THE Secret History OF K. JAMES I. AND K. CHARLES I. Compleating the Reigns OF THE Four last Monarchs By the Author of the Secret History of K. Charles II. and K. James II. Printed in the Year 1690. THE PREFACE THO' we ought not rashly to rake into the Ashes of Princes and expose either their Personal Miscarriages or their Failures in Management of the Government yet no doubt but the making them Publick may sometimes contribute not a little to the General Good This is evident from the Effects of our Secret History of the Two last Monarchs since by it the most wilfully Blind may be convinced how infinitely Happy we are under their present Majesty's Government beyond what we were in the late Reigns which were but a very inconsiderable matter if any thing below the French Tyranny and by setting the unparallel'd Vertues that are so Resplendent in our Gracious Soveraigns in opposition to those Ignominious Vices that reigned in the Other we may with all the reason in the World assure our selves of a lasting Peace and as much Happiness under Them Now as we had Troubles and Confusions under the Former For Their Religion Integrity and Moderation which must always be in conjunction with Princes that are truly Patres Patriae are as Notorious to the World so that Their greatest Enemies cannot deny them as were the Atheism and furious Bigottism of the Two former Reigns Vices much of the same pernicious Consequences to a Kingdom if the latter be not the more dangerous since the greatest Villanies that ever were perpetrated in the World have been Masqued with seeming Zeal for Religion But since there are not a few who tho' they seem to decry the Tyrannies of the Two late Kings yet approve of much the same Actions of the Two that Preceded Them One of whom some Men have Vainly if not Blasphemously compared to the King of Kings I thought it not amiss to Communicate a few Passages of Their Reigns that do not so commonly occur especially since they laid the Foundations of that Tyranny which the Others brought to so great a Perfection As to the former of Them viz. K. James I. it will easily appear from this following History what great steps He made towards Tyranny It is certain That the reason He gave for setting up Episcopacy in Scotland was That He might have so many Friends to rely upon in Parliament i. e. That by them as the Dead-Weight He might the better carry on His Designs there And herein His Politicks did not deceive Him for by their Means He and his Successors found it no hard matter to reduce that Kingdom to as great Slavery as any Europe hath groaned under of late Years How great a Proficient He was in the Art of Dissimulation or King-Craft will be no less apparent I shall only insert one Instance of it Here which I omitted in the History especially because I think it may not be ungrateful to the Reader viz. That after His return from Denmark to Scotland seeming mightily satisfied with the Care the Kirk-Party had taken to preserve the Kingdom in Peace during his Absence He was pleased to express himself thus in a general Assembly That He blest God that He was Born at sike a Time of the Gospel and to be King of sike a Kirk the purest Kirk in the World The Kirk of Geneva says He keep Yeul and Pasch What have they from the Word of God for that And for our Neighbour Kirk of England What is their Service but an ill said Mass in English And concluded with the Solemnest Promises to Maintain Preserve the Kirk when in the mean while He was taking all underhand Methods to Supplant it as He did a few Years after And as to His Successor tho' a Kalender'd Saint yet after all the lying Insinuations of Self-designing and ridden Persons of that Princes singular Religion that very Act of Instituting Plays and Sports on the Lord's-Day is no extraordinary Proof of it Nay it would be as easie to perswade a Person of any Religion to believe that the Alcharon is the Word of God as that a Prince of any Religion could be guilty of so Irreligious an Act as that was But I will not weary the Reader 's Patience with a large Preface since the very Subject of the following History will recommend it self sufficiently to the Perusal of all Lovers of ouâ— English Liberties THE Secret History c. QUEEN Elizabeth of Glorious and Happy Memory Dying the 24th of March 1602 about Three in the Morning to the great grief of all Her loving Subjects in general About Nine in the Morning of the same day was Proclaimed King James by the Name of JAMES the First And now many post into Scotland for to get Preferment by â—urchasing Friends with their Purses Gold and Silver being a precious Commodity in that Climate and would obtain any thing which did â—rocure Suits Honours and Offices â—o any that first came And now all Preparations was made to meet the KING in York that he might in that Northern