superstitious Ceremonies or such as they conceived so upon them put downe accustomed Lectures and deprived many Ministers much beloved and reverenced among them By which rigour he grew accidentally guilty of a wonderfull crime against the wealth and prosperity of the State For many Tradesmen with whom those parts abounded were so afflicted and troubled with his Ecclesiasticall censures and vexations that in great numbers to avoid misery they departed the Kingdome some into new England and other parts of America others into Holland whether they transported their Manufactures of Cloth not onely a losse by diminishing the present stock of the Kingdome but a great mischiefe by impairing and indangering the losse of that peculiar Trade of Clothing which hath been a plentifull fountaine of Wealth and Honour to the Kingdome of England as it was expressed in the Parliament Remonstrance but more particular crimes were laid against the Bishop which there may be occasion to discourse of hereafter in the proccedings against him The day before Bishop WRENNE was accused being the 18. of December a greater man both in Church and State WILLIAM LAUD Archbishop of Canterbury was voted in the House of Commons guilty of High Treason Master DENZILL HOLLIS a Member of that House was sent up to the Lords to appeach him there upon which he was sequestred and confined to the Black Rod. He was also charged by the Scottish Commissioners together with the Earle of Strafford as a chiefe Incendiary in the late Warre betweene both Nations and divers Articles laid against him which to examine and discusse further a Committee was appointed Upon the 23. of February Master PYMME made report to the House of Commons what hainous and capitall crimes were objected against him Upon which the House fell into a serious debate and a Charge of High Treason in fourteene Articles was drawne up against him which Charge two daies after was sent from the House of Commons by Master PYMME up to the Lords The Archbishop was that day brought before the Lords to heare that Charge read and it was there voted That he should immediately be sent to the Tower but upon his earnest suit for some speciall reasons he was two daies longer suffered to abide under the Black Rod and then accordingly sent to the Tower where we will leave himâ— till the course of this Narration bring him to further triall upon those Articles Civill offendors as well as Ecclesiasticall must needs be many in so long a corruption of Government of whom one as he was first in time and soone leâ—t the Stage besides his chiefe Crime concerning matters of Church and Religion so he shall first be named Sir FRANCIS WINDEBANKE Principall Secretary of Estate a great Favourite and friend to the Archbishop of Canterbury and by his friendship as was thought advanced to that place of Honour was upon the 12 of November questioned in an high kinde concerning Popish Priests of whom in that seven or eight yeares that he had been Secretary he had bayled a great number and released many by his power contrary to the Lawes made and then in force against them which being examined by a Committee and certaine to prove foule against him as it did afterward for upon examination there were proved against him 74. Letters of grace to Recusants within foure yeares signed with his owne hand 64 Priests discharged from the Gate-House 29 discharged by a verball Warrant from him he thought it his best course before triall to fly the Land so that upon the fourth of December newes was brought to the House that Secretary WINDEBANKE with Master READ his chiefe Clarke was fled and soone after notice was given that he arrived in France where he long continued About that time came the great businesse of Ship-Money into debate in Parliament and was voted by both Houses to be a most illegall Taxation and unsufferable grievance in reference to which case almost all the Judges were made Delinquents for their extrajudiciall opinions in it as more particularly will afterward appeare As for other petty grievances such as were the multitude of Monopolies upon all things and Commodities of greatest and most familiar use the House daily condemned them and the Delinquents of meaner note in that kinde were examined and censured too many to be here named Nay so impartiall was the House of Commons in that case that many of their owne Members who had been guilty of such Monopolies were daily turned out of the House for that offence But the businesse of Ship-money did reflect with a deeper staine of guilt upon the then Lord Keeper FINCH then upon any of the other Judges whatsoever for his great activity and labouring in it by threats and promises working upon the other Judges as we finde alleadged against him Sir JOHN FINCH in the yeare 1636. when that Taxation of Ship-money was first plotted and set on foot was newly made Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas a man in favour with the King and many of the greatest Lords in Court having before been the Queenes Attorney a Gentleman of good birth of an high and Imperious spirit eloquent in speech though in the knowledge of the Law not very deepe Upon