular in the hand that writ those Letters I should find out the cheat I found several Letters written by Sir Anthony Welden with the very exact and distinguishing stroaks and cutting of the Letters so like that written to Mr. Bridgman that I do not in the least doubt but whoever was the Contriver Sir Anthony was the Amanuensis and indeed it suits well enough with such a Kitchin-stuff Courtier as he afterwards proved both by his Actions and the Infamous Libel written by him called The Court of King James The Papers are in my possession if any Persons doubts shall tempt them to disbelieve my positive Opinion in this matter The Commons that they might Rivet themselves into the hearts of the Seditious Rabble who had conducted them and the five Members to Westminster resolved not only to thank them but to indemnifie them too for this Riotous and Tumultuary procedure And therefore first divers Sea Captains Masters of Ships and Marriners were called in to whom Mr. Speaker delivered this by the Command of the House 1. Thanks to the Sea Captains c. That the House did take special notice of the performance of this Service of theirs to this House and to the Common-wealth and gave them thanks for it and desired them to Communicate the same to the rest of the Sea-men and Marriners 2. For the Petition which they delivered to the Committee of this House the other day in London that this House will take it into speedy Consideration as also any other desire of theirs that they shall make to this House Then divers of the Trained Bands of Westminster were called in Thanks to the Trained Bands of Westminster whose Petition being read and Ordered to be Entred Mr. Speaker acquainted them as followeth That this House hath taken notice of the Expression of a great deal of Affection in their Petition unto this House and have Commanded him to give them thanks for it and that this House had never any cause to be Jealous of them and shall make use of them as there shall be occasion The Sheriffs of London were also called in Thanks to the Sheriffs of London c. to whom Mr. Speaker spake as followeth That this House was very sensible of their great care and love and respect to this House and in them to the Common-wealth as also to the Committee of this House that sate in London and for the special Service done this day and hath Commanded him to give them hearty thanks for it and to desire them to return the like to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Thus did they Court the People like Absolom Order Indemnifying the Citizens for Guarding the Parliament indeavouring to steal their hearts from their Sovereign by flattering Speeches with the same intention that he did those of his King and Father and to incourage them to persist in those Tumultuary Courses it was Resolved upon the Question That the Actions of the Citizens of London and others in the guarding and defence of the Parliament or the Priviledges or Members thereof either by the Trained Bands or otherwise are according to their Duties and the late Protestation and the Laws of this Kingdom and that if any Person shall
Counsellors and Loyal Subjects The Lieutenant of the Tower being come Lieutenant of the Tower at the Bar as a Delinquent was brought to the Bar as a Delinquent and the Lord Keeper by direction of the House asked him Why he committed the high Contempt Yesterday in refusing to attend both Houses of Parliament according to the Order served upon him Hereupon he Answered That he was between His Majesties Commands and their Lordships Order but he understanding since that the King's Command is included in their Lordships Order and one in Effect he desired their Lordships Pardon for his not coming Yesterday protesting he did it not out of any Disobedience or Contempt of the Parliament This being done he withdrew and the Lords sent to the Commons to acquaint them That the Lieutenant of the Tower had been at the Bar and the Answer he gave And after some Attendance it was Ordered That the Lieutenant of the Tower shall be dismissed of his Attendance for the present until he have further Order to attend this House The Bishops were also this day Ordered to put in their Answers upon Monday next and this Order was sent to the House of Commons by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page to give them Notice to be present if they think fit The Attorney General was then heard what he could say to justifie himself The Attorney General justifies his proceedings against Kymbolton c. for charging the Lord Kymbolton and the five Members that it was a Parliamentary proceeding and no breach of Priviledges And first he said That for the matter of the Charge and the framing of the Articles he had nothing to do with them neither did His Majesty advise with him therein but the bringing of the Charge into this House which he did by His Majesties Command and only in Obedience thereunto And for the Legality of this proceeding he insisted upon and opened at large the whole proceeding of the King's Attorney in the Earl of Bristol's Case 1 2 Car. which being done The House appointed to take this business into further consideration to morrow The Lord Kymbolton upon His Majesties late Message concerning himself and the five Members moved That since His Majesty waved the former proceeding the House would become Suitors to His Majesty that he may be brought to as speedy a Tryal as may be that so he might not lye under this Accusation but be cleared or judged And truly he could