insolent and menacing speeches against the Parliament it self It was therefore their humble desires that they might have a Guard out of the City commanded by the Earl of ESSEX Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Houshold of whose fidelity to King and Common wealth no question was ever made Which Petition was denied by the King but with a solemn engagement of himself by the Word of a King that the security of all and every one of them from violence was and ever should be as much his care as the preservation of himself and his Children and if this generall assurance would not suffice to remove these apprehensions he would command such a Guard to waite upon them as he would be responsible for to Almighty God The next day after that the King had thus answered the Petition of the House being the fourth of Ianuary 1641 he gave unhappily a just occasion for all men to think that their fears and jealousies were not causelesse For upon that day the King came to the Parliament in Person attended with a great number of Gentlemen Souldiers and others armed with Swords and Pistols to the number of about three hundred who came up to the very door of the House of Commons and placed themselves there and in all passages neer unto it The King in Person entered the House of Commons and demanded five Members of that House to be delivered to him The manner of it was seating himself in the Speakers Chair he asked him whether those five Members were there or not The Speaker Mr. WILLIAM LENTHALL returned to his Majesty an humble and discreet answer That he had neither eyes to see nor tongue to answer any thing but what he was commanded by the House The names of those Members whom he demanded were Mr. DENZILL HOLLIS second Sonne to the Earl of Clare Sir ARTHUR HASLERIG Mr. PYM Mr. HAMDEN and Mr. STRODE All Gentlemen of great esteem and reputation in the House Two of them Mr. HOLLIS and Mr. STRODE having before suffered many years of sharp and harsh imprisonment from the King after the dissolution of that Parliament in the fourth year of his Reign for matters done in Parliament contrary to the Priviledges of that High Court The King had the day before by his Attourny Generall Sir EDWARD HERBERT a Member also of the House of Commons demanded the deliverance of those five forementioned Gentlemen and sent a Sergeant at Armes to apprehend them pretending that he meant to charge them and together with them the Lord MANDEVILE eldest son to the Earl of MANCHESTER a Member of the House of Lords with Articles of high Treason and other misdemeanors which Articles were to this purpose 1 That they had endeavoured to subvert the Government to deprive the King of his legall power and to place on Subjects an arbitrary and tyrannical power 2 That they had endeavoured by foule aspersions upon his Majesties Government to alienate the affections of his people from him 3 That they endeavoured to draw His late Army from His Obedience to side with them in traiterous Designes 4 That they trayterously invited and encouraged a forraign power to invade His Majesties kingdom of England 5 That they trayterously endeavoured to subvert the very Rights and Beeings of Parliament 6 That they have endeavoured by force and terror to compell the Parliament to joyne with them in their trayterous designes and to that end have actually raised and countenanced tumults against the King and Parliament 7 That they have trayterously conspired to Leavy and actually have Leavyed Warre against the King But the House of Commons hearing this demand to prevent such further breaches of Parliament Priviledges as might ensue upon the same day ordered upon the Questâ—on That if any persons should come to the lodgings of any Member of that House and there offer to seale their Trunkes or Doors or to seize upon their Persons That then such Members should require the aâ—de of the Constable to keep such persons in safe custody â—â—ll the House did give further Order And they further declared That if any Person should offer to arrest or dâ—tain the Person of any Member of that House without firsâ— aâ—â—uainting the House therewith and receiving further order from thence that it should be lawfull for such a Member or any Person in his assistance to stand upon his and their guard of defence and to make resistance according to the Protestation taken to defend the Priviledges of Parliaments These things had passed the day before that the King had so entered into the House of Commons His Majesty finding that those five Members were not there for they by consent of the House upon some informations of what would happen had absented themselves from the Speakers Chair where he â—ate made a Speech to the House wherein he told them That he was very sorry for that occasion but yet no King of England that ever was should be more carefull to maintain the Priviledges of Parliament then he would be that those five Members were dangerous men but he protested in the word of a King That he nevâ—r intended any force but to proceed against them in a legall and fair way But sithence he could not now do that which he came for he would trouble them no more but expected as soon as those five Members came to the House that the House would send them to him or else he would take his own course to find them But this great breach of Priviledges of Parliament was encreased by many circumstances For the day before being the third of Ianuary contrary to the forementioned order of the House of Commons the Chambers Studies and Trunks of those five Members by a Warrant from the King were sealed up Sir WILLIAM KILLIGREW and Sir WILLIAM FLEMEN with others being imployed in that service And within two dayes after upon the sixt of Ianuary a Proclamation was made by the King for the apprehending and imprisoning of those five Members wherein it was suggested that through the conscience of their own guilt they were absent and fled not willing to submit themselves to Justice Whereupon the House of Commons in vindication of their own Priviledges and those five Gentlemen published within a few dayes after a Declaration in which that Proclamation of the Kings entituled there A Printed Paper is declared to be false scandalous and illegall and that notwithstanding the said Printed Paper or any Warrant issued out or any other matter yet appearing against them or any of them they may and ought to attend the service of the said House of Commons and the severall Committees then on foot And that it was lawfull for all Persons to lodge harbour or converse with them or any of them and whosoever should be questioned for the same should be under the protection and Priviledge of Parliament The House of Commons further declared That the publishing of severall Articles purporting a form of a Charge of high Treason against
making way for the utter subversion of it 1. Force is gathered together at York under pretence of a Guard for His Majesties Person to make an opposition against the Parliament and by strong hand to support and protect Delinquents so as no Order of Parliament can be obeyed but on the other side is slighted and scorned to make the Parliament of no reputation to be but Imago Parliamenti a meer shadow without substance without efficacie 2. To send out in His Majesties name and as Declarations and Messages from him bitter invectives against the Parliament to perplex it and engage it in expence of time to answer them and besides cunningly to insinuate and infuse into the people by false colours and glosses a disopinion and dislike of the Parliament and if it be possible to stir up their spirits to rise against it to destroy it and in it all other Parliaments to the ruine of themselves their wives and children 3. The third Plot is The Members are drawn away and perswaded to forsake their duty and attendance here and go down to York thereby to blemish the actions of both Houses as done by a few and an inconsiderable number and rather a Party then a Parliament and perhaps to raise and set up an anti-Parliament there My Lords this is now the great Designe whereby they hope by little and little the Parliament shall even bleed to death and moulder to nothing the members dropping away one after another a desperate and dangerous practice and as your Lordships well observed when you were pleased to communicate the businesse to us an effect of the evil Counsels now prevailing and tending to the dissolution of the Parliament of this Parliament which under God must be the preserver of three Kingdoms and keep them firm and loyal to their King subject to his Crown save them from being turned into a Chaos of disorder and confusion and made a dismal spectacle of misery and desolarion this Parliament which is the last hope of the long-oppressed and in other Countries even almost wholly-destroyed Protestant Religion this Parliment which is the onely means to continue us to be a Nation of freedom and not of slaves to be owners of any thing in a word which must stand in the Gap to prevent an in-let and inundation of all misery and confusion My Lords this Parliament they desire to destroy but I hope it will destroy the destroyers and be a wall of Fire to consume them as it is a wall of Brasse to us to defend King and Kingdom us and all we have Your Lordships wisely foresaw this Mischief and as wisely have endeavoured to prevent it by making your Orders to keep your Members here as that of the ninth of April