of the Scotts invading or entring into England nor was he of any other minde then all the rest of the Councell-Board For that of Mortons he doth not positively remember the words but if the demands were read perhaps they would imply nothing lesse and if so how otherwise to be answered but by the Sword All other meanes being first assayed which is ever to be supposed For Sir Henry Vane and Northumberland's testimony about perswading of an offensive Warre he said Hee remembred it very well and thought it as free for him to give his opinion for an offensive as they for a defensive Warre Opinions said he if they be attended with obstinacy or Pertinacy may make an Heretique but that they ever made a Traytor he never heard till now nor under favour should I bee an Heretique eyther said he for as I was then so am I now most willing to acknowledge my weakenesse and correct my errors whereof no man hath more or is more sensible of them then my selfe yet if that opinion of mine had beene followed it might perhaps have spared us some money said he and some Reputation too of which we have beene prodigall enough For the last about the Ships it proves nothing but he would willingly confesse that some ships were there deteined and that by himselfe and his owne direction as Vice-Admirall of Connaugh but it was at the command of the Lord Admirall the Earle of Northumberland and produced his Letter to that purpose To the English proofes He mervailed much how Sir George Ratcliffe words could be put upon him Sir George though alleaged to be his bosom friend yet had thoughts of his own and might have some other thoughts in his bosom and be to some other Expressions then Sir George Ratcliffe No man said he can commit Treason by his Attorney and should I by my friend Sir George as by a Proxie For his Brother He never knew him before so rash but that was nothing to him except they could prove a neerer Identidy then nature had instituted and that his brothers words and his were all one yet withall he conceived that his Brothers words might be very well understood of the Scotts conquering England but not at all of the Irish and so he wished with all his heart that he had not spoken somthing which is like Prophesy To the Primates Testimony with all reverence to his integrity be it spoken he is but one witnesse and in Law can prove nothing add to this said he that it was a private discourse between him and me and perhaps spoken by me tentandi gratia and how farre this should be laid to a mans Charge let your Lordships Judge Yea this seemes to me against humanity it selfe and will make the society of men so dangerous and loathsome to us that our dwelling houses will be turned to Cells and our Townes to Desarts That which God and Nature our Tongues have bestowed upon us for the greater comfort of venting our own conceptions or craving the advice of wiser and learneder men shall become snares and burdens to us by a curious and needlesse feare yet if my words be taken said he with all that went before and followed after I see no danger in them To the Lord Conway I may Reply the same with this addition That it is a very naturall motion for a man to preserve himselfe every Creature hath this priviledge and shall we deny it to Monarchy provided this be done in a lawfull though in an extraordinary way this graine of salt must be added to season all my discourse To that of Sir Henry Vane of offering my service to the King I thanke him for the Testimony and thinke he hath done me much honour thereby but if he or any body else doe suspect that his Majesty will employ me in unlawfull enterprizes I shall think them more lyable to the Charge of Treason then my selfe To the subsequent Testimonies I shall not neede to wrestle about them much only the last of Sir Henry Vane pinches and lies sore upon me but to that which the Earle of Clare and I thanke him for it hath said already give me leave to add this That the Testimony of one man is not a sufficient witnesse nor can a man be accused much lesse condemned of Treason upon this and for that reade the Star of Hen 7. 12. and of Edw. 6. 5. Now my Lords said he to give you further satisfaction I shall desire all the Lords of the Councell which were then present only to the number of eight may be examined whether they heard these words or not for the Archbishop and Sir Francis Windebanke they cannot be had Sir Henry Vane gives the testimony I deny it foure only remaine First the Earle of Northumberlands testimony which was read had declared expressy that he had never heard those words nor any like them from the Lord Strafford but hee spake with great honour and regard to the Kingdome of England Secondly the Marquesse Hamilton who declared upon his oath that hee had never heard such words but that hee had heard the Lievetenant often say that the King was to rule his Royall power Candiâ—è Castè that it would never be well for this Kingdome till the Praerogative of the Crowne and the Priviledge of the Subject went in one pace together and that Parliaments were the happiest way to keepe a correspondency betweene the King and People The very same was delivered by the Lord Treasurer and the Lord Cottington Now my Lords you may mervaile how these words rested only on the eares of Sir Henry Vane but my Lords said hee that I may remove all scruple from you I will make it evident that there was not the least intention that the Irish Army should set a foote in England and then I hope you will conceive that I had no meaning to reduce this Kingdom This he made cleere by the testimony of Northumberland the oathes of Marquesse Hamilton Lord Cottington Lord Treasurer Sir Thomas Lucas who only were private to that matter For other of my words my Lords said he I desire you would not take them by halves if so who should be free from Treason Certainly if such a praecedent take footing Westminster-hall shall be more troubled with Treason then with Common-Law looke therefore to the Antecedents and Consequents of my speeches and you shall finde the state of the question cleerly altered the Antecedents were upon an absolute or inevitable necessity upon a present invasion when the remedy of a Parliament cannot be expected the Consequents for the defence of the Kingdome with accompts afterward to the Parliament The qualifications too in a lawfull convenient and ordinary way so farre as the present necessity can permit Add but these and which of you are not of my mind Is the King endowed with no power from the Lord Is hee not publicus Inspector Regni Stands it not him in hand to do somthing on present
last with new matter or with supplementall Proofe hee might have leave to speake something in his owne Defence The Lord Steward answered It was all the reason in the world The Lievetenant went on thus MY LORDS This day I stand before you Charged with high-Treason My Lord Straffords last speech in the Hall the burthen is heavie yet farre the more in that it hath borrowed the Patrociny of the House of Commons If they were not Interessed I might expresse a no lesse easie then I doe a safe issue and good successe to the businesse but let neyther my weakenesse pleade my Innocence nor their power my guilt If your Lordships will conceive of my Defences as they are in themselves without referrence to eyther and I shall endeavor so to present them I hope to goe away from hence as cleerly justified as I am now in the testimony of a good Conference by my selfe My Lords I have all along my Charge watched to see that poysoned arrow of Treason that some men would faine have to be feathered in my heart and that deadly cup of wine that hath so intoxicated some petcy misalleaged Errors as to put them in the elevation of high-Treason but in truth it hath not beene my quicknesse to discern any such Monster yet within my breast though now perhaps by a sinistrous Information sticking to my cloathes They tel me of a two fold Treason one against the Statute another by the Common-Lawe this direct that consecutive this individual that Accumulative this in it selfe that by way of construction For the first I must and doe acknowledge that if I had the least suspition of my owne guilt I would spare your Lordships the pains cast the first stone at my self passe Sentence of condemnation against my selfe And whether it be so or not I refer my selfe to your Lordships judgement and Declaration You and only you under the favour and protection of my gracious Master are my Judges under favour none of the Commons are my Peeres nor can they be my Judges I shall ever celebrate the providence and wisdome of your noble Ancestors who have put the keyes of Life and Death so farre as concerns you and your posterity into your own hands not into the hands of your inferiours None but your own selves know the rate of your noble blood none but your selves must hold the ballance in dispencing the same I shall proceede in repeating my Defences as they are reduceable to these two maine points of Treason and for Treason against the Statute which is the only Treason in effect nothing is alleaged for that but the fifteenth