Estate sufficient to maintain his Quality in the Rank of Reputation which he held in the World but he was also born with a Mind so Great and Generous and a Genius so Elevated above the Lower Orb wherein he moved as could not suffer him to continue long in that safe Obscurity of a private Gentleman King James dying left his Son a Discontented State and an Empty Treasury two Misfortunes then which no Prince can well be supposed to have greater Necessitous Princes having ever been forced to part with a great measure of their Prerogative to inable them to keep and support the remainder and King Charles the First coming to the Crown found it stuck with Thorns instead of many of those Jewels which had adorned the Temples of his Royal Predecessors To Extricate himself out of those Difficulties he Summons a Parliament and layes before them the Necessities of the Crown and demands their assistance by Supplies of Money for managing the Palatinate Warr in which they had involved his Father and which with the Crown was devolved upon him but the Commons instead of Money presented him with Two Petitions one about Religion the other about Grievances and in the Conclusion they fell severely upon the Duke of Buckingham who by reason of the Great Favour of his Prince was fallen under the Popular Envy and Hatred and the Debates running very high the King Dissolved the Parliament and a Second being in the same strain and no Money to be had had also the same period of which the Reader will receive a more full Account in the Introduction to these Historical Collections whither to avoid Repetition he is referred The Necessities of the King daily increasing recourse was had to Extraordinary Methods of raising Money and among the Rest that of Loan by virtue of a Warrant under the Privy Seal to Gentlemen of Estates was made Use of and one of these Seals being sent to Sir Thomas Wentworth for 40 l he declined the Payment of the Money as intrenching upon the Property of the Subject whereupon he was confined as were several other Gentlemen upon the same Occasion By which suffering he became Exceeding Popular and look't upon as a Confessor for the Liberty and Property of the People and in the Following Parliament whereof he was a Member and in which he began to display his great Parts and Abilities upon this Occasion he came to be much taken notice of and observed even at the Court as a Person of uncommon Abilities and the gaining of him to the Kings Interest was by those who managed the Publique Affairs thought might contribute much to the advancement of the Kings Interest and Service But how unsuccessful this Procedure of gaining Men of Ability by Preferments and rebating the Edge of Popular Spirits by Honors and Advancements to Places of Trust proved to the Interest of the King not only the Event but Reason upon which it is Naturally Founded does most plainly manifest for Ambition or the natural Desire of Honour becomes hereby a perfect Hydra and the Prince cannot sooner remove one Head but immediately another rises in the place and at the same time that a Popular Opponent is converted by Court Preferment he becomes the Envy of all those whose Party he seems to have abandoned and the greatest Abilities and real Services he shall render to his Benefactor will not only be ill represented but by how much the greater his Interest Power and Abilities are by so much will he be Esteemed more dangerous and in proportion both Envy'd and Hated However it seems these were not the Sentiments at that time of those who managed the Affairs of State for a Train was laid for an Interview between Sir Richard Weston then Lord Treasurer and afterwards Earl of Portland and Sir Thomas Wentworth which being Effected the Interview begot an acquaintance and the acquaintance in a little time grew to a most Firm and Solid Friendship Great Minds being with little Difficulty invited to and Established in those Generous Friendships which are begotten not out of Wantonness or trifling formality but by the inward harmony and likeness which Noble Souls quickly discover in Each other It happened that in some of the divertive Entertainments of their agreeable Conversation these Two Great Men falling upon the Discourse of the Popular Humor in the Commons House which the Lord Treasurer wisely judged could never either portend or promote any real advantage to the Nation Sir Thomas declared himself to be in his Judgment an absolute Enemy to the consequences and dreadful Effects which usually attend Popular Commotions and disturbances which generally produce the very same or worse miseries then those which they pretend to redress and pursuing his ingenious discourse he offered some Expedients so rational and persuasive towards a Mediation and Reconcilement of the present Differences and some things so apposite to the present juncture of Affairs as Extremely raised the value of his Prudence and Wisdom in the Esteem of the Lord Treasurer who daily discovered more and more the penetrating Abilities of his Mind mingled with a solid firmness of Reason and Judgment It will easily be believed that the Lord Treasurer having as he could not but conclude found a Jewel fit for a Princes Cabinet was not backward in representing Sir Thomas Wentworth to his Majesty with a Character no ways disadvantagious to him nor was there any great difficulty to introduce him into his Majesties Esteem and Favour who was already possessed with a belief and knowledg of his Merit and how serviceable a Person of his Interest and Qualifications might be to his Affairs He was no sooner come under the warm influence of Majesty but he was made sensible of the Beams of Honour which are derived from the Royal Fountain of it and in a little time he was created Baron Wentworth and the Ascendant of his wisdom daily gaining upon his Majesties Favour and Esteem he was shortly advanced to the Honour of Viscount Wentworth of Wentworth Woodhouse made one of his Majesties most Honorable Privy-Council Lord Lieutenant of the County of York and Lord President of the Court and Council of the North. And here give me leave to mention a little and in appearance a trifling accident of Honour which proved the great if not the only occasion of his Ruin among the rest of his Honours he had the Title of Baron of Raby an Honour to which Sir Henry Vane one of his Majesties Secretaries of State who was possessed of the Castle of Raby and the Demeasns thereunto belonging had some pretensions and was not a little ambitious of but being overshadowed by this lofty and spreading Cedar he was so stung with the disappointment and so thirsty of Revenge that though he warily smothered his Resentments yet he was ever an Enemy to this Noble Lord and as it appeared for his sake to his Royal Master and as it may from hence be not improbably conjectured judging himself far more
Behaviour and Eloquence between the Extremes of Baseness and Dejection and the vanity of Disdain or Ostentation as raised an admiration of him even in his very Enemies The first Witness that was produced was Sir Pierce Crosby Witnesses Sir Pierce Crosby set aside for the present against whom the Earl excepted as having been sentenced in the Star-Chamber in Ireland for Conspiring to take away his Life for breaking Prison and making his Escape from which Circumstances it was probable he might be Transported by the desire of private revenge beyond the bounds of Truth and Publick Justice so that for the present he was set aside Then Sir John Clotworthy was sworn Sir John Clotworthy all that he deposed was that Sir George Radcliff being a teller of the No's in a Vote of Parliament to which he had given his Negative contrary to the Mind of the Earl who had a desire the Bill should pass Sir George asked him if he had not a Lease in such a place to which he answering yes Sir George replyed remember that That as to Sir Pierce Crosby's imprisonment he did apprehend it was for giving his Vote contrary to the Lord Lieutenant's mind for that he heard Sir George say to him after he had Voted this is not Privy Counsellor like or to that Effect The Lord Ranulagh deposed that Sir Pierce Crosby was by the Opinion of the Board sequestred from the Privy-Council for Voting against a Bill transmitted by the Lord Deputy and Council to the Parliament Lord Ranulagh The Lord Mountnorris deposed to the same Effect Lord Mountnorris and that he was Sequestred from the Council by the Voices of the Board among which the Earl gave his Mr Nicholas Barnwell deposed that for his differing in Opinion in the Parliament from Sir George Radcliff Nic. Barnwell Sir George asked him if his House would hold 500 Men to which he smiling answered you know how many my house will hold whereupon Sir George replyed it was no laughing matter and that he should have 500 men laid upon him but this upon the Earl's Question he said was spoken when the Earl was out of the Kingdom upon which Mr. Pym made this prity Observation That the Spirit of my Lord Strafford could move in Sir George Radcliff wheresoever it was spoken as if a man could commit Treason had it been such by his Proxie The next thing was about oppressing the Subjects of Ireland Mr. Egor a Witness and particularly the City of Dublin by quartering Soldiers upon them to which Mr. Egor was sworn deposed that the City of Dublin is put to 55 l. per mensem for billetting of Horse which the Earl avoided by the Practice of his Predecessors in the like Case which the Witness confessed as to Foot Guards The Managers then desired the Remonstrance from Ireland might be read which the Earl opposed as being New matter and not in the Charge but come over since his Impeachment to which they replyed that the Subverting of Laws and Corruption of Government was in general laid and they produce this to prove his answer Untrue as to his Integrity in the Administration whereupon the Lord Baltinglass and Lord Digby of Ireland vouching the Truth of the Copy it was read in haec Verba To the Right Honourable the Lord-Deputy The Humble and just Remonstrance of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Parliament Assembled Shewing THat in all Ages since the happy Subjection of this Kingdom to the Imperial Crown of England The Irish Remonstrance it was and is a Principal Study and Princely Care of his Majesty and His Noble Progenitors Kings and Queens of England and Ireland to the vast Expence of Treasure and Blood that their Loyal and Dutiful people of this Land of Ireland being now for the most part derived from British Ancestors should be Governed according to the Municipal and Fundamental Laws of England that the Statute of Magna Charta or the Great Charter of the Liberties of England and other Laudable Laws and Statutes were in several Parliaments here Enacted and Declared That by the means thereof and of the most Prudent and Benign Government of His Majesty and His Royal Progenitors this Kingdom was until of late in its growth a Flourishing Estate whereby the said people were heretofore enabled to answer their humble and natural desires to comply with His Majesties Princely and Royal Occasions by their free Gift of 150 Thousand Pounds Sterling and likewise by another free Gift of 120 Thousand Pounds more during the Government of the Lord Viscount Faulkland and after by the Gift of 40 Thousand Pounds and their free and chearful Gift of Six entire Subsidies in the 10th Year of His Majesties Reign which to comply with His Majesties then Occasions signified to the then House of Commons They did allow should amount in the Collections unto 250 Thousand Pounds although as they confidently believe if the Subsidies had been levied in a moderate Parliamentary way they would not have amounted to much more than half the Sum aforesaid besides the four intire Subsidies granted in this present Parliament So it is May it please Your Lordship by the occasion of the insuing and other Grievances and Innovations though to His Majesty no considerable Profit this Kingdom is reduced to that extream and universal Poverty that the same is less able to pay Subsidies than it was heretofore to satisfie all the before recited great Payments And His Majesties most Faithful people of the Land do conceive great fears that the said Grievances and Consequences thereof may be hereafter drawn into Presidents to be perpetuated upon their Posterity which in their great Hopes and strong Beliefs they are perswaded is contrary to His Royal and Princely intention towards His said people some of which said Grievances are as followeth 1. The general apparent decay of Trades occasioned by the new and illegal raising of the Book of Rates and Impositions upon Native and other Commodities Exported and Imported by reason whereof and of extream Vsage and Censures Merchants are beggered and both disinabled and discouraged to Trade and some of the honourable Persons who gain thereby are often Judges and Parties and that in the conclusion His Majesties Profit thereby is not considerably advanced 2. The Arbitrary decision of all civil Causes and Controversies by Paper Petitions before the Lord Lieutenant and the Lord Deputy and infinite other Judicatories upon reference from them derived in the nature of all Actions determinable at the Common Law not limited into certain time cause season or thing whatsoever And the consequences of such proceedings by receiving immoderate and unlawful Fees by Secretaries Clerks Pursevants Serjeants at Arms and otherwise by which kind of Proceedings His Majesty loseth a considerable part of his Revenue upon Original Writs and otherwise and the Subject loseth the benefit of his Writ of Error Bill of Reversal Vouchers and other Legal and just Advantages and
Brown Thomas Bourk Esquires Vlster Sir William Cole Sir James Montgomery The Remonstrance was as followeth addressed first to the L. Deputy Wendesford The humble and just Remonstrance of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses in Parliament Assembled Shewing THat in all Ages since the happy subjection of this Kingdom to the Imperial Crown of England The Irish Remonstrance it was and is a principal study and Princely Care of his Majesty and his most noble Progenitors Kings and Queens of England and Ireland to the vast Expence of Treasure and Blood That their Loyal and Dutiful People of this Land of Ireland being now for the most part derived from Brittish Ancestors should be governed according to the Municipal and Fundamental Laws of England That the Statute of Magna Charta or the Great Charter of the Liberties of England and other laudable Laws and Statutes were in several Parliaments here Enacted and Declared that by the means thereof and the most Prudent and Benign Government of his Majesty and his Royal Progenitors this Kingdom was until of late in its growth a flourishing Estate whereby the said People were heretofore enabled to answer their humble and natural Desires to comply with his Majesties Princely and Royal Occasions by their free gift of 150 Thousand pounds sterling And likewise by another free gift of 120 Thousand pounds more during the Government of the Lord Viscount Faulkland and after by the gift of 40 Thousand pounds and their free and cheerful gift of Six intire Subsidies in the Tenth Year of his Majesties Reign which to comply with his Majesties then Occasions signified to the then House of Commons they did allow should amount in the Collections unto a Hundred and fifty Thousand pounds although as they confidently believe if the Subsidies had been levied in a moderate Parliamentary way they would not have mounted to much more than half the Sum aforesaid besides the Four intire Subsidies granted in this present Parliament So it is may it please your Lordship by the occasion of infuing and other Grievances and Innovations though to his Majesty no considerable Profit this Kingdom is reduced to that Extream and Universal Poverty that the same is less able to pay Two Subsidies than it was heretofore to satisfie all the before-recited great Payments and his Majesties most Faithful People of the Land do conceive great Fears That the said Grievances and Consequences thereof may be hereafter drawn into Presidents to be perpetuated upon their Posterity which in their great hopes and strong belief they are perswaded is contrary to his Royal and Princely Intention towards his said People of which Grievances are as followeth 1. First The general apparent decay of Trades occasioned by the new and illegal raising of the Book of Rates and Impositions upon Native and other Commodities Exported and Imported by reason whereof and of extream Usage and Censures Merchants are beggered both and dis-inabled and discouraged to Trade and some of the Honorable Persons who gain thereby often Judges and Parties And that in the conclusion his Majesties Profit thereby is not considerably advanced 2. The Arbitrary decision of all Civil Causes and Controversies by paper Petitions before the Lord Lieutenant and Lord Deputy and infinite other Judicatories upon references from them derived in the nature of all Actions determinable at the Common Law not limited into certain time cause season or thing whatsoever And the consequences of such exceeding by immoderate and unlawful Fees by Secretaries Clarks Pursivants Serjeants at Arms and otherwise by which kind of proceedings his Majesty looseth a considerable part of his Revenue upon original Writs and otherwise and the Subject looseth the benefit of his Writ of Error Bill of Reversal Vouchees and other Legal and just advantages and the ordinary course and Courts of Justice declined 3. The proceedings in Civil Causes at Council Board contrary to the Law and Great Charter not limited to any certain time or season 4. That the Subject is in all the material parts thereof denyed the benefit of the Princely graces and more especially of the Statute of Limitations of 21 Jac. Granted by his Majesty in the Fourth year of his Reign upon great advice of Council of England and Ireland and for great consideration and then published in all the Courts of Dublin and in all the Counties of this Kingdom in open Assizes whereby all persons do take notice That contrary to his Majesties Pious Intentions his Subjects of this Land have not enjoyed the benefit of his Majesties Princely Promise thereby made 5. The Extrajudicial avoiding of Letters Patents of Estates of a very great part of his Majesties Subjects under the Great Seal the Publique Faith of the Kingdom by private Opinions delivered at the Council-Board without Legal Evictions of their Estates contrary to the Law and without president or example of any former Age. 6. The Proclamation for the sole Emption and uttering of Tobacco which is bought at very low rates and uttered at high and excessive rates by means whereof Thousands of Families within this Kingdome and of his Majesties Subjects in several Islands and other parts of the West-Indies as your Petitioners are informed are destroyed and the most part of the Coyn of this Kingdom is ingrossed into particular hands Insomuch as the Petitioners do conceive that the Profit arising and engrossed thereby doth surmount his Majesty's Revenue certain or casual within this Kingdom and yet his Majesty receiveth but very little Profit by the same 7. The universal and unlawful increasing of Monopolies to the advantage of a few to the disprofit of his Majesty and Impoverishment of his People 8. The extream and cruel usage of certain late Commissioners and other Stewards the British Farmers and Inhabitants of the City and County of London-Derry by means whereof the worthy Plantation of that Country is almost destroyed and the Inhabitants are reduced to great Poverty and many of them forced to forsake the Country the same being the first and most useful Plantation in the large Province of Vlster to the great weakening of the Kingdom in this time of danger the said Plantation being the principal strength of those Parts 9. The late erection of the Court of High-Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical in those necessitous times the proceedings of the said Court in many Causes without Legal Warrant and yet so supported as Prohibitions have not been obtained though legally sought for And the excessive Fees exacted by the Ministers thereof and the encroaching of the same upon the Jurisdiction of other Ecclesiastical Courts of this Kingdom 10. The exorbitant Fees and pretended Customs exacted by the Clergy against the Law some of which have been formerly represented to your Lordship 11. The Petitioners do most heartily bemoan that His Majesties service and profit are much more impaired then advanced by the Grievances aforesaid and the Subsidies granted in the last Parliament having much increased His Majesties Revenue by the buying of
then a Peer of the said Realm to Imprison him unless he would surcease his suit and said That he would have neither Law nor Lawyers dispute or question any of his orders And the 20. day of March in the said 11. year the said Earl of Strafford speaking of an order of the said Councel Table of that Realm in the time of King James which concerned a Lease which the said Earl of Cork claimed in certain Rectories or Tithes which the said Earl of Cork alledged to be of no force said That he would make the said Earl and all Ireland know so long as he had the Government there any Act of State there made or to be made should be as binding to the Subjects of that Kingdome as an Act of Parliament And did question the said Earl of Corke in the Castle Chamber upon pretence of the breach of the said order of Councel Table and did sundry other times and upon sundry other occasions by his words and speeches arrogate to himself a power above the fundamental Laws and Established Government of that Kingdom and scorned the said Laws and established Government 5 That according to such his Declarations and Speeches the said Earl of Strafford did use and exercise a power above and against and to the Subversion of the said fundamental Laws and established Government of the said Realm of Ireland extending such his power to the Goods Free-holds Inheritances Liberties and Lives of his Majesties Subjects in the said Realm viz. The said Earl of Strafford the twtefth day of December Anno Domini 1635. in the time of full peace did in the said Realm of Ireland give and procure to be given against the Lord Mount Norris then and yet a Peer of Ireland and then Vice-Treasurer and receiver general of the Realm of Ireland and one of the principal Secretaries of State and Keeper of the Privy Signet of the said Kingdom a Sentence of death by a Councel of War called together by the said Earl of Strafford without any Warrant or Authority of Law or offence deserving any such punishment And he the said Earl did also at Dublin within the said Realm of Ireland in the Month of March in the fourteenth year of his Majesties Reign without any legal or due proceedings or Tryal give or cause to be given a Sentence of death against one other of his Majesties Subjects whose name is yet unknown and caused him to be put to death in execution of the said Sentence 6 That the said Earl of Strafford without any legal proceedings and upon a paper Petition of Richard Rolstone did cause the said Lord Mount-Norris to be disseized and put out of possession of his free-hold and inheritance of his Mannor and Tymore in the Countrey of Armagh in the Kingdom of Ireland the said Lord Mount-Norris having been two years before in quiet possession thereof 7. That the said Earl of Strafford in the Term of holy Trinity in the thirteenth year of his now Majesties Reign did cause a case commonly called the case of Tenures upon defective Titles to be made and drawn up without any Jury or Trial or other legal process and without the consent of parties and did then procure the Judges of the said Realm of Ireland to deliver their opinions and resolutions to that case and by colour of such opinion did without any legal proceeding cause Thomas Lord Dillon a Peer of the said Realm of Ireland to be put out of possession of divers Lands and Tenements being his Free-hold in the Countrey of Mago and Rosecomen in the said Kingdome and divers other of his Majesties Subjects to be also put out of Possession and Disseised of their Freehold by colour of the same resolution without legal proceedings whereby many hundreds of his Majesties Subjects were undone and their Families utterly ruinated 8. That the said Earl of Strafford upon a Petition of Sir John Gifford Knight the first day of February in the said Thirteenth Year of his Majesties Reign without any legal Process made a Decree or Order against Adam Viscount Loftus of Ely a Peer of the said Realm of Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland and did cause the said Viscount to be Imprisoned and kept close Prisoner on pretence of Disobedience to the said Decree or Order And the said Earl without any Authority and contrary to his Commission required and commanded the said Lord Viscount to yield unto him the Great Seal of the Realm of Ireland which was then in his custody by his Majesties Command and Imprisoned the said Chancellour for not obeying such his Command And without any Legal Proceedings did in the same Thirteenth Year Imprison George Earl of Kildare a Peer of Ireland against Law thereby to enforce him to submit his Title to the Mannor and Lordship of Castle Leigh in the Queens County being of great yearly value to the said Earl of Strafford's Will and Pleasure and kept him a year prisoner for the said cause two moneths whereof he kept him close Prisoner and refused to enlarge him notwithstanding his Majesties Letters for his enlargement to the said Earl of Strafford directed And upon a Petition exhibited in October 1635. by Thomas Hibbots against Dame Mary Hibbots Widow to him the said Earl of Strafford the said Earl of Strafford recommended the said Petition to the Councel Table of Ireland where the most part of the Councel gave their Vote and Opinion for the said Lady but the said Earl finding fault herewith caused an Order to be entred against the said Lady and threatned her that if she refused to submit thereunto he would Imprison her and Fine her five hundred pounds that if she continued obstinate he would continue her Imprisonment and double her Fine every Moneth by means whereof she was enforced to relinquish her Estate in the Lands questioned in the said Petition which shortly was conveyed to Sir Robert Meredith to the use of the said Earl of Strafford And the said Earl in like manner did Imprison divers others of his Majesties Subjects upon pretence of Disobedience to his Orders and Decrees and other illegal Commands by him made for pretended Debts Titles of Lands and other Causes in an Arbitrary and Extrajudicial course upon Paper Petitions to him preferred and no other cause legally depending 9. That the said Earl of Strafford the Sixteenth day of February in the Twelfth Year of his now Majesties Reign assuming to himself a power above and against Law took upon him by a general Warrant under his hand to give power to the Lord Bishop of Down and Connor his Chancellor or Chancellors to their several Officers thereto to be appointed to attach and arrest the Bodies of all such of the meaner and poorer sort who after Citation should either refuse to appear before them or appearing should omit or deny to perform or undergoe all lawful Decrees Sentences and orders issued imposed or given out against them and them to commit and keep in the next
Compositions he hath paid near 100000 l. into the Exchequer and they had no other Priviledges than what was exercised in the Commission and in former like Commissions and as are in the present Commission to the Lord Treasurer and others To the Nineteenth he saith The last Summer was twelve months when the English and Scotch lay in the Fields near Berwick the Earl and Council of Ireland having a general motion thereof were in fear that the Scots in Vlster being almost 100000 in number might be drawn to side with the Covenanters and advising how to secure that Kingdom the Principal of the Nation of Scotland living in Ireland came to Dublin and Petitioned That he might have an Oath whereby they might give Testimony of future Obedience to His Majesty whereupon an Oath was by the Advice of Council of State framed and chearfully taken by those Scotch Gentlemen and generally by all the Nation in Ireland as the Earl conceives to their advantage and the satisfaction of others he believes that some were Sentenced for refusing it but none were otherwise exiled The Earl in his Vote said That he would endeavour that all of that Nation should take that Oath or leave the Kingdom all which was done by His Majesties Direction and Approbation and it was not contrived to the intents in the Article Charged but to prevent their adhering to the Covenanters then in open Arms and not concerning the Ceremony or Government of the Church To the Twentieth he saith That in the Year 1638. the Earl was in Ireland when Preparations were made for War and Summons sent to the Nobility of this Kingdom In the Year 1639. a General was appointed and an Army drawn to the Field and Encamped near Berwick whereby it appears he was not acquainted that the Article of Pacification had been broken on both Sides and so distempered that it was held fit an Army in England should be raised to suppress the Covenanters if the business could not with Honour and Safety be otherwise composed The said Earl humbly advised His Majesty to call a Parliament and used many Motives thereunto after the Parliament was called and before the Sitting thereof ten of the Lords and other of the Council for Forreign Affairs being assembled His Majesty then present an Honourable Person related the Covenanters Demands it was then Voted by all That they were such as might not in Honour and Safety be condescended unto by His Majesty and if they could not be otherwise reduced His Majesty must be constrained to bring them to it by force the like Resolution was after at the Council-Table by twenty of the Council Whereupon His Majesty appointed a Council of War and it was held necessary to borrow 200000 l. upon good Security till the Supplies by the Parliament might come in He never said the Scotch Nation were Rebels but was ever perswaded that many of them are most Loyal Subjects Those that raised Arms when they were at such distance from His Majesty he might say they were no less than Rebels and Traytors by Warrant from the Lord Admiral he caused divers Ships and Goods to be seized but not with an intent to set on the War but as much as in him lay to bring all to fair Accommodation without expence of blood To the 21th he saith The pacification was broken before he came over as in the Answer to the former Article he moved His Majesty for a Parliament in England but not with such intent as in the Article but out of a desire to have settled a right Understanding between the King and His people It may be he said though he remembreth it not that if the Parliament would not Supply His Majesty he would serve His Majesty in any other lawful way being well assured that His Majesty would not imploy him nor any man else in any other kind To the 22th he saith According to His Majesties Instructions he did set forth to the Parliament of Ireland the State of the Affairs as they then stood and they freely gave four Subsidies as an acknowledgment of His Goodness and happy Government as by the Act and Remonstrance appears in Print He by His Majesties Direction then gave Order for the raising of 8000 Men who still remain in the King's pay and were sent into Vlster to secure those Parts or to land in Scotland to divert the Earl of Argile in case he joyned with the Covenanters Army against the King but it was mentioned in the King's Letter 2 Martii 1639. he had purposely given out That they should join with the King's Army at Berwick to colour other Designs but the true cause of their Levying was made known to be as aforesaid unto the Earl of Ormond Sir John Burlace and the Marquiss of Hamilton and Earl of Northumberland at the time of the writing the Letter and he denies the words charged in the Articles or any other words to such intent and purpose To the 23th he saith The matters of the Parliament were no otherwise referred to him than to the rest of the Council that coming sick from Ireland about ten days after the Parliament were set and after the Treaty with the Earl of Dunfermline Lord Lowdon Scotch Commissioners was broken off and the Army preparing and the Parliament not supplying Monies as His Majesty desired His Majesty advised what might move them to prefer His Supply in debate whereof he humbly advised His Majesty by a Message to the House to lay down Ship-Money and promise never to demand it and give way to reverse the Judgment by a Writ of Error in Parliament and to promise a Redress of Grievances when they should be prepared And secondly That they would presently agree upon such Supply as should maintain His Army for reducing the Scots to their Obedience wherein their Safety and His Honour was concerned His Majesty assented conditionally that he might have 12 Subsidies the Earl besought Him that it might not pass as a Condition but to Relinquish Ship-Money and put himself upon their Affections and drew up the Message in Writing and delivered it to Mr. Secretary Vane to deliver to the House of Commons He desired to know if His Majesty would not take less than 12 His Majesty Answered He feared less would not serve His Occasions The Earl of Strafford besought His Majesty to accept of Eight so His Majesty assented and desired Mr. Secretary to signifie so much as occasion should be offered but whether he did so or not the said Earl knoweth not The House of Commons being in debate two days and not Resolving His Majesty about the 5th of May last called a Council at Seven of the Clock in the Morning the said Earl being sick came late and was told as he remembreth by the Earl of Bark-shire the King had declared His Resolution to Dissolve the Parliament the Earl of Strafford besought His Majesty to hear the Advice of His Council and first of those that were Members of the