and several other Orders enjoyning them all to attend thereby restraining them from repairing to York where the Clouds were observed to gather so fast threatning a storm and such preparations to be made against the Parliament that it necessitated both Houses to passe a Vote That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and all who shall serve and assist in such Wars are declared to be Traitours which Vote passed the 20 of May so setting a mark upon that place and their opinion concerning those who should at this time resort thither Yet now in such a conjuncture of time when the Kingdom had never more need of a Parliament and the Parliament never more need of all the help and assistance of the best endeavour and advice of every Member the Safety and even Being of three Kingdoms depending on it after such Orders and Commands of your Lordships House to the contrary such a Vote of both Houses and expressely against their Duty being called thither by Writ under the Great Seal which is the King 's greatest and highest Command and not controllable nor to be dispensed with by any other Command from him whatsoever and called to treat and consult de arduis Regni the great urging and pressing affairs of the Kingdom never more urgent never more pressing notwithstanding all this these Lords the Earls of Northampton Devonshire Dover Monmouth the Lords HOWARD of Charlton RICH GREY COVENTRY and CAPEL have left their stations withdrawn themselves and are gone to Yorkâ— and being â—ummoned to appear by an Order of the 30 of May in stead of obedience return râ—fusal by a slighting and scornful Letter which hath been so adjudged both by your Lordships and the House of Commons My Lords the â—ouse of Commons hath likewise upon the consideration and debate of this businesse finding it so much to concern the safety of the Kingdom and the very Being of the Parliament passed this Vote That the Departing of these nine Lords from the Parliament without leave after such a time as both Houses had declared That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and their still continuing at York notwithstanding their Summons and Command is an high Affront and Contempt of both Houses and that the said Lords did as much as in them lay that the service of Parliament might be deserted and are justly suspected to promote a War against the Parliament The House in further prosecution of their duty in this Particular and in pursuance of their Protestation which obliges them to endeavour to bring to condign punishment all such high offenders against not onely the Priviledges but the very Essence of Parliament have sent me up to impeach these Lords and desire that speedy and exemplary Justice may be done upon them And accordingly I do here in the name of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House assembled in Parliament and in the name of all the Commons of England Impeach SPENCER Earl of Northampton WILLIAM Earl of Devonshire HENRY Earl of Dover HENRY Earl of Monmouth CHARLES Lord HOWARD of Charleton ROBERT Lord RICH CHARLES Lord GREY of Ruthen THOMAS Lord COVENTRY and ARTHUR Lord CAPEL for these high Crimes and Misdemeanours following viz. For that contrary to their duty they being Peers of the Realm and summoned by Writ to attend the Parliament and contrary to an Order of the House of Peers of the ninth of April last and several other Orders requiring the attendance of the Members of that House and after a Vote past in both Houses the twentieth of May last That the King seduced by wicked Counsel intended to make War against the Parliament and that whosoever served or assisted him in that War was adjudged a Traitour did notwithstanding afterwards in the same month of May contemptuously having notice of the said Votes and Orders withdraw themselves from the said House of Peers and repair to the City of York where the preparations of the said War were and yet are in contrivance and agitation they knowing of such preparations and being by an Order of the thirtieth of May duely summoned by the House of Peers to make their appearance before that
her own Kingdome by strengthning the hands of Protestants abroad insomuch as she stood at last above the reach of any enemy by open warre and protected by God though often attempted by domestick Treasons and Assasinations till in the end she died in a good old age leaving to her Successor King JAMES the Kingdom of England in an happier condition then ever it was the Kingdome of Ireland wholly subdued and reduced to reap for himselfe the harvest of all her labour and expence and nothing to do for it but to propagate the true Faith in that Kingdome which she prevented by death could not performe and was in probability an easie taske for King JAMES at that time much conducing besides the honour of God to his owne Temporall strength and greatnesse if he had onely gone fairely on in that way which Queene ELIZABETH had made plaine for him The Prosperity of England seemed then at the height or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and it pleases God that States many times shall decline from their happinesse without any apparent signes to us or reasons that we can give as a Heathen complaines Oh faciles dare summa Deos eademque tueri Difficiles Lucan How easie are the Gods to raise States high But not to keepe them so These things have made some high-reaching Writers impute the raising and declination of Kingdomes and Common-wealths to certaine aspects of heavenly Constellations to Conjunctions and Oppositions of Planets and various Ecclipses of Celestiall Luminaries others to an hidden strength and secret efficacy of Numbers themselves and most men to the perpetuall Rotation of fortune but the judgements of God in those things are past our finding out and they are too wise who are not content sometimes to wonder For King JAMES the Successour to Queene ELIZABETH was a wise and learned Prince of disposition mercifull and gracious excellently grounded in that Religion which he professed as the world may finde by his extant writings a Prince of whom England conceived wonderfull hope and received with great joy and Triumph but he did not beginne where his Predecessor left proceeding rather in a contrary way what the reasons of it were I will not at all presume to deliver my opinion though some have beene bold to write and publish of late yeeres that it was feare for his own Person that made him to temporize with Rome considering the boldnesse of Jesuiticall Assasines others more candidly conceived it might be his great desire of peace and union with other Princes though he might erre in the meanes of attaining that end for he was by nature a great seeker of Peace and abhorrer of bloodshed according to that Motto which he ever used Beati Pacifici I cannot search into mens thoughts but onely relate the Actions which appeared King JAMES at the beginning of his Reigne made a Peace with Spaine which was brought very low by Queene ELIZABETH and had beene neerer to ruine in all probability had she lived a few yeares longer the Estates of the united Provinces of the Netherlands those usefull Confederates to England began to be despised by the English Court under a vaine shadow in stead of a reason that they were an ill example for a Monarch to cherish Then began secret Treaties to passe betwixt Rome and the Court of England care to be taken about reconciliation of Religions the rigour of Penall Lawes against the Papists notwithstanding that odious plot of the Gunpowder Treason was abated the pompe of Prelacy and multitude of Ceremonies encreased daily in the Church of England and according to that were all Civill Affaires managed both at home and abroad Neither was it easie for the King to turne himselfe out of that way when he was once entred into it so that at last the Papists began by degrees to be admitted neerer to him in service and conversation Exceeding desirous he then was to match the Prince his Sonne to the Infanta of Spaine about which many and long Treaties passed wherein not onely the Spaniard but the Pope made many present advantages of the Kings earnest desires and many waies deluded him as it appeared plainely by his owne Letters to his Ambassadours there since found and published Thus was the King by degrees brought not onely to forsake but to oppose his owne interest both in civill and religious affaires which was most unhappily seene in that cause as the Duke of ROHAN observed wherein besides the interest of all Protestants and the honour of his Nation the estate and livelihood of his owne children were at the height concerned the Palatinate businesse From hence slowed a farther mischiefe for the King being loath perchance that the whole people should take notice of those waies in which he trod grew extremely dis-affected to Parliaments calling them for nothing but to supply his expences dissolving them when they began to meddle with State Affaires and divers times imprisoning the Members for Speeches made in Parliament against the fundamentall priviledges of that high Court Parliaments being thus despised and abused projects against the Lawes were found out to supply the Kings expences which were not small and the King whether to avoid the envy of those things or the trouble of them did in a manner put off all businesse of Government from himselfe into the hands of a young Favourite the Duke of BUCKINGHAM whom he had raised