Metropolis appear like a King of England and take that State on him there which was not known in Scotland There met Him all the Lords of the Council and there did they all make Court to the Scotch-Men that were most in Favour with the King and there did the Scotch Courtiers lay the first Foundation of their English Fortunes the chief of them was Sir George Hewme a kind of Favorite but not such as after appeared with young Faces and smooth Chins but one that for his Wisdom and Gravity had been in some Secret Counsels with his Master which created that dearness between them and the chief of those Secrets was that of Gowry's Conspiracy though that Nation gave little credit to the Story but would speak both slightly and despitefully of it and those the Wisest of that Nation knowing indeed there was no such Conspiracy yet that the World might be still abused they continued to Mock Almighty GOD by a Weekly Commemoration in the Tuesday's Sermon and an Anniversary-Feast as great as it was possible for the Kings Preservation ever on the Fifth of August And I wish the effects of those Sermons in the Father's time were not one cause of God's Anger towards the Son Sir Robert Cecil by the means of Sir George Hewme the Favorite contrary to most Peoples expectations not only gets into the Favour of King James but in such dearness and privacy with the King as if he had been his Faithful Servant for many Years his Friends Wit or Wealth did not raise him so much as some believ'd as the ill Offices done by him to this Nation in discovering the Nature of the People and shewing the King the way how to enhance his Prerogative so above the Laws that he might Enslave the Nation which though it took well then yet it hath been of sad and dangerous consequence in after-times for first he caused great
c. yet he did beggar Himself and the Nation in general But they that lived at Court and were curious Observers of every Mans Actions could have then affirmed That Salisbury Suffolk and Northampton and their Friends did get more than the whole Nation of Scotland Dunbar excepted for what-ever others got they spent here only Dunbar laid a Foundation of a great Family To take off the Subjects Eyes from observing the Indulgency used by K. James in behalf of the Papists whom though he had no cause to Love he thought he found reason enough to Fear a Quarrel was revived now almost asleep because it had long escaped Persecution the Bellows of Schisme with a People stiled Puritans who meeting no nearer a definition than the Name all the conscientious Men in the Nation shared the Contempt neither was any charged with it though in the best relation thought competent for Preserment in Church or State which made the Bad glory in their Impiety Court-Sermons were fraught with bitter Invectives against these People whom they seated in a Class far nearer the Confines of Hell than Papists And to avoid the very Imputation of Puritanism a greater rub in the way of Preferment than Vice our Divines for the generality did Sacrifice more time to Bacchus than Minerva and for their ordinary Studies they were School Points and Passionate Expressions as more conversant with the F than the Fathers scoffing in their ordinary Discourse at Luther and Calvin but especially at the last so as a certain Bishop thank'd God he never though a good Poet himself had read a Line in him or Chaucer The same used this simile at Court That our Religion like the Kings-Arms stood between Two Beasts the Puritans and Papists Nor did the Extravagancy of many of the Episcopal Clergy add a little to the Rent much augmented by the Scotish Propensity to Presbytery nor did the often and sudden Translation of Bishops from less to greater Sees give time to visit sufficiently their respective Charges being more intent upon the Receipt of such Taxes as a long abused custom had estated them in than upon Reformation The Court-Sermons informing His Majesty He might as Christ's Vicegerent command all and that the People if they denied him Supplement or enquired after the disposure of it were Presumptuous Peepers into the Sacred Ark of the State not to be done but under the severest Curse though it appeared likely to fall thro' the falshood or folly of those at the Helm But on the contrary other qualified Preachers did fulminate against Non-Residency Profanation of the Lords-Day Connivance at Popery Persecution of God's People c. Now by this time the Nation grew Feeble and over-opprest with Impositions Monopolies Aids Privy-Seals Concealments Pretermitted Customs c. besides all Forfeitures upon Penal Statutes with a multitude of more Tricks to cheat the Subject the most if not all unheard of in Q. Elizabeth's days all spent on Favorites and other Fooleries True it is all Kings cast-away Money the Day of their Enthronement but King James