abroad to prosecute his Petition in that Parliament he could neither Go See nor Hear This Dismal Story will be an Eternal Blot not only on Laud who was the chief Instrument in that sad Oppression but also upon the pretended Martyr King Charles for permitting such Barbarous and inhumane Cruelties to be exercised on his Subjects I shall shew you something moâ—e of this Bloody Villains Barbarity viz. That upon the first of February 1632. Laud procured Mr. Prin to be sent close Prisoner to the Tower there he lay till the 21 st of June 1633. when an Information without mentioning any particular Passages in his Book was exhibited against him in the Star Chamber Court for Publishing a Book concerning Interludes intitled Histriomastix which was Licensed by a Chaplain of Dr. Abbatts Archbishop of Canterbury Upon the 17 th of February 1633. notwithstanding his Book was Licensed yet he had this heavy Sentence passed upon him viz. To be Imprisoned for Life pay Five Thousand Pounds Fine be Expelled Lincolns-Inn Disabled to Exercise the Prosession of a Barrister Degraded by the University of Oxford of his Degrees there taken and that done to be set in the Pillory at Westminster and have one of his Ears there cut off and at another time to be set in the Pillory in Cheap-side and there to have his other Ear cut off Though many of the Lords never dreamt of the Execution of this Horrid Judgment nay though Queen Henrietta Maria which deserves an Honourable Mention and she shall have it for She was the present King 's Royal Grandmother earnestly interceded with the Biggotted Cruel and Merciless King who was an abominable T to remit its Execution yet on the 7th and 10 th of May it was fully Executed with great Rigour and Mr. Prin remain'd Sundry Tears in the Tower upon this censure Mr. Burton and Dr. Bastwrick were also without the least just cause violently prosecuted after the same manner it will be too tedious to relate theirs and others unchristian uses when Tyranny and Arbitrary Power were Rampant 23. That against the Law of Nature against the Rules of Justice falsely charged those Innocent Men the Noble Lord Mandeville Mr. Hollis Mr. Strode and others with Treason for which in the Face of the Highest Judicature in the Kingdom they were most unjustly Imprisoned the King denying them the Names of their Accusers and which was an Act of Tyranny beyond Parrallel He accused them and yet would produce no Witness he confessed them clear in his own Judgment yet they must not profess their own Innocency for fear of wounding his Honour 24. That was not satisfied with Imprisoning and Oppressing some of the Parliament Men but tempted and incouraged his English Army with no less than the Spoil of the City of London to come up and destroy the Parliament He in an Hostile and inexcusable manner made a most high Invasion upon the Priviledges of both Houses Hereupon many Citizens unarm'd resorted to Westminster to present their Petitions and express their stedfastness to the Parliament whose Lives and Safety by more than slight Rumours they doubted to be in Danger the King having fortified White-Hall and entertained Armed Men not a few planted them at the Gate of his Palace 'T is remarkable the first Blood that was drawn in this Cause was in that very place where the King 's own Blood was afterwards shed 1 K. 21. 19. where they Reviled Menaced and with drawn Swords actually Wounded many of the Citizens as they passed by in a peaceable manner whereof some dyed Nay they went farther and were come to that height of Boldness as to give out Insolent and Menacing Speeches against the Parliament it self and to imbrue their hands in the Blood of the King's Subjects in Westminster-Hall and at the Doors of the Parliament as well as at his own Gate And when the Parliament and People complain'd and demanded Justice for those Assaults the King justified and abetted his own Crew in what they did Nor can the passing by of a multitude of the King's Subjects armed with no other Weapons then Petitions be justly call'd Tumults neither could the Parliament have forbid them without the Breach of the Peoples Freedom Unarmed Petitioners surely could not be formidable to any and it must not be forgotten that a very short time before His Majesty pretended to dread these Tumultuary Citizens the City Entertained Feasted and Conducted him to White-Hall with as pompous Sollemnity and costly Expressions of Love and Duty as ever had been known Nay after he had highly exasperated the People by his Irruption with the House of Commons he went in his Coach unguarded into the City He received not the lest Affront much less Violence in any of the Streets but rather humble Demeanours and Supplications He knew the People so full of Awe and Reverence to his Person as to commit himself single amongst the thickest of them at a time when had most provoked them This shews beyond doubt That all his fear of Tumults was but a meer pretence and occasions taken for his resolved Absence from the Parliament that he might turn his slashing at the Court Gate to slaughtering in the Field In order thereunto the King retires first to Hampton Court commanding his Servants who were then Members of Parliament to leave their service there and to give their Attendance upon his Person Soon after his Popish Queen passes into Holland carrying with her all or the the greatest part of the Crown Jewels which she immediately Pawn'd and with the Money bought Arms and Ammunition for the War which was not yet begun Upon the 1 st of March 1641. Both Houses called upon His Majesty by their Petition presented at Theobalds That for the Dispatch of the great Affairs of the Kingdom the safety of his Person the Protection and Comfort of his Subjects he would be pleased to continue his abode near the Parliament and not to with-draw himself to any of the remoter Parts which if he should do must needs be a cause of great danger and distraction and they pray'd him to accept this humble Counsel as the Effect of that Duty and Allegiance which they ow'd unto him and which would not suffer them to admit of any thoughts intentions or endeavours but such as were necessary and advantagious for His Majesties Greatness and Honour and the Safety and Prosperity of the Kingdom These are Expressions surely that did not in the least savour of that Sedition and Rebellion with which our wicked Clergymen charge the Memory of this Great and Noble Parliament The King willingly giving himself up to the Conduct of Evil Counsellors was deaf to the importunate supplication of the Lords and Commons for his Return they therefore called again upon him more earnestly and sent after him a Declaration to New-Market by the Earls of Pembrook and Holland and a Committee of the Commons wherein they laid before him the Causes of their own Fears and Jealousies
