Answer to this Article and to the same Letters the said Earl referreth himself The said Earl upon sight of this and Sir Jacob Ashley's Letter had reason to believe that all fitting preparation was made and then understanding that if the Scotish Army should pass the River not only New-Castle altogether Unfortified on the South part would be lost but the said Army of 11000 Foot and 2000 Horse endangered and hearing that the Scotish Army were distressed for want of Victuals and knowing the advantage that was in opposing the passage of such a River Hereupon the said Earl by a Letter dated the 27th of August advised the Lord Conway with all the Horse and at least 8000 Foot and all the Cannon to March and Fight with them upon the passage of the River at which time the said Earl had no Charge of the Army but the truth is the Lord Conway having not with him all the Horse and not above 1500 Foot and only some part of the Cannon was in a posture to fight for the passage before the said Letter of advice came which he received not half an hour before the Fight began and proceeded according to his own judgment and His Majesties said general Direction and afterwards that is about the 30th of August and not before the said Earl took upon him the Charge of the Army at Darlington and brought it to York to be supplied with Necessaries that they wanted and purposed to have staid where they were quartered But hearing from many hands that there was a purpose to question him in Parliament and His Majesty having given him Liberty of staying there or coming away he left the Charge of the Army with the Lord Conway and other Officers as His Majesty had directed and came to London on Monday the 9th and the 11th of November was put under Restraint and so hath ever since remained And saith That the Town of New-Castle was no way under his Care and as to other matters whereto by Law he ought to answer and hath not answered he saith He is not Guilty of them or any of them in such manner and form as in the said Article is expressed and humbly prayeth a convenient time for making his Proofs and to justifie and maintain his Actions in Ireland by sight of His Majesties Warrants Records and Witnesses in that Kingdom and that if any mistake be in this Answer it may be amended And this the said Earl hopeth that upon equal Construction of his Words and Actions he shall appear free from any great and hainous Offences wherewith he is Charged and howsoever it shall please God to dispose of him he shall ever pray that by their Lordships great Wisdoms and Prudence the Affections of His Majesty and Duty of His Subjects may this Parliament be so surely knit together as may by God's blessing lastingly tend to the Prosperity and Flourishing Estate both of King and People Mr. Whitlock was Ordered to go to the Lords with this Message Saturday March 6. That the House of Commons have considered of the Earl of Strafford's Answer and do aver their Charge of High Treason against him and that he is guilty in such manner and form as he stands Accused and Impeached and that the House will be ready to prove their Charge against him at such convenient time as their Lordships shall prefix and intend to manage the Evidence by Members of their own After many Debates and Conferences preparatory to the place and manner of the Trial between the Two Houses Saturday March 13. they came to these Determinations First Determinations between the Lords and Commons about the Earl of Strafford's Trial. As to the Place it was agreed That it should be Westminster-Hall and the King to be made acquainted with it by the Lord Great Chamberlain Secondly For Persons the Lords agreed That the House of Commons should be present as a Committee of the whole House for this time with a Salvo jure to the Lords House either according to Law or Parliamentary proceedings and that this shall not be drawn into President hereafter on either side Thirdly For the Members of the House of Commons managing the Evidence the Lords granted it wholly Fourthly For the Earl's Councel That they should not speak nor interrupt the matter of the House of Commons until all the Evidence is finished That they shall not stand at the Barr but in some other convenient place where they may hear That they may speak to matter of Law only and not to matter of Fact and not unless the Lords shall think fitting and give permission Upon Monday Monday March 15. the King having been made acquainted with these Resolutions of the Two Houses was pleased to assent unto them and to appoint Monday the 22. of March 9. of the Clock for the Time of the Trial and accordingly the necessary preparations for the Tragical Solemnity were provided and the Earl had Notice of the Time and Place to prepare himself The Commons ordered the affair of the Trial in this manner Saturday March 20. First That the Members of their House shall sit together without any intermixture of others in the place prepared for them Secondly That the Members shall not meet at their House on Munday but come directly to the place of Trial. Thirdly That for the better ordering of the Business the Committee with the addition of Mr. Peard shall be at the several Doors by Six of the Clock and shall admit none into the place prepared for the Commons but such as shall bring Tickets of their Names and the Places for which they serve and no Members to be admitted till the Committee appointed to attend the Doors be come if any either Stranger or Member Offend this Order the Committee to report it to the House all the Members to be there by 8. of the Clock Fourthly That the Serjeant at Arms shall attend within the Court and his Men without to be imployed in such Service as they who manage the Evidence shall appoint Those who were appointed by the Commons to Manage the Evidence against the Earl were George Lord Digby John Hampden Esq John Pym Esq Oliver St. The Managers of the Evidence against the Earl of Strafford John Esq Sir Walter Erle Knight Jeoffry Palmer Esq John Maynard Esq John Glyn Esq In the Hall there was a Throne Erected for His Majesty On each side whereof was a Cabinet inclosed with Boards and before with Arras Before that were the Seats for the Lords and Woolsacks for the Judges below ten degrees of Seats extending further than the Middle of the Hall for the Gentlemen of the House of Commons at the End of all was a Desk closed about and set apart for the Earl and his Councel The Theatre being thus prepared whereupon this Noble Earl was to act his Tragedy Upon Munday March the 22. the Trial began Munday March 22. About 7. of the Clock in the Morning the
and Deputy-Lieutenants how affected to the Religion and to present their Names to the House and that where there is want that Arms and Ammunition may be supplyed By this Means they got a true account of all those who were their Friends and who their Enemies who were therefore to be displaced as disaffected to Religion and Popishly inclined as all those who were for Episcopacy were vogued to be and besides hereby they gave a General Alarm and Amazement to the Whole Nation to believe that those Fears and Jealousies with which they bewitched the People into Rebellion were grounded upon the foundations of Truth and real Danger which was the Occasion of this Inquiry into the state of the Militia Upon this a Message was sent to the Lords to acquaint them with a dangerous Conspiracy to seduce the Army against the Parliament and to increase the Fears and Jealousies among the People Message to the Lords about the Conspiracy to seduce the Army an Order was sent from the Commons to the Lord Mayor of London to take care of the City Guards The Message to the Lords was in haec verba Mr. Hollis who carried up the Message read it in these words Message about the Conspiracy of the Army That the House of Commons hath received such Information as doth give them just cause to suspect that there have been and still are secret practices to discontent the Army with the proceedings of Parliament and to ingage them in some Design of dangerous Consequence to the State and by some other mischievous ways to prevent the happy success and conclusion of this Parliament And because the timely discovery and prevention of these dangerous Plots doth so nearly concern the safety both of * Yet afterwards they did all that was possible to persuade the People that the King was in this Conspiracy King and Kingdom they desire your Lordships would be pleased to appoint a select Commitee to take the Examinations upon Oath of such persons and Interrogatories as shall be presented unto them by the Directions of the House of Commons and in the presence of such Members of that House as shall be thereunto appointed with Injunction of such Secrecy as a business of this nature doth require They have Ordered That such Members of their House as shall be thought fit shall upon notice be ready to be Examined and they desire your Lordships would be pleased to order the like for the Members and Assistants of your own House And further it is desired That your Lordships will forthwith send to his Majesty to beseech him in the Name of the Parliament upon this great and weighty occasion that no Servants of his Majesties of the Queen or Prince may depart the Kingdom or otherwise absent himself without leave from his Majesty with the humble advice of the Parliament until these Examinations be perfected Whereupon it was Ordered That this House will joyn with the House of Commons in all that they desire and these Lords following were Deputed to take the Examinations Earl of Bath Earl of Essex Earl of Warwick Earl of March Viscount Say and Seal Lord Wharton Lord Paget and Mr. Serjeant Glanvile and Mr. Attorney General to write and set down the Examinations There being never a Bishop in the Committee A Salvo for the Bishops a Memorandum was entered in the Journals MEmorandum Whereas none of the Lords the Bishops are joyned with the aforesaid deputed Lords it was declared by the House that it should be no prejudice to the Lords the Bishops This being done the Lord Great Chamberlain the Lord Steward the Lord Chamberlain the Earl of Dorset and the Earl of Newcastle were appointed to wait on his Majesty with the aforesaid request of the Parliament to which they brought this Answer THat his Majesty hath willingly granted it The Kings Answer concerning his Servants and gave a present Command to the Lord Chamberlain the Earl of Newcastle and the Earl of Dorset to give notice hereof to all under their Charge that none do depart the Kingdom without the King's License but to be forth-coming upon demand which accordingly they have already done After which the Oath of Secrecy was given to Serjeant Glanvile and Mr. Attorney in these words YOV shall Swear The Oath of Secrecy given by the Lords to Serjeant Glanvile and Mr. Attorney assistant to the Committee of Lords to Examine the Conspiracy The Persons accused That in your writing and setting down of the Examination of the Witnesses to be produced before the Lords deputed to take Examinations upon Interrogatories to be produced by the House of Commons concerning the English Army in the North and in all things concerning the same You shall well truly and faithfully behave your selves and not discover the same before the end of this Parliament or Publication granted or leave of this House first obtained The Persons Accused of this Design of seducing the Army against the Parliament were Sir John Suckling Mr. Henry Percy Brother to the Earl of Northumberland Mr. Henry Jermyn Colonel Goring Mr. William Davenant Captain Palmer Captain Billingsley and Sir Edward Wardourn and Warrants were issued out against them to bring them under the Examination of the House of Commons This day there passed little of Moment Thursday May 6. the Commons being taken up with Reading several Bills one for the security of the True Religion the Safety and Honour of his Majesties Person the just Rights of the Subject and the better discovering and punishment of Popish Recusants as also another Bill for Subsidies With which guilded baits they not only Angled for Popular Favour but also endeavoured to hide their Antimonarchical Designs against his Majesty by these specious pretences of endeavouring to study his Safety and Honour The House was this day informed That the Persons against whom the Warrants were Issued upon the Accusation of their endeavouring to seduce the Army were not to be found whereupon at a Conference it was desired that all the Ports might be stopped upon which the Lords made this Order Ordered The Order of the Lords for stopping the Ports That all the Ports of England shall be forthwith stopped until the pleasure of this House be further known and none to depart the Kingdom except Sir Thomas Roe and such as he will be answerable for who is to give in their names to this House And in particular stay is to be made of Henry Percy Esq Henry Jermyn Esq Sir John Suckling Knight William Davenant and Captain Billingsly that they depart not out of this Kingdom but are to be apprehended and safely conducted with all speed unto this House Directed To the Right Honourable Algernon Earl of Northumberland L. High Admiral of England To James Earl of March Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports To Jerom Earl of Portland Captain and Governour of the Isle of Wight To George Goring Esq Governour of Portsmouth After which Sir Philip Carteret Lieutenant