two and twentith and twenty seventh Articles Here he brought the sum of all his Replies made to these three Articles before and almost in the same words as before only that testimony of Sir Henâ—y Vanes because it seemed pressing he stood upon it and alleaged five Reasons for the nullifying thereof First That it was but a single testimony and would not make Faith in a matter of Debt much lesse in a matter of Life and Death yea that it was expresly against the Statute to impeach much lesse to condemn him upon high-Treason under the testimony of two famous witnesses Secondly That he was dubious in it and exprest it with an as I doe remember and such or such like words Thirdly That all the Councell of eight except himselfe disclaime the words as if by a singular providence they had taken hold of his eares only Fourthly That at that time the King had levied no forces in Ireland and therefore hee could not bee possibly so impudent as to say to the King that hee had an Army there which hee might imploy for the reducing this Kingdome Fiftly That he had proved by witnesses beyond all exceptions Marquesse Hamilton the Lord Treasurer the Earle of Northumberland Lord Cottington Sir William Pennyman and Sir Arthur Terringham that there was never the least intention to land those Forces in England Hee went on So much for the Articles that concerne Individuall Treason To make up the Constructive-Treason or Treason by way of Accumulation Many Articles are brought against me as if in an heap of Felonies or Misdemeanors for in their conceit they reach no higher some prolificall seede apt to produce what is treasonable could lurke Here I am charged to have designed the ruine and overthrowe both of Religion and State The first seemeth rather to have beene used to make me odious then guilty for there is not the least proofe alleaged concerning my confederacy with the Popish-faction nor could there be any indeede never a servent in Authority beneath the King my Master was ever more hated and maligned by those men then my selfe and that for an Impartiall and strict executing of the Lawes against them Here your Lordships may observe that the greater number of the witnesses used against me eyther from Ireland or from Yorkeshire were men of that Religion But for my owne Resolution I thanke God I am ready every houre of the day to seale my disaffection to the Church of Rome with my deerest blood But my Lords give me leave here to poure forth the griefe of my Soule before you these proceeding against me seeme to be exceeding rigorous and to have more of praejudice then equity that upon a supposed Charge of my Hypocrisy or Errors in Religion I should be made so monstrously odious to three Kingdomes A great many thousand eyes have seen my Accusations whose eares shall never heare that when it came to the upshot I was never accused of them Is this fayre dealing amongst Christians but I have lost nothing by that Popular applause was ever nothing in my conceipt the uprightnesse and integrity of a good Conscience was and ever shall be my continuall feast and if I can be justified in your Lordships judgements from this grand imputation as I hope now I am seeing these Gentlemen have throwne downe the Bucklers I shall account my selfe justified by the whole Kingdome because by you who are the Epitomy the better part yea the very Soule and life of the Kingdome As for my Designe against the State I dare pleade as much Innocency here as in matter of my Religion I have ever admired the wisdome of our Ancestors who have so fixed the pillars of this Monarchy that each of them keepe a due proportion and measure with other and have so handsomly tyed up the nerves and sinnews of the State that the strayning of any one may bring danger and sorrow to the whole oeconomy The Praerogative of the Crowne and the Propriety of the Subject have such mutuall relations this takes protection from that that foundation and nourishment from this And as on the Lute if any one string be too high or too lowly wound up you have lost the Harmony so here the excesse of a Prerogative is oppression of pretended Liberty in the Subject Disorder and Anarchy The Praerogative must be used as God doth
hee had Strafford's Reply given full satisfaction to all hitherto brought against him about that pretended Arbitrary Government nor would hee spend time in vaine Repetitions for the present Article though in all its parts it were granted to be true yet hee could not perceive by what Interpretation of Lawe it could imply the least Act of Treason and when it should be directly Charged upon him as a point of Misdemeanour Oppression or Felony hee made no doubt but hee should bee very able to cleere himselfe abundantly in that point also yet lest any prejudice might stick to his Honour by these bold Assertions Hee was content to steppe so farre out of the way as to give answere First That it concerned him nothing what particulars in the Lease had past betwixt the King and the Dutchesse of Buckingham or whether she had obteined a more easy Condition then the Duke her husband especially seeing that same was graunted some yeeres before his comming to that Government yet thus much hee could say That the Dutchesse had paid thirty thousand pound fine and therefore no mervaile her yeerely rent was the lesse Secondly For the booke of Rates wherein the chiefe matter of Oppression and Grievance seemed to rest the same was there established by the Deputy Faulkland An. 1628 3 yeers before his going into Ireland and therefore it was exceeding strange in his apprehension how that could rise up in judgement against him Thirdly That hee had his Interest in the Customes by Assignation of a Lease from the Duchesse which was given her before his Government nor did hee ever heare it alleaged as a Crime of Treason for a man to make a good bargaine for himselfe Fourthly That not of his owne accord but at the Kings speciall Command hee had undergone that Charge on hopes that upon the enquiry into the worth thereof the Customes might bee improved for the benefit of the Crowne and the true value thereof discovered This hee proved by the Lord Cottington and Sir Arthur Ingram Fiftly That when a new booke of Rates was recommended to him by the Councell-Board of England in the time of his Lease he so farre preferred a feare hee had That the Trade of Ireland might thereby be discouraged before his owne Commodity as hee presumed in all humility to refuse the said book of Rates and tendred his Reasons thereof to the Kingdome and Councell-Board of England Sixtly That hee never understood that the Customes could arise to those great summes alleaged but though they should yet his advantage was but small for first dividing the fourteene thounds hee paid to the King then five parts of eight which was yeerely given in upon Oath and that procured first by himselfe at the Exchequer Board the other three parts divided amongst foure of them which were equall sharers in the Lease would not amount to any great summe of money And therefore except it were Treason for him to have improved the Kings Revennue encouraged the Trade and refused the new booke of Rates hee could in his owne weake judgement discerne none there nor could hee thinke it a Crime for him to take an Assignation of a Lease graunted before his time and to insist in the booke of Rates used before his comming over And therefore was confident the Lords would rather take his Accusation as an exercise of Rhetorick in the Gentlemen his Adversaries then as a thing spoken in good earnest by them The same day the eleventh Article concerning Tobacco was Charge Aâ—tic 11. Charged on by the same man Master Glyn after this manner That for the farther advancement of his Tyrannicall and Avaritious Designes hee had of himselfe established a Monopoly for the restraint of Tobacco in that Kingdome where they offered five particulars to the proofe First That hee had restrayned the Importation of Tobacco Secondly That in the meane time hee had brought in a great quantity himselfe and sold the same at exorbitant Prizes Thirdly That of Tobacco already imported hee had forbidden any to bee sold but what was first sealed by his Officers Fourthly That upon a pretended disobedience hee had punished a great number of People by Seizures Imprisonments Fineing Whipping Pillory and such like cruell and inhumane usages Fiftly That by these meanes hee had gayned one hundred thousand pounds yeerely For Proofe hereof First The Proclamation for restrayning Tobacco was read Secondly The Proclamation about the sealing of the same Thirdly Some witnesses who declared that Shippes had beene restrayned from landing Tobacco Fourthly Others who had known some Tobacco seized on as forfeited Fiftly The Remonstrance of the House of Commons in Ireland declaring that the Earle had fold 500 Tunne of Tobacco which sold at 2 s. 6 d. per pound amounts to 100000 l. They concluded the Charge That hee had sucked up the blood and eaten up the Kings Liege-people and had by this one point of Oppression raysed greater summes to himselfe then all the Kings