did it all his Life In this place my Memory presents me with Sir Robert Cecil after Earl of Salisbury famed for a grand Seducer of the King by perswading him This Nation was so Rich it could neither be Exhausted nor Provoked a Saying generally laid to his Charge yet contradicted in this Practice of his for the Earl of Somerset being in the flower of his Favour had got a peremptory Warrant to the Treasurer for 20000 l. who in this his Executive Prudence finding that not only the Exchecquer but the Indies themselves would in time want Fluency to feed so immense a Prodigality and not without reason apprehending the King as Ignorant in the value of what was demanded as the desert of the Person that begged it and knowing a Pound upon the Scotch Account would not pay for the Shooing of an Horse he layed the fore-mentioned Sum upon the ground in a Room through which the King was to pass who amazed at the quantity asked the Treasurer whose Money it was who answered Yours before your Majesty gave it away whereupon the King fell into a Passion protesting he was abused and never intended any such Gift and casting himself upon the heap scrabled out the quantity oâ— Two or Three Hundred Pounds anâ— â—wore he should have no more The palpable Partiality that descended from the Father to the Scots did estate the whole Love of the English on his Son Henry whom they engaged by so much Expectation as it may be doubted whether it ever lay â—n the Power of any Prince meerly Human to bring so much Felicity inâ—o a Nation as they did all his Life promise to themselves at the Death of King James The Government of the Princes House was with much Discreâ—ion Modesty Sobriety and which was looked upon as too great an upâ—raiding the contrary Proceedings of his Father in an high reverence to Piety not Swearing himself or keeping any that did through which he came to be advanced beyond an ordinary measure in the Affections of the City to whom he was not only Plauâ—ible in his Carriage but Just in Payments so far as his Credit out-reached â—he Kings both in the Exchange and the Church in which the Son could not take so much Felicity as the Father did Discontent to find all the Worth he imagined in himself wholly lost in the hopes the People had of this Young Gentleman From whence Kings may be concluded far more unhappy than ordinary Men for tho' whil'st Children are Young they may afford them safety yet when arrived at that Age which useth to bring Comfort to other Parents they produce only Jealousies and Fears And if common Fame did not outstrip Truth King James was by Fear led into great Extreams finding his Son Henry not only averse to any Popish Match but saluted by the Puritans as one prefigured in the Apocalyps for Rome's Destruction insinuating as if the Prince was not kindly dealt withal at his Death but it is so common with Report to rate the Sickness or Death of Princes at the price of Poyson as I should quite have omitted this conjecture or left it wholly to the decision of the great Tribunal was it not certain that his Father did dread him and that the King though he would not deny him any thing he plainly desired yet it appeared rather the result of Fear and outward Complyance than Love and Natural Affection being harder drawn to confer an Honour or Pardon in cases of Desert upon a Retainer to the Prince than a Stranger From whence might be calculated a Malignity conceived in his Heart against the Splendor of his Sons Retinue One day he was called to a remarkable Observation of his Sons Grandeur by Archee his Jester on the Plains about New-Market when He and the Prince parted few being left with the Father and those mean Persons which drew Tears from him One Reason King James was so poorly followed
It was the Opinion of those Times that the Elector might have sped better had he not Matched with England whose King was so timerous as he â—uffered all to Perish for want of seasonable supply that relied upon his Power for had his Consort been of weaker Alliance he had refused the Crown of Bohemia when it was offered or upon acceptance been more Cordially assisted by his fellow Princes already wearied by the Emperours Oppressions no less than terrified by an expectation of worse It was generally thought and that not without good reason That Prince Henry gave the first incouragement to the Prince Elector to attempt his Sister desiring more to Head an Army in Germany than he durst make shew of and would no doubt have been bravely followed That his thoughts flew high hundreds of his Servants could witness together with the Love he seemed to bear his Sister before his Brother Charles whom he would often Taunt till he made him Weep telling him He should be â— Bishop a Gown being fittest to hide hiâ— Legs subject in his Childhood to be Crooked Nor did all this put together