the death of the Lord Keeper COVENTRY about December 1639. the King was pleased to conferre that high Trust of keeping the Great Seale upon him which Office at this time he held Upon the seventh of December when Ship-money was fully debated and absolutely damned by the House of Commons and the offence of the Judges began to be scanned sixteene Gentlemen of that House were chosen to examine those Judges that had given their extrajudiciall opinions for it for three gave their opinions otherwise The arguments of two Judge CROOKE and Judge HUTTON were very famous Baron DENHAM by reason of sicknesse could not declare his opinion in so large a manner what threats or promises had been used to them and by what persons Upon which examination and further light given the next day a Committee was named to draw up Charges against the Judges and against the Lord FINCH then Lord Keeper a Charge of High Treason He not many daies after became an humble Suâ—tor to the House of Commons That before the Charge of High Treason were delivered against him they would be pleased to heare him Ore Tenus in their owne House His suit was granted and the next day save one in a long Oration he endeavoured to cleare himselfe but all in vaine was that endeavour though his deportment were very humble and submissive and his Speech full of perswasive Rhetorick it could not prevaile to divert the Judgement though many in the House were moved to a kinde of Compassion He either secretly informed by friends or himself perceiving by evident signes how things were likely to go with him conceived it best to use a timely prevention and the next day disguised fled and soone crossed the Seas into Holland After his flight he was voted
House upon the eighth day of June last past they refused to appear and returned a scornful Answer by a Letter under their hands directed to the Speaker of the Lords House and remaining there upon Record For which Crimes and Misdemeanours to the interruption of the proceedings of Parliament and great Affairs of the Kingdom and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament and disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom I am commanded in the name of the said Commons to demand of your Lordships that the said Lords may be forthwith put to their Answer and receive speedy and exemplary punishment according to their demerits The Commons saving to themselves liberty at all times hereafter to exhibite any other or further Impeachment or Accusation against the said Lords or any of them Upon this Impeachment of the nine Lords the House of Peers about a month after being in their Robes entred into debate of the said Impeachment and after divers Speeches made by some Lords setting forth the greatnesse of their Offence they were censured 1. Never to sit more as Members of that House 2. That they should be utterly uncapable of any benefit or priviledges of Parliament 3. That they should suffer Imprisonment during their pleasure After which Censure it was concluded that the said Lords should be demanded in the behalf of both Houses of Parliament to submit to the said Censure About that time when the Members of both Houses of Parliament did daily forsake their station and repair to the King at York another accident fell out which gave a great wound to the Parliament and much encouragement to the King in his designes which was the carrying away of the Great Seal of England from London to York EDWARD Lord LITTLETON on whom the King when the Lord Keeper FINCH fled out of England as is before related had conferred the keeping of the Great Seal he being before Lord chief Justice of the common-Common-Pleas and created a Baron of the Realm had continued for some space of time after the rest were gone to York firm to the Parliament in all appearance and upon all occasions voted according to the sense of those that seemed the best affected that way and among other things gave his Vote for setling the Militia by Ordinance of Parliament insomuch that there seemed no doubt at all to be made of his constancy till at the last before the end of the month of Iune a young Gentleman one Master Thomas Eliot Groom of the Privie Chamber to the King was sent closely from York to him who being admitted by the Lord Keeper into his private Chamber when none else were by so handled the matter whether by perswasions threats or promises or whatsoever that after three hours time he got the great Seal into his hands and rid post with it away to the King at York The Lord Keeper Lâ—TTLETON after serious consideration with himself what he had done or rather suffered and not being able to answer it to the Parliament the next day early in the morning rode after it himself and went to the King Great was the complaint at London against him for that action nor did the King ever shew him any great regard afterwards The reason which the Lord Keeper LITTLETON gave for parting so with the great Seal to some friends of his who went after him to York was this That the King when he made him Lord Keeper gave him an Oath in private which he took That whensoever the King should send to him for the great Seal he should forthwith