have inclined to popery if it be an obiection worth answering let me say truly that from the time since I was one and twenty years of age till this houre now going upon 49. I never had thought in my heart to doubt of the truth of my religion in England and never any had the boldnesse to suggest to me the contrary to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled to the mercies of Christ Jesus my Saviour into whole bosome I hope shortly to be gathered to those eternall happinesses that shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man both for any rash or unadvised word or deed and desire your prayers And so my Lords farewell farewell all the things of this world Lord strengthen my faith give me confidence and assurance in the merits of Christ Jesus I desire you that you would be sâ—lent and ioyne in prayers with me and I trâ—st in God that we shall all meet and live eternally in heaven there to receive the accomplishment of all happinesse where every teare shall be wiped from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts And so God blesse this kingdome and Jesus have mercy upon my Soule Amen The Earle of Strafford for treasonable practises beheaded on the Tower-hill Sr. Francis Windebank Sr. Iohn Finch the Lord Digbie Iermin etc fly for their lives beyond sea 48. Then they attempted by foule and false scandals on the Parliament to intice the Army of the Scots then still in the North to a newtralâ—ty and to sit still whiles our English army acted the farther designes hatched and hammered still in their heads and hearts but this plot prevailed not neither Anno 1641. Octob. 23. 49. About this time that most horrid and inhumane bloody rebellion and monstrous massacring of almost 200000 innocent English Protestants men women and children bâ—ake out in Ireland namely about October 23. 1641. This also being a main branch of this most mischievous design against this Parliament by Gods wonderfull power and providence so firmly fixed and setled that they knew not how to ruinate it those accursed Rebels having had their principall encouragements and Commissions to authorize them in that horrid and hideous rebellion from the Court of England and of purpose to have made England the chiefe seat of the warre and of all the papists prelates and malignants utmost wrath and rage 50. For the still effecting and underhand working on of this wicked designe the malignant party in private much prevailing still the designe now went on chiefly against the City of London for which purpose the Leivtenant of the Tower Sir William Belfâ—re was for his loyalty displaced by the King from his Leivtenantship and popish Lord Cottâ—â—gâ—on made Constable of the Tower but his dangerous designes being soon discovered he was as soon displaced and Colonâ—ll Lunsford was made Leivtenant of the Tower But he also by the Parliaments petition and importunity to the King was displaced and Sir John Byron a desperate malignant who afterward proved the most bloody Lord â—yrâ—n in 〈◊〉 was made Leivtenant of the Tower in Lunsfords stead but he also on many just jealousies being petitioned against was at length with much adoe removed and put out thence and Sir John Conyers by the power of the Parliament was put in his place To the Kings most excellent Majesty and the Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament The humble Petition and Protestation of all the Bishops and Prelates now 〈◊〉 by His Majesties Writs to attend the Parliameâ—t and present abouâ— London and Westminster for that Service THat whereas the Petitioners are called up by severall and respective Writs and under great penalties to attend the Parliament and have a clear and indubitable right to voâ—e in Bils and other matters whatsoever debatable in parliament by the ancient customes Laws and Statutes of this Realm and ought to be protected by your Maiesty quietly to attend and prosecute that great Service They humbly remonstrate and protâ—st before God your 〈◊〉 and the Noble Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament that as they have an indubitaâ—e right to sit and Vote in the House of Lords so are they if they may be protected from force and violence most ready and willing to performe their duties accordingly And that they doe abhominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery and the maintainance thereof as also all propension and inclination to any malignant party or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their own reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have been at The High Commission-Court and Starr-Chamber voted down and pluralities non residencies damned by Parliament The Queen-Mother sent away by Sea and the Capuchine Fryers Priests expell'd from Somersett House beyond Sea severall times violently menaced affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their comming to perform their services in that honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives and can finde no redresse or protection upon sundry complaints made to both Houses in these particulars They likewise humbly protest before your Majesty and the Noble House of