common equity would excuse him In the afternoone it was reported that he was dead of which Report of my Lord Sâ—raffâ—rd's deaâ—h there can be no better reason given then the Humor and Genious of the times that dally with nothing oftner then untruths and calumnies And certainly there are many men of shallow understanding and weake affections who eyther will not or cannot understand the Gentlemans worth but out of fearefull and needlesse apprehensions are so desirous to heare of his ruine any way that their busie tongues will dare to anticipate the stroake of Justice Master Glyn proffers new proofes concerning the two and twentith Article Upon Satterday morning he presented himselfe at the Barre Satterday where he expected nothing but repetitions of Charges and Defences but meane while Master Glyn proffers some new proofes concerning the two and twentith Article which the noble Lord refused alleaging the Processe was closed Master Glyn answered the Processe is not closed as long as the businesse stands unrepealed And that it did not become a Prisoner at the Barre to prescribe a Method of proceeding to the House of Commons in England It was answered by the Lord Lievetenant that he thought it stood him in hand as neerely to maintain his life as it did any to pursue him for it yet he was willing they should bring in new proofes provided that he might have time to make new Replies and withall use some new witnesses in some Articles that concerns his justification The Lord Newarke upon these motions desired rhe House might be adjourned after two houres stay and a hot conflict among the Lords they returned and the Lord Steward commanded the Order to bee read which consisted of two Articles First That it was granted unto them to bring in proofes concerning the two and twentith Article so it was to the Lord Strafford to make his Replies and use his witnesses concerning the same Secondly That if they went to no more Articles no more should the Lord Strafford but if they did that hee might pitch upon any one Article as he pleased The House of Commons presently declined all other Articles and conceived the Order expresly for them restrayning him from all other Articles except that only He conceived the Order was for him and said that seeing they had pickt out their Article it was against all common Equity to tie up his hands and not admit of a common rule for them both They replyed that when the Article was canvased they reserved witnesses till another time Hee answered that he had done the same upon every Article They Replyed that the House had refused his Reservation He answered nor had they passed an Order for theirs Upon this new contestation the House rose againe and was adjourned It is supposed that the House of Commons had the better ground because they had particularly named their witnesses in their Reservation The Lord Strafford not so they pressed but one Article hee many But such was the pleasure of the Lords that though the matter did not deserve to bee much stood upon yet after two houres vehement agitation of the businesse in the upper-house they returned and the Order was in his favour to this effect First That both of them should wave their new ptoofes and goe immediatly to that which followes Secondly If they would not doe so the Lords conceived themselves common Judges to both and therefore would not deny Strafford the liberty of pitching upon what Article hee pleased as they had done Thirdly That both of them should name their witnesses at the Barre instantly The Commons were much grieved at this yet desired him to nominate his witnesses if he would make any benefit of the Order He answered that he would nominate after them because they were first in order they replyed that he knew their Article they not his He said hee was to bring proofes about the second fift thirteenth and the fifteenth Articles and did desire them that they would now proceede to nomination But they told him they could not embrace the Order without advice of the whole House then on a suddaine a mighty noyse followed of the whole House Withdraw Withdraw and was in so uncouth and tumultuous a confusion that it produced both admiration and feare in the beholders wherein we might easily feele the pulse of a distempered State both the Houses brake up not apointing so much as the next Diet each mans countenance spake anger and discontent and nothing sounded in our eares all Sunday but terrors and affrightments of a present division and breach between the two Houses That the House of Commons would declare him a Traytor and all such Lords too as were his adherents That he should be no more heard in publique That though parties and not his Peeres they would vote in his Sentence Munday spent in a conference betwixt botb Houses That a Bill of Attainder should presently be drawn up against him and that nothing could content them but present execution Big words flew up and down all Monday That whole day was spent in a conference betwixt the Houses without any meeting in the Hall but the Lords who had learned as it seemes to force their owne ruine by his misfortune and now conceive that Monarchy and Nobility are of such Identidy that one and the same is the diminution of both kept fast to their conclusion and would not passe from their Order notwithstanding all the many dangers represented so that the house of Commons were constrained at last to give way and embrace the first part of the Order by waving witnesses on both sides This hath beene no small discouragement to his Enemies for a more reall Demonstration of his party amongst the Lords could not have beene shewn Upon Monday some of the Lords went so high in their heate as to tell the House of Commons that it was an un-naturall motion for the head to be governed by the tayle That they hated Rebellion as bad as Treason That the same blood that ennobled their Ancestors did move also in their veines and therefore they would never suffer themselves to bee suppressed by a popular faction After a great deale of storme all was as well as might be soadered up againe and Tuesday appointed to be the day for the Lievetenant to resume his Defences for then their Charge without any more proofe to be used on eytherside Upon Tuesday the Lord Steward at the entrie told them the Tuesday Lords had Ordered that both their testimonies should be waved that they should proceede immediatly to what followed so that that day might put an end to what concerned the matter of Fact The Lord Lievetenant Replied That in all humility and obedience Straffords Reply he would submit himselfe to that or any other their Decrees whatsoever though it should reach as farre home unto him as his owne life but withall humbly begged That if hereafter hee should be troubled for they were to speake
number of supposed probabilities I leave it to your Lordshippes consideration to fore-see what may bee the issue of such dangerous and Recent Praecedences These Gentlemen tell mee they speake in defence of the Common-wealth against my Arbitrary Lawes give me leave to say it I speake in defence of the Common-wealth against their arbitrary-Treason for if this latitude be admitted what praejudice shall follow to King and Countrey if you and your Posterity bee by the same disenabled from the greatest affaires of the Kingdome for my poore selfe were it not for your Lordships interest and the interest of a Saint in Heaven who hath left me here two Pledges on Earth At this his breath stopt and he shed teares abundantly in mentioning his wife which moved his very Enemies to Compassion I should never take the paines to keepe up this Ruinous Cottage of mine it is loaden with such infirmities that in truth I have no great pleasure to carry it about with me any longer Nor could I ever leave it in a better time then this when I hope the better part of the World would perhaps thinke that by this my misfortune I had given a testimony of my Integrity to God my King and Countrey I thanke God I count not the afflictions of this present life compatable to that glory which is to be revealed in the time to come My Lords My Lords my Lords Something more I had to say but my Voice and Spirits fayle me only I doe in all humility and submission cast my selfe down before your Lordships feete and desire that I might be a Pharos to keepe you from Ship-wrack doe not put such Rocks in your owne way which no prudency no circumspection can eschue or satisfie but by your utter ruine and whether your judgements in my Case I wish it were not the Case of ye all be eyther for life or death it shall be righteous in my eyes and receaved with a Te Deum Laudamus and then he lifted up his eyes and said In te Domine confido nè confundar in aeternum This hee spake with an Imitable life and grace you have his very words as neere as I can remember only with so much losse and detriment as hath perished by transcribing the Coppy from his owne mouth But you desire impâ—rtialitie and indeede you have it and with some graines too of allowance for I was so affrayd of my own affection to the Gentleman that I rather bowed to the other extremity and therefore have set down his defences rather to his disadvantage by my rude pen then in the native colour to his