lengthen his Life in the desires of many Besides Sir Walter Rawleigh did mediate his Favour by a Discourse he sent him proving no War could be so necessary or advantageous for England as one with Spain alledging many Reasons and Examples as well out of the Practice of Queen Elizabeth as his own Experience no Prince else then being able to pay for or bear the Expence of a Royal Navy which once in a Year he would without question accomplish by our intercepting some or most of the Plate-Fleet all Nations besides at that time being but Sea-Pedlars Wherefore if Philip the Second cut off his own hopeful and only Son Charles for but pittying the People of Flanders it can be no wonder He should promote the destruction of a Stranger that did so far applaud the advice of Rawleigh as to say No King but his Father would keep such a Bird in a Cage But to leave this to the Faith of Posterity the Actions of Kings being written in such dark Characters and relating to so many several ends as they are not easily deciphered I shall return to the German Affairs towards which had England contributed proportionably to the Head of a Union it may be presumed from the King of Sweeden's Success who had at the begining no such advantages to rely on that the Eclipsing if not the Ruine of the House of Austria had not been adjourned to so long a day And he that shall turn over the Adviso's of those Times may without danger or much trouble find what Opinion the Germans had of Us and in how great a dismay it cast their Proceedings when the smallness of the Lord Vere's Forces were known but when they read a Commission only enabling him to do nothing they apprehended themselves some out of Malice Betrayed others that knew the temper of King James better were so Charitable as to impute it to the true Cause which was his Fear upon whose Altar he was not only ready to Sacrifice his present Honour and future Safety but the Blood of those he stiles in all his Manifesto's His dearest Children For after his Daughter and the Elector were Crowned King and Queen of Bohemia they lost together with this Shadow all her Substance and what he was for so many Descents Born to the Palatinate at the Battle of Prague where few blows were dealt on the Electors side reported to be so Mad as to think the Souldier would venture his Life in a Cause where he to whom it most concerned was afraid to venture his Money It being then too late to spare when Honour and Fortune lay at the Stake By which this miserable Prince did not only lose what he might possibly have gained but most of the Wealth he desired to save The Earl of Portland Lord Treasurer was sent by King James when they looked for an Army to Mediate a Peace By whose help though a Roman Catholick the Elector and his Lady found means though with much difficulty to Escape to the Hague with their new assumed empty Titles having nothing else to support them but Patience and Hope the only and ordinary Comfort of those deprived of all help besides yet it was gerally reported by the Roman Catholicks That Portland was too far engaged to their Party to be the Author of so ungrateful a Service But this being his first Employment no less than a desire in the Pope to see the Power of the Emperour moderated who began to Incroach upon the pretended Immunities of the Church he might probably take this advantage to render his Embassy the more acceptable upon his return to the People of England if not to the King Persons of their Quality falling seldom by the Sword and therefore thought perhaps better Thrift to maintain them at Liberty than in Restraint or Redeem them at such a Ransom as a Victorious Prince might Impose to the Payment of which his Majesty was engaged in Honour and Nature However I am more charitable than to conclude all Papists imployed by this King so dishonest as to falsiâ—ie their Trust for if that followed as a necessary consequence God help this poor Nation that had before then and long after few Commissioned in any affair of Importance but such as were that way affected or wholly indifferent It being the intent of Providence to use his help it may be as he did of Pharoah's Daughter to preserve this Vertuous Lady out of danger whose Misfortunes kindled such a Fire in Germany as before it was extinguished lick'd up the choicest Blood in the Austrian Family some one or other prosecuting the like Attempt amongst whom was Count Mansfield that had little else than his own Fortune and Valour to carry him so far as he went but what he punctually did or promised to do was at too great a distance to be certainly known more than could be Learned from the Eccho it made at Court which sounded diversly according to the Inclinations and hollowness of their Hearts that made the Reverberation This is certain That Mansfield was in appearance well