Revenue in that Kingdome extended unto And therefore was lyable to the Crime of Treason for troubling the Peace and bereaving the People of their goods who were entrusted into his Care and Government The Lievetenantss Reply was That his most secret thoughts were conscious of nothing but Straffords Reply of a sincere intention and indeavor to promote and advance the well-fare of that Kingdome And withall hee conceived by their leaves that nothing in that Charge could have the least referrence to Treason yet as hee said before for removing of all prejudice he was content to answere First That long before his comming to Ireland the same restraint had been of Tobacco and the same Impost of eighteen pence per pound enjoyned by King James Secondly That at that time the Trades-men for this Commodity paid but twenty pounds a yeere to the Crowne for the Impost but now 4000 l. Thirdly That the Parliament in Ireland 1628 had Petitioned to have this Impost setled by an Act of State for ever afterwards as a part of the Revenue of the Crowne Fourthly That hee had expresse command from the King for issuing those Proclamations and therefore could not Imagine more danger in them then in others for Monopolies in England in the worst sence Fiftly That the Proclamations were sent forth not by himselfe alone but by the whole Councell-Board of Ireland Sixtly That for the contract of Tobacco hee was so tender of it that it was sent over hither and seene and approved of by the Councell-Board of England before it was condiscended to in Ireland For the Proclamations Hee told them it was his own opinion and if hee failed in it hee humbly craved pardon and hoped that it should not bee Treason to have no more judgement then God had bestowed on him that the King was indued by God with a power to make temporary Lawes and cause the same to be promulgated for the good of his People upon suddaine emergent occasions to which Lawes obedience is due till
a Just and necessary act and none of the Councell had contradicted it which hee conceived as a tacit approbation and an order in Equivalence But though that had not beene yet there was nothing done in the businesse but at the speciall desires of the Gentlemen themselves for their necessary defence protection yea though hee had done it by himselfe alone yet hee conceived hee had so much power by his Commission causing the Commission to that effect to bee read That albeit he should mistake his Commission and doe some inferiour Act beyond it because Military proceedings are not allwayes warranted by the Common Law yet it should not bee imputed as an Act of Treason to him And to this effect read a Statute of rhe seveneth of Henry the second To the Proofs First Collonell Pennymans warrant or Sir Edward Osbornes it nothing concerned him and hee doubted not but these worthy Gentlemen could Justifie their own Act and that hee had enough to doe to answer his own Misdemeanors Secondly For Sir John Burrowes hee was at Rippon when that Proposition was made Thirdly That as the warrant so neither the Execution troubled him at all Fourthly For Sir William Ingram hee was but a single testimony and that such an one too as hee could produce an evidence to testifie hee had mistaken himselfe in his testimony upon oath if it were not to disadvantage the Gentleman Hee concluded that hee had done nothing in that businesse but upon the petition of that County the Kings spetiall command the connivence at least of the great councell and upon a present necessity for the defence and safety of the County And so much for Wednesday Upon Thursday the Committee for the charge declared that Thursday Charge Sir Walter Ecarles Observations they had done withall the Articles and were content to wave the last for reasons best known to themselves only Sir Walter Earles added that hee had some observations to bring forth upon the two and twenteeth Article which hee conceived might doe much to prove the Lord Straffords designes for Landing the Irish forces in England And they were First That in his Commission hee had power to land them in Wales or in any part of England or in Scotland which were all together superfluous unlesse there had beene some purpose for the same Secondly That within two dayes before the date of the Commission Letters were sent to the Lord Bridgewater and Pembroke from Sir Francis Windebanke to assist the Earle of Worcestor in Levying forces for the Kings service and these might bee supposed to have intended ajoyning with the Irish Thirdly That the Lord Ranelaugh at the raising of the Irish Army did feare such a Designe as this Fourthly That the towne of Ayre in Scotland where the Lord Strafford pretended he would land those forces was fortified with a Bulworke a Garrison and Block-house which would prohibit landing there that the Earle of Argiles bounds were divided thence by the Sea and that the Barr or entrie into the towne was very dangerous and shallow The Proofes were only the reading of the Commission granted to the Lord Strafford The Livetenants Reply First That his Commission was the same Verbatim with Northumberlands for England and that it was drawn up by the Councell board heere and sent over unto him So no more designe in him then in the Gentlemen of the English Army nor no larger then that was put upon him Secondly That this was the first time hee heard of any such Letters nor did they concerne him more then any of the House Thirdly That hee was not bound to purge the Lord Ranelaugh from all his feares and that he had his own feares too which God forbid should be evidence of Treason against any man whatsoever Fourthly That it seemed the Gentleman had better Information from that Kingdome then himselfe yet hee would be confident to say at Ayre there was never such a thing as a Block-house or Garrison But to remove all scruples for indeede the Roade or landing place is not there safe hee declared that it was his intention to have landed some miles above Ayre and made only his Magâ—zine of that towne To the Earle of Argiles bounds hee hoped the Gentleman knew they came not on foot out of Ireland but had shipps to waft and transport themselves and that one of his prime Houses Rosneth was within some few miles of the same frith The Lord Digby finding Sir Walter Earles on ground did handsomely bring him off and told the Lords that all their proofs for that Article were not yet ready that this was a Superfaetation onely of the charge and that in such a businesse as the plotting of Treason they must be content sometimes with darke Probabilities Then Master Glyn desired the Livetenant to resume his defence Glyns charitable speech that they might give a repetition of their Charge and so close the processe so farre as concerned the matter of Fact Hee replyed that in his case all slâ—cknesse is speede enough the matter touched him narrowly even in his life and estate Straffords Reply yea in that which hee esteemed above them both his honour and his posterity and therefore hee confessed hee had no desire to ride post in such a businessâ— That hee knew the Gentlemen at the Barre if they were in his case would think the time little enough except their more able Judgements could sooner dispatch the matter in hand And therefore hee humbly intreated that that day might be granted to him for strengthening himselfe and recollecting his thoughts and spirits and tomorrow he would be ready with his last Replies for himselfe which after a little Ceremony and contestation was condiscended unto by the House of Commons Upon Friday morning about eight of the clock the Lievetenant Friday he was hindred from coming by a sit of the stone of the Tower and my Lords chamber-Groome came to the Hall and gave information to the House upon Oath that the Lord Strafford was taken with an exceeding great paine and fit of the Stone and could not upon any conditions stirre out of his Bed Master Glyn Replyed That it was a token of his willfullnesse Glyn againe not his weakenesse that hee had not sent a Doctor to testifie the same The Lord Steward made answere that a Doctor could not be had perhaps so soone in the morning nor was it possible for any Phisitian to give a certaine judgement concerning a mans disabilitie by the Stone Because there is no outward Symptomes that appeare Master Glyn excepted That if he did not appeare upon Satterday morning he should lose the priviledge to speake in his owne defence afterwards and they permitted to proceede The Lord Steward Replyed that the Lords had appointed foure of their number to goe to the Tower and learne the just cause of his stay and if by any meanes he were able he should be oblieged to come then if not Humanity and