and Goodness My Lords they are the Beauty of the Soul they are the Perfection of all created Natures they are the Image and Character of God upon the Creatures This Beauty Evil Spirits and Evil Men have lost but yet there are none so wicked but they desire to march under the shew and shadow of it though they hate the reality of it This unhappy Earl now the Object of your Lordships Justice hath taken as much care hath used as much cunning to set a face and countenance of Honesty and Justice upon his Actions as he hath been negligent to observe the Rules of Honesty in the Performance of all these Actions My Lords it is the greatest baseness of Wickedness that it dares not look in his own Colours nor be seen in its natural Countenance But Virtue as it is amiable in all respects so the least is not this That it puts a Nobleness it puts a Bravery upon the Mind and lifts it above Hopes and Fears above Favour and Displeasure it makes it always uniform and constant to it self The Service Commanded me and my Colleagues here is to take off those Vizards of Truth and Vprightness which hath been sought to be put upon this Cause and to shew you his Actions and his Intentions in their own natural Blackness and Deformity My Lords He hath put on a Vizard of Truth in these words wherein he says That he should be in his Defence more careful to observe Truth than to gain Advantage to himself He says He would endure any thing rather than be saved by Falshood It was a noble and brave Expression if it were really true My Lords He hath likewise put on the Vizard of Goodness on his Actions when he desires to recite his Services in a great many Particulars as if they were Beneficial to the Common-wealth and State whereas we shall prove them Mischievous and Dangerous It is left upon me My Lords to take off these Vizards and Appearances of Truth and Goodness in that part of his Answer which is the Preamble And that I shall do with as much Faithfulness and Brevity as I can 1. The First thing My Lords that I shall observe in the Preamble is this That having recited all those great and honourable Offices which he hath done under his Majesty he is bold to affirm That he hath been Careful and Faithful in the Execution of them all My Lords If he might be his own Witness and his own Judge I doubt not but he would be Acquitted It is said in the Proverbs of the Adulterous Woman That she wipes her mouth and says she had done no Evil. Here is a wiping of the mouth here is a verbal expression of Honesty But My Lords the foulness and unjustness will never be wiped off neither from his Heart nor from his Actions I mean for the time past God may change him for the time to come That is the first thing I observe 2. My Lords In the second place out of his Apologetical Preamble I shall observe this He doth magnifie his own Endeavours in five particulars 1. That he hath Endeavoured the maintenance of Religion I may miss in words I shall not miss in sense 2. That he hath Endeavoured the Honour of the King 3. The Encrease of his Revenue 4. The Peace and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom 5. The Quiet and Peace of the People These are his five particulars and I shall give a short Answer to every one of them 1. For Religion My Lords we say and we shall prove that he hath been diligent indeed to favour Innovations to favour Superstitions to favour the Incroachments and Vsurpations of the Clergy But for Religion it never received any advantage by him nay a great deal of hurt 2. For the Honour of the King My Lords We say it is the Honour of the King that He is the Father of His People that He is the Fountain of Justice and it cannot stand with His Honour and Justice to have His Government Stain'd and Polluted with Tyranny and Oppression 3. For the Encrease of His Revenue It is true there may be some Addition of Sums but we say There is no Addition of Strength nor Wealth because in those parts where it hath been increased this Earl hath taken the greatest share himself And when he hath spoiled and ravined on the People he hath been content to yield up some part to the King that he might with more security enjoy the rest 4. For the Strength and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom My Lords In a time of Peace he hath let in upon us the Calamities of War Weakness Shame and Confusion 5. And for the Quiet of the Subjects he hath been an Incendiary he hath Armed us amongst our selves and made us weak and naked to all the World besides This is that I shall answer to the second Head of his Apology 3. The Third is this My Lords That by his means many good and wholesome Laws have been made since his Government in Ireland Truly My Lords if we should consider the particulars of these Laws some of them will not be found without great Exception But I shall make another Answer good Laws nay the best Laws are no advantage when Will is set above Law when the Laws have force to bind and restrain the Subject but no force to Relieve and Comfort him 4. He says in the Fourth place He was a means of calling a Parliament not long after he came to his Government My Lords Parliaments without Parliamentary Liberties are but a fair and plausible way into Bondage That Parliament had not the Liberties of a Parliament Sir Pierce Crosby for speaking against a Bill in the Commons House was sequestred from the Council-Table and Committed to Prison Sir John Clotworthy for the same Cause was threatned that he should lose a Lease that he had Mr. Barnewell and two other Gentlemen were threatned they should have Troops of Horse put upon them for speaking in the House Proxies by dozens were given by some of his Favourites And My Lords Parliaments coming in with these Circumstances they be Grievances Mischiefs and Miseries no works of Thanks or Honour 5. The Fifth is That he hath been a means to put off Monopolies and other Projects that would have been Grievous and Burdensome to the Subjects if he had hated the Injustice of a Monopoly or the Mischief of a Monopoly he would have hated it in himself he himself would have been no Monopolist Certainly My Lords It was not the love of Justice nor the Common Good that moved him And if he were moved by any thing else he had his Reward It may be it was because he would have no man gripe them in the Kingdom but himself his own Harvest-Crop would have been less if he had had sharers It may be it was because Monopolies hinder Trade he had the Customs and the benefit of the Customs would have been less when we know the
between Residence and Restraint to complain to his Majesty that if the Laws of England and Ireland as his Lordship sayes be the same the Passage is open by 4 Jacob. which Repeals 5 Rich. 2. unless the King by Proclamation or a Ne Exeat Regno on special Causes lay a restraint That to the Lord Esmond 's Commission if there was one that Record ought to be produced That for the Lord Roche there was an Information but that was ceased before the denial of the Licence That the true reason why Mac-Carty was denied licence was that he should not complain of his Suit which he said Mr. Little confessed upon taking his Petition as was deposed upon Oath by one John Meaugh John Meaugh And as to Parry 's Sentence it declares something said to be the Cause but not the whole To his last that this is not Treason though they are not individual Treasons yet they are the multiplication of acts of Arbitrary Power and his obtaining power to hinder Subjects access to his Majesty is taking such a Soveraign Power that Non sentit parem nec superiorem Mr. Maynard added That they laid the stress upon this that it was to prevent Complaints of his injustice to his Majesty and that his intention might make that ill which in it self was not so To which Mr. Glyn supplyed That his Design was introducing a Tyrannical Government and before he goes about his work he puts off all means of Redress The 17th and 18th Articles being for the present waved Mr. Artic. 19. Whitlock proceeded to the 19th Article shewing That as he had Exercised Tyrannical Power over the Lives Liberties and Estates of the Irish so over the Consciences of the Scottish Subjects in Ireland by a new Oath and that he said he would root out the Scottish Nation if he returned to Ireland To prove this Sir James Montgomery was sworn who deposed Sir James Montgomery That the Lord-Deputy sent for most of the principal of the Scottish Nation to Dublin by Letters and being come the Lord Viscount Montgomery being indisposed with a Cold the Lord came to his Lodgings where they were to attend him he communicated to them the disorders of Scotland and wished them to do something to vindicate themselves from being of the Confederacy that then the Bishops of Down and Raffo proposed the joyning in a lawful Oath as the others had in an unlawfull and to Petition the Lord-Deputy for it the Bishop of Down offered to draw it but my Lord put it upon the Bishop of Raffo that he took the Liberty to tell his Lordship it was amiss to consider of it To which he replyed Sir James you may go home and Petition or not Petition if you will but if you do not or who do not or to that purpose shall do worse That 2 Petitions were drawn one down right railing the other bitter enough and when it was desired to be softned answer was made the Lord-Deputy had seen it and did approve it that with little alteration the Petition was Signed and Delivered an Oath was framed which my Lord himself administred to them that Commissions came down immediately to administer it to all men and women above 16 years of Age and certifie the names of refusers that many fled out of the Countrey some absconded others were apprehended and he thinks censured some left their Corn on the Ground but being asked about the Papists he did not hear that the Oath was tendred to them or that they were called Then the Oath was Read which see before in the beginning of these Collections Maxwell Sir John Clotworthy Mr. Maxwell sworn deposed to the same Effect Then Sir John Clotworthy sworn deposed That upon the imposing it being a Commissioner he knew multitudes fled left their Corn on the Ground Cattle and Dwellings Richard Salmon deposed Rich. Salmon a School-master That at the Proceedings against Mr. Stuart he being willing to take the first part of the Oath as to Allegiance and Supremacy but the later part as to Ecclesiastical Duties he durst not my Lord told him they had other Oaths for that but this was for both and those who were obedient to Ecclesiastical Orders he would lay his hand under their Feet to do them good but whosoever would resist he would prosecute to the blood That my Lord said further They had made him forget himself by putting him into some passion That they were Traitors and Rebels and that if his Majesty would Honour him so much as to send him back again he would eradicate Root and Branch of all that Nation out of the Kingdom of Ireland saving the Lords and others that had taken the Oath That Mr. Steward was Fined 5000 his Wife 5000 his 2 Daughters 3000 l. a piece and James Gray 3000 as he remembers That Gray was not worth 100 l. Mr. Stuart maintaining him in Prison John Loftus sworn John Loftus deposed to the Fines and the words about the Scottish Nation Mr. Whitlock Summed up the Evidence concluding This was to take a Power far above Law to bind their Consciences that it shewed my Lord's Intention to alter Laws with all his Force and Cruelty The Earl then made his Defence The Earl's Desence That their Lordships and particularly the Lord Steward who was General of the Army against the Scots knew the posture of the King's affairs their fears of the Scots in Ireland and their Confederacy with the Covenanters one being condemned and Executed for Plotting to deliver Knockfergus to a Great man in Scotland To prevent this Lord Dillon there was a debate of Council-Board which was attested by the Lord Dillon and that the whole proceeding about the Oath was concluded on as necessary for the preservation of the State Sir Philip Manwaring and Sir Adam Loftus affirmed the same Sir Philip Manwarin Sir Adam Loftus and that none of the Gentlemen who took the Oath appeared refractory My Lord added They did it chearfully save only Sir James Montgomery which he remembers to their Honour that there being an Expression in the Petition Offering their Lives and Fortunes for vindicating the Regal Power which he said might be turned too strictly upon them he qualified it with these words In equal manner and measure with other his Majestie 's Subjects which as my Lord Montgomery will he is assured justifie were put in by him The Petition and the Act of State were then read being to this Effect By the Lord-Deputy and Council WENTWORTH Where We have lately made an Act of Council in these words WHereas divers Lords Spiritual and Temporal Knights The Act of State and Petition about the Oath in Ireland and others inhabiting in this Kingdom have lately exhibited a Petition to Vs in these words following To the Right Honourable the Lord Deputy and Council c. The Humble Petition of c. The Petition recites The horror apprehended by the Petitioners His Majesties
Corruptives of Judgment Mr. Speaker I do before God discharge my self to the uttermost of my Power And do with a clear Conscience wash my hands of this mans blood by this solemn Protestation That my Vote goes not to the taking of the Earl of Strafford 's Life Exceptions were taken at this Speech upon Friday following and the Lord Digby Explained himself but for the present there was nothing done in it though afterwards the sleeping Revenge roused it self to some purpose for upon the 15th of July to do him all the infamy they could this Speech was by Order of the House burnt by the hand of the Common Hangman in Smithfield Palace Yard and in the Royal Exchange The Lords made no great hast in dispatching the Bill of Attainder Saturday April 24. and therefore the Faction fell upon other Methods of quickening them one of which was a Petition from many Thousands of the City which was upon Saturday presented by them to both Houses thereby to make it appear the Desire of the City and to speak truth they had strangely Exasperated the City against him as will appear by the Petition which follows To the most Honourable Assembly of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament The humble Petition of divers Citizens of London SHEWETH THat notwithstanding His Majesties Gracious Answer The first Petition of the Citizens against the Earl of Strafford April 24. to the humble Petition of his Loyal Subjects in Summoning this Parliament with the great Care and Endeavoured pains taken by both Houses for the removing the heavy Grievances in Church and Common-wealth whereof the Petitioners have already received some Fruit for which they desire to return their most humble and utmost Thanks yet nevertheless they are enforced with all Humility to represent to this most Honourable Assembly some of those Obstructions which do still hinder that freedom and fulness of Trade in this City they have formerly had and which considering the numerous multitude thereupon depending they conceive it not able comfortably to subsist As the unsetled Condition of the Kingdom even since the Troubles in Scotland hath caused both Strangers and also some of our own who did furnish great summs of money to use to call it in and remit much of it by Exchange into Forraign Parts and stand now in expectation of what the Issue of things may be The stopping Money in the Mint which till then was accounted the safest place and surest Staple in these parts of the World still doth hinder the Importation of Bullion the Scots now disabled to pay such Debts as they owe to the Petitioners and others in the City and by reason of the Oppressions exercised in Ireland their Debts also are detained there The English Trade by reason of our general Distractions and Fears is so much decayed that Country Trades-men cannot pay their Debts in London as formerly The great Sums of Money unduly taken by His Majesties Officers and Farmers for Impositions upon Merchandize Exported and imported and the want of Relief in Courts of Justice against them The drawing out from the City great Sums of Money which is the Life and Spirit of Trade for His Majesties Service in the North and being there employed is not yet returned Besides all which from what strong and secret Opposition the Petitioners know not they have not received what so much time and pains might give and cause to hope but still Incendiaries of the Kingdoms and other Notorious Offenders remain unpunished The Affairs of the Church notwithstanding many Petitions concerning it and long Debate about it remains unsetled the Papists still Armed the Laws against them not Executed some of the most Active of them still at Court Priests and Jesuits not yet Banished the Irish Popish-Army not yet Disbanded Courts of Justice not yet reformed and the Earl of Strafford who as now appears hath Counselled the Plundring of this City and putting it to Fine and Ransom and said It would never be well till some of the Aldermen were hang'd up because they would not yield to Illegal Levies of Monies had so drawn out and spent this time in his business to the very great Charge of the whole Kingdom and his endeavour to obtain yet more all which makes us fear there may be practices now in hand to hinder the Birth of your great endeavours and that we lie under some more dangerous Plot than we can discover All which Premisses with their Fears and Distractions growing there-from and from things of the like nature the Petitioners humbly offer to the most grave Consideration of this most Honourable Assembly as being the true Causes of decay of Trade discouragement of Trades-men and of the great scarcity of Monies with the Consequences they labour under And do humbly pray That their sad Grievances may be Redressed the Causes of their Fears removed Justice executed upon the said Earl and other Incendiaries and Offenders the rather in regard till then the Petitioners humbly conceive neither Religion nor their Lives Liberties or Estates can be secured And as in Duty bound they shall ever pray c. But all they could do notwithstanding the frequent Conferences and Debates the Lords resolved to hear what the Councel would first say upon the Legality of the Bill upon which this Message was sent to the Commons by Judge Foster and Judge Heath That their Lordships will be ready to meet at a Conference by a Committee of both Houses at Nine of the Clock upon Thursday Morning in Westminster-Hall there to hear this House according to their own Offers when they brought up the Bill of Attainder of the Earl of Strafford Mr. Hide was this Day sent up to the Lords Widnesday April 28. to acquaint them with the Fears they have that the Earl of Strafford may design to Escape That he hath Ships at Sea at Command and the Guards weak and to desire he may be made a close Prisoner and the Guards strengthened To which the Lords answered They would take it into Examination and give Directions accordingly Upon Thursday the Houses being met at the Hall Thursday April 29. the King Prince and Queen being present Mr. St. Johns to whom that Province was consigned by the Commons made his Argument of the Legallity of the Bill of Attainder as followeth My Lords THE Knights Mr. St. John's Argument at Law for passing the Bill of Attainder April 29. Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament have passed a Bill for the Attainting of Thomas Earl of Strafford of High-Treason The Bill hath been transmitted from them to your Lordships it concerns not him alone but your Lordships and the Commons too though in different respects It concerns his Lordship the highest that can be in the Penal Part so it doth on the other side as highly concern your Lordships and the Commons in that which ought to be the tend'rest the Judicatory within that that Judge not them who Judge
Scottish Commissioners in a free and friendly manner to declare to them whether they have lately received any Instructions from the Parliament of Scotland to press His Majesty's present Repair thither in Person at the Parliament the 17th day of this present August Hereupon the Earl of Warwick Viscount Say and Seal Lord Wharton Lord Kimbolton and Lord Savile were appointed presently to go to the Scots Commissioners and desire from both Houses their Answer hereunto in writing The Lord Keeper reported That he had delivered the Reasons to the King in the name of both Houses concerning the staying of His Majesties Journey into Scotland for 14 days and his Majesty returns this Answer That the importance of your desires would require some time of deliberation The Kings Answer to the 4 Reasons for staying his Journey if the urgent Necessity of the business did not press the contrary and His Majesty said the same Necessity teacheth him to Answer the Necessity is two fold 1. The first and chiefest his Publick Faith given to his Kingdom to be present at the Parliament and His Majesty said That never any Prince was more strictly bound in Honour to perform any thing then he was to do this 2. The Vrgency of His Majesties Affairs there which indeed he said were very great To comply with both which he can stay no longer then Tuesday and so long he thought fit to stay that the Gentlemen of the House of Commons may so hasten the Scottish Treaty that he may give his Royal Assent thereunto some time to morrow for otherwise His Majesty shall be forced to pass it by that Commission which he leaves behind him but the earnest desire his Majesty hath of passing this Important Bill personally makes him stay thus long which he knows will be inconvenient unto him To conclude His Majesty desires your Lordships to remember That upon yoâ—r desires he hath already stayed one Month and that you by Publick Promises are engaged not to urge his stay longer then to morrow therefore remembring all engagements His Majesty expects that you press him no more in this for His Majesty said indeed he must go and for the Government of the Kingdom he hopes he shall leave behind him such Commissions as will serve especially since the Parliament is Sitting The Lord Brook was sent to find out the Scottish Commissioners and to desire them to expedite their Answer who presently returning brought it in writing which was read in these words AS we are very sensible of the great Care the Houses of Parliament have to keep a good Correspondency betwixt the two Nations Scottish Commishoners Answer to the 4 Reasons for the Rings stay and the Sense they have of the manifold Inconveniences which Scotland doth sustain by their frequent Meeting and Adjourning of the Parliament so we know nothing can more conduce for conserving that Correspondency and for removing these manifold prejudices we sustain through the frequent Prorogation of our Parliament then that the Treaty of Peace which by the blessing of God and His Majesties and the Parliaments Wisdom is now brought to a close may as a Sovereign Remedy of the great Evils which troubles both Kingdoms without further delay be Enacted here for the Peace and safety of both Kingdoms that the same may with all speed be Ratified in the Parliament of Scotland His Majesty hath by several Letters promised to hold the Parliament of Scotland in his own Royal Person and hath intimated the same by Publick Proclamation to all his Subjects there and although His Majesty by his Royal Letter of the 18th of May was obliged to have holden the Parliament of Scotland upon the 15th of July last in his own Royal Person or if any unexpected Occasion should happen to detain him that he would appoint a Commissioner for holding thereof at the day aforesaid to do every thing which might conduce to the Establishing of the True Religion Laws and Liberties of their Kingdom Yet such is the Affection and Respect of the Parliament of Scotland to the Parliament of England as notwithstanding their many pressing Difficulties they have condescended that his Majesty stay his Journey into Scotland until the 10th of August in respect that the Parliament of England did Assent to His Majesties going at that time which the Parliament of Scotland doth expect without any surther delay What may be the Condition or Importment of Affairs here or what Reason the Parliament hath which moveth them to Petition His Majesties stay is not proper for us we will therefore forbear to shew our selves beyond our Line but do remit the Consideration of this to the King and the Parliaments Wisdom And finally where it is desired by the Houses that we would in a friendly and free manner declare unto them whether we have lately received any Instructions from the Parliament of Scotland to press His Majesties repair thither in Person we do conceive that His Majesties former Promises of going thither in his own Person upon the 10th of August and the Assent of both Houses to his Journey and the Resolution of the Parliament of Scotland to prepare their business till the 17th of August and after that time that they will conclude and pass such Acts as they conceive necessary for the good of the Kingdom a sufficient Instruction for us both to press and expect His Majesties going against that time and the pressing necessity of the Affairs of that Kingdom as such cannot without danger of irreparable loss suffer longer delay This being read it was Communicated at a Conference to the House of Commons After a long Tugg the Commons finding the King resolute to pursue his Journey and the Lords unwilling to press His Majesty any further in the Matter they resolved to expedite matters so as if possible to settle them before His Majesty goes But lest this Sitting upon the Lords Day which the Presbyterians idolized even to down-right Judaism many of them thinking it unlawful even to dress Provision for their Families on that day should scandalize them the Commons were resolved to do something in Vindication of this so unusual a Sitting and to give the Nation the Reasons for it which Mr. Pym did in haec verba WHereas both Houses of Parliament found it fit to Sit in Parliament upon the 8th of August being the Lords Day The Reasons of the Sitting of the Parliament on the Lords Day for many urgent and unexpected Occasions concerning the Safety of the Kingdom and being so straitned in time by reason of his Majesties Resolution to begin his Journey towards Scotland on Monday following early in the morning it was not possible so to settle and order the Affairs of the Kingdom either for the Government thereof in the King's Absence or for the present Safety as was requisite upon these pressing Necessities though the Houses thought it necessary to Sit yet the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament think it meet to declare
That there should be some publick Notice given of the Day appointed for publick Thanksgiving for the Pacification being the seventh of September and a Declaration for this purpose being framed and read was carried up to the Lords for their Concurrence which they readily gave the Order was as follows An Ordinance of Parliament for a Day of Publick Thansgiving for the Peace Concluded between England and Scotland WHereas it hath pleased Almighty God to give a happy close to the Treaty of Peace The Ordinance of Parliament for the Thanksgiving for the Pacification Aug. 27 1641. between the two Nations of England and Scotland by his wise Providence defeating the evil hopes of the subtil Adversaries of both Kingdoms For which great Mercy it was by the Kings Most Excellent Majesty the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Enacted That there should be a publick Thanksgiving in all the Parish Churches of his Majesties Dominions It is now ordained and declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that the time for the Celebration of that Publick Thanks to Almighty God for so great and publick a Blessing shall be on Tuesday the seventh of September next by Prayers Reading and Preaching of the Word in all Churches and Chappels of this Realm whereof We require a Careful and due Observance That we may joyn in giving Thanks as we partake of the Blessing with Our Brethren in Scotland who have designed the same Day for that Duty Die Veneris 27. die Augusti 1641. Ordered by the Lords in Parliament that the abovesaid Ordinance be Printed God save the KING There was also a Conference with the Lords about the adjournment or Recess of the Parliament for some time Conference about the Recess of the Parliament the Lords liked the time of the Adjournment which was to be the ninth of September but desired the Adjournment might be till the first of November but the Commons who had before voted in their House that it should continue only till the 20th of October were resolute as indeed generally they were to yield little to the Lords not to depart from their former Vote and therefore returning from the Conference upon the Debate it was Resolved upon the Question That this House shall insist upon the former Day of Return to be the 20 of October And the Reasons which were presented to the Lords were 1 The Nature of the Causes which are depending in both Houses some whereof being for High Treasons and the Impeachment of the Judges the Inception of which Businesses they desire may be before the next Term. 2 The time of Payments of Monies promised to the City of York falls out to be before the first of November therefore they desire their Lordships would joyn with them to have the Recess only till the 20th of October next To which the Lords condescended provided there fall out no emergent Occasion between this and Wednesday come seven Night Ordered That the Lords be kept together until the Recess A Petition having been presented to the Lords by Sir George Radcliff A Petition of Sir George Radcliff and a Letter to the Lords Chief Justices in Ireland upon it Aug. 27. 1641. complaining that he being seized in Fee of some Lands in Ireland is dispossessed of the same in respect of the Impeachment of Treason against him here by means whereof he hath not received any thing out of his Estate in Ireland for about six Months last and so had wanted Bread if he had not been supplied by the Charity of some Friends He therefore humbly prays that he may be restored to his said Estate and be Enabled by Order of this House to demand his Rents there due unto him whereby he may be able to sustain himself and his Family from want Hereupon the Lord Privy Seal the Lord Bishop of Lincoln and the Lord Wharton were Ordered to draw up a Letter to be sent to the two Chief Justices in Ireland to desire them to prevent by what Legal way they can the Estate of the said Sir George Radcliff from Ruine whereby he may have Maintenance to sustain him The Tenor of which was this AFter my very heartiest Commendations c. unto your Lordships I am to give your Lordships to understand from the Right Honorable the Peers Assembled in Parliament That their Lordships having taken the Petition of Sir George Radcliff into their Mature Consideration a Copy whereof your Lordships shall receive herewith inclosed they do not as yet apprehend any Reason why the Petitioners Estate upon an Impeachment only should be so sequestred and the Lands and Leases so entred upon and invaded as that he should have no Means left him for his Maintenance and other Necessaries during the time of his Imprisonment But because your Lordships to whom his Most Excellent Majesty hath committed the Justice and Government of the Kingdom may know more of these Particulars by reason of your being upon the Place where these Debts Goods and Estates have had their Existence My good Lords the Peers of this House do recommend the Care of this Business unto your Lordships to aid the Petitioners Agents in this kind by all the Ways of Justice and Equity to recover such Debts Rents and other Profits as by Law and Justice remain due to Sir George Radcliff for his Maintenance and Necessary Vses until some further Act or Acts of Law and Justice shall otherwise direct and dispose of the said Premises And so I bid your Lordships heartily Farewell Your loving Friend E. Littleton C. S. To the Right Honorable my very good Lords Sir W. Parsous and Sir J. Borlase his Majesties High Justices for the Kingdom of Ireland The Request of the Spanish and French Ambassadors to have Liberty to entertain such of the disbanded Troops both in England and Ireland as they can agree with was this day Debated in the House of Commons upon which Occasion Sir Benjamin Rudyard made this following Speech Mr. Speaker THis is a business of great Consequence Sir Benjamin Rudyard's Speech against suffering the Spaniards or French to have the disbanded Soldiers Aug. 28. 1641. and therefore requires a well advised Resolution I will put France and Spain together take them both before me because the Reasons will serve the one and the other as they stand in Relation to us We are Mr Speaker so bounded by the nature of our Situation as we are not so proper to extend our selves upon the firm Land of our Neighbours Our Aptitude is rather to Ballance which being rightly used may make the King the great Arbiter of all the Affairs of Christendom by assisting withholding or opposing Henry the Eighth is an example of this King Henry gave upon this account this Motto Cui adhaereo praeest He was sometimes of the side of the Emperor other times of the French Party according as he saw either sides of the Scales to weigh heavier or higher some might think this to be