from a Knights fourth Sonne to that great height and entrusted with the chiefe Offices of the Kingdome besides the great power which he had by that extraordinary favour of confering all places and preferments both in Church and State This Duke not long before the death of King JAMES was growne into extraordinary favour and intirenesse with the Prince whom he afterward swayed no lesse then he had before his father like an unhappy vapour exhaled from the earth to so great an height as to cloud not only the rising but the setting Sunne King CHARLES with great hopes and expectation of the people and no lesse high expressions of love and duty from all in generall began his Reigne on the 27 of March 1624. and indeed that love which the people bare to his Person had been before testified whilest he was yet Prince at his returne from Spaine though the journey it selfe had not beene pleasing to the Kingdome for when the people saw him arrived in safety there needed no publike Edict for thanksgiving or joy every society and private family as if the hearts of all had beene in one did voluntarily assemble themselves together praising God with singing of Psalmes with joyfull feasting and charity to the poore insomuch that I suppose the like consent without any interposing authority hath not been often knowne The same affections followed him to his Throne the same hopes and faire presages of his future Government whilest they considered the temperance of his youth how cleare he had lived from personall vice being growne to the age of 23. how untainted of
those licentious extravagances which unto that age and foâ—tune are not only incident but almost thought excusable But some men suspended their hopes as doubting what to finde of a Prince so much and so long reserved for he had never declared himselfe of any Faction or scarse interposed in any State affaires though some things had been managed in his fathers Reigne with much detriment to his owne present and future fortunes Yet that by the people in generall was well censured as an effect of his piety and obedience to the King his father and happy presages gathered from it That so good an obeyer would prove a just Ruler They wondered also to see him suddenly linked in such an intire friendship with the Duke of BUCKINGHAM for extraordinary Favourites do usually eclipse and much depresse the Heire apparent of a Crowne or else they are conceived so to do and upon that reason hated and ruined by the succeeding Prince in which kinde all ancient and moderne Stories are full of examples In the beginning of King CHARLES his Reigne a Parliament was called and adjourned to Oxford the plague raging extremely at London where the Duke of BUCKINGHAM was highly questioned but by the King not without the griefe and sad presage of many people that private affections would too much prevaile in him against the publike he was protected against the Parliament which for that onely purpose was dissolved after two Subsidies had been given and before the Kingdome received reliefe in any one grievance as is expressed in the first and generall Remonstrance of this present Parliament where many other unhappy passages of those times are briefly touched as that the King immediately after the dissolution of that Parliament contrived a Warre against Spaine in which the designe was unhappily laid and contrary to the advice which at that time had been given by wise men who perswaded him to invade the West Indies a way no doubt farre more easie and hopefull for England to prevaile against Spaine then any other instead of that the King with great expence of Treasure raised an Army and Fleet to assault Cales the Duke of BUCKINGHAM bearing the Title both of Admirall and Generall though he went not himselfe in person but the matter was so ordered that the expedition proved altogether successelesse and as dishonourable as expensive They complained likewise of another designe which indeed was much lamented by the people of England in generall about that time put in practice a thing destructive to the highest interest of the Nation the maintenance of Protestant Religion a Fleet of English Ships were set forth and delivered over to the French by whose strength all the Sea forces of Rochell were scattered and destroyed a losse to them irrecoverable and the first step to their ruine Neither was this loane of Ships from England for such was the peoples complaint and suspition against those who at that time stood at the Helme supposed to proceed so much from friendship to the State of France as from designe against Religion for immediately upon it the King by what advice the people understood not made a breach with France by taking their Ships to a great value without making any recompence to the English whose Goods were thereupon imbarr'd and confiscate in that Kingdome In revenge of this a brave Army was raised in England and commanded by the Duke of BUCKINGHAM in person who landing at the Isle of Rhea was at the first encounter victorious against the French but after few Moneths stay there the matter was so unhappily carried the Generall being unexperienced in Warlike affaires that the French prevailed and gave a great defeat where many gallant Gentlemen lost their lives and the Nation much of their ancient Honour From thence proceeded another step to the ruine of Rochell the sick and wounded English were sent into that City and relieved by the besieged Rochellers out of that little provision which they then had upon faithfull promise of supplies from England in the same kinde The provisions of Rochell were little enough for their owne reliefe at that time if we consider what ability the French King had to continue that siege when to the proper wealth and greatnesse of his Crowne was added that reputation and strength which his late successe against all the other Protestant Garrisons in France had brought The besieged Rochellers not doubting at all of the due and necessary supply of Victuall from England sent their Ships thither for that purpose but those Ships whose returne with bread was so earnestly expected were stayed in England by an Imbargo and so long stayed till that unhappy Towne was enforced to yeeld by famine the sharpest of all Enemies But in the meane time whilest these Ships with Victuall were detained a great Army was raised in England for reliefe of Rochell but too great was the delay of those preparations till time was past and that Army in the end disbanded by the sad death of the Duke of BUCKINGHAM their Generall who was stabbed at Portsmouth by a private Gentleman JOHN FELTON This FELTON was a Souldier of a low stature and no promising aspect of disposition serious and melancholly but religious in the whole course of his life and conversation which last I do not mention out of purpose to countenance his unlawfull act as supposing him to have had as some did then talke any inspiration or calling of God to it His confessions to his friends both publike and private were That he had often secret motions to that purpose which he had resisted and prayed against and had almost overcome untill he was at last confirmed in it by reading the late dissolved Parliaments Remonstrance against the Duke That then his conscience told him it was just and laudable to be the executioner of that man whom the highest Court of Judicature the representative body of the Kingdome had condemned as a Traytor But let Posterity censure it as they please certain it is that FELTON did much repent him of the unlawfulnesse of the fact out of no feare of death or punishment here for he wished his hand cut off before the execution which his Jugdes could not doome by the Lawes of England The King had not long before broken off another Parliament called in the second yeare of his Reigne in which the Petition of Right was granted to the great rejoycing of the people But it proved immediately to be no reliefe at all to them for the Parliament presently dissolved the King acted over the same things which formerly he had done and that grant instead of fortifying the Kingdomes Liberty made it appeare to be more defencelesse then before that Lawes themselves were no barre against the Kings will The Parliament in hope of gracious Acts had declared an intent to give his Majesty five Subsidies the full proportion of which five Subsidies was after the dissolution of that Parliament exacted by Commission of Loane from the people and those