French Commanding Pennington to use all Force even to sinking in case of Refusal Hereupon Pennington put his Ship into the Absolute Power of the French King and Commanded the rest to do so But the honest Sea-men refused to be slaves to the French and fight against the Protestant Religion till forced by Shots But Sir Ferdinando Gerges to his Eternal Honour brought away the Neptune with Detestation of the Action All the English Men and Boys except one Gunner who was slain in Charging a piece of Ordnance according to his defect declined the Service and quitted the Ships refusing to serve against the Rochellers In September following these seven Ships were actually imployed against the Rochellers almost to their utter ruin The French boasted that the Vantguard mow'd the Hereticks down like Grass by these wicked means were these good People wholly lost They held the Town till the Year 1628. but were reduced to incredible Misery having lived long upon Horse Flesh Hides Leather Doggs and Cats c. There were but Four Thousand lest of Fifteen Thousand Souls many dyed with Famine and they usually carried their Coffins into the Church-yard and there laid themselves and Dyed A Sad Story that ought never to be forgotten in the History of Our Blessed Martyr's Reign as wickedly call'd 7. That in Civil Matters took his Peoples Goods from them against their Wills and their Liberties against the Laws that pluck'd up the Root of all Property that acted almost like the Turks who send their Janizaries and place their Halbards at the Door and then are Masters of all for in the very beginning of his Reign he levied twelve thousand Soldiers contrary to Law and then required the Country to furnish the charge of Coal and conduct Money 8. That appointed Commissioners to Try Condemn and Execute those he unjustly call'd Delinquents by Martial Law directly against the Laws of the Land and some were Executed thereby 9. That struct directly at the Property of the Subject's Goods by issuing out Commissions contrary to many Laws for Raising Money by way of Loan and the Commissioners were ordered to certify to the Council Board the Names of all Refractery Persons particularly he Demanded One Hundred Thousand Pounds of the City of London and upon their Refusal he threatned them saying He would frame his Councils as appartained to a King 10. That against all Law required the Londoners to set forth Twenty Ships Manned and Victualed for three Months against which the Mayor Aldermen and Common Council Petition but to no purpose Being answered That Petitions and Pleadings were not to be received and that the Precedents of formers Times were Obedience not Direction The Deputy Lieutenants and Justices of the Peace of Dorsetshire being Commanded to set forth Ships insisted That the Case was without President for which they were severely checked and told that State Occasions were not to be guided by Ordinary Presidents Those Persons of Quality that refused to subscribe to the Loan were turned out of the Commission of the Peace and Lieutenancy Sir Peter Hayman upon his refusal of the Loan was commanded against his Will to go upon the King's Service beyond the Seas others of meaner Rank were either bound to appear before the Leiutenancy of the Tower to be Enrold for Soldiers for Denmark or were impressed to serve in the King's Ships Sir Randolph Crew the then Learned Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Declaring against the Loan and not giving Judgment that the King might Imprison during Pleasure was turned out and Sir Nicholas Hide put in his Room who presently complyed with the King Sir Thomas Darnell Sir John Corbet Sir Walter Earl Sir John Hevingham Sir Edward Hamden five of the Gentlemen Imprisoned for Refusing the Loan brought their Habeas Corpus in Michaelmas Term in the third year of his Reign The Warden of the Fleet made his Return that they were detained in his Custody by the special command of King and Sir Robert Heath then Attorney Generral justified this sort of Imprisonment though no special Cause was assign'd and the Lord Chief Justice Hide who was made on purpose for it did singly give Judgment for remanding the Gentlemen to perpetual Imprisonment 11. That Billotted Soldiers many of which were Papists upon whom he pleased for Punishments these Soldiers committed so many Disorders mastered the People and disturbed the Peace that there was a General Out-cry against them many being undone by them Yet this was not redressed 12. That in the year 1627. Issued a Commission under the Great Seal to several Temporal Lords with Neal and Laud Bishops of Winchester and Bath and Wells and others to Raise Money by way of Excise and to enforce the Payment and which is very probable to awe the Parliament which was to Assemble the 17 th of March He 13. Upon the 13 th day of January 1627. sent a private Seal to the Lord Treasurer to this Effect We command you forthwith to pay to Philip Burlemark Merchant Thirty Thousand Pounds to be paid by him over by Bill of Exchange into the Low Countrys and Germany unto Sir William Balfoure and John Dolbier Esq who was a Papist for Levying and Providing certain Numbers of Horse with Arms for Horse and Foot to be brought over into this Kingdom for our Service c. Burlemark being afterwards call'd into the House of Commons and examin'd about this matter Declared That he received the Thirty Phousand Pounds That one Thousand Horse were levied and these Horses and their Riders were to come over and Arms were to be provided for them in Holland but heard a Countermand was gone to stay them 14. That caused Mr. Chambers a Merchant to be fined two thousand Pounds to be committed to the Fleet until he made his Submission for saying That the Merchants in no part of the World are scrued and wrung as in England and that in Turkey they have more Encouragement 15. That Oppressed and Imprison'd all Rank or Order of Men viz. The Earl of Bristol was two Years confined without being charged with any Accusation or brought to Tryal or permitted to Answer for himself for offering to accuse the Duke of Buckingham He Committed the Earl of Arrundel to the Tower in time of Parliament without expressing any cause of his Commitment which was a manifest violation of the Privileges of the House of Peers and though the Lords presented a Remonstrance yet this Lord was long detained Prisoner 16. That sent a threatning Message to the House of Commons That if he had not a timely Supply he would betake himself to New Councils Which could only mean the putting an End to the use of Parliaments That at another time said to the Lords and Commons Remember that Parliaments are altogether in my Power therefore as I find the fruits of them Good or Evil they are to continue or not to be 17. His shameful betraying the poor Protestants in the Palatinate and using the Money given