from my heart that from the time that I was one and twenty yeares of age to this present going now upon fourty nine I never had in my heart to doubt of this Religion of the Church of England Nor ever had any man the boldnesse to suggest any such thing to mee to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled by the merrits of Jesus Christ my Saviour into whose bosome I hope I shall shortly bee gathered to those eternall happinesses which shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man for any rash or unadvised words or any thing done amisse and so my Lords and Gentlemen Farewell Farewell all the things of this world I desire that you would bee silent and joyne with me in prayer and I trust in God wee shall all meet and live eternally in heaven there to receive the Accomplishment of all happinesse where every teare shall bee wiped away from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts and so God blesse this Kingdome and Jesus have mercy on my Soule Then turning himselfe about hee Saluted all the noble men and tooke a solemne leave of all considerable persons upon the Scaffold giving them his hand After that hee said Gentlemen I would say my prayers and entreate you all to pray with me and for me then his Chaplaine layd the booke of Common-prayer upon the Chayre before him as hee kneeled downe on which hee prayed almost a quarter of an houre and then as long or longer without the Booke and concluded with the Lords prayer Standing up hee espies his Brother Sir George Wentworth and calls him to him saying Brother we must part remember me to my sister and to my wife and carry my blessing to my Sonne and charge him that hee feare God and continue an obedient Sonne to the Church of England and warne him that hee beares no private grudge or revenge toward any man concerning me And bid him beware that hee meddle not with Church-livings for that will prove a moth and canker to him in his estate and wish him to content himselfe to bee a Servant to his Country not ayming at higher Preferments Aliter To his Sonne Master Wentworth hee commends himselfe and gives him charge to serve his God to submit to his King with all faith and Allegiance in things temporall to the Church in things Spirituall chargeth him againe and againe as hee will answer it to him in heaven never to meddle with the Patrimony of the Church for if he did it would be a Canker to eate up the rest of his Estate Carry my blessing also to my daughter Anne and Arabella charge them to serve and feare God and hee will blesse them not forgetting my little Infant who yet knowes neither good nor evill and cannot speake for it selfe God speake for it and blesse it now said hee I have nigh done one Stroke will make my wife husbandlesse my deare children fatherlesse and my poore Servants Masterlesse and will seperate me from my deare brother and all my friends But let God bee to you and them all in all After this going to take off his doublet and to make himself unready hee said I thank God I am not affraid of Death nor daunted with any discouragement rising from any feares but doe as chearfully put off my doublet at this time as ever I did when I went to bed then hee put off his Doublet wound up his haire with his hands and put on a white Cap. Then hee called where is the man that is to doe this last office meaning the executioner call him to me when hee came and asked him forgivenesse hee told him he forgave him and all the world then kneeling down by the block hee went to prayer againe himselfe The Primate of Ireland kneeling on the one side and the Minister on the other To the which Minister after prayer hee turned himselfe having done prayer and spake some few words softly having his hands lifted up and closed with the Ministers hands Then bowing himselfe to lay his head upon the block he told the Executioner that hee would first lay down his head to try the fitnesse of the block and take it up againe before he would lay it down for good and all And so he did and before he layed it down again he told the Executioner that he would give him warning when to strike by stretching forth his hands And presently laying down his neck upon the block and stretching forth his hands the Executioner strooke off his head at one blow and taking it up in his hand shewed it to all the people And sayd God save the King His body was afterwards embalmed and appointed to be carried into York-shire there to be buried amongst his Ancestors He left these three Instructions for his Sonne in Writing First That hee should continue still to be brought up under those Governors to whom hee had committed him As being the best he could pick out of all those within his knowledge and that he should not change them unlesse they were weary of him that he should rather want himselfe then they should want any thing they could desire Secondly He charged him as he would answer it at the last day not to put himselfe upon any publique employments till he was thirty yeares of age at least And then if his Prince should call him to Publique Service he should carefully undertake it to testify his obedience and withall to be faithfull and sincere to his Master though he should come to the same end that himselfe did Thirdly That he should never lay any hand upon any thing that belonged to the Church He foresaw that ruine was like to come upon the Revennues of the Church and that parhaps they might be shared amongst the Nobility and Gentry But if his Sonne medled with any of it he wished the curse of God might follow him and all them to the Destruction of the most Apostolicall Church upon Earth FINIS
A BRIEFE AND PERFECT Relation Of the Answeres and Replies of THOMAS Earle of Strafford To the Articles exhibited against him by the House of COMMONS on the thirteenth of Aprill An. Dom. 1641. LONDON Printed 1647. To the Reader READER HAVING imployed the Author of this Tteatise to make these Collections for my private information And finding them to bee beneficiall for the Publique I durst not wrong Posterity and my owne Conscience to conceale them for my owne use without imparting them to the good of others For the solemn-Triall therein described is so Paramount in the Equipage of all Circumstances that as former Ages have been un-able so future are un-likely to produce a paralell thereof As for the Person himselfe who as a cunning Master of Defence waved the thrusts of such skilfull and powerfull Adversaries Take his Character in this Bookefrom his owne Mouth seeing otherwise whatsoever may be spoken of him is beneath what was spoken by him So that instead of other Monopolies laid to his Charge hee may seeme most guilty of ingrossing so much Worth and Ability into his owne Bosom Behold here a Garden of the most and best Varieties wherein points of Lawe are interwoven with Acts of State and the affaires of Ireland as in the same Fscutcheon quartered with those of England Herein nothing false is Reported nothing triviall is Observed nothing memorable is Omitted for the Net of his Diligence was so cunningly and carefully spread over all the Transaction that if any passage escaped his notice it may bee concluded so small as inconsiderable to bee observed The Paines in Collecting Care in Preserving Cost in Publishing this Treatise are abundantly satisfied if my sincere-Intentions for the propagation of the Truth be welcomed with thy cordiall and candid acceptance thereof Thine S. R. THE Proceedings against THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in the Parliament at Westminster An Dom. 1641. SIR YOu have here the Diurnall of the whole Processe against the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland it was taken by the hand of a ready writer a faithfull eare and an understanding head He was present at all the action and I make no doubt of the fidelity of his Relation Which beginneth thus THE House for the appearance of the Lord Lieutenant was the great Hall in Westminster where there was a Throne erected for the King on each side whereof a Cabinet inclosed about with boards and before with a Tarras Before that were the seats for the Lords of the upper House and sacks of wooll for the Judges before them ten stages of seates extending farther then the midst of the Hall for the Gentlemen of the House of Commons At the end of all was a Deske closed about and set apart for the Lord Lieutenant and his Councell On Monday morning about seven of the clock he came from Monday the Tower accompanied with six Barges wherein were one hundred souldiers of the Tower all with Partizans for his guard and fifty payre of Oares At his landing at Westminster there he was attended with two hundred of the trayned-Band and went in guarded by them into the Hall The entries at White-Hall King-streete and Westminster were guarded by the Constables and watch-men from foure of the clock in the morning to keepe away all base and idle persons The King Queene and Prince came to the House about nine of the clock but kept themselves private within their Closets only the Prince came out once or twice to the cloth of State so that the King saw and heard all that passed but was seen of none Some give the reason of this from the received practise of England in such Cases Others say that the Lords did intreate the King eyther to be absent or to be there privately lest pretentions might be made hereafter that his being there was eyther to threaten or some otherwaies to interrupt the course of Justice A third sort That the King was not willing to