eternall glory and the Confusion of his Enemies The Repetion of the charge did not spend much time they proceeded orderly Article by Article in the very same words and matter as before only there were some remarkable flashes that passed from Master Glyn who was the man in the time of their handling Hee told them that hee should represent the Lord Strafford as cunning in his reylys as hee had beene crafty in his Actions that hee waved all that was materiall and insisted only upon the Secondary Proofs that it was more then evident throughout all his charge how hee had endeavored to bring in an Arbitrary and Tyrannicall forme of Government over the lives the lands and liberties of the Kings Subjects yea had exercised a tyranny ever their consciences too by the oath administred in Ireland and though his Malicious Designes had taken no effect yet no thanks to him but to the goodnesse of the King and the Vigilancy of the Peeres had they pleas'd it had beene too late to have punished him for no rule of Law had beene left whereby to Censure him after the death and expiration of the Lawes And if the Intention of Gvido Faux might bee thought Treason though the House was not blown up then this Intention of his may admit the same censure Hee closed that throughout all his defences hee had pretended either warrants from the King or else the Kings Praerogative and what was this else but to draw up a cloude and exhale the Vapour for the eclipsing of the bright Sonne by the Jelousies or Repinings of his subjects if the strength of his piety and Justice should not dispell all these mists and send them down to their originall That the very standing and falling of these three Kingdomes stood upon this Processe All of which doe conceive their safety so farre intressed in his just punnishment that no setling of their peace or quiet could bee expected without this that rhey hoped the Law should never protect him who had gone about to subvert all Law Nor the Nobility who had the same blood moving in their veines by submitting themselves to his base Tyranny loose that priviledge and liberty which their Ancestors had bought with their deerest lives Though there was no Treason for his Stat was it the lesse Monstrous For there was none for so many hundreds of yeares that durstever adventure upon such Insolencies to occasion such a Statute And were not the fundamentall grounds and rules and government sufficient to rise up in Judgement against him without the making a particular Statute This hee said hee left to the dispute of the Law and concluded That seeing they had found out the Jonah who these many yeares had tossed and hazarded the Ship of the Common-wealth with continuall stormes and tempests there could no calmes bee expected but by casting him out into the Seas which in all Justice they must and doe expect from their hands who are intrusted by the body of the Kingdome to doe the same The Aggravation of the offence hee said hee had left to Master Pym who here spake that Speech which is now in Print It was a sport to see how Master Pym in his Speeech was fearefully out and constreined to pull out his papers and reade with a great deale of confusion and disorder before hee could recollect himselfe which failing of his Memory was nosmall advantage to the Lievetenant because by this meanes the house perceived it was a premeditated slash not grounded upon the Lievetenants last answer but resolved on before whatsoever hee should say for his own justification but the Lievetenant was nor suffered to Reply a word either to Glyn or Pym. Because the last word must bee theirs And so with Tuesday ended the matter of Fact On Thursday the dispute in Law is expected Upon Wednesday wee were bigg with expectation for the matter of Law having done before with the matter of fact but it seemes the house of Commons had perceived a great Defection of their party and a great increase of the Lord Straffords freinds in both the houses occasioned by his insinuating honest and witty defences and therefore they resolved of no more hearing in publique therefore it was thought upon by his accusers to draw up a Bill of attainder and present the same to the Lords whereby first the matter of fact should bee declared
to have been sufficiently proved and then in the matter of Law that hee had incurred the censure of treason for intending to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome for though said they hee cannot bee charged by Letter of Statute of the twenty fift of Edward the third yet hee is within the compasse of the Salvo whereby it is provided that the King and Parliament hath power to determine what is Treasonable and what not and that they were confident the Lords would ratify and approve of this Bill of theirs and give Judgement accordingly The motion was stoutly opposed by three great Lawyers all members of the House Seilden Holborne and Bridgeman who made it manifest that the Salvo 25 of Edward 3 was repealed and that no man could now be convict of Treason but by the Letter of that statute But being put to voice it was carryed for the Bill and a Committee appointed for to draw it up This gave occasion of much talke abroad and they who were otherwise the Lord Straffords enemies could not finde equity enough in the Bill of Attainder Some could not conceive what difference Imaginable was betwixt the Bill and the Charge presented before for in the Charge hee was accused of Treason and the Bill though they had no Legislative power seem'd nothing but an Affirmation of the same Others who would have the Bill understood of a Definitive sentence because it was consecutive to the Proofs were not satisfied but that it was against all practice that the Commons should give sentence upon the death of a peere And that it was against Common equity too that the party accusant should give the Judgement if the complayners were admmitted to bee Judges A third sort gave it out that this was no Sentence against the Lord Strafford but only a passing of a new act of Parliament about a matter not hitherto declared Treasonable but yet these doubted that by declaring the matter of fact to bee approved and applying the censure to it in reference to the Lord Strafford it would ever be thought a Sentence against him to blemish his own fame and the blood of his posterity Moreover that if they were about to make an new act it were strange to punish a man for the breach of such a Statute as was not yet extant in Rerum naturâ which should in reason referre only to future obedience And what is more strange though there were a new Statute yet by what Authority the Parliament hath or could declare any Individuall or Accumulative Act which is allready to bee Treasonable which must bee Treason by virtue of a Statute or else no Treason at all now there is none can bee brought except the twenty fift of Edward the third whereof the Letter of that Stattute cannot by their own Confession nor was not so much as once alledged against the Lord Strafford and for the Salvo or Proviso which they mainly insisted on the same stands repeald by two posteriour Acts of Parlyament You have the Mutterings of all sorts of People The Lords feâ—ring the proceedings as a beaten path troden out to the ruine of their own Lives and Estates told the house of Commons in their conference upon Thursday that they would go on the same way they did already and according to the order of the house give full audience to the Lord Straffords councell in matter of Law and that they themselves as competent Judges would by themselvâ—s only give Sentence in the cause nor was there any course suitable to the practice and Stat. of the Kingdome the safety of the Nobility or to Equity or Common Justice It was replyed by them of the lower House that they were resolved to go on with their Bill and if the same should bee rejected by the Lords they feared a Rupture and Division might follow to the utter Ruine and Desolation of the whole Kingdom that no content would be given to the subject and this was a strong Argument indeed yet better beseeming Partiality and violence then the pretended Justice and piety of the times unlesse the man who had so much intruded vpon their right and discontented the people might bee punished as a Traytor And for the practice of the Kingdome that no man had ever found such a Favourable hearing and that the Processe against Essex Norfolk and somerset were all of them closed up in one day Upon Friday the Lords gave answer that they could expect nothing from the House of Commons but what should tend to the peace and Preservation of the Kingdome nor was there a more forceable way then to preserve the Lawes and Customes thereof least innovation so much complained of by them might unhappily be found among themselves that the subjects should have all that Justice could afford but that an act of Injustice would never give satisfaction to the world nor safety to themselves the eyes of all forraigne States being fixed vpon the businesie now in agitation and the wisdome of our Nation either to bee much advanced or depressed by their Judgements in this case That the Processe against Norfolk and Essex for Somerset was convict only of fellony and had not so much Animad