Archbishop of Canterbury was most justly Beheaded The House of Commons having proof that he had a great Hand in all the Arbitrary Proceedings and Dealings with Rome December 18 th 1640. they Voted him to be a Traytor and Mr. Hollis was sent to the Lords to Accuse him of High-Treason which he did immediately assuring the Lords that in convenient time there should be a charge put in against him to make Good the Accusation desiring that he might be sequestred from the House and Committed which was forthwith done by the Lords The Articles wherewith he was charged consist of these Heads c. 1. For that he had Treacherously endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws and Government of the Kingdom of England and instead thereof to Introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law 2. That he had laboured to Overthrow the Authority of Parliaments and the Force of the Laws of the Kingdom of England 3. That he had laboured to corrupt and pervert the Ministers of Justice 4. That he himself had corruptly bought and sold Justice in his Seat 5. That he had put a New Book of Cannons in Execution against Law Vide 2 Vol. 2 d. Part of Rushworth's Hist Collect. Fol. 1365. sequent 6. That he had Traytorously assumed to himself a Papal and Tyrannical Power both in Ecclesiastical and Temporal Matters 7. That he had laboured to subvert the Protestant Religion and instead thereof to set up Popish Superstition and Idolatry 8. That he had prefer'd notorious Papist to Places of Dignity 9. That he had chosen to himself a Chaplain Popishly affected 10. That he had kept Confederacy and Intelligence with Popish Priests and Jesuits 11. That he had cruelly persecuted Godly Ministers 12. That he had laboured to make Divisions and Discord between us and other Churches 13. That he had stir'd up War and Enmity between his Majesties two Kingdoms of England and Scotland 14. That he had Slandered and Incensed His Majesty against Parliaments 15. That he had laboured to slander Parliaments with the Nick Name of Puritans and commended the Papists for harmless and peaceable Subjects 16. That he had Traytorously indeavoured to advance the Power of the Council Table the Cannons of the Church and the King's Prerogative above the Laws and Statutes of the Realm 17. That he had Wittingly and Willingly Harboured Countenanced and Relieved divers Popish Priests and Jesuits and particularly one call'd Santa Clara alias Damport a dangerous Person and Franciscan Fryar and did also provide Maintenance and Entertainment for one Monsieur St. Gyles a Popish Priest at Oxford knowing him to be a Popish Priest 18. That he had threatningly said there must be a Blow given to the Church such as had not been yet given before it could be brought to Conformity 19. That he punished divers Ministers in Prosecution of the last Cannons made by himself 20. That he had wickedly and malitiously Advised His Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament and presently after it was Dissolved told His Majesty That then he was absolved from all Rules of Government and left free to use all extraordinary Ways for his Supply These were the chief Heads of the Charge against that Proud Popish and Arbitrary Prelate for which he was sent Prisoner to the Tower After some close Inquiries and Examinations taken from the Informations of the late Lord Deputy of Ireland it was sufficiently known that the Archbishop was the Conduite Pipe through which the Popish Party made the pernicious Seed of Division run so smoothly that he was the Wicked Instrument they made use of to stir up the Division between the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland and between the Protestants of the Church of England and the Presbyterians These heavy charges being made good against this Bishop and he most righteously executed for these his notorious Evil Actions Why are most of our Clergy and some of our Laity so wicked as to vindicate him and without the least Reason or shaddow of Truth cry him up for a Blessed Martyr that had violated all the Laws of the Land and was so great a Cause of most of the Miseries of England That to prevent the Peoples being too Religious advised and highly promoted the Declaration of Sports on the Lord's Day a time so odious in the sight of any thing of a Christian that it ought never to be forgotten 21. That after he had compleatly acted the part of a great Tyrant and thereby had justly lost the general Love Esteem and Affection of the best Protestants of the three Kingdoms He willingly consented that Bishop Gauden Bishop Duppa c. should compose a Book and call it His Portraiture or Picture and this Book the King was to own as his that it was composed by him when God knows he had neither so much Piety nor Capacity as that Work re-required though as a Noble Peer lately said Let that Book be Written by the King or by any body else there is little in it that deserves Esteem The design of this Book was three-fold the first was By the Lies thereby to justifie the King 's Arbitrary and Illegal Actions secondly Heavily to load the People of England with Rebellion c. for standing up for the legal Liberties and Properties belonging to them though absolutely forced thereunto to prevent the Inundation of Misery and Popish Slavery that the King and his wicked Court Favourites were then bringing on the three Kingdoms thirdly The cunning drift of the Factious and Defeated Party design'd to make the same Advantage of his Book as they did before of his Regal Name and Authority and intended it not only for a Defence of the King 's former Actions but also for promoting their own future Designs As for the Book who ever is the real Author has no occasion to value himself for that Work two things being with the greatest ease to be prov'd upon him First That he is a most Notorious Lyer both as to his Assertions of the King's Innocency of those sad matters justly laid to his Charge and also of his many unjust Accusations of the People of England and secondly That he was a Thief and had so much Piety as to have recourse to the famous Sir Philip Sydney's Arcadia a Romance in the time of his Troubles and from thence to steal the Prayer of Pamelia to an Heathen Diety being under Imprisonment not finding a suitable Form in the Liturgy Psalms of David or any other places of the sacred Scripture And that the Reader may be satisfied of the Truth of this Piece of Thievery I have thought fit to Print both Prayers in Collums one against the other That of Pamelias may be found in Pembrook's Arcadia p. 248. 13 Edit Printed 1674. That of King Charles I's is call'd a Prayer in time of Captivity Printed in a Great Folio call'd the Works of King Charles and also in his Eicon Basilike The King's Prayer O Powerful O Eternal God to whom nothing
himself oblig'd to promise him that Bishoprick tho' when it became Void gave it to an other 1. There is Letter from Sir Edward Nicholas Secretary of State to Dr. Gauden dated January 1660 wrote by the King's Command intimating the King had received his Letter and that he should not have Cause to complain of his removal from Bocking 2. In the Bishops Letter to Chancellor Hide dated 28. December 1661 and his Petition to the King the Bishop sets forth That he had an high Rack The Bishoprick of Exeter but Empty Manger and declares what hazards he had run of Life and Estate and what great Advantage had accrued to the Crown by his Service That what he had done was for Comforting and incouraging of the King's Friends Exposing his Enemies and converting c. He pleads that what was done like a King should have a King-like Retribution and Instances in the Cases of Joseph Mordecai and Daniel who were Honoured and Rewarded for the Service they did to the Respective Princes tho' as he observes they were Captives in a strange Land 3. The Bishops Letter to the Duke of York dated the 17th of January 1661 Strongly urges the great Services he had done and Importunately Begs his Royal Highness to intercede for him with