Governour under Sir Thomas Jermyn of the Isle of Jersey having given an Account of the state of the Isle was Ordered to repair to his Charge there and if Mr. Percy Mr. Jermyn c. were there to apprehend them and cause them to be safely conducted to the House of Lords A Conference was this day appointed to be had with the Lords Fri day May 7. Heads of a Conference about the present dangers of Portsmouth and the French to acquaint them that divers persons who were suspected to have a hand in the Conspiracy and that in order to the discovery of it should have been Examined were gone that new Informations were brought to the Commons of several French Forces lay in Piccardy to be Transported into England probably into Portsmouth and to desire their Lordships to joyn with this House for the Discovery of these Practices and that some Forces may be drawn out of Wiltshire and Barkshire for securing of Portsmouth Sir Walter Erle was also ordered to go down into Dorsetshire to take care of the preservation and safety of that County Sir Hugh Cholmley to go to the Lords to desire them to move his Majesty that the Earl of Essex in this time of danger may be made Lord Lieutenant of Yorkshire A Proclamation was drawn to bring in Mr. Percy c. WHereas Henry Percy Esq Henry Jermyn Esq Proclamation to bring in Mr. Percy Sir John Suckling Knight William Davenant and Captain Billingsly being by order of the Lords in Parliament to be Examined concerning designs of great danger to the State and mischievous ways to prevent the happy Success and Conclusion of this Parliament have so absented and withdrawn themselves as they cannot be Examined His Majesty by the advice of the said Lords in Parliament doth strictly charge the said Henry Percy Esq Henry Jermyn Esq Sir John Suckling William Davenant and Captain Billingsly to appear before the said Parliament at Westminster within Ten days after the Date hereof upon pain to undergo such forfeitures and punishments as the said Lords shall order and inflict upon them The Earl of Bristol Reported to the Lords House Earl of Bristols Report about disbanding the Irish Army May 7. That his Majesty had taken a resolution for the disbanding of the new Irish Army to that purpose an estimate hath been given in to the King of the Charges that 10000 l. will now do it Whereupon there is order taken for the speedy Raising and Returning of Moneys to that intent And Sir Adam Loftus Vice-Treasurer of Ireland hath engaged himself to repay in September next those Monies shall be disbursed by the Earl of Cork and others in the interim for that purpose That likewise there is care taken how to dispose and imploy the said Soldiers that they may not be troublesome to that Country to that purpose there are Eight Colonels and Captains Nominated who will take off these Men and Transport them to Forreign Parts which his Majesty will give way unto if it be to a Prince that he is in Amity with provided that these Commanders do give the King and Parliament an Account both of their Persons and their Imployers before they have the Command of the Soldiers Mr. White Chair-man of the Committee for Scandalous Ministers Saturday May 8. Reports the matter of Complaint exhibited against Edward Finch Vicar of Christ-Church London Upon which these Votes passed Resolved c. Votes about Mr. Finch Vicar of Christ-Church London That the said Edward Finch is guilty of practising Innovations in the Church Non-Residency foul Extortion neglect of the Duty of his Function and prophaning the Sacrament a Man of prophane Life scandalous in his Doctrine and Conversation and a hinderer of preaching Resolved c. That the said Edward Finch is a man unfit to hold any Benefice or Promotion in the Church Mr. White is Ordered to transmit this Case to the Lords that the Parish may be eased of him Thus early did they begin to strike at Root and Branch of Episcopacy for all those who were obedient to their Governours in the Church or thought God Almighty ought to have bodily Worship and Adoration in those places where he has put his Name and made them Houses of Prayer all those who thought kneeling at the Receiving the Holy Sacrament necessary or any other decent Postures Gestures or Vestments that might outwardly signifie inward Veneration and Homage Lawful and Expedient were upon the slightest Accusations voted Guilty of Innovation Prophaneness and unworthy of any Promotion in the Church And as Mr. Symmons Vindicat of King Charles p. 73. Symmons in his Vindication of King Charles who was an Eye-witness of this terrible Persecution informs us All Accusations against any though the best Ministers by the most malicious and lewdest persons were invited by Ordinance incouraged and admitted of without any proof at all And it can be no wonder that the Orthodox Clergy suffered so deeply both in their Reputation and Estates when not only their Accusers which mostly were the several Sectaries in their Parishes or such others as went about to defraud them of their just Dues were their most inveterate Enemies but their Judges too were frequently both Parties in promoting and managing those Accusations and by their open favouring their Accusers shewed the partiality of Enemies The Faction saw the absolute necessity of getting the power of the Sword into their hands both to justifie what they had already done and to support them in what they intended by their pretended Reformation which was totally to abolish Episcopacy in the Church and to clip the Wings of Prerogative if not wholly to take away the Government of Monarchy it self Now to the accomplishment of this design upon the Militia Navy Forts Magazines and Strength of the Nation all Arts imaginable were used to gain the People the great pretences were Liberty Property and Religion for as Mr. Hambden one of the principal Grandees of the Faction told a private friend without that they could not draw the People to assist them The great Rubb in their way to the gaining of the People they knew would be the Loyal and Orthodox Bishops and Clergy these therefore were to be removed that so Creatures of their own might be introduced into Corporations and especially into the City of London who might from the Pulpit preach the Oracles of Sedition and Rebellion delude the People animate and incourage them to assist the Parliament in this Glorious Reformation by putting the power of the Sword into their hands That they might effect this they did not only obtrude Lecturers by order of the House upon most Churches of Note in London and elsewhere but by their means and the restless malice of the Sectaries were perpetually Petitioning and Articling against the Episcopal Clergy And to encourage this Trade of Parson-hunting as the factious Sectaries called it and which did extreamly tie them to the Parliament a pretended Order of the
the Commons House Thursday June 17. by which it will appear at what a Rate the Reformation was to be purchased when the first Account Run so high  l. It appeared that there was due to the Kings Army The State of the Account of the Armies 462050 There hath been paid to the Kings Army 150000 Rests due to the Kings Army 312050 There is due to the Scottish Army 216750 Due to the Scots for Shipping 4000 Total due to the Scots 220750 There hath been paid to the Scots 105000 Rests due to the Scots 115750 Total due to English and Scots 427800 Brotherly Assistance to be paid presently 80000 To pay this there is in View  Due from the Customers upon Composition 150000 Due from the Petty-Customers Composition 15000 From the City promised to be Lent 40000 Total 205000 To be provided more 302800 Off the Old Subsidies 300000 New Subsidies 400000 Customers 165000 Total raised and to be raised 865000 The Debate about the Poll-Bill was this Day agitated in the House of Commons whereupon it was agreed Friday June 18. That every Duke shall pay 100 pounds Every Marquess 80 pounds Votes and Rates of the Poll-Bill Every Earl 60 pounds Every Viscount 50 pounds Every Lord 40 pounds Every Bishop 60 pounds Every Dean 40 pounds Every Canon Residentiary 20 pounds Every Prebendary 10 pounds Every Rector for 100 l. per annum 5 pounds Every Baronet and Knight of the Bath 30 pounds Every Knight 20 pounds Every Esquire 10 pounds Every Gentleman of 100 l. per annum 5 pounds Aldermen of London the same Rate with Knights And for other Persons all above the Age of 16 Years Except such as receive Alms to pay 12 pence per pole Recusants of all Ranks to pay double Lord Mayor of London 40 pounds Aldermen Knights 20 pounds Aldermen Deputies 15 pounds Common Council men 5 pounds Master and Wardens of the 12 Companies 10 pounds Every one of the Livery 5 pounds Master and Wardens of the other Companies and such as have fined for Master or Wardens 5 pounds Every one of the Livery 50 shillings Every Freeman of the 12 Companies 20 shillings Every Freeman of the other Companies except Porters and Watermen 20 shillings Every Merchant Stranger being a Knight 40 pounds Every Merchant Stranger at Sea 10 pounds At Land 5 pounds English Merchants in Land not Free 5 pounds Factors 40 shillings Handicrafts-men Strangers 2 shillings per pole If House-Keeper or Papist 4 shillings Widows according to the Degrees of their Husbands Serjeants at Law 20 pounds Kings Serjeants 25 pounds King Queen and Princes Council 20 pounds Dr. of Law and Physick 10 pounds If Papists 20 pounds Arch-Deacons 15 pounds Chancellors and Commissaries 15 pounds Every man of 100 pounds 5 pounds Every man of 50 l. per annum 50 shillings Every one that can dispend 20 pounds per annum 5 shillings Saturday June 19. Bill against Pluralities and Non-residence passed the Commons The Bill against Pluralities and Non-Residence was this day read the third time in the Commons House and being passed was carried up to the Lords for their Assent By this Act it was provided That whosoever had two Livings should before the 21 of September next following resign one of them And that if any Clergy-man should be absent at any time 60 days from his Living he should ipso facto forfeit it A Message was brought from the House of Commons by John Hampden Esq The Bill a-against Pluralities brought up to the Lords who brought up a Bill which had passed the House of Commons Entituled An Act against the enjoyment of Pluralities of Benefices by Spiritual Persons and Non-residence And desires that their Lordships would give such dispatch to the Three Bills lately sent up 1. Concerning the Star-Chamber and the Privy Council 2. Concerning the High Commission Court The Third Concerning disarming of Recusants as may stand with their Lordships conveniency Upon which the said Bill was read the first time Bill against Ship-Money read a second time The Bill of Tonnage and Poundage passed the Lords House The Bill against Ship-mony was also read a second time This day was read the third time the Bill Entituled An Act of a Subsidy granted to the King of Tonnage and Poundage and other Sums of Mony payable upon Merchandzie Exported and Imported And being put to the Question it was Resolved Nemine Contradicente to pass as a Law and the L. Great Chamberlain L. Steward L. Chamberlain E. Holland were appointed from this House to move his Maiesty to appoint a time to give his Royal Assent This day Colonel Goring was again Examined by the House upon several Interrogatories Monday June 21. Goring further Examined upon which he deposed That Sir John Suckling first told him of that design about the middle of Lent last and that afterwards meeting with Mr. Jermyn he desired that he would meet him at White-hill on the Queens side for that he was to speak with her Majesty and would confer with him concerning the Army where meeting at the Queens drawing Chamber her Majesty told him the King would speak with him whereupon meeting with the King his Majesty told him that he was minded to set his Army into a good Posture being advised thereto by my Lord of Bristol as he said and his Majesty then commanded him to joyn with Mr. Percy and some others in that business Now because hereafter when the Faction flew out into open Rebellion they did endeavour to improve this into a scandal against the King as if he were in the design to bring up the Army against the Parliament thereby to render him odious to his Subjects and especially the Nonconformists who made the House of Commons their great Idol the Reader is desired to compare this Passage of Goring's Deposition wherein he tacitly seems to bring the King in as the Author of his entring into the Confederacy whereas in that first confession of his he gives an account that he fell in among them upon the account of the Discourse of endeavouring the redress of the Grievances of the Army and that thereupon finding them full of discontents and as he thought entring upon Resolutions of dangerous Consequence to the Common-wealth and his Majesties safety he continued his Correspondency with them and took the Oath of Secrecy purposely with an intention to disclose the matters and discover them to the Parliament in proof of which original intention of his Confederating with them he tells us He had before-hand provided for his own security by imparting the matter to some great Lords telling them that in a little time he should have occasion as he thought to acquaint them further with some things of great importance The House was this day Resolved into a Grand Committee of the whole House upon the Debate of the Root and Branch Bill Monday June 21. upon which occasion Sir Edward Deering made this following Speech as I find