Peers that saving unto 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 untill your Majesty shall further secure them from all affronts indignities and dangers in the premises Lastly whereas their fears are not built upon phantasies and conceits but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good resolutions and much constancy They doe in all duty and humility protest before your Majesty and the Peers of that most honorable House of parliament 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 moneth of December 1641. have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter passe in that most honourable House during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most honourable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were wilfull and voluntary that most honourable House might proceed in all their premises their absence or this protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most excellent Majesty to command the Clerk of that House of Peers to enter this their petition and protestation among their Records They will ever pray to God to blesse c. Jo. Eborac Tho. Duresme Rob. Co. Liâ—h Jos. Norw. Jo. Asa. Guli Ba. Wells Geo. Heref. Rob. Owon Ma. Ely Godfr G lonc Jo. Peterburg Morris Landaff 51. None of all these plots yet prevailing against the Parliament neither in generalls nor particulars they yet persist to plot and attempt against it and about this time found occasions craftily and causelesly in secret to foment many jealousies and jarres to dis-joynt both Houses of Parliament within themselves thereby at
least to obstruct and retard their then most weighty and great affaires in Church and State 52. The Bishops also themselves had a pestilent plot about this time to subvert and overthrow the Parliament by endevouring to get the King to protest against their proceedings in it But twelve of them were thereupon presently impeached of high treason and â—en of them imprisoned in the Towre of London and afterward they were all disabled from ever â—itting again in the Parliament Bishops Voted down root and branch Nullo contradiscente insomuch that the Citizens of London the same night made bonfires and had ringing of bels And for the better securing the City within as well as without the Parliament published an Ordinance thereby injoyning all Popish Recusants inhabiting in and about the City all disaffected persons and such as being able men would not lend any money for the defence of the Commonwealth should forthwith conâ—ine themselves to their own houses and not to goe 〈◊〉 without speciall licence as they would answer it at their 〈◊〉 to the Parliament Another Ordinance was sent to the Lord mayor by which the Trained Bands were authorised to apprehend many of the prime and richest malignants disâ—affected persons in the City whereof were foure Aldermen put in safe custody in Crosby house and some in Gressan Colledge The Bishops imprisoned in the Towre of London for protesting against the Parliament Popish Recusants disarmed for the greate security of the kingdome 53. About which time a most wicked fellow sent to Mr. John Pyâ—â— a most pious Patriot of his Country and then a most eminent member of the House of Commons a most reviling Letter therein calling him traytor and in the said Letter inclosed a plague-sore plaister thinking thereby to have destroyed him But God mightily preserved him from the infection of it 54. After this the King himself being guarded with about 500 armed ruffiâ—nly desperate Cavaliers or Souldiers violently rushed into the House of Commons accused five of their most eminent and pious members of treason demanded their persons to be delivered up unto him intending to destroy all that resisted him therein but this plot was blessedly crost by the happy absence of the Gentlemen this plot was attempted Jan. 4. 1641. Anno 1642. 55. After this one Binion a Silkman of London and the Kentish Malignants wherin Sir Edward Deering had a principall hand framed dangerous and destructive petitions against the proceedings of the Parliament but were both most justly rejected and themselves fined and imprisoned for them 56. Immediately after this things grew still worse and worse among the malignants the King himself in unjust discontent by the desperate and wicked counsell of that pernicious Cataline the young Lord Digby forsakes the Parliament and getting the Prince to him leaves London and presently posts into the North and there attempts to get Hull into his hands but was happily prevented and bravely opposed by Sir John Hotham then in that time of his outward and seeming fidelity 57. The King beingâ— at York interdicts the Militia then set on foot by the Parliament for their just safety and defence endevouring to remove the Term from the City of London but in both is opposed by the Parliament 58. The Lords and Gentry of Ireland and of Scotland too petition the King to return to his Parliament yea and the Gentry and Commons of Yorkeshire do the like but are all rejected 59. The King set on foot a most illegall Commission of Array to clash against the Parliaments Militia which occasioned much mischief and misery over the whole kingdom but the Parliaments Militia prevailed in most places and parts of the land 60. Three letters were intercepted discovering a most desperate plot against the Parliament by the Roâ—â—lists Commissary Wilmot Digbie Jermine â—rofts and others which by Gods mercy failed them and came to nothing but we in taking some of their ships were advantaged thereby 61. Sir Richard Gurney then Lord Mayâ—r of the City of London proving a desperate malignant and Array man was crost in his desires and clapt up prisoner in the Tower of London by the power of the Parliament 62. 