version to save himselfe by his Booke were for Direct and formall Treasons comprised in one or two Individuall Acts but this against the Lord Strafford only Arbitrary and Accumulative to bee pict out of the twenty eight Articles And therefore that it was impossible to have a full examination of them all to give Sentence against him And those noble men were charged with some Actuall breach of Statutes formerly made but heere a new Staute was to be made or else hee to bee found guiltlesse They concluded that they had given order for his appearance on Saterday And that in the great Hall at Westminster where the House of Commons might if they pleased bee present After some deliberation with the House the Conferrers answered that since the Lords had so resolved they would not deny to bee there present and to heare what his Councell could say for him but to reply any more in publique they neither could nor would because of the Bill allready past only if the Lords should take any scruple in the matter of Law they would bee ready to give them satisfaction by a private Conferrence so they willingly declined to doe what indeede they could not possibly doe that is to give publique satisfaction in the matter of Law Upon Saterday they conveened in the great Hall but they that were of the Committee for the great charge did not stand at the Barre as before but sat promiscuously with the rest of their fellowes so that a mouth was not oppened in the behalfe of the House of Commons all that day After they were set the Lord Steward told the Lievetenant that the Lords had resolved to give him a faire hearing in the matter of Law And therefore desired that the councell might keepe that distance Moderation and respect
praejudiciall unto my Lord Strafford First In that they should suppose that to be done which is not proved to be Secondly That the matter of Law ariseth so naturally from the matter of Fact that it will be impossible to separate one from the other Thirdly That it is the course of all Judicatories first to settle the Verdict and upon that to fixe the Arguments otherwise hee could conceive no possible way of proceeding And therefore in the Lord Straffords name he most humbly entreated that the Lords would either wholly determine the matter of Fact or whether Treason or not for then all other proceedings in Lawe were unnecessary but whether done or not done or else to give them some States of the question whereunto they might confine themselves Upon this motion the House was adjourned for that day nor hath it met since for the House of Commons are turned to their old bias and will heare of nothing but the Bill of Attainder but the Lords seeme to be more resolute then before because they finde that they have no Authority to declare a Treason in a fact already past the Salvo of the twenty fift of Edward the third being Repealed withall that if the Bill of Attainder should proceede the King hath as great power to hinder that at the last blow as any other Stat. but I hope the Lords will disburthen him of that envie All they which stand oblieged to the Lord Strafford in blood affection or deserving and all who have beene interessed with him in the Kings service and many too who both hate his person and dislike his proceedings will doubtlesse looke to it and tender their owne safety all of them in likelyhood being subject to the Charge of Treason if ever they chance to be called to doe the King service in any place of importance I cannot expresse how much the voice of the multitude is now altered from what it was lately nothing now talked of what should be done but only of what must be done so that if the Lord Strafford dies his very enemies will confesse that it is done more for necessity then for Justice and rather for the satisfaction of rancorous apprehensions then for any guiltinesse in the Cause Thursday last viz. Aprill 29. was designed for the Agitation Thursday of the long intermitted busines concerning the Lievetenant And the way was this The Lords did meete at the great Hall at Westminster about nine of the clock not in their Robes nor did the Lord Steward The foâ—mality â—f a conference sit upon his sack but with the rest promiscously nor did the Committee for the House of Commons stand at the Barre but sat with the rest of their fellowes and the Earle of Strafford sat behinde the place where he used to sit before The reason of these changes were because the Diet was appointed not for a meeting but for a Conference so curious are we and that 's all about formalities The King Queene and Prince were there according to their custome not a man spake a word in the house all the time but only Master St. John the Kings Sollicitor one of the Committee whose drift and purpose was to furnish the Lords with reasons why the House of Commons had proceeded with a Bill of Attaindor And withall to reply to what the Lord Strafford had spoken eyther by himselfe or his Councell in matter of Lawe The Speech is in Print If it were not without my Sphere to give my opinion of Master St. Johns speech it should be this That he spake little or nothing to purpose except in his fift or sixt Arguments and in them I beleeve without his booke if not I should conceive it better and safer to live under the Lawes of any other Nation then these of England where all Lawe is at last resolved into an Arbitrary power and that by these very men who so much elsewhere enveigh against it Of the Presidents which seeme to pinch hardest many of them were since the Proviso Repealed which is an Argument in my apprehension of the pleaders penurie others nothing to purpose as that of Felony c. to the other few if Lawyers can give satisfaction I am confident Master St. John did rather advantage then hurt the Earle by his pleading The next news which we expect to heare is with what Resolution he went out of this World for it is concluded amongst the major part of his Judges that one must die for the people It were well if the blood of one two or three could satisfie The Bill for certain is past the higher House to which 't is thought the King will be perswaded to give way The Scaffold is built upon the Tower Hill God grant him mercy for his other sins and I hope he will easily answere that of Treason He dies as we heare upon the twenty third Article for the words attested by Sir Henry Vane though his Majesty publiquely protested the words were never spoken by him Upon the close of Master St. Johns speech the House dissolved nor was there a word spoken but by Master St. Johns only the Lord Lievetenant used the last part of his Rhetorique and by a dumbe eloquence Manibus ad Syderatensis all along Master St. Johns speech made his Replies with a deepe silence Upon Friday he Petitioned the Lords to be heard againe and that because his Lawyers had not fully spoken at their last meeting but this was denied him because the House were to have the last speech nor were they content to speake againe Upon this information or what else is not known the King it seemes fearing the Inconstancy of the Lords came to the House on Saterday at ten of the clock and having called for the House of Commons spake much to this effect THAT Hee had sincerely without Affection The Kings speech to the House of Commons or Partialitie endeavored to informe himselfe concerning the Livetenants Charge and had at length seriously pondered with himselfe both concerning the matter of Fact and the matter of Lawe and now it stood him in hand to cleere their judgements then to exonerate his own Conscience For them Hee had two things to declare First That there was never such a project nor had the Lord Strafford ever offered such advise for the transporting of the Irish Army into England so that in nothing the Livetenant had beene more misunderstood then in that Which imputation did in no small measure reflect on himselfe the King as if he had intended to make War upon his own good Subjects which thought he said was farre enough from his brest nor could any man in probability thinke so unworthily of him who had perceived how graciously he had dealt with his Subjects elsewhere that had deserved a great deale worse Secondly That the Lievetenant had never advized him to establish an Arbitrary Government nor if he had should he have escaped condigne punishment nor would any of his good Subjects ever