his Lordships great Care and Diligence in disbanding the said Army so happily for the preservation of the Safety and Quiet of the Kingdom which accordingly was done immediately by the Lord Keeper in the Name of the House Upon the reading of the Bill against Pluralities and Non-Residence after the debate of the House Proviso for Kings Chaplains Noblemen c. in the Bill against Pluralities these Lords Committees following were appointed to take into Consideration the King's Chaplains the Priviledges of Noblemen and the Heads of Colledges in the two Universities and also to consider of a Proviso That every Parson or Vicar that lives from his Living shall provide an able Curate to supply the Living allowing him a Moiety thereof clear of all Charges and the Parson to Nominate the Curate with the Consent of the Patron Committed to the Lord Privy Seal Marquiss of Hartford Lord Admiral Lord Chamberlain E. Southampton c. Lord Chief Justice of the Common-Pleas Mr. Justice Heath Mr. Justice Mallet Assistants their Lord ships or any Seven of them to meetat Nine a Clock to Morrow Morning in the Painted Chamber Upon a Motion made by Mr. Pym Monday October 25. Order to provide Match Bullets for the Guard A Plot against Mr. Pym. it was Ordered That the Burgesses of Westminster and the Knights for Middlesex shall take Care for the providing of Bullets and Match for the Soldiers and a convenient Place for them to stand dry in Mr. Pym declares That he received a Letter from a Porter at the Door of the House and upon the opening of it a Plaister which came from a Wound full of Corrupt Matter dropt out of it and that the Letter contained many Menaces and much railing against him The Porter being examined said a Gentleman on Horse-back in a Gray Coat gave him twelve Pence for the speedy delivery of it What ever the Matter was it made a mighty Noise both in the House and out of the House in the City and Country for Mr. Pym was then one of the greatest Idols of the Faction All the Art imaginable was used to find out the Author of this dangerous Attempt to infect Mr. Pym with the Plague but to no purpose for many Persons believed it to be only a Plot of his own inventing against himself However one Mordant was taken upon Suspition and Examined but there being no Proof against him he was acquitted Captain Ven brought in the Complaints of the Godly and Well-Affected Party Tuesday October 26. against Mr. Hutton Curate of St. Giles Cripple-Gate For that on the Day of Thanksgiving he would not suffer any one to Preach but himself 2ly That instead of Preaching in the Afternoon he only read the Bishop of Lincoln's Prayer 3. That he refused Mr. Sedgewick to preach there as Lecturer Whereupon it was Ordered That Mr. Hutton Curate of Cripple-Gate be taken into Custody for Contemptuous Speeches against the Orders of the House The House then fell upon the debate of the Impeachment of the Thirteen Bishops and great bandying of the Matter there was for the difficulty was The Commons in great perplexity what name to give the Crime of the Bishops for making the new Canons by what Name this Heinous Offence of the Bishops should be called and many of the Lawyers being in Westminster Hall it was Ordered That the Serjeant should immediately give Notice to all the Lawyers and others in Westminster Hall to attend the House Mr. Hollis thought fit that the Bishops should be charged with High Treason but some of the most Eminent of the long Robe affirmed they might as well Call it Adultery as Treason and after all that could be said upon the Subject it was Resolved upon the Question That the Debate concerning the naming of the Crime of the Bishops in making the last New Canons shall be at this time laid aside Resolved c. That no certain time shall be now appointed for the further Debate of the Business concerning the Naming of the Crime in the Bishops for the making of the last new Canons Mr. Pym Reports the Conference with the Lords Conference about a Letter from the King The Lord Keeper declared that he had received a Letter from his Majesty wherein he signified That though extraordinary Occasions had kept him there longer then he expected so that he was forced not to be so good as his Promise and Intention yet he did assure them he would make all the hast back to them that he could The King's Letter was in these Words My Lord Keeper SInce that by the Necessity of My Affairs I am detained here so long The King's Letter to the L. Keeper that I cannot be at the Down-Sitting of the Parliament I have thought it fit by these Lines to direct you to tell both Houses in My Name that as this My long Absence is beyond My Expectation so it is against My Desire and that I will make all the Dillgence that the Weightiness of these Affairs will possibly permit to return and so I rest Edenborough the 20th of October 1641. Your Assured Friend Charles R. This day Sir Robert Berkley Knight Judge Berkley at the Bar of the Lords one of the Judges of the King's Bench was brought as a Delinquent to the Bar of the Lords House and the Lord Keeper told him that he was now to hear the Impeachment of High-Treason brought up against him from the House of Commons read which being done He gave their Lordships Humble Thanks for their Justice in calling him to make his Answer and acknowledged the Justice of the House of Commons that they have desired he might make his Answer to his Charge and be Proceeded in according to Justice And withal he made it his earnest Request to their Lordships that they would permit him a little time now to speak somewhat to the Particulars of his Charge and having obtained Leave of the House so to do he made a long Relation upon the particular Articles of his Impeachment and concluded with this his Plea and Answer That he is not Guilty in Manner nor Form as is laid against him in his Impeachment After which he humbly presented to the House a Petition desiring their Lordships to take their Particulars into Consideration Hereupon he withdrew and his Petition was read in haec verba To the Right Honorable the Lords Assembled in Parliament The Humble Petition of Sir Robert Berkley one of the Judges of his Majesties Court of Kings-Bench YOur Lordships having The Petition of Judge Berkley to the Lords October 26. 1641. as your Petitioner conceiveth appointed Tuesday the next Week being the second of November next for your Petitioners Tryal he most humbly prayeth That your Lordships will be pleased to grant unto him your Lordships present Warrant for such Witnesses as he shall have Cause to use at his Tryal That your Lordships will be pleased to admit and if need be to assign him
part ought to give Denomination to the Whole and that in that great Defection the Protestant Nobility Gentry and Commonalty and even some of the Ancient Native Irish Nobility to their Immortal Glory persevered in their constant Loyalty and Fidelity to their Lawful Soveraign and did not amidst so many Hazards and Hardships Difficulties and the most pressing Dangers relinquish the gasping Interests of their Royal but Unfortunate Master till after they saw both Him and All their Hopes notwithstanding their most Vigorous and Generous Attempts and Endeavours Breathless and Deplorate and that nothing less than a Miracle of Providence was capable of giving them a Resurrection and even then when they submitted their Necks to the Iron Yoke of the prevailing Usurpers who had Murthered and Dethroned the Father and Banished his Son and Successor our now Gracious Soveraign it was not without a Wise Prospect which the Illustrious Prince James then Lord Marquiss now Duke of Ormond and by that Noble Title as a mark of his Majesties Favour and for his Extraordinary Merits Conduct and Sufferings created a Peer of the Realm of England even then had that it might be to his Majesties Advantage and that reserving themselves to a better Fortune they might upon any Turn of Affairs be in a Capacity to Exert that Loyalty which under all their Pressures lay still warm in their Dutiful Hearts and Willing Inclinations And this I find justified by the Lord Brohall late Earl of Orrery in a small Treatise written in answer to a Printed Letter of P. W's where his Lordship to shew how much the Protestants Exceeded the Papists in Loyalty and Duty to the King hath this Remarkable Passage IN the Year 1650 The Earl of Orrery's Answer to P. W. printed at Dublin 1662. p. 27. saith he speaking of his Grace the Duke of Ormond then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland he permitted all those worthy Protestants which till then had served under him to come off to the rest of the Protestants though then headed by Ireton Esteeming them Safer with that Real Regicide so accompanied than with those pretended Anti-Regicides the Papists so Principled And adds he if so Faithful and Wise a Servant to His Majesty as the L. Lieutenant had had any Hopes that the Irish Papists would ever have returned to their Loyalty doubtless he would never have sent away from them so many Powerful Helpers of it and Friends unto it and if he had not had more than Hopes that the English Protestants would return to their Obedience as soon as they had Power The Wisdome of his Grace's foresight has been happily Justified in the Result For all the Protestants which then came off were Eminently Instrumental and Concurring in the Duty of accomplishing that happy Event speaking of his Majesties Restauration I dare as truly as confidently say That most of the Protestants of Ireland only served under the Vsurpers but to bring the Irish Papists to those Terms which without the force of English Swords they would never have been brought to it being too Evident that nothing could bind them but Steel and Iron So far his Lordship But still I am to inform the Reader That the name Protestant whether his Lordship intended that limitation or no I know not and this fair Character ought to be under the restriction of being only applied to those Loyal Protestants who firmly adhered with his Grace the Duke of Ormond to their Duty and Allegiance to his Late Majesty for there were another sort of People who glory much in the Title of Protestants the Covenanting Presbyterians and Schismaticks who were all along as bitter Enemies to his Majesty and his Interests and who by their refusing to submit to his Majesties Authority vested in the Lord Lieutenant did as considerable Mischiefs to the King's Affairs and were in reality no less Rebels than the Papists against whom they fought Nor is it only to gratifie the Curiosity of the Inquisitive that I think it necessary to give this Preliminary account of the state of the Irish Affairs some time preceding and to shew the probable Reasons that occasioned this Great Revolt and Insurrection but also to wipe off the stains which some mens Tongues and Ink have maliciously fixed upon the most Innocent Reputations in the World And indeed such is the Nature of those Corroding Vices of Envy and Detraction that the most polished and brightest Integrity is not Armor of Proof sufficient against the Rust of Time and Popular Calumnies however it is a Duty we ow to Posterity to transmit to them the clearest Accounts we can of Truth and not to suffer the Illustrious Fame of Great and Worthy Men to lie Buried under the Rubbish which prevailing Faction and the accumulated Malice of those who wrought their Ruin hath heaped upon them though to Ingenuous and unprejudiced Persons the greatest Vindication that they are Capable of is the Consideration that they were Enemies who raised those Calumnies and therefore not worthy to be Credited or Regarded It was one of the Common Topiques of those wicked Miscreants the late Usurpers and Regicides who made a Trade of Slandering the Foot-Steps of the Lord 's Anointed constantly to insinuate into the Minds of the People that his late Majesty was the Occasion of the Irish Rebellion and that it was not suppressed was perpetually charged to his Score as the Reader will hereafter have frequent Opportunity to observe but that the direct contrary was the most evident Truth I doubt not but from many clear and undeniable Testimonies I shall be able in the following Collections to Evince even beyond all possibility of Doubting The Irish Rebels indeed at first made his Majesties Authority a pretence for their Treasonable Rebellion as in due time we shall see and the English Rebels as greedily laid hold upon that wicked and groundless Pretension as if it had been the greatest Reality but to manifest how false both the one and the other Calumny was I will give a short hint out of the abovementioned Book of the Earl of Orrery where I find these Words In the Year 1641 speaking of the beginning of the Rebellion the Irish Papists saith he pretended His Majesties Authority the pretending whereof Earl of Orreries Answer to P. W. p. 29. having been so horrid a Sin for it was no less than to have Intituled His Sacred Majesty to all their unparalell'd Crimes nay to have made him the Author of them I think it a Duty to the memory of that Glorious MARTYR to present the Reader with what will clearly Evince their Malice to be as great as His Majesties Innocence I will therefore only cite the Preamble of their own Remonstrance delivered by the Lord Viscount Gormanston Sir Lucas Dillon and Sir Robert Talbot Baronet to His Majesties Commissioners at the Town of Trim in the County of Meath on the 17th of March 1642. In which Remonstrance of Grievances for so they called it after they had taken
grants and otherwise And that all His Majesties debts then due in this Kingdom were satisfied out of the said Subsidies and yet His Majesty is of late as the Petitioners have been informed in the House of Commons become indebted in this Kingdom in great Sums And they do therefore humbly beseech that an exact accompt may be sent to His Majesty how and in what manner his Treasure issued 12. The Petitioners do humbly conceive just and great fears at a Proclamation published in this Kingdom in Anno Domini 1635. Prohibiting Men of Quality or Estates to depart this Kingdom into England without the Lord Deputies License wherein the Subjects of this Kingdom are hindred and interrupted from free access to Address to His Sacred Majesty and Privy Council of England to declare their just Grievances or to obtain Remedies for them in such sort as their Ancestors have done in all Ages since the Reign of King Henry the Second and great Fees exacted for every of the said Licenses 13. That of late His Majesties late Attorney General hath exhibited Informations against many Boroughs of this Kingdom into His Majesty's Court of Exchequer to shew cause by what Warrant the said Burgesses who heretofore sent Burgesses to the Parliament should send the Burgesses to the Parliament and thereupon for want of an Answer the said Priviledges of sending Burgesses was seised by the said Court which proceedings were altogether Coram non Judice and contrary to the Laws and Priviledges of the House of Parliament and if way should be given thereunto would tend to the Subversion of Parliaments and by consequence to the ruine and destruction of the Common-wealth And that the House of Commons hath hitherto in this present Parliament been deprived of the Advice and Counsel of many profitable and good Members by means thereof 14. By the powerfulness of some Ministers of State in this Kingdom the Parliament in its Members and Actions hath not his natural Freedom 15. And lastly That the Gentry and Merchants and other His Majesty's Subjects of this Kingdom are of late by the Grievances and Pressures beforesaid and other the like brought very near to Ruine and Destruction And Farmers of Customs Customers Waiters Searchers Clerks of unwarrantable proceedings Pursivants and Goalers and sundry others very much enriched whereby and by the slow Redress of the Petitioners His Majesties most Faithful and Dutiful People of this Kingdom do conceive great fears that their readiness approved upon all occasions hath not been of late presented to his Sacred Majesty For remedy whereof the said Petitioners do humbly and of right beseech your Lordship that the said Grievances and Pressures may be speedily redressed and if your Lordship shall not think fit to afford present relief that your Lordship might admit a select Committee of this House of Persons uninteressed in the benefit arising of the aforesaid Grievances to be licensed by your Lordship to repair to his Sacred Majesty in England for to pursue the same and to obtain fitting remedy for their aforesaid and other just Grievances and Oppressions and upon all just and honourable occasions they will without respect of particular interest or profit to be raised thereby most humbly and readily in Parliament extend their uttermost endeavour to serve His Majesty and comply with his Royal and Princely occasions And shall pray c. Not long after the Lord Deputy Wendesford died Lord Deputy Wendesford dies viz. the Third of December following whereupon Robert Lord Dillon of Kilkenny-west and Sir William Parsons Knight and Baronet Master of the Court of Wards L. Dillon and Sir William Parsons made Lords Justices were Constituted Lords Justices of Ireland and were accordingly Sworn the 30th of December 1640. But the Lord Dillon whose Son had married the Earl of Strafford's Sister and who being a Person of great Parts and Abilities and passionately devoted to the Earl's Interests both by Alliance and Inclination was no way grateful to the Faction it was not long therefore before the King who in all things endeavoured to sweeten them by gratifying them in whatever they desired was prevailed with L. Dillon displaced and Sir John Borlase substituted in his room at the Importunities of the Irish Committees then at the Court to displace the Lord Dillon and appoint the aforesaid Sir William Parsons and Sir John Borlase to be Lords Justices of the Kingdom of Ireland These Gentlemen by His Majesties Command applied themselves to give such satisfaction to His Majesties Subjects of Ireland as in reason they could desire and among other things His Majesty was pleased to reduce the Subsidies from 40000 l. a Subsidy to 12000 a piece and all things seemed to be in a most quiet and peaceable Posture and Condition of Settlement But yet even then which seems much to confirm the Lord Macguire's Confession this Rebellion was upon the Anvil for about the latter end of the year 1640 the King received some advertisements of a Design then on Foot to raise some Commotions in Ireland whereupon the King whose care for the Security of his Kingdom and Protestant Subjects of Ireland was always awake caused Sir Henry Vane his Principal Secretary of Estate to advertise the Lords Justices Parsons and Borlase of it and to Command them to take care therein The Letter which I find in Dr. Borlase's History was delivered to the Lord Parsons and found after his Death in his Study by Sir James Barry Lord Baron of Santry and presented to His present Majesty and was in these Terms Right Honourable HIS Majesty hath Commanded me to acquaint your Lordships with an Advice given him from abroad Sir H. Vane's Letter to the Lords Justices concerning some Informations of danger in Ireland and confirm'd by his Ministers in Spain and elsewhere which in this Distemper'd Time and Conjuncture of Affairs deserves to be seriously consider'd and an especial care and watchfulness to be had therein which is That of late there have passed from Spain and the like may well have been from other Parts an unspeakable number of Irish Church-men for England and Ireland and some good old Soldiers under pretext of asking leave to raise Men for the King of Spain whereas it is observed among the Irish Friars there a whisper runs as if they expected a Rebellion in Ireland and particularly in Connaght Wherefore His Majesty thought fit to give your Lordships this notice that in your Wisdoms you might manage the same with that Dexterity and Secresie as to Discover and Prevent so pernicious a Design if any such there should be and to have a watchful Eye on the Proceedings and Actions of those who come thither from abroad on what pretext soever and so herewith I rest Your Lordships most Humble Servant Henry Vane White-Hall March the 16 th 1640. The preservation of this Letter appears very uncommon and looks as if Providence interessed in the Vindication of Oppressed Innocence had reserved it to clear the
a Convenient time to be declared by the Lord Lieutenant Lord Deputy or Lords Justices and Councel of that Kingdom shall return to their due Obedience the greatest part whereof they conceive have been seduced upon false Grounds by cunning and subtile Practices of some of the most malignant Rebels Enemies to this State and to the Reformed Religion and likewise to bestow such Rewards as shall be thought fit and published by the Lord Lieutenant Lord Deputy or Lords Justices and Council upon all those who shall arrest the persons or bring in the Heads of such Traytors as shall be personally named in any Proclamation published by the State there And they do hereby Exhort and Require all his Majesties loving Subjects both in this and that Kingdom to remember their Duty and Conscience to God and his Religion and the great and Eminent Danger which will involve this whole Kingdom in General and themselves in Particular if this abominable Treason be not timely suppressed and therefore with all Readiness Bounty and Chearfulness to confer their Assistance in their Persons or Estates to this so important and necessary a Service for the Common Good of all The Letter to be sent along with this Declaration was in these words MY Lords Justices The Letter from the Speakers of both Houses to the Lords Justices of Ireland and the rest of his Majesties Council of his Majesties Kingdom of Ireland I have received a Command from the Lords House in this present Parliament to send unto you this inclosed Declaration of the Lords and Commons in Parliament for the better Encouragement of his Majesties Faithful Subjects to unite and imploy themselves in opposing and suppressing the Rebels of this and that Kingdom the publishing whereof I am to commend to your Care and Wisdom and rest c. The Resolutions being again read over the House consented to them and ordered the Lord Keeper to take Care to see them sent to Ireland as also to send Copies of them to his Majesty that he may see the Care of his Parliament in his absence concerning the Affairs of Ireland The Lord Admiral was also Ordered to give Command for the stoping of the Posts towards Ireland Order to stop the Posts towards Ireland upon such as are now going from Flanders into the Kingdom of Ireland It was also Ordered Order to take Care to guard the City against Tumults That the Lord Chamberlain of his Majesties Household Captain General of the South Parts of this Kingdom during his Majesties being out of this Kingdom shall give Order to the Lord Mayor of the City of London to safe guard the said City as there shall be Cause against all Tumults and Disorders that shall happen in or about the said City and the Liberties of the same upon any occasion whatsoever In the Commons House it was upon the Question Resolved That the Conference with the Lords shall be renewed concerning the securing of the Persons of Papists It was also Ordered That a Warrant be drawn to pass both Houses to the Master of the Ordnance for the delivery of the Arms and Powder and Ammunition at Carlisle to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or such as he shall appoint This day the Lord Keeper signified to the House of Lords Friday Novemb. 5. That he had received a Letter from the Lord Howard at Edenburgh dated the 30th of October 1641 which was commanded to be read the Effect whereof was THat meeting with the Instructions of the Parliament beyond Anwick in his return to London his Lordship and Mr. Fiennes returned back again to Edenburgh to present them to his Majesty which having done his Majesty told them That for the Business of Barwick be hoped by this time the Parliament had received Satisfaction Concerning the Rebellion in Ireland his Majesty upon the first Notice thereof moved the Parliament of Scotland to take this business into Consideration which accordingly they did and appointed a Committee for this very purpose which made Report whereof a Copy is Enclosed together with a Ratification thereof in Parliament wherein they have testified their Affection and respect to this Kingdom The Report of the Committee in the Parliament of Scotland Rege praesente 28 Octobris 1641. HIS Majesty produced a Letter written to him by the Lord Viscount Chichester anent some Commotions in Ireland The Resolutions of Scottish Parliament concerning the Irish Rebellion which was publiquely read in Audience of the Kings Majesty and Parliament And his Majesty desired that some may be appointed to think upon the Business so far as may concern his Majesty and the Kingdom And the Estates nominated the Lord Chancellor Lord General Lord Lothian Lord Amond the Lardis of Wedderburn Kinhault and Murthill the Commissioners of Edinburgh Glascow and Aire to think upon some Course necessary to be done anent the said Letters and what is incumbent to be done by this Kingdom thereupon and Report again to the Parliament To meet in the General his House this Afternoon at two Hours 28 Octobris 1641. This Day in the Afternoon the Committee above nominated appointed for taking into Consideration the Report of the Commotions in Ireland being met in the Lord Generals House and having read the Letter directed to the King's Majesty from the Lord Chichester Dated at Belfast the 24th of October 1641 hath Considered That his Majesty out of His Wisdom and Royal Care of the Peace of His Kingdoms hath already acquainted the Parliament of England with the Intelligence from Ireland and has sent to Ireland to know the certainty of the Commotions and of the Affairs of that Combination which till it be perfectly known there can be no particular Course taken for Suppressing thereof and the Kingdom of Ireland being dependant upon the Crown and Kingdom of England the English may conceive Jealousies and mistake our Forwardness when they shall hear of our Preparations without thair Knowledg in this whairin they are first and more properly concerned And if the Insurrections be of that Importaince as the British within Ireland are not Powerful enough to Suppress it without Assistance of greater Forces * * Scotish for than nor thair Allies and that his Majesty and Parliament of England shall think our Aid necessary to joyn with thaim We conceive That the Assistance which we can contribute may be in readiness as soon as England and if after Resolution taken by his Majesty with Advice of both Parliaments it shall be found necessary that we give our present Assistance we shall go about it with that speed which may Witness our dutiful Respects to his Majesties Service and our Affections to our Brethren his Majesties Loyal Subjects of England and Ireland 29 Die Octob. 1641. Read in Audience of his Majesty and Estates of Parliament ad futuram rei memoriam as ane Testimony of their Affections to his Majesties Service and the Good of the Neighbor Kingdoms and appoints thrie of the Baronis
therefore expect from his Majesty in a more larger and bountiful Manner then at other times A time of great Agitation and Action their State is ready by preparation to annoy us and ill and false Councils at home may quickly bring us to Ruin as we have weakness at home so we ought to decern the Actions abroad where great Provisions are made and a carelesness and improvidence herein when our Neighbours are so provided and have such great Fleets at Sea as will open a Way to suddain Ruin and Destruction before we can be prepared and therefore now the fittest time to move the King 6 The seventh and last Step is That this Alteration of Councils will bring great Advantages to the King in his own Designs In all our Actions our Prayers to God should be that his Name should be Glorified so our Petitions to his Majesty should bring Honor and Profit and Advantage to him by a discouragement to the Rebels a great part of their Confidence resting in the Evil Counsels at home as by the Examinations appeareth it will be a great Encouragement to the King 's good Subjects at home who hazzard their Lives and give Aid and Contribution to have things governed for the Publick Good it will make Men afraid to prefer Servants to the King that are ill Counsellors when they shall come to the Examination of the Parliament for many times Servants are preferred to Princes for advantage of Forreign States This will put an Answer into the King's Mouth against all Importunities that he is to prefer none but such as will be approved on by Parliament those that are Honorable and most Ingenious are aptest to be troubled in this kind and not to deny therefore the King may Answer he hath promised his Parliament not to admit of any but by Advice in Parliament this will Answer them all These are Domestick Advantages but it will also make us fitter to enter into Union and Treaty with Foreign Nations and States and to be made partakers of the Strength and Assistance of others It will fortifie us against the Designs of Foreign Princes there hath been common Council at Rome and in Spain to reduce us to Popery if good Counsel at Home we shall be the better prepared to preserve Peace and Union and better Respect from Abroad Lastly it will make us fit for any Noble Design Abroad Let us but turn the Tables and imagine this Speech spoken by some Loyal Gentleman against Mr. Pym and his Confederates and we shall find all those mischiefs and dangers from ill Counsels and Evil Counsellors the Alteration of Religion and Subversion of Laws the Encouragement of the Irish Rebellion the Impoverishment of the Nation the Loss of Liberty and Property the Ruin of the King and Kingdom to be the Natural Effects of their Consultations and Actions But in Order to accomplish their Wicked Designs the People must be affrighted with the danger of approaching Popery the present Government traduced with intentions of re-introducing it and the King must be Wounded through the Sides of the most Faithful of his Friends These were the Popular Arts by which after they had by repeated Flatteries Importunities and Promises obtained from the King those Fatal Concessions before mentioned they pursued their Design and by Arming those People whom they had deluded with the pretence of Religion and hurrying them on into Actual Rebellion they sought by Violence to obtain that which they could not do by Fraud and Flattery But to proceed After this an Order was read in the House of Lords made by the House of Commons Dated Nov. 9. 1641. That an Ordinance of Parliament may pass to engage the Honor Credit and Authority of both Houses of Parliament for the securing and repaying to the City the 50000 l. with Interest desired to be borrowed of them for the Occasions of Ireland and that a provisional Act shall pass with all Speed for repayment of the said Summ with Interest within six Months Next an Ordinance of Parliament was read concerning the Irish Affairs in haec verba viz. WHEREAS there is just Cause to conceive The Ordinance of Parliament prohibiting any Irish to pass out of England without License c. that diverse ill Affected Persons here being Natives or Inhabitants of Ireland do intend to pass over thither to joyn with the Rebels It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that no Irish Man shall pass out of any the Parts of this Kingdom to return into Ireland without special License of the Committees of both Houses for Irish Affairs or the Lords of his Majesties most Honorable Privy Council or of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland It is further Ordered That no Arms Munition or Powder shall be transported without such License as is aforesaid It is likewise Ordeined by the said Lords and Commons That whereas upon the perusal of diverse Letters and other Intelligence here there is just Cause to suspect that diverse of his Majesties Subjects in Ireland had some Hand in the Conspiracy and Rebellions of the Irish That the Lord Lieutenant shall certifie from time to time during his Aboad in England into Ireland the Names of such suspected Persons and the the Grounds and Reasons of the Suspition and that thereupon the Lords Justices of Ireland and the rest of his Majesties Council there shall enter into Examination of the said Parties and shall have Power to commit them to Prison till the Truth may be fully discovered that so they may either be cleared if they be Innocent or if they be found Guilty they may be proceeded against according to the Laws And that this Ordinance of Parliament shall be a sufficient Warrant to the Lord Lieutenant Lords Justices and Council aforementioned The Lord Admiral then acquainted the House That he had Command and Directions from his Majesty to send some Ships for the Guuarding of the Irish Coasts and also some Ships to keep the Narrow Seas because his Majesty conceives that the Rebellion from Ireland is fomented from abroad and that they expect some Supply from Foreign Parts And his Lordship desires to have the Directions of the Parliament herein what to do Whereupon it was ordered to have a Conference with the Commons about it Divers Orders were read which were made by the House of Commons concerning the Irish Affairs to which they desired their Lordships concurrence that so they may be put in Execution That the Merchants Some Orders of the House of Commons concerning the Affairs of Ireland who have made the Proposition to their House of Transporting Spanish Money in specie into Ireland for the present Occasions of that Kingdom shall have Liberty to Transport so much only as the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall from time to time give them Order and Direction for paying it there as it passes by Proclamation and that all Sums so Transported shall be Registred in the Custom-House and that they shall bring Certificates