in no sense be blamed for that especially considering that to be well assured of the favour of his Judges must needs give any Person a desire to come to a Tryal where he hopes to be acquitted and is in very little apprehension of a Sentence The Commons having desired liberty to Examine the Attorny General The Commons desire to examin the Attorney General upon certain Interrogatories he made it his humble Request to the House That he may be excused from answering to any Questions to discover what the King hath Committed to him as secret Council where by his Oath he is bound not to reveal but what concerns himself he would willingly and ingeniously Answer unto And it was the sense of the House That if Mr. Attorney at the Conference shall desire not to Answer to some Questions as may be asked him the House will take it into Consideration whether it be fit for him to Answer or not A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Mr. Whitlock That he was Commanded to present to their Lordships a Declaration for putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence which having passed the House of Commons they desired their Lordships to joyn with them therein that it may be dispersed through the Kingdom Which was read as followeth WHereas the Papists and other ill affected Persons within this Kingdom A horrid Calumniating Declaration to put the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence both before and since the Parliament by many Wicked and Traiterous Designs mentioned in a Remonstrance of the State of this Kingdom have Plotted and Laboured the Confusion of this State and Government the Subversion of the Ancient and Fundamental Laws of this Kingdom and a division of the Body of this Common-wealth from the Head thereof to the End they might the better Effect their Devilish and Bloody purposes for the utter destruction of the True Reformed Religion and the Professors of the same and in further pursuance of their wicked indeavours have and daily do contrive all possible means to bring this Kingdom into the like miserable condition of that of Ireland as do clearly appear to the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament by sundry Informations and Examinations produced before them and the better to bring the same to pass here as they have already done in Ireland they secretly and cunningly work to raise disturbance in this Kingdom by high breaches of the Priviledges of Parliament plotting to have some of the Members thereof to be Accused of High Treason and some of them to be taken by Force out of the House of Commons and to that End resorting in great numbers in a Warlike manner to the very Doors of the said House Armed with Swords Pistols and other Weapons ready and intending to fall upon the said House and to have cut the Throats of the Members there as by divers Examinations clearly appears whereby this Parliament might have been Dissolved in Blood and Confusion the relief of the Protestants in Ireland prevenâ—ed and an evident and speedy way opened to the Ruin of us and our Religion here in this Kingdom but failing of their hopes therein through the great Mercy of God towards us nevertheless they still persist in their Wicked and Traiterous Courses Confederating themselves with Strangers and Instigating Foreign Princes to joyn their Councells and Forces and by Invasion from abroad and Intestine Wars here amongst our selves to wast the Wealth and Substance and Totally to Annihilate the True Protestant Religion and the whole Frame of Government in all his Majesties Dominions and building upon that Foundation great Numbers of Soldiers Papists and other dis-affected Persons to our Existence and Well-being have Inrolled themselves in a List under the Command of Persons fit for the Execution of their wicked Designs and have made great preparations of Arms Ammunition and Victuals in several Parts of the Kingdom where they have likewise had frequent Assemblies to consult how they might compass their detestable Machinations and through Malignant Counsels have prevailed so far as to have the Tower of London and other places of Eminent Strength and Trust to be put in the hands of such Persons as we have just cause to suspect will adhere to them and turn the Strength of the Kingdom against it self All which the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled as Watch-men trusted for the good and well-fare of the Kingdom Church and State having taken into their serious Consideration and Labouring by all fit
it Imboldned those to Enter into Actuall Rebellion who if any considerable Force had been sent to Suppress them would difficultly have Exposed themselves and their Posterity to Infamy and Ruin of which for their former Rebellions against the Crown of England their Nation was able to produce so many fatal Instances But all these unhappy Circumstances concurring the generality of the Nation of the Romish Religion became in a little time actually ingaged in the Rebellion and incouraged by their Multitudes and some little Successes they managed their Affairs with that Barbarous Cruelty and Inhumanity as will not only leave an Eternal Infamy upon the Actors but thereby they Treasured up such a stock of Divine Vengeance as afterwards fell upon their own Heads in the most remarkable Retaliations that any Ages had seen or almost any Nation felt But among all their Bloody Actions and Impolitick Policies their contributing to Murder the Reputation of the Best of Princes was certainly