be accessary to the Processe till it came to his Part but rather chose to bee present that he might note and understand what Violence Rigour or Injustice happened When the Lieutenant entred the Hall the Porter of the Hall whose office it is asked Master Maxwell whether the Axe should bee carried before him or noe who did answere that the King had expresly forbidden it nor was it the custome of England to use that Ceremony but only when the Party accused was to bee put upon his Jury Those of the upper House did sit with their heads covered those of the lower House uncovered The Bishops upon the Saterday before did voluntarily decline the giving of their Suffrages in matters Criminall and of that nature according to the provision of the Cannon-Law and practise of the Kingdome to this day and therefore would not be present yet withall they gave in a Protestation that their absence should not prejudice them of that or any other priviledge competent to them as the Lords Spirituall in Parliament which was accepted The Earle of Arundell as Lord high-Steward of England sat apart by himselfe and at the Lieutenants entrie commanded the House to proceede Master Pym being speaker of the Committee for his accusation gave in the same Articles which were presented at his last being before the upper House which being read his Replyes were subjoyned and read also the very same which were presented before in the upper House Some give the reason of this because the lower House had not heard those Accusations in pulique before others that the formality of the Processe required no lesse however that day was spent in that exercise The Queene went from the House about eleven of the clock The King and Prince stayed till the meeting was dissolved which was after two The Lieutenant was sent to the Tower by his Guard and appointed to recurne upon Tuesday at nine of the clock in the morning The crowd of people was neither great nor troublesome all of them saluted him and hee them with great humility and courtesie both at his entrance and at his returne therefore let fame pretend what it please about the malice and discontent of the multitude That if he passe the stroake of Justice they will teare hâ—m in pâ—eces yet I see there is more in Rumor then in Sight and appearance and in this Report as in all others of this nature more is thrust upon the vulgar who seeme as well fearefull of punishment as exempt from it for all their great number then they doe justly deserve On Tuesday in the morning hee came accompanied as before to Westminster and having stayed in the Exchequer Chamber Tuesday till nine of the clock the King Queene and Prince came as before upon the first day Then Master Pym being called for aggravated the Charge Pyms first Charge which was given the day before by a very ample Speech It is impossible to call to minde all the Hyperbolees the Flashes and superlative Expressions
susteine Thirdly the necessity of that Court in that Kingdome which hath beene ever governed by that way and therefore impossible to debarre the natives from it without great inconvenience for it would utterly undoe them and none is prejudiced by it but the Lawyers And therefore seeing that he had done nothing but what was customary necessary and equitable Commanded to it and the Sentence just hee hoped rather for thanks from the State then a Charge for his ill Deportment withall he shewed with what Extortion and Violence the Lord Mount-Norris had taken seisure of that peece of Land and made the playing of his game to be very foule and at last hee added That he had done no more in Ireland then the Court of Request in England usually doth And that the Chancery Court in Ireland doth the same daily and the last Chancellor was never Charg'd said hee for such Proceedings though this his Power and Authority was lesse then mine But the difference of the Person and his Authority it seemeth differeth the matter And this was the businesse on Monday On Tuesday they passed by the 7 Article and the two first Tuesday Charge the latter part of the eight Article Lady Hibots Case parts of the 8 about the Lady Hibbotts Land That hee had violently thrust her from her possession by this Summary way of Justice and afterwards purchased the land to his owne use by borrowing the name of Sir Robert Meridith In this Probation the testimony of the Gentlewomans own sonne was used of the Lord of Corke and the Lord Mount-Norris all his back-friends or professed Enemies and yet they proved very little but what they tooke up upon hearesayes their prime Allegation was First That though the major part of the Councell-Boord had voted for the Lady yet the Lord Lievetenant had given Decrees against her Secondly That all was done to his own behoofe To the First Hee produced the Sentence under the hand Straffords Reply of the Clerke of the Councell-Boord subscribed by the Major part To the Second Hee attested that hee had no under-dealing with Meridith for the Lady had got her own Lands back from the said Sir Robert Meridith Hee also declared at length with what fraude and deceit the Lady had come to her Lands and upon what reasons they were restored After this Article they fell upon the ninth about the giving Charge Article 9. of Commission to the Bishop of Downe and Connar for apprehending all such Persons and presenting them before the Councell-Boord as contemned the Ecclesiasticall Ordinances This was aggravated as a point mainly against the Liberty of the Subject To this Hee Replyed Fist Hee produced the Primate of Irelands Testimony under Straffords Reply his hand hee being himselfe sick that the same course had been used in Ireland before and that Bishoppe Mountgomery his Predecessor in the Bishoprick of Methe had had the same Secondly Hee shewed the Equity that such assistance should bee given to Church-men who otherwise because of Papists and Schismaticks either to God or the King wâ—â—ld have no Respect or Obedience given them in that Kingdom Thirdly He proved by two witnesses that such Warrants were in use before his time Fourthly Hee said hee had never granted any but that one and had presently within some few Moneths called the same in againe what said hee was the Bishop of Downes carriage in it hee had no reason to answere for But hee presumed the Bishop could give a satisfactory answere for himselfe when hee should be called in question And so hee concluded that a matter so just so necessary so customary and practicall before Hee hoped should not bee Charged upon him as an Introduction of a new and Tyrannicall Forme of Government And therefore submitted himselfe to the Mercy of God and the Equity of his Peeres in his Tryall And this was the worke on Tuesday The ability of this brave Gentleman ravisheth his hearers with admiration though he bee infinitely spent both in Body and Mind by the continued and almost un-interrupted Agitation After the ninth Article was passed against the Commission issued Wednesday Charge Art 10. in favour of the Bishop of Downe and Connar Upon Wednesday Master Glyn proceeded to the tenth Article the Charge was That the Earle of Strafford having established an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall Government over the Lives Lands and Liberties of the Kings Subjects his next desire was to make intrusion upon the Crowne it selfe that by applying to his own use the Publique Revenues hee might bee the more enabled to accomplish his disloyall and trayterous intentions To which end having by a new booke of Rates enhaunced the Customes hee had gotten by advantage of his Lease above twenty six thousand pound yeerly This they added was a Crime of higher nature then those conteined in the Preceding Articles Because in those there was some colour or pretext of Justice here none those in Particulars this in Generall those against the Subject only this against the King himselfe For the Proofe of the Charge they produced the Lease of the Duke of Buckingham Which was read and compared with that Lease to the Dutchesse of Buckingham which the Lieutenant hath now by Assignemâ—â—t and some differences shewn arising to the sum of two thousand pounds in the Dukes Lease only the moity of concealed and forfeited Goods were due to him but the whole Goods to the Dutchesse in her Lease Againe the Kings ships of prizes did not pay Customes in the Dukes Lease in the Dutchesses they did Againe the Impost of the Wines then belonging to the Earle of Carlile was not in the Dukes Lease in the Dutchesses it was Lastly whereas the Earle of Strafford paid but fourteene thousand pounds per annum for the Custome it was worth to him as was apparent by the bookes of the Exchequor forty thousand pound Witnesses were examined First Sir James Hay who deposed that the Earle of Carlile had an advantage of one thousand six hundred pounds per an by his Lease of Wines Secondly The Lord Ranelaugh who deposed that by the inspection of the books of Accompts hee had found the Customes to be Anno 1636 thirty six thousand pounds Anno 1637 thirty nine thousand pounds Anno 1638 fifty foure thousand pounds Anno 1639 fifty nine thousand pounds With the Proofe they concluded the Charge That notwithstanding the Lord Strafford pretended a great measure of Zeale and Honesty in his Majesties service yet it is evident hee had abused the trust put upon him and by withdrawing so great summes of money from the Crowne had weakened the King praejudiced the Subject of the Protection they were to expect from him and had beene the cause that the extraordinary way of Impost and Monopolies had beene undertaken for supplying of the Royall necessitie And that this Act therefore ought to bee enough to make the Charge and Impeachment of high-Treason laid against him The Lievetenants Reply was That hee conceived