live KING CHARLES and QVEEN MARY and their Majesties reciprocally and heartily Blessing and Thanking the People with all the Expressions of Satisfaction imaginable Being come to the End of St. Laurence Lane the Passage being narrow neither Horse nor Foot could be planted there so that only the Sheriffs Officers the City Counsel and Officers the Sheriffs Aldermen and the Lord Mayor conducted their Majesties and their Noble Retinue to Guild-Hall At their entrance there divers Honorable Lords and Ladies that had not given their attendance abroad presented themselves to his Majestie and attended Him and the Queen up to the New and Old Councel-Chambers which were appointed for their Repose till Dinner could be served up the Four Comptrollers for the Day and about 80 comely and grave Citizens in Foynes and Liveries standing and making a Lane on both sides their passage to whom their Majesties shewed gracious Respects the City Musick playing all the while to Entertain them during the time of their Repose As soon as their Majesties had a little reposed themselves Command was given to serve up Dinner the Place appointed for it was the Hustings at the East End of the Hall which was raised almost two Yards from the Ground the Floor being covered with Turky Carpets and all the Hall as all the other Rooms were hanged and adorned with rich Tapestry In the middle of the place where their Majesties Dined was hung up a Cloth of Estate and two Chairs of Estate were placed under it before which was a Table of 6 Yards long at the South End whereof at two Yards distance was a Table of Garnish 3 Yards square and at the North End was a Room Erected for Musick of all sorts for the Entertainment of their Majesties while they were at Dinner About 4 or 5 steps under the place prepared for their Majesties was a frame of Timber Erected and Floored with Deals a Yard from the Ground which Extended almost to the Hall Door upon each side whereof was a Table set from the upper to the lower end of it at these two Tables the Lords and Ladies that attended their Majesties were to Dine between which was a spacious Way left covered with Green Bayes whereon their Majesties were to pass where they should dine In the West part of the Hall below the Gate on the South side was a long Table placed for the Gentlemen Pensioners and in all other Rooms that were not for their Majesties Retirement Tables were likewise prepared for several sorts of their Majesties attendants Dinner was served up in this manner From their Majesties Table to the Dresser which was at the West End of the Hall stood the 80 Livery Men before mentioned in two Ranks about 2 yards distance from each other Face to Face one Rank of them receiving from the Dresser the King's Meat and the other the Prince's at one and the same time they never stirred from their places but delivered the several Dishes from one to another till it came to the Sewers who placed them upon the Table Their Majesties Table was furnished with four Courses the first consisting in 50 Dishes of Cold Meats as Brawn Fish and Cold baked Meats planted upon the Garnish or side Table the other three were of all sorts of Fish Fowl and Flesh to the Number of 120 Dishes of the Choicest Kinds that could be procured After which was served up a most Excellent and well ordered Banquet of all sorts of Sweet-meats and Confections wet and dry At the High Table Dined His Majesty his Royal Consort the Queen the Prince the Duke of York the Princess Mary and the Prince Elector Palatine in this Order The King sate under the Cloth of Estate and Her Majesty close to him on his left hand On his right hand about a yard distance sate the Prince and about the same distance from his Highness sate the Prince Elector At Her Majesties left hand about a yard distance was placed the Princess Mary and not far from her the Duke of York The Service for the Tables of the Lords and Ladies was thus ordered The Liveries before mentioned after the Meat was placed on the high Table served up Dinner to those Tables but in a different posture for whereas before they stood in two Ranks Face to Face they now turned Back to Back because the Dishes being served to both Tables together the one Rank of them might face to one Table and the other to the other To these two Tables were appointed 10 Messes consisting of 500 Dishes These two Tables being furnished care was taken for the rest of the Train that were thought fit to be entertained within the Hall who were all served so plentifully that not one person was heard to go discontented away A large Provision was made abroad for the Guard Footmen Coachmen and the like Their Majesties were extreamly pleased as well with the Excellent Management Sir John Pettus Knighted as the Plenty and Splendor of the Entertainment and Dinner being Ended the King sent for Mr. John Pettus a Gentleman of an Ancient Family in the County of Suffolk and bestowed the Honor of Knighthood upon him as a mark of his Favour to the Lord Mayor whose Daughter he had married Their Majesties having reposed themselves some little time after Dinner the Dayes being short command was given for their Departure and about Four of the Clock they drew up and in the same Order with which they were Conducted into the City they were also attended to White-Hall with this only difference that whereas in the Morning the Footmen carried Truncheons in their Hands they now went with lighted Torches or Flambeaux which gave so great a Light as that the Night seemed to be turned into Day As they passed along the Trumpets and City Musick were placed in several Parts Sounding and Playing which together with the continued joyful Acclamations of the People made the Streets ring again the Conduits in Cheapside and Fleet-street all the while running with Wine In their Passage by the South door of St. Paul's Cathedral the Quire with Sackbuts and Cornets sung an Anthem of praise to God with Prayers for their Majesties long Lives that his Majesty was extreamly pleased with it and gave them very particular Thanks as all the way of his Passage He used such Expressions of his high Contentment and Sense of the Affections of his People that there seemed to be a kind of Emulation between him and the City which should most express their kindness to each other The Citizens blessing and praying for their Majesties and their Royal Issue and their Majesties returning the same Blessings upon the Heads of the Citizens The King was in this manner amidst a thousand Prayers and Acclamations Conducted to his Palace at White-Hall where the Lord Major coming humbly to take his leave of his Majesty the King out of the abundance of his excellent good Disposition was graciously pleased to imbrace the Lord Major heartily thanking him
or Provisional Clause to be added to the said Bill by way of Limitation or Restriction and did also at the same time express his displeasure against some Person or Persons which had moved some Doubt or Question concerning the bound of Prerogative which the House of Commons declare to be a breach of the Fundamental Priviledges of Parliament The House of Commons do therefore desire their Lordships would joyn with them in an humble Petition to his Majesty to take notice that the Priviledge of Parliament is broken herein and to desire him that it may not be done so any more hereafter After this matter had been debated by the Lords it was Ordered That their House will joyn with the House of Commons in a Petition to His Majesty herein And the Lord Arch-Bishop of York Earl of Pembroke Earl of Bristol Earl of Holland Viscount Say and Seal Episcopus Durham Episcopus Winton Episcopus Roffen were appointed a Select Committee to meet with a proportionable number of the House of Commons to consider of the Breach of Priviledge of Parliament and and to prepare some things incident hereunto and present the same to the House This Committee to meet with the Commons on Wednesday the 15th of this Instant December at Nine of the Clock in the Morning in the Painted-Chamber The Committee appointed by the Commons to meet with the Lords were Mr. Pym Serjeant Wild Mr. Glyn Mr. Martin Mr. Strode Sir Hugh Cholmley Mr. Hollis Mr. Hampden Mr. Sam. Brown Sir Thomas Barrington Sir Edward Rodney Sir Thomas Bowyer Sir William Armyn Sir Francis Barnham Sir Walter Earl Sir Edward Aiscough Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Anthony Irby Sir William Lewes Mr. Strangeways Sir Robert Cooke Sir Edward Montforte Sir William Litton and Sir Henry Ludlow The Lord Keeper also Reported the Effect of two other Conferences had this day with the Commons The first Conference consisted of two particulars First Whereas a Proposition was made by the French Ambassador to the King for saving Seven Romish Priests which were Convicted and the House of Commons presented their Opinions to this House that five of those seven Priests may be Executed according to the Laws Now the House of Commons desire their Lordships to joyn with them in an humble Petition to His Majesty that the Execution of the Laws may be done upon all the seven Priests and that both Houses would become Suitors to the King to take off the Reprieve Next a Letter was read sent from one Parthington in Ireland written to Sir John Clotworthy Knight shewing the great and barbarous Cruelties acted upon the Protestants in Ireland by the Rebels as hanging of them and pulling their Flesh from their Bones cutting off their Heads Hands and Feet ripping up of Women great with Child and killing of Children with divers other inhumane Acts. The second Conference was touching the Declaratory part of the Bill for Pressing of Soldiers That the House of Commons consents now to the Words or Compelled that they should be inserted into the Preamble of the said Bill upon condition that these Words may be added except it be in Case of Necessity of the sudden coming of an Enemy into the Kingdom And lastly That the House of Commons doth not intend to give any Reasons for the fortifying of the Declaratory Cause in the Preamble of the Bill for pressing of Soldiers it being a thing unusual for them so to do It seems the House of Lords was in great disorder about the King's Speech Lord Pierpoint to the Black Rod for some Words offensive to the Lords for the Lord Pierpoint in his Speech having said That it was not Honourable for this House to be in such Noise and Tumult the House conceived these words to be a great Offence to so Great and High a Court as this is and being charged with the Words he was Commanded by the House to withdraw but before he withdrew he desired to explain himself which he was permitted to do and he professed he did not speak the Words to give any Offence to the House His Lordship being withdrawn the House took the Offence done into Consideration and Ordered That the Lord Pierpoint shall be committed to the Custody of the Gentleman-Vsher attending the House for the present After which the House took into consideration the Proposition of the Commons concerning the seven Priests and it was upon the Question after much Debate Resolved by the major part to joyn with the Commons in an humble Petition to his Majesty That Execution of the Laws may be done upon all the 7 Priests that are Condemned and that he will be pleased to take off his Reprieve Memorandum The Lords the Bishops withdrew themselves before the voting of this Question it being in Agitatione causae sanguinis The Lord Steward and the Lord Chamberlain were Ordered to attend the King from both Houses concerning the 7 Priests to be Executed as aforesaid and that his Majesty will take off his Reprieve Most part of this day was spent by the Commons about the Debates of the King's Speech the Result of which the Reader hath already in the Conferences with the Lords but still the Faction could spare little time to remember their Petitioning Friends of Black-Heath who had run their Heads into the Noose of the Law and a Commission was gone out against them for an Inquisition upon which Occasion as before they had warned the Under-Sheriff of Surrey so this day produced an Order of the Commons to the Justices of the Peace of Surrey not to proceed in any Inquisition concerning any Persons that met to subscribe a Petition to be preferred to this House till they should recive further Orders therein from the House This day the Lord Arch-Bishop of York Wednesday Decemb. 15. reported from the select Committee of both Houses concerning the Privileges of Parliament three Particulars which the Committees think fit to be voted in both Houses as a Breach of the Privileges of Parliament And also that a Declaratory Protestation be entred into by both Houses for the claim of those Liberties and this to be drawn up by the Committees Likewise the Committees think fit that a Petitionary Remonstrance be presented to His Majesty from both Houses declaring the Right of Parliament to those Privileges and the Particulars wherein they have been broken with an humble Desire that the like may not be done hereafter and that his Majesty will be pleased to discover the Parties by whose Misinformation and evil Council his Majesty was induced to this Breach of Privilege that so they may receive condign Punishment for the same and that his Majesty be further desired to take no notice of of any Mans particular Speeches or Carriage concerning any Matter Debated and Treated in Parliament a Form whereof is to be drawn and presented to the Committee to Morrow Morning at Nine of the Clock And that the Committees have appointed the Lord Arch-Bishop of York the Lord Roberts Sir
and disorders about the Houses of Parliament 2. To joyn with them in a Petition to his Majesty that the Houses of Parliament may have a Guard But the Faction of the Commons had other imployment for these Tumults Favoured by the Faction of the Commons and were so far from thinking fit to discourage them that some of these insolent People being laid hold on and Committed to the Gate-house their Friends in the Commons House receiving quick advertisement of it immediately dispatched Sir Robert Pye Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Glyn to inquire upon what Grounds those Citizens are Committed to the Gate-house and by whose Authority and to discharge them if they shall see Cause And when this Conference was reported by Mr. Hollis they were not at leisure to consider of it that night it was too late and therefore it was deferred till the next day and the next day when it was moved the Question being put whether the Question shall be put at this present concerning the joyning with the Lords in a Declaration as is desired it past in the Negative they being it seems so unwilling to disoblige the Rabble that they would not so much as permit the Question to be put concerning it and it is easie to conjecture with what courage this inspired those Rude and Insolent People Porters Watermen c. when they saw themselves out of the reach of the Law the only thing those mean and sordid spirits are capable of being kept in order with and that they had nothing to fear when their Guardians of the Commons House would not suffer the tenderest part of the Law a Proclamation to be awarded against them Sir Thomas Barrington this day Reported in the House of Commons ' That according to the Command of the House E. of Newport discharged from being Constable of the Tower not being able to meet with the Constable of the Tower he wrote a Letter unto him that yesterday he came to him and told him that his Majesty was pleased to discharge him of the Constableship of the Tower and to tell him he did it because it was cause of Jealousie The Reader will from hence gain a clear Light into the Mystery of all this Bustle about the Scandal which took up so great a part of this and the following Days Debate and will easily perceive the displeasure of this Lords being displaced raised all this Dust which however blanched as a Scandal upon him and others yet is so like the sayings of some in that Company at Kensington that one can difficultly be perswaded to believe but that with all this Smoak there was some Fire that the King spake what he did upon good assurance but that such was the Fury and Violence of the headstrong Faction that to have produced any Witness in a matter which concerned them so nearly and would have exposed their Designs would have been to have thrown a Man into a Den of half starved Lyons and it had been impossible to have escaped their fury without the help of Daniels Miracle in the Sacred Story The Lord Dillon and Col. L. Dillon and Colonel Taaf Imprisoned Taaf having by Order of the House been taken into Custody their Papers were searched and ordered by a Committee to be perused and they to remain in Custody till the House takes further Order therein It was also Ordered That Col. Lunsford summoned to the Commons House Lunsford be summoned to attend this House to morrow morning at 10 of the Clock and that Mr. Thraile be required to be here at the same time as also Capt. Hide Capt. Scrimshire Mr. Butler Mr. Brooks and Mr. Moore and that the Citizens who gave the Information at the Bar against Colonel Lunsford be required to be here at the same time The Reader may here see the terrible Army under Colonel Lunsford which frighted the Citizens as they pretended in Excuse to the Lords that they durst not go through Westminster-Hall A Committee was appointed to joyn with the Lords Committee for the Petition concerning L. Newport to draw the Petition concerning the Lord Newport viz. Sir Henry Vane Senior Mr. Glyn Sir Edward Hungerford Sir Gilbert Gerrard Sir John Culpeper Sir Thomas Barrington Sir Philip Stapleton Sir Robert Cooke Mr. Strode Mr. Long Sir Benjamin Rudyard and Mr. Hollis The Tumults as the Reader may have observed Tuesday Decemb. 28. begun now to be Frequent Dangerous and Insolent which occasioned his Majesty this Day to Issue out his Royal Proclamation against them as followeth By the KING HIs Majesty taking into His Princely Consideration A Proclamation against Tumults the manifold Inconveniencies and Mischiefs that may arise and happen by the Riotous and Tumultuous Assemblies in and about the Cities of London and Westminster not only to the violation of His Majesties Peace and Scandal of Government but to the Disturbance of His Houses of Parliament now Assembled doth strictly Charge and Command all the Inhabitants of His Cities of London and Westminster and the Liberties thereof and also of the Suburbs and Confines of the said Cities and Places adjoyning that upon no Occasion they do not Assemble themselves in any Tumultuous or Riotous manner in any Part or Place in or near the said Cities or Liberties and that all Perlons now Assembled in any Numbers without his Majesties Authority do forthwith upon Publishing this His Majesties Proclamation dissolve their Assemblies and Companies and repair to their Dwellings or Places of aboad upon their Perils of being proceéded against as Violaters of the Publick Peace of this his Majesties Kingdom and of being punished according to the Severity of the Laws and Statutes of the same Given at Our Court at White-Hall this 28th day of December in the Seventeenth Year of Our Reign God save the King The Lord Keeper was this Day ordered to wait on the King The King to be moved for a Monthly Fast for Ireland and move his Majesty from both Houses of Parliament that a Monthly Fast may be kept throughout the whole Kingdom during the Troubles of Ireland and that his Majesty will be pleased that a Proclamation may issue forth for this purpose and likewise for the keeping of the 20th of January next as a Fast throughout the whole Kingdom except London and Westminster where it hath been already Solemnized Then the Lord Admiral reported the draught of the Petition drawn up by the Committee of both Houses in the Kensington business which was read as follows To the King 's most Excellent Majesty The Humble Petition of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled WHereas The Petition of the Lords and Commons about the Kensington business during Your Majesties last being in Scotland the Queens Majesty received Information that at a meeting in Kensington where the Earl of Essex the Earl of Newport and Lord Viscount Say and Seal the Lord Mandevile the Lord Wharton Members of the Lords House the Lord Dungaruen
most Evident and were themselves guilty of the Disorders they refused to joyn with the Lords in a Legal Way by Proclamation and the Laws to suppress them punished the Officers and turned off the Guards appointed legally to keep the Peace and now unless the King will grant them a Guard all this must be placed to his Majesties Accounts and the Rabble be excited to affront him and force him from White-Hall which was what they longed to be at as hereafter we shall see However his Majesty returned this Gracious Answer to their Message which might have abundantly satisfied them if they had not been beforehand resolved not to be satisfied with any Answer which his Majesty could in Honor give or good Subjects in Reason expect WE have taken the last Message from you The King's Answer to the Message concerning a Guard touching your desire of a Guard into serious Consideration and truly with great grief of heart that after a whole Years sitting of this Parliament wherein you have obtained those things for the happiness and security of your selves and the rest of Our Subjects as no Age can equal instead of reaping in Peace and Tranquility the fruits of your Labours and of Our Grace and Affection to Our People We should find Jealousies Distrusts and Fears still so prevalent amongst you as to induce you to declare them unto Vs in so high a measure as you have done at this time We are wholly ignorant of the grounds of your Apprehensions but this We do protest before Almighty God to whom We must be accountable for those whom he hath intrusted to our Care and Protection that had We any knowledge or belief of the least Design in any of violence either formerly or at this time against you We would pursue them to condign punishment with the same Severity and Detestation that We would do the greatest attempt upon Our Crown We know the Duty of that place where God hath set Vs the Protection We ow to all Our Loyal Subjects and most particularly to you called to Our Service by Our Writs and We do engage unto you Solemnly the Word of a King that the Security of all and every one of you from violence is and shall ever be as much Our Care as the preservation of Vs and Our Children And if this general Assurance shall not suffice to remove your apprehensions We will Command such a Guard to wait upon you as We will be responsible for to him who hath incharged Vs with the Safety and Protection of Our Subjects White-Hall Jan. 3d. The Insolency of the Tumults was inexpressible insomuch that several young brisk Gentlemen of the Inns of Court came and voluntarily offered themselves to his Majesty at White-Hall to Guard his Person from the Rabble whose deportment was so unsufferable that 't is a Miracle no more mischief came of it but such was his Majesties tenderness and caution that he would not permit these young Gentlemen so much as to Exasperate that Rude Crew but having given them thanks for the offer of their Service and ordered them to be handsomly entertained at Tables provided for them they were dismissed Though afterwards a great noise and a Plot was made of drawing these young Gentlemen into a Design to do some strange things But though his Majesty thought not fit to make Use of their Assistance yet he sent to the Lord Mayor to call a Court of Aldermen and Common-Council and to propose to the City the care of Suppressing these Tumultuary Assemblies Proceedings at a Court of Aldermen and Common-Council upon a Message from the King by L. Newburgh concerning Tumults Dec. 31. 1641. an account of which Court and proceedings was as follows A Common-Council held at Guild-Hall in the City of London the One and Thirtieth of December 1641. Commune Concilium tent ' in Camera Guild-Hall Civit ' London ' Tricessimo primo die Decemb. 1641 post Meridiem Anno Reg ' Dom ' nostri Caroli nunc Regis Angliae c. decimo septimo coram Richardo Gurney Milite Baronetto Majore Civit. London Tho. Garnier Milite ejusdem Civit. Record Ed. BromfeildMilit Ed. Wright Mil. Alderm dictae Civit. Johan Cordell Mill. Joh. Gayer Mil. Jacobo Gerrard Mil. ac Alderm Tho. Atkin Alderm Joh. Wallaston Mil. Alderm Tho. Adams Jo. Warner Jo. Towse Abrah Reynardson Tho. Austin Predict Civit. Alderm ac Georgio Garret Georgio Clarke Mil. Alderm ac vicecom Civit. Praedict necnon majore parte Conciliariorum de Com. Concilio ejusdem Civitat tunc ibidem assemblat  At this Common-Council Mr. Recorder declared That by the direction of the Right Honourable the Lord Major he was to signifie to them the cause of their now Assembly how that his Lordship had yesterday received a Letter from Sir Edward Nicholas Knight one of his Majesties principal Secretaries of State intimating that it was his Majesties pleasure his Lordship should call a Common-Council against this time and then his Lordship should be advertised of his Majesties further pleasure and that there was now at this present in the Council Chamber an Honourable Person being the Lord Newburgh Chancellor of his Majesties Court of the Dutchy and one of his Majesties most Honourable Privy-Council come hither to deliver his Message to this Court And thereupon the Right Honourable the Lord Newburgh was desired to come into this Court who being here declared and said in this manner Gentlemen his Majesty out of his good affection towards the City and acknowledging of your great Loves lately shewed unto his Highness hath sent me with a Message to you assuring it to be the same contained in a Paper which he presented and desired to be read to this Common-Council which was accordingly done the Tenor whereof followeth in these words THere having been of late many Tumultuary and Riotous Assemblies of people about our Palaces of White-hall and Westminster to the great disturbance of us and our Parliament and we having received Information that some ill-affected persons do still endeavour to incite the like Tumults again we have thought fit to recommend to your especial care the preventing them as far as in you lies especially the ensuing Holy-days at which the idleness of many may make them apter to such disorders We have thought fit likewise to let you know that we are so well assured of the good affections of our City of London by the great expressions which it hath made unto us of late that we can in no wise understand it to have any share in the fault of these Tumults and Distempers but that they proceed meerly from the mean and unruly people of the Suburbs And as we are most confident of the hearts and good affections of our City of London towards us and our Government and will not entertain any other opinion so we do desire them not to be disturbed by any jealousies that ill-affected persons may endeavour to sow
but to rest most confident and assured that the Safety the Protection and the Prosperity of the City shall ever be with us a principal care After the reading of which most Gracious Message whereby is fully manifested and expressed his Majesties Gracious Goodness and great care for the safety and prosperity of this City the Lord Newburgh having withdrawn himself this Common-Council took the same into their serious consideration and how for the present to return by this Honourable Person unto his Majesty an Answer with all humility and thankfulness and after much debate it was fully agreed and resolved of by this Common-Council That in the first place should be returned and rendred unto his Majesty from this Common-Council as the Representative Body of the whole City their humble duty in all thankful manner for his goodness and gracious love and care manifested to this City Secondly That it should be signified unto his Majesty this Court nor any particular Member thereof hath had any hand in these Tumultuous and Riotous proceedings and that they and every of them do disavow and disclaim the same Thirdly That it may be likewise signified That this Court as the Representative Body of the whole City doth promise from hence-forth their best endeavours to prevent and suppress in time to come as far as in them lyeth all such or the like Tumultuous Assemblies and all Mutinous and Rebellious persons And lastly That the humble desire of this Court may be presented unto his Majesty to be graciously pleased that all the Delinquents and Causers of these Tumults whatsoever they be being apprehended may be brought into Examination and receive condign punishment according to the Law And these four things thus agreed upon were by direction of this Common-Council here openly declared and delivered by the Mouth of Master Recorder unto that Honourable Person the Lord Newburgh here present with desire that the same should be by his Lordship accordingly presented unto his Majesty the which he promised to perform with trust And afterwards this Court entred into further consultation and debate touching the Tumultuous and Riotous Assemblies lately spread night and day in several parts of this City to the great trouble and affrightment of his Majesties good Subjects and also touching the great neglect of that due respect which ought to be given by the Inhabitants of this City to the several Precepts lately issued out by my Lord Major for a continual Watch and Ward day and night for prevention and suppression of such Tumults and Distempers And likewise touching the great neglect in appearance of the Trained Bands of this City to their Colours at the beat of the Drum especially in these times of danger in contempt of Authority being a matter of exceeding great consequence and not fit to be suffered And thereupon this Common-Council Taking much to heart that such disobedience should grow and be found in the Inhabitants of this City to the great disrespect of Magistracy and Contempt of Government And that such Disorders and Tumultuary Assemblies should be permitted in such a City as this formerly famous for the good and quiet Government thereof hath thought it very expedient and behovâ—ful for redress and remedy to be had in these abuses being not fit to be any longer endured That every Member of the Common-Council now Assembled shall in their several Precincts spread it abroad and make it known That if any person or persons shall from hence-forth neglect his duty and service to be performed as aforesaid and shall not do his best endeavour to suppress or prevent any Tumults or Riotous Assemblies that shall hereafter be attempted within this City or Liberties thereof that then he or they offending shall receive condign punishment according to his or their demerits And it is further thought fit and so agreed by this Common-Council that my Lord Major may send out his Precepts in such manner and to such purpose as his Lordship and his Brethren the Aldermen shall think fit for Watch and Ward raising of Arms or otherwise for the safety and preservation of this City to which this Court and all the Members thereof promise all due and cheerful obedience And that Posterity may see his Majesty had great reason for what he did I will present the Reader with one of those Sheets then Printed giving an account of the Rudeness and Insolence of the Rabble from whence thô written as partially as may be and in favour of them yet it will be easie to observe both theirs and the Calumniating temper of the Parliamentarian Scriblers of that Age who made all men Atheists and Papists that were not Seditious Rebels The Paper is in these words THE Apprentices waiting there days at the Parliament House An Act for the Tumult of the Apprentices Dec. 31. 1641. without giving affront or ill Language to any they did only with a full consent Cry down Bishops and Popish Lords But coming scattering home by slender Companies were set upon by divers Caviliers who did cut many and misused most with base Language not only Apprentices but Men of good Rank and Quality calling them Ram-headed Rogues to the great disparaging and disheartning of them in their Trades and Callings for by this means many Tradesmen have shut up Shops and given over their Trades because they are so abused And the adverse Party Papists and their Adherents greatly countenanced and incouraged which makes them so bold and insolent that they care not what outrages they commit against honest men of good report and the Kings loyal and good Subjects and without some speedy redress and suppressing of them by the good Laws of the Land against such as do so insolently fall upon the Kings Majesties Subjects without cause there is like to be many thousand lives spilt and taken away The Apprentices being many of them committed and the other discountenanced made the Apprentices to swell in Blood to the adventure of the loss of their lives met on Wednesday night last to the number of two thousand with Clubs Swords Halberts and were resolved to go to the White-Lyon and others cryed out To my Lord Major's but by the providence of God and the grave wisdom of Captain Ven they were prevented by the grave Speech that followeth Gentlemen Let me intreat you to be at peace and quietness and return every one to his own habitation and you shall find we will be as ready to do any favour for you and relieve you in any of your just Grievances as you can or shall your selves and as you shew your willingness to us so shall we with our lives be willing and ready to help you therefore pray depart every man to his own home in Peace that it may not be said of you they are rude and tumultuous but that you may shew your selves to be discreet in all your affairs to the advancing of the Cause you have in hand and refer the Cause to us which will be ready