slender answere might serve Hee hoped that no man would thinke him so inconsiderate to warre against the King of Britaine and Ireland by the sessing of five Souldiers that hee had beene charged by many for taking Armes for the King but to that time never for taking Armes against him And that he heartily wished that no man in all his Majesties Dominions had more practises with Rebels and Rebellious Designes against the King then himselfe So much for Thursday At the close he desired the intermission of a day that hee might recollect his spirits and strength against the next quarrell and with some difficulty obteined rest till Satterday Upon Saterday Master Palmer proceeded to the sixteenth Article and Charged thus That the Lord Strafford having established Saterday Charge Article 16 by Master Palmer a Tyrannicall and Independent Authority by giving summary Decrees and Sentences had deprived the Subject of all just Remedy for in that Kingdome there was none supreme to himselfe to whom they might appeale And lest their just grievances might be made known to his Majesty hee had obteined a Restraint that no Complaint should be made of injustice or oppression done there till the first addresse had beene made to himselfe and that no person should come out of that Kingdome but upon Licence obteined from himselfe For Proofe of this First The Instructions were read whereby that Restraint was permitted Secondly The Proclamation That all Noblemen Gentlemen Undertakers Officers or other Subjects that should resort into that Kingdome should not come from thence without a Licence from him Thirdly That hee had restrayned the Earle of Desmond because of a suit in Lawe depending betweene the Earle and himself till publication of the same was passed Fourthly That the Lord Roch being informed against before the Starre-Chamber he would not Licence him to come into this Kingdome till the Sentence was passed against him Fiftly That one Marcatee having pretended a minde to travell was denied a Licence Sixtly That the whole Committe for the Parliament was Restrained this last yeere by Deputy Wansford which they said might be interpreted to be his fact both because they had such intelligence the one from the other as also by the Proclamation issued by him before Seventhly That one Parry servant to Chancellor Loftis was fined five hundred pounds at his returne for departing Ireland without Licence Eighthly That the Irish Remonstrance complained of this as the greatest innovation and thraldome put upon them since the time of the Conquest They concluded the Charge That by this meanes having taken off that intelligence which should hee betweene the King and his People and having deprived them of that Remedy which in reason they might expect from so just and so Gracious a Prince hee had taken upon him a Royall and Independent Power and had faulted highly both against King and State The Lievetenants Reply was That he hoped to make it cleere that he had done nothing Straffords Reply in that particular but what was Usuall Necessary and just and that he should be very well able by the Grace of God not only of that but of all other his publique actions to give a reasonable Accompt though not be free from much weakenesse yet certainly from all Malice and Treason To the Particulars First For Instructions laid upon him he was not so much Chargeable as those of the Councell of England whereof there was a great many present who could witnesse their commands But lest any thing should seeme unjustly enjoyned by them or embraced by him hee desired that the reasons of their Instructions might be read which were That it were In-justice to complaine of Injuries of Oppression done in that Kingdome till the first Deputies judgement were informed and tryall made of his Integrity that it would much discourage the Ministers of State there and expend the monies of that Kingdome if upon every trifling businesse Complaints should be admitted in England And that if justice were there denyed by the Deputy it should be lawfull for any man to come over Secondly For the Proclamation that the same was builded upon the Statute of that Kingdome the 25 of Hen. 6. which conteined the same Restraint Verbatim Thirdly That Anno 1628. the Agents for the Irish Nation had Petitioned for the same from the King Fourthly That the Deputy Faulkland had set forth the same Proclamation Fiftly that he had the Kings expresse Warrant for it Anno 1634. which was read Sixtly That he had received the Warrant in January yet the Proclamation issued not out till September after Seventhly That the whole Councell-Board of Ireland had not only condiscended but also pressed him to it Eighthly The necessity of the Kingdome required the same for if the Gentlemen had the Ports open to goe to Spayne and their Schollers to Doway Rhemes or St. Omers it were likely that at their returne they would put fire both in Church and State and produce very sad events by practising to distemper both Ninthly He conceived that the King as great Master of the Family might restraine whom he pleased from departing his Kingdome without his privity and here it was not lawfull for any to goe from England without Licence how much more necessary was this from Ireland To the Proofes he answered First For Desmond He granted he was Restrayned indeede but not for any suit of Law betwixt them but because at that time he stood Charged with Treason before the Councell in Ireland for practising against the life of one Syr Valentine Cooke Secondly For the Lord Roch he hath often times mervailed with what reason the man at that time could seeke a Licence seeing he was a Prisoner for debt in the Castle of Dublin and if he had granted a Licence unto him then it had beene a farre more just Charge of Treason then now Thirdly For Marcattee he was afraid of his going to Spain and if he had told him that he intended to goe for England and complaine of himselfe he would not have refused him Liberty as he never did to any Fourthly That the Committee of Irish was not restrayned by him and therefore did not concerne him at all Fiftly That for Parry he was fined indeede But that it is expresly said in his Sentence that it was not for coming over without Licence as is suggested but for sundry contempts against the Councell-Board in Ireland Sixtly That he had Replyed in the last Article a Remonstrance was no proofe at all He concluded that he hoped the least suspition of Treason could not accrue to him from the Article For Oppression or Misdemeanor when it was laid to his Charge he made no doubt but hee should bee able to answere it The same day a new man was hurried out against him Mr. Whitlock Whitlooks Charge Article 19 who having past over the 17 and 18 Articles resteth on the nineteenth about the Oath administred to the Scotts in Ireland and Charged thus That it was
That by such undutifull Councell and words hee had given more then sufficient proofe of his Designe and purpose to subdue this Kingdome and subvert the fundamentall Lawes and priviledges of the same The Livetenants Reply First That he had expected some proofs about the two Straffords Reply first particulars but did heare of none and that it was no small disadvantage to him to bee charged with a great many odious crimes by a booke printed and flying from hand to hand through the whole Kingdome yet when they came to prove there should bee no such thing layd against him Secondly About the Speeches Hee ingeniously confessed that some such thing might perhaps have escaped the dore of his lipps when hee saw their backwardnesse to his Majesties service and as the times were 〈◊〉 conditioned hee did not think it much amisse to call that faction by the name of Rebells But yet hee thought hee had abundantly satisfied for that oversight if it was any at Yorke For having understood there that the Citty of London were willing to make a Loan of mony he there before the great councell of the Peeres expressed himselfe to this sence That the Londoners had sufficiently made up all their delayes hitherto by their Act that the King was obliged to their forwardnesse and that hee himselfe should bee as ready to serve them as any poore Gentleman in England About the other words hee said that being in conference with some of the Londoners there came at that time to his hands a Letter from the Earle of Leicester then at Paris wherein were the Gazets inclosed reporting that the Cardinall had given some such order as to leavy mony by forces This hee said hee only told the Lord Cottington standing by without the least application or intention concerning the English Affaires Cottington being examined upon this declared the same in the same manner Thirdly To Sir Ralph Freeman hee said that his testemony did not concerne the Charge at all nor did hee think any thing amisse in it though hee had said it if the servants of the Mint refused to worke according to directions they did deserve the house of correction nor was it Treasonable to say the King might use that house for the correction of his servants as well as any man in the Citty for theirs Fourthly Hee said that there was no great likelyhood that hee had committed reall Acts of Treason when his adverse party was content to trifle away so much time about words neither was there any Treason in them though they had beene fully verified and therefore in that as in all other Articles hee reserved a power for his Councell to dispute in matter of Law They went to the twenty seveneth Article and charged thus That immediatly after his appointment to bee Livetenant to the Charge Article 27 Army here in England hee shewed what Principles of Arbitrary government lurked within his bosome for by his own immediate authority without and against Law hee had layd Impost of mony upon the Kings Subjects where they mention three particulars First That hee had imposed 8. d. per diem upon the County of York for enterteining the trayne Band there one whole Moneth Secondly That hee had sent out warrants for collecting the same and threatned to imprison such as should refuse to pay Thirdly That hee said that it was a Crime