the King 4. There is an Original Letter from the Lord Chancellor Hide all of his own hand writing to the Bishop of Exeter dated 13 th of March 1661 importing that the Chancellor had received several Letters from him That he was uneasy under the Bishop's Importunity excuses his not being yet able to serve him Speaks of annexing a Commendum to his Bishoprick and towards the close it hath this remarkable Expression The Particular you mention has indeed been imparted to me as a Secret I am sorry I ever knew it and When it ceases to be a Secret it will please none but Mr. Milton This is Subscribed Edw. Hide C. 5. Mrs. Gauden after the Death of the Bishop writes to her Son Mr. John Gauden That she had sent him an Hogshead of Cyder and Orders some Pictures to be sent her by the same Man In this Letter she speaks of the Book commonly call'd the Kings she calls it the Jewel and tells her Son that her Husband hoped to make a Fortune by it and wonders it should be doubted whether her Husband wrote it but says She has a Letter of a very Great Man 's that will clear it up 6. There is also a long Narrative of Mrs. Gauden's Hand-writing shewing that her Husband wrote the Book This she sent to her Son with the Letter wherein she said She had sent it that she might be a Clavis to him The Narrative sets forth That after her Husband had wrote the Book He shewed it to the Lord Capel who approved it and was for the printing of it but wished the King might have a Sight of it That an Opportunity was taken to Convey it to his Majesty by the Lord Marquiss of Hertford when He went to the Treaty at the Isle of Wight That the Marquiss after his Return from thence told her Husband that he gave the Book to the King and his Majesty did not like it but was for putting it out not as his own but another's But it being Urged That CROMWEL and others of the Army having got a great Reputation with the People for Parts and Piety it would do best to be in the King's Name His Majesty took time to consider of it That the Marquiss told her Husband He knew not what was become of the Papers and said God knows what will become of the King That her Husband not hearing the King's pleasure about it and finding Danger hastening on him he having kept a Copy by him sent it by one Mr. Symmonds a persecuted Minister to the Press together with a Letter That Mr. Royston was the Painter but did not know but the King wrote it That part of it was seized in the Press together with her Husband's Letter and Mr. Symmonds was taken Nevertherless the Work was carried on and finished a few days after his Majesty's death That when it was published the Parliament was Enraged and her Husband conceiving his Life and Estate to be in danger fled to Sir John Wennworth's near Yarmouth intending thence to pass the Seas But Mr. Symmonds falling sick and dying soon after not having been Examin'd and it not being discovered that her Husband was concern'd in it the Letter which had been taken having no Name to it he altered his purpose and returned home That there was an Epistle at first intended That the first Title was Suspisia Regalia but changed to Eicon Basilice and that there were two Chapters added That the Marquiss of Hertford the Lord Capel Bishop Duppa and Bishop Morley were at first the only Persons privy to it That after the King's Restoration Dr. Morley told her Husband That his Merit was such that he could Ask nothing but he could receive it That Duppa Bishop of Winchester being very sick her Husband went to the King and acquainted him that He was the Author of the Book and for the Truth thereof appealed to Bishop Duppa his Majesty's Tutor who was yet living and made an Apology for printing it without his Majesty's Father's Order or his but pleaded the Circumstances of Time and the King's danger That His Majesty told her Husband That till then He never knew that he wrote it but thought it was his Father's yet wondred how he could have time And observed That it was wrote like a Scholar as well as like a King and said that if it had been published sooner it might have saved his Fathers Life That at the same time the King gave him a Promise of the Bishoprick of Winchester That when he afterwards acquainted the Duke of York That he was the Author of that Book yet went under his Father's Name the Duke answered He thought his Father Wrote it That her Husband then told his Highness that the King had promised him the Bishoprick of Winchester and that his Highness assured him of his Favour That Bishop Duppa dying her Husband apply'd to the King upon his Promise but Dr. Morley who had told her Husband that he might have what he would ask got it and her Husband was made Bishop of Worcester but having enjoy'd it but about half a Year fell Sick and Dyed That She Petitioned the King setting forth That her Husband left her a Widdow with four Sons and a Daughter That it cost her Husband 200 l. to remove from Exeter to Worcester and pray'd his Majesty to bestow the half Years Rents upon her which he denied and gave them to another Reader take Notice This is the Substance tho' not perhaps the Express Words of Mrs. Gaudens Papers and it could be wished that the Papers themselves were made Publick then this short account would be fully justified I cannot dismish this matter without admiring the remarkable Providence of God
it is well known that Con being a Jesuit might Lye for the Holy Church If I had time and that this Book would not be too large I could produce very many more instances of King Charles his Tyrannical Oppressing his Subjects of England Scotland and Ireland I shall end this Melancholly Story with the Heads of the many Articles of Mis-government of that Prince viz. His taking Buckingham Laud and many more Evil Counsellors into the highest Favour and being Govern'd by them His Popish Match and Private Articles in favour of Popery His receiving a Letter from the Pope and sending him an Answer calling him most Holy Father c. His Pardoning 20 Popish Priests c. pursuant to the Private Articles of Marriage His most unchristian like Betraying the Isle of Rhee and Rochell a sad Story His plucking up the Root of all Property by taking the Peoples Goods against their Wills and their Liberties against Law His giving Commissions to Try and Execute his Subject by Martial Law His Raising Money by Loans against Law His requiring London and other places to set out Ships for him at their own Charge His Billotting Soldiers many of which were Papists on his poor Subjects His giving Commissions to several Lords to raise Money by way of Excise His ordering his Treasurer to pay 30000 l. to buy a large number of German Horse with Arms both for Horse and Foot to be brought to England against the Parliament His causing Mr. Chambars a Merchant to be fin'd 2000 l. for complaining of the hard Usage the Merchants of England had His oppressing and Imprisoning all Ranks and Orders of Men Unjustly His threatning the House of Commons if they would not give Money His shameful betraying the Palatinate and keeping the Charity of England from them His having without doubt a great Hand in the wicked Irish Rebellion His large Demonstration of his Piety by ordering a Declaration of Sports on the Lord's Day His giving