common equity would excuse him In the afternoone it was reported that he was dead of which Report of my Lord Sâ—raffâ—rd's deaâ—h there can be no better reason given then the Humor and Genious of the times that dally with nothing oftner then untruths and calumnies And certainly there are many men of shallow understanding and weake affections who eyther will not or cannot understand the Gentlemans worth but out of fearefull and needlesse apprehensions are so desirous to heare of his ruine any way that their busie tongues will dare to anticipate the stroake of Justice Master Glyn proffers new proofes concerning the two and twentith Article Upon Satterday morning he presented himselfe at the Barre Satterday where he expected nothing but repetitions of Charges and Defences but meane while Master Glyn proffers some new proofes concerning the two and twentith Article which the noble Lord refused alleaging the Processe was closed Master Glyn answered the Processe is not closed as long as the businesse stands unrepealed And that it did not become a Prisoner at the Barre to prescribe a Method of proceeding to the House of Commons in England It was answered by the Lord Lievetenant that he thought it stood him in hand as neerely to maintain his life as it did any to pursue him for it yet he was willing they should bring in new proofes provided that he might have time to make new Replies and withall use some new witnesses in some Articles that concerns his justification The Lord Newarke upon these motions desired rhe House might be adjourned after two houres stay and a hot conflict among the Lords they returned and the Lord Steward commanded the Order to bee read which consisted of two Articles First That it was granted unto them to bring in proofes concerning the two and twentith Article so it was to the Lord Strafford to make his Replies and use his witnesses concerning the same Secondly That if they went to no more Articles no more should the Lord Strafford but if they did that hee might pitch upon any one Article as he pleased The House of Commons presently declined all other Articles and conceived the Order expresly for them restrayning him from all other Articles except that only He conceived the Order was for him and said that seeing they had pickt out their Article it was against all common Equity to tie up his hands and not admit of a common rule for them both They replyed that when the Article was canvased they reserved witnesses till another time Hee answered that he had done the same upon every Article They Replyed that the House had refused his Reservation He answered nor had they passed an Order for theirs Upon this new contestation the House rose againe and was adjourned It is supposed that the House of Commons had the better ground because they had particularly named their witnesses in their Reservation The Lord Strafford not so they pressed but one Article hee many But such was the pleasure of the Lords that though the matter did not deserve to bee much stood upon yet after two houres vehement agitation of the businesse in the upper-house they returned and the Order was in his favour to this effect First That both of them should wave their new ptoofes and goe immediatly to that which followes Secondly If they would not doe so the Lords conceived themselves common Judges to both and therefore would not deny Strafford the liberty of pitching upon what Article hee pleased as they had done Thirdly That both of them should name their witnesses at the Barre instantly The Commons were much grieved at this yet desired him to nominate his witnesses if he would make any benefit of the Order He answered that he would nominate after them because they were first in order they replyed that he knew their Article they not his He said hee was to bring proofes about the second fift thirteenth and the fifteenth Articles and did desire them that they would now proceede to nomination But they told him they could not embrace the Order without advice of the whole House then on a suddaine a mighty noyse followed of the whole House Withdraw Withdraw and was in so uncouth and tumultuous a confusion that it produced both admiration and feare in the beholders wherein we might easily feele the pulse of a distempered State both the Houses brake up not apointing so much as the next Diet each mans countenance spake anger and discontent and nothing sounded in our eares all Sunday but terrors and affrightments of a present division and breach between the two Houses That the House of Commons would declare him a Traytor and all such Lords too as were his adherents That he should be no more heard in publique That though parties and not his Peeres they would vote in his Sentence Munday spent in a conference betwixt botb Houses That a Bill of Attainder should presently be drawn up against him and that nothing could content them but present execution Big words flew up and down all Monday That whole day was spent in a conference betwixt the Houses without any meeting in the Hall but the Lords who had learned as it seemes to force their owne ruine by his misfortune and now conceive that Monarchy and Nobility are of such Identidy that one and the same is the diminution of both kept fast to their conclusion and would not passe from their Order notwithstanding all the many dangers represented so that the house of Commons were constrained at last to give way and embrace the first part of the Order by waving witnesses on both sides This hath beene no small discouragement to his Enemies for a more reall Demonstration of his party amongst the Lords could not have beene shewn Upon Monday some of the Lords went so high in their heate as to tell the House of Commons that it was an un-naturall motion for the head to be governed by the tayle That they hated Rebellion as bad as Treason That the same blood that ennobled their Ancestors did move also in their veines and therefore they would never suffer themselves to bee suppressed by a popular faction After a great deale of storme all was as well as might be soadered up againe and Tuesday appointed to be the day for the Lievetenant to resume his Defences for then their Charge without any more proofe to be used on eytherside Upon Tuesday the Lord Steward at the entrie told them the Tuesday Lords had Ordered that both their testimonies should be waved that they should proceede immediatly to what followed so that that day might put an end to what concerned the matter of Fact The Lord Lievetenant Replied That in all humility and obedience Straffords Reply he would submit himselfe to that or any other their Decrees whatsoever though it should reach as farre home unto him as his owne life but withall humbly begged That if hereafter hee should be troubled for they were to speake
praejudiciall unto my Lord Strafford First In that they should suppose that to be done which is not proved to be Secondly That the matter of Law ariseth so naturally from the matter of Fact that it will be impossible to separate one from the other Thirdly That it is the course of all Judicatories first to settle the Verdict and upon that to fixe the Arguments otherwise hee could conceive no possible way of proceeding And therefore in the Lord Straffords name he most humbly entreated that the Lords would either wholly determine the matter of Fact or whether Treason or not for then all other proceedings in Lawe were unnecessary but whether done or not done or else to give them some States of the question whereunto they might confine themselves Upon this motion the House was adjourned for that day nor hath it met since for the House of Commons are turned to their old bias and will heare of nothing but the Bill of Attainder but the Lords seeme to be more resolute then before because they finde that they have no Authority to declare a Treason in a fact already past the Salvo of the twenty fift of Edward the third being Repealed withall that if the Bill of Attainder should proceede the King hath as great power to hinder that at the last blow as any other Stat. but I hope the Lords will disburthen him of that envie All they which stand oblieged to the Lord Strafford in blood affection or deserving and all who have beene interessed with him in the Kings service and many too who both hate his person and dislike his proceedings will doubtlesse looke to it and tender their owne safety all of them in likelyhood being