received at Court but how King James could like a Man that laboured to bring in so Anti-Monarchial a Precedent as to struggle for Liberty with his Native Prince I cannot but question who himself daily inculcate into the People through the Mediation of his Divines and by the Terror of his Laws That no other Refuge was left in any saving Experiment during the unjustest and most cruel Tyranny but Prayers and Tears a Tenet if he had believed himself or thought such as owned either Prudence or Power did he would doubtless have Governed much better or if possible abused the Nation and debauched his Succession much worse Yet to give a countenance to a Business he had so shamefully disparaged before he sent for the Count over in one of his Royal Ships which was cast away
of Buckingham was designed Admiral who going to Portsmouth in order to hastening of Business one John Felton a Lieutenant Stabbed him to the Heart with a Knife Felton after he had committed the Fact did not Fly but voluntary acknowledged he was the Person and being asked What inclined him to commit so Barbarous an Act he boldly answered He Killed him for the Cause of God and his Country The Parliament was to have met in October but by reason of some ill News during this Expedition they were Adjourned to January 20. In which time the Merchants refusing to pay Custom had their Goods seized Complaint thereof being made to the Parliament the King Summons the Two Houses to the Banqueting-House at White-Hall and requires them to Pass the promised Bill of Tonnage and Poundage for ending all Differences since it was too precious a Jewel of the Crown to be so lightly forgone But the Commons answered That God's Cause was to be prefered before the King 's and that they would therefore in the first place consult about Religion And therefore they appointed one Committee for Religion and another for Civil Matters In the last was a Complaint about the Customs and the Farmers of the Customs were Challenged but the King excused them as acting by His Command Yet this being not clear to the Parliament they would have proceeded against them as Delinquents Whereupon the King sent them word That in Honour he could not nor would give way thereunto which so incensed the Parliament that they Adjourned themselves for some Days and then Meeting again the King Adjourned them till March 10. The Commons inraged thereat blamed their Speaker for admitting the Message and ordered Sir J. Elliot to draw up their Remonstrance which was in very high terms about the Tonnage and Poundage The Commons having prepared their Remonstrance about the Bill of Tonnage and Poundage they required their Speaker to put it to the Vote whether it should be Presented to the King or not but the Speaker refused it and according to the King's Order would have gone away but Mr. Hollis would not suffer him to stir till himself had read the Protestation of the House consisting of Three Heads I. Whosoever shall bring in any Innovation of Religion or by Favour seek to introduce Popery or Arminianism or other Opinions disagreeing to the Orthodox Church shall be reputed a Capital Enemy to this Kingdom and Common-Wealth II. Whosoever shall Counsel or Advise the Taking or Levying the Subsidies of Tonnage and Poundage without being granted by Parliament or shall be an Actor or Instrument therein shall be likewise reputed a Capital Enemy to the Common-Wealth III. If any shall yield voluntary or Pay the same not being granted by Parliament he shall be reputed a Betraver of the Liberties of England and an Enemy to the Common-Wealth These were so much disliked by the King that he immediately sent for the Serjeant of Mace out of the House of Commons but Sir M. Hobart took the Key from him and locking the Door would not suffer him to go forth At which the King being very much offended sends the Usher of the Black-Rod to Dissolve Them who was not admitted in Whereupon the King with his Guard of Pensioners were resolved to force their Entrance which the Commons having notice of they suddenly went all out of the House And this was the End of this Parliament After their Dissolution the King Published a Declaration setting forth the Cause thereof notwithstanding which it procured great Animosities in the People against the Prime Ministers of State which occasioned divers Libels to be dispersed abroad whereof one against Bishop Laud was found in the Dean of St. Paul's Yard to this effect Laud look to thy self to be sure thy Life is sought as thou art the Fountain of Wickedness Repent of thy Monstrous Sin before thou be taken out of the World And assure thy self that neither God nor the World can endure such a vile Whisperer and Councellor Some considering the unsuccessfulness of This and the Two former Parliaments advised the King never to Call any more And to that end the famous Book of Projects was Published and Addrest to the King proposing some Methods to prevent the Impertinency of Parliaments as he called them from time to time by the Example of Lewis XI of France who pretending that the Commons or Third part did encroach too much on the Nobility and Clergy Dissolved it and never after suffered the People freely to Elect their Representatives but nominated certain Eminent Persons himself instead thereof which is called L' Assembly des Notabiles or the Assembly of the Chief or Principal Men. Upon May 29. 