Wicked Arbitrary and Tyrannical Orders Instructions and Commissions to the Earl of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and endeavoured to save him from the Parliaments Just and necessary Prosecution His suffering the Bishops Gauden and Duppa to compose a lying Book call'd Eicon Basilice and to put it out in his Name the better to justify his evil Actions against his People His causing the Star-Chamber and High Commission Courts to be made use of to the great Grievance of the People of England His falsely charging with Treason and unjustly imprisoning the Lord Mandevil Mr. Hollis Mr. Strode and many others and would produce no Witness against them His Tempting and Incouraging his English and Irish Armies to come and Destroy the Parliament His dealing most Basely and Treacherously with the Parliament whilst Treating at Uxbridge His having a hand in the untimely Deaths of King James the First and Prince Henry His being an Exorbitant and Outragious Tyrant upon the People of England Murder will Out OR THE KING'S LETTER JUSTIFYING THE MARQUESS of ANTRIM And declaring That what he did in the Irish Rebellion was by Direction from his Royal Father and Mother and for the Service of the Crown Be astonished O ye Heavens at this and be ye horribly afraid be ye very desolate saith the Lord Jer. 2. 12. For there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed nor any thing hid which shall not be known or come abroad Mat. 10. 26. London Printed 1698. IRELAND Aug. 22 d. 1663. Ever Honoured Sir LAST Thursday we came to Tryal with my Lord Marquess of Antrim but according to my Fears which you always surmised to be in vain he was by the King 's Extraordinary and Peremptory LETTER of Favour restored to his Estate as an Innocent Papist We proved Eight Qualifications in the Act of Settlement against him the least of which made him uncapable of being restored as Innocent We proved 1. That he was to have a hand in surprizing the Castle of Dublin in the Year 1641. 2. That he was of the Rebels party before the 15th of September 1643. which we made appear by his hourly and frequent intercourse with Renny O Moore and many others being himself the most notorious of the said Rebels 3. That he entred into the Roman Catholick Confederacy before the Peace in 1643. 4. That he constantly adheard to the Nunctio's Party in opposition to His Majesty's Authority 5. That he sat from time to time in the Supream Council of Kilkenny 6. That he signed that execrable Oath of Association 7. That he was Commissionated and acted as Lieutenant General from the said Assembly at Kilkenny 8. That he declared by several Letters of his own Penning himself in Conjunction with Owen Ro Oneale and a constant Opposer to the several Peaces made by the Lord Leiutenant with the Irish We were seven Hours by the Clock in proving our Evidence against him but at last the King's Letter being opened and read in Court Rainsford one of the Commissioners to us That the King's Letter on his behalf was Evidence without Exception and thereupon declared him to be an Innocent Papist This Cause Sir hath though many Reflections have passed upon the Commissioners before more startled the judgments of all Men than all the Tryals since the beginning of their sitting and it is very strange and wonderful to all of the Long Robe that the King should give such a Letter having divested himself of that Authority and reposed the Trust in the Commissioners for that Purpose And likewise it is admired that the Commissioners having taken solmn Oaths To execute nothing but according to and in pursuance of the Act of Settlement should barely upon His Majesty's Letter declare the Marquess Innocent To be short there never was so great a Rebel that had so much favour from so good a King And it is very evident to me though young and scarce yet brought upon the Stage that the consequence of these things will be very bad and if God of his extraordinary Mercy do not prevent it War and if possible greater Judgments cannot be far from us where Vice is Patroniz'd and Antrim a Rebel upon Record and so lately and clearly proved one should have no other colour for his Actions but the King 's own Letter which takes all Imputations from Antrim and lays them totally upon his own Father Sir I shall by the next if possible send you over one of our Briefs against my Lord by some Friend It 's too large for a Pacquet it being no less in bulk than a Book of Martyrs I have no more at present but refer you to the King's Letter hereto annexed CHARLES R. RIght Trusty and well-beloved Cousins and Counsellors c. We greet you well How far We have been from interposing on the behalf of any of Our Irish Subjects who by their miscarriages in the late Rebellion in that Kingdom of Ireland had made themselves unworthy of Our Grace and Protection is notorious to all Men and
strict Inquisition into his Actions declare unto you That We do find him Innocent from any Malice or Rebellious Purpose against the Crown and that what he did by way of Correspondence or Compliance with the Irish Rebels was in order to the Service of Our Royal Father and warranted by his Instructions and the Trust reposed in him and that the benefit thereof accrued to the Service of the Crown and not to the particular advantage and benefit of the Marquess And as We cannot in justice deny him this Testimony so We require You to transmit Our Letter to Our Commissioners that they may know Our Judgments in this Case of the Lord of Antrims and proceed accordingly And so We bid you heartily farewel Given at Our Court at White-Hall July 10. in the 15 th Year of our Reign 1663. By His Majesty's Command HENRY BENNET Entred at the Signet-Office July 13. 1663. To Our Right Trusty and Right entirely Well-beloved Cousin and Counsellor James Duke of Ormond Our Lieutenant General and General Governour of Our Kingdom of Ireland and to the Lords of Our Council of that Our Kingdom King Charles I. his Order to the Archbishop of Canterbury for Printing his Declaration concerning Sports on Sundays CHARLES R. Canterbury See that Our Declaration concerning Recreations on the Lord's Day after Evening Prayer be Printed The KING'S Majesties Declaration to His Subjects concerning Lawful SPORTS to be Used By the KING OUR Dear Father of Blessed Memory in his return from Scotland coming through Lancashire found that his Subjects were debarred from Lawful Recreations upon Sundays after Evening Prayers ended and upon Holy Days And He prudently considered that if these times were taken from them the meaner sort who labour hard all the Week should have no Recreations at all to refresh their Spirits And after his return he farther saw that his Loyal Subjects in all other parts of his Kingdom did suffer in the same kind though perhaps not in the same Degree And did therefore in his Princely Wisdom Publish a Declaration to all his loving Subjects concerning Lawful Sports to be used at such times which was Printed and Published by his Royal Commandment in the Year 1618. in the Tenor which hereafter Followeth By the KING WHereas upon Our return the last Year out of Scotland We did publish Our Pleasure touching the Recreations of Our People in those parts under Our Hand for some