deliver it This Oath as he averred to his friends his conscience would by no means suffer him to dispense withal he onely repented though now too late that he had accepted the Office upon those terms The Parliament to prevent so sad a War sent out two Orders one to all Sheriffsâ— Justices and other Officers within 150 miles of the City of York that they should take special care to make stay of all Arms and Ammunition carrying towards York until they have given notice thereof to the Lords and Commons and received their further direction and to that purpose to keep strict Watches within their several limits to search for and seize all such Arms and apprehend the persons going with the same The other was to the Sheriff of Lancashire and other adjacent Counties to suppresse the raising and coming together of any Souldiers Horse or Foot by any Warrant from the King without the advice of the Lords and Commons in Parliament as likewise to declare all that should execute any such Warrant from the King disturbers of the peace of the Kingdom and to command the Trained Bands to be assistant to the Sheriffs in that service These Orders of the Parliament were immediately answered by a Proclamation from the King forbidding all his Subjects belonging to the Trained Bands or Militia of this Kingdom to rise march muster or exercise by vertue of any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament without Consent or Warrant from his Majestie The Parliament notwithstanding proceed in setling the Militia of the Kingdom having made on the second of Iune an Order for those revolted members to return to their duty again before the 16 of that month under the forfeiture of an hundred pound to be disposed to the Wars in Ireland besides undergoing such punishment as the Houses should think fit and had by this time at many places began to settle the said Militia Upon the same second of Iune also the Lords and Commons sent a Petition to the King with nineteen Propositions which the King received with great indignation as appeared in his Answer to them both in general and in divers Particulars concerning those Propositions as esteeming himself injured in restraint of his Power and Prerogative The Petition and Propositions were as followeth The humble Petition and Advice of both Houses of Parliament with Nineteen Propositions and the Conclusion sent unto His Majestie the second of Iune 1642. YOur Majesties most humble and faithful Subjects the Lords and Commons in Parliament having nothing in their thoughts and desires more precious and of higher esteem next to the honour and immediate Service of God then the just and faithful performance of their duty to Your Majestie and this Kingdom And being very sensible of the great distractions and distempers and of the imminent dangers and calamities which those distractions and distempers are like to bring upon Your Majestie and Your Subjects all which have proceeded from the subtil informations mischievous practices add evil counsels of men disaffected to Gods true Religion Your Majesties Honour and Safety and the publike Peace and Prosperity of Your People after a serious observation of the causes of those Mischiefs Do in alâ— humility and sincerity present to Your Majesty their most dutiful Petition and Advice that out of Your Princely Wisdom for the establishing Your Own Honour and Safety and gracious tendernesse of the Welfare and
by the House of Commons guilty of High Treason for foure causes 1. Disobeying the House in refusall to speake at their command when he was Speaker in Parliament in the fourth yeare of King CHARLES 2. For threatning some Judges in the matter of Ship-money 3. For his illegall and cruell Judgements in the Forrest businesse when he was Lord Chiefe Justice of the Common Pleas. 4. For drawing that injurious Declaration after dissolution of the last Parliament Upon which a Charge was drawne up against him and carried up to the Lords upon the 14. of Ianuary three weeks after his flight by the Lord FAWKLAND who presented it with a very pithy and sharpe Oration against the man These two last Delinquents though men of eminent place in the Common-wealth as they did not long trouble the Parliament nor much retard the progresse of publike businesse preventing their Trialls by timely flight so can they take up no large roome in this Historicall Narration CHAP. VIII The Tryall and death of the Earle of Strafford Conspiracies detected during the agitation of it An Act for continuance of this present Parliament With a mention of that Grant of the Trienniall Parliament in February before BUt now a greater Actor is brought upon the Stage THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lieutenant of Ireland a man too great to be let escape no sooner accused but surprized and secured for a Tryall Which Tryall of his if we consider all things the high nature of the Charge against him the pompous circumstances and stately manner of the Triall it selfe the time that it lasted the pretiousnesse of that time so consumed and lastly of what moment and consequence the successe of it must prove I may safely say that no Subject in England