sorry for having administred unto their Lordships any Occasion of so high an Offence by letting fall Words touching the Bible of the Church of England and protesteth that his Design was not to affront their Lordships or the professed Religion of this Kingdom and he did assure their Lordships That as all Catholick Subjects have ever done so he did neither refuse to swear upon the English Bible nor held himself disobliged to Answer truely whatsoever was Demanded He therefore humbly beseecheth their Lordships to Pardon his great Offonce upon this his humble Submission and Acknowledgment and to grant his Inlargement assuring their Lordships he is most willing and ready not only to depose the Truth as by his Oath he is bound in whatsoever shall be Interrogated in this particular Cause but also shall ever Pray c. Upon which their Lordships sent a Message to the Commons giving them an account of this Petition and to let them know that having given this Satisfaction they were inclined to Pardon him but will not release him out of his Imprisonment before they had acquainted them therewith according to their Lordships former Ingagement Sir Henry Vane brought up a List of the Names of such Papists as the House of Commons desired should be secured as also an Order for the Lord Admiral to set forth 4 Ships for the Service of Ireland in which they desired the Lords to joyn with them Then were read two Letters from the Lords Justices in Ireland Letters from Ireland dated Nov. 13th 1641. the one to the Lord Keeper the other to the Lord Lieutenant the Purport of which was That some Ships may be appointed to Guard the Coasts of Ireland That the Rebels have taken divers Houses and Castles That they have spoiled the County of Cavan and have made a Remonstrance of the Ground of their Revolt They desire that 10000 Foot and 1000 Horse with Arms and Munition and 100000 l. be presently sent them with a Supply of Victuals and Oats for Horses And lastly they presented an Examination of one William Shales taken the 10th of November upon Oath ministred by the Clerk of the Council of Ireland by Direction of the Board which Examination was read in the House as followeth WIlliam Shales Shales's Accusation of Sir Henry Beddingfield of Oxborough Hall in Norfolk Sergeant of the Foot Company under the Command of Sir Arthur Loftus Knight saith That about the latter End of April last he being then in Norfolk at Oxborough Hall in the House of Sir Henry Beddingfield the said Sir Henry hearing that this Examinant was lately come out of Ireland sent for him in to his Garden whither when he came he found the said Sir Henry walking with one Poole whom this Examinant supposeth was a Priest and saith That as soon as he came into the said Garden the said Sir Henry asked him whether he knew how the state of Ireland then stood To which the Examinant said That he thought that all things were quiet and at Peace there Why quoth Sir Henry doth the Army there do nothing To which the Examinant Replied That they carried themselves quietly and that any man might walk in Ireland with a Thousand pounds and a Wand only in his hand He saith also That the said Sir Henry told him That he was about to take a House in Kilkenny of one of the Butlers for that there was no safety in England for any of his Religion and asked of the Examinant Whether there were any good Hawking thereabouts To which the Examinant said That there was Then the said Sir Henry said That now his Mind was altered and that he meant to stay in England and added That he did believe that before Christmass Day next there should be seen such Combustions in England and Ireland as the like were never seen before and thereupon Cursed the Scots as Authors of these Troubles Jurat Coram nobis Ja. Ware Rob. Meredith William Shales Whereupon it was Ordered That Sir Henry Beddingfield should be sent for in safe Custody by the Gentleman Vsher of the House and none permitted to speak with him but in the presence of the Messengers and that his Study should be sealed up by the two next Justices of the Peace till the further Pleasure of the House be known Sir Thomas Barington brought up a Message from the Commons to desire that Phillips the Priest may not be released of his Imprisonment until they be first made acquainted with it To which the Lords assented and appointed the Earl of Dorset the Queens Chamberlain to give her Majesty an account of these proceedings The List of the Prime Papists who were desired to be secured by the House of Commons Next the List of Recusants Names were read which the House of Commons desire may be secured which were as follows In the County of Lancaster Mr. Preston of the Mannor Mr. Clifton of Litham Mr. Chorley Sir William Gerrard Mr. James Anderton of Clayton Sen. Mr. Blundel of Crosby Mr. Robert Cranfield of Robbs Hall Sir John Talbott Sir Cecil Trafford Mr. Hugh Anderton of Eurton Sir Alexander Barlow In the County of Stafford Sir Richard Fleetwood Baronet Mr. Jo. Wells of Horecross Mr. Dreycott of Painsley Mr. Peter Gifford of Chillington Mr. Tho. Leveson of Ashburn Mr. Francis Harcott In the County of Southampton Lord Stourton Mr. Gage of Bawbridge Mr. John Bishop of Pilewell Lord Baltimore Mr. William Owen of Abberston John Arundell Esquire In the County of Sussex Lord Viscount Mountague In the County of Warwick Robert Throgmorton Esquire Mr. Morgan of Weston Mr. William Sheldon of Weston Sir Charles Smith In the County of Montgomery Sir Piercy Herbert Knight In the County of Worcester The Earl of Shrewsbury Francis Hanford Esquire Mr. Walter Blunt Edward Sheldon Esquire Mr. William Abbington Jun. In the County of Chester Mr. Poole of Poole Mr. Starkey of Darley Mr. Stanley In the County of Monmouth The Earl of Worcester Sir Charles Sommersett Mr. Morgan of Llantern In the County of Pembroke Sir Nicholas Lewis In the County of Suffolk Sir Robert Rookwood In the County of Salop. Thomas Vnton Esquire In the County of Northumberland Roger Widdrington Esquire In the County of Northampton The Lord Brudnell Mr. Poulton Mr. Sanders In the County of Dorsett John Webb of Cansford In the County of Lincoln Sir John Thimbleby Knight Ralph Evers of Washingborough Mr. Townley of Norton Edmond Thorold of Hough Esq Anthony Mounson The Lord Harris Lord Arundel of Wardour Sir Kenelm Digby Sir John Symonds Sir John Winter Sir William Mounteth Lord Herbert Sir Robert Lyme Sir Basil Brook Sir Alexander Gordon Sir William Mounson Sir Henry Gifford After which it was Ordered That the Consideration of this List should be debated upon Munday following In the House of Commons they were still upon the great work of the Declaration of the State of the Kingdom which was not so smoothly carried but that it met with great Opposition even
not to tender a thing called a Plea and Demurrer As also that the Commons conceive they ought to have been called in this Case for that they have desired it in both their Charges to be present at their Answer and that it was their Right to have been called Further They observe the long delay to the Commons for that they having charged these 13 Bishops long since for meer matter of Fact to be brought so late to Answer may introduce great inconveniencies in this particular and in the Consequences and is not Exampled by former Precedents That therefore upon these Grounds the Commons desire the Lords they may be admitted to make good their proof against these 13 Bishops and that they may be brought to Judgment It was this day Ordered by the Lords Tuesday Decemb. 7. Some Causes in Parliament determinable in no other Court That Forasmuch as the Cause between Smith and Busby in a Writ of Error decidable in no other Court but in Parliament in regard the Suit was Commenced by Original Writ and depending long before the Lords here it having been sundry days attended for Argument with Counsel And being it is a matter in Law the presence of the Judges is thought needful and so cannot be heard in the Term without prejudice to the several Courts of Westminster-Hall It is therefore Ordered by this House That the said Case shall be argued at this Bar on Thursday Sevennight next being the 16th of this Instant December and the Judges are desired to be present at the said Argument And further That the Parties of either side or their Council are to attend and come prepared for arguing and debating the Points in the said Case at their perils The following Commission to give Power to the English Commissioners of both Houses to Treat with the Scots Commissioners touching the Affairs of Ireland was read viz. CHARLES by the Grace of God The King's Commission to several Lords and Commons to treat with the Scots Commissioners concerning assistance for Ireland c. To Our right Trusty and right Well-beloved Cousin William Earl of Bedford and to Our right Trusty and right Well-beloved Cousin and Councellor Robert Earl of Leicester Lieutenant General and Governor General of Our Realm of Ireland as also to Our Trusty and right Well-beloved Edward Lord Howard of Escrick and likewise to Our Trusty and right Well-beloved Nathanael Fines Esq Sir William Armyn Baronet Sir Philip Stapleton Knight John Hampden Esq Greeting Know ye That We reposing assured Trust and Confidence in your approved Wisdoms Fidelities and great Abilities have Nominated Constituted and Appointed you to be our Commissioners and by these presents do give full Power and Authority unto you or any Three or more of you whereof the said Earl of Bedford Earl of Leicester or Lord Howard to be one to Treat and Consult with Our Right Trusty and Right Well beloved Cosins William Earl of Lothian and John Earl of Lindsay Our Commissioners of Our Scottish Nation of and concerning Our Irish Affairs for the quieting and suppressing of all Tumults Insurrections and Rebellions moved and raised in Our Realm of Ireland and settling Peace and Tranquillity therein according to such Instructions and Directions as you shall hereafter from time to time receive from Vs in that behalf Wherefore We Will Require and Command you or any three or more of you whereof the said Earl of Bedford Earl of Leicester and Lord Howard to be one forthwith with all diligence to attend the Execution of this Our Commission accordingly And whatsoever you shall do in this behalf according to the Tenor hereof this Our Commission shall be your sufficient Warrant and Discharge for the same Witness Our Self at Westminster the 7th day of December in the 17th Year of Our Reign c. The late Bishop of Lincoln now Archbishop of York Late Bishop of Lincoln now Archbishop of York Reports the Conference concerning the Bishops Impeached Reported the Conference with the Commons Yesterday concerning the Impeached Bishops which because it differs from the Heads Reported for that purpose by Mr. Glyn in the Commons Journal I thought it not amiss to insert His Grace Reported That Mr. Glyn said That the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons having lately received a Message from their Lordships that their Lordships had appointed this day to hear the Plea and Demurrer of the Bishops and that such of the House of Commons might be there as they thought fitting commanded him to deliver unto their Lordships these Particulars That the Canons and Constitutions in Question were voted by both Houses to contain Matters contrary to the King's Prerogative the Laws of the Land the Right of Parliament the Propriety and Liberty of the Subject and many matters tending to Sedition and of dangerous Consequence That thereupon the House of Commons to the intent to bring this Matter to Judgment brought up their Impeachment of the 13 Bishops 4th Augusti last which was read verbatim This was all that was acted 4o. Augusti But least this Impeachment might prove too general they brought up a second Charge or Impeachment 13 Augusti which was read in haec verba Whereas the Knights Citizens c. which to avoid Tautologies the Reader may see before in the Transactions of the 13 August By the bringing of this second Impeachment the House of Commons conceive they had satisfied two main Objections 1. That the Book of Canons and Constitutions was not particularly instanced upon in the first which now they punctually deliver with the Impeachment 2. That they had not before charged any thing in particular but now they did That all and every the said Canons and Constitutions and Grants of Benevolence c. were and are contrary c. as in the Vote And hereupon they desired the 13 Bishops might be put to their Answers and yet for all this Desire of the Commons 13. Augusti they had several times which spent almost a Quarter of a Year given them to answer in Their last and peremptory day was the 10th of November last and then they put in no Answer at all but a certain Writing which they are pleased to call a Plea and Demurrer Vpon notice hereof the House of Commons returned an Answer That whereas they had impeached 13 Bishops whereof one of them had pleaded Not Guilty and the rest had neither confessed nor denyed the Impeachment they desired a prefixed day to descend to Proofs and make good the Charge Soon after they received a Message from their Lordships That their Lordships had appointed this day to hear the Demurrer argued Hence it appears That notwithstanding divers daies are given to the Bishops to answer nothing is brought in but a Plea and Demurrer which was not to be admitted for two several Reasons 1. No Defence ought to be made to an Impeachment brought in by the Commons but in the presence of the Commons and it ought to be
and Commons Is not this an offence punishable out of Parliament Answer We conceive this also to be an Offence punishable out of Parliament Quere VII If Two or Three or more of the Parliament shall Conspire to defame the King's Government and to deter his Subjects from Obeying or Assisting the King Of what nature this Offence is Answer The Nature and Quality of this Offence will be greater or lesser as the Circumstances shall fall out upon the Truth of the Fact Quere VIII Can any Priviledge of the House Warrant a Tumultuous Proceeding Answer We humbly conceive That an earnest though a disorderly and confused proceeding in such a Multitude may be called Tumultuous and yet the Priviledge of the House may Warrant it We in all humbleness are willing to satisfie Your Majesties Command but until the Particulars of the Fact do appear we can give no directer Answers then before And particularly as to the Second Quere about the King's Power of Adjourning as well as Calling and Dissolving of Parliaments these following Parliamentary Precedents were given in Mercur. 