Causes Us thereunto moving We have thought good to Command these Our Directions then given in Lancashire with a few Words thereunto added and most appliable to these parts of Our Realms to be Published to all Our Subjects Whereas We did justly in Our Progress through Lancashire Rebuke some Puritanes and precise People and took order that the like unlawful Carriage should not be used by any of them hereafter in the prohibiting and unlawful Punishing of Our Good People for using their Lawful Recreations and Honest Exercises upon Sundays and other Holy-days after the Afternoon Sermon or Service We now find that two sorts of People wherewith that Country is much infected We mean Papists and Puritans have Maliciously traduced and calumniated those Our just and Honourable Proceedings And therefore lest Our Reputation might upon the one side though innocently have some Aspersion laid upon it and that upon the other part Our Good People in that Country be misled by the mistaking and misinterpretation of Our meaning We have therefore thought good hereby to clear and make Our Pleasure to be manifested to all Our Good People in those parts It is true that at Our first entry to this Crown and Kingdom We were informed and that too truly that Our County of Lancashire abounded more in Popish Recusants than any County of England and thus hath still continued since to Our great Regret with little amendment save that now of late in Our last riding through Our said County We find both by the Report of the Judges and of the Bishop of that Diocses that there is some Amendment now daily beginning which is no â—…all Contentment to Us. The report of this growing Amendment amongst them made Us the more sorry when with Our own Ears We heard the general Complaint of Our People that they were barred from all Lawful Recreation and Exercise upon the Sundays Afternoon after the ending of all Divine Service which cannot but produce two Evils The one the hindering of the Conversion of many whom their Priests will take occasion hereby to vex perswading them that no honest Mirth or Recreation is Lawful or Tolerable in Our Religion which cannot but breed a great Discontentment in Our Peoples Hearts especially of such as are peradventure upon the point of Turning The other Inconvenience is that this Prohibition barreth the common and meaner sort of People from using such Exercise as may make their Bodies more able for War when We or Our Successors shall have occasion to use them And in place thereof sets up filthy Tiplings and Drunkenness and breeds a number of idle and discontented Speeches in their Ale-houses For when shall the Common People have leave to Exercise if not upon the Sundays and Holidays seeing they must apply their Labour and win their Living in all Working Days Our express Pleasure therefore is that the Laws of Our Kingdom and Cannons of Our Church be as well observed in that County as in all other Places of this Our Kingdom And on the other part that no Lawful Recreation shall be barred to Our Good People which shall not tend to the breach of Our aforesaid Laws and Cannons of Our Church Which to express more particularly Our Pleasure is That the Bishop and all other Inferiour Church-men and Church-wardens shall for their parts be careful and diligent both to instruct the Ignorant and Convince and Reform them that are misled in Religion presenting them that will not Conform themselves but obstinately stand out to Our Judges and Justices Whom We likewise Command to put the Law in due Execution against them Our Pleasure likewise is That the Bishop of that Diocess take the like straight Order with all the Puritanes and Precisians within the same either constraining them to Conform themselves or to leave the County according to the Laws of Our Kingdom and Cannons of Our Church and so to strike equally on both Hands against the Contemners of Our Authority and Adversaries of Our Church And as for Our Good Peoples Lawful Recreation our Pleasure likewise is That after the end of Divine Service Our Good People be not disturbed letted or discouraged from any Lawful Recreation such as Dancing either Men or Women Archery for Men Leaping Vaulting or any other such harmless Recreation nor from having of May-Games Whitson-Ales and Morris-Dances and the setting up of May-Poles and other Sports therewith used so as the same be had in due and convenient time without impediment or neglect of Divine Service And that Women shall have leave to carry Rushes to the
Church for the decoring of it according to their old Custom But withal We do here account still as prohibited all unlawful Games to he used upon Sundays only as Bear and Bull-baitings Interludes and at all times in the meaner sort of People by Law prohibited Bowling And likewise We bar from this Benefit and Liberty all such known Recusants either Men or Women as will abstain from coming to Church or Divine Service being therefore unworthy of any Lawful Recreation after the said Service that will not first come to the Church and serve God Prohibiting in like sort the said Recreations to any that though conform in Religion are not present in the Church at the Ser-Service of God before their going to the said Recreations Our Pleasure likewise is That they to whom it belongeth in Office shall present and sharply punish all such as in Abuse of this Our Liberty will use these Exercises before the ends of all Divine Services for that Day And We likewise straightly Command that every Person shall resort to his own Parish Church to hear Divine Sirvice and each Parish by it self to use the sâ—id Recreation after Divine Service Prohibiting likewise any Offensive Weapons to be carried or used in the said times of Recreations And our Pleasure is That this Our Declaration shall be Published by Order from the Bishop of the Diocess through all the Parish Churches and that both Our Judges of Our Circuit and Our Justices of Our Peace be informed thereof Given at Our Mannor of Greenwich the Four and Twentieth Day of May in the Sixteenth Year of Our Reign of England France and Ireland and of Scotland the One and Fiftieth Here follows King Charles II. Corroborating Declaration to have the Recreations and Sports to be used on the Lord's Day NOW out of a like Pious Care for the Service of God and for suppressing of any Humors that oppose Truth and for the Ease Comfort and Recreation of Our well deserving People Wo do ratifie and publish this our Blessed Father's Declaration The rather because of late in some Counties of Kingdom We find that under pretence of taking away Abuses there hath been a general Forbidding not only of ordinary Meetings but of the Feasts of the Dedication of the Churches commonly called Wakes Now Our express Will and Pleasure is that these Feasts with others shall be observed and that Our Justices of the Peace in their several Divisions shall look to it both that all Disorders there may be prevented or punished and that all Neighbourhood and Freedom with Manlike and Lawful Exercises be used And We farther command Our Justices of Assize in their several Circuits to see that no Man do Trouble or Molest any of Our Loyal and Dutiful People in or for their lawful Recreations having first