Destruction will speedily follow That both Houses have lately taken a Protestation for the Maintainance of their Priviledges Persons and Goods a High Breach whereof is at this Instant for divers Members of the House of Commons have their Persons Assaulted and laid in wait for their Chambers Studies and Trunks have been Ransacked and Sealed up as Mr. Hollis Mr. Pym and Mr. Hampden Besides the House of Commons understands that there are Guards of Souldiers set near the Parliament Houses as at White-Hall which being done without consent of the Parliament they hold it to be a Breach of the Priviledges of Parliament The House of Commons therefore desires their Lordships would joyn with them in an Humble Desire to his Majesty that the Guards at White-Hall may be removed and that the Parliament may have such a Guard as shall be approved of by the King and both Houses of Parliament And also the House of Commons desires their Lordships to joyn with them to Vindicate the Breaches of the Priviledges of Parliament and if a Guard cannot be obtained then they desire their Lordships to take into Consideration to Adjourn to another place where they may sit in Security Whereupon it was Ordered by the Lords That all Chambers Studies and Trunks that are Sealed up or Locked belonging to Mr Hollis Mr. Pym Mr. Hampden or to any Members of Parliament shall be forthwith unsealed and unlocked and left to their free Vse and Dispose And it was likewise Ordered That this House will joyn with the House of Commons in an humble Petition to his Majesty to desire such a Guard as himself and both Houses of Parliament shall approve of and the same is to continue so long as the King and both Houses of Parliament shall think fit And the Lord Steward and the Lord Chamberlain were appointed to attend the King from both Houses of Parliament with the aforesaid Order concerning Guards and humbly to desire his Answer therein In the Commons House immediately after this Conference Mr. Francis a Serjeant at Arms sending in Notice The King demands the five Members by a Serjeant at Arms. That he was Commanded to deliver a Message from his Majesty to Mr. Speaker he was called in to the Bar without his Mace and there he delivered this Message I am Commanded by the Kings Majesty my Master upon my Allegiance that I should come and repair to the House of Commons where Mr. Speaker is and there to require of Mr. Speaker five Gentlemen Members of the House of Commons And that these Gentlemen being delivered I am commanded to Arrest them in his Majesties Name of High Treason Their Names are Mr. Hollis Sir Arthur Haslerigg Mr. Pym Mr. Hampden and Mr. William Strode Whereupon Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer Lord Falkland Sir Philip Stapelton and Sir John Hotham were appointed to attend his Majesty and to acquaint his Majesty That this Message from his Majesty is a matter of great Consequence it concerns the Priviledge of Parliament and therein the Priviledge of all the Commons of England That this House will take it into Consideration and will attend his Majesty with Answer in all Humility and Duty with as much Speed as the greatness of the Business will permit And in the mean time this House will take Care that those Gentlemen mentioned in the Message shall be ready to Answer to any Legal Charge laid against them And Mr. Speaker did by Command of the House enjoyn these five Members particularly one by one to give their attendance on this House de die in diem till the House take further Order But notwithstanding all their fair words how much they intended to abide a fair and legal Tryal a little patience will inform the Reader for immediately Sir William Flemming and another Gentleman who had in obedience to the Kings Warrant Sealed up the Studies and Trunks of those five Members were apprehended by Mr. Speakers Warrant as Delinquents and ordered to remain in the Serjeants Custody till further Order Message about the King Queen and Princes Servants taking Oaths of Supremacy c. A Message was also this day sent up to the Lords by Mr. Strode to desire their Lordships That whereas upon the Request of the House of Commons their Lordships have agreed with the House of Commons that the Servants belonging to the King Queen Prince or to any of the Kings Children shall according to the Law take the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance the House of Commons desire that the Lord Keeper may be Ordered to Issue forth Writs for that purpose to Persons of Honour to see it done accordingly Next that their Lordships would joyn with them to take a Course that the Colledge of Cappuchin-Friers at Sommerset-House may be Dissolved And lastly That their Lordships would move his Majesty that the seven Romish Priests Condemned in London may be Executed according to the Laws To which the Answer of the Lords was That they will take the first part of the Message into Consideration in convenient time To the second Their Lordships agree and will send to move the King in it And that they have already sent to the King concerning the Execution of the seven Priests And accordingly the Lord Steward and the Lord Chamberlain were appointed to attend the King and move him from both Houses of Parliament That the Colledge of Cappuchins at Sommerset-House may be dissolved I cannot find the following Speech in the Journal and by its being addressed to Mr. Speaker and not to their Lordships as is usual in Speeches made in the Lords House I am apt to suspect the Publisher not well versed in matters of that Nature and that it may be a Surreptitious Copy But whether it were Spoken by his Lordship or not it was made Publick and Printed under his Name and did all the Mischief a Real Speech could have done in Exasperating the Multitude against the King upon this Occasion And the Bishops who were certainly to be loaded with their share of the Obloquie in whatever went cross to the Faction The Speech was thus A Judicious Speech made by the Right Honourable the Lord Kymbolton in Parliament Jan. 3. 1641. Concerning the Articles of High Treason exhibited against his Lordship Sir Arthur Haslerig Mr. Pym Mr. Stroud Mr. Hollis and Mr. Hampden by His Majesty Mr. Speaker The Lord Kymbolton's Speech upon his Impeachment January 3. 1641. THere hath already been so much spoken by the other Gentlemen concerning this Accusation of High Treason even sufficient as I conceive to clear us all that are Impeached that I know not what to say more touching the same Onely under favour give me leave to speak what I conceive of the cause of the procuring of this Accusation the Authors that procured it and of the effects which I perceive will follow upon the same Mr. Speaker It is not long since this Honourable House accused of High Treason the Twelve Bishops for their Illegal and Trayterous
will continually disturb the Peace of that Kingdom as well from hence as from Forreign Powers for no way will be left unattempted by them whereby the Peace of that Kingdom may be disturbed and then of necessity England must be forced to undertake a new conquest of this Kingdom for a politick Reformation will then become impossible and to make a new Conquest will be now more difficult and chargeable then in any former times in reguard the Ports and Inland Towns and the Principal Strengths will be immediately lost as some of them already are which are now more in number by much then were here in former times and the People better disciplined in the rules of War besides many other advantages they have as well by the return hither of Commanders of the Irish who served in Forreign Nations as otherwise which they wanted in the time of former Rebellions there and besides all the meer Irish now in the Service of the King of Spain will undoubtedly return hither to joyn with the Rebels And so we humbly take leave and remain from his Majesties Castle of Dublin 5. November 1641. Your most Honourable Lordships humbly at Commandment Will. Parsons Jo. Borlase J. Dillon Ant. Midensis Jon. Kaphâ—e Cha. Lambart Ad. Loftus J. Temple Cha. Coote P. Crosbie Tho. Rotherham Ja. Ware Rob. Meredith A Letter of the same Date was also sent to the Speaker of the House of Commons A Letter from the Lords Justices Council in Ireland to the Speaker of the H. of Commons No. â—th 1641. in these words SIR SVch are the present Calamities under which all the English and Proâ—â—stants in Ireland do now suffer as if Supplies of Men Money and Arms come not speedily forth of England hither it cannot be avoided but the Kingdom must be lost and all the English and Protestants here destroyed wherefore as we have now humbly represented the same more fully to the Lords of his Majesties most Honourable Privy Council and formerly to his Majesty and to the Lord Lieutenant of this Kingdom so we adjudge it fit by these our Letters to you to make it known to the Honourable the Commons House of Parliament there who cannot but foresee the many other grievous and Lamentable Consequences which the loosening of this Kingdom must unavoidably bring to England and certainly this Kingdom and the Lives of Vs all here and all the Protestants in the Kingdom were never in so great Danger to be lost as at this instant no age having produced in this Kingdom an example of so much Mischief done in so short a time as now we find acted here in less then a fortnights space by Killing and Destroying so many English and Protestants in several Parts by Robing and Spoyling of them and many thousands more of his Majesties good Subjects by Seizing so many Castles Houses and Places of Strength in several Parts of the Kingdom by threatning the English to depart or otherwise that they will destroy them utterly and all their Wickedness acted against the English and Protestants with so much Inhumanity and Cruelty as cannot be imagined to come from Christians even towards Infidels We comfort our selves with this hope That by the Blessing of God on the Wisdom of that Honourable House we may have sudden and full Supply from thence whereby we may be enabled to preserve the Kingdom and consequently prevent the further Lamentable Mischiefs which may otherwise follow And so we remain from his Majesties Castle of Dublin 5. November 1641. Your very assured Loving Friends Will. Parsons Jo. Borlase J. Dillon Ant. Midensis Joh. Raphoe Cha. Lambart Ad. Loftus J. Temple P. Crosbie Cha. Coote T. Rotherham Ja. Ware Rob. Meredith Sp. of Com. And after this another Letter was dispatched to the Speaker of the House of Commons which spoke this Language A Letter from the Lords Justices Council of Ireland to the Speaker of the H. of Commons No. 13th 1641. SIR BY Letters from the Lord Lieutenant of this Kingdom we observe how sensible the Honourable Commons House of Parliament there is of the Insolencies of the Rebels here and of the present danger of the whole State and Kingdom and the readiness and forwardness wherewith that Honourable House hath ordeined Aids and Supplies for us which exceedingly Comfort us amidst the Distresses wherein we now stand And we crave leave as to acknowledg with most hearty thanks to that Honourable House the High Favour we have therein received and our joyful apprehension thereof so to intreat most earnestly that the Supplies may be hastened unto us with all possible speed in such a proportion as by our Letters of the fifth of November to the Lord Lieutenant we humbly moved and in such manner as by our Letters now sent to his Lordship we humbly desire wherein if all possible speed be not used the deliverance intended by that Honourable House to this State and Kingdom may be prevented and so the Cruel and Barbarous Rebels become possessed of the Kingdom which we Submit to the deep Judgement of that Honourable House And so we remain from his Majesties Castle of Dublin 13. November 1641. Your very assured Loving Friends Will. Parsons Jo. Borlase Ormond Ossery J Dillon Cha. Lambart Ad. Loftus Gerrard Lowther P. Crosbie Ja. Ware Rob. Meredith Sp. of Com. House But the Parliament of England as may be observed before in the preceeding Transactions of the two Houses though they made a mighty bustle and noise about relieving of Ireland made but very slow steps towards the Suppressing of the Rebellion in good Earnest And notwithstanding the pressing instances and repeated Messages of his Majesty to forward that Affair they were two much taken up with the Management of their own Designs to assist that distressed Kingdom to any purpose They gave a great many good words and sent over Letters full of Promises of Men Money and Provisions but all the course they took was to borrow Money of the City of London and the Merchants which was not considerable for such a Work and for Men though the King offered presently to raise 10000. Volunteers if the two Houses would undertake to pay them they would by no means hear of it but did all they could to discourage those Levies by questioning such as beat up Drums for Volunteers for that Service By this means and by some other Actions before recounted this Rebellion which was at first but a few Sparks and might without difficulty have been Extinguished grew to be an Universal Flame And nothing can be more evident then that how general soever the Conspiracy was many of the Irish stood at Gaze to see what would become of the First Commotions but observing the little Force which was in Ireland to oppose them the little probability of Succors from England the great Animosities and Dissentions and a Prospect of a Civil War in England between the King and the two Houses and being incouraged with hopes of Forreign Assistance
the two Houses did as confidently aver for positive and undoubted Truths as if they had had a Discovery under the King or the Queens own Hand and Seal and to make the People believe it they so vigorously pressed that the Queen might make an Open and Publick Declaration to be sent to Ireland disavowing all manner of Countenance or Assistance to the Rebels or the Rebellion which was designed purposely to blemish Hers and the King's Honor by spreading the Suspition which the Faction had that they were concerned secretly in this detestable Rebellion There were indeed some great Persons I doubt not who gave the Rebels all the Countenance Encouragement and Assistance they could Possibly but I am for setting the Saddle upon the Right Horse Cardinal Richelieu I make no doubt who was in his time the great Incendiary of Europe and who had had a great share in the management of the Scottish Rebellion as before hath been observed had also a very great Influence both upon this Rebellion in Ireland and that which followed it in England as in due time I shall indeavour to make it appear And to fortifie this Opinion I will present the Reader with the Information of Mr. James Wishert a Scot who in a Letter to Mr. Pym gives this account of himself and the Intelligence he got among the Rebels during the space of 12 Weeks that he was a Prisoner among them and since I have not found that Mr. Pym made this Information publique which confirms me in the Opinion that this was a tender point and Richelieu too much a Friend to their own wicked designs to be discovered or Exposed I think my self bound to give Posterity all the light I have been able to discover to enable them to look into the dark and horrid Contrivances of the Conspirators of that Age and the rather in regard it may be a Caution to succeeding Times and may give them some Reason to suspect that there may be dangerous Confederacies even between the Pretenders to Reformation and the greatest Papists though for different Ends the Reformers to secure themselves from Justice by embroyling the Nation and the Popish Ministers of Forreign Nations to keep us busie at home that so we might not be at leizure to keep the ballance even as the Kings of England have ever had the Honour to do but that our hands being tied behind us by domestique Divisions they might be at Liberty by the Power of their Arms to Extend their Empire and Ambition beyond the Bounds and Limits within which the Wisdom of former Ages had restrained them The Information was as followeth OCcurrences that I learned for truth the time of my Bondage Mr. Wishert's Information that Cardinal Richlieu somented the Irish Rebellion First by Mr. Thomas Flemyng Father-in-Law to the Lord Inchekilling and divers others in the Camp That General O Neil with the Rebels had sent one Christopher Ultache a Frier to the Cardinal Richelieu whom he detained five Weeks till he should see further of their Success then they sent another Frier called Newgent with whom they sent the true Relation of all their proceedings whereupon the Cardinal hath assured to send them 16000 Sute of Arms for Foot and 6000 for Horse to Dunkirk and from thence to be sent to Wexford there to be received by the O Tooles Bearns and the Mac Farralds and if they could not land there to land at Carlingford to be received by the Mac Gennis'es and Mac Carties As also that Con Oghe O Neil the Lawful Heir of the House of Tyrone with Colonel Preston Vncle to the Viscount Gormanstown are in West Flanders and have written to all the Irish in the Spanish Service the Emperor's Service or elsewhere and they are to meet them at Dunkirk and so to come from thence with all the Provisions they can make That Tredagh is of such Consequence that the Rebels Esteemed it of Inestimable Value in regard of the Strength thereof the Ammunition of Ponder Ball Cannon and other things therein and of the near Situation thereof to Dublin the Rebels assured themselves of the Kingdom if they had it and Dublin were not able to resist them John Wishert To his Trusty and Well beloved Mr. John Pym. Upon the 16th of November the Parliament met at Dublin where little was done more than the making this ensuing Protestation The Protestation and Declaration of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in Parliament Assembled WHereas the Happy and Peaceable Estate of this Realm hath been of late and is still interrupted by sundry Persons The Protestation and Declaration of the Irish Parliament against the Rebellion ill-affected to the Peace and Tâ—anquillity thereof who contrary to their Duty and Loyalty to his Majesty and against the Laws of God and the Fundamental Laws of this Realm have Trayterously and Rebelliously raised Arms seised upon his Majesties Forts and Castles and dispossessed many of his Faithful Subjects of their Houses Lands and Goods and have slain many of them and committed other Cruel and Inhumane Outrages and Acts of Hostility within this Realm The said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled being justly moved with a right Sense of the said Disloyal and Rebellious Proceedings and Actions of the Persons aforesaid do hereby Protest and Declare That the said Lords and Commons from their Hearts do detest and abhor the said Abominable Actions and that they shall and will to their uttermost Power maintain the Rights of his Majesties Crown and Government of this Realm and the Peace and Safety thereof as well against the persons aforesaid their Abettors Adherents as also against all Forreign Princes Potentates and other persons and attempts whatsoever And in case the persons aforesaid do not repent of their aforesaid Actions and lay down Arms and become humble Suitors to his Majesty for Grace and Mercy in such convenient time and in such Manner and Form as by his Majesty or the Chief Governor or Governors and the Council of this Realm shall be set down the said Lords and Commons do further protest and declare That they will take up Arms and will with their Lives and Fortunes suppress them and their Attempts in such a way as by the Authority of the Parliament of this Kingdom with the approbation of his Excellent Majesty or of his Majesties chief Governor or Governors of this Kingdom shall be thought most effectual Some overtures of an Accommodation however were made by some of the Rebels as appears by this Letter Addressed to the Lord Dillon Viscount of Costeloe one of the Lords of the Council of Ireland which he presented to the Board upon the 10th of Novemb. 1641. Our very Good Lord. OUR Alliance unto your Lordships Ancestors The Longford Letter to the Lord Viscount Costeloe Nov. 10. 1641. and your self and the Tryaal of your and their performance of Trust unto their Friends in their greatest Adversity encourageth us and engageth your Honour to our
open Rebels of mere Irish but the Natives Men Women and Children joyn together and fall on their Neighbours that are English or Protestants and Rob and Spoil them of all they have nor can we help it for want of Men Arms and Money being fearful to separate too farr the little Strength we have here in Dublin lest we be besieged and yet we have bin necessitated this Day to send some of those we could hardly spare to deliver some of the King's Subjects in the County of Wickloe likewise to send some to Drogheda for addition of Strength so as in the mean time we must indure those publick Affronts to be put upon us Yet if the 10000 Foot and 2000 Horse which are to come from England and the 10000 Men which are to come from Scotland be sent us immediately with 200 thousand Pounds in Money and Arms to arm more Men here we conceive some hope to overcome even this next Summer this Rebellion with Honor to his Majesty and future safety to the Kingdom but if those Succors be not totally sent but lessened then the War will be drawn out into a length of time which will be more troublesom and chargeable to England and less comfortable to the good Subjects here We beseech your Lordship to send some Ingineer hither as soon as conveniently may be we being here in great want of such We also pray That the Shipping intended for guarding these Coasts may be hastned away we finding great Cause of Doubt by several Examinations taken that the Rebels expect Aids from Forraign Parts both of Men and Arms. And lastly We beseech your Lordship that all Noblemen and Gentlemen who have Estates in this Kingdom and are now in England may be commanded away hither to partake in the labor of Keeping as they have hitherto injoyed the Fruit of having those Estates After the Prorogation of the Parliament several Members of both Houses were deputed by Commission under the great Seal and accordingly had Instructions from the Lords Justices to treat with the Rebels but their little Successes and the ill Destiny which hung over their Heads rendred them so Insolent that those Indeavors proved fruitless and ineffectual to that Degree that in Contempt and Disdain of the Offers of Peace they tore the Order of Parliament and the Letter that was sent unto them Matters growing every day more desperate the Lords Justices and Council addressed themselves to the Speaker of the Commons House in England to press the performance of the necessary Relief which had been so often promised from thence The Letter was in these Terms SIR THe Advertisements we have from the Lord Lieutenant of this Kingdom A Letter from the Lords Justices and Council to the Speaker of the Commons House in England 27 Nov. 1641. and from you of the continued Care expressed by that Honorable House for the deliverance of this Kingdom and his Majesties faithful Subjects therein from the present Calamities under which we now groan have brought unto us great Comfort and inward Contentment And therefore we crave leave to acknowledg with all Thankfulness the great Wisdom and Piety therein manifested by that Honorable House to the preservation of God's true Religion the Glory of his Sacred Majesty the Honor of that Nation and the prepetual Comfort of all his Majesties faithful Subjects It yet remains that all possible Speed be used in hastning unto us the Succors designed for us lest otherwise they come too late to derive to this Kingdom the benefit intended them by that Honorable House and so We remain From his Majesties Castle of Dublin 27 November 1641. Your very assured loving Friends William Parsons La. Dublin J. Dillon Adam Loftus Ja. Ware Ormond Ossory Ant. Midensis Go. Shurley John Borlase R. Dillon Cha. Lambert J. Temple Robert Meredith Whilest the Rebels thus daily increased in Success and consequently in strength and Numbers and that Supplies were very slowly advanced in England Earl of Ormond made Lieutenant General of the Army in Ireland and the Earl of Leicester designed by his Majesty for that Government made no great hast the slowness of the Parliaments Preparations indeed not permitting him to repair to that important and now dangerous and now troublesome Charge he by the King's Approbation made the Earl of Ormond Lieutenant General of the Army and accordingly sent him a Commission to that purpose And doubtless both his Quality and great Interest in that Nation and a Fidelity to the Crown of England drawn down from so long a discent of Illustrious Ancestors of most approved Loyalty as well as the particular esteem which the Wise and Noble Earl of Strafford had entertained of his promising Merits gave his Majesty a full Assurance and Satisfaction in that Choice which as afterwards those greater Trusts which his Majesty was pleased to confer upon him he discharged with that extraordinary Prudence Courage and matchless Loyalty as will for ever set his Reputation and Honor among the Chief of those great Names who have been transmitted to Posterity both for their brave and Generous Actions and admirable Constancy in suffering all the Miseries of an adverse Fortune rather than comply with such terms as might blemish and fully their Memories with the least stain of disloyalty or infidelity to their Religion Prince and Country as the Part which his Lordship had both in the better and more sinister Fortune of his King and Country will in the Ensuing History make most evident His Lordship being vested in this Command made all the application he was capable of and the narrow Circumstances of Affairs would then admit to put things into a Posture to oppose the Rebels and accordingly Levies of Men were made at Dublin and divers of the poor people who from all Parts came flocking thither for Sanctuary being dispoiled by the Rebels were formed into Companies and Regiments but they were a sort of raw unexperienced and dispirited Men and not likely to prove good Souldiers in so short a time as the Event justified For the Rebels under the Command of Sir Phelim O Neal drawing down towards Tredagh upon which Place they had fixed their chief Design the Lords Justices upon Information from Sir Henry Tichburn the Governor there resolved to send a re-inforcement to that Garrison which was a Place of such Importance as that upon the preservation or loss thereof depended in a great measure the Fate of the whole Kingdom Accordingly 600 Foot under the Command of Major Roper and a Troop of Horse under the command of Sir Patrick Weames were immediately ordered to March for Tredagh the very day that they parted from Dublin there was an Advertisement brought to the Board that some of the Rebels Army was passed over the River Boine with an Intention to intercept them in their Passage whereupon the Earl of Ormond by Direction from the Council dispatched an Express to advertise them thereof and from thence to pass on to Tredagh and
the ordinary Course and Courts of Justice declined 3. The proceedings in Civil Causes at Council-Board contrary to the Law and great Charter not limited to any certain time or season 4. That the Subject is in all the material parts thereof denied the benefit of the Princely Graces and more especially of the Statute of Limitations of 21 of Jac. granted by his Majesty in the Fourth Year of His Reign upon great Advice of the Councils of England and Ireland and for great Consideration and then published in all the Courts of Dublin and in all the Counties of this Kingdom in open Assizes whereby all Persons do take notice That contrary to His Majesties Pious Intentions His Subjects of this Land have not enjoyed the benefit of His Majesties Princely Promise thereby made 5. The extrajudicial avoiding of Letters Patents of Estates of a very great part of His Majesties Subjects under the Great Seal the Publick Faith of the King dom by private Opinions delivered at the Council-Board without Legal Evictions of their Estates contrary to Law and without President or Example of any former Age. 6. The Proclamation for the sole emption and uttering of Tobacco which is bought at very low Rates and uttered at high and excessive Rates by means whereof thousands of Families within this Kingdom and of His Majesties Subjects in several Islands and other parts of the West-Indies as your Petitioners are informed are destroyed and the most part of the Coin of this Kingdom is ingrossed into particular Hands insomuch that your Petitioners do conceive that the Profit arising and ingrossed thereby doth surmount His Majesties Revenue certain or casual within this Kingdom and yet his Majesty receiveth but very little profit by the same 7. The universal and unlawful encreasing of Monopolies to the advantage of a few the disprofit of His Majesty and impoverishment of His people 8. And the extream cruel Vsage of certain late Commissioners and other Stewards of the British Farmers and Inhabitants of the City and County of London-Derry by means whereof the worthy Plantation of that Country is almost destroyed and the Inhabitants are reduced to great Poverty and many of them forced to forsake the Country the same being the first and most useful Plantation in the large Province of Ulster to the great weakning of the Kingdom in this time of danger the said Plantation being the Principal Strength of those parts 9. The late Erection of the Court of High Commission for Causes Ecclesiastical in these necessitous Times the Proceedings of the said Court in many Causes without legal Warrant and yet so supported as Prohibitions have not been obtained though legally sought for And the excessive Fees exacted by the Ministers thereof and the encroaching of the same upon the Jurisdiction of other Ecclesiastical Courts of this Kingdom 10. The exorbitant Fees and pretended Customs exacted by the Clergy against the Law some of which have been formerly represented to your Lordship 11. The Petitioners do most heartily bemoan that His Majesties Service and Profit are much more impaired than advanced by the Grievances aforesaid and the Subsidies granted in the last Parliament having much encreased His Majesties Revenue by the buying of Grants and otherwise And that all His Majesties Debts then due in this Kingdom were satisfied out of the said Subsidies and yet his Majesty is of late as the Petitioners have been informed in the House of Commons become indebted in this Kingdom in great Sums And they do therefore humbly beseech That an exact Account may be sent to His Majesty how and in what manner His Treasure is issued 12. The Petitioners do humbly conceive just and great fears at a Proclamation published in this Kingdom in Anno Domini 1635. prohibiting men of Quality or Estates to depart this Kingdom into England without the Lord-Deputie's Licence whereby the Subjects of this Kingdom are hindred and interrupted from free access to address to His Sacred Majesty and Privy-Council of England to declare their just Grievances or to obtain Remedies for them in such sort as their Ancestors have done in all Ages since the Reign of King Henry the Second and great Fees exacted for every of the said Licences 13. That of late His Majesties Attorney-General hath exhibited Informations against many ancient Burroughs of this Kingdom into His Majesties Court of Exchequer to shew cause by what Warrant the said Burgesses who heretofore sent Burgesses to Parliament should send the Burgesses to the Parliament and thereupon for want of an Answer the said Priviledges of sending Burgesses was seized by the said Court which Proceedings were altogether Coram non Judice and contrary to the Laws and Priviledges of the House of Parliament and if way should be given thereunto would tend to the Subversion of Parliaments and by Consequence to the Ruin and Destruction of the Common-wealth And that the House of Commons hath hitherto in this present Parliament been deprived of the Advice and Counsel of many profitable and good Members by means thereof 14. By the Powerfulness of some Ministers of State in this Kingdom the Parliament in its Members and Actions hath not its natural Freedom 15. And lastly That the Gentry and Merchants and other His Majesties Subjects of this Kingdom are of late by the Grievances and Pressures before said and other the like brought very near to Ruin and Destruction And the Farmers of Customs Customers Waiters Searchers Clerks of Vnwarrantable Proceedings Pursevants and Goalers and sundry others very much enriched whereby and by the slow Redress of the Petitioners Grievances His Majesties most Faithful and Dutiful People of this Kingdom do conceive great fears that their readiness approved upon all occasions hath not been of late rightly represented to his Sacred Majesty For Remedy whereof the said Petitioners do humbly and of right beseech your Lordships That the said Grievances and Pressures may be speedily Redressed and if your Lordship shall not think fit to afford present Relief that your Lordship might admit a Select Committee of this House of Persons uninteressed in the benefit arising of the aforesaid Grievances to be licensed by your Lordship to repair to His Sacred Majesty in England for to pursue the same and to obtain fitting remedy for their aforesaid and other just Grievances and Oppressions and upon all just and Honourable Occasions they will without respect of particular Interest or Profit to be raised thereby most humbly and readily in Parliament extend their utmost endeavour to serve His Majesty and comply with His Royal and Princely Occasions and shall pray c. To this the Earl replyed that their Lordships might observe that it bore Date Feb. 22 1640. which was since his Impeachment and that it is followed by Faction and Confederacy and a strong Conspiracy against him as if he had time and opportunity he could make it appear And indeed the Complaints of the Irish Nation against him who had in all things endeavoured to promote and