one of the greatest of their Crimes and for which they paid the dearest For by giving out such Reports as they did that they were the Queens Army and that they had a Party in England which would assist them the Faction of the two Houses whose Malice was Rampant against the King laid so much force upon these Calumnies that the King to vindicate his Reputation from the Popular Odium of these Reports was obliged to commit a great Power of the Irish Affairs and to intrust much of the War in the hands of the two Houses and to divest himself almost of all Power of shewing them Mercy or granting them Pardon And it is incredible how much Mischief these Reports did to his Majesties Affairs and what deep Impressions these Stories which were only little Artifices to countenance their Rebellion made in the minds of the Common People of England who at that time were prepared to receive without the least doubting whatever was pronounced by the Leaders of the Faction to be true And because it may caution Posterity against such fatal Credulity I will present the Reader with some Papers which have come to my Hands in searching among the wast Papers of the Clerks Office of the Commons House whereby he will be able to see with wonder that so great a Structure of Rebellion should be built upon so narrow a Foundation I know that Fame is a persect inverted Cone or Pyramid which from some small point still the higher it rises the wider it spreads The first Paper is a Letter under Sir Phelim O Neals own hand and the very Original Letter which was sent by the Person to whom it was Written as I suppose to some of the Scotish Nation and by them handed to the Commons House and was in these words Honoured Sir I Have appointed Captain Turlogh O Neale A Letter of Sir Phelim O Neils to Sir William Hamilton with his Forces to go down into your Parts to defend and maintain the Catholick Religion Wherefore I would intreat you if you give us no help as all other Catholicks in England and Ireland do to keep your self quiet at home and to send the said Forces your best advice you shall receive no hurt where I can do my self or you good and so with my Service unto your self and my Honoured Lady of Strabane unto whom I shall be ready to perform any Service In the Power of Phe. O Neill 23th November 1641. I am to be with the Forces of Evagh Monaghan and Cavan to meet our Conaght Lords at Dery very shortly Superscribed For his much Honoured and very Loving Friend Sir Will. Hamilton Knight these with my Service Pass From this one Parenthesis as all the Catholicks of England and Ireland do the Faction improved the Scandal not only to the Ruin of the Reputation of all the Papists in England but by virtue of those words and their Adherents Popishly Affected which always followed at the heels of the Papists they drew in the Bishops and Episcopal Clergy and all the Loyal Nobility and Gentry and Commoners of England into this Drag Net of Scandal and possessed the Vulgar especially of London with a most Unalterable belief that there was the same Design by the Prelates Papists and Evil Councellors of the King to act the same Cruelties against them as the Rebels had done against the miserable Protestants In Ireland and this was one of the greatest Arts by which they raised and supported the insuing Rebellion in which as they grew in strength and success they shook hands so far with all modesty and duty as to reproach even the King himself with these horrible Calumnies and Defamations This following Letter was also Intercepted going to France and brought to the House of Commons Corke this 20th of November Loving Brother A Letter from one Mr. Roche Intercepted going to France YOur last Letter I have received being very glad of your forwardness in your Studies you shall understand that our Mother and all our Friends are in good Health I doubt not but my Cousin James doth Supply your Wants if not certifie me thereof that I may see you Supplyed by another who very willingly will do it I hope your Brother Morris will be one of the first that will go that way and that shortly there be a great number of Irish Catholicks out in Ulster who have taken many Towns and Castles there and daily do increase in Men Their Cause of Rebellion as they say was for fear they should be Troubled for their Religion and to no other intent and if that they can have freely they will put up their Arms and refer themselves to the Parliament here if this they cannot have we are like to have a troublesom time in this Kingdom God send us Peace They call themselves the Queens Army they could never in so short a time have accomplish't what they have done if they had not some great ones to help them which is not discovered as yet God send us not less Liberty then we had and then we shall not need to complain Write to Dominick Coping Esq and give him thanks for the 40 s. ayear he was pleased to give you during your Study though as yet he gave me none yet certifie him of the receipt of so much by my Order and then I shall have it So having no more at this time but my Love to your self my Bedfellow and little Morris remember their Love to you and so I rest Your Loving Brother John Roche Directed A Monsieur Monsieur Jaques de la Roche Estudient Ibernois au College de Raiemes Solit donne A Paris See here the most horrible Scandals afterwards fixed upon the Queen and the King himself by the Calumniating Faction built upon the pitiful Foundation of an as they say and they call themselves the Queens Army and the conjectural Opinion of a private Person that the Rebels as he calls them had some great Ones to help them which the leading Men of