nigh to the Crime of high Treason Not to pay the same Fourthly They added that in his generall Replyes hee had brought two things for his defence first that this mony was freely and Voluntarily offered by those in Yorke-shire secondly that the great councell of the Peers had notice of the same To the first they answered that a petition was indeede preferred by the Yorke-shire men and a Moneths pay offered but that the Lord Strafford had refused to present the same upon this exception only because in the same they had petitioned for a Parliament whereby hee evidently declared what little Inclination he had to that way To the second they appeald to all the Lords present whether any such order did passe before the Councell of the Peeres at Yorke The Proofs were First A Warrant issued by Collonell Pennyman for this mony and anorher by Sâ—r Edward Osborne Secondly Master John Burrowes who declared that hee was Clerke to the great councell but did remember of no order and withall added that it might have passed at that time when heâ— attended at Rippon Thirdly Master Dunston who declared that hee had known that mony Levyed by some Musquetiers Fourthly By Sir William Ingram who declared that hee had heard the Livetenant say that to refuse the same came nigh to the Crime of high Treason They concluded the Chrage that by these particulars It was more then evident what unhappy purposes and trayterous Designes hee had to subdue this Kingdome and subvert the fundamentall Lawes and priviledges First To the Petition That it was a true Petition drawn Strafford's Reply up by the York-shire Gentlemen and as true that hee had refused to present the same because of that clause about the Parliament but the matter was thus At his Majesties comming to York it was thought necessary for the defence of that County to keep the Trayned Bond on foote because the Enemy was upon the borders and therefore the King directed him to write to all the free-holders in York-shire to see what they would do for their own defence The time and place were designed by the King but the night before the meeting a small number convented and in a private and factious way did draw up that petition upon the morrow at their appointed Dyet in presence of the whole number the Petition was presented to him where hee did advise them to leave out that clause and that because hee knew the King out of his own gracious disposition had intended to call a Parliament which he desired should rather be freely done then upon the constraint and Importunity of Petitions moreover it would seeme a mercenary thing in them at one and the same time to offer a benevolence and withall to petition for his favour upon this Remonstrance they were all willing to recall the Petition and directed him by word of mouth to offer unto the King the moneths pay in their names which hee did accordingly in the presence of fortie of them to their no small advantage This hee proved by Sir William Pennyman Sir Paul Neale Sir George Wentworth Sir William Savill Sir Thomas Danby who all of them declared as much in ample termes and withall added that nothing was done upon better grounds of necessity and obedience then the offer of that money and that they never had heard any man grudge against it to this time For the second about the councell of Peeres hee alleadged that hee never made mention of any order of theirs but hee remembered very well it was twice propounded before them that the King had approved it at that time
think otherwise unlesse they conceived him either to bee a foole or a Tyrant that he either could not or would not discern such wickednesse Hee was well content hee said with that Authority and Power which God had put into his hands nor should he ever thinke it his Praerogative to intrude upon the Propriety of the Subject For himselfe and his own Conscience hee said he was now to Declare That in his own judgement there was nothing in the Processe against the Lievetenant that deserved the censure of Treason Oversights and Mis-demeanors there were in such a measure that he confessed the Lord Strafford was never worthy hereafter to beare any Office in his kingdomes no not so much as of a Constable but was to be answerable for all his Errors when they were to be charged upon him and to this none of them should concurre with greater alacrity then himselfe That he hoped none of them would deny to give him the priviledge of the first Voice which was That he would never in heart nor hand concurre with them to punish this man as a Traytor and desired therefore that they would thinke of some other way how the businesse might be composed Nor should it ever be lesse deere to him though with the losse of his deerest blood to protect the Innocent then to punish the Guilty At the House of Commons startled and adjorned themselves till Monday divers censures are Past upon the Kings speech even of those that love his houour some thinke hee was drawn to this by a certain fore-knowledge of the Lords facility to give way to the Commons and that it was better to expresse themselves then if by that meanes hee could hinder the sentence then to countermand the Execution thereof when it was passed and so draw all the envie upon himselfe others are of opinion which is more probable that this hath beene a plot of the Kings bosome enemies to set him at ods with his sujâ—cts that thereby they might sish the more securely in these troubled waters The reason is because it is very likely the Lord Strafford might have passed free by the voices of the Lords but now howsoever the matter falleth out all the blame will be imputed to the King for if hee bee condemned it will bee no thanks to the King if Justified that will cerrtinly bee layed to the King too as who by his threats and menaces hath forestalled the voyces of his Nobilty It is conceived by wise men and such as wish no evill to my Lord Strafford that it had beene farre better both for the King and him to have first tryed the utmost of the Lords for the King because it was both possible and probable that hee migh have gayned the Declaration of the Lords for him If not it was time enough to Interpose his own power afterwards for the Lord Strafford because it hath made the House of Commons a great deale the more pressing fearing by the Kings Peremptorie answer from whom in regarde of the advantage of the times they expected nothing but a Concedimus omnia that there is some plot under hand And these thoughts produced the late tumults of the Londoners of which more by and by And it is verily thought that for these two reasons the Lievetenants seeming friends but indeede Reall enemies have put the King upon this way hoping thereby that the Lords should finde occasion to pretend necessity of doing that which perhaps in regard of common equity or the Kings dipleasure they could nor durst have done howsoever Facta est alia the King is now so farre engaged that with respect to honour and conscience hee connot retire for if the Praecedure bee by a legislative power It falls directly upon him nor can hee give his assent If by a Judiciary then must hee either hinder the execution or bee sayd to have Charged himselfe with Injustice This hath produced Strange alterations even the marriage of the Prince of Orenge done on Sunday last May the second with ordinary Solemnity is now exceedingly hatefull to the Commons which so much before desired it some say the Praecipitation of that marriage Imports no good others that the Parliament had condiscended to that marriage but did not expect that Acceleration a third sort that the party is meane enough if not too lowe for the King of Englands eldest Daughter All of them that the Dutch-men have offered mony to the King for a new service of warre and have thereby bought this Honour This is encreased by the landing of a Dutch-man who is to bee Gentleman of the Kings Horses And shortly with us the Hollander will bee no lesse odious then the Spanyard Oh the wonderfull changes of the untoward unconstant and giddy multitude How unhappy a time it is to know what Liberty meanes and to get the Rheins cast upon their own necks it ranges madly up and downe nec modum tenens nec terminum nor is capable of subsistence till it hath lost it selfe and what it so much affects Liberty So knives are put into the hands of children who discerne no danger but affect them for their splendor and glittering so Poyson into the mouâ—hs of fooles which is Judged only by the taste and sweetnesse But it seemes the Judgment of this Kingdome cannot bee prevented and because they have sinned against themselves by abusing their plenty and fatnesse It is the just judgement of God that they bee the executioners of his Judgements upon themselves Before I tell you of Monday and Tuesdayes madnesse I must tell you when and whence this fury hath its first motion Upon the Thursday before a great many Apprentises beset the Spanish Ambassadors house neere Bishops-gate threatning to pull it downe and kill the man the Mayor of London coms amongst them and with a great deale of paynes perswaded them to retire home and afterwards entred into the Ambassadors House at his comming in the Ambassador desired him to pull downe his sword which was carryed before him because hee was now where the King of Spaine had Jurisdiction That being done hee told the Lord Mayor that in all his life time hee had never seene such a barbarous attempt and desired to know whether England were a civill Nation or no where the Law of Nations were so monstrously violated The Mayor replyed that they were of the base and rascally sort of people and intreated the tumult might not bee imputed to the town the Ambassador answered that hee could hardly acknowledge that to bee a town yea scarce a society of men where there was so little Civility and Government The Mayor told him that the people were discontent because Masse was said in his house The Ambassodar replyed that the English Ambassador had the free exercise of his Religion at Madrid and that hee would rather forgoe his life then any of those priviledges due to him by Paction and the Law of Nations The Mayor answered they were the more incensed against him