1630. the Queen was Delivered of a Son at St. James's who was Christened Charles who afterwards Succeeded his Father in these Kingdoms by the Name of CHARLES the Second In the Year 1633. and the Ninth of His Majesty's Reign the King made a Journey into Scotland and was Solemnly Crowned at Edinborough June 18. And then the King Calls a Parliament and passed an Act for the Ratification of the Old Acts. In this Scotish Parliament that Nation shewed some sign of Disaffection to the King And the generality of the Common People would not suffer the Bishop of Dumblaine Dean of the King 's private Chapple there to perform Prayers twice a day after the English manner Neither durst they receive the Communion on their Knees nor wear a Surplice upon Sundays and Holy-Days In the Year 1634. the design of Ship-Money was first set on foot and Attorney-General Noy being consulted about it he pretends out of some Old Records to find an Ancient Precedent of raising a Tax on the Nation by the Authority of the King alone for setting out a Navy in case of Danger which was thereupon put in Execution And by this Tax the King raised by Writ above Twenty Thousand Pounds per Month though not without great Discontent both among the Clergy and Laiety The Discontent in Scotland began farther to increase and a Book was Published charging the King with indirect Proceedings in the last Parliament and a tendency to the Romish Belief And now to blow up these Scotch Sparks to a Flame Cardinal Richlieu sent over his Chaplain and another Gentleman to heighten their Discontents The Author of that Book was Seized and found to be abetted by the Lord Balmerino who was thereupon Arraigned by his Peers and Sentenced to Death but Pardoned by the King The latter end of the Year 1635. great Differences arose about Church Matters chiefly occasioned by Arch-Bishop Laud's strict and zealous enjoyning Ceremonies as placing the Communion-Table at the East-end of the Church upon an Ascent with Rails Altar-fashion with many other things not formerly insisted on and now vehemently opposed by those who were formerly called Puritans and Non-Conformists which caused them to be charged with Faction Yet some of the Episcopal Party asserted That the Communion-Table ought to stand in
the House of Commons Voted That the Clergy in a Synod or Convocation have no Power to make Canons or Laws without Parliaments and that the Canons are against the Fundamental Laws of this Realm the King's Prerogative and the Property of the Subject the Right of Parliaments and tend to Faction and Sedition In pursuance hereof a Charge was ordered to be drawn up against Arch-Bishop Laud as the Principal Framer of those Canons and other Delinquencies which Impeachment was Seconded by another from the Scotch Commissioners Upon which he was Committed to the Black-Rod and Ten Weeks after Voted Guilty of High-Treason and sent to the Tower The Scots likewise preferred a Charge against the Earl of Strafford then in Custody requiring Justice against them both as the great Incendiaries and Disturbers both of Church and State The Lord-Keeper Finch was the next Person designed to be Censured and notwithstanding a Speech made in his own Vindication He was Voted a Traytor upon several Accounts But he fore-saw the Storm and went over into Holland Upon Monday March 26. 1640 the Earl of Strafford's Tryal began in Westminster-Hall the King Queen and Prince being present and the Commons being there likewise as a Committee at the managing their Accusation The Earl of Strafford though he had but short Warning yet made a Noble Defence The Accusation was managed by Mr. Pym consisting of Twenty eight Articles to most of which the Earl made particular Replies But the Commons were resolved to Prosecute him to Death and had therefore not only procured the Parliament of Ireland to Prosecute him there as Guilty of High-Treason but resolved to proceed against him by Bill of Attainder which they proceeded to dispatch And April 19. 1641. they Voted the Earl Guilty of High-Treason upon the Evidence of Secretary Vane and his Notes And upon the 25th they passed the Bill and sent it to the Lords for their Concurrence who a few Days after likewise agreed to it The Bill being finished and the K. fearing the Conclusion and being willing to do some good Office to the Earl His Majesty May 1. 