4. Aprilis 1. Jac. Sess 1. Mr. Speaker pronounceth His Majesties Pleasure of Adjourning the House till 11th Parliamentary Presidents about Adjournments by the King of April and it was so done Jovis 18. Dec. 1606. The Lords by their Messengers signified the King's Pleasure that the Session should be Adjourned till the 10th of February following Upon this Message Mr. Speaker Adjourned the House according to His Majesties said Pleasure Martis 31. Martii 1607. The Speaker delivered the King's Pleasure that the House should be A journned till Munday 20. April following Mercurii 20. Maii 1607. Mr. Speaker signified the King's Pleasure about Nine a Clock to Adjourn the House till the 27th of the same Month. And 27th of May he being Challenged for Adjourning without the Privity of the House he excuseth it and saith as the House had power to Adjourn themselves so the King had a Superior Power and by His Command he did it Veneris 30 Martii 1610. His Majestie 's Pleasure to Adjourn from Tuesday till Munday Sevenight 11. July The King by Commission Adjourneth the Lords House Messengers sent to the Commons They send by Messengers of their own to the Lords that they use to Adjourn themselves The Commission is sent down Mr. Speaker Adjourneth the House till the first of August 26. Febr. 4. Car. Mr. Speaker signifieth His Majestie 's Pleasure that the House be presently Adjourned till Munday next and in the mean time all Committees and other proceedings to cease And thereupon Mr. Speaker in the Name of the House Adjourned the same accordingly And for a short Account of this Affair take this out of Crook's Reports Cro. 3. Part The King versus Sir John Elliot Denzill Hollis and Benjamin Valentine fol. 181. Hill Term. 5 Car. AN Information was exhibited against Sir John Elliot Sir John Elliot's Case c. about the business 3 Car. out of Crook's Reports Denzil Hollis and Benjamin Valentine by the Attorney General c. To which the Defendants appearing pleaded to the Jurisdiction of the Court That the Court ought not to have Conusance thereof because it is for Offences done in Parliament and ought to be there Examined and Punished and not elsewhere It was thereupon demurred and after Argument adjudged That they ought to Answer for the Charge is for Conspiracy Seditious Acts and Practices to stop the Adjournment of Parliament which may be examined out of Parliament being Seditious and Unlawful Acts and this Court may take Conusance and punish them Afterwards divers Rules being given to Plead and they refusing Judgment was given against them viz. Against Sir John Elliot that he should be committed to the Tower and should pay Two Thousand Pounds Fine and upon his Inlargement should find Sureties for his Good Behavior And against Hollis That he should pay a Thousand Marks and should be Imprisoned and find Sureties c. And against Valentine That he should pay Five Hundred Pound Fine be Imprisoned and find Sureties Note That afterward in the Parliament 17 Car. It was resolved by the House of Commons That they should have Recompence for their Damages Losses Imprisonments and Sufferings sustained for the Services of the Common-Wealth in Parliament of 3 Car. Note In the Session of Parliament Anno 19 20 Car. 2. a Motion was made by a Commoner to have this and some other like Resolutions expunged out of our Law-Books that Students might not be poysoned therewith and a Committee was accordingly appointed to inspect them And accordingly upon Report made by Mr. Vaughan from the Committee about freedom of Speech in Parliament it was Resolved among other Votes That the Judgment given 5 Car. against Sir John Elliot c. in the Kings-Bench is an Illegal Judgment and against the Freedom and Priviledg of Parliament The Concurrence of the Lords was desired and their Lordships Concurred with the Commoners Upon the Petition of Commissary Wilmot and Colonel Ashburnham Commissary Wilmot and Colonel â—shburnham Bailed it was Resolved c. That Commissary Wilmot and Colonel Ashburnham shall be bailed in the same manner that Captain Pollard was Resolved c. That a Warrant shall issue under Mr. Speaker's hand to the Lieutenant of the Tower to deliver them into the Serjeant's hand It was further Ordered That Colonel Goring Commissary Wilmot and Colonel Ashburnham shall not offer any violence one to another Colonel Goring being present in the House promised to observe the Injunction and Commissary Wilmot and Colonel Ashburnham were ordered to give satisfaction to the House under their hands that they will observe this Command of the House Upon his Petition it was likewise Ordered That Mr. Mr. William Davenant Bailed William Davenant should be bailed upon such Security as the House shall allow of Dudley Smith Esq and William Champneys Esq Sewers to the King were also admitted to Bail 2000 l. the Principals and 1000 l. the Sureties William Williams was this day called in to Answer the Breach of Priviledge committed in entring upon the Freehold of the Lord Bishop of Lincoln Breach of Priviledge and disquieting the possession of his Lordships Lands in Carnarvan-shire The said Williams consess'd he had entred upon the Lands of the Lord Bishop of Lincoln at May last was Twelve Months The House thought fit to Release him upon Bail Then Johannes Maynard Mil ' Balniae Single Bail taken in the Lords House Recogn ' se debere Domino Regi ducent ' libras levari ad usum Domini Regis ex Terris Tenementis Catallis The Condition of the abovesaid Recognizance is That if William Williams shall appear before the Lords in Parliament and abide the Order of Parliament then this Recognizance is void or else it is to remain in full Power and Force This day there was a Conference between the Lords and Commons concerning the Case of the Palatinate and the King 's Manifesto
Mr. D'avenant was before Col. Goring went to Portsmouth Whensoever Sir John Suckling spake with him concerning any particular Intimations to the Army though Mr. D'avenant was then present he whispered yet he spake some Generals openly That the French would assist That the Clergy would maintain 1000 Horse That part of the Commons House was much distasted with the Letter that came from the Army The only Proposition was to know their Inclinations for their accepting Col. Goring for their Lieutenant General Mr. Wilmot Mr. Ashburnham and Mr. Pollard told him That the House of Commons had real Intentions towards the Army and that they should have Martial Law if it would stand with the Conveniency of the Common-wealth and this they spake with much Earnestness Sergeant Major Willis told him upon the Way That the Clergy would furnish a Thousand Horse Saturday August 14. A Letter was Ordered to be sent to the Lord General about the Affairs of the Army which was as followeth May it Please your Excellency Letter to L. General from the Lords about the Scots marching by Barwick THe Treaty of Pacification between the Two Kingdoms of England and Scotland being come to a Happy and Peaceable Conclusion and a Day prefixed for the Scottish Army to March over the Tweed for the more Expedition thereof the Scottish Commissioners have made their Request to the Parliament that they might be permitted to pass with their Army Munition and Artillery over Barwick Bridge To which desire both Houses of Parliament have consented to be in such sort as shall be agreed and settled there by the General and Governor of Barwick Wherefore the Lords have commanded me to recommend the Manner and Way thereof to your Excellency's Care and Judgment not doubting but your Excellency will give such Directions to the Governor of Barwick both for the number of Soldiers that shall March in a Company together as also how to preserve his Majesties Ordinance and Munitions there and secure the safety of the said Town And so I humbly remain Your Excellency's Servant to Command John Banks Speaker of the Lords House A Complaint having Yesterday been made by the House of Commons that the Capuchin Friers in Denmark House Capuchin Friers at Denmark House to keep in were very active in Preverting the Kings Subjects from the True Religion the Earl of Dorset was Ordered to attend the Queen and move her Majesty from this House in it and humbly to desire her Majesty That the said Friers may be kept in and not suffered to go abroad to pervert the People and draw them to be reconciled to the Church of Rome And further That the Earl of Dorset do send for the Chief of the Capauhins and give him warning that he obey this Command Upon reading the Petitions of the Lord Major of London Order about L. Major and Citizens for a Reference and the six Persons chosen by the Commonalty of the said City It is Ordered That both sides shall give Copies to each other of their Petitions and attend the Lords Committees appointed to compose the Differences between them on Munday next in the Afternoon at Two of the Clock in the Painted Chamber A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Mr. Message that a convenient number of Lords may stay in Town Hotham to desire That a convenient number of Lords may be kept together in this House until the Armies be disbanded and the necessary Defence of the Kingdom settled The Answer hereunto was That their Lordships will take Care as is desired WHereas this House hath been Informed That Thomas Bushell Esq Undertaker of His Majesties Mines Royal in the County of Cardigan by his great Charge and Industry in cutting Additts hath gained His Majesties old drowned and forsaken Works of Talabant The Order of the House of Lords about Mines Royal in Wales Aug. 14. 1641. and other Works and made new Discoveries of Royal Mines there which are already very Considerable And whereas divers Persons of Quality encouraged by His Majesties Letters to them directed do intend to adventure great Summs of Money in the said Work which in time if well incouraged may prove of great consequence both for Honor and Profit to His Majesty and this Kingdom And whereas also it appeareth unto this House by divers Affidavits and Certificates of Credit that some Persons ill affected to these Honourable and Publick Services who in time may receive deserved Punishment have disturbed the possession of the said Thomas Bushell in some of His Majesties Mines Royal and Edifices appertaining to the Royal Work and have plucked up divers Pumps cast in the Rubbish and drowned and so much as in them did lie destroyed the said Works so as it hath been a labour of 4 Years Night and Day to recover the same and that the said Thomas Bushell hath been disturbed in the getting of Turf and Peate for the Service of His Majesties Works being an invention of his own very commendable and commodious for the preserving of Wood which hath been heretofore by the former Undertakers much wasted in those Parts Now for the Remedy of such mischiefs and that the said Thomas Bushell and his Assigns and such Persons as are or shall be Undertakers and Adventurers with him in the said Service may receive a due encouragement and assistance in these chargeable Undertakings It is Ordered by the Lords in the upper House of Parliament now Assembled That the Speaker of this House in the Name and by the Authority of the same shall direct his Letters unto the Judges of Assizes and Justices of the Peace of the said County of Cardigan requiring them that they do in all Lawful things endeavour to advance and encourage the said Service in His Majesties Royal Mines and assist the said Thomas Bushell and other Undertakers in all things so far as Lawfully they may for the continuance of his Lawful Possession and the quiet and peaceable Working of the said Mines until he shall be ejected by due Course of Law as also for getting and working of Turf or Peate according to his Legal Right upon His Majesties Wasts and other places Lawful and all other Lawful accommodations of necessary passages and other Legal things which may any ways advance His Majesties Service in the said Royal Mines Commissioners to attend the King in Scotland It was this day Ordered by the Commons That two Members only of this House shall go Commissioners into Scotland with the Earl of Bedford and Mr. Hambden and Sir Philip Stapleton to be the Persons A Committee was also appointed to draw Instructions for them Petition against the Minister of St. Ann's Aldersgate A Petition was read against the Minister of St. Anns Church near Aldersgate for speaking Words against the Parliament for so they called the House of Commons saying It would not last alwayes but they would hereafter be questioned for some things they have done
Parliament was not only thought unnecessary but themselves involved in a general distrust That neither the Parliaments nor the Marquess of Ormond 's offer to suppress the Rebellion would be accepted That the inforced complying of the Nobility and Gentry of the Pale with a powerful Army which was Master of their Lives and Fortunes was imputed to them as a malicious aversion from the English Government That the blood of Innocent Husband-men was drawn and the heads of Men were grown an acceptable Spectacle in Dublin That the Publick Faith was broken and Mens Houses particularly inabled to claim benefit by it pillaged and burnt That all ways were obstructed by which they might implore His Majesties Mercy and represent their Conditions That the Favourable Intentions of the Parliament of England and His Majesties Gracious Pardon which was meant should extend to all save such as were guilty of blood was so limited by them as no estated man could receive benefit by it That those who notwithstanding these Restrictions cast themselves freely upon His Majesties mercy were Imprisoned Indicted and some of them Rack't That the Earl of Castlehaven might have found it a Capital Crime to mediate in their behalf if he had not made his Escape after Twenty Weeks Imprisonment That the King 's Sworn Servant was Rack't and his Ministers whose Duty it was to have been Zealous for the honour of their Master endeavoured to asperse it and render him and his Royal Consort odious to his People by striving to Extort from a tortur'd man some Testimony by which they might be accused of raising and Fomenting that Rebellion When these and many other Arguments of this kind which for fear of prolixity are omitted had convinced the Catholiques of Ireland that the Lords Justices and that part of the Council which adhered to them became unfaithful to His Majesty and had designed the Ruine of that Nation and the Extirpation of their Religion that Law which moves the hand by interposing it self to bear off a stroak aimed at the Head Convened an Assembly of these who were exposed to those so eminent dangers in which they modelled a Government in order to their Natural defence obliging themselves by such an Oath to His Majesty his Heirs and Successors as well shewed their affection to the Crown and their unalterable resolutions to maintain His Majesties Rights and to follow his Fortune Between these divided Governments there have been Battels fought Cities and Forts besieged and much Christian Blood spilt which will one day lye at some Mens doors And who those are the Eternal Wisdom best knows and the Reader is left free to determine Thus far the said Narrative Printed and Published at London in the Year 1660 And which I find in P. W's Reply to the * Earl of Orrery Person of Quality's Answer c. Pag. 7. By which it appears That the Lords Justices used some indiscreet as well as unjust Severities which did not a little contribute to the inflaming of the Rebellion but still it was a Rebellion which is a Crime so black and horrid in the sight of God and all good Men that no excuses can Palliate or Extenuate nor any Circumstances of Hardships or Oppressions Injustice or Wrongs can justifie since it is utterly inconsistent with not only all the Rules of Civil Polity but the Divine Rules of Christianity which teaches us not