the House of Lords concerning the Earl of Strafford 197. to the Lord Keeper denying to pass a Commission for the Parliaments Commissioners 468. to the Lord Keeper 497. to Mr. Nicholas Shewing his resolution to maintain the Establish'd Religion 683. to both Houses about the Prince 889. Letters by Order of either House of Parliament to Sir Jacob Ashley 228. to the Army 235. to the Lord General 441. 445. 453. to the same concerning Hull 448. to the Sheriffs about Pooll-Money 458. to the Lord Generall about Disbanding 461. to the Lords Justices of Ireland in behalf of Sir George Radcliff 464. to the Commissioners in Scotland 494. to the Lords Justices of Ireland 602. Letters of the Lords Justices of Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant General concerning the Irish Rebellion 514. to the Earl of Ormond to persecute the Rebels 538. to the Lord Keeper and Lord Lieutenant of the great Danger there 624. to the Nobility and Gentry informing the Discovery of the Plot 628. to the Earl of Ormond concerning the same 629. to the Lord Keeper and Lord Lieutenant concerning the condition of the Place 661. to the Parliament about the Dunkirkers 784. to the Privy Council 889. to the House of Commons 892 893. to the Lord Lieutenant 900 901 902 911. to the Speaker of the House of Commons 903. to the Lords of the Pale 906. Letter of the Earl of Strafford to the King desiring him to pass the Bill against himself 190. from Newcastle read in the House of Lords 337. of Mr. Percy to the Earl of Northumberland 286. of Father Philips to Mr. Mountague in France 315. of the Queen of Bohemia of thanks to the Parliament 411. of the Speaker of the House of Lords of Ireland to the House of Lords of England gives offence 417. of the Earl of Holland about Disbanding 457. of the Lord General to the Parliament 469. of the Lord Howard about a Conspiracy in Scotland 488. of Sir William Cole to the Lords Justices just before the Discovery of the Rebellion 519. of the Earl of Strafford concerning the State of the Army in Ireland 537. of Sir Henry Vane to the Lords Justices of Ireland 565. of the Lord Howard to the Lord Keeper 603. 612. those from France and Antwerp stopt 615. of the Earl of St. Albans about Affairs in Ireland 686. of Sir J. Temple concerning the same 7â—1 Letters of a Plot against the House of Commons 836. a conjecture at the Writer 837. Letters to one Mr. Crofts ordered to be opened 847. of Sir Phelim O Neal to Sir William Hamilton 895. of one Roche intercepted 896. of the Inhabitants of Longford to the Lord Dillon 898. of Collonel Monk to the Lord Lieâ—tenant of Ireland 919. Letters from Foraign Parts ordered to be opened 247. 307 523. Licence for Raising men for the Dutch Service 723 724. Lie given to a Peer is a Breach of Priviledge 380. Lilburn Votes in his Favour 211. Bishop of Lincoln gives Offence to the House of Commons 477. List of the Prime Papists desired by the House of Commons to be secured 662. debated by the House of Lords 667. of the principal Irish Rebels 888. Robert and Thomas Little Witnesses for the Earl of Strafford 54. 70. Locumtenens see Custos Regni Sir Adam Loftus a Witness in the Earl of Strafford 's Case 58 61 78. Bishop of London a Witness in the Case of the Earl of Strafford 82. released of Tenths upon the Poll-Bill 780. Londoners Petition against the Earl of Strafford 160. mov'd to lend Money 236. 407. 411. 595. 597. their Controversie with the Lord Mayor about the Election of a Sheriff 318 319. 407. 409. referred 413. 445. determin'd pro hac vice 456. are Mutinous 459. Petition for a Fast 463. and against Bishops Votes c. 733. and for displacing Collonel Lunsford Lieutenant of the Tower 773. Londonderry in Ireland Votes about it 461. Justice Long sent to the Tower for placing a Guard about the Parliament House without their knowledge 732. released 772. William Long a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 54. Longford the Inhabitants there their Letter to the Lord Dillon 898. Lords-day Idoliz'd by the House of Commons 325. 436. 777. Lords House Interpreters of Acts of Parliament in Parliament time 625. Lords sent for by the King not permitted to go by the House of Lords 836. Lorky a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 74. Roger Lott a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 59. Sir Gerard Lowther Articles against him 570. Sir Thomas Lucas a Witness in the Case of the Earl of Strafford 86. M. LOrd Macguire 's Relation of the Irish Rebellion 543. Mac-Mahon his Examination and Confession about the Irish Rebellion 521. Managers of the Cause against the Earl of Strafford 29. deny reasonable time for answer 40. 54. 81. 100. Earl of Manchester 's Manuscript Memoires cited 206 209 272. 427 689. Manifesto of the King about the Palatinate 383. Sir Philip Manwaring a Witness for the Earl of Strafford 78 81. Marches of Wales a Bill about them 394. Mariners a Bill for raising them 236 237. 243. Marshal Ordered to Preach before the House of Commons on the Thanksgiving-day 467. and on the Fast-day for Ireland 756. receives the thanks of the House and a Piece of Plate of 20 l. 775. Maynard appointed a Manager of Evidence against the Earl of Strafford 29. his Speech against the Earl of Strafford upon the first Article 48. one of the Commission to expedite the Charge against the Arch Bishop of Canterbury 265. Lord Mayor of London quells a Tumult about the Spanish Ambassadors House 187. his with the Aldermens c. Petition to the King about his going to the House of Commons 841. Maxwel a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 78. his rudeness why not taken notice of by the House of Commons 195. searches for Priests 651. Bishop of Meath an Account of him 535. Memoirs of the Earl of Manchester cited 206 209 272 427. 