wonder and your Policy to be admired amongst the Nations After which his Majesty commanded the Clerk of the Parliament to pronounce the Royal Assent which he did in these words viz. Le Roy Remerciant ses bons Subjects accepte leur Benevolence ainsi le veult For the other two Bills his Majesty said Inregard he had not considered of them being Bills of great Consequence he would inform himself concerning the particulars and return an answer within few days After which the Commons with their Speaker returned to their House highly discontented that his Majesty had not passed the other two Bills for they presently after in some disorder adjourned themselves till Monday This day also Commissary Willmot Petitioned the House Commissary Wilmot's Petition rejected that he might have liberty upon Bail to go into the Country for the Recovery of his Health which was very much impaired by reason of his Imprisonment but the House being already in a great Ferment it was in an ill minute for him for whatever they might have done in a better humor his Petition was now utterly rejected The House of Commons met this Morning Monday July 5. but being highly discontented at the King 's delaying to pass the two Bills for abolishing the Court of Star-Chamber and the High-Commission Court they did not fall upon any business but within an hour the Gentleman-Usher of the Black-Rod came to the House to acquaint them that the King was come to the House of Lords and expected their attendance Upon their coming up his Majesty spake as followeth My Lords and Gentlemen I Come to do the Office which I did on Saturday last The King's Speech at Passing the Bills against the Star-Chamber and High-Commission Court July 5. 1641. to give determination to these Two Bills but before I do it I must tell you that I cannot but be very sensible of those reports of discontent that I hear some have taken for not giving my consent on Saturday Methinks it seems strange that any one should think I could pass two Bills of that Importance as these were without taking some fit time to consider of them for it is no less than to alter in a great measure those Fundamental Laws Ecclesiastical and Civil which many of my Predecessors have established c. If you consider what I have done this Parliament discontent will not sit in your hearts for I hope you remember that I have granted That the Judges hereafter shall hold their places quam diu benè se gesserint I have bounded the Forrest not according to My right but according to late Customes I have established the Property of the Subjects as witness the free-giving not taking away the Ship-mony I have established by Act in Parliament the Property of the Subject in Tonnage and Poundage which never was done in any My Predecessors time I have granted a Law for a Triennial Parliament and given way to an Act for the securing of moneys advanced for the disbanding of the Armies I have given free course of Justice against Delinquents I have put the Law in execution against Papists Nay I have given way to every thing that you have asked of me and therefore methinks you should not wonder if in some things I begin to refuse But I hope it shall not hinder your progress in your great Affairs and I will not stick upon trivial matters to give you content I hope you are sensible of these beneficial favours bestowed on you at this time To conclude You know by your consent there is a prefixed time set for my going into Scotland and there is an absolute necessity for it I do not know but that things may so fall out that it may be shortened therefore I hope you will hasten the dispatching of those great businesses that now are necessary to be done and leave trivial and superficial matters to another meeting For my part I shall omit nothing that may give you just contentment and study nothing more then your happiness and therefore I hope you shall see a very good Testimony of it by passing these two Bills Le Roy le veult This being done His Majesty said as followeth I have one word more to speak unto you and take now an occasion to present unto both Houses that thereby I hope all the World shall see that there is a good understanding between me and my people It is concerning my Nephew the Prince Elector Palatine who having desired Me and the King of Denmark to give way to a writing concerning the Dyet at Ratisbone with the Emperor I could not but send my Ambassador to Assist him though I am afraid I shall not have so good an answer as I expect which my Nephew fore-seeing hath desired me for the better countenancing of the same to make a Manifesto in my Name which is a thing of great Consequence And if I should do it alone without the advice of my Parliament it would rather be a scorn then otherwise Therefore I do propose it unto you that if you will advise me to it I do think it were very fit to be published in my name Mr. Rossetti the Popes Nuncio leaves England Treasurer after the House was returned acquaints them that Rossetti the Pope's Nuncio had left England WHereas William Shepherd now a Prisoner in the Fleet by the Sentence of this House Shepherd one of the Rioters at St. Saviours Southwark released for pressing in with others into the Church of St. Saviour's Southwark and violently breaking and pulling down of the Rails about the Communion Table which Sentence he the said William Shepherd acknowledging to be just and honourable It is Ordered That the said William Shepherd shall be released from his said Imprisonment for this Offence and set at Liberty In compliance with his Majesties Speech the House of Commons took the Prince Elector's condition into consideration the Manifesto was read and a Debate had upon it at which Sir Benjamin Rudyard made this Speech Mr. Speaker THis great Affair of the Palatinate concerneth this Kingdom in Nature Sir Benjamin Rudiard's Speech concerning the Palatinate in Honour in Reason of State in Religion We all know how near in Blood the Prince Elector is to his Majesty Many of us here know what solemn Protestations have been made in this place for the Recovery of the Palatinate by which we are bound in Honour to pursue it with our best Assistance God hath so framed the powers of Man and so ordered the course of things in this World as that in all Actions Right Reason and true Religion may well hold and go together If we consider Religion according to Reason of State we shall find that Christendom divides it self into two sides with the Pope against the Pope His Majesty is the greatest King of the Religion and therefore fittest to be the Head of that Party which will add a greater greatness to him then can be gotten any
from the King in haec verba His Majesty hath commanded Me to tell you Munday July 19 Message from the King about a Priest of the Venetian Ambassadors that upon a Complaint of the Venetian Ambassador for the imprisoning of a Priest being His Majesties Subject he thinks fit that these two Things be done First That all Ambassadors should have it declared to them in His Majesties Name that they retain no Priests Natives of any of His Majesties Dominions Secondly That the Priest belonging to the Venetian Ambassador be presently sent out of the Kingdom and not to return again but at his Peril This Favour His Majesty thinks fit to shew the Venetian Ambassador seeing the particular Person as His Majesty is informed hath been his Servant these three Years and was brought over with him when he came the Ambassador being ignorant of the Laws of the Kingdom Whereupon it was Ordered That the Committee of Ten inform themselves of the truth of the Ambassadors Complaint and the State of the Case Bill about the Marches of Wales A Message was brought from the Commons by Sir Robert Harlow who also brought up a Bill which had passed that House for freeing five Counties from the Jurisdiction of the Marches of Wales Mr. Bellasis also brought up another Bill Bill for Billet Money c. which had passed the House of Commons Entituled an Act for securing of such Monies as are or shall be due to the Inhabitants of the County of York and the other Counties adjoyning wherein His Majesties Army is or hath been Billetted for the Billet of the Soldiers of the said Army as also to certain Officers of the said Army who do forbear part of their Pay according to an Order in that behalf in the Commons House of Parliament this present Session for such Use of their parts as they shall forbear Five new Heads added to the Ten former Propositions July 20. 1641. The Earl of Bristol Reports from the Committee of both Houses for the Ten Heads That the House of Commons have presented to their Lordships five Propositions which they desire may be added to the other Ten Heads and that their Lordships after Consideration of them would joyn with them to move His Majesty therein the Heads were these viz. I. The House of Commons doth declare That no Forreign Ambassador what soever ought to shelter or harbor any Popish Priests or Jesuits that are Natives of the Kings Dominions under pretence of being their Servants or otherwise and that the select Committee of their House for the Ten Propositions shall present this Declaration to the Committee of this House to the end that their Lordships may joyn with them to Petition His Majesty that this may accordingly be observed II. That Care may be taken concerning several Commissions granted for the Levying of Men in Ireland to the number of Fourteen Thousand Men as is informed and all of them Papists to the end to be transported as is conceived to Princes not well affected to this Kingdom and that Popish Commanders may not have such Power by Commissions as is of late granted to them III. Also that no Papist hereafter may have the keeping of any Castle Fort Chace Forrest Park or Walk within England and Wales and that such as are in Possession may be outed according to Law IV. That the King be moved to let the House of Commons have such Gun-powder out of His Majesties Stores as may be spared and they will pay after the rate of ten Pence per Pound for it as soon as they can get Monies V. And lastly To move His Majesty that the Arms which have been taken from the several Counties may be restored to them and if His Majesty can spare any Arms out of His Store they will buy them Hereupon the Lords taking these five Propositions into Consideration Ordered To joyn with the House of Commons humbly to move His Majesty that he would please to Assent to them To this purpose Earl of Essex Earl of Warwick Earl of Cambridge Earl of Bristol Viscount Say and Seal were appointed to attend His Majesty for His Answer After which William Smyter William Shepheard Toby Gratwick Rioters at St. Olaves released George Ewer Hugh Barcok Thomas Low George Pitcher and Edward Symonds upon their Humble Petition and Acknowledgment of their Misdemeanors in the Tumult at St. Olaves and St. Saviors were released from their Imprisonment A Conference having been had-with the Lords about the French Ambassadors Tuesday July 20. French Ambassador desires to have the Disbanded English Army for his Masters Service desire to have some of the disbanded Troops Sir John Culpeper Reports That the French Ambassador had waited upon His Majesty to desire that upon disbanding of the English Army he might have liberty to carry such Men over for his Masters Service as he could agree with and that His Majesty had told him that he would give no Answer till he had acquainted the Parliament with it Whereupon it was Ordered That the House should consider of it on Thursday Morning The engrossed Articles against the Bishop of Ely were this Day carried up to the Lords by Sir Thomas Widdrington who at the reading of them made this following Oration to blacken the Lawn Sleeves which was then the greatest Perfection of Eloquence and of Religion to be highly uncharitable My Lords I am commanded by the Knights Citizens and Burgesses now Assembled for the Commons in Parliament to deliver to your Lordships these Articles against the Bishops of Ely May it please your Lordships first to hear them read MY Lords These Articles are dipped in those Colours Sir Thomas Widdrington's Speech at the reading of the Articles against the Bishop of Ely 20 1641. in which this Bishop rendred himself to the Diocess of Norwich they need no Gloss nor Varnish In them you may behold the spirit and disposition of this Bishop hear the groans and cryes of the People see a Shepherd scattering I had almost said devouring his own Flock He that was desired to paint Hercules thought he had done enough when he had made a resemblance of the Lyons Skin which he was wont to carry about him as a Trophy of his Honor. I will say that in these you will not find a resemblance of the Lyons Skin I am sure you will find the resemblance of the Skins that is to say the tattered and ruin'd Fortunes of Poor Innocent Lambs who have extreamly suffered by the violence of this Bishop In the year 1635 this man was created Bishop of Norwich he is no sooner there but he marcheth furiously In the Creation of the World Light was one of the first productions the first visible action of this Bishop after his Creation into the See was to put out many burning and shining Lights to Suspend divers Able Learned and Conscientious Ministers he that should have been the golden Snuffer of these Lights became the Extinguisher and
Act for prevention of vexatious Proceedings touching the Order of Knighthood 5 An Act for the better Ordering and Regulating of the Office of the Clerk of the Market allowed and confirmed by this Statute and for the Reformation of false Weights and Measures The Private Bill was An Act for the assuring a Messuage called Duresme House aliàs Durham House and certain Stables part of the Possessions of the Bishop of Duresme situate in the Parish of St. Martins in the Fields in the County of Middlesex unto the Right Honorable Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery and his Heirs and of a yearly Rent of 200 l. per Annum to the said Bishop of Duresme and his Successors in lieu thereof Then his Majesty took his leave of the Parliament telling them He hoped to give good Expedition in disbanding both Armies and that he would make what haste he could if possible to return before Michaelmas Declared and Voted by this House Nemine contradicente Declaration of the Lords abount the choice of their Speaker That the certain and undoubted Right of this House to chuse their Speaker and that the Speaker is not to depart when this House sits without the leave of this House and that this Order be added to the standing Orders of this House The Lords Commissioners reported Propositions of the Scottish Commissioners about Difficulties of their Army marching away Aug. 10. 1641. That the Scottish Commissioners desire them to represent to the King's Majesty and the Parliament That in respect of the great Rain which hath fallen in the North whereby the Cannon cannot be carried through Kynsidmire nor can the Scottish Army cross the River Tweed his Majesty may be graciously pleased with consent of the Parliament to permit the Scottish Army to March through Berwick since there is no other Passage But for all they were our dear Brethren of Scotland neither the Lords nor Commons were without Jealousy of them as appears by these following Particulars The House of Lords taking this desire into Consideration did appoint the Lords Commissioners to speak with the Scots Commissioners and propose unto them the making of a Passage for their Army over the Tweed with a Bridge which the Lord General shall have Order to make The Old Proverb is Make a Retreating Enemy a Bridge of Gold they had made the Scots a Bridge of Silver which Cost England above a Million of Money and now they were very willing to see them gone To which purpose at a Conference this Day the Commons acquainted the Lords That whereas formerly it was intimated at a Conference Report of the Conference about the Scottish Army That the Scottish Commissioners declared that their Army would draw themselves into a Camp and begin to March away out of this Kingdom within 48 Hours after they had received the Monies of Arrears at New-Castle and the 80000 l. in part of the Brotherly Assistance and had Security for the Payment of the rest the House of Commons having now paid them all their Arrears at New-Castle and 80000 l. in London and have performed all that was agreed to be performed by them they desire that the Lords Commissioners may move the Scots Commissioners in the Name of both Houses of Parliament that their Army may march away according to their Promise And further that the House of Commons desires this House would joyn with them to write Letters to the Lord General of the Kings Army to disband the Horse and Foot presently that so Peace may be setled and all Jealousies removed Whereupon it was Ordered by the Lords Order of the Lords for Exemplifying the Acts for Pacification and Brotherly Assistance that this House will joyn with the Commons in the Desires of this whole Conference It was also this day Ordered That the two Acts of Parliament the one for the Brotherly Assistance the other for the Confirmation of the Treaty between the Two Kingdoms shall be transmitted into the Chancery by Writs of Certiorari directed to the Clerk of the Parliament and shall be Exemplified by the Clerks of the Petty Bagg in a Secretary Hand and this to be the Warrant in that behalf The House after their return from the Lords House Commissioners to be sent into Scotland fell into Debate about sending some Commissioners from either House into Scotland and accordingly it was Resolved c. That some Commissioners shall be sent into Scotland for these Purposes authorized by both Houses to see and take Care that the Acts that concern this Kingdom be perfected in the Parliament of Scotland and from time to time to give his Majesty a true understanding of the Proceedings of the Parliament here the Lords to be moved to joyn in Petition to move the King for it The Bill for Tonnage and Poundage passed and Mr. Solicitor was sent up with it to the Lords to desire That this Bill may pass by special Commission and that it may be so contrived that the Bill may pass before the King is gone out of the Kingdom And it was immediately read three times successively in the Lords House and passed as a Law Nemine contradicente This Day the King set forward in the Afternoon upon his Journey to Scotland accompanied with the Prince Elector the Duke of Lenox The King sets forward his Journey to Scotland Wednesday August 11. now created Duke of Richmond and the Marquiss Hamilton A Letter was this day read in the House of Commons to be sent to the Earl of Holland to give Order for the speedy disbanding of the rest of the Army both Horse and Foot Message to the Lords about the Bishops that were impeached A Message was sent to the Lords to desire That the Bishops may be put to a present Answer in the Presence of the Commons as was formerly desired the House of Commons being ready to make good their Accusation and Sir Arthur Haslerig to go up with this Message and to desire a Conference about it Mr. Glyn reports the Conference with the Lords about the Bishops That the Lord Privy Seal told them The Lords Answer about the Impeachment of the Bishops That some Daies since they had received an Impeachment against the Bishops delivered at the Bar by Word of Mouth accusing them of many great Crimes and Misdemeanors and that this House did desire that the Bishops may be put to a present Answer at the time when the Impeachment was delivered They were Matters of great Consequence and coming from the House of Commons they were very curious not to proceed but in a Parliamentary Way upon good Consideration whereas the Charges were in general only He said further There were two Ways of proceeding there by transmission from this House or by a Charge by Word of Mouth in this latter the Course is to appoint some of the Kings Council to draw up particular Charges out of the General that they would proceed no wayes till they had
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
shut up and they returned back to the place from whence they fled 6. That the Decree 40 Eliz. Imprinted inter alia for the relief of the Poor who are driven to live by Begging or to be relieved by Alms and have been taken into new erected Tenements and divided Houses be taken into consideration during the time of Infection and the Landlords of such Tenements to be rated according to the said Decree with the Parishioners where such Buildings and Divisions are as if they were dwelling in the said Parish for that otherwise the said Buildings will be an insupportable charge to the Parish and the poor people turned out into the streets in this time of Infection 7. That the pavements in the streets be made sufficient and so continued the Kennels kept sweet and clean the Soil of the said Streets to be carried away and all annoyances to be removed and such Inhabitants as shall refuse to pay the reasonable Rates Assessed on them for payment of the Scavengers which shall cleanse and carry away the Soile be distrained by their Goods for the payment thereof 8. That if any person shall turn out of their Houses any Servant or Lodgers being sick power to be given to the Magistrate or Officer to put them in their said House again or otherwise the said persons to provide sufficient maintenance for them and upon refusing so to do being able persons to distrain the Goods of such persons for the discharge that shall so turn them out of doors 9. If by order of the Magistrate any persons visited and removed out of their House or Lodging to the Pest-House or other place when they be recovered and in perfect health the said Magistrate to have Power and full Authority to return and settle the said persons in their Houses or Lodgings from whence they were so taken out without contradiction of their Landlords or any others 10. That all such Magistrates or other persons that shall be trusted with this Service may be enabled to do all other things necessary and pursuing the Execution of these Orders as occasion shall require and be out of the danger of misconstruction seeing they hazzard their particular safeties to provide for the Publick The Lord Privy Seal reported the Conference with the House of Commons concerning Raising and Transporting Forces out of His Majesties Dominions where this Paper was read Intituled The Conference between the Lords and Commons concerning Levies for forreign Princes Sept. 9 1641. Instructions agreed by the Lords and Commons in Parliament upon the Ninth day of September 1641. To be sent to the Committees of both Houses now attending His Majesty at Edinburgh WHereas we have received Information from you as likewise from Mr. Secretary Vane concerning the Complaint of the Spanish Ambassador about the stay of 4000 Men to be raised in His Majesties Dominions and Ships for Transporting the same You shall in the Name of both Houses of Parliament humbly present the true state of proceeding in Parliament concerning that business in this manner When His Majesty was pleased to acquaint both Houses with the desire of the French and Spanish Ambassadors to Transport Forces out of England and Ireland His Majesty did withal graciously express his Resolution not to consent to these desires without the consent of his Parliament Both Houses have search't their Journals and find by them that not only they never made any expression of such a Consent as they can make no such but by Order but that both Houses have by Vote declared their Opinions to the contrary and have inclosed the Copy of those Votes That the Parliament cannot but wonder that any person should presume to inform His Majesty that they had made any such Expression having made no such Vote which they conceived to be destructive to the Proceedings and contrary to the Priviledge of Parliament And this being the state of the matter of Fact the Parliament doth no less wonder and conceives it an high injury to them that the Spanish Ambassador should offer a Complaint of them to His Majesty for doing of that which His Majesty having referred the consideration of the Ambassadors desires to the Parliament they could not but do without manifest breach of their Duties as Councellors in this His Majesties great Council of Parliament for the Reasons following 1. That the want in which Forreign States stand of Men is such that great use may be made of them by His Majesty and very advantageous Conditions had for them in the making and strengthening of Alliances abroad as his Affairs and Reason of State may require which will be lost as to so many and we fear as to more which under colour of these may be Transported if these Men should be thus parted with 2. That the breeding of Irish Papists in a Forreign War may beget Damage to that Kingdom and Trouble to this especially serving under the King of Spain there being already in his Dominions and in his Armies Fugitives of that Nation and that in great Commands over the Militia of the same 3. That His Majesty having sent an Extraordinary Ambassador to Ratisbone to demand that in this present Dyet that Justice be done to the Electoral House by the House of Austria and likewise published a Manifest by advice of his Parliament declaring that if this be not done by them with whom how the Interests of Spain are involved and interwoven is evident to all Men His Majesty will employ all such Power wherewith God hath enabled him both by his own Arms and the assistance of all his Allies to vindicate his Honour the Parliament conceives That before Answer be made to this so just demand it is neither Safe nor Honourable for His Majesty to furnish that Prince with Forces which may be a disheart'ning to the Protestant Party abroad a weakning to His Majesty and a strength to his Enemies in case Justice be not done to the Electoral House which they conceive themselves to have the more Cause to doubt by reason of the Publication in Print of the late general Amnesty to the Exclusion of the Prince Palatine Whereupon it was Resolved upon the Question Nemine Contradicente That this House joynes with the House of Commons herein After which an Ordinance was agreed upon not to permit any Forces to be transported for the Service of Forreign Princes which was as followeth Die Jovis 9. Sept. 1641. Thursday Septem 9. An Ordinance was made and agreed upon by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament The Ordinance against transporting Forces into the Service of any Forreign Prince concerning the Raising and Transporting of Forces of Horse or Foot out of his Majesties Dominions of England and Ireland FOr the Safety and Defence of this Kingdom and for the better enabling of his Majesty to aid and assist his Allies abroad It is Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That none of his Majesties Subjects shall Treat or Contract
that Night and left not a Man in or about his House but he hath dispatched in several Ways and he hath sent me this Way to Tirlagh Oge Mac Hugh and others also with Letters charging them to be with his Lordship this Night at his House Of which Passage I would have given your Honors sooner Notice but that I deemed it fit to be silent in Expectation that a little time would produce some better Ground to afford me more Matter to acquaint your Honors withal Whereupon this Day I understood by one Hugh Mac-Guire that the said Tirlagh Oge Mac Hugh Con-Connaght Mac-Shane Mac Enabb Mac Guire and Oghie O Hosey reported themselves to have been appointed Captains by his Lordship to raise Men and that he had the Nomination of seven other Captains to do the like for to serve under the King of Spain in Portugal and that one of the said Captains namely the said Con-Connaght entertained twelve Men. What Authority or Commission there is for this is not here known but it makes some of us that are of the British to stand in many Doubts and Opinions concerning the same and the rather for that those three Men so named to be Captains are broken Men in their Estates and Fortunes two of them being his Lordships near Kinsmen and that if any Evil be intended they are conceived to be as apt Men to imbrace and help therein as any of their Degrees in this Country These Matters seem the more strange unto me for that they are so privately carried and that upon Friday last I heard Sir Frederick Hamilton say That the Colonels that at my last being in Dublin were raising of their Men to go for Spain were since stayed by Command out of England I have now therefore sent this Bearer purposely by these to make known to your Lordships what I have heard in this Business which I humbly leave unto your Honors Consideration and desiring to know your Pleasures herein with remembrance of my most humble Service unto your Lordships I will end these and be ever Eniskillin 11th of October 1641. Your Lordships in all Duty to be commanded Wil. Cole Superscribed To the Right Honorable his Majesties Lords Justices for the Kingdom of Ireland These hast Present The Examination of Owen Connelly Gent. taken before Vs whose Names Ensue the 22d of October 1641. WHo being truly Sworn and Examined saith The Deposition of Owen Connelly about the Irish Rebellion That being at Monnimore in the County of London-Derry on Tuesday last he received a Letter from Colonel Hugh Oge Mac-Mahon desiring him to come to him to Connogh in the County of Monoghan and to be with him on Wednesday or Thursday last Whereupon he this Examinat came to Connogh on Wednesday at Night last and finding the said Hugh come to Dublin followed him hither He came hither about Six of the Clock this Evening and forthwith went to the Lodging of the said Hugh to the House near the Boot in Oxmantown and there he found the said Hugh and came with the said Hugh into the Town near the Pillory to the Lodging of the Lord Mac-guire where they found not the Lord within and there they drank a Cup of Beer and then went back again to the said Hugh his Lodging He saith That at the said Mac-guires Lodging the said Hugh told him That there were and would be this Night great Numbers of Noblemen and Gentlemen of the Irish and Papists from all the Parts of the Kingdom in this Town who with himself had determined to take the Castle of Dublin and possess themselves of all his Majesties Ammunition there to morrow Morning being Saturday and that they intended first to batter the Chimneys of the Town and if the City would not yield then to Batter down the Houses and so to cut off all the Protestants that would not joyn with them He saith further That the said Hugh then told him That the Irish had prepared Men in all the Parts of the Kingdom to destroy all the English Inhabitants there to Morrow Morning by Ten of the Clock and that in all the Sea-Ports and other Towns of the Kingdom all the Protestants should be Killed this Night and that all the Posts that could be could not prevent it And further saith That he moved the said Hugh to forbear the Executing of that Business and to discover it to the State for the saving of his own Estate who said That he could not help it but said That they did ow their due Allegiance to the King and would pay him all his Rights but that they did this for the Tyrannical Government that was over them and to imitate Scotland who got a Priviledg by that Course And he saith further That when he was with the said Hugh in his Lodging the second time the said Hugh swore that he should not go out of his Lodging that Night but told him That he should go with him the next Morning to the Castle and said if that Matter were discovered some-body should dye for it Whereupon this Examinat feigned some Necessity for his Easement and went down out of the Chamber and left his Sword in Pawn and the said Hugh sent his Man down with him and when this Examinat came down into the Yard finding an Opportunity he this Examinat leaped over a Wall and two Pales and so came to the Lord Justice Parsons William Parsons Tho. Rotherham Robert Meredith Owen O Connelly The Examination of Hugh Oge Mac-Mahon of Connagh in the County of Monoghan Esquire Aged 35 Years or thereabouts taken before the Right Honourable the Lords Justices and Council THE said Examinat saith Mac. Mabon's Examination and Confession about the Irish Rebellion That he thinks there will be Trouble this Day throughout all the Kingdom of Ireland and that all the Fortifications of Ireland will be taken this day as he thinks And he saith That he thinks that it is so far gone by this time that Ireland cannot help it he saith he was told this by Captain Bryan O Neal he saith That Captain Bryan O Neal and Captain Hugh Burne were designed for the Surprizing of the Castle of Dublin and that if this Examinat were one for Surprizing the Castle of Dublin those Captains were principal therein He saith The place of meeting was to be at the Examinat's Lodging He saith That Twenty Prime Men of every County in Ireland were to be at Dublin this last Night concerning this matter and that they were to consult of it this morning at the Examinat's Lodging their Weapons were to be Swords and Skenes and that the Captains that were raising Men in the Irish Countries were they that should bring men hither to second the Business He saith When they had Dublin they made sure of the rest and Expected to be furnished with more Arms at Dublin He said I am now in your hands Use me as you will I am sure I shall be shortly revenged