all that time but brought forth that Protestation or band of Association as they terme it which is now in print it was then drawun up and without further processe or delay before they came out subscribed by the whole House except the Lord Digby and an Uncle or Friend of his It is thought by some whose heads are not green that it is very like a Covenant in Scotland but that must bee left to furrher time and wiser heads if that CoÌ„ment that perhaps will follow bee not worse then the text it may in probability happen out to bee canonicall enough but the too generall Phrase in it lyes very open to have sences pro re natâ thrust upon them which may bee very justly suspected to have beene intended where the oath and Law-giver is the party only some have observed two remarkable things upon this First Some thinke it Strange that Seeing the House of Commons have lately fined the Convocation House upon this ground especially that they enjoyned an oath which is a Legislative power say they and only due to Parliaments How they at this time as if all the Legislative power were in them without the advise of the Lords I say not of the Church though in matters Ecclesiasticall or approbation of the King which is conceived to bee a mighty encroachment upon his Praerogative should offer either to praescribe or subscribe such an oath as if it were essentiall to our Reformation ever to bee done by the people without Authority of the Superiour powers and yet before it passe in a Stat. It must come in by a Bill usteron proteròn but parhaps it is hoped that by this Anti-dated subscription they shall finde out the more easy passage for the Bill when it comes to bee Propounded Secondly That the House of Commons were foure houres pleading upon that one expression in the Protestation The true reformed Religion expressed in the Doctrine of the Church of England Some who were more tender toward the Church desiring that the word discipline might bee adjoyned to the word Doctrine but others mainly opposed that reasoning that no discipline could bee admitted but all to bee esteemed as Popish that was not conteined in the Doctrine that is in the word of God which party at the last did prevaile though the other affirmed that there was more expresse warrant in the word of God for Bishops then for ruling Elders but if some Hint bee not there intended against the Duanes and Chapters the liturgies ceremonies yea the very Bishops of the Church of England let any man judge and of what dangerous consequence that may bee if those who pretend to have authority in all Church affaires may bee permitted to give Sentence is not difficult to determine This day the people mett againe but in smaller number they have threatned to come to morrow with all rheir maine forces and not to desist till the Lievetenant bee executed and their other petitions obteined the oath was likewise presented to the Lords and some say all of them except the eight Recusâ—nt Lords and foure of the Bishops have signed the same but others say they have only admitted the Bill which is more likely I think it is Lncan tells us the tale That when the 100 handed Gyant Briareus whom the Mithologizers of Poems use as a Type of the multitude was first brought into the world his Father Jupiter desired Mercury to set his Scheme and calculate the Starres of his Nativity no Father said Mercury that is needlesse a little time will shew his disposition for so many hands cannot bee long Idle A very lively Idoea of this businesse now in Agitation your selfe may make the application by the events Upon Saterday May the eighth the Bill against the Lord Saterday May 8. Strafford past the Lords there were fourtie five present of which nyneteene voiced for him and twenty six against him the greatest part of his friends absented themselves upon pretence whether true or suppositious that they feared the multitude otherwise his suffrages had more then counterpoised the voters for his death In the Bill hee is condemned of Treason and all his English Lands the other part of the Coat is left for those in Ireland forfeited with an especiall Proviso that this Act shall in no waies bee forceable against others then if it never had been made which to his friends of Judgment smells Strongly of a particular hatred against him as if the same common way of Justice should not equally strike against all which it should doe in true Justice but that Crimes did differ in their Subjects Two wayes there were to have proceeded against him by a Legislative or by a Judiciary power both did strike home alike at his life and his estate both alike ready both sure by reason of the proofs the Difference only this this might have beene done without the King that only by him because this a Sentence that a Statute A man would think the Judiciary way had beene the more sure and that the King would rather have connived and not exercised his Praerogative by a Reprivall then to have Interessed himselfe in the Legislative proceedings by consenting to the Act against him In whom the world conceived for by past and future services he had so great an Interrest But they it seems notwithstanding his Majesties late Attestation of the Gentlemans Innocency in point of Treason were more confident of his gracious Inclination to Justifie their own Act And more desirous too that hee should demonstrate his willingnesse in punishing such transgressors and therefore the Bill went on by the Statute The same day another Bill passed both the Houses that because of the important businesses of the Kingdome the Parliament should not be broken up by the King without the specall advise and consent of both the Houses till all their grievances were redressed and their safety provided for which space of time for any thing I know may last till doomes day some would have had the prefinition of 5 some 7 some 9 yeares put to it others Replyed that this would bee both odious dangerous odious in that it should seem so long a Parliament Dangerous in the same time may happen out possible to be longer some think it an honor I rather a fatality or to sweeten the word a Providence that both their Bills should passe at once as if Generatio unius were Corruptio Alterius And this new Governwent should take life from the death of the Earle of Strafford In the afternoone the House of Commons desired accesse to the King in the Banqueting House and having stayed there an houre for his coming in three words they propounded these two great Bills desiring that hee would give his Royall Assent to them both Quod si non prosint singula Juncta Juvant Withall humbly shewing that the present danger of the Kingdome could admit of no delayes The King told them they should expect an answer on Munday
morning The Court at this time was surcharged with a confluence of People quasi Civitas tota sedibus suis mota as if the whole Citty was come to petition for Justice a Government indeede worse then a Democrasie where the people doe not rule but play the Tyrants If there were no Monarchy there needs no conscience to obay it But where it is and cannot protect it selfe the good subject must either forget himselfe or his loyalty A two edged sword killing either the body or the soule nor in this are men in better ease then the winged Fishes that our Southerne Mariners tell us of which if they swim beneath the water are cath'd by the Dolphin if they fly above for refuge are snatched away by the hungry Ravenous foules Lord helpe then the times or help our patience and Resolutions give us either redresse in thee or confidence in thee The wiser sort conceived these two Bills too big for them to desire at once and that both of them together might procure a flat deniall but the more couragious knew the readyer way by farre having often had experience of his Majesties readinesse to grant just desires resolving that hee that expects to loose the day is beaten at his own diffidence and it is the qualitie of some men to swallowe Camells upon a sudden who if you give them leisure will perchance streine at a Gnatt Their Resolutions may ayme at this but despaire to remedy that nature gives the reason Omne agens se exercet intra sphaeram Activitatis dangers if they come but stragling upon us wee may collect our spirits well enough and easily resist