689. Memorial of the Venetian Ambassador about breaking open his Pacquet 640. Memorials from the Scotch Commissioners 440. Mr. Audly Mervin 's Speech at exhibiting Articles against Sir Richard Bolton 566. Message of the King to the House of Commons concerning the Tumults disregarded 189. to the House of Lords concerning the same 210. to the House of Commons concerning the Lord Cottington 236. to the House of Lords concerning Disbanding the Army 314 318. to the House of Commons about the Queen Mother 329. to the same concerning the Officers of Star-Chamber 368. and about a Priest of the Venetian Ambassador 394. to the House of Lords concerning Commissions 410. to the same about Soldiers for the Spanish Ambassador 457. to the same concerning Guards 684. to both Houses about the Scots Commissioners and some Priests interceded for by the French Ambassador 719 731. to the House of Lords concerning Voluntiers for Ireland 787 789. to the Lord Major c. of London to suppress Tumults 804. to the House of
for setting aside private Business 686. concerning Books seized by High Commission 690. that Philips be released 691. in Smith and Busby 's Case 716. for reviving the Committee for Scandalous Pamphlets 723. and for License to raise Men for the Dutch ibid. Orders of the House of Commons that no Members visit the Earl of Strafford 8. to inquire into the Militia c. 230. in behalf of Pryn 251. about disbanding the Armies 286 454. 456. concerning the Northern Counties 314. about Members of Committees 319. for afternoon Sermons in all Parochial Churches 383. for absent Members 433. that Mr. Marshal and Dr. Burgess Preach the Thanksgiving Sermon before them 467. about a full House 476. for Match and Bullet for the Parliaments Guard 496. for laying by private business 510. for opening the Irish Letters 523. concerning relief for Ireland and Irish Affairs 601 603 613 622 626 824. concerning the Guard for the Parliament 623. concerning the Second Plot in the Army 653. to discourage Petitioners for Episcopacy 655. for clearing the Kings Honour from the scandal of the Irish Rebels 689. for a Search about a Barrel of Gun-Powder 719. for Printing the Remonstrance 437. for care of Berwick Hull and Newcastle 753. concerning the Navy 787. for a double Watch 794. for a Guard under Major Skippon 833. for Sir John Hotham to keek Hull ibid. for Guards and necessary defence 878. Orders of the Lords Justices of Ireland against the Rebels 908 910. Orders for preventing the spreading of the Plague 478. Ordinance of both Houses for Commissioners to go for Scotland 455. for a Thanksgiving for the Pacification 463. for disarming Recusants 470. against Transporting Soldiers into the Service of Forraign Princes 481. for empow'ring the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise Men 606. for enabling the Master of the Ordnance to deliver Ammunition ibid. authorizing the Lord High Admiral to provide Shipping 607. for securing money borrow'd of the City of London 621. to prohibit the Irish going out of England without Licence 621. upon Beal 's Plot 646. to raise the Trained Bands 653. Earl of Ormond speeds to Dublin with his Troop at Summons of the Lords Justices 629. is made Lieutenant General of the Army in Ireland 904. dislodges the Rebels at Finglass 618. Earl of Orrery 's Answer to P. W. quoted 526. Sir Edward Osborn a Witness for the Earl of Strafford 95. his Warrant for levying Money 98. Overtures for a Treaty with the Irish Rebels 917. Oxford Vniversity their Petition to the Parliament in behalf of Episcopacy 305. Oxfordshire Petition against it 409. P. PAcification between the English and Scots 430 438. Palatinate a debate upon it 328 368. Vote about it 373. the King 's Manifesto upon it 383. A. Palmer a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 90. Captain Palmer accused for a Conspiracy to seduce the Army 232. Jeffery Palmer a manager of Evidence against the Earl of Strafford 29. Sir William Parkhurst a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 91. William Parkins his Speech about Bishop Wren 330. Parliament meets at Westminster 5. perpetuated by an Act 195. their first Ordinance 455. agree to a Recess 464. Order a Guard for themselves 487 Parliament in Ireland their Quaeries to the Judges there 572. their Protestation and Declaration against the Rebellion 898. Parliament in Scotland their resolutions concerning the Irish Rebellion 603. Transactions between them and the English Commissioners 608. Henry Parry a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 74. the Sentence past on him by the Irish Council 76. Sir William Parsons made one of the Lords Justices of Ireland 564. Sir William Pennyman a Witness for the Earl of Strafford 55 86 95. his Warrant to his Serjeant Major to raise Money 93. Alderman Penington informs against the Minister of Grace-Church 773. Mr. Henry Percy accused for a Conspiracy to seduce the Army 232. a Proclamation to stop him 233. Conference about him 245. his Letter to the Earl of Northumberland about it 286. Voted Chargeable with High Treason 443. Expell'd the