and probably in Europe ever had the like So great it wasâ— that we can hardly call it the Triall of the Earle of Strafford onely the Kings affections toward his People and Parliament the future successe of this Parliament and the hopes of three Kingdoms depending on it were all tryed when Strafford was arraigned Many Subjects in Europe have played lowder parts upon the Theater of the world but none left it with greater noise nor was the matter of his accusation confined within one Realme three whole Kingdoms were his Accusers and eagerly sought in one death a recompence of all their sufferings That we may say of his case as CLAUDIAN of RUFFINUS Offensis Ruffinum divide terris Within ten daies after the Parliament began the Earle of Strafford newly returned from the North was sitting in the House of Lords when Master PYMME an ancient Gentleman of great experience in Parliamentary affaires and no lesse knowne fidelity to his Country came up to the Lords and in the name of all the Commons of England accused THOMAS Earle of Strafford Lord Lieutenant of Ireland of High Treason and desired their Lordships that he might be sequestred from Parliament and forthwith committed to Prison as also to let them know that the Commons within very few daies would resort to their Lordships with the particular Articles and grounds of this Accusation The Earle was required to withdraw and after a debate thereof called in was committed to safe custody to the Gentleman Usher And immediately after upon the 13. day of November a Serjeant at Armes was sent into Ireland for Sir GEORGE RATLIFFE a great Favourite of the Earles and one that under him had beene very active in the oppression of Ireland a man of subtle wit and knowledge of the Law as having before beene educated at the Innes of Court and taken the degree of Barrister Sir GEORGE accordingly upon the fourth of December came in and yeelded himselfe to the Speaker from whence he was committed to custody And foure daies after the Lords of Parliament sent the Earle of Strafford to the Tower with a strict command to the Lieutenant that he should keepe a close guard upon him Much time was interposed betweene the severall proceedings against this Earle of Strafford by reason of the multiplicity of weighty businesse which the Parliament then had But before the end of Ianuary a long Charge was read against him in the House of Commons and a Message not long after sent to the Lords to desire that he might be sequestred from all his places of Dignity and Honour in England and Ireland The Charge against him consisted of nine Articles which afterwards upon a further impeachment were extended to eight and twenty All those Articles are to be seene at large in the Records But for further satisfaction of the Reader I will give a briefe touch of the scope of them The first and second being much alike concerning his ruling of Ireland and those parts of England where his Authority lay in an Arbitrary way against the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome which Lawes he had indeavoured to subvert Thirdly his retaining part of the Kings Revenue without giving a legall account Fourthly The abusing of his Power to the increase and incouragement of Papists Fifthly That he maliciously had indeavoured to stir up Hostility betweene England and Scotland Sixthly That being Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Army he had wilfully suffered the Scots to defeat the English at Newburne and take Newcastle that by such a losse and dishonour England might be ingaged in a Nationall and irreconcileable quarrell with the Scots Seventhly That to preserve himselfe from questioning he had laboured to subvert Parliaments and incense the King against them Eightly and lastly That these things were done during the time of his Authority as Deputy of Ireland and Lieutenant Generall of the Northerne Armies in England The Commons saving to themselves a liberty of further impeachment against the said Earle c. do require his legall answer to all The further impeachment consisting of 28. Articles was for the most part branched out of these and insisted upon in more particulars concerning his Tyranny in Ireland over divers persons contrary to Law Concerning which the Reader must be referred to the Records themselves as being too large to be here inserted The Earle of Strafford upon the 23. of February was brought before the Lords to give in his answer which he accordingly did the King himself being there present to heare it read It was very large and when it was done he was sent back to the Tower there to remaine till further Order A Committee being appointed to consider of that businesse upon the fourth of March following made report in the House That they would mannage and maintaine their Accusation of Treason against him and thought it not fit to reply to his Answer but call him to speedy triall Immediately upon which a Conference was had with the Lords concerning that Triall and some Circumstances which were thought fit to be used at it The Commissioners of Scotland had likewise a Charge against the Earle of Strafford concerning those injuries which as they conceived their Nation and Kingdome had suffered from him