done their Duty to God and continuing in Obedience to Us and Our Laws And of this We command all Our Judges Justices of the Peace as well within Liberties as without Mayors Bayliffs Constables and other Officers to take notice of and to see observed as they tender Our Displeasure And We farther Will that Publication of this Our Command be made by Order from the Bishops through all the Parish Churches of their several Diocesses respectively Given at Our Palace of Westminster the 18th of October in the Ninth of Our Reign God save the King A true Copy of the Commission said to be given by the King to his Catholick Subjects of Ireland with the Warrant and Deposition annexed From our Camp at Newrie this Fourth of Nov. 1641. Philem. O. Neale Rorie Macguire To all Catholicks of the Romish Party both English and Irish within the Kingdom of Ireland we wish all Happiness Freedom of Conscience and Victory over the English Hereticks who have for a long time Tyrannized over our Bodies and usurped by Extortion our Estates BE it hereby made known unto you all our Friends and Country-men That the King 's most Excellent Majesty for many great and urgent Causes him thereunto moving reposing Trust and Confidence in our Fidelities hath signified unto us by his Commission under the great Seal of Scotland bearing date at Edinburgh the first Day of this Instant October 1641. and also by Letters under his Sign Manuel bearing date with the said Commission of divers great and heinous Affronts that the English Protestants especially the Parliament there have published against his Royal Prerogative and also against our Catholick Friends within the Kingdom of England The Copy of which Commission we have here sent unto you to be published with all Speed in all parts of this Kingdom that you may be assured of our sufficient Warrant and Authority herein The Commission CHARLES by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. To all Our Catholick Subjects within Our Kingdom of Ireland Greeting Know ye That We for the Safeguard and Preservation of Our Person have been enforced to make Our Abode and Residence in Our Kingdom of Scotland for a long Season occasioned by reason of the Obstinate and Disobedient Carriage of Our Parliament in England against Us who have not only presumed to take upon them the Government and Disposing of those Princely Rights and Prerogatives that have justly descended upon Us from Our Predecessors both Kings and Queens of the said Kingdom for many hundred Years last past but also have possessed themselves of the whole Strength of the said Kingdom in appointing Governours Commanders and Officers in all parts and places therein at their own Wills and Pleasure without Our Consent whereby We are deprived of Our Sovereignty and left naked without Defence And forasmuch as We are in Our self very sensible That those Storms blow aloft and are very likely to be carried by the Vehemency of the Puritan in another Copy Protestant Party into Our Kingdom of Ireland and endanger Our Regal and Authority there also Know ye therefore That We reposing much Care and Trust in your Duties and Obedience which We have for many Years past sound do hereby give unto you full Power and Authority to Assemble and meet together with all the Speed and Diligence that a Business of so great a Consequence doth require and to Advise and Consult together by sufficient and discreet Numbers at all Times Days and Places which you shall in your Judgments hold most Convenient and Material for the Ordering Settleling and Effecting of this Great Work mentioned and directed unto you in Our Letters and to use all politick Ways and Means possible to possess your selves for Our Use and Safety of all the Forts Castles and Places of Strength and Defence within the said Kingdom except the places Persons and Estates of our Loyal and Loving Subjects the Scots and also to Arrest and Seize the Goods Estates and Persons of all the English Protestants within the said Kingdom to Our use and in your care and speedy performance of this Our Will and Pleasure we
not in the least intrench on these present Articles Moreover this Parliament may either Repeal or Suspend Poyning's Law which imports that no Parliament shall be held in Ireland till the Acts are first Certify'd into England 3. That all Acts made to the prejudice of the Irish Roman Catholicks since the 7th of August 1641. shall be null and void and that they be vacated accordingly in the next Parliament and in the mean time they have no Force 4. That all Processes in prejudice of the said Roman Catholicks made since the said 7th of August 1641. shall be made void in such manner as no Memory shall remain thereof and this when ever the said Twelve or the major part of them shall desire the same and in the interim they are to be of no Force and what has already been done upon their Account is to be restor'd or made good 5. The Roman Catholicks shall be deem'd qualified to Set in the succeeding Parliaments 6. All Debts are to remain as they were on the 23 d. of October 1641. notwithstanding any Alliance made on account of these Processes and this to be Enacted by the next Parliament 7. That the Estates and reputed Estates of all the Inhabitants of the Counties of Cannought Clare Thomond Limerick and Tipperary be secured to them according to the 25 th Article of the Grant in the 4 th Year of his Majesties Reign to be held by the same Rents and Tenures as they were in the said 4 th Year And as for the Laws in the Counties of Kilkenny and Wickloe to which His Majesty was Entitled by Offices found for him during the Earl of Stafford's Government the State of them is to be considered the next intended Parliament when his Majesty will Assent to what is Just and Honourable and that the Act for limitation of His Majesties Titles for the security of his Subject's Estates in this Kingdom be pass'd in the said Parliament pursuant to what was Enacted in the 21 st Year of James I. in England 8. All Incapacities impos'd on the Irish Catholicks to be taken away in the succeeding Parliament and they enabled to Erect Inns of Court or Free Schools where the Lord Lieutenant in conjuction with the Twelve or the major number of them shall think fit and the Students and Scholars are to take only an Oath of Allegiance this likewise is to be Enacted by the next Parliament 9. Roman Catholicks are to be deem'd qualifi'd for any Trust in the Army and to be prefer'd according to their respective Merits As likewise to be receiv'd into the Civil Government with the like Priviledges also they are to be entrusted with any Garisons in the same manner And that till full settlement in Parliament 15000 Foot and 2500 Horse of the Irish Roman Catholicks shall be of the standing Army which number may be either Augmented or diminish'd by the power of the Lord Lieutenant and the aforesaid Twelve or their Majority as often as they shall see convenient 10. The King is to receive 12000 Pound annually in lieu of whatever profits may accrue to him within the Jurisdiction of the Court of Wards 11. No Noble Man for the future is to be allowed to make above 2 Proxies in Parliament and all Blank Proxies to be totally disallowed Also where a Baron has not 200 Pound