to resist the Powers which are ordained of God under a penalty of Damnation which is a danger and a loss of so vast Extent as that the loss of Liberty Goods and even Life it self which are the utmost we can suffer from unjust Men are but trifles if compared with it and the Method is Extravagant to the very last Degrees of Folly and Madness which applies a Medicine Ten Thousand times worse then the Disease and is such a piece of discretion as for a Man to leap into the Sea to avoid a shower which would wet him to the skin Without all Controversie the Progress and Growth of this Horrid Rebellion as before was observed must be attributed in a great Measure to the Misfortune Untimely Death of that Great Man and Wise Governor the Earl of Strafford For upon his quitting of Ireland the Nation which before seemed to do and really injoyed a most Serene and Quiet Calâ— of Peace began to be over-cast and clouded with Discontents Grievances Fears and Jealousies which notwithstanding all the Power of the Beams of his Majesties Grace and Favour which were so warmly bestowed upon them were so far from being thereby dissipated that they still Encreased until at length those black and sullen clouds discharged themselves in the most dismal Tempest of Fire and Blood that any Age or almost any Nation under Heaven hath beheld And this will most Evidently appear by the Consequences which immediately followed upon the Earl of Strafford's parting with the Rains of that Government Christopher Wendesford Esq Mr. of the Rolls in Ireland made Lord Deputy there April 3. for upon his coming for England Christopher Wendesford Esq Master of the Rolls was the 3d. of April 1640. sworn Lord Deputy He was a Person of great Abilities and one with whom the Earl of Strafford had even from their Early Years contracted an Intimacy and Friendship which Ended not but with their Lives and so great was his Fidelity to this Noble Earl that perceiving the Parliament of Ireland who not long before had sung such Hosanna's to the Earl of Strafford in the Peamble to the Bill of Subsidies now running as fast down the Hill in joyning with his Enemies in England to procure his Ruin and Destruction he Adjourned the Parliament in November following to the 26th of January hoping by that means to prevent the Blow which he saw they were levelling at that Wise and Illustrious Head but notwithstanding all that he could do the Earl's Enemies made a shift before they broke up to frame a Remonstrance against the Earl and though he used his utmost Endeavours to stop the Committee of the Parliament from carrying into Englund yet was he not able to prevent it nor their passage but that all the Ports being open four Lords and 12 Commoners the greatest part of which were Papists passed over into England and Exhibited their Remonstrance and did the Earl all the Ill Offices they were able for which they were then Highly Countenanced and Caressed by the Faction in the English Parliament who together with the Scottish Rebels then at London to finish the Treaty between the Two Kingdoms pursued the Life of that Great Man with the Utmost Vigor and Animosity that Malice and Power would suggest unto them The Names of the Irish Committees were The Nomes of the Irish Committee The Lord Viscount Gormanston Lord Kilmalloc Lord Castiloe L. Baltinglass Of the Commons For Lemster Nich. Plunkett _____ Digby Richard Fitz-Garret Esquire Munster Sir Hardress Waller Sir Donnogh Mac-Carti John Welsh Esquire Conaght Robert Linch Geffry
might be secured lest the same Design might be intended by them here which they have cause to fear Next That there were divers Laws and good Motions sent up to the Lords for the good of this Church and Common-wealth and that the great Impediment which did arise there that they passed not was from the Bishops and they did conceive that so long as their Votes was in the Parliament it would be a hindrance to the Progress of all good Laws and Motions and therefore they desired a further endeavour to take away their Votes This being thus said by them they put it to the Vote for lending Money and not one Hand or Vote against it And they did further declare That if the Lord Mayor would send to every Ward they would presently pay the Money or subscribe to do it in a short time The Reader may now observe That the City began to Dance after the Pipe of the Faction at Westminster and to load the poor Bishops with being the Cause of the stoppage of the intended Reformation They had wrested the Lord Mayor's Prerogative from him in the Election of one of the Sheriffs as before was shewn and did with great industry endeavour to get the Government of the City out of the hands of those who were of known Loyalty to the Crown and Affection to the Church The Faction in the Commons House needed not this Spur to quicken the Career of their Animosity against the Lords the Bishops however it was extream welcome to them and an usual Artifice by their Agents to put both the City and Country upon Directing and Petitioning what they had a mind to bring to pass this gave a great colour to their proceedings as being agreeable to the desire of the Nation the mind of the People of England and the wishes of the City for those of their Tribe though not the 40th part of the City Nation or People yet they took upon them these great Names And this Arrogant Usurpation of making themselves the Representatives of the good People of England was a vanity which was inseparable to the Party and which we shall find them making Use of upon all occasions The House of Commons thereupon fell briskly upon the Plea and Demurrer of the Bishops which was read twice The Bishops Plea and Demurrer voted Dilatory and then it was Resolved c. That this Plea and Demurrer of the Bishops is Dilatory and insufficient This Vote seems to be given at all adventure for after the Vote a Committee was appointed to consider of the Plea and Demurrer and to present their Opinion what they think fit to be done upon it and after some time Serjeant Wild Reported That after a long Debate in the Committee and variety of Opinions they came at last to this Conclusion That this Plea and Demurrer is Dilatory and insufficient just as the House had Voted before and without shewing any Reasons why but that these 12 Bishops have made no Answer and therefore to desire the Lords That they may put in a peremptory Answer such as they will stand unto There is not the meanest Freeholder in England but by the Common Law of England ought to have had the Liberty to have a Demurrer argued and unless it could be over-ruled by sound Reason and Law it must have been allowed a good Plea and yet these venerable Men who had all the security that the Magna Charta the Common and Statute Law could afford them for their Right of Peerage and Voting in Parliament could not be allowed that Common Right but without the least shadow or Error in the Plea and Demurrer assigned must be obliged to give another Answer This was the Justice of those Men and Times But it was no wonder to see them violate the Laws of Reason Religion and their own Nation for even the Law of Nations as you have seen before in the Venetian Ambassadador's Case whose Letters were opened at their Instance and Direction was not able to preserve its Sacred Power For a Complaint was brought to the Commons House by Segnior Amerigo the Agent of the Duke of Florence that under pretence of searching for Priests his House was broken open by Persons who shewed their Authority for it And hereupon even shame The Agent of Florence outraged lest Foreign Nations should withdraw all Commerce and Correspondence from them who violate the Common Law of all Nations obliged them to appoint a Committee To consider of the Outrages these are the words of their own Journal offered to Segnior Amerigo Agent to the Duke of Florence and likewise to consider of the Abuses of those Men that are imployed by this House for apprehending of Priests and they are to consider of some fit way of Reparation to be made to Segnior Amerigo and to present them to the House This day a Petition of the City of London was read Monday Novemb. 15. Touching the abuse of many Protections which was to the stopping of Trade c. but because the Petition was too General it was agreed it should be delivered back again to be mended and then their Lordships will consider further of it A Message was sent from the House of Commons to desire That the Examinations taken by the Lords Committees concerning the Plot of the Army may be sent down to the House of Commons to be made use of The Examinations were delivered Sealed to the Clerk of the Parliament and it was Debated Whether they should be openly read in the Lords House before they were sent down and upon the Question it was Resolved That they should and thereupon they were opened and read acccordingly They had now a Necessity to revive the Business of the Design of bringing up the Army that by the Assistance of that which they made a mighty Plot they might inforce the great Necessity of the King 's parting with all his Friends in Power and Trust under the Notion of Evil Counsellors with which Debate the House of Commons was in a manner now wholly taken up but sure they were the most Fortunate Persons in the World to be upon all Occasions furnished with the discovery of fresh Plots to carry on their Designs and give them countenance among the Amazed and Affrighted People and one lies under the Temptation of believing that they were the Contrivances of the Faction rather than Realities when it is observed how luckily the Discoveries happened to fall in with their other Designs For in the very nick of time when they were at a dead-lift to get the House of Lords purged of the Popish Beal's Plot. and Popishly Affected Lords and Bishops up starts one Beal a Taylor and Discovers a mighty Plot. For this Day a Message was brought from the House of Commons by John Hampden Esq to let their Lordships know That this Day there came a Man to the Door of the House of Commons and sent in Word That he had Matters of a high
Trevor of Council for the Bishops Order for Security of the Merchants at Venice and to present a List of their Names to the House It was this Day Ordered That Mr. Arthur Trever shall be Assigned to be of Council with the Lords the Bishops that are Impeached It was moved That least the Merchants at Venice may suffer for the opening of the Venetian Ambassador's Letters here that a Committee might be appointed to consider of some Dispatch to be sent to the King's Agent at Venice to let him know what Satisfaction hath been given by the House of Lords to the Ambassador here that so he may be the better enabled and Instructed how to apply himself to the State there to give them Satisfaction And the same Lords that went to the Ambassador were appointed to do it Then the Lord Privy Seal reported the last Conference That the Commons had given in a List of the Prime Papists Nobility Knights and Gentlemen in the Counties of Warwick Southampton Dorset Worcester Bucks Lancaster Pembroke and Stafford which they desired might be secured for the Safety of the Kingdom in this time of Danger Then was read an Ordinance which the Commons desired the Lords to joyn with them in which was as followeth THe Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament having received Informations of dangerous Designs and Practises An Ordinance Issue out upon Beal's Information by Priests and Jesuits and Ill-Affected Persons to disturb the Peace of this State and the Proceedings of Parliament and to attempt upon the Persons of many of the Members of both Houses And well knowing That there is no way to prevent the Mischief which the Malice of such Men may suddainly bring upon the Realm to the utter Subversion of our Religion Laws and Liberties but by putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence and so to be ready upon all Occasions to oppose Force to Force They the Lords and Commons have thought fit to Appoint and Ordain and do hereby Appoint and Ordain the Earl of Essex to have the Trained Bainds of the several Counties in readiness and do hereby give him Power to command them whensoever there shall be need to March and Gather themselves into a Body and to oppose and set upon all those who shall attempt or do any thing which may be prejudicial to the Publick Peace or Dangerous to the Parliament in General or to any of the Members of Parliament in particular and they the said Lord and Commons do likewise hereby and injoyn all the Trained-Bands of the several Counties and every particular Person who is Officer or Soldier of the Trained-Bands to be obedient to the Commands of the said Earl as they will Answer the contrary at their Perils A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Sir William Armyn Baronet A further Account at a Conference of Beal's Plot. to desire a free Conference by a Committee of both Houses touching the safety of the Kingdom At which the Commons acquainted their Lordships That they have discovered some things further concerning the Plot which was related by Beal for upon Examination they are informed That there are two such Priests as Father Jones and Father Andrews Jones they understand is here in Town at the Earl of Worcester 's House and Andrews is described to be near 50 Years of Age and uses to come much to Sir Basil Brook 's House And they let their Lordships know That the House of Commons have caused a Guard to be set about the Earl of Worcester 's House and have Ordered That his House shall be searched but because he is a Peer of this House they have first acquainted their Lordships therewith This Information was given to the Commons by one Mr. Wadsworth The House of Commons further thinks fit that a Declaration be made That whosoever of the 108 Men designed to do this mischief shall come in and discover the same both Houses will be humble Suitors to the King that they may be Pardoned and they shall be well Rewarded They also desired That the Lords would be pleased to joyn with them in the Ordinance concerning the Earl of Essex and the like Ordinance they desire may be for the Earl of Holland that he may Command the Trained Bands on the North side the Trent and that they may Nominate particular Men of Trust in every County to take care of the Militia that the People may know whom to resort unto That the