〈…〉 and Declaâ—â—â—â—â—â— against the Parliaments proceedings were Printed and published and commanded to be read in al the Churches and Chappels over the whole kingdom within the Kings power 63. Sir John Penington a brave Sea-man but a desperate malignant was constituted Admirall of the Seas for the Kings service but displaced and dispossessed thereof by the Parliament and the most noble and loyall Earl of Warwick notwithstanding the Kings Letter and command to interdict him therein and to give way to Penington being put in by the power and authority of the Parliament and possessed of the Ships most happily and honourably kept and continued in the place and office for the Parliaments service a Letter sent to Mr Pym Mr. Pym doe not think that a guard of men can protect you if you persist in your traiterous Courses and wiked designes I haue sent a Paper-mâ—ssenger to you and if this does not touch your heart a dagger shall so soon as I am recouered of my plague-sore In the meane time you may be forborn because no better man may be endanâ—gered for you Repent Traitor Colonell Lunfford assaulting the Londonens at Westminster Hall with a great rout of ruffinly Cavaleires The Citizens â—f London voluntarily profâ—ered their service to attend and guard the Parliament by Lan to Westminster to secure them from danger By Water also the stout Shipmasters and mariners likewise made ready a great number of longâ—Boats furnished with Ordnance muskets and other Sea-like warlike instruments their vessels also gallantly adorned with flagges and Sâ—râ—mers together with martiall musick Drums and Trumpets so as it was a rare sight and when they came to White Hall and understood that the Parliament Worâ—hies were safely arrived the Trained Bands by Land and the valiament Seamen by Water let fly their thundering shot both small and great their Trumpets sounding and their Drums beating in a triumphing and congratulating manner a singular testimony of their cordiall affections The very same day a numerous company of Buckinghamshire men both Gentlemen Ministers and others of that Country on horseback with their Protestations in their hats partly in behalf of their Knight of the shire but especially to petition the Parliament for Reformation of evills in Church and State and to assure their best services and assistance to the Parliament on all just occasions and out of Essex Hartford Barkeshire Surrey and other Counties of the Kingdom came one after another 65. The most noble and right honourable Earle of Essex was ordained Lord Generall over all the Parliaments Forces for the preservation of the kingdom which he famously and faithfully managed and marshalled as especially Edge-hill and Newbery and other places can abundantly witnesse 66. A plot to have blown up all the Lord Generalls Magazine of powder and another at Beverley
in Yorkeshire to have slain Sir John Hotham both intended by one David Alexander and hired thereunto but both by Gods providence timely prevented 67. Commissions granted to popish Recusants to levy men and armes against the Parliament but the Parlia published a Declaration or Protestation to the whole world of their just proceedings therein 68. The King received the most bloody Irish rebels petition and permitted their persons with great favour and allowance about him calling and counting them good Catholick Subjects but utterly rejecting the Parliaments petition exhibited by the Lord Generall desiring peace and reconciliation with him 69. A Treaty of peace was really intended by the Parliament but meerly pretended and fraudulently for a while transacted by the Royalists in which interim that most bloody bickering at â—rainfâ—â—d was most treacherously committed by the Kings party and a most wicked piece of villany câ—â—yed on therein but though with much losse on both sides but especially on theirs by Gods great mercy the mischiefe prevented and the City of London mightily preserved 70. A dangerous plot against the kingdom â—n new High-Sheriffes for the better collecting of the 400000 〈◊〉 Subsidies intended to have been confirmed to the King in a former Parliament but that plot 〈◊〉 by the Parliament providence and an Ordinance of Parliament set on foot for the successefull Association of Counties for mutuall defence one of another against regall injurious taxations and oppressions on them 71. A wicked design of the Royalists at Oxford and elsewhere to proceed against the Parliaments prisoners as traytors and so to put them to death by which Dr. Bastwick and Captain Lilburn were to have been tryed for their lives but prevented by an Ordinance of Parliament for execution of a Leâ— Taâ—â—onis and so of executing the Royall prisoners among us The Citie Trained Bands and the brave Sea-men with Barges and Long-boates adorn'd with streamers drums trumpets and furnisht with Ship-guns other Warrlike instruments guard the Lords Commons safely to Parl by land Water The Countie of Buckingham Cometh to London the very same day of the Lords ComÌ„ons so guarded with their Petition to the Parl Carrying the Protestation on their slaves on horseback and the Counties of Essex Hertford Barkshire Surrey others followed them in like maner shortly after Anno 1643. 