subject to the Charge of Treason if ever they chance to be called to doe the King service in any place of importance I cannot expresse how much the voice of the multitude is now altered from what it was lately nothing now talked of what should be done but only of what must be done so that if the Lord Strafford dies his very enemies will confesse that it is done more for necessity then for Justice and rather for the satisfaction of rancorous apprehensions then for any guiltinesse in the Cause Thursday last viz. Aprill 29. was designed for the Agitation Thursday of the long intermitted busines concerning the Lievetenant And the way was this The Lords did meete at the great Hall at Westminster about nine of the clock not in their Robes nor did the Lord Steward The foâ—mality â—f a conference sit upon his sack but with the rest promiscously nor did the Committee for the House of Commons stand at the Barre but sat with the rest of their fellowes and the Earle of Strafford sat behinde the place where he used to sit before The reason of these changes were because the Diet was appointed not for a meeting but for a Conference so curious are we and that 's all about formalities The King Queene and Prince were there according to their custome not a man spake a word in the house all the time but only Master St. John the Kings Sollicitor one of the Committee whose drift and purpose was to furnish the Lords with reasons why the House of Commons had proceeded with a Bill of Attaindor And withall to reply to what the Lord Strafford had spoken eyther by himselfe or his Councell in matter of Lawe The Speech is in Print If it were not without my Sphere to give my opinion of Master St. Johns speech it should be this That he spake little or nothing to purpose except in his fift or sixt Arguments and in them I beleeve without his booke if not I should conceive it better and safer to live under the Lawes of any other Nation then these of England where all Lawe is at last resolved into an Arbitrary power and that by these very men who so much elsewhere enveigh against it Of the Presidents which seeme to pinch hardest many of them were since the Proviso Repealed which is an Argument in my apprehension of the pleaders penurie others nothing to purpose as that of Felony c. to the other few if Lawyers can give satisfaction I am confident Master St. John did rather advantage then hurt the Earle by his pleading The next news which we expect to heare is with what Resolution he went out of this World for it is concluded amongst the major part of his Judges that one must die for the people It were well if the blood of one two or three could satisfie The Bill for certain is past the higher House to which 't is thought the King will be perswaded to give way The Scaffold is built upon the Tower Hill God grant him mercy for his other sins and I hope he will easily answere that of Treason He dies as we heare upon the twenty third Article for the words attested by Sir Henry Vane though his Majesty publiquely protested the words were never spoken by him Upon the close of Master St. Johns speech the House dissolved nor was there a word spoken but by Master St. Johns only the Lord Lievetenant used the last part of his Rhetorique and by a dumbe eloquence Manibus ad Syderatensis all along Master St. Johns speech made his Replies with a deepe silence Upon Friday he Petitioned the Lords to be heard againe and that because his Lawyers had not fully spoken at their last meeting but this was denied him because the House were to have the last speech nor were they content to speake againe Upon this information or what else is not known the King it seemes fearing the Inconstancy of the Lords came to the House on Saterday at ten of the clock and having called for the House of Commons spake much to this effect THAT Hee had sincerely without Affection The Kings speech to the House of Commons or Partialitie endeavored to informe himselfe concerning the Livetenants Charge and had at length seriously pondered with himselfe both concerning the matter of Fact and the matter of Lawe and now it stood him in hand to cleere their judgements then to exonerate his own Conscience For them Hee had two things to declare First That there was never such a project nor had the Lord Strafford ever offered such advise for the transporting of the Irish Army into England so that in nothing the Livetenant had beene more misunderstood then in that Which imputation did in no small measure reflect on himselfe the King as if he had intended to make War upon his own good Subjects which thought he said was farre enough from his brest nor could any man in probability thinke so unworthily of him who had perceived how graciously he had dealt with his Subjects elsewhere that had deserved a great deale worse Secondly That the Lievetenant had never advized him to establish an Arbitrary Government nor if he had should he have escaped condigne punishment nor would any of his good Subjects ever
think otherwise unlesse they conceived him either to bee a foole or a Tyrant that he either could not or would not discern such wickednesse Hee was well content hee said with that Authority and Power which God had put into his hands nor should he ever thinke it his Praerogative to intrude upon the Propriety of the Subject For himselfe and his own Conscience hee said he was now to Declare That in his own judgement there was nothing in the Processe against the Lievetenant that deserved the censure of Treason Oversights and Mis-demeanors there were in such a measure that he confessed the Lord Strafford was never worthy hereafter to beare any Office in his kingdomes no not so much as of a Constable but was to be answerable for all his Errors when they were to be charged upon him and to this none of them should concurre with greater alacrity then himselfe That he hoped none of them would deny to give him the priviledge of the first Voice which was That he would never in heart nor hand concurre with them to punish this man as a Traytor and desired therefore that they would thinke of some other way how the businesse might be composed Nor should it ever be lesse deere to him though with the losse of his deerest blood to protect the Innocent then to punish the Guilty At the House of Commons startled and adjorned themselves till Monday divers censures are Past upon the Kings speech even of those that love his houour some thinke hee was drawn to this by a certain fore-knowledge of the Lords facility to give way to the Commons and that it was better to expresse themselves then if by that meanes hee could hinder the sentence then to countermand the Execution thereof when it was passed and so draw all the envie upon himselfe others are of opinion which is more probable that this hath beene a plot of the Kings bosome enemies to set him at ods with his sujâ—cts that thereby they might sish the more securely in these troubled waters The reason is because it is very likely the Lord Strafford might have passed free by the voices of the Lords but now howsoever the matter falleth out all the blame will be imputed to the King for if hee bee condemned it will bee no thanks to the King if Justified that will cerrtinly bee layed to the King too as who by his threats and menaces hath forestalled the voyces of his Nobilty It is conceived by wise men and such as wish no evill to my Lord Strafford that it had beene farre better both for the King and him to have first tryed the utmost of the Lords for the King because it was both possible and probable that hee migh have gayned the Declaration of the Lords for him If not it was time enough to Interpose his own power afterwards for the Lord Strafford because it hath made the House of Commons a great deale the more pressing fearing by the Kings Peremptorie answer from whom in regarde of the advantage of the times they expected nothing but a Concedimus omnia that there is some plot under hand And these thoughts produced the late tumults of the Londoners of which more by and by And it is verily thought that for these two reasons the Lievetenants seeming friends but indeede Reall enemies have put the King upon this way hoping thereby that the Lords should finde occasion to pretend necessity of doing that which perhaps in regard of common equity or the Kings dipleasure they could nor durst have done howsoever Facta est alia the King is now so farre engaged that with respect to honour and conscience hee connot retire for if the Praecedure bee by a legislative power It falls directly upon him nor can hee give his assent If by a Judiciary then must hee either hinder the execution or bee sayd to have Charged himselfe with Injustice This hath produced Strange alterations even the marriage of the Prince of Orenge done on Sunday last May the second with ordinary Solemnity is now exceedingly hatefull to the Commons which so much before desired it some say the Praecipitation of that marriage Imports no good others that the Parliament had condiscended to that marriage but did not expect that Acceleration a third sort that the party is