per Ann. a Viscount 400 an Earl 600 a Marquiss 800 and a Duke 1000 they shall be disabled to sit in Parliament and the Commons also are to be stated and resident within the Kingdom 12. As for the Parliament of Ireland depending on that of England they are left to make such Declaration therein as shall be agreeable to their Laws of their Kingdom 13. That for the future the Council Table is to be confin'd within its own Bounds and to meddle only with matters of State and Weight other Business between Party and Party is to be left to the Ordinary course of Law 14. Several Acts shall be Repeal'd relating to Wool Flocks Tallow c. and divers Officers appointed by the Lord Lieutenant and the aforesaid Twelve or the majority of them to ascertain the Rates of all Merchandize either to be Exported or Imported 15. All Persons wrong'd by Offices found in the first of King James I. or since in the Province of Ulster and other Provinces of this Kingdom may Petition His Majesty and be Redrest upon Examination 16. That as to the particular cases of 16 Persons nam'd they may Petition in the next Parliament and shall be relieved accordingly 17. The former Inhabitants of Cork Youghall and Downegarven shall be restored to their respective Estates where their Number does not endanger the Garrifons and shall chuse and return Burgesses as formerly 18. An Act of Indemnity to pass in the next Parliament to extend to all His Majesties Loving Subjects of this Kingdom and Pyrates on the Sea except such as have been Convicted or Attainted on Record before the 23 of October 1641. it shall not extend to remit any of the King's Debts or Subsidies due before the said time provided that such Barbarous Crimes as shall be agreed upon by the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or the Majority of them be left to be adjudg'd by such Commissioners as the said Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve shall Assign and that the power of such Commissioners be limitted to two Years The other Provisoes are omitted for Brevities sake 19. The great Officers of the Kingdom are excluded from being Farmers of the Customs 20. An Act of Parliament to pass against Monopolies pursuant to that Enacted in England in the 21 st of James I. with a clause to Repeal all Grants of Monopolies Likewise Commissioners to be appointed by the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or the majority of them to rate the Customs and Impositions on Aquivita Tobacco c. 21. Commissioners agreed upon by the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or their Majority were to regulate the Court of Castle Chamber 22. The two Acts prohibiting the Plowing with Horses by the Tail and the Burning of Oats in the Straw to be Repealâ—d 23. That the Grievances Petition'd for by both Houses of Parliament and by Agents sent for that purpose in the 4 th Year of His Majesties Reign shall be Redressed 24. All Sea Affairs to be determin'd in this Kingdom and in case of Appeal it may be only to the Chancery of Ireland or to the Parliament of this Kingdom and until such a Parliament is the Admiralty and all Maritine Causes are to be ordered and settled by the Lord Lieutenant together with the Advice and Consent of the Twelve or their majority 25. That His Majesties Subjects be eased of all Rents and Encrease of Rents raised by the Commission for defective Titles in the Lord of Stafford's Government This to be by Act of Parliament 26. That by Act to be pass'd in the next Parliament all Interest Money not satisfied since the 23 d. of October 1641. until the
perfection of these Articles shall be released and forgiven and that for 3 Years ensuing 5 per Cent. shall be taken only for Interest 27. The aforemention Twelve immediately after the perfection of these Articles are to be impower'd by the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or their majority to lay Taxes by Excise or otherwise for Payment of the Army and Garisons untill there shall be a settlement in Parliament The Commissioners of the Taxes are to consist both of Protestants and Roman Catholicks The Twelve or their majority have likewise power to levy all Arrears of Taxes imposed by the Confederate Roman Catholicks and yet unpaid and to call all Receivers c. to Account either by themselves or Commissioners They shall also have power to Let and Improve the Estates of all such as shall not submit to this Peace and the Revenues thereof are to be converted by the Lord Lieutenant towards the use of the Army till settled by Parliament They are likewise Empower'd or the Majority of them to lay up Arms and Ammunition in Magazines and for entertaining as many Frigats as shall be thought Necessary They may moreover imprison all that resist this their Power or else distrain their Goods They are also to cause Books to be made of their paid Imprests and to deliver Duplicates of them to the Lord Lieutenant Their Number is to be supply'd in case either of Death or Disability of any by the choice and direction of the rest 28. That the Lord Lieutenant together with the Twelve or the majority shall nominate all Justices of the Peace Oyer and Terminer c. to continue during Pleasure but whose power must not extend to before the 1 st of May last past nor to determine Civil Causes exceeding 10 l. Their Power likewise is not to extend to Examine any Injuries done contrary to the Articles of Cessation by and with the Roman Catholick Party since May last but those matters are to be determin'd by the indifferent Persons that are to be Nam'd by the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or their majority The Justices Judges c. shall take an Oath to Execute their Offices faithfully 29. All Roman Catholick Governours of Cities c. to continue till removed by Parliament and to be subject to such as the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or their maâ—ority shall nominate or set over them 30. All Customs and Tenths of Prizes shall be paid into His Majesties Receipts and to the Persons appointed by the Lord Leiutenant and the Twelve or their majority and in case any Person has a Right to any of these Offices and whereunto he may not be admitted till Settlement in Parliament then is he to have a Pension till he is restor'd 31. As for His Majesties Rents due at Easter next and from thenceforth to grow due he will not require them till a full settlement in Parliament be first made 32. The Judges power appointed as aforesaid shall commence on the 1 st of May last past and continue to the first day of the next Parliament 33. That several Courts of Judicature shall be Estabish'd in this Kingdom and their Officers nominated by the Lord Lieutenant and the Twelve or their majority 34. The Roman Catholick Regular Clergy not to be disturb'd in their Possessions or Pensions until a Settlement by Parliament 35. That as to all other Demands of the said Roman Catholicks they be refer'd to His Majesties Gracious Favour and further Concessions Sign'd and Witnessed by the Lord Leiutenant in His Majesties Name and by Sir Richard Blake Chair-man of the General Assembly of the Roman Catholicks by their Order and Unanimous Consent the 17th of Jan. 1648. and in the 24th Year of King Charles I's Reign FINIS