of Linsey E. of Cumberland E. of Huntington E. of Bath E. of Southampton E of Dorset E. of Salisbury E. of Northampton E. of Devonshire E. of Bristol E. of Westmerland E of Barkeshire E. of Monmouth E. of Rivers E. of Newcastle E. of Dover E. of Carnarvan E. of Newport L. MOWBRAY and MATREVERS L. WILLOUGHBY of Eresby L. RICH L. CHARLES HOWARD of Charleton L. NEWARK L. PAGET L. CHANDOYS L. FALCONBRIDGE L. PAULET L. LOVELACE L. COVENTRY L. SAVILE L. MOHUN L. DUNSMORE L. SEYMOUR L. GREY of Ruthen L. FAWLKLAND the Controller Secretary NICHOLAS Sir JOHN CULPEPER Lord Chief Justice BANKS The King immediately wrote a Letter to the Lord Maior of London the Aldermen and Sheriffs forbidding by expresse Command any Contribution of Money or Plate toward the raising of any Arms whatsover for the Parliament and that they should lend no Money unlesse toward the relief of Ireland or payment of the Scots He published then a Declaration to all his Subjects inveighing bitterly against the Parliament for laying a false and scandalous imputation upon him of raising War against the Parliament or levying Forces to that end in which he invites all his loving Subjects to prevent his own danger and the danger of the Kingdom from a malignant party taking up the Parliaments language to contribute Money or Plate to him and they shall be repayed with consideration of eight in the hundred And immediately upon it made a Profession before those forementioned Lords and Councellours about him calling God to witnesse in it disavowing any preparations or intentions to levie War against the Parliament upon which those forementioned Lords and others then present at York made this Declaration and Profession subscribed under their hands We whose names are under-written in obedience to His Majesties Desire and out of the Duty which we owe to His Majesties Honour and to Truth being here upon the place and witnesses of His Majesties frequent and earnest Declarations and Professions of His abhorring all designes of making War upon the Parliament and not seeing any colour of Preparations or Counsels that might reasonably beget the belief of any such Designe do professe before God and testifie to all the world that we are fully perswaded that His Majestie hath no such intention but that all his endeavours tend to the firm and constant settlement of the true Protestant Religion and the just Priviledges of Parliament the liberty of the Subject the Law Peace and Prosperity of this Kingdom The King strengthned with Arms and Ammunition from Holland and more strengthened for as yet he wanted hands to weild those Arms by this Protestation of Lords in his behalf concerning his intention of not making War against the Parliament whereby the people might more easily be drawn to side with him proceeded in his businesse with great policie and indefatigable industry His Pen was quick in giving answer to all Petitions or Declarations which came from the Parliament and with many sharp expostulations in a well-compiled Discourse on the 17 of Iune answered a Petition of the Parliament which Petition was to this effect that he would not disjoyn his Subjects in their duty to himself and Parliament destroying the Essence of that high Court which was presented to him at York by the Lord HOWARD Sir HUGH CHOLMELY and Sir PHILIP STAPLETON And within three weeks both in his own Person and by his Messengers with Speeches Proclamations and Declarations advanced his businesse in a wonderful manner At Newark he made a Speech to the Gentry of Nottinghamshire in a loving and winning way commending their affections toward him which was a great part of perswasion for the future coming from a King himself Another Speech he made at Lincoln to the Gentry of that County full of Protestations concerning his good intentions not onely to them but to the whole Kingdom the Laws and Liberties of it In that short time also by the help of many subtil Lawyers whom he had about him he returned a very long and particular Answer with arguing the case in all points to a Declaration which the Parliament had before made against the Commission of Array expounding that Statute 5 HEN. 4 whereupon that Commission was supposed to be warranted The proofs and arguments on both sides are to be read at large in the Records or in the printed Book of Ordinances and Declarations where a Reader may satisfie his own judgement Within that time also the King sent out a Proclamation against levying Forces without his Command urging Laws and Statutes for it And another long Proclamation to inform the people of the legality of his Commissions of Array and to command obedience to them Another he sent forth against the forcible seizing or removing any Magazine of Ammunition of any County and another forbidding all relieving or succouring of Hull against him Upon which the Parliament declared that those Proclamations without their assent were illegal and forbade all Sheriffs Maiors c. to proclaim them and all Parsons and Curates to or publish them From York the King removed to Beverley from whence he sent a Message to both Houses and