House of Commons 725. Voted to be impeach'd of High Treason 754. Petition and Act of State about the Oath in Ireland 79. Petition of the Yorkshire Gentry 92. of the Londoners against the Earl of Strafford 160. of the like Rabble against the same 189. of the Earl of Strafford to the House of Lords in behalf of his Children 196. of the Vniversity of Cambridge 239. and of the Vniversity of Oxford for Episcopacy 305. from several Ministers of Wales against Episcopacy 317. of the Ministers and People of Oxfordshire and Berks against the same 409. of both Houses concerning Commissioners for Scotland 451. of Sir George Radcliff 464. of some Merchants for seizing parts of America 467. of the Sectaries against Dr. Heywood Mr. Booth Dr. Fuller and Mr. Hutton 492. of Judge Berkley 498. of the Parliament to the King in Scotland 644. of Rutland for Episcopacy 656. of Officers for pay 660. of the House of Commons to accompany the Remonstrance 692. of Huntingtonshire for Episcopacy 720. of Somersetshire for the same 726. of the factious Londoners against Bishops Votes c. 733. incouraged by the House of Commons 733 735. of the Parliament concerning breach of Privilege by the King's Speech 751. of Hertfordshire 753. of Cheshire for the Establish'd Religion 758 759. of the remonstrating Ministers to the House of Commons 764. of the Irish Lords and Gentlemen 769. of the London Prentices about Church-Government c. 775. of several Merchants concerning Ireland 776. of both Houses about the Kensington Business 786 of the Bishops with their Protestation 794. of the men of Bucks against Malignants c. 834 839. of the trained Bands of Westminster about dangers 839. of the Men of Bucks to the King concerning Hampden 840. of the Lord Mayor c. about the King 's going to the House of Commons 841. of several Merchants and others against Sir John Byron 881. of the Bishops either to be tried or bailed 883. Petition and Advice of the Scots Commissioners to the King 876. Petitioners for Episcopacy discouraged 655. Sir John Pettus Knighted 680. Father Philips the Queens Confessor 310. appears 315. sent to the Tower 594. a Message about him from the House of Commons to the House of Lords 597. an Information against him 599. the Queens Letter concerning him 605. petitions to be released 661. order of the House of Lords about him 691. and of the House of Commons about his Trunk 69â— â—bailed 711. Bishop Pierce see Bishop of Bath Lord Pierepoint ordered to the Black Rod for Words 740. petitions to the House of Lords and is released 742. Sir William Pierepoint his Speech at the Impeachment of Sir Robert Berkeley 332. William Pierson a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 94. Place for Trial of the Earl of Strafford agreed by both Houses 28. Plague in London 463. Orders to prevent its spreading 478. Plate a Motion that it be brought in and coin'd 259. Plymouth Bill past 410.
Plot against Mr. Pym by way of Plaister 496. of one Beal a Taylor 646. Plot in Army 653. against the House of Commons 836. against some Lord 843. Pluralities a Bill against them 257 a Proviso for Chaplains c. 496. Poll Bill the Rates 293. a Record concerning it 324. past the House of Lords 325. and the King 327. Poll Money an Order concerning it 458. Captain Pollard committed on suspition of Treason 288. bailed 324 voted to have his Pay 477. voted guilty of Misprision of Treason and expell'd the House of Commons 725. Earl of Portland 's Defence against the Commons who would remove him from his Government of the Isle of Wight 655. Ports ordered to be stopt 232. Portsmouth Garrison Money ordered for it 449. Order of the House of Commons for its security 845. Marmaduke Potter a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 54. Sir Herbert Price sent to the Tower for bringing in Candles without Order 272. discharged 288. Priest of the Venetian Ambassador Imprisoned 394. Priests and Jesuites ordered to be Apprehended 647. Priests Condemn'd interceded for by the French Ambassador 719 731. Vote of the House of Commons that they be Executed 732 740. Prince see Charles Printer Imprison'd for an Elegy on the Earl of Strafford 246. bailed 324. Printing of the Orders of the House of Commons when first 390. Priviledge broken by giving the Lye to a Peer 380. by the Kings Speech 739. and by his coming to the House of Commons to demand the 5 Members 822. Proclamation of the Earl of Strafford concerning the Importation and Sale of Tobacco 66. Proclamation to bring in Mr. Percy c. 233. for disbanding the Horse 429. for establishing Religion 730. for absent Members to attend 736. against Tumults 786. for suppressing the Irish Rebellion 809. Proclamation of the Lords Justices of Ireland for stopping the Rebellion 522. for satisfaction of the Lords and Gentlemen of the English Parliament 631. for strangers to depart Dublin 637 638. against the Calumny of the Rebels acting by the Kings Commission 638. forbidding Soldiers to return to England 918. Proposition concerning Ecclesiastical Affairs presented to the House of Commons 301. ten Propositions of the House of Commons to be presented to the King upon his going for Scotland 310. debated 317 373. five new heads added 394. Propositions of the Scots Commissioners and the Answer of the English Commissioners for concluding the Peace 421. of the House of Commons to the Scots Commissioners for the Kings stay Fourteen days 433. of the French Ambassador for Soldiers 436. of the Scots Commissioners upon the difficulties of marching their