Isle of Wight may be secured by sequestring it into another hand for the present That the Forts and Castles of this Kingdom may be secured Lastly That search may be made in the City and the Liberties for all Priests and Jesuits and for all suspected Persons and that their Names and Conditions may be delivered in to the Parliament Hereupon it was Ordered That James Maxwel Esq Gentleman Vsher to the Lords should joyn with any such as the House of Commons shall appoint and imploy for the Searching of the Earl of Worcester 's house and any other Recusants houses being the King's Subjects for the apprehending and taking of any Romish Priests and Jesuits whatsoever It was also moved from the Committee of the House of Commons That Monsieur St. German and Peter de Chair may be Sworn and afterwards Examined by the deputed Lords And it was Declared That any Peer of this House may be present at the said Examination if he please To swell the Tide of Fears and Dangers Information of dangers in Lancashire the Lord Wharton informed the House That he had received a Letter from the Lord Strange Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire which had some particulars in it fit for this House to know The Letter was read wherein it was said That his Lordship was upon his Guard that some in that County were stronger than he and that if ever need was to look to Lancashire in our time it was now Upon which the Lord Wharton was commanded to give thanks from the House to the Lord Strange for his timely Information of the danger of that County Thomas Wall Wall committed to the Fleet for disobeying the Order of the House one of the Door-keepers of the House being called in to give an account of the delivery of the Order to the Justices of Middlesex and London for the searching for Priests and Jesuits last night confessed That he did not deliver them the last night but early this morning for which neglect of his in a matter of that Consequence he was committed to the Fleet until the pleasure of the House be further known and never to attend upon the House any longer The Lord Strange's Letter being sent to the Commons Conference about the L. Strange's Letter they deâ—â—red a Conference which the Lord Keeper Reported to this Effect That they give their Lordships thanks for Communicating to them the Lord Strange 's Letter by which and other Relations from Members of their House they hold that there
to the Custom of that Nation he told him that he had not deserved to be distrusted by him who could not but remember that when he was accused to him of High Treason yet he permitted him even then to lye in his Bed Chamber this made Hamilton outwardly appear much troubled for having given the King so just occasion of Displeasure but his great Interest in the Faction formerly mentioned out of the Earl of Manchester's Memoires notwithstanding all that hath been said by an able Pen in vindication of him seems not able to guard his Innocence from the common Fame which went of him that he betrayed the greatest Secrets of the King to the Junto which managed the two Houses of Parliament and that by the opportunity of being of the Bed-Chamber he took the Letters out of the King's Pockets and from them gave Informations of several things to the Party much to the disadvantage of the King's Affairs There is another thing which I cannot omit which is a Letter of His Majesties to Mr. Nicholas Clerk of the Council from Edinburgh which I found in the Paper Office which was as follows I Hear it is reported That at my Return The King's Letter to Mr. Nichols Clerk of the Council of his Resolution to maintain the Church of England I intend to alter the Government of the Church of England and to bring it to that Form as it is here Therefore I Command you To assure all my Servants that I will be constant to the Discipline and Doctrinâ— of the Church of England Established by Queen Elizabeth and my Father and that I resolve by the Grace of God to die in the maintenance of it Edinburgh Oct. 18. 1641. Charles R. Having made this little Holiday with the short gleam of Sun-shine in His Majesties Affairs we must now return to the old Trade again of diging the Quarries of Rebellion The King having sent for the Lord Keeper Friday Novemb. 26. the House gave him leave to attend upon his Majesty and appointed the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas to be Speaker of their House till he returned Upon his return he informed the House That his Majesty had Commanded him to let their Lordships know That whereas he intended this day to have come to this House his Majesty is diverted upon some important business at this time and withal he is very hoarse with a Cold but his Majesty intends very shortly to come to this House The Lord Chamberlain signified to this House E. of Essex delivers up his Commission of Cap. General on the South-side of Trent That the King being returned home his Lordship hath delivered up his Commission of Captain General of the South Parts of this Kingdom into his Majesties Hands so that his Lordship cannot now take any Order for the Guarding of the Parliament as was Ordered by the Parliament therefore he desired their Lordships to consider of what Course is fit to be taken herein he having now no Power to obey their Commands Hereupon it was Resolved to communicate the matter to the House of Commons at a Conference which was done accordingly The Lord Keeper declared A Message from the King concerning Guards of the Parliament That he had received a Command from the King that the Houses should be made acquainted That His Majesty hearing that the Parliament have appointed Guards for securing the Houses he presumes they did it upon some Reasons but his Majesty not knowing any Reasons It is his Majesties Pleasure That the said Guards be dissolved for now his Majesty hopes that his Presence will be a Protection to the Parliament But if there be Occasion and his Majesty sees Reasons for it he will be very forward to take Care there be sufficient Guards to secure the Parliament Which was also ordered to be added to the Conference which was to be with the Commons In the Commons Journal there is the same Message with this addition That if need be to have a Guard hereafter his Majesty will be as glad to have a Guard as any other A Message was also sent by George Goring Esq To let their Lordships know That the House of Commons desire their Lordships would be pleased to send some few Lords to Petition his Majesty in the name of both Houses That the Guards may be continued still and they will within a few dayes bring up some Reasons to satisfie his Majesty for the same For the debating of this the House was adjourned into a Committee during pleasure and the House being Resumed it was put to the Question Whether this Question should be put viz. Whether this House shall joyn with the House of Commons to Petition the King that the Guards may be continued for some few dayes within which time there may be some Reasons given for the further continuance of them And it was Resolved upon by the major part in the Negative Then the House agreed That the Message brought from the House of Commons should be the Question â—â—d be put in Terminis as it came up from them and the Lord Keeper was appointed to write as near as he could remember the very Words of the Message which his Lordship having read the House did conceive some words were Dubious for the satisfying whereof the Messengers of the House of Commons were called in and the Lord Keeper sitting in his place upon the Woolsack told them That there was some doubt of some Words in the Message which the House desired to be satisfied in and then the Lord Keeper going down to the Barr as Usually he does when he receives Messages the Messengers of the House of Commons repeated their Message again and the L. Keeper being returned to his place as Speaker reported the said Message in these Words viz. That the House of Commons desired that their Lordships would send some Lords to the King in the Names of both Houses To beseech his Majesty to continue the Guards till they may satisfie his Majesty of the Reasons why they conceive it necessary to have a Guard which they intend to do within a few dayes And then it was Resolved upon the Question by the Major part That this House doth joyn with the House of Commons in their desire And the Earl of Warwick and the Lord Digby were Ordered to attend his Majesty to move him in it according to the Message Saturday Novemb. 27. Reasons against single Troops for forming the Cavalry into Regiments The Lord Kimbolton Reported from the Committee for Irish Affairs a Paper containing the Reasons of the Assistants to the Committee for the Forming the Troops of Cavalry into Regiments under Colonels and Sergeant Majors 1. By reason of the continual Debate that would otherwise arise among the Officers and their want of Obedience of one to another 2. For the more speedy way as well in issuing as receiving the Orders for the better Executing of any Commands whatsoever 3. For the Exact
enter into the hearts of this Wise and Honorable Assembly We will not presume to dispute the Right of Episcopacy whether it be Divine or not it sufficeth us to know That the Church Government by Bishops is ancient even near to the Apostles Days and that it hath pleased God from time to time to make them most Glorious Instruments for the Propagation and Preservation of Christian Religion which with their Blood they have frequently sealed to Posterity And how much this Kingdom in particular is indebted to them for their Piety their Wisdoms and Sufferings we trust shall never be forgotten Our Hearts desire therefore is That the Precious may be separated from the Vile that the Bad may be rejected and the Good retained Furthermore having heard that our Common Prayer hath been interrupted and despised of some mis-understanding or mis-led People to the Great Scandal of the Religion professed in our Church We humbly beseech you to take into your Care the Redress thereof as of an Impiety not to be endured as also to take Order for the severe punishment of those Men if they may be discovered who frequently publish Pamphlets under a Veil of Religion yet conducing to Confusion and Rebellion All which we humbly offer to your Wisdoms as the thoughts and desires of this County and as we are persuaded of multitudes of sound Members of the Church of England and his Sacred Majesties most Loyal Subjects Beseeching God to direct and prosper your Counsels and ye to pardon our Errors we rest At your Commands Knights Esquires Divines Gentlemen Free-holders Inhabitants of the County of Somerset none of them Papists but all Protestants of the Church of England and his Majesties Loyal Subjects 14350. Whereof Knights Esquires and Gentlemen 200 Divines 221 Jo. BrowneCler Parliament After which the Huntingtonshire Petition to the same Effect which had been tendred to the House upon Wednesday the 8th of December but then laid aside was also read This being done the High Constable The High Constable and Sheriff questioned concerning the Guards who was sent for to attend the House was brought in and asked by what Authority he gave Order for the Watchmen to Guard this House Who answered That he received Order from the Justices of the Peace Then the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex was called in and demanded by what Warrant the Watch-men are here he said he had received a Warrant from the Justices of Peace of Middlesex which they sent forth by virtue of the Kings Writ directed to them for preventing of Riots Routs and unlawful Assemblies according to the Statute of 2 H. 5. Whereupon the House appointed the Lord Chamberlain Lord Wharton Lord Brook and Lord Roberts to go into Westminster-Hall and other places near this House to see what Company there is whether any unlawful Assemblies or Routs there and these Lords Reported That there was no Face of any Routs or Assemblies nor any greater Number of People then Vsually Whereupon the House discharged the Guards in the King's Name And in regard it appeared that it was the precipitation of the Justices that Caused these Men to come by virtue of their Warrants It was Ordered That those Justices of the Peace for Middlesex and Westminster that subscribed the Warrant be sent for to attend the House to morrow to give a Reason why they sent forth those Warrants and what induced them to believe That there would be a Tumult this day in Westminster This day Inigo Jones Esq appeared before the Lords according to an Order of their Lordships to hear the Declaration read which was brought up against him from the House of Commons which was read in his presence in haec verba The Declaration of the Commons upon the Complaint and in thebehalf of the Parishioners of St. Gregories London against Inigo Jones Esquire THE Parish Church of St. Gregories The Declaration of the Commons against Inigo Jones concerning St. Gregories Church by St. Pauls adjoyning to the Cathedral Church of St. Paul's in London aforesaid is and from the time whereof the Memory of Man is not to the contrary hath been the Parish Church for the Inhabitants of that Parish lately computed to be 3000 persons for the administration of Divine Service and Sacraments The said Inigo Jones being Surveyor of His Majesties Works and particularly those to be designed for the re-edifying of the said Church of St. Pauls would not undertake the Work unless he might be as he termed it the Sole Monarch or might have the Principality thereof conceiving that the Work would not well be done without pulling down the said Church of St. Gregories presented a Plott to his Majesty accordingly The said Inigo Jones having presented the said Plott his Majesty hereupon signified his Pleasure and in pursuance thereof several Orders also were made at the Council-Board That the said Church should be taken down by the Parishioners for the more convenient Repairing of the Cathedral Church of St. Pauls which the Parishioners refusing to obey as was lawful for them to do the said Inigo Jones in Execution of the Plot and Design by him presented as aforesaid and of his Majesties signification and the Orders at the Council-Board thereupon had in or about March 1639 did pull down and caused to be pulled down part of the said Church and did also threaten That if the Parishioners would not take down the rest of it then the Galleries should be sawed down and with Skrews the Materials of the said Church should be thrown down into the Street And the said Inigo Jones did further threaten the Parishioners That if they did not take down the said Church they should be laid by the Heels Whereby the Parishioners being thus affrighted and to save the Materials which not long before had cost them 1500 l. were inforced to take down some part of the said Church insomuch as it thereby was made altogether useless and the said Parishoners to that great number have been wholly destitute of any Place within their own Parish for the Publick exercising of Religion The Damages the Parishioners have hereby sustained is very great and the Charge of Re-edifying the said Church and restoring it to as good plight as it was in before it was so wrongfully taken down will amount at the least to 3000 l. all which the said Parishioners are ready to prove and Maintain For Remedy therefore and Redress herein and chiefly to the end that the said Church of St. Gregories may be fully repaired and restored to the Plight and Condition wherein it formerly was by and at the Charge of him and them by whose undue Means it was in part taken down or caused to be taken down as aforesaid It is desired That such Proceedings may be used and had against the Offenders herein as to Right and Justice doth appertain This being read the said Inigo Jones desired That he might have some time to answer by his Councel Whereupon It was Ordered That he