they endeavour to prove That the Church in such a condition may provide for it selfe That the power of calling a Synod in case the Prince be an enemy to the truth or negligent in promoting the Churches good is in the Church it selfe And that the State of the Church of Scotland at that time was necessitated to such a course which they endeavour to prove by reciting all their particular grievances and by answering all arguments of the contrary side for the Right of Princes howsoever affected to Religion as appeares at large in their Tractate concerning the necessity of Synods The Marquesse returned into Scotland before the appointed day and brought Articles from the King to which the Covenanters if they would have either Parliament or Synod were required to consent But they utterly rejected those Articles as too invalid for their purpose of setling things so that the Marquesse fearing least the Covenanters weary of delayes would call a Synod without staying the Kings consent earnestly perswaded them to forbeare it onely till his next returne from Court whither he would presently go to perswade the King Which request of his with much a do was granted by them and the day for his returne appointed the 22 of September by which time unlesse the Marquesse returned it was free for the Covenanters to provide for their owne affaires But the Marquesse with singular diligence prevented his day and published the Kings Proclamation of which the chiefe heads were First The King did abrogate all Decrees of Councell for the Booke of Canons and Common-Prayer and abrogate the High Commission Secondly That none should be pressed to the five Articles of Perth Thirdly That Bishops should be subject to the censure of a Synod Fourthly That no Oath should be given at Ordination of Pastors but by Law of Parliament Fifthly that the lesser Confession of 1580. should be subscribed to by all the Kingdome Sixtly That the King called a Nationall Synod to begin at Glasco the 21 of November 1638. and a Parliament at Edenburgh the 15. of May 1639. Lastly for peace sake he would forget all their offences past The Covenanters at the first hearing of this peacefull Message were much joyed but looking neerely into the words they found as they affirme That their precedent actions were tacitly condemned and the just freedome of a Nationall Synod taken away Therefore loath to be deceived they frame a Protestation not as they alledged mis-doubting the candor of the King but not trusting those in favour with him by whose destructive Councell they supposed it was that the King had not shewed this clemency at first The chiefe heads of their Protestation were these First after humble thanks to God and the King they conceived this grant no sufficient remedy for their sores For His Majesty calls that a panick feare in them which was upon no imaginary but just grounds as a reall mutation both of Religion and Lawes by obtrusion of those Bookes directly popish Secondly whereas the King in his former Mandates so highly extolled those Bookes as most religious and fit for the Church they could not be satisfied with a bare remission of the exercise of them unlesse he would utterly abrogate and condemne them or else itching Innovators would not be wanting hereafter to raise new troubles to the Church about them Thirdly the just liberty of Nationall Synods is diminished and Episcopacy set up they being allowed as Bishops though not deputed by the Churches to give their voices in a Synod Fourthly the subscribing againe of that old Covenant could not be admitted for many reasons there at large expressed of which some are That it would frustrate their late Covenant and make it narrower then before and not able to suit to the redresse of present grievances and be a needlesse multiplying of Oathes and taking the Name of God in vaine with many other objections which cannot be fully here inserted That Covenant notwithstanding was solemnly taken at Edenburgh by the Marquesse of HAMILTON the Kings Commissioner and all the Privy Councell The Marquesse then gave Order for the Synod fearing least the Covenanters if he delayed to call it would do it themselves and on the 16. of November came to Glasco in great state Where after many meetings for preparation to the businesse on the 21 of the same Moneth according to the Kings Edict the Nationall Synod began But within seven daies that Synod was dissolved by the Marquesse HAMILTON in the Kings Name and they commanded to sit no more The Marquesse alleadging for reason of it that they had broken the Lawes of a free Synod in many proceedings not onely in those few daies of their sitting but before it began in their manner of Elections with other such like matters But they protested against that dissolution and continued the Synod when the Marquesse was gone What were the Acts of that Synod what proceedings it had and what impediments it met withall you may reade in two large descriptions the one published by the King the other by the Synod how the Bishops protested against the Synod how the Synod answered their Protestation how the Synod wrote to the King how they proceeded against the Bishops deposing them all from their Dignities how of all fourteene Bishops eight were excommunicated foure excluded from all Ministeriall Function and two onely allowed to oâ—â—icâ—ate as Pastours how the five Articles of Perth the Booke of Lyturgy the Booke of Canons and Ordination were all condemned the High Commission taken away and whatsoever else had crept into the Church since the yeare 1580. when that Nationall Covenant was first established The Scots Covenanters when themselves broke up the Synod wrote a Letter of thanks to the King and immediately after published a Declaration dated the fourth of February 1638. from Edenburgh and directed To all the sincere and good Christians in England to vindicate their actions and intentions from those aspersions which enemies might throw upon them That Declaration was welcome to the people of England in generall and especially to those who stood best affected to Religion and the Lawes and Liberties of their Country But by the Kings Authority it was suppressed as all other papers that might be sent from the Scots and a Proclamation soone after bearing date the 27. of February 1638. was published by the King and commanded to be read in all Churches of England the Title of it was A Proclamation and Declaration to informe our loving Subjects of England concerning the seditious Actions of some in Scotland who under false pretence of Religion endeavour the utter subversion of our Royall Authority The Declaration was â—illed with sharpe invectives and execrations against the Scottish Covenanters but the truth is it wrought little upon the hearts of the English People who conceived a good opinion of the Scots and were more confirmed in it because the King had carried the whole businesse so closely from the English Nation as not onely not
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
the King returned from Scotland was by the City of London entertained feasted and conducted to his Palace at White-hall with as pompous Solemnity and costly expressions of Love and Duty as ever any King of England was Of which extraordinary testimonies of affection toward him the King seemed very sensible and returned Thanks to the City inviting within few dayes after the chief of them to Hampton Court where they were feasted and divers Aldermen knighted by his Majesty While the King resided at Hampton Court the House of Commons presented to him a Remonstrance or Declaration of the state of the Kingdom wherein all the chief grievances and oppressions which the Nation had groaned under since the beginning of his Raign untill that time were recited but with as much tendernesse of expression and respect to his Person for such care they took as it appeared in that Petition of theirs which accompanied the Remonstrance as so much truth could possibly be uttered For all the fault is laid upon ill Ministers who are there called a Malignant Party That Remonstrance some little time before the Kings return out of Scotland had bin with much earnestnesse debated in the House of Commons and at that time when it was Voted so much divided was the House that not above nine voices carried it So fierce and long were the disputations about it and arguments urged on both sides that not only the day but a great part of night was spent in it For the House arose not untill two of the clock in the morning The prevailing part alleadged for it as it was afterward expressed in their Petition to the King that Their intention was only to inform his Majesty his Peers and all other his loyall Subjects with no purpose at all of laying the least blemish upon his Person but to represent how much his Royall Authority and Trust had been abused to the great prejudice and danger of his Majesty and all his good Subjects It was alleadged by many Gentlemen in ordinary discourses who were of the same opinion that the prevailing Voters in Parliament were That such a Remonstrance might be of good use and that the King having perchance been ignorant in some degree of how much evill had formerly been wrought might by this Remonstrance be not only brought to a knowledge of his past Errors but a salubrious fear of offending again by considering how publick and manifest to the World the defaults of Princes in point of Government must needs appear The other side were of opinion That this Remonstrance in stead of directing him for the future would teach him only to hate the makers of it as upbraiders of his crimes and those that went about to lessen or blemish and so the King seemed to rellish it as appeared in his Answer printed his Reputation with the people They hâ—ld it â—itter at such a time when the Kings Affections were dubious toward the Parliament to win him by the sweeter way of concealing his Errors then by publishing of them to hazard the provocation of him with whom it was not behoveful to contest unlesse they were in hope to change his disposition for the future or ascertained of their own power and resolved to make full use of it For mine own part I will make no judgement at all upon it nor can we truly judge by the successe of things But such an unhappy Genius ruled those times for Historians have observed a Genius of times as well as of climates or men that no endeavours proved successefull