them but if they come by whole troopes Amazement and feare admitts of no consultation for the future but only intends to decline the present and pressing hazard whereon the ancient Gaules made their first on-setts with valour beyond the courage of men and with fearefull cryings and shouts belying rheir own Animosity to stupify and quell that of the enemy Sunday All the day the King was resolute never to give Sunday way to the Bill against the Lord Strafford telling them withall that it seemd strange to him that the man could not dy unlesse hee and hee only by giving Sentence the Kings Legislative way should condemne him the Lord Pembrok brought the King a piece of Scripture 2. Sam. 19. from the 5. to the 9. verse the words indeede became a Joab rather then himselfe till hee had scattered the force of the Kings not eldest sonne yet eldest daughter the Kingdome of Scotland heere is some Analogy with Absolon and in nothing else for David was sorry for shedding the nocent they not sorry for shedding the Innocent blood though the Issue bee not the same Foure Bishops were sent for by the King the Primate of Ireland the Bishop of Durham Lincolne and Carlile some Foure Bishops say and I doe rather believe it that the King was desirous the Bill should bee voiced againe and argued the Bishops had their suffrages in the Admission though not in the approbation of the Bill others thinke in regard the Primate was there who had no Interest in this Kingdome it was to resolve the Kings Conscience for my part I see not how they should doe this seeing the businesse was grounded upon a case in Law which none of them unlesse the Bishop of Lincolne had learned when hee was Lord Keeper could possibly discusse for if the King was tender in it how could they perswade him to give way if not what needed their Resolutions But it may bee that they perswaded him that in Conscience hee might preferre the opinion of the Judges before his own And that if though with some reluctation they thought upon their oathes the Proceedings to bee lawfull hee might give way to them This is not unlikely because the judges were sent for the same time and it seems for the same service And if it bee so I admire and adore too the wonderfull providence of God who in his praeparatory Act to his unlawfull Judgment which undoubtedly will follow suffers not only the King and the Countrey but the Church too as if her Cup were not yet full to be involved But could this bee to the matter of fact the King I am sure knew him to bee free from any the least intention of subverting the fundamentall Lawes of the Kingdome And could the Bishops satisfie thi scruple too it may bee they are perswaded that the Proofs might bee taken Implicitly from the House of Commons as the Law from the Judges It is reported indeed that they besought the King with many teares to give way and that to prevent the ruine of the Kingdome which these States-men who will bee ever content with the longest life for themselves till by peece meale they bee thrust from all did see would necessarily follow well I dare prophesie to them they shall not want their Reward neither from King nor people for the next tumult of people shall bee against their Liturgies Surplices and Church ornaments And seeing they have now over-perswaded the King in this if they can procure him then to protect themselves from those imminent dangers which hang over their heads they shall doe a miracle sed quos pordere vult Jupiter dementat some body else will perswade the King that to satisfie the Common People and to prevent the Ruine of the Kingdome Bishopricks Deanes Prebends and all Cathedrals must down Sedomen avertat Deus optimus Sundâ—y All day nothing sounded in the King eares but feares terrors and threatnings of worse and worse the noise of Drums and Trumpets were Imagined to bee heard of rebelling people from every Corner of the Kingdome yea Apprentices Coblers and fruiterers presented thmselves as all ready running into the Kings Bed-chamber After they had wrestled him breathlesse and as they doe with great fishes given him scope of Lyne wherein to spend his strength at last victus dedit manus being overcome with such uncessant Importunities hee yeelded up the Bucklers And about nine of the clock at night oh deplorable necessity of the times or rather oh the frailtie of humane nature I that can neither foresee nor susteine this necessity the King promised to signe both the Bills the next morning which was accordingly done and a Commission drawn up for his I do not care in what relation you take the word Execution Ingentes Curae stupent loquuntur leves Though I had resolved with the Painter who could not expresse his griefe sufficiently in weeping for his daughter heere to have drawn the Curteine yet it will not bee something must overflow Consider the Gentleman as a man his Judgement Memory Eloquence reall perfections in this age of appearances consider him as a Subject his Loyalty his Courage his Integrity to King and Countrey in these disloyall and faint-hearted times consider him as a Christian his love to the Church his respect to Church-men in this prophane and over-weening Generation
King the State the Lawes or Religion of this Kingdome but with my best endeavors to serve all and to support all So might God be mercifull to his Soule His words did justifie him more there then in Westminster Hall and made such a deepe impression in the hearers that a great many of those who cryed out for Justice against him after their fury was spent and their madnesse strewed with cold blood wished their tongues had beene cut out of their heads before they had opened their mouthes against him others most ignobly imputed this to his effronted boldnesse and are so perswaded of their own infallibility that they mervailed he beleeved not his Actions to be Errors vpon their Word and did not confesse their opinions of him to be truth it selfe A kinde of People they are beyond the cure of Bedlam and nothing but the whipping post or letting blood can doe them good or bring them remedy Vexatio tantum dabit Intellectum 't is nothing but sence will teach them judgement and affliction Charity and both these I feare are hastning on apace His Countenance was in a middle posture betwixt dejection and boldnesse a man may call it even courage and Innocence it selfe without any feare of Critticks nor could his very Enemies through their multiplying glasses perceive the least affectation of disguise in him never man looked death more stately in the face never man trembled more at his sinnes such were his contritions for his oversights and such his immovable confidence of Gods Pardon and his Mercy His Prayers ravished all the standers by that they could not judge whether to preferre his zeale or his poenitency yea the Primate of Ireland who is no complementer reported afterwards to the King that he had then first learned to make supplications aright to Godward and withall told his Majesty that he had seene many die but never such a white Soule this was his owne expression returne to ' its maker At which words the King was pleased to turne himselfe about and offer a teare to his Memory Tantorum mercede laborum And because mis-report about him and my Lords-Grace of Canterbury hath wandred as farre as Cambridge give me leave to adde the story of that mistake It was reported here by the divulgers of such slanders that a little before his death he had charged all his misfortunes oversights and misdemeanors upon the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as the prime Author and had bitterly curst the day of their first acquaintance A pretty invention it was to charge the Axe againe and to furnish the People with lungs and voices to cry for another Sacrifice yea to staine this Martirs long white Robe with the Innocent blood of another Heroes Oh yee sonns of men How long will yee love vanity and seeke after leasing For this cause I was the more Inquisitive to learne out the truth of this particular and had it thus related to mee by a worthy divine Doctor Wimberly who dyning with my Lord of Canterbury the day after the Earle of Straffords Execution had it from his own mouth And my Lords grace it seems having heard of the mistake did at every period take the Lievetenant of the Tower then present his Attestation and Approbation That the Lord Strafford the night before the Execution had sent for the Lievetenant of the Tower and asked him whether it were possible hee might speake with the Arch-Bishop the Lievetenant told him hee might not doe it without order from the Parliament Master Lievetenant said hee you shall heere what passeth betwixt us it is not a time now either for him to plot Haerisy or me to plot Treason The Lievetenant answered that hee was limited and therefore desired his Lordship would Petition the Parliament for that favour no said hee I have gotten my dispatch from them and will trouble them no more I am now petitioning an higher Court where neither partiality can bee expected nor error feared But my Lord said hee turning to the Primate of Ireland then present what I should have spoken to my Lords grace of Canterbury you shall desire the Arch-Bishop to lend me his prayers this night and to give