Judge to take Four shillings per pound out of all Increases unto his Majesty upon Compositions on defective Titles by avoiding such Patents as the same Judge condemns in an Extrajudicial way This last Question is added by Order of the Lords House Copia Vera Ex. per Phill. Percivall The Answer and Declaration of the Judges unto the Questions Transmitted from the Honourable House of Commons unto the Lords Spiritual and Temporal in Parliament Assembled whereto they desired their Lordships to require the said Judges Answers in Writing forthwith 1. FIrst The Judges Answer to the Queries propounded by the Parliament The said Judges do in all Humbleness desire to represent unto your Lordships the great sense of Grief they apprehend out of their Fear that they are fallen from that good Opinion which they desire to retain with your Lordships and the said House of Commons in that notwithstanding their humble Petition and Reasons to the contrary exhibited in Writing and declared in this most Honourable House your Lordships have Over-ruled and often Commanded their Answers unto the said Questions Although they have informed your Lordships and still with assurance do aver That no Precedent in any Age can be shewn that any Judges before them were Required or Commanded to give Answer in Writing or otherwise unto such general or so many Questions in such a manner in Parliament or elsewhere unless in that time of King Rich. 2. which they humbly conceive is not to be drawn into Example And therefore they yet humbly Supplicate your Lordships so far to tender their Professions and Places and their Relation to his Majesties Service as to take into your serious Considerations the Reasons annex'd unto this their Answers before their Answers be answered or admitted among the Acts of this High Court And that if your Lordships in your Wisdomes shall after think fit to give any Copies of their Answers that for their Justification to the Present and Succeeding Times your Lordships will be pleased to require the Clerk of this most Honourable House That no Copy may be given of the said Answers without the said Reasons 2. Secondly The said Judges humbly desire your Lordships to be pleased to be informed That the words in His Majesties Writ by which they are Commanded to attend in Parliament are That the said Judges shall be present with the Lord Justices or other Chief Governor And your Lordships at the said Parliament called Pro ardus urgentibus Regni negotiis super dictis negotiis tractaturi Confilium suum impensuri And they desire your Lordships to take into your serious Considerations Whether any Advice may be required by your Lordships from them but concerning such particular matters as are in Treaty and Agitation and Judicially depending before your Lordships upon which your Lordships may give a Judgment Order or Sentence to be recorded among the Orders and Acts of this Honourable House And whether they may be Commanded by your Lordships to Subscribe their Hands unto any Opinion or Advice they shall give upon any matter in Debate before your Lordships there And whether your Lordships conceive any final Resolution upon the maâ—ters contained in the said Questions 3. Thirdly Although the said Questions are but 22 in number yet they say That they contain at least Fifty general Questions many of them of several matters and of several natures within the Resolution of which most of the greatest Affairs of this Kingdom both for Church and Common-wealth for late years may be included And therefore the said Judges do openly aforehand profess That if any particular that may have Relation to any of those Questions shall hereafter come Judicially before them and that either upon Argument or Debate which is the Sieve or Fan of Truth or Discovery of any general Inconveniences to King or Common-wealth in Time which is the Mother of Truth or by further Search or Information in any particular they shall see Cause or receive Satisfaction for it they will not be Concluded by any Answers they now give unto any of those general Questions but they will upon better Ground and Reason with their Predecessors the Judges in all Ages with Holy Fathers Councils and Parliaments retract and alter their Opinion according to their Conscience and Knowledge and the Matter and Circumstances of the Cause as it shall appear in Judgment before them it being most certain That no general Case may be so put but a Circumstance in the matter or manner may alter a Resolution concerning the same 4. Fourthly The succeeding Judges and Age notwithstanding any Answer given by the now Judges may be of another Opinion then the now Judges are without disparagement to themselves or the now Judges in regard that many particular Circumstances in many particular Cases may fall out that may alter the Reason of the Law in such Case which could not be included or foreseen in a general Question or Answer thereunto And therefore they desire your Lordships to consider of what use such Answers may be to the present or future Times 5. Fifthly Many of the said Questions as they are propounded as the said Judges humbly conceive do concern His Majesty in a high Degree in his Regal and Prerogative Power in this Government in his Revenue in the Jurisdictions of his Courts in his martial Affairs and in Ministers of State so that the said Judges considering their Oaths and the Duty which by their Places they owe unto His Majesty humbly may not with safety give Answer thereunto without special direction from His Majesty And therefore they still humbly pray your Lordships as formerly they did not to press any Answers from them untill His Majesties Princely pleasure therein be signified 6. Sixthly If the matters of those Questions which aim at some abuses of former Times were reduced into Bills they conceive it were the speedy way to have such a Reformation which might bind the present Times and Posterity And in such proceedings they ought and would most chearfully contribute their Opinions and best endeavours but in such a course as they apprehend it which points at punishment they have Reason to be sparing in giving any Opinion further then the Duty of their Places doth Command from them 7. Seventhly Although it may be conceived that the Answering of such and so many general Questions by the now Judges may contribute some help to the Reformation now so much desired yet no Man knoweth but this new Precedent in propounding such Questions to Judge in succeeding Times as the Judges and frame and Constitution of the Common-wealth may be may fall out to be most prejudicial to the State or Common-wealth 8. Eighthly Most of the matters of several of the said Questions are already by your Lordships and the said House of Commons Voted and represented unto His Majesty for Grievances and therefore no Opinions of the said Judges under favour are needful or to be required thereunto unless the same shall
and the Statute of 20 E. 3. 3. To the Third they say That it is part of their said Oath as Judges that they shall not Counsel or assent to any thing that may turn to the damage or disherison of our Soveraign Lord the Kings most Excellent Majesty by any manner of way or colour And that they give no Advice or Counsel to any man great or small in no Case wherein the King is a Party And that they shall do and procure the Profit of the King and his Crown in all Things where they may reasonably do the same And that in the Explanation of their said Oaths by the Statute of 20 E. 3. c. 1. It is declared That they shall give no Counsel to great Men nor small in case where the King is Party or which doth or may touch the King in any point And as your Lordships have been honourably pleased by an Order of this Honourable House bearing date the first of March Anno Domini 1640. Annoque Regni Regis Caroli 16. to give way That they should not be Compelled to Answer any part of the said Questions which did concern his Majesties Prerogative or were against their Oaths so they humbly represent unto your Lordships That they conceive that the Answering of the Particulars of this Question doth concern both for that the King 's Privy Council as the Questions terms it or Council Board is a Court of his Majesties high Prerogative where all Proceedings are before him and his Council or before his Governor who immediately to many Purposes represent his Majesties Person and the Council And where the great Affairs of State concerning his Majesties Honor Government Profit and of great Persons and Causes concerning the Common-Wealth which may not be conveniently remedied by the ordinary Rules of the Common-Law and many other Cases have been Treated of and managed And as his Majesty is the Fountain of all Justice within this Kingdom and may grant Cognizances of Pleas unto his Subjects and Corporations and may by his Commissions Authorize whom he shall think fit to Execute many Branches of his Authority so We humbly conceive That it doth not stand with our Oathes or Duties of our Places who are but Judges of the ordinary Courts of Justice before his Majesties Pleasure signified in that behalf to seek into the Commissions or Instructions of the Chief Governor and Council or to give any Opinion concerning the Limits Jurisdictions Orders Decrees Proceedings or Members of that High Court And that the King hath a Prerogative for hearing some of the Matters in this Question specified before his Chief Governor We beseech your Lordships to cast your Eyes on the Statute of 28 H. 6. c. 2. in this Kingdom where after Matters are directed to be sent to the Ordinary Courts yet the King's Prerogative is expresly saved notwithstanding all which his Gracious Majesty for whom it is most proper hath of late been pleased to Limit the Proceedings of that Board by his Instructions in Print 4. To the fourth they Answer as to the Third 5. To the fifth they say That generally all Grants of Monopolies whereby Trading Manufacture or Commerce is restrained and the Profit which should go to many is hindred and brought into a few Hands are against Law and the Liberty of the Subject and the Good of the Commonwealth tho they carry never so fair a pretence of Reforming Abuses And that the pretended Transgressors against such Grants are not at all punishable by any Rule of Law that they know of And yet they say That they conceive That his Majesty that is the Head and Father of the Commonwealth may restrain the Use and Importation and Exportation of certain Commodities or restrain the same into a few Hands for a time where there may be a likelyhood of his Majesties Profit which is the profit of the Commonwealth and no apparent prejudice to the Commonwealth doth appear And that when time shall discover such Prejudice then such Restraint ought to Cease So if a man by his own Invention at home or Travel Observation or Charge abroad doth introduce a new profitable or useful Trade or Profession into the Commonwealth in such Cases his Majesty may lawfully Grant and License the only making of such Commodity or teaching or using of such Trade for a certain time and the Transgressors against such Warrantable Grants may be punished by paying of Damages unto the Patentee in an ordinary Course of Justice or otherwise as the nature of the Offence and Matter doth deserve and as the Consequence and Importance of the matter may be to the King State or Commonwealth And they say That the Matter Manner Restrictions Limitations Reservations and other Clauses contained in such Grants or Licenses and the Commissions or Proclamations thereupon and undue Execution thereof and several Circumstances may make the same Lawful or Unlawful whereof they are not able to give any Certain Resolution before some Particular comes in Judgment before them neither are they otherwise able to answer the Generals in the Particulars of the said Question Of what in what Cases how where and by whom or which of them wherein whosoever desires further satisfaction he may please to have Recourse to the known Cases of Monopolies in printed Authorities and written Records and unto the Statute of 21 Jac. in Engl. concerning Monopolies and their several Exceptions and Limitations therein 6. To the Sixth they say They can no otherwise answer then they have already in their Answer to the Third Question for the Reasons therein set forth 7. To the Seventh they say That a Proclamation or Act of State cannot alter the Common Law and that Proclamations are Acts of his Majesties Prerogative and are and always have been of great use and that the Contemners of such of them as are not against the Law are and by the constant Practise of the Star-Chamber in England have been punished according to the Nature of the Contempt and Course of the said Court And although Acts of State are not of Force to bind the Goods Possessions and Inheritance of the Subject yet they have been of great use for setling of the Estates of very many Subjects in this Kingdom as may appear in the Report of the Case of Irish Gavil-Kind in Print And further to that Question they cannot Answer for the Reasons in their Answer unto the third Question set forth 8. To the Eighth they say That they know no ordinary Rule of Law by the which the Subjects of this Kingdom are made Subject to Martial Law in time of Peace and that they find the use thereof in the time of Peace in England complained of in the Petition of Right exhibited unto his Majesty in the third year of his Reign and that they conceive That the Granting of Authority and Commission for execution thereof is derived out of his Majesties Regal and Prerogative Power for suppressing of sudden and great Insolencies Insurrections among
Garrisons there and that a convenient Number of Men shall be sent from the North Parts of England for the better Guard and Defence of those Forts and Countries adjoyning and that a large proportion of Arms and other Munition shall be speedily conveyed out of his Majesties Stores to West-Chester to be disposed of according to the Direction of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland for arming the Men to be sent from England and such other of his Majesties Loyal Subjects as may be raised in Ireland 5. And because we understand That the Rebels are like with great strength to attempt the ruin and destruction of the Brittish Plantation in Ulster we humbly Advise his Majesty by the Council and Authority of his Parliament in Scotland to provide that one Regiment consisting if 1000 men furnish't and accomplish't with all necessary Arms and Munition as shall seem best to their Great Wisdoms and Experience may with all possible speed be Transported into Ireland under the Command of some Worthy Person well affected to the Reformed Religion and the Peace of both Kingdoms and well Enabled with Skill Judgment and Reputation for such an Employment which Forces we desire may be Quartered in those Northern Parts for the Opposing the Rebels and Comfort and Assistance of his Majesties good Subjects there with Instructions from his Majesty and the Parliament of Scotland that they shall upon all Occasions pursue and observe the Directions of the Lord Lieutenant his Lieutenant General or the Governor of Ireland according to their Authority derived from his Majesty and the Crown of England 6. And as touching the Wages and other Charges needful which this Assistance will require We would have You in our Name to beseech His Majesty to commend it to our Brethren the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland to take it into their Care on the behalf of His Majesty and this Kingdom to make such agreements with all the Commanders and Soldiers to be imployed as they would do in the like Case for themselves and to let them know For Our parts We do wholly rely upon their Honorable and Friendly dealing with us and will take Care that Satisfaction be made accordingly 7. You shall represent to his most Excellent Majesty this our Humble and Faithful Declaration that we cannot without much grief remember the great Miseries Burthens and Distempers which have for divers Years afflicted all his Kingdoms and Dominions and brought them to the last point of Ruine and Destruction all which have issued from the Cunning False and Malicious Practices of some of those who have been admitted into very near Places of Council and Authority about him who have been Favourers of Popery Superstition and Innovation Subverters of Religion Honor and Justice Factors for promoting the Designs of Forreign Princes and States to the great and apparent danger of His Royal Person Crown and Dignity and of all his People Authors of False Scandals and Jealousies betwixt his Majesty and his Loyal Subjects Enemies to the Peace Vnion and Confidence betwixt Him and his Parliament which is the surest Foundation of Prosperity and Greatness to his Majesty and of Comfort and Hope to them That by their Councils and Endeavours those great Sums which have been lately drawn from the People have been either consumed unprofitably or in the maintenance of such Designs as have been Mischievous and Destructive to the State and whilest we have been labouring to Support his Majesty to purge out the Corruptions and restore the Decayes both of Church and State others of their Faction and Party have been contriving by Violence and Force to suppress the Liberty of Parliament and indanger the Safety of those who have opposed such wicked and pernicious Courses 8. That we have just Cause to believe That those Conspiracies and Commotions in Ireland are but the Effects of the same Councils and if persons of such Aims and Conditions shall still continue in Credit Authority and Imployment the great Aids which we shall be inforced to draw from his People for subduing the Rebellion in Ireland will be applied to the Fomenting and Cherishing of it there and Encouraging some such like attempt by the Papists and ill-affected Subjects in England and in the End to the Subversion of Religion and destruction of his Loyal Subjects in both Kingdoms And do therefore most humbly beseech his Majesty to change those Councils from which such ill Courses have proceeded and which have Caused so many Miseries and Dangers to himself and all his Dominions and that he will be graciously pleased to imploy such Councils and Ministers as shall be approved of by his Parliament who are his greatest and most Faithful Council that so his People may with Courage and Confidence undergo the Charge and Hazard of this War and by their Bounty and Faithful Endeavours with Gods Blessing restore to his Majesty and this Kingdom that Honor Peace Safety and Prosperity which they have Enjoyed in former times And if herein his Majesty shall not vouchsafe to condescend to our humble Supplication although we shall always continue with Reverence and Faithfulness to his Person and to his Crown to perform those Duties of Service and Obedience to which by the Laws of God and this Kingdom we are Obliged Yet we shall be forced in discharge of the Trust which we ow to the State and to those whom we represent to Resolve upon some such way of defending Ireland from the Rebels as may concur to the Securing our selves from such Mischievous Councils and Designs as have lately been and still are in practice and agitation against us as we have just cause to believe and to commend those Aids and Contributions which this great Necessity shall require to the Custody and Disposing of such Persons of Honor and Fidelity as we have Cause to confide in The Faction as the Reader may before have observed had upon all Occasions indeavoured to lay hold upon the Soveraign Power of the Sword and indeed nothing less could Protect them from their own Fears of a future Reckoning which they were affraid they must make if ever the King's Affairs came into a prosperous Condition and setled Posture But certainly next to the Execrable Rebellion in Ireland it was one of the most barbarous Outrages to a most Excellent Prince whose Indulgence was his greatest Crime not only to charge him with the Fomenting and in a manner Contriving this most wicked Rebellion as is evident by these Venemous Reflections they intended to do but to take this advantage of the Misfortune of his Affairs to wrest from him that little remainder of Power and Regal Authority which he had not hitherto divested himself of But this was the Resolution of these Ingrateful and Ungenerous Subjects whose unbounded Ambition all the Streams of Royal Bounty were not able to satisfie so long as the King was the Fountain of them and they were determined to make use of his Majesties extreme Necessity as they had
may be just causes of those fears 1. They therefore desire their Lordships Expedition of the Ordinance concerning the Earls of Essex and Holland 2. An Answer concerning the securing the Persons of Recusants 3. Concerning the Government of the Isle of Wight and the fortifying the Forts of the Kingdom 4. That the Magazines in the County of Montgomery may be Sequestred into other hands for better security they being now in the hands of a Servant of a great Recusant 5. That Milford Haven may be fortified 6. That Sir Simon Harcourt may have a Commission to levy Soldiers for the Service of Ireland and that Thursday next may be the longest time of his stay here To these particulars the Lords gave these Resolutions 1. The Lords Answers To the first The House will Debate the Ordinance about the Earls of Essex and Holland to Morrow Morning 2. To the securing of the Persons of Recusants agreed 3. Touching the sequestring of the Isle of Wight into another hand their Lordships will take the same into confideration when the House of Commons present their Reasons why it should be taken out of the hand where it is now To the Forts they have formerly given in an account of the state of them and of the Charge which will be requisite to repair them and that the Money must proceed from them 4. To the fourth Agreed to 5. To the Fifth This House thinks it fit that Milford Haven be secured by appointing some Ships to ride in the Haven 6. To the Sixth The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland is to bring the Commission to Morrow Morning which he is to give to Sir Simon Harcourt for levying Men for the Service of Ireland This being done the Lord Keeper was appointed to acquaint the Commons who stayed in the Painted Chamber with the aforesaid Answers to their Propositions Mr. Maxwell the Gentleman-Usher gave this House an account Mr. Maxwell upon search finds no Priests That according to their Lordships Order he had searched diligently the Earl of Worcester 's House for Priests and Jesuits but can find none In the Commons House they were taken up with this new Plot and preparing Heads for the forementioned Conference And which is omitted in the Lords Journal it was desired That the Information which Beal hath given may be published It was also Ordered That St. German the French-man St. German committed to the Gate-house be committed to the Prison of the Gate-house and that no Man be suffered to speak with him but in the presence and hearing of a Keeper They were still busie in Hammering and Filing of the Remonstrance of the State of the Kingdom as appears by this Memorandum Memorandum That an Addition be made to the Declaration to this purpose to declare That this House intends to vindicate themselves from the Imputations laid upon them of discouraging of Learning and that they will advance Learning and the maintenance of Preaching Ministers They were very tender it seems of their Reputation but notwithstanding their Declaration it will remain an Eternal Riddle to Posterity how it can be possible to incourage Learning by taking away the Rewards of Industry And for their maintaining of Preaching Ministers they were as good as their Word indeed by suffering all that would to Preach and maintaining them in their Sacrilegious Usurpations upon the Sacred Function Report was made this day by the Lords Committees for the Irish Affairs That the Committees of both Houses for that business Wednesday Novemb. 17. have considered of these particulars That Power be given to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Irish Affairs for rewarding of secret services as is fit That convenient Posts be speedily set up between Beaumaris and Holy-Head And that the State of Scotland be moved to have the like care for Posts between Carlisle and Port-Patrick That Directions be sent by both Houses of Parliament to the Lords Justices of Ireland concerning the Prisoners Mac-Guire and Mac-Mahon to be Conveyed into England for their better security That the Protestation taken by both Houses be taken by all Officers and Commanders before they be employed in the service of Ireland which Propositions being read were Assented to It was Ordered Message to the Foreign Ambassadors concerning Jones and Andrews That the Right Honourable the Earl of Bristol the Earl of Holland and the Lord Brook shall forthwith Repair unto the several Ambassadors in and about the Cities of London and Westminster and desire them from the Parliament to dismiss out of their Houses such Priests as are the Kings Native Subjects and in case they shall be hereafter found abroad they shall not have any Protection but be Proceeded against according to the Laws of the Kingdom and to let them know That if the Persons of Father Jones and Father Andrews who were Accused for Treasâ—â— be received into their Houses the Parliament desires they may be presently delivered up Lord Lieutenant scruples the Validity of the Ordinance to Levy Men without the Great Seal Upon some Question made this day by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the Ordinance of Parliament for the granting him Power to give Commissions to Levy men for the Service of Ireland be of sufficient Validity without a Confirmation from His Majesty Thereupon the House did undertake to be Suitors to his Majesty to consirm the Autherity given to his Lordship by the King and the Parliament under the Great Seal of England And do Promise That they will be always ready to avow his Proceedings upon their Lordships aforesaid Orders in the mean time The Lord Lieutenant delivered a Copy of a Commission to be given to Commanders for the Levying of Men for Ireland which was Read and Approved of the Contents were as follow Robert Earl of Leicester Copy of a Commission to Raise Men for Ireland Viscount Lisle Baron of Penhurst c. One of His Majestie 's Most Honourable Privy-Council Lieutenant General of the Kingdom of Ireland and General of His Majestie 's Army there To Collonel WHereas the Lords Justices and Council of Ireland have advertised our Soveraign Lord King Charles and his High Court of Parliament now here Assembled of a suddain Insurrection aâ—d Rebellion in Ireland and have Humbly besought His Majesty to send some Succours unto his good Subjects there And his Majesty being now Absent in his Kingdom of Scotland hath recommended the Care of the said Kingdom of Ireland unto his Parliament of England and that in pursuit of his Majestie 's Pleasure so signified for as much as in this time of His Majestie 's Absence his Royal Commission according to the usual form cannot be so soon obtained as the necessity of the Kingdom doth require The Lords and Commons of the said Parliament now Assembled have by their Ordinance of the 6th of this present Month of November Authorized me by Warrant under my Hand and Seal to give one or more Commissions to such Captains Commanders or other
there had been some late disorders at Westminster They disavow the Tumults among some People met there That their Majesties would not impute this to the Body of the City or to the better sort of Citizens That they held it a Misfortune aâ—d a Scandal unto them that when those Disorders were mentioned the City was named with it and that their desire was to vindicate themselves and in some sort redeem their Credit by publiquely disavowing it To which the King was pleased graciously to Answer THat he was very well pleased with the Hearty and Loyal Affections of the Citizens for which he gave them great Thanks and though He and the Queen had before purposed to Winter at Hampton-Court yet being now fully persuaded that the Lord Mayor and Aldermen and the most considerable Citizens of London had not any hand in the Disorders and Tumults at Westminster The King promises to keep his Christmas at White-Hall he intended and so he knew Her Majesty would to alter his Resolution and with all convenient speed repair to White-hall there to keep their Christmas and be ready to do any thing else that might promote the Trade of the City hoping they would joyn with him in taking some Course for prevention of the like Disorders for the future After which the Recorder and Sir George Whitmore having kissed his Royal Hand Several Aldermen of the City of London Knighted the next Alderman in Seniority kneeled down to receive the same Favour when his Majesty instead thereof drawing a Sword conferred the Honor of Knighthood upon Five of them and the two Sheriffs the Recorder and Sir George Whitmore having received that Favor before After which they were nobly Entertained by his Majesties Command by the Earl of Dorset and Mr. Comptroller at Dinner and His Majesty and the Queen sent two Gentlemen to let them know That they had remembred the Health of the Lord Mayor and the whole City And so to the Mutual Satisfaction both of his Majesty and the City to whom they were to carry this account they returned to London But all these fair hopes were quickly blasted in the bud and that Loyal Party of the City were deprived by the Envy of that Domineering Faction who dispossessed them not long after by Force and Tumults not only of all Power of Assisting his Majesty but of protecting themselves from most Barbarous Outrages and Violences Mr. Pym and others were this day appointed to be a Committee to prepare Heads for a Conference with the Lords and to acquaint them what Bills this House hath passed and sent up to their Lordships which much concern the Safety of the Kingdom but have had no Consent of their Lordships unto them and that this House being the Representative Body of the whole Kingdom and their Lordships being but as particular Persons and coming to Parliament in a particular Capacity that if they shall not be pleased to consent to the passing of those Acts and others necessary for the Preservation and Safety of the Kingdom That then this House together with such of the Lords that are more sensible of the Safety of the Kingdom may joyn together and represent the same to his Majesty They are likewise to take into Consideration some Course for the Guarding of the Towns of Hull and Newcastle Thus early did the Democratique spirit begin to shew it self and their telling the Lords that they came to the Parliament and sate there only as particular persons that is in a private Capacity is a clear Testimony what a Mean Esteem they had of that Honourable and Supream Court of Judicature and what little Interest they thought they had in the Management of Publique Affairs and in Effect a plain intimation what they were to Expect if they did not joyn with the Faction in what ever they should Vote was for the Good the Preservation and Safety of the Kingdome The Faction indeed now began to be so Rampant in the Commons House they Encouraging the Tumults and the Tumults Enlivening them that Speaker Lenthall either grew weary of the Chair or at least in hopes of getting something for holding it longer to pretend so and I find in the Paper-Office two Letters of his to Sir Edward Nicholas bearing date as this day to that purpose had he then had the good Fortune to quit that Seat he might have Escaped the Brand of Infamy which to the Worlds End will lye upon his Name for being the Mouth of that House which pronounced so many Miseries Murders Warrs Destructions Desolations and Dismal Events to the English Nation The Letters were in these Words Right Honorable most Noble Sir Speaker Lenthall's Letter to Sir Edward Nicholas to be quit of the Chair THE Assurance of your Noble Favours imboldens me to commit to your Care the greatest Concernment that ever yet befel me the Desire being inforced by an unavoydable Necessity I have now in this Imployment spent almost 14 Months which hath so Exhausted the Labours of 25 Years that I am inforced to fly to the Sanctuary of His Sacred Majesty's Mercy Could I suppose that my humble Suit grounded on the full Expression of Duty and Obedience should have other interpretation or seem unfit in the deep Judgment of his Sacred Majesty I should then desire my Thoughts might perish in their first Conception so willing am I to offer my Self and Fortune a Sacrifice for his Royal Service but in that I hope it cannot I must humbly desire your Honor on my behalf in the lowest posture of Obedience to crave of his Sacred Majesty his Royal Leave that I may use my best Endeavours to the House of Commons to be quit of this Employment and to retire back to my former private life that whilst I have some ability of Body left I may endeavour that without which I cannot but Expect a Ruin and put a badge of Extream Poverty upon my Children The apprehension of my speedy Ensuing misery is that hath begot this most humble Request but still with that due regard of my Obedience and Duty that no Earthly consideration shall ever Encourage the least of Thoughts that may tend to the retardment of his Royal Commands Sir This being presented to your Honourable Care assures me of such a Successful way as shall ever become the Duty of me his meanest Subject in all humility to beseech Thus am I imboldened humbly to declare the Resolution and Desires of Your Honors most Obedient Servant William Lenthall Decemb. 3. 1641. But his Heart misgiving him it seems and for fear the King should take him at his Word and leave him to his Liberty to propose to the House the choice of a new Speaker he inclosed in the former another Paper in these words Right Honourable MAY it please your Honor if this other Way do not take if you may find opportunity without prejudice to your self let me intreat you to incline his Majesty to recommend me to the