a Proclamation concerning his going to Hull to take it in requiring before his journey that it might be delivered up to him But that Message of his came to the House of Peers after they had agreed upon a Petition which was drawn up to move the King to a good accord with his Parliament to prevent a Civil War to be carried to him and presented at Beverley by the Earl of Holland Sir JOHN HOLLAND and Sir PHILIP STAPLETON That very Petition seemed to them so full an answer to the King's Message that both Houses resolved to give no other answer to that Message but the said Petition But immediately after a Declaration was published by both Houses of Parliament for the preservation and safety of the Kingdom and the Town of Hull with assurance of both Houses to satisfie all losse sustained by any service done for the safety of the said Town by reason of overflowing of water upon the grounds there to all persons who should be found faithful in their several services The King continued resoluâ—e in his intention of gaining Hull By what means he attempted it and how those attempts proved to be frustrate is now the subject of a short Discourse The Town of Hull was not more considerable to the Kingdom as a Maritime and strong place then it was now made remarkable to the world in many high and famous circumstances of this Civil War for which cause I shall the more particularly insist upon it Hull was the place which being intrusted with so rich a Magazine of Ammunition did probably allure the King to forsake a Parliament sitting at London and visite the North. Hull was the place where the King in person did first finde his Commands denied and his attempts resisted in an actual way which proved the subject of so many Declarations and Disputations
hath since been confirmed if I mistake not by his example and Your Majesties Chief Iustice Sir JOHN BANKS both in accepting their Ordinance and nominating their Deputy-Lieutenants how much further they proceeded I know not But Sir if the opinions of those great Lawyers drew me into an act unsutable to Your Majesties liking I hope the want of yeers will excuse my want of judgement And since by the Command of the Parliament I am now so far engaged in their Service as the sending out Warrants to summon the County to meet me this day at Lincoln and afterwards in other places I do most humbly beseech Your Majestie not to impose that Command on me which must needs render me false to those that relie on me and so make me more unhappie then any other misery that can fall upon me These things Sir I once more humbly beseech Your Majestie may be taken into Your Gracious consideration and that You would never be pleased to harbour any misconceit of me or of this Action since nothing hath yet passed by my Commands here or ever shall but what shall tend to the honour and safety of Your Majesties Person to the preservation of the Peace of Your Kingdoms and to the content I hope of all Your Majesties Subjects in these parts amongst whom I remain Your Majesties most humble and most dutiful Subject and Servant FRA. WILLOUGHBY Upon the receipt of these Letters the Lords sent a Message to the House of Commons in which they expressed how much they did value and approve the endeavours of this Lord in a service so much importing the safety of this Kingdom not doubting of their readinesse to concur with them upon all occasions to manifest the sense they have and shall retain of his deservings which appear the greater by how much the difficulties appearing by the circumstances of those Letters have been greater The Lords therefore as they resolved to make his Interest their own in this Service for the publike good and safety of the Kingdom so they desired the Commons to joyn with them in so just and necessary a work To this the House of Commons consented and resolved to joyn with the Lords in this Vote making the like resolution also for the Deputy-Lieutenants for the County of Lincoln and desired the Lords concurrence therein Upon which it was ordered by the Lords in Parliament that they agree with the House of Commons for the resolution concerning the Deputy-Lieutenants of the County of Lincoln In Essex also which proved a most unanimous County and by that means continued in peace and happinesse the Earl of Warwick whose care and action was not confined onely to the Sea chosen Lord Lieutenant by the Parliament when he went down to muster and exercise the Country was received with great applause The Trained Bands were not onely compleat but increased by Voluntiers to unusual numbers and so affectionate to that Cause they were in general that they presented a Petition to the Earl of Warwick and the Deputy-Lieutenants in the name of all the Captains and Lieutenants of the several Companies and in the name of all persons belonging to the Trained Bands To which Petition when it was read in the field they expressed a full consent by their general acclamations and applause in every Company The Earl of Warwick therefore sent the Petition to the Parliament to let them see the extraordinary alacrity and affection of that County of Essex to them which was in these words which