nor did any actions produce the right though probable effects Who would not in probability have judged that the forementioned costly and splendid entertainment which the City of London gave to the King would have exceedingly endeared them unto him and produced no effects but of love and concord Yet accidentally it proved otherwise For many people ill-affected to the Parliament gave it out in ordinary discourse Non ignota loquor it is a known truth that the City were weary of the Parliaments tedious proceedings and would be ready to joyn with the King against them Whether it begaâ— the same opinion in the King or not I cannot tell but certainly some conceived so by actions which immediately followed expressing a greater confidence against the Parliament then before displacing some from such Trusts as they had conferred on them Insomuch that the City presently after finding what ill use was made of these expressions were enforced to declare themselves in a Petition to both Houses That since some ill-affected People had interpreted their Loyal and affectionate entertainment of the King as a sign that they would wholly adhere to him and desert the Parliament they openly professed the contrary and that they would live and die with them for the good of the Common-wealth After which the City no lesse then the Parliament did seem to be distasted both by the King and Queen The fears and jealousies that now reigned were of a sadder nature then the fears of any former times had been two years before the people feared that whilest this King lived they should never see a Parliament but now they began to fear that no Parliament could do them good At this time began that fatal breach between King and Parliament to appear visibly and wax daily wider never to be closed until the whole Kingdom was by sad degrees brought into a ruinous War From henceforth no true confidence appeared between him and that high Court every day almost contributed somewhat to the division and Declarations upon severall occasions were published to the world of which though the language for the most part were fairely couched and sweetned with frequent intermixtures of gracious expressions from the King and affectionate professions from the Parliament yet the substance was matter of expostulation and many intervening actions which we shall endeavour to expresse particularly did so far heighten them and sharpen by degrees the stile till those Paper-contestations became a fatall Prologue to that bloudy and unnaturall War which afterward ensued The King to answer that Remonstrance before mentioned published a Declaration to justifie his own Honor and Government and at the same time sent a Message to the Common Councell of London complaining of tumultuary assemblies of People from the City daily resorting to Westminster to the disturbance of that place and his Palace of White-hall For people about that time in great numbers used to present Petitions to the Parliament and make Protestations of their fidelity to them in these times of fears and jealousies which grew now so great that the House of Commons upon the same day that the King sent that complaining Message to the City Petitioned him to allow them a Guard for security of their Persons while they sate alleadging in the Petition that there was a Malignant Party bitterly envenomed against them who did daily gather strength and confidence and were now come to that height of boldnesse as to give out
Court then a gracious Intimation that he accepted the tender of their loyall affections encouraging them to continue the same upon all occasions That he knew of no Fire-works in the hands of Papists For his going to the House of Commons that he intended no course of violence though that way had been justifiable for he was assured that no Priviledge of Parliament could extend to Treason which he knew would be proved against them upon cleer grounds and they in due time should be acquainted with it and that his proceedings against them should be according to the Lawes The King presently after his answering of that Petition sent another Message to the Parliament that for the present he would wave his proceedings against those five Members and returned a gentle Answer at that time to the Petitioners of Buckinghamshire who came to the number of about 2000 in behalf of their Knight Mr. HAMDEN a Gentleman much honored by them and by most of the whole Kingdom in which Petition they prayed that Mr. HAMDEN and the rest that lie under the burden of that accusation might enjoy the just priviledges of Parliament It was then grown a custom which proved accidentally very unhappie to the Kingdom however it were meant to come in great numbers to Westminster when they presented Peâ—itions to the Parliament though the people petitioning were unarmed and no just fear from them in the opinion of those who affected the Parliament yet those who thought themselves not well relliâ—hed by the people in general took occasion from thence either to fear indeed or at least to pretend fear alleadging that the Parliament was disturbed by such a numerous confluence of people and the freedom of the Houses in some degree infringed that some of the meaner sort were too apt to cast out rude words against such as they thought to be no good members of the Common-wealth of what degree soever they were From hence was occasion taken by some to justifie that Guard about White-hall and afterwards to excuse the Kings absenting himself from the Parliament And from this ground did the twelve Bishops about a week before this City-Petition frame their Petition and Protestation for so it was called to His Majestie and the Peers which was to this purpose They protested themselves to abominate all actions or opinions tending to Poperie or any Malignity against the State but were willing and ready to perform their duties in Parliament But whereas coming to perform that duty and service they have been rudely menaced affronted and put in fear of their lives by multitudes of people and can finde no redresse or protection upon complaint made they therefore humbly protest before His Majestie and the noble Peers that saving to themselves all their Rights and Interests of sitting and voting in that House at other times they dare not sit or vote in the House of Peers until His Majestie shall further secure them And because their fears are not vain but upon true grounds and objects they do in all duty and humility therefore protest before His Majestie and the Peers against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence since the 27 of this instant December 1641 have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter passe during this their enforced absence from the said House Which Protestation they desired the King to command the Clerk of that House to record The Lords of Parliament immediately delivered by the mouth of the Lord Keeper at a Conference to the House of Commons That seeing this Protestation was of dangerous consequence and deeply entrenching upon the fundamental Priviledges and Being of Parliament therefore they thought fit to communicate it to the house of Commons The Commons thanked their Lordships for imparting it to them with so much affection and speed and for expressing their sense thereof and came to this resolution To accuse those twelve Bishops of high Treason Master GLYNN therefore was sent to the Lords who at their Bar in the name of all the Commons of England accused those twelve Prelates of high Treason for endeavouring to subvert the Fundamental Laws of the Realm and the very Being of Parliaments and to desire the Lords that they might be forthwith sequestred from Parliament and put into safe custodie and that their Lordships would appoint a speedie day for the Commons to charge them The Lords instantly sent the Black-Rod to finde out these Bishops and apprehend them so that by eight of the clock at night they were all taken and brought upon their knees to the Bar and ten of them committed to the Tower two of them in regard of their age were committed to the Black-Rod The twelve Bishops were these JO. Eborac THOMAS Duresme ROBERT Coven and Lichfield JOS. Norwich JO. Asaph GUIL Bath Wells GEO. Hereford ROB. Oxon. MATTH Ely GODFREY Gloucester JO. Peterborough MOR. Landaff Such work as this was daily made to the Parliament of England whereby not onely the relief of Ireland was wholly obstructed but all redresse of the grievances of England and settlement of the State there was so long retarded till both Kingdoms were at last involved in the same War and Confusion It was a strange thing that so barbarous and bloody a Rebellion should break out in Ireland without any the least suspicion or fear of such a Calamity without any cause given by the innocent English Protestants and surely it may seem as strange a thing if well considered that the revenge of so horrid and inhumane a Massacre should be thus hindered and indeed might be thought almost impossible unlesse the raising of the one and hindering the other proceeded from the same cause There was a great hope about the beginning of December that Ireland would speedily be relieved and Forces transported out of Scotland within a short time to that purpose considering what careful provisions the Parliament of England as is before related had made upon the first notice of it But at that time the King was returned from Scotland and in a Speech to the Parliament in which he conjured them to proceed in the businesse of relieving Ireland he likewise took notice of a Bill for pressing of Souldiers for Ireland depending in the House of Peers and declared his dislike of putting it in that way being as he said a great infringement and diminution of his Royal Prerogative telling them withal that he was little beholding to that man who began such a dispute concerning the bounds of his ancient and undoubted Prerogative But he offered at last that the Bill might passe with a Salvo jure both to King and People leaving such debates to a time that might better bear it This Speech of the King 's was much distasted by both Houses as a great breach of Parliament-priviledge insomuch as they framed a Petition to him wherein they expresse That the King by taking notice of the debate