72. A notable plot against the City of London immediately upon the Cities prefeâ—â—ing a petition to the King by the hands of two trusty Aldermen and foure Commoners of the said City in reply to which petition the King sending as his messenger one Captain Hern to the City and the whole body of the City assembling at a Common Hall this Hern desires Faire-play above-board of them But the businesse being found to be a notable design of the malignant-Citizens against the Parliament and the then Lord Mayor of London and the Government of their City the honest and farre major party cry out in the hearing of Hern they would live and dye with the Parliament and so sent Hern away with a flea in his care 73. Another plot immediately after contrivedat Oxford by a Letter sent to all the Freemen Journeymen and Apprentices of the said City to assemble at their severall Halls and there the Masters and Wardens of all Companies to read the Kings Letter to them and to perswade them to yeeld to all the Kings comemands against the Parliament and City but this letter was nipt and crost also in the neck and nick of it and voted by the Parliament to be evill and scandalous 74. A plot also to betray Bristol into the Royalists hands by one Yeomans and Bowchâ—r and divers other their associates but by Gods mercy the plot being timely discovered and the danger avoyded those two principall conspirators were by Martiall Law condemned and hanged and so the plot utterly frustrated 75. Cheapeside crosse Charing-crosse and all other crosses in and about London utterly demolished and pulled down and that abominable and blasphemous book of tolerating sports and pastimes on the Lords daies voted to be burnt and shortly after accordingly burnt together with many crucifixes and popish trinckets and trurnperies in the very same place where Cheapeside-crosse stood 76. M. Prynne sent by the Parliament to the Towre of London to search the Arch prelate of Canterburies chamber and Study there where he was prisoner who accordingly searching his Study and his pockets of his wearing cloathes a just requitall of his dealing with Mr. Prynne and others found the originall Scotch Service-book with the Archâ—Bishops owne hand-writings in it the cause of all the Scots warres and his Diary Devotions and discoveries under his own hands of matters of high concernment 77. The City of London to have been betrayed into the hands of the Royalists under a pretence of a petition for peace plotted by Mr. Waller a member of the House of Commons M. Tompkins Mr. Challenor and others and this wicked plot teâ—med by King Charles in his letter to the Queen one of his Fine Designes But God manifested thâ—â— to be wicked and accursed Designes and Waller onâ— of the prime complotters was by the sentence of the Parliament fined 10000 livre. in his estate and sent out of the kingdom into perpetuall banishment and Tompkins and Challenor hanged in London 78. The breaking out of Sir John Hothams rotten-heart and infidelity to the Parliament in his intended and 〈◊〉 plâ—t for the betraying of that mighty strong Town of Hull into the Queens hands which treachery was plotted and contrived between Sir John the father Captain Hotham his son and Sir Edward Roades and began to be suspected by Sir John Hothams deserting of the most noble Lord Fairfax by an intercepeed letter of the Queens to the King and divers other sumptomes of it but especially by Captain Moyers letter to Mr. Ripley and Mr. Ripley's faithfull acquainting the Mayor of Hull therewith and their first seizing on the Block-houses Castles and Commanders of them and at length their apprehending of the persons of Sir John Hotham and Sir Edward Roads for which treachery Sir John Hotham and Captain Hotham his Son was also apprehended and both of theâ—â— beheaded at the Tower of London The 2 of May 1643. ye Crosse in Cheapeside was pulled downe a Troope of Horse 2 Companies of foote wayted to garde it at ye fall of ye tope Crosse drumÌ„es beat truÌ„pets blew multitudes of Capes wayre throwne in ye Ayre a greate Shoute of People with ioy ye 2 of May the Almanake sayeth was ye invention of the Crosse 6 day at night was the Leaden Popes burnt in the place where it stood with ringinge of Bells a greate Acclamation no hurt done in all these actions 10 of May the Boocke of Sportes vpon the Lords day was burnt by the Kingman in the place where the Crosse sâ—â—ode at exhange Die Merturii May 10. 1643. By vertue of an Order of the House of