1641 Calls both Honses together and in a Speech tells them That he had been present at the Hearing that great Cause and that in his Conscience possitively he could not Condemn him of High-Treason and yet could not clear him of Misdemeanours but hoped a way might be found out to Satisfie Justice and their Fears without oppressing his Conscience And so dismissed them to their great Discontent Which was propogated so far that May 3. were One thousand Citizens most of them Armed came thronging down to Westminster crying out for Justice against the Earl of Strafford The Commons had now finished a Bill for the Continuance of the Parliament which having passed the Lords was tendred to the King to be Signed together with the Bill for the Attainder of the E. of Strafford His Majesty Answered That on Monday following He would Satisfie them and on the Sunday the King spent the whole Day with the Judges and Bishops in Consulting The Judges told him That in Point of Law according to the Oath made by Sir Henry Vane he was Guilty of Treason The Bishops all agreed That the King might shew Mercy without Scruple and that he could not Condemn the Earl if he did not think him Guilty This was to matter of Fact but as to matter of Law He was to rest in the Opinion of the Judges Monday May 10. the King gives Commission to several Lords to Pass two Bills One The Bill of Attainder against the Earl of Strafford The Other Fâ—r continuing the Parliament during the pleasure of both Houses Which last Act was occasioned for Satisfying the Scots The next Day the King being troubled about the Earl writes a Letter to the House of Lords telling them That whereas Justice had been satisfied in his Condemnation an intermixture of Mercy would not now be unseasonable and therefore He desired them that if it might be done without any Discontent to the People the Earl might be permitted to fulfil the Natural Course of his Life in close Imprisonment Sequestred from all Publick Affairs provided he never attempted to make an Escape However He thought it a Work of Charity to Reprieve him till Saturday But nothing could be Obtained in Favour of him The Fall of this Powerful Man so startled other great Officers of State that several Resigned their Places July 5. A Charge was brought into the House of Commons against Dr. Wren Bishop of Ely being Accused of Treasonable Misdemeanours in his Diocess August 6. Both the English and Scotch Armies were Disbanded and Four Days after the King went towards Scotland and was Entertained with great Demonstrations of Affection by that Nation and Conferred several Places of Honour and Power upon divers of them He Confirmed likewise the Treaty between the Two Nations by Act of Parliament October 23 1641. A Horrid and Notorious Rebellion broke out in Ireland which was in divers Places managed with such Secresie that it was not Discovered at Dublin till the Night before it was to be put in Execution but in most other Places of the Kingdom it was carried on with such Fury That two hundred thousand English Men Women and Children were in a short Space barbarously Murdered The Irish to Dishearten the English from any Resistance bragged That the Queen was with their Army That the King would come amongst them also and Assist them That they did but maintain His Cause against the Puritans That they had the King's Com-Commission for what they did The Lords Justices sent Sir H. Spotswood to the King then in Scotland with an Account of all that happened He dispatched Sir J. Stuart with Instructions to the Lords of the Privy-Council in Ireland and to carry all the Money his present Stores would supply He likewise sent an Express to the Parliament of England as being near for their Assistance but they excused it And indeed the Irish pretended that the Scots were in Confederacy with them and to seem to Confirm it they abstained for some time from destroying the Estates or Murdering any of that Nation And on the other-side to Encourage the Irish they produced pretended Letters wherein they said They were Informed from England That the Parliament had passed an Act that all the Irish should be Compelled to the Protestant Worship and for the First Offence in refusing to Forfeit all their Goods for the Second their Estates and for the Third their Lives And besides this they presented them with the Hopes of Liberty That the English Yoak should be shaken off That they should have a King of their own Nation and that then all the Goods and Estates of the English should be divided amongst them With these Motives of Spoil and Liberty which were strengthned by the Former of Religion the Rebellion was carried on throughout the whole Kingdom The King being returned out of Scotland December 2d Summoned both Houses