much scorn hissing and reviling the language and reason of them But divers of the Gentry and greatest part of the Free-holders began with sorrow to consider that this division of the King from his great Councel could produce nothing but misery to the Kingdom and dishonour to himself and therefore they humbly answered his Propositions concerning a Guard Thaâ— they were willing to do any service or expose their lives to any hazard for the safety of his Majesties Royal Person yet they thought themselves unworthy to advise him in a thing of so high consequence but humbly beseeched him to impart the grounds of his fears and jealousies to his high Court of Parliament of whose loyal care and affections to the King's honour and safetie and prosperitie of the whole Kingdom they were most confident And in behalf of the four fore-mentioned Members of Parliament lately employed to attend your Majestie said they from both Houses being all Gentlemen of quality and estate in the County we humbly crave your Majesties leave to expresse our confidence in their unstained loyalty to your Majestie so far as that you may securely admit their attendance to negotiate their employments until they shall be recalled by the Parliament And we do all engage our selves for their fidelity as being most assured that your Royal Person shall be secure in the General loyalty of your Subjects in this County without any extraordinary Guard The King was presented also the next day with a Petition from many thousands who termed themselves peaceably-affected Subjects in the County of York in which expressing their loyaltie and affection to him they speak thus We are confident that no so absolute and hearty observance of your Majesties just commands can be demonstrated as when you shall in Parliament declare them If they be divided which God forbid our hearts even tremble to consider the danger and diminution of the honour and safety of your Self and Kingdom since it is clear to every understanding that it is not a divided part of one or several Counties can afford that honour and safety to your Majestie as the whole Kingdom Which you may command no ground of fear or danger remaining if a good confidence were begot betwixt your Majestie and the Parliament whose grave and loyal Counsels are as we humbly conceive the visible way under God to put a speedie end to the troubles in Ireland and establish your Throne in Righteousnesse And lastly we humbly supplicate that we may represent our unfitnesse to become Iudges betwixt your Majestie and Parliament in any thing or dispute the Authority of either which we humbly conceive do fortifie each other c. The king was not well satisfied or pleased with this Petition but persisted still in his former way of raising Forces under the name of a Guard whilst the Parliament were voting to maintain those Gentlemen their Committee in the North in such things as they have done and shall further do in obedience to their commands for preservation of the Kingdom 's Peace as also to maintain their Ordinance concerning the Militia and to issue out Commissions into all parts of the Kingdom and appoint certain days for all the Trained Bands to be exercised in each County according to that Ordinance and that some Members might be sent into the several Counties to see the Ordinance performed and the Magazines of those several Counties in England and Wales to be forthwith put into the power of the Lord Lieutenants of the said Counties being such as were entrusted by the Parliament And whereas the King had made Proclamation for all the Gentlemen and others of that County to attend him in Arms as a Guard the Parliament three days after declared that it was against the Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom that any of the Subjects thereof should be commanded by the King to attend him at his pleasure but such as are bound thereto by special service and that whosoever upon pretence of his command shall take Arms and gather together with others in a warlike manner to the terrour of the King's people shall be esteemed disturbers of the publike peace and that the Sheriffs of those Counties where such raising or drawing of armed men should be should immediately raise the power of the Countie to suppresse them and keep the King's Peace according to Law So different and directly contrary at this time were the Commands of the King and Parliament in all things that the Lords in Parliament having been informed that the King was resolved to adjourn the next Term from Westminster to York and had given command to the Lord Keeper to issue Proclamations and Writs to that purpose voted that such a removal of the Term while the Parliament sate was illegal and ordered that the Lord Keeper should not issue any Writs or seal any Proclamation tending to that end CHAP. IIII. Many Members of both Houses leave the Parliament and repair to the King Nine of the Lords who first went away are impeached by the Commons and censured by the Peers The Great Seal is carried away from London to York Some Votes of Parliament concerning the King's proceedings A Petition with nineteen Propositions sent from the Parliament to the King THe King proceeded in his earnest endeavour of raising Forces as a Guard for his Person which in some measure he had effected by many fair expressions of love and grace to the people of those Northern Counties and serious Protestations of the clearnesse of his intent from any violation of Laws and Liberties of the Kingdom or making War against the Parliament But the Kingdom was not much affrighted with any Forces which the King could so raise nor could any other attempt of his in the Northern parts make the people fear a Civil War until they saw that great defection of the Parliament Members which began before the end of April and continued for the greatest part of that May for at that time did the Lords one after another and sometimes by numbers abandon the Parliament sitting and go to the King at York insomuch that in a very short space those Lords became the greater number and their departure began therefore to seem lesse strange then the constant sitting of the rest The Lords who left the Parliament were these the Duke of Richmond Marquesse Hartford the Earls of Lindsey Cumberland Huntingdon Bath Southampton Dorset Salisbury although Salisbury within few days after repenting himself made a secret escape from York to London and joyned himsâ—lf It again to the Parliament with whom he continued constant ever after Northampton Devonshire Bristol Westmerland Barkeshire Monmouth Rivers Newcastle Dover Carnarvan Newport the Lords MATREVERS WILLOUGHBY of Eresby RICH HOWARD of Charleton NEWAâ—K PAGET CHANDOYS FAWCONBRIDGE PAWLET LOVELAâ—E SAVILE COVENTRY MOHUN DUNSMORE SEYMOUR GREY of Ruthen CAPEL Within the same compasse of time many of the house of Commons though no great number in respect of those who continued in that house did likewise
they came back on the left hand of their Enemies Sir PHILIP STAPLETON with his Horse gave them a terrible Charge which they were not long able to indure but finding a gap in an hedge got from him upon the Spurre as fast as they could to the rest of their broken Troops and so at last joyned with their Foot that stood by the Ordinance And now on both sides the Horse were gathered to their own Foot and so stood together both Horse and Foot one against another till it was night The Parliament Army being wholly possessed of the ground which their Enemies had chosen to fight upon stood upon it all night and in the morning returned to a warmer place neere Keynton where they had quartered the night before for they were much pinched with cold and the whole Army in extreme want of Victuals The Kings Army had withdrawne to the top of the hill for their more security where they made great fires all the night long About nine of the clock the next morning the Parliament Army drew out againe into Battalia and so stood about three houres untill the other Army was quite gone from the hill and then they withdrew themselves into their Quarter towards Keynton and to their other Brigado Artillery and Ammunition which being commanded by Colonell HAMBDEN and Colonell GRANTHAM as aforesaid was now come to Keynton and lodged there The King had drawne out his Horse upon the further side of the hill where he stayed till toward night whilest his Foot were retiring behinde the Hill and marching away A little before night his Horse also withdrew themselves and about an houre after the Parliament Horse marched quite away and went with the rest of the Army to