me his blessing when I doe go abroad to morrow and to bee in his window that by my last farewell I may give him thanks for this and all other his former favours The Primate having delivered the message without delay the Arch-Bishop replyed that in conscience hee was bound to the first and in duty and obligation to the second but he feared his weaknesse and passion would not lend him eyes to behold his last departure The next morning at his coming forth hee drew neere to the Arch-Bishops lodgings and sayd to the Lievetenant though I doe not see the Arch-Bishop yet give me leave I pray you to do my last observance toward his roomes in the meane time the Arch-Bishop advertized of his approach came out to the window then the Earle bowing himselfe to the ground my Lord said hee your prayers and your blessing the Arch-Bishop lift up his hand and bestowed both but overcome with griefe fell to the ground in Animi Diliquio The Earle proceeding a little farther bowed the second time saying Farewell my Lord God protect your Innocency To this relation the Lord of Canterbury added that it might perhaps seeme an effeminacy and softnesse unbecoming him to bee so cast down but hee hoped by Gods Assistance and his own Innocency that when hee came to his own Execution which hee daily longed for that the world should perceive hee had beene more sencible of the Lord Straffords losse then of his own and good reason it should bee so said hee for the Gentleman was more serviceable to the Church Hee would not mention the State then either himselfe or any of all the Church-men had ever beene And that there may bee a slaughter-Goat for the sinnes of the people in Scotland to wait upon this report they have fained another of the same meale that the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury casts back all his misdemeanors upon the Bishop of Ross as if either the Lord Strafford had beene tutored by the Ach-Bishop or hee by the Bishop of Ross in the King and Countryes service I did think that both of them had past their pupilage and could not have beene bended to execute the directions of any man living but only their own Masters but this is a faire advertisement to the Bishop of Ross to make himselfe the scape-Goat Hâ—â— fugenate Dâ—o Give me leave to adjoyne one thing more when hee was marching to the Scaffold more like the Generall in the head of an Army to breath victory then like a condemned man to undergoe the Sentence of Death the Lievetenant of the Tower desired him to take Coach for feare the people should rush in upon him and teare him in pieces No said hee Master Lievetenant I dare looke death in the face and I hope the People too have you a care that I
ever establish betwixt you and your Subjects Sir My consent herein shall acquit you more to God then all the world can doe beside To a willing man there is no injury done And as by Gods-grace I forgive all the world with a calmnesse and meekenesse of infinite contentment to my dislodging Soule so Sir I can give the Life of this world with all cheerefulnesse Immaginable in the just acknowledgment of your exceeding favours and only beg that in your goodnesse you would vouchsafe to cast your gracious Regard upon my poore Sonne and his three sisters lesse or more and no otherwise then their unfortunate Father shall appeate more or lesse guilty of this Death God preserve your Majesty Your Majesties most Humble and Faithfull Subject Servant STRAFFORD Tower May 9. 1641. The Petition of THOMAS Earle of Strafford to the right-Honorable the Lords Spirituall and Temporall in the Parliament at Westminster 1641. Sheweth THAT seeing it is the good will and pleasure of God that your Petitioner is now shortly to pay that duty which we all owe to our fraile Nature He shall in all Christian patience and Charity conforme and submit to that Justice in a comfortable assurance of the great hope laid up for us in the Mercy and Merits of our Saviour Blessed for ever Only he humbly craves to returne your Lordships most humble thanks for your noble Compassion towards those Innocent Children who now with his last blessing he commits to the protection of Almighty God beseeching your Lordships to finish your pious Intentions towards them and desiring that the reward thereof may be given you by him who is able to give above all that we are able either to aske or thinke wherein I trust the honorable House of Commons will afford rheir Christian assistance And so beseeching your Lordships charitably to forgive all his omissions infirmities he doth heartily and truly recommend your Lordships to the Mercies of our heavenly Father that for his goodnesse he may protect you in every good work Amen There was a foolish ridiculous and scandalous Speech printed which was pretended to have been spoken by the Earle of Strafford to certaine Lords before his comming out of the Tower which is protested against and avowed to be false by the Lord Primate of Ireland E of Cleveland E of Newport Lo. Rich Sir William Bâ—lfoure Sir William Wentworth Sir George Wentworth Dr. Carre Dr Price De Mortuis nil nisi verunt The Paper conteining the Heads of the Lord Straffords last Speech written with his own hand as it was left upon the Scaffold falling out of his Bosom 1. Come to pay the last Debt we owe to sinne 2. Rise to Righteousnesse 3. Dye willingly 4. Forgive all 5. Submit to Justice but in my intentions Innocent from subverting c. 6. Wishing nothing but good Prosperity to King and People 7. Acquit the King constreined 8. Beseech to Repent 9. Strange way to write the beginning of Reformation and settlement of a Kingdome in blood 10. Beseech that demand may rest there 11. Call not blood on themselves 12. Dy in the Faith of the Church 13. Pray for it and desire their Prayers with me A true-copy of his Speech delivered on the Scaffold My L. Primate of Ireland IT is my very great comfort that I have your Lordship by me this day in regard I have beene known to you these many yeares and I doe thank God and your Lordship for it that you are heere I should bee very glad to obteine so much silence as to bee heard a few words but I doubt I shall not the noise is so great My Lords I am come hither by the good will and pleasure of Almighty God to pay that last debt I owe to sinne which is death and by the blessing of that God to rise again through the mirrits of Jesus Christ to righteousnesse and life aeternall Heere hee was a little interrupted My Lords I am come hither to submit to that Judgement which hath passed against me I do it with a very quiet and contented minde I thank God I doe freely forgive all the world a forgivenesse that is not spoken from the teeth outwards as they say but from the very heart I speake it in the presence of Almighty God before whome I stand that there is not a displeasing thought arising in me towards any man living I thank God I can say it and truly too my conscience bearing me witnesse that in all my imployment since I had the Honour to serve his Majestie I never had any thing in the purpose of my heart but what tended to the Joynt and Individuall prosperity of King and people although it hath beene my ill fortune to bee misconstrued I am not the first that hath suffered in this kinde it is the common portion of us all while wee are in this life to err Righteous Judgment wee must wait for in another place for heere we are very subject to bee mis-judged one of another there is one thing that I desire to free my selfe of and I am very confident speaking it now with so much cheerfullnesse that I shall obteine your Christian charity in the beliefe of it I was so farre from being against Parliaments That I did allwayes think the Parliaments of England were the most happy constitutions that any Kingdome or Nation lived under and the best means under God to make the King people happy For my Death I heere acquit all the world and beseech the God of Heaven heartily to forgive them that contrived it though in the Intentions and purposes of my heart I am not guilty of what I dy for And my Lord Primate it is a great comfort for me that his Majesty conceives me not merriting so severe and heavy a punishment as is the utmost execution of this Sentence I do infinitly rejoyce in this mercy of his and I beseech God returne it into his own bosome that hee may find mercy when hee stands most in neede of it I wish this Kingdome all the Prosperity and happinesse in the world I did it living and now dying it is my wish I doe most humbly recommend this to every one who heares mee and desire they would lay their hands upon their hearts and consider seriously whether the beginning of the happinesse and reformation of a Kingdome should bee written in Letters of blood consider this when you are at your homes and let me be never so unhappy as that the last drop of my blood should rise up in Judgement against any one of you But I feare you are in a wrong way My Lords I have but one word more and with that I shall end I professe that I dy a true and obedient Sonne to the Church of England wherein I was borne and in which I was bred Peace and prosperity bee ever to it It hath beene objected if it were an objection worth the answering that I have beene inclined to Popery but I say truly