meane enough if not too lowe for the King of Englands eldest Daughter All of them that the Dutch-men have offered mony to the King for a new service of warre and have thereby bought this Honour This is encreased by the landing of a Dutch-man who is to bee Gentleman of the Kings Horses And shortly with us the Hollander will bee no lesse odious then the Spanyard Oh the wonderfull changes of the untoward unconstant and giddy multitude How unhappy a time it is to know what Liberty meanes and to get the Rheins cast upon their own necks it ranges madly up and downe nec modum tenens nec terminum nor is capable of subsistence till it hath lost it selfe and what it so much affects Liberty So knives are put into the hands of children who discerne no danger but affect them for their splendor and glittering so Poyson into the mouâ—hs of fooles which is Judged only by the taste and sweetnesse But it seemes the Judgment of this Kingdome cannot bee prevented and because they have sinned against themselves by abusing their plenty and fatnesse It is the just judgement of God that they bee the executioners of his Judgements upon themselves Before I tell you of Monday and Tuesdayes madnesse I must tell you when and whence this fury hath its first motion Upon the Thursday before a great many Apprentises beset the Spanish Ambassadors house neere Bishops-gate threatning to pull it downe and kill the man the Mayor of London coms amongst them and with a great deale of paynes perswaded them to retire home and afterwards entred into the Ambassadors House at his comming in the Ambassador desired him to pull downe his sword which was carryed before him because hee was now where the King of Spaine had Jurisdiction That being done hee told the Lord Mayor that in all his life time hee had never seene such a barbarous attempt and desired to know whether England were a civill Nation or no where the Law of Nations were so monstrously violated The Mayor replyed that they were of the base and rascally sort of people and intreated the tumult might not bee imputed to the town the Ambassador answered that hee could hardly acknowledge that to bee a town yea scarce a society of men where there was so little Civility and Government The Mayor told him that the people were discontent because Masse was said in his house The Ambassodar replyed that the English Ambassador had the free exercise of his Religion at Madrid and that hee would rather forgoe his life then any of those priviledges due to him by Paction and the Law of Nations The Mayor answered they were the more incensed against him
ever establish betwixt you and your Subjects Sir My consent herein shall acquit you more to God then all the world can doe beside To a willing man there is no injury done And as by Gods-grace I forgive all the world with a calmnesse and meekenesse of infinite contentment to my dislodging Soule so Sir I can give the Life of this world with all cheerefulnesse Immaginable in the just acknowledgment of your exceeding favours and only beg that in your goodnesse you would vouchsafe to cast your gracious Regard upon my poore Sonne and his three sisters lesse or more and no otherwise then their unfortunate Father shall appeate more or lesse guilty of this Death God preserve your Majesty Your Majesties most Humble and Faithfull Subject Servant STRAFFORD Tower May 9. 1641. The Petition of THOMAS Earle of Strafford to the right-Honorable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall in the Parliament at Westminster 1641. Sheweth THAT seeing it is the good will and pleasure of God that your Petitioner is now shortly to pay that duty which we all owe to our fraile Nature He shall in all Christian patience and Charity conforme and submit to that Justice in a comfortable assurance of the great hope laid up for us in the Mercy and Merits of our Saviour Blessed for ever Only he humbly craves to returne your Lordships most humble thanks for your noble Compassion towards those Innocent Children who now with his last blessing he commits to the protection of Almighty God beseeching your Lordships to finish your pious Intentions towards them and desiring that the reward thereof may be given you by him who is able to give above all that we are able either to aske or thinke wherein I trust the honorable House of Commons will afford rheir Christian assistance And so beseeching your Lordships charitably to forgive all his omissions infirmities he doth heartily and truly recommend your Lordships to the Mercies of our heavenly Father that for his goodnesse he may protect you in every good work Amen There was a foolish ridiculous and scandalous Speech printed which was pretended to have been spoken by the Earle of Strafford to certaine Lords before his comming out of the Tower which is protested against and avowed to be false by the Lord Primate of Ireland E of Cleveland E of Newport Lo. Rich Sir William Bâ—lfoure Sir William Wentworth Sir George Wentworth Dr. Carre Dr Price De Mortuis nil nisi verunt The Paper conteining the Heads of the Lord Straffords last Speech written with his own hand as it was left upon the Scaffold falling out of his Bosom 1. Come to pay the last Debt we owe to sinne 2. Rise to Righteousnesse 3. Dye willingly 4. Forgive all 5. Submit to Justice but in my intentions Innocent from subverting c. 6. Wishing nothing but good Prosperity to King and People 7. Acquit the King constreined 8. Beseech to Repent 9. Strange way to write the beginning of Reformation and settlement of a Kingdome in blood 10. Beseech that demand may rest there 11. Call not blood on themselves 12. Dy in the Faith of the Church 13. Pray for it and desire their Prayers with me A true-copy of his Speech delivered on the Scaffold My L. Primate of Ireland IT is my very great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have beene known to you these many yeares and I doe thank God and your Lordship for it that you are heere I should bee very glad to obteine so much silence as to bee heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great My Lords I am come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last debt I owe to sinne which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the mirrits of Jesus Christ to righteousnesse and life aeternall Heere hee was a little interrupted My Lords I am come hither to submit to that Judgement which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented minde I thank God I doe freely forgive all the world a forgivenesse that is not spoken from the teeth outwards as they say but from the very heart I speake it in the presence of Almighty God before whome I stand that there is not a displeasing thought arising in me towards any man living I thank God I can say it and truly too my conscience bearing me witnesse that in all my imployment since I had the Honour to serve his Majestie I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the Joynt and Individuall prosperity of King and people although it hath beene my ill fortune to bee misconstrued I am not the first that hath suffered in this kinde it is the common portion of us all while wee are in this life to err Righteous Judgment wee must wait for in another place for heere we are very subject to bee mis-judged one of another there is one thing that I desire to free my selfe of and I am very confident speaking it now with so much cheerfullnesse that I shall obteine your Christian charity in the beliefe of it I was so farre from being against Parliaments That I did allwayes think the Parliaments of England were the most happy constitutions that any Kingdome or Nation lived under and the best means under God to make the King people happy For my Death I heere acquit all the world and beseech the God of Heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it though in the Intentions and purposes of my heart I am not guilty of what I dy for And my Lord Primate it is a great comfort for me that his Majesty conceives me not merriting so severe and heavy a punishment as is the utmost execution of this Sentence I do infinitly rejoyce in this mercy of his and I beseech God returne it into his own bosome that hee may find mercy when hee stands most in neede of it I wish this Kingdome all the Prosperity and happinesse in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I doe most humbly recommend this to every one who heares mee and desire they would lay their hands upon their hearts and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happinesse and reformation of a Kingdome should bee written in Letters of blood consider this when you are at your homes and let me be never so unhappy as that the last drop of my blood should rise up in Judgement against any one of you But I feare you are in a wrong way My Lords I have but one word more and with that I shall end I professe that I dy a true and obedient Sonne to the Church of England wherein I was borne and in which I was bred Peace and prosperity bee ever to it It hath beene objected if it were an objection worth the answering that I have beene inclined to Popery but I say truly