Warwick to refresh themselves That going to Warwick was thought by a noble Gentleman of the Parliament side to be ill designed For saith he had the Army instead of going to Warwick marched toward Banbury we should have found more Victuals and had in probability dispersed all the Foot of the Kings Army taken his Canons and Carriages and sent his Horse farther off whereas now because we did not follow them though they quitted the field whereon they fought and left their Quarter before us yet they began soone after to question who had the day Howsoever it were true it is that the King no lesse then the Parliament pretended to be victorious in that Battell and so farre ascribed the Victory to his owne side that a Prayer of thanksgiving to God was made at Oxford for it A thanksgiving was also on the Parliament side for the Victory of that day And it is certaine that there were many markes of Victory on both Armies Colours and Canon were taken on both sides without any great difference of the number of them And though in Speeches made afterwards by either Party and Bookes printed there is no consent at all concerning the number of men slain but so great a discrepancy as it is almost a shame to insert into an History yet surely by the best account there were more slaine on the Kings side then on the other Those of quality that were lost on both Parties were of the Kings the Earle of Lindsey Lord Generall of his Army the Lord AUBIGNY brother to the Duke of Lenox Sir EDWARD VARNEY Standard-Bearer Colonell Sir EDMUND MONROY a Scottish Gentleman and Colonell LUNSFORD his Brother with other Gentlemen and Commanders besides Common Souldiers whose number as is before said would not be agreed upon yet I have heard that the Country people thereabouts by burying of the naked bodies found the number to be about six thousand that fell on both sides besides those which died afterwards of their wounds There were taken Prisoners of the Kings side the Lord WILLOUGHBY Sonne and Heire to the Earle of Lindsey Colonell VAVASOR Colonell LUNSFORD Sir EDWARD STRADLING with others of lesse note a George the Badge of a Knight of the Garter was found in the field by a Common Souldier besides that which the Lord Generall Lindsey wore and had about his neck when he was slaine and bought of him by a Captaine which was sent up to the Parliament there viewed and restored againe to the Captaine On the Parliament side were slaine onely these of marke and quality the Lord St. JOHN eldest Sonne to the Earle of BULLENBROOKE Colonell CHARLES ESSEX and Lieutenant Colonell RAMSEY and none of any great note taken Prisoners The Battell was fought with great courage on both sides both by the Generals and other Commanders besides some particular Regiments of Souldiers who were observed to performe their parts with great courage and bravery such as Colonell HOLLIS his Regiment of Redcoats and others too many to be all named in a short Discourse It could not but fall into the observation of many men that the yeare before upon the same day of the Moneth namely the 23. of October that this famous Battell of Keynton was fought the bloody Rebellion of the Irish broke out with that inhumane Massacre of the English Protestants in that Kingdom where the English by their owne losse and bleeding were sadly put in minde that they had too long deferred the revenge of their butchered Brethren in Ireland It was likewise observed by many men of the Parliament side who seemed to make no question but that the Victory was on their side as a further blessing of God to the Protestant Cause that on the very same day that this Battell was wonne in England the Sweads obtained a very great and notable Victory against the Imperialists and those of the Roman Religion in Germany But the King supposing himselfe victorious at Keyntonâ—ield â—ield immediately published a Declaration To all his loving Subjects for so it is stiled after his Victory against the Rebels Wherein though the expostulation be very bitter yet he indeavoureth that it should not seeme to be made against the Parliament it selfe but against some of them whom he termeth malignant malicious with such like Epithites as have laboured to lay aspersions upon him of things whereof he professeth himselfe altogether innocent Those aspersions he makes of two sorts the first is concerning his favouring of Popery and imploying Papists in his Army the second of raising that Army against the Parliament Both which he labours to wipe off with a recrimination against the Parliament For the first after a great Protestation of the truth of his Religion and his past present and future care for the better establishing of it in his Dominions with the extirpation of Popery though he cannot but acknowledge that some eminent men of that Religion are armed in his Service which he thinks excusable in so gteat a necessity and danger as he was in yet he tells the Parliament That in their Army there are more Papists Commanders and others then in his For the second That he leavyed his Army against the Parliament He seemeth to hope That none of his good Subjects will beleeve
slaine That Commission of Array was directed from the King to Sir NICHOLAS CRISPE Sir GEORGE STROUD Knights to Sir THOMAS GARDINER Knight Recorder of London Sir GEORGE BINION Knight RICHARD EDES and MARMADUKE ROYDEN Esquires THOMAS BROWNE PETER PAGGON CHARLES GENNINGS EDWARD CARLETON ROBERT ABBOT ANDREW KING WILLIAM WHITE STEVEN BOLTON ROBERT ALDEM EDMUND FOSTER THOMAS BLINKHORNE of London Gentlemen and to all such other persons as according to the true intent and purport of that Commission should be nominated and appointed to be Generals Colonels Lieutenant Colonels Serjeant Majors or other Officers of that Councell of Warre The Commission it selfe is to be read at large in the Parliament Records But this Conspiracy was prevented and proved fatall to some of the Contrivers being detected upon the last day of May which happened at that time to be the day of the Monethly Fast and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS with other of the forenamed Conspirators being apprehended were that night examined by divers grave Members of the Parliament of whom Master PYM was one and afterwards reserved in custody for a Tryall They were arraigned in Guild-Hall and Master WALLER Master TOMKINS Master CHALLONER Master HASELL Master WHITE and Master BLINKHORNE were all condemned none were executed but Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER being both hanged Master TOMKINS in Holborne and Master CHALLONER in Cornhill both within sight of their own dwelling houses Master HASELL dyed in Prison BLINKHORNE and the other were by the mercy of the Parliament and the Lord Generall Essex reprived and saved afterwards Master WALLER the chiefe of them was long detained Prisoner in the Tower and about a yeare after upon payment of a Fine of ten thousand pounds was pardoned and released to go travell abroad It was much wondered at and accordingly discoursed of by many at that time what the reason should be why Master WALLER being the principall Agent in that Conspiracy where Master TOMKINS and Master CHALLONER who had been drawne in by him as their own Confessions even at their deaths expressed were both executed did escape with life The onely reason which I could ever heare given for it was That Master WALLER had been so free in his Confessions at the first without which the Plot could not have been clearly detected That Master PYM and other of the Examiners had ingaged their promise to do whatever they could to preserve his life He seemed also much smitten in conscience and desired the comfort of godly Minister being extremely penitent for that soule offence and afterwards in his Speech to the House when he came to be put out of it much be wailed his offence thanking God that so mischievous and bloody a Conspiracy was discovered before it could take effect CHAP. III. Matters of State trans-acted in Parliament touching the Assembly of Divines The making of a new Great Seale Impeaching the Queene of High Treason and other things The Lord Generall Essex after some Marches returneth to quarter his wasted and sick Army about Kingston The Kings Forces Masters of the West The Earl of Newcastle his greatnesse in the North. Some mention of the Earle of Cumberland and the Lord FAIRFAX AT the same time that these Conspiracies were closely working to undermine the Parliament and Warre was raging in highest fury throughout the Kingdome many State-businesses of an unusuall nature had been trans-acted in the Parliament sitting For things were growne beyond any president of former ages and the very foundations of Government were shaken according to the sense of that Vote which the Lords and Commons had passed a yeare before That whensoever the King maketh Warre against the Parliament it tendeth to the dissolution of this Government Three things of that unusuall nature fell into debate in one moneth which was May 1643. and were then or soone after fully passed one was at the beginning of that moneth concerning the Assembly of Divines at Westminster Among other Bils which had passed both Houses and wanted onely the Royall Assent that was one That a Synod of Divines should be chosen and established for the good and right settlement of Religion with a fit Government for the Church of England This Bill was oft tendred to the King to passe but utterly refused