follow To the Right Honourable ROBERT Earl of Warwick Lord-Lieutenant of the County of Essex and to the worthy Gentlemen the Deputy-Lieutenants of the same County confided in by the most Honourable the high Court of Parliament We the Captains and Lieutenants with the full consent of the Trained Bands and Voluntiers of the County now assembled having before the accesse of this present Parliament seen our Religion our Laws and Liberties brought to the brink of ruine and subversion by the results of most desperate and wicked Counsels could not but with exâ—â—ding joy behold the assembling and continuance of so great and faithful a Councel the Representative Body of this Kingdom and with most certain confidence commit thereto all that was dear unto us And having also seen the late hellish designes and actings of a malignant party in this Kingdom and the bloody Rebellion in Ireland all working to retard the progresse or subvert the being of this worthy Parliament and therein to bereave us of all our hopes of Reformation or future peace and happinesse to this Church or State we cannot but ascribe all glory praise unto the Lord of lords expresse most hearty thankfulnes to his blessed Instruments that great Assembly for their undaunted resolutions unparallell'd endeavours and happie proceedings for the common good And herein as not the least means of our safety for the most necessary and seasonable Ordinance of theirs touching the Militia whereby we are put under the Command and Guidance of so noble a Lord and such worthy Gentlemen whereunto we humbly desire this present day and meeting may be an evidence and pledge of our free and willing obedience Having intrusted our Religion our Laws and all into the hands of that great and most faithful Councel the Parliament whose care and fidelity we have so abundantly found we even bleed to see the heart and actions of our Royal King contrary to his own Royal expressions declining from the Counsels of his Parliament carried after other Counsels whom as the Laws and Constitutions of this Land have not known nor reposed upon so we for our own parts neither will nor dare intrust with our Religion or Laws and whom we verily believe could they prevail against that highest Court under God our chiefest Bulwark and Defence would soon deprive us both of Religion and Law and notwithstanding all their specious pretences reduce us to a condition no lesse miserable then slavish From the deep apprehensions of all which we do freely and heartily promise and tender our persons and estates to assist and defend to the uttermost the high Court of Parliament now assembled the Members Power and Priviledges thereof and therein his Majesties Person and Authority and the Kingdoms Peace according to our late Protestation against all contrary Counsels Power or force of Arms whatsoever which shall be reared up or attempted against them And this our humble Acknowledgement and Resolution which we doubt not will be accorded unto by all good Subjects we humbly desire your Honour and Worships to tender on our behalf to that most honourable Assembly of Parliament for whose happie progresse and successe we shall daily pray Subscribed J. KITELEY HENRY FARRE JOHN BALLET JOHN FLEMMING WILLIAM MARSHAM ROBERT BARRINGTON Captains THO. HARPER JOHN WOODCOCK RICH. LAWRENCE GEORGE COLWEL THO. CLARK WIMLIAM BURLS Lieutenants The Parliament were very forward to expresse their approbation of this most affectionate Declaration of the Essex men and returned
Earl of Stamford Master DENZIL HOLLIS Master HAMDEN Sir PHILIP STAPLETON Sir WILLIAM WALLER Sir SAMUEL LUKE Sir HENRY CHOLMLY Master GRANTHAM Master WHITLOCK with divers others The Earl of Bedford within two days after that the Earl of Essex was chosen Generalissimo was voted to be General of the Horse CHAP. VI. A brief Relation of the condition of divers Counties in England when the Parliaments Ordinance for the Militia and the Kings Commission of Array were put in execution With a mention of some Lords and others who were actors on either side The Lord Maior of London committed to the Tower and sentenced by the Parliament A mention of some Declarations Messages and Answers that passed between the King and the two Houses of Parliament DUring the time that this Army was raising for the Parliament to be conducted by his Excellency in person the King with small strength as yet was removing from place to place to gather Forces and draw people to his side Of whose proceedings and by what degrees he encreased in power I shall speak hereafter in a continued Series to avoid confusion in the Story But in the mean time the Parliaments Ordinance of Militia and the King's Commission of Array were justling together almost in every County the greatest of the English Nobility on both sides appearing personally to seize upon those places which were deputed to them either by the King or by the Parliament No Ordinances from the One or Proclamations from the Other could now give any further stop to this general and spreading Mischief God was not pleased that one Chimney should contain this Civil fire but small sparks of it were daily kindling in every