part Succesless our dangers grown upon us by iterated Plots Priests and other Delinquents unpunished to the Encouragement of others Ireland lost by protracted Councels while thousands are there Butchered by many Cruelties and to cut off all hopes of future Reformation the very being of our Parliaments endangered by desperate and unexampled breach of Priviledges which by our Protestation lately taken we are bound with our Lives and Estates to maintain And in respect of that late attempt upon the Honourable House of Commons we are now come to offer our service to that end and resolved in their just defence to live and die And therefore humbly Pray that this most Honourable House will Cooperate with the House of Commons in most Speedy perfecting the most necessary work of Reformation bringing to condign and Exemplary Punishment both wicked Councellors and evil Plotters and Delinquents that Ireland may have speedy relief the Priviledges of Parliament fortified against all future Attempts and the whole Kingdom put into sure and present Posture of Defence that we may live both Safe from all Practices of the Malignant Party at home and the endeavours of any ill affected States abroad And Your Petitioners shall ever Pray c. The Petitioners were called in again and told That this House takes well their coming hither with their Petition and their Care of the Priviledges of Parliament and the Kingdom of Ireland for which this House gives them thanks and their Lordships will take their Petition into consideration The Lord Keeper acquainted the House that he had received a Command from his Majesty to attend him at Windsor he received the permission of the House to do it and was ordered to acquaint his Majesty with the Order concerning Hull and likewise to move his Majesty from both Houses for his Royal Assent to three Bills which have passed both Houses one for Pressing of Marriners another concerning Redeeming of Captives at Algiers and the third concerning the Power of both Houses to Adjourn the Parliament The Lord Kymbolton moved Lord Kymbolton moves to be Tryed That if the House thought the Proceedings against him Legal that Mr. Attorney might be Commanded to Prosecute the Accusation against him for that if Mr. Attorney be ready to make good the Charge against him he is ready to answer it and that he desired no further time His own Innocency making him thus Confident as he said though it is shrewdly to be suspected he had other Motives and Reasons drawn from the Power and Prevalency of the Faction which gave him this assurance However Mr. Attorney was sent for who informed the House That what he had done was by the Express Command of the King his Master and not done by his Advice that he had attended the King to receive his Majesties further directions therein who told him when he went out of Town he would leave something with the Lord Keeper to acquaint this House further with concerning this Business And that he had attended the Lord Keeper to know whether the King had left any directions with him who told him he had received none from his Majesty but that he was Commanded to attend his Majesty Speedily Hereupon the Lord Kymbolton desired the House That some speedy Course may be taken that his Life Estate and Honour may be Secured A Message was brought from the House of Commons Message concerning the Tower to remove Sir John Byron by Sir Henry Vane Junior to let their Lordships know That in regard of the great Jealousies and Distractions of the City of London by Sir John Byron 's being Lieutenant of the Tower of London as appears by the Citizens shutting up their Shops and giving over Trade and in regard of the good Affections Expressed this day to the Parliament the House of Commons desires their Lordships to joyn with them to Petition the King that Sir John Byron may be forthwith removed from being Lieutenant of the Tower and that Sir John Conyers may be recommended to his Majesty for that Place After much Debate of this Message it was put to the Question Lords Dissent and it was Resolved c. That this House thinks it not fit to joyn with the House of Commons in an humble Petition to his Majesty for removing of Sir John Byron Knt. from being Lieutenant of the Tower and placing of Sir John Conyers there The Bishops were also ordered to put in their Answers to the Commons Impeachment of High Treason Bishops to put in Answer on Friday next The Lord Chamberlain then acquainted the House That the King hath sent Command to his Lordship and the Earl of Holland to attend his Majesty at Hampton-Court but before they went they desired to know the pleasure of this House being bound by their Writs to attend the business of the Kingdom Whereupon the House Commanded the Lord Chamberlain Lords sent for by the King not permitted to go by the House and the Earl of Holland to attend this House and would not dispense with their Absence in regard of the many great and urgent Businesses depending in this House It was the strangest fortune in the World certainly that these Men of the Faction had that when ever they stood in need of a Plot to countenance their designs and to stir up the People to Sedition some kind Person or other was sure to furnish them with one or more as there was occasion for this day in the very Critical Juncture of time a Letter was produced in the House of Commons and there read and immediately Communicated to the House of Lords The Letter were as follows To the Worshipful and my much honour'd Friend Orlando Bridgman Esq a Burgess of the Parliament at his Chamber in the Inner Temple these present SIR WE are your Friends Two Letters of a strange Plot strangely discovereâ— to the Commons these are to advise you to look to your self and to advise others of my Lord of Strafford 's Friends to take heed lest they be included in the common Calamity Our advice is to be gone to pretend business till the great hubbub be past withdraw lest you suffer with the Puritans We intreat you to send away the inclosed Letter to Mr. Anderton inclosed to some Trusty Friend that it may be carried safely without suspicion for it concerns the common safety So desire your Friends in Covent-Garden January 4th The inclosed was directed To the Worshipful and my much Honour'd Friend Mr. Anderton these SIR ALthough many Designs have been defeated yet that of Ireland holds well and now our last Plot works as happily as that of Ireland We must bear with something in the main His Will is strong enough as long as he is fed with Hopes the Woman is true to us and real her Council about her is very good I doubt not but to send you by the next very joyful News For the present our Arch-Enemies Pym Hampden Strode Hollis and Haslerigg are blemished
May it please your Lordships WE have received your Letters of the third of this Instant The Answer of the Lords of the Pale to the Lords Justices Dec. 7. 1641. intimating that you had present occasions to confer with us concerning the present State of the Kingdom and the safety thereof in these times of danger and requiring us to be with you there on the eighth day of this Instant we give your Lordships to understand that we have heretofore presented our selves before your Lordships and freely offered our advice and furtherance towards the particulars aforesaid which was by you neglected which gave us cause to conceive that our Loyalty was suspected by you We give your Lordships further to understand that we have received certain Advertisement that Sir Charles Coot Knight at the Council Board hath uttered some Speeches tending to a purpose and resolution to Execute upon those of our Religion a general Massacre by which we are all deterred to wait on your Lordships not having any security for our safety from these threatned Evils or the safety of our Lives but do rather think it fit to stand upon our best guard until we hear from your Lordships how we shall be secured from these Perils Nevertheless we all protest that we are and will continue both Faithful Advisers and resolute furtherers of his Majesties service concerning the present State of the Kingdom and the safety thereof to our best Abilities and so with the said tender of our humble service we remain Your Lordships humble Servants Fingale Slaine Netterville Lowth Gormanston Dunsany Oliver Trimbleston Decemb. 7. Received 11. 1641. To the Right Honourable our very good Lords the Lords Justices and Council of Ireland For much about this time the Lords of the Pale had entered into a Combination with the Vlster Rebels as appears by the Deposition of Edward Dowdall Esq a Gentleman of the Pale who was present at the whole Management of this Affair and deeply concerned in all their Councels and Actions who Deposed before Sir Rob. Meredith Chancellour of the Exchequer as followeth HE Deposeth The Deposition of Mr. Dowdall concerning the Treaty between the Lords and Gentlemen of the Pale and the Ulster Rebels That some four or five days after the defeat of the English Souldiers at the Bridge of Gellianstown there Issued a Warrant from the Lord of Gormanston to the Sheriff of the County for a general Meeting of all the County of Dulick But the Place of Meeting was afterwards changed to the Hill of Crofty where all the Lords and Gentry of the Country met viz. The Earl of Fingale the Lord Viscount Gormanston the Lord of Slaine the Lord of Lowth the Lord of Dunsany the Lord of Trimblestone the Lord Nettervile And of the Gentry Sir Patrick Barnwall Sir Christopher Bellow Patrick Barnwall of Kilbrew Nicholas Darcy of Plattin James Bath of Acharn Garret Ailmer the Lawyer Cusake of Gormanston William Mallone of Lesmullin Sedgrave of Kileglan Linch of the Knos Lynam of Adamstown Laurence Doudal of Athlumney Nicholas Doudal of Brownstown this Examinates Brother and him this Examinate with a Multitude of others to the number of 1000. Persons at the least whose names he this Examinate cannot for the present call to mind And after about two or three hours spent upon the said Hill of Crofty by the Lords and Gentry aforesaid There came towards them Collonel Mahowne Philip O Rely Hugh Boy Rely Roger Moore Hugh Birne and Captain Fox attended on with a Guard of Musqueteers And this Examinate saith That as soon as the Parties drew near unto the said Hill the Lords and Gentry of the Pale rode towards them and the Lord of Gormanstone being one of the first spake unto them and demanded of them Why and for what reason they came Armed into the Pale Vnto which Roger Moore made present Answer That the Ground of their coming thither and taking up Arms was for the Freedom and Liberty of their Consciences the maintenance of his Majesties Prerogative in which they understood he was Abridged and the making the Subjects in this Kingdom as free as those in England were Whereupon the said Lord of Gormonston desired to understand from them truly and faithfully whether those were not pretences and not the true ground indeed of their so doing and likewise whether they had not some other private ends of their own which being by all denyed upon profession of their sincerity his Lordship the Lord Gormanston then told them Seeing these be your true ends we will likewise joyn with you therein unto which course all agreed And thereupon it was publickly and generally declared that whosoever should deny to joyn with them or refuse to assist them therein they would account him as an Enemy and to the utmost of their Power labour his Destruction And this Examinate saith That after the agreement so made as aforesaid There issued another Warrant to the Sheriff of the County of Meath to Summon all the Lords and Gentry of the County of Meath to be at the Hill of Taragh about a week after and accordingly there met at the same place the Earl of Fingale the Lord of Gormanston and the rest of the Lords and Gentlemen aforenamed together with Sir Thomas Nugent and Nicholas Plunket the Lawyer Birford the Lawyer and a multitude of others and the work of that day was first to make Answer to a Summons made by the State for the calling of the Lords unto Dublin which Answer was brought ready drawn by the Lord of Gormanston and presented by his Lordship and being perused by the said Council at Law was Signed by the Lords The Board having Information that Luke Netterville Esquire George Blackney of Richenhore Esquire George King of Clantarf and others were Assembled at Swoords they sent to charge them upon their Allegiance forthwith to depart and not to unite any more in such a manner as by the following Order from the Board appears By the Lords Justices and Council William Parsons John Borlase WHereas we have received Information An Order of the Lords Justices and Council to dissolve an unlawful Assembly at Swoords Dec. 9. 1641. that Luke Nettervile Esq George Blackney of Rickenhore Esq and George King of Clantarfe Gentleman and other Gentlemen of the County of Dublin with great numbers of Men are Assembled together in a Body at Swoords and thereabouts within six Miles of this City for what intent we know not but apparently to the Terror of his Majesties good Subjects and though considering the unseasonableness of this time chosen for such an act without our privity whatsoever their pretence is a construction might be made thereof to their disadvantage yet we being willing to make an Indulgent Interpretation of their Actions in regard of the good opinion we have of the Loyalty of those Gentlemen who it seems are principals amongst them in that Assembly and conceiving there may be some mistaking in that enterprise we have