by him The matter therefore was fully argued what in such cases might be done by Authority of Parliament when the Kingdomes good is so much concerned when a King refuseth and wholly absenteth himselfe from the Parliament And at last it was brought to this conclusion That an Ordinance of Parliament where the King is so absent and refusing is by the Lawes of the Land of as good Authority to binde the people for the time present as an Act of Parliament it selfe can be It was therefore Voted by the Lords and Commons That the Act for an Assembly of Divines to settle Religion and a forme of Government for the Church of England which the King had oft refused to passe should forthwith be turned into an Ordinance of Parliament and the Assembly thereby called debate such things for the settlement of Religion as should be propounded to them by both Houses which not long after was accordingly put in execution The case seemed of the same nature with that of Scotland in the yeare 1639. when the Scottish Covenanters as is before mentioned in this History upon the Kings delay in calling their Nationall Synod published a writing to that purpose That the power of calling a Synod in case the Prince be an Enemy to the truth or negligent in promoting the Churches good is in the Church it selfe In the same moneth and within few daies after another businesse of great consequence was by the Lords and Commons taken into consideration which was the making of a new Great Seale to supply the place of that which had been carried away from the Parliament as before is mentioned This businesse had been fully debated in the House of Commons and the Moneth following at a Conference between both Houses the Commons declared to the Lords what great prejudice the Parliament and whole Kingdome suffered by the absence of the Great Seale and thereupon desired their speedy compliance in Votes for the making of a new one The matter was debated in the House of Peeres put to Votes and carried for the negative The onely reason which they alleadged against the making of a new Seale was this That they have hitherto dispatched all business since the absence of the Seale by vertue of Ordinances of Parliament and they conceived that the same course might still be kept in what matters soever were necessary to be expedited for the good of the Kingdome without a Seale Yet the Lords gave a respective answer That if the House of Commons would informe them in any particular cases wherein the Kingdomes prejudice by absence of the Great Seale could not be remedied by vertue of an Ordinance they would take it into further consideration to induce complyance accordingly Neither was
Forces I Having been informed that lately at a Councell of Warre you have condemned to death Robert Yeomans late Sheriffe of Bristoll who hath His Majesties Commission for raising a Regiment for his Service William Yeomans his brothers George Bourchier and Edward Dacres all for expressing their Loyalty to His Majesty and indeavouring his Service according to their Allegiance and that you intend to proceed speedily against divers others in the like manner Do therefore signifie to you that I intend speedily to put Master George Master Stevens Captaine Huntley and others taken in Rebellion against His Majesty at Cicester into the same condition I do further advise you that if you offer by that unjust Iudgement to execute any of them you have so condemned that those here in custody Master George Master Stevens and Captaine Huntley must expect no favour or mercy Given under my hand at Oxford this 16. of May. 1643. To the Commander in FORTH Chiefe of the Councell of Warre in Bristoll The Answer to this Letter was as followeth NATHANIEL FIENNES Governour and the Councell of War in the City of Bristoll HAving received a Writing from your Lordship wherein it is declared that upon information of our late proceedings against Robert Yeomans William Yeomans and others you intend speedily to put Master George Master Stevens Captaine Huntley and others into the same condition We care well assured that neither your Lordship nor any other mortall man can put them into the same condition for whether they live or dye they will alwaies be accounted true and honest men faithfull to their King and Country and such as in a faire and open way have alwaies prosecuted that Cause which in their judgement guided by the judgement of the highest Court they held the justest whereas the Conspirators of this City must both in life and death carry perpetually with them the brand of Treachery and Conspiracy And if Robert Yeomans had made use of his Commission in an open way he should be put into no worse condition then others in the like kinde had been but the Law of nature among all men and the law of Armes among Souldiers make a difference betweene open Enemies and secret Spyes and Conspirators And if you shall not make the like distinction we do signifie unto you that we will not onely proceed to the execution of the persons already condemned but also of divers others of the Conspirators unto whom we had some thoughts of extending mercy And do further advertise you that if by any inhumane and un-Souldier-like sentence you shall proceed to the execution of the persons by you named or any other of our friends in your custody that have been taken in a faire and open way of War then Sir Walter Pye Sir William Crofts and Colonell Connebey with divers others taken in open Rebellion and actuall War against the King and Kingdom whom we have here in custody must expect no favour or mercy And by Gods blessing upon our most just Cause we have powers enough for our friends security without taking in any that have gotten out of our reach and power although divers of yours of no mean quality and condition have bin released by us Given under our hand the 18 of May 1643. To patrick Earle of Forth Lord Lieut. Generall Nathaniel Fiennes President Clement Walker c. The King also at that time writ a very sharpe command to the Mayor and Citizens of Bristoll to raise what power they could to hinder the execution of those men which he termes the murder of his loyall Subjects But nothing availed to save their lives for the forenamed ROBERT YEOMANS and GEORGE BOURCHIER according to the sentence were both executed The losse of Bristoll from the Parliament a place of great import was thus by the detection and prevention of this Conspiracy respited for a while onely For not long after it was surrendred to Prince RUPERT and happier it was for the Prince himselfe to gaine that City in a more honourable way and lesse effusion of English blood At the same time that these Conspirators against Bristoll were by sentence of a Councell of Warre put to death another Plot of higher nature and more full of horrour was detected at London a Plot which if not discovered had quite ruined the Parliament it selfe and strooke at the very head and chiefe residence of it the Cities of London and Westminster which cannot be omitted in this Relation though with as much brevity as can be possible it shall be touched The scope of it was to have put in execution the Commission of Array within London and Westminster and so to have raised a sufficient force for the Kings side to ruine the Parliament Many Citizens of London were in the Plot together with some Gentlemen besides who had taken an Oath of secrecy among themselves and were the more animated in it upon promises which Master WALLER the chiefe man in eminence among them a Member of the House of Commons had made to some of the rest that many Members of both Houses of Parliament were ingaged in the Plot and would in due time be assistants to it Though it proved in conclusion that Master WALLER was not able to make good so much as he had promised The Plot was horrid and could not possibly have been put in execution without great effusion of blood as must needs appeare by the particular branches of it which were confessed upon the Examinations of Master WALLER Master TOMKINS Master CHALLENOR Master HASELL Master BLINKHORNE Master WHITE and others the chiefe Actors in it That which appeared by the Narrative Declaration published by Authority of Parliament was to this effect That 1. They should seize into their custody the Kings Children 2. To seize upon severall Members of both Houses of Parliament upon the Lord Mayor of London and the Committee of the Militia there under pretence of bringing them to legall tryall 3. To seize upon all the Cities out-Works and Forts upon the Tower of London and all the Magazines Gates and other places of importance in the City 4. To let in the Kings Forces to surprize the City with their assistance and to destroy all those who should by Authority of Parliament be their opposers and by force of Armes to resist all payments imposed by the Authority of both Houses for support of those Armies imployed in their defence Many other particulars there were too tedious to relate at large as what signals should have been given to the Kings Forces of Horse to invade the City what Colours for difference those of the Plot should weare to be knowne to their fellowes and such like Much heartened they were in this businesse by a Commission of Array sent from Oxford at that time from the King to them and brought secretly to London by a Lady the Lady AUBIGNY Daughter to the Earle of Suffolke a Widow ever since the Battell of Keynton where the Lord AUBIGNY her husband was