Army home 438. of the House of Commons to the House of Lords about the Irish Rebellion 524. several invidious Propositions of the House of Commons at a Conference 737. Propositions of the Scots Commissioners about assistance for Ireland 742 762 778 782 799. of the House of Commons about the Irish Parliament 768. of the House of Lords to the House of Commons about the Scotch assistance for Ireland 768. briskly answer'd by the House of Commons 771. Protections complained of by the Londoners 509 646. Votes of the Committee upon it 510. Case of Mr. Benson about it 595. Votes about it 596. Protestation of Secresu required by the House of Commons of their Members 11. a Protestation ordered to be printed and sent into all Counties 229. Direction for taking it ibid. taken by some Recusant Lords 237. Jesuitically explain'd by the Presbyterian Commons 241. A Bill for imposing it rejected by the House of Lords 414. imposed on the Tower Guards 466. Protestation of six Lords against publishing the Order about Tumults 483. of both Houses concerning the breach of Privilege by the Kings Speech 750. of divers Lords against putting off the Debate of the Tower 779. of the Bishops 794. of the Lords dissenting to the Vote about the Lieutenant of the Tower 882. of the Irish Parliament against the Rebellion 898. Pryn ordered to be restored to Lincolns-Inn 251. Public Faith a Bill for it 437. Pury an Alderman of Glocester his Speech against Deans and Chapters 289. Sir Robert Pye a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 39. Pym moves for a Grand Committee about Irish Affairs 5. one of the Committee to prepare a charge against the Earl of Strafford 7. impeaches him in the House of Lords ibid. delivers the Articles against him 8. his Speech upon that occasion 9. carries up Articles of further Impeachment 11. appointed a manager of Evidence against him 29. his Speech at the Trial 30. his Reply to the Earl of Strafford 's defence 47. his Speech at summing up the Evidence 145. his Speeches ordered to be Printed 237. Order to stop a Suit against him 393. his Report of what had been done during the Recess 488. a Plot against him 496. his Speech at the Conference for excluding the Bishops from voting in the case of the thirteen Impeach'd 500. his Speech concerning evil Councellors 619. Impeached of High-Treason 811. Q QUaerie's put to the Judges about matters in Parliament 374. Quaeries proposed by the Irish Parliament to the Judges there 572 575 584. Queen present at the Trial of the Earl of Strafford 29. a Conference about her Journey to the Spaw 390. Reasons against it 391. a Message to her about it 392. her answer 393. her Message to the House of Commons about it 405. answer to their thanks 406. her answer about the Capuchins 448. complemented by the Commissioners of both Houses for Scotland 452. her Answer 456. Message to her about the Prince 597. her Answer ibid. her Answer concerning Fa. Philips 605. Information of a design to seize her c. 781. Queen Mother a Conference of both Houses about her 237 247. Tumults about her ibid. a Message concerning her 329. Mr. Quelch Minister of St. Bennet Grace-Church inform'd against by Alderman Penington 776. bailed 884. Grand Question concerning Bishops Votes in Capital causes an Abstract of it 503. R. RAbble Tumult about the Spanish Embassadors house 187. stop the Lord High Steward 188. post up the conscientious Members under the name of Straffordians Ibid. They Petition against him 189. Raby the Title of Baron of it conferred on Sir Tho. Wentworth 3. Sir George Radcliff impeach'd by the House of Commons 8. has liberty to take the Air 412. his Petition to the House of Lords 464. Articles against him by the House of Commons of Ireland 570. Rails about the Communion Table pull'd down by the Sectaries 271 322 389. trouble about them 491. Railton a Witness for the Earl of Strafford 54. Lord Ranulagh a Witness in the Case of the Earl of Strafford 36 57 59 83. 70 71. Rebellion see Irish Reasons of the Lords for Bishops voting in Parliament 259. answered by the House of Commons 260. Reasons against the Queens Journey to the Spaw 391. against the King's Journey to Scotland 430. of the House of Commons for sitting on the Lord's Day 436. of the King for not signing
bind us to it Wherefore Master Whitlock my humble Motion is That we may draw up a short and round Manifesto to wait upon and affirm the Kings Declaration to be still managed by Advice of Parliament which will be safe for our selves more powerful and effectual for the Prince Elector I cannot tell what the present Age thought of it and account it one of the greatest blessings of Heaven that I was not then capable of thinking but certainly Posterity will see by this Speech a most notorious and manifest Collusion in these People who notwithstanding all the glorious pretences and zeal for this deplorable Family in which the Honour and Interest of the King and Nation were by their own Confession so deeply concerned yet never intended any more assistance to this distressed Protestant Prince then a few good and great words which was a cheap way and still reserving to themselves a starting hole to assist the King in this Affair only so long as he would follow their advice Mr. Hide Reports the Results upon the Bill for abolishing Episcopacy whereupon it was Resolved Votes concerning the Bill for abolishing Episcopacy c. That all the Lands Possessions and Rights of the Deans Deans and Chapters shall be committed to the hands of Feoffees to