for setting aside private Business 686. concerning Books seized by High Commission 690. that Philips be released 691. in Smith and Busby 's Case 716. for reviving the Committee for Scandalous Pamphlets 723. and for License to raise Men for the Dutch ibid. Orders of the House of Commons that no Members visit the Earl of Strafford 8. to inquire into the Militia c. 230. in behalf of Pryn 251. about disbanding the Armies 286 454. 456. concerning the Northern Counties 314. about Members of Committees 319. for afternoon Sermons in all Parochial Churches 383. for absent Members 433. that Mr. Marshal and Dr. Burgess Preach the Thanksgiving Sermon before them 467. about a full House 476. for Match and Bullet for the Parliaments Guard 496. for laying by private business 510. for opening the Irish Letters 523. concerning relief for Ireland and Irish Affairs 601 603 613 622 626 824. concerning the Guard for the Parliament 623. concerning the Second Plot in the Army 653. to discourage Petitioners for Episcopacy 655. for clearing the Kings Honour from the scandal of the Irish Rebels 689. for a Search about a Barrel of Gun-Powder 719. for Printing the Remonstrance 437. for care of Berwick Hull and Newcastle 753. concerning the Navy 787. for a double Watch 794. for a Guard under Major Skippon 833. for Sir John Hotham to keek Hull ibid. for Guards and necessary defence 878. Orders of the Lords Justices of Ireland against the Rebels 908 910. Orders for preventing the spreading of the Plague 478. Ordinance of both Houses for Commissioners to go for Scotland 455. for a Thanksgiving for the Pacification 463. for disarming Recusants 470. against Transporting Soldiers into the Service of Forraign Princes 481. for empow'ring the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to raise Men 606. for enabling the Master of the Ordnance to deliver Ammunition ibid. authorizing the Lord High Admiral to provide Shipping 607. for securing money borrow'd of the City of London 621. to prohibit the Irish going out of England without Licence 621. upon Beal 's Plot 646. to raise the Trained Bands 653. Earl of Ormond speeds to Dublin with his Troop at Summons of the Lords Justices 629. is made Lieutenant General of the Army in Ireland 904. dislodges the Rebels at Finglass 618. Earl of Orrery 's Answer to P. W. quoted 526. Sir Edward Osborn a Witness for the Earl of Strafford 95. his Warrant for levying Money 98. Overtures for a Treaty with the Irish Rebels 917. Oxford Vniversity their Petition to the Parliament in behalf of Episcopacy 305. Oxfordshire Petition against it 409. P. PAcification between the English and Scots 430 438. Palatinate a debate upon it 328 368. Vote about it 373. the King 's Manifesto upon it 383. A. Palmer a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 90. Captain Palmer accused for a Conspiracy to seduce the Army 232. Jeffery Palmer a manager of Evidence against the Earl of Strafford 29. Sir William Parkhurst a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 91. William Parkins his Speech about Bishop Wren 330. Parliament meets at Westminster 5. perpetuated by an Act 195. their first Ordinance 455. agree to a Recess 464. Order a Guard for themselves 487 Parliament in Ireland their Quaeries to the Judges there 572. their Protestation and Declaration against the Rebellion 898. Parliament in Scotland their resolutions concerning the Irish Rebellion 603. Transactions between them and the English Commissioners 608. Henry Parry a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 74. the Sentence past on him by the Irish Council 76. Sir William Parsons made one of the Lords Justices of Ireland 564. Sir William Pennyman a Witness for the Earl of Strafford 55 86 95. his Warrant to his Serjeant Major to raise Money 93. Alderman Penington informs against the Minister of Grace-Church 773. Mr. Henry Percy accused for a Conspiracy to seduce the Army 232. a Proclamation to stop him 233. Conference about him 245. his Letter to the Earl of Northumberland about it 286. Voted Chargeable with High Treason 443. Expell'd the House of Commons 725. Voted to be impeach'd of High Treason 754. Petition and Act of State about the Oath in Ireland 79. Petition of the Yorkshire Gentry 92. of the Londoners against the Earl of Strafford 160. of the like Rabble against the same 189. of the Earl of Strafford to the House of Lords in behalf of his Children 196. of the Vniversity of Cambridge 239. and of the Vniversity of Oxford for Episcopacy 305. from several Ministers of Wales against Episcopacy 317. of the Ministers and People of Oxfordshire and Berks against the same 409. of both Houses concerning Commissioners for Scotland 451. of Sir George Radcliff 464. of some Merchants for seizing parts of America 467. of the Sectaries against Dr. Heywood Mr. Booth Dr. Fuller and Mr. Hutton 492. of Judge Berkley 498. of the Parliament to the King in Scotland 644. of Rutland for Episcopacy 656. of Officers for pay 660. of the House of Commons to accompany the Remonstrance 692. of Huntingtonshire for Episcopacy 720. of Somersetshire for the same 726. of the factious Londoners against Bishops Votes c. 733. incouraged by the House of Commons 733 735. of the Parliament concerning breach of Privilege by the King's Speech 751. of Hertfordshire 753. of Cheshire for the Establish'd Religion 758 759. of the remonstrating Ministers to the House of Commons 764. of the Irish Lords and Gentlemen 769. of the London Prentices about Church-Government c. 775. of several Merchants concerning Ireland 776. of both Houses about the Kensington Business 786 of the Bishops with their Protestation 794. of the men of Bucks against Malignants c. 834 839. of the trained Bands of Westminster about dangers 839. of the Men of Bucks to the King concerning Hampden 840. of the Lord Mayor c. about the King 's going to the House of Commons 841. of several Merchants and others against Sir John Byron 881. of the Bishops either to be tried or bailed 883. Petition and Advice of the Scots Commissioners to the King 876. Petitioners for Episcopacy discouraged 655. Sir John Pettus Knighted 680. Father Philips the Queens Confessor 310. appears 315. sent to the Tower 594. a Message about him from the House of Commons to the House of Lords 597. an Information against him 599. the Queens Letter concerning him 605. petitions to be released 661. order of the House of Lords about him 691. and of the House of Commons about his Trunk 69â— â—bailed 711. Bishop Pierce see Bishop of Bath Lord Pierepoint ordered to the Black Rod for Words 740. petitions to the House of Lords and is released 742. Sir William Pierepoint his Speech at the Impeachment of Sir Robert Berkeley 332. William Pierson a Witness against the Earl of Strafford 94. Place for Trial of the Earl of Strafford agreed by both Houses 28. Plague in London 463. Orders to prevent its spreading 478. Plate a Motion that it be brought in and coin'd 259. Plymouth Bill past 410.
Nature to reveal concerning some Lords and Members of the House of Commons Upon this the House sent forth some Members to speak with the Man who acquainting the House with some Discourse they had with him the Commons sent for him in who beginning to relate the Business the House of Commons would not suffer him to name any Person lest the Parties hearing of it should Fly And because it concerned some Peers of this House the House of Commons have sent the Man who is now at the Door ready to be Examined openly or in what manner else their Lordships in their Wisdom shall think fit Then Thomas Beal a Taylor dwelling in White-Cross Street was called in and made a Relation of the whole Matter with all the Circumstances which was as follows THat this day at Twelve of the Clock Beal's Narrative before the Lords he went into the Fields near unto the Post-House and walking on a private Bank he heard some talking but did not see them at first but finding them by the Voice he coming within hearing of them understood they talked of State Affairs and going nearer them he heard one of them say that it was a wicked thing that the last Plot did not take but if this goes on as is in Hand and intended they shall be all made And also heard them say That there was 108 Men appointed to kill 108 Persons of the Parliament every One his Man some were Lords and the others were to be Members of the House of Commons all Puritans and the Sacrament was to be Administred to the 108 Men for performing of this and those that killed the Lords were to have 10 l. and those that were to kill the Members of the House of Commons 40 s. That Gorges being the 37th Man Very notable Rewards had taken the Sacrament on Saturday to kill one of the House of Commons and had received 40 s. That one Phillips coming to London on Sunday Night late was charged to be at my Lord's Chamber where was only my Lord Father Jones and Father Andrews he also had his Charge and five more with him he being the 108 man and the last as he thought That Phillips had been in Warwick-shire and in Buckingham-shire with Letters and that he delivered Letters to Mr. Sheldon who gave him his Dinner and a Piece for his Pains charging him to make haste to London again and giving him Letters to deliver to my Lord. That Dick Jones was appointed to kill that Rascally Puritan Pym and that 4 Tradesmen were to kill the Puritan Citizens which were Parliament men That on the same day being the 18th of this Month when the City shall be in a Tumult there shall be Risings in Six several Parts of this Land by the Papists viz. in Warwick-shire Worcester-shire Buckingham-shire Lancashire and Two other Places which he remembers not That those that were to kill the Lords were brave Gallants in their Scarlet Coats and had received every man 10 l. a piece and when that was gone they might come and fetch more That this was to be done either coming down Stairs or taking their Coaches or entring into their Lodgings or any other way as they should see opportunity That although all were not killed yet the Tumult would be so great that it would prevent sending to Ireland and that was Father Andrews his Wit to prevent sending thither because if they prevailed there they should not have Cause to fear here This Relation being made Beal was commanded to withdraw and the House took into serious Consideration what Course was fit to be speedily taken in this Business And the House being informed That there is one Father Brown a Priest in the Gate-House who is a likely Man to give Information and Descriptions of Jones and Andrews mentioned by Beal the Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas and Mr. Justice Reeves were appointed to go presently to the Gate-House to take his Examinations It was also Ordered That the Justices of the Peace Order to Apprehend Priests and Jesuits of the City and Liberties of Westminster the Justices of Peace for the County of Middlesex and the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs of London do presently make speedy and privy Search this Night for Father Jones and Father Andrews Priests and for all other Seminary Priests and Jesuits and to cause them to be forthwith Taken and Apprehended and put into safe Custody until the further Pleasure of this House be known and that their Names be returned to this House and that any Man that shall discover any Popish Priest or Jesuit and procure them to be Apprehended shall be rewarded by the Parliament It was further Ordered That the Gentleman Vsher attending this House or his Deputy shall repair unto Edward Sheldon Esquire the Elder Order to seize the two Mr. Sheldons upon Beal's Discovery and Edward Sheldon the Younger his Son and bring them unto the Lords in Parliament with a safe and Strong Guard upon them if there shall be Cause and that the Sheriff of the County wherein the said Mr. Sheldons now Reside shall Aid and Assist the said Gentleman Vsher or his Deputies for the safe bringing up of the said Mr. Sheldons to the House if the said Gentleman Vsher or his Deputies shall desire it And that the said Gentleman Vsher or his Deputies shall call in two of the next Justices of the Peace and Seal up their Study Doors and make search for Priests and Jesuits and bring them up that they may be Proceeded against as this House shall direct Ordered That Mr. William Sheldon now in Town be forth-coming at such time as this House shall send for him and in the mean time his Study to be sealed until further Order Ordered That all Lords Recusants being Members of this House and Peers of Parliament being now in Town shall come to this House on Tuesday the 16th of this Instant November by Nine of the Clock in the Morning Ordered That strict and near Search shall be made with all possible Speed in all Parts in and about the City of London and the Liberties thereof for one called or known by the Name of Richard Jones who being Apprehended shall be forthwith brought before the House And it was also Ordered That the Deputy Lieutenants of the Counties of Worcester Lancashire Warwick-shire and Buckingham-shire have a Charge to secure the said Counties The Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Reported Thnt he hath Examined Father Brown whether he knows any such Men as Father Jones and Father Andrews and his Answer is he knows no such In the Commons House a Committee was appointed to prepare a Draught of an Ordinance of Parliament for the putting the Trained-Bands into a readiness and posture of Defence upon all Occasions and likewise for securing the Persons of the Prime Papists and the Knights Citizens and Burgesses to bring in Lists of the Prime Papists in their several Counties Tuesday Novemb 16. Mr.