part of the Land Let it not therefore seem amisse if in the first place I make a brief Relation into what posture every particular County or most of them had endeavoured to put themselves during that time which was since the twelfth of Iuly when the first apparant denouncing of War began and the General was elected in Parliament till the three and twentieth of October when it broke out into a fierce and cruel Battel But let not the Reader expect any full or perfect Narration of this which would take up too great a time and prove as tedious as unnecessary The onely reason why I have entered into it is to inform the Reader what Lords and Gentlemen did first appear in action on either side in those particular Counties that in the progresse of the Story he may be better acquainted with those names whose Actions proved of so high concernment in the future War Nor can any perfect Judgement be made of the affections or condition of any one County in this brief Narration of so short a time for scarce was there any City or Shire but endured in processe of time many Changes and became altered from their first condition either by unconstancy of affections or else enforced to take a new side as they were threatned by approaching Armies of either party when the War grew to a greater height In some Counties there was no strugling at all one side wholly prevailing and the Peoples affections bending the same way as it appeared in Lincolnshire at the first which was the first account given to the Parliament of their Militia and where some circumstances are of that note as to make it justly deserve a more particular recital then other places when the Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham went down thither being chosen by the Parliament Lord Lieutenant of that County This young Lord being come to Lincoln expresseth to the Parliament what cheerful and hearty obedience he found from the Captains and Officers of the Trained Bands and in how good a posture they were beyond all expectation considering the unhappinesse of the Plague being then in the Town which hindered the appearance of some but that was fully supplied by a Company of Voluntiers equal in number and goodnesse of Arms to the Trained Bands Yet that Change which I spake of before did afterwards sadly appear in this County which was afterwards as much divided in it self as any part of England and by that means a most unhappie seat of War often gained and regained by either side Lincolnshire was then very forward for the Lord WILLOUGHBY however afterward he found some resistance from the Earl of Lindsey who sided with the King as he wrote up to the Parliament and sent also to them the King's Letter and his own Answer Which are both fit to be inserted into the Story being the first of that kinde and much unfolding the nature of the businesse The King's Letter to the Lord WILLOUHBY of Parham CHARLES REX Right Trusty and Welbeloved We greet you well Whereas We understand that you have begun to assemble train and muster the Trained Bands of Our County of Lincoln under pretence of an Ordinance of Parliament whereto We have not given Our consent which is not onely contrary to the Law but to Our Command and Pleasure signified by Our Proclamation sent to Our high Sheriff of that Our County Wherefore that you may not hereafter plead ignorance of such Our Prohibition We do by these Our Letters command and charge you upon your Allegiance to desist and forbear to raise train exercise or assemble together any part of the Trained Bands of Our County either by your self or by any others employed under you or by warrant from you And because you may for what you have already done concerning the Militia of that Our County plead that you had not so particular a Command We shall passe by what you have already done therein so as presently upon your receipt hereof you shall desist and give over medling any further with any thing concerning the Militia of that Our County But if you shall not presently desist and forbear medling therewith We are resolved to call you to a strict account for your disobedience therein after so many particular and legal Commands given you upon your Allegiance to the contrary and shall esteem and proceed against you as a disturber of the Peace of the Kingdom Given at Our Court at York the fourth of Iune 1642. To Our Right Trusty and Welbeloved the Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham The Lord WILLOUGHBY of Parham his Letter in Answer to His Majestie SIR As there can be nothing of greater unhappinesse to me then to receive a Command from Your Majestie whereunto my endeavours cannot give so ready an obedience as my affections so I must confesse the difficulty at this time not a little how to expresse that Duty which I owe to Your Majesties late Commands and not falsifie that Trust reposed in me by Your high Court of Parliament through whose particular directions I am now come into this County to settle the Militia according to the Ordinance of Parliament which by the Votes of my Lord LITTLETON and others in the House of Peers better versed in the Laws then my self passed as a legal thing and