be nominated by this Bill Resolved c. That the Lands and Possessions of the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of England and Wales except Impropriations and Advousons shall by this Bill be given to the King Resolved c. That the Impropriations and Advousons belonging to the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of England and Wales shall be committed to the hands of Feoffees in the same manner as the Lands of Deans and Chapters are appointed to be And because the Prelates and Papists were to be coupled together in the Opinions of these People both in Guilt and Sufferings it was by Vote Reselved Vote against Papists c. That the Committe of 48 propound to the Select Committee of the Lords that no Papist hereafter may have the keeping of any Castle Fort Chase Forrest Park or Walk within England or Wales and that such as are in possession of such Castles c. As aforesaid may be outed thereof according to Law Post Meridiem It was Ordered by the Commons Order about Mr. Randal a Minister formerly ordered to Bedlam That one Mr. Randal a Ministerâ— now in the Goal at Ailesbury in the County of Bucks for words spoken against the Honour of this House who was by a former Order appointed to be removed from thence to Bedlam it is now Ordered that the said Mr. Randal shall be discharged and set at liberty presently upon the sight hereof The further Debate upon Mr. Saturday July 10. Further Votes about the Bill for abolishing Episcopacy Hide 's Report about the Bill for abolishing Episcopacy was this day reassumed whereupon it was Resolved c. That a competent Maintenance shall be allowed out of the Lands and Possessions of the Cathedral Churches for the support of a fit number of Preaching Ministers for the Service of every such Church and a proportionable allowance for the Reparation of the said Churches Resolved c. That such Ecclesiastical Power as shall be Exercised for the Government of the Church shall be transferred by this Act unto the hands of Commissioners to be named by this Act. The further consideration of this matter to be referred till Monday 9 of the Clock Bill for Tonnage and Poundage being passed Mr. Solicitor was ordered to carry it up to the Lords and to move their Lordships that the Royal Assent may be had with as much speed as may be and to move the Lords to expedite the Bill against Pluralities and for disarming Recusants This day Thomas Pain the Attorney Breach of Priviledge giving the Lye to a Peer that gave the ill Language to the Earl of Thannet who charged the said Pain with some Words which were reported to be spoken by him he told the said Earl That it was False and a Lye divers times together which being proved upon Oath it was Ordered That the said Pain be committed to the Custody of the Gentleman-Vsher for the present and this House will take the misdemeanor into further consideration Report of the Conference about the Ten Heads The Earl of Bristol reported the effect of the last meeting with the Select Committee of both Houses concerning the 10 Heads and delivered some Queries and Propositions which the House of Commons made viz. Whether the Colledge of Capuchins at Somerset-House should be sent away out of this Kingdom for they are conceived to be busie Men in giving Intelligence to Forreign States and the House of Commons are induced to believe so because they understand That the Letters of the Capuchins which were Imported and Exported in one Week came to 3 l. 10 s. the Carriage Next they conceive That there are some things contained in the Articles of Treaty of Marriage with France which are contrary to Law Concerning the Education of the Prince they said they would consult further of it Concerning Licenses granted to Recusants They desire His Majesty may be moved that none may be granted hereafter Concerning the removing of the Popish Recusant Ladies from the Court they say they mentioned no particulars but spoke in the General Concerning Pensions They desire that the King may be moved That no Papist beyond the Seas may have any Pension Touching that which concerns the Queen they conceive they have had no full answer yet Concerning their Explanation who are Active Papists they mean those Recusants that are Rich and have most Power in the Countries where they Live as well Peers as others which they desire may be disarmed according to Law Concerning the Popes Nuncio they say the House of Commons are preparing a Bill Concerning the Lord Lieutenants and Deputy Lieutenants considering the State of this Kingdom as it now stands the House of Commons desires they may be such Persons as both Houses approve of and that they may be enabled the more for the defence of this Kingdom there will be a Course taken for Supplying them with Monies out of the Subsidies and the House of Commons desires that the King may be moved to let them have such Powder out of His Majesties Stores as may be spared and they will pay after the Rate of ten Pence per Pound for it as soon as they can get money and further to move His Majesty that the Arms which have been taken from the several Counties may be restored to them and if His Majesty can spare any Arms out of His Store they will buy them to furnish these Southern parts The new Bill for Tonnage and Poundage being read the Third time in the Lords House and being put to the Question Another Bill for Tonnage and Poundag passed the Lords House An Order of the Lords for Relief of a Feme-Covert and her Children against a Husband refusing to