to hear them they were called in and Mr. Speaker acquainted them That the House was pleased to give them leave to speak what they had to say Whereupon one of them in the name of the rest desired to know Whether they might get more hands to the same Petition Then they were commanded again to withdraw and after a little time being called in Mr. Speaker told them That the House did believe what was delivered in their Petition already but that notwithstanding they were left at liberty to get more hands if they pleased After which having returned humble Thanks to the House for their good acceptance of their Petition they were dismissed The Petition was this To the Honorable the Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the House of Commons in Parliament The Humble Petition of Aldermen Common Council men Subsidy-men and other Inhabitants of the City of London and Suburbs thereof Sheweth THat they do with all humble Thankfulness acknowledg that great Labour and Care The Factious Londoners Petition against Bishops Votes for putting the Kingdom into a posture of Defence c. Decemb. 11. 1641. which this Honorable Assembly hath undergone for the space of above one whole Year endeavouring the Reformation and removal of those many Pressures and Grievances in Church and Common-wealth And do humbly present that grateful acceptance and high Esteem which not only the Petitioners but also all well-affected to the Honor of his Majesty and Prosperity of this Kingdom have of these your great and unwearied Endeavours which althô they by reason of the Popish Lords and Bishops Voting in the House of Peers and other Impediments as they humbly conceive have not hitherto produced those happy Effects You aimed at yet to the Petitioners great Comfort divers of those Pressures are already removed as Arbitrary Courts Ship-Money Monopolies and other illegal Impositions wherewith they were burthened and further hopes given by the happy Act of this Parliaments continuance That notwithstanding all this the Papists and their adherents whose malice ceaseth not have by sundry secret and desperate Plots attempted the Ruin and Destruction of this State and Kingdom and however some of them have hitherto by Gods Providence and your Prudence been discovered and become abortive Yet the sad Effects of others of them are not only felt and much more seared in this Realm of England but also have of late broke out into open Rebellion in Ireland where most barbarous savage cruel and inhumane actions are practised towards our Brethren by Nation and Religion whose lamentable and deplored Condition the Petitioners much pity and lament and have just cause to fear That as already there hath been much Christian blood spilt so in short time if speedy help be not sent not only the many great Debts there owing to divers of the Petitioners and others of this Kingdom will be wholly lost but which is far more the very Name of the English and Protestant Religion there will be rooted out which those Rebels the Foundation of whose Religion is written in letters of blood do only oppose And for that divers of the Petitioners receive daily Information from all Parts of this Kingdom of the bold insolent Carriage and threatening speeches of the Papists in this Realm arising as the Petitioners humbly conceive not only from the prevailing of the Rebels in Ireland but also from the want of such secure and speedy Course against Papists here as the present condition of this Kingdom requireth and this Honorable Assembly hath Earnestly Endeavoured From which grounds the Petitioners cannot omit to represent unto you the great Terrors Fears and Distractions that they lye under of a suddain Surprize by their Bloody hands By means whereof the Trading of this City and Kingdom is much more of late decayed then it hath been for divers Years past no man following his Trade cheerfully while the Lives of himself and Family and the Publique Safety of the Kingdom are in danger and while he knoweth not how soon they may feel the like Cruelty and Inhumanity from the Papists and their Adherents as these in Ireland have done which if ever it shall happen this Honourable Assembly must Expect to have a deep share in their Malice and Cruelty against whom they have already by themselves and their Abettors endeavoured to raise a disrespect in the Hearts of the People to divide between the Kings Majesty and his Parliament and seditiously to misconstrue the Citizens Dutiful and Loyal Entertainment of his Majesty to be a deserting of this Honourable Assembly the least thought whereof the Petitioners do utterly detest and abhor To the End therefore that the destructive Plots of the Papists and their Adherents may be defeated the grounds of their Hopes and Inselencies removed considerable Forces with all Expedition sent to subdue those abominable and bloody Rebels in Ireland this City and Kingdom for prevention of the like Mischiefs here and securing the Peace thereof put into a Posture of Defence the Petitioners freed from their Fears encouraged in their Trades and in due time receive such just Answers to their former Petitions as shall seem best to your great Wisdoms It is humbly prayed That you will vouchsafe to be a means to the Kings Majesty and the House of Peers that life may be speedily given to your good Endeavours by their concurrence with you in the punishment of Delinquents and redressing the Pressures and Grievances in Church and Commonwealth amongst which the abuses crept in to the Ancient Government of this City they humbly desire may in due time be taken into Consideration And for the better Effecting hereof That the Popish Lords and Bishops may be removed out of the House of Peers as was desired in the presence of divers of this Honorable Assembly by the Representative Body of this City in the Guild-Hall when 50000 l. was freely lent to raise Forces for Ireland the greatest part whereof was speedily brought in by the Petitioners And the Petitioners who well know their own Safeties are wrapt up in Yours shall not fail to put up daily Prayers to Almighty God for your good Success and to maintain and defend to the utmost hazard of their Lives and Estates according to their late Protestation the Kings Majesty and High Court of Parliament against all Wicked Councellors and Malignant Opposers who endeavour either by secret Plots or open Force to prejudice the one or the other or to make division between his Majesty and the Parliament whom God and the Laws of the Land have united in so near Relation The Reader may observe by this Petition which it is easie to guess out of what Quiver the Arrow came how high the Springs of Rebellion were wound up here are Popish Lords and Bishops coupled together here are the Papists and their adherents that was all such as were Orthodox and Loyal Voted the Common Enemies here are Fears Terrors and Distractions Plots and Conspiracies Dangers and sudden Surprizes to amaze
this Kingdom and as yet nothing in their Doctrine generally taught dissonant from the Word of God or the Articles ratified by Law In this Case to call their Government a perpetual Vassallage an intollerable Bondage and prima facie inauditâ alterâ parte to pray the present removal of them or as in some of their Petitions to seek the utter Dissolution and Ruin of their Offices as Anti-Christian We cannot conceive to relish of Justice or Charity nor can We joyn with them But on the contrary when We consider the Tenor of such Writings as in the name of Petitions are spread among the Common People the Tenents Preached Publickly in Pulpits and the Contents of many Printed Pamphlets swarming among us all of them dangerously exciting a disobedience to the Established Form of Government and their several intimations of the desire of the Power of the Keys and that their Congregations may Execute Ecclesiastical Censures within themselves We cannot but express our just Fears that their desire is to introduce an absolute Innovation of Presbyterial Government whereby We who are now governed by the Canon and Civil Laws dispensed by Twenty six Ordinaries easily responsible to Parliaments for any deviation from the Rule of the Law conceive we should become exposed to the meer Arbitrary Government of a numerous Presbytery who together with their Ruling Elders will arise to near forty thousand Church Governors and with their adherents must needs bear so great a sway in the Common-wealth that if future inconvenience shall be found in that Government we humbly offer to consideration how these shall be reducible by Parliaments how consistent with Monarchy and how dangerously conducible to Anarchy which We have just cause to pray against as fearing the Consequences would prove the utter loss of Learning and Laws which must necessarily produce an Extermination of Nobility Gentry and Order if not of Religion With what vehemency of Spirit these things are prosecuted and how plausible such Popular Infusions spread as incline to a Parity we held it our Duty to represent to this Honourable Assembly and humbly pray That some such present Course be taken as in your Wisdoms shall be thought fit to suppress the future dispersing of such dangerous discontents among the Common People We having great Cause to fear That of all the Distempers that at present threaten the welfare of this State there is none more worthy the mature and grave Consideration of this Honourable Assembly then to stop the Torrent of such Spirits before they swell beyond the bound of Government Then We doubt not but His Majesty persevering in his gracious Inclination to hear the Complaints and relieve the Grievances of his Subjects in frequent Parliaments it will so Vnite the Head and the Body so indissolubly Cement the Affections of his People to our Royal Soveraign that without any other Change of Government He can never want Revenue nor Wee Justice We have presumed to annex a Copy of a Petition or Libel dispersed and certain positions Preacht in this County which We conceive imply Matter of a dangerous Consequence to the Peace both of Church and State All which We humbly submit to your great Judgments Praying they may be read And shall ever Pray c. Subscribed to this Petition Four Noblemen Knights Baronets Knights and Esquires fourscore and odd Divines threescore and ten Gentlemen three hundred and odd Free-Holders and other Inhabitants above six thousand All of the same County It was this Day moved E. of Salisbury hath leave to follow some Business in the Commons House That the Earl of Salisbury having some business depending in the House of Commons and his Lordship desires being a Peer he may have leave of this House to follow it which the House Granted Then the Lords Commissioners Reported That this Morning they met with the Scots Commissioners who delivered them this Paper following with a desire that they might have a speedy Answer therein for that they are to send Letters away presently to Scotland The Paper was this It is now 20 Daies since We came hither A Scottish Paper complaining of Delayes in the Treaty for Relief for Ireland and a Forthnight since We begun this Treaty and there is no one of our Propositions answered therefore lest those that sent us and expected an Answer from us against the 8th of this Month should impute it to us we earnestly desire and expect an Answer to our Propositions given that we may give in the rest and be at a point this Day or to morrow and in Case of further Delay we demand that since the 8th of this Month at which time we should have sent Answer into Scotland to the end of the Treaty we may have Entertainment for the 2500 Men we have kept up for this Service otherwise we must send into Scotland that they may be disbanded A Message was brought from the House of Commons by Mr. Hollis A Message to the Lords by Mr. Hollis to press them to expedite the Affairs of Ireland to desire a Conference by a Committee of both Houses touching the Declaration the Propositions from the Scots the Bill for pressing of Soldiers for Ireland without which they say Men cannot be raised for that Service And further he said That the House of Commons do make this Declaration that they have done what they can to further the Relieving of the miserable and distressed Estate of the Protestants in Ireland and they do clear themselves of the Blood and Miseries which will follow if Expedition be not done speedily to those means that may relieve them To which their Lordships answered That they would give a present Meeting touching the 2 first Propositions and will consider of the rest and expedite them with all speed Next a Letter was read from Sir John Temple at Dublin The contents of Sir John Temple's Letter from Ireland to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland the principal Matters of which were That Succors come so slowly out of England That the whole State of Ireland suffers and the Kingdom is likely to be lost by the slow Proceedings of sending over Men Arms and Money That the Lords of the Pale refuse to come to the Council That the Rebels are in a Body within 6 Miles of Dublin and that the Lords Gormanston Slane and Lowth have Correspondency with the Rebels That Provisions will be cut off from them at Dublin therefore they desire speedy Succors from England After which the King 's Answer to the Petition and Remonstrance was read as followeth My Lords and Gentlemen IN answer to your Petition concerning Our Speech to the two Houses of Parliament the 14th of December The King's Answer to the petition concerning breach of Privilege by his Speech First We do declare That We had no Thought or Intention of breaking the Privileges of Parliament neither are We satisfied That Our being informed of any Bill transmitted by the House of Commons to
Knights Citizens and Burgesses of the Commons House of Parliament The Humble Petition of sundry Ministers intrusted to Sollicite the Petition and Remonstrance formerly Exhibited to this Honourable House and many of their Brethren Most Humbly Sheweth THat the Petitioners do most thankfully value The Petition of the Remonstrating Ministers Dec. 20. 1641. and heartily acknowledge the indefatigable Pains and Piety of this Honorable Assembly manifested in very many things of high Concernment for the Glory of God the Honor of the King the Purging of the Church and the Safety and Prosperity of this and the rest of His Majesties Kingdoms but more especially in procuring that publick Fast at your first Sitting which hath prevented many Mischiefs and drawn down many Blessings upon the Kingdom ever since in your Zeal and Courage for the True Religion professed among us against all Popish Idolatry and Superstitious Innovations expressed by your Religious Protestation and Vow * * And discountenancing the publick Liturgy and the most indispensible Duty of Praying to make room for this Seditious Preaching In countenancing the Sacred Ordinance of Preaching after long and deep contempt cast upon it by too many who had almost Exiled it from divers Parts of this Kingdom In incouraging painful and godly Ministers formerly set aside and now again profitably imployed in many Congregations greatly needing them In discountenancing bold and unmeet Men that without sufficient calling have presumptuously intruded into that Holy Office as also of all Vnworthy and Scandalous Ministers that have been Convented before you In accepting a former Petition and Remonstrance from the Petitioners taking the same into your grave Consideration and vigorously prosecuting some part thereof In freeing divers godly Ministers out of Prison and Exile and many others from heavy Censures unjustly inflicted In preventing the utter Ruin of the Petitioners and of many more by breaking that wicked Yoak of the late pernicious Oath and Canons justly branded by both Houses of Parliament and by taking away the late dreadful Tyranny of the High-Commission Court and other illegal heavy pressures of the rest of the Courts Ecclesiastical In your worthy Orders for removing of all Illegal Rites and Ceremonies superstitious and scandalous Images and Pictures and other Innovations out of all Churches and Chappels In your prudent happy and timely re-uniting without spilling of Christian Blood the two Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a firm and Religious Peace unhappily disturbed to the apparent endangering of both in your honourable endeavours to relieve and rescue our distressed Brethren in Ireland from the barbarous Outrages and Butcheries of the Popish Rebels there In your constant Vigilancy to discover and defeat the many desperate and devilish Conspiracies against the King Parliament and the Kingdom plotted by Papists and their Malignant adherents implacable Enemies to our Religion and Peace together with all your excellent Labours for Reforming and settling the Affairs of the Common-wealth whereof the Petitioners do also with others Enjoy the comfort and the large and blessed Hopes given to the Petitioners of your further indeavours for perfecting the Reformation of Religion and the Church according to the necessity thereof in a Way best becoming the Honour of such a Grave and Religious Body All of which do much Encourage them to pour out their Souls in all possible thankfulness to God for you and to put up more fervent Prayers publiquely and privately upon all occasions in your behalf at the Throne of Grace But so it is That whereas your Petitioners did in their former Petitions represent unto you divers unsufferable Grievances arising from sundry Invasions made upon the publick Doctrine of this Church from some mixtures and blemishes in the publick Worship of God by Law Established as well as from sundry gross Innovations and Superstitions iâ— Rites and Ceremonies without Law introduced from many Exorbitancies and unsupportable Vsurpations in Ecclesiastical Government and from the scandalous defect of Ministers maintenance in too many places All of which do yet remain in greatest part unremoved by reason of your many necessitated diversions from this great work for the preservation of the very Being of this Kingdom and by means hereof many distractions and disorders about matters of Religion and the Church have to the great scandal and grief of the Petitioners happen'd and are still continued which puts them upon a necessity of renewing their former Suit for redress of the aforesaid Evils and for removing whatever shall appear to your Wisdom to be the Root and Cause of them And whereas further the Petitioners and very many others in whose name and behalf they now humbly supplicate desirous in all things to submit to the Laws so far as possibly they may yet meerly out of tenderness and scruple of Conscience dare not continue as formerly they did the Vse and Exercise of some things as now they-stand injoyned not only because they have more seriously weighed the Nature and Scandal of them and that sundry Bishops and other grave Divines called to their assistance by Order of the House of Peers have as they are informed discovered divers particulars needing alteration in the Liturgy and the Vse thereof and that there is not as they humbly conceive at this day commonly extant any Book of Common Prayer without so many Variations Alterations and Additions as render it in many Parts another thing from that which was by Law Established but chiefly because you also have vouchsafed to be so far sensible of the Defects thereof and of the just Scruples of the Petitioners thereabout as to take the Reformation thereof under Consideration which they hoped would be some shelter against the strict pressing the Vse of it till your pleasure upon the full Debate thereof had been declared in a Parliamentary Way for that it seems most equal that the Consciences of Men should not be forced upon that which a Parliament it self holds needful to consider the Reformation of and give Order in till the same be accordingly done And the Petitioners having been comfortably assured of some ease therein do now to their great sorrow apprehend that the same things are anew reinforced which contrary to the blessed Inclination and Intention of His Gracious Majesty may occasion much trouble and vexation to sundry worthy and peaceable Ministers which the Petitioners have more cause to fear because sundry of their Brethren have since the beginning of this Parliament been Indicted upon the Statute of 1 Eliz. 2. And others threatned for bare omissions of some things complained of to this High Court and still depending before you whiles in divers places your Religious Orders necessarily made and published for removing of things illegal are not observed and in other places where superstitious Rites and Practices had by virtue thereof been laid aside the same are again called back and re-practised without any Check or Animadversion And because the Premisses are of extraordinary Consequence and cannot receive a perfect Cure
the deep Sense they have of the Calamities incumbent on that and in danger to fall on this Kingdom with all Humility crave leave to present most humbly desiring that in pursuance of the Zeal and Fervency already shewn to the Glory and Worship of God to the Honor and Renown of his most Excellent Majesty both which are now strongly assaulted and push't at and out of the Tender Commisseration already Expressed for Relief of that bleeding Kingdom That this Honorable Assembly will represent such prevalent Arguments unto his Sacred Majesty and the House of Peers That the 10000 Men tendred by the Kingdom of Scotland and accepted of by this Honorable Assembly may be speedily Ordered to resort into Ulster not but that We do desire there may be as great a Proportion of Soldiers sent out of this Kingdom as soon as they can be prepared if so it may please his Majesty and both Houses of Parliament the Contagion of the Rebellion in Ireland having spread it self over so many other Parts of the Kingdom and yet daily more and more increasing as will require the service of those who shall be sent out of England for the Subdual of the Rebels and Comfort of his Majesties good Subjects in the other Provinces But for asmuch as your Petitioners many of them whose whole Estates and some of their Wives Children and nearest Kindred or Friends are already in the Hands and Possession of those Barbarous Bloody Rebels of Ulster and that they have more than ordinary Cause to fear That the remaining Protestant Party together with the important Towns of Carrickfergus London-Derry and Colerain being the chiefest Bullworks and Fortresses of that Province may for want of speediest Relief be surprized and destroyed and by that means the rest of the Kingdom Extreamly indangered to the irreparable dammage and discomfort of his Majesty and all his Good and Loyal Subjects of all his Dominions Therefore your Petitioners do most instantly supplicate this Honorable Assembly to endeavour the hastening thither with all possible Expedition the 10000 Men out of Scotland whose Assistance being within Three hours Sail may be soonest conveyed and whose Constitutions will notably match with the Rebels being well able as many of these Petitioners have known by former Experience to follow them through the Boggs and Moorish places frequent in those Parts during this Winter Season which other Supplies may not be so fit for at present This Number added to those Raised and to be raised in those Parts through Gods Blessing may soon Check those Insolencies and contribute much for reducing that Kingdome to due Obedience and yield unspeakable Comfort and Relief to many Thousand disconsolate bleeding Protestant Souls who have long languished in Expectation of Aid from that and this Kingdom the longer retarding whereof will carry loud Cries to Heaven against those who cause the same And your Petitioners shall pray c. A. Loftus Ro. Digby Tho. Foliot Hen. Blaney Fr. Mountnorris Cromwell Edward Loftus Arthur Jones Geo. Blundel Robert King Jo. Clotworthy Faith Fortescue Joh. Moor Arthur Annesley Rob. Packhurst Ra. Walles Tho. Fortescue Ro. Whistler Nicholas Loftus Rich. Fitz-Gerrard Rich. Perkins Jo. Davis After the Reading of this Petition Inego Jones Esquire The Answer of Inego Jones to the Complaint of the Commons Surveyor of his Majesties Works put in his answer to the Declaration of the Commons in behalf of the Parishioners of St. Gregories London At which day the said Inego Jones Esquire appeared before the Lords in Parliament and being demanded what he could say in Answer to the Declaration brought up from the House of Commons against him He the said Inego Jones for Answer thereunto saith That he is not Guilty of the Offence charged in the said Declaration in such manner and Form as therein is Expressed Whereupon Friday Fortnight was ordered for the day of hearing the Cause It was also Ordered That the Lord Visâ—â—nt Loftus Ro. Lord Digby Lord Foliot Lo. Docura Lo. Blany Lord Mountnorris Sir Faithful Fortescue Sir Robert King Edw. Loftus Nich. Loftus Arthur Jones Geo. Blundel John Moor Arthur Annesley Ro. Whistler Jo. Davis Richard Fitzgerrard and Rich. Perkins do attend the Lords Committees for Irish Affairs to morrow at 9. of the Clock in the Painted Chamber who are to hear what Reasons they can give concerning the putting off the Parliament of Ireland After which the Lord Keeper reported the Effect of the Conference and an Answer to their Lordships Two Propositions offered to the House of Commons this day A Smart Answer of the Commons to the 2 Propositions of the Lords forsending 10000 English as well as 10000 Scots into Ireland 1. For the Certainty which their Lordships desire of sending 10000 English into Ireland the House of Commons say That they were not Vsed to be Capitulated withall their Actions are free as well without Conditions as Capitulations and the House of Commons desire it may be so no more 2ly The House of Commons think they have given sufficient certainty already having formerly Voted the sending of 10000 English into Ireland and transmitted the same to their Lordships and likewise sent the same into Ireland therefore they think it not necessary to Vote it again but do desire their Lordships would Vote the sending of 10000 Scots to Ireland by it self without any Relation to the 10000 English and that speedily the Safety of Ireland depending upon it Further the House of Commons do desire their Lordships to do it in regard they conceive the 10000 English can not go unless the Bill for pressing passes This last Clause easily unriddles all the rest they had a Design to clip the Prerogative by that Bill and to put the issue of passing or not passing it upon this popular Theme of the Tragical necessity of Ireland when if they would have raised Mony there would not have wanted 10000 English Soldiers without pressing for that Expedition or any other the Genius of the Nation having ever been Martial and rather too forward to run into Arms then otherwise at the Beat of the Drum The House of Lords was immediately then resolved into a Committee of the whole House to debate this Conference Votes of the Lords for 10000 English 10000 Scots for Ireland and the House being resumed It was Resolved Nemine contradicente That 10000 English shall be sent into Ireland Resolved upon the Question That 10000 Scots shall be sent into Ireland upon such Conditions as shall be agreed upon by the Parliament of England Ordered That the Lords Commissioners do acquaint the Scots Commissioners with the aforesaid Votes and to let them know That this House hath entred into Consideration of their Propositions and will give them an Answer herein with all Expedition It was also Ordered That the Committee for keeping of a good Correspondency between both Houses shall meet on Friday Morning to take into Consideration this last Message brought up from the House of Commons
will discourage Merchants and Strangers from bringing in their Bullion into the Mint 2. The House of Commons say That Colonel Lunsford is a Man of a desperate Condition he having been formerly Censured in the Star-Chamber for lying in Wait and besetting Sir Thomas Pelham Knight as he came in his Coach upon a Sunday from Church and did discharge two Pistols into the Coach Also being challenged into the Field by one Captain Buller upon some injury offered to him by the said Colonel Lunsford Colonel Lunsford refused to Answer him but sent him word he would cut his Throat and would meet him with a Pistol and put out his other Eye 3. The House of Commons say That they are informed that Colonel Lunsford is not right in his Religion for they understand that when he was a Commander in the North in the Kings Army he did not go to Church though he was desired The House of Commons conceiving this business concerns the safety of the King City and Kingdom they desire their Lordships would be pleased to joyn with the House of Commons to Remonstrate these things to the King and to desire him that a Place of such importance may not be put into the hands of such a Man as Colonel Lunsford but that if His Majesty think Cause that there should be a Lieutenant of the Tower being under the Command of such an Honorable Person as the Earl of Newport who is Constable thereof by His Majesties appointment that Sir John Conyers may be recommended to his Majesty for that Place After a long Debate of this Conference The Lords refuse to joyn with the Commons to move the King to displace Lunsford the Question was put Whether this House shall joyn with the House of Commons in the whole Matter of this Conference And it was Resolved Negatively The first thing that was done in the Commons House this day was an Order That Mr. Calamy and Mr. Marshal shall be desired to Print their Sermons they yesterday Preach'd at St. Margarets Westminster at the intreaty of this House and Sir Arthur Ingram and Sir Tho. Barrington are desired to return them Thanks from this House Thanks of the House and a Plate of 20 l. apiece Ordered Calamy and Marshal and to print their Fast Sermons and it was likewise Ordered That they shall have a Piece of Plate of 20 l. a piece given unto them and Sir Arthur Ingram and Sir Thomas Barrington are to think of some convenient Course for raising the said Monies Then the Kings Answer to the Petition of the first of December was read and referred to the Committee that prepared that Petition to frame an Answer unto it and present it to the House and to meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock in the Inner Court of Wards It was also Ordered That the Gentlemen that serve for the City and Mr. Tompkins Mr. Martin and Mr. Peard shall inquire in what hands the Tower of London now is From which is plain from what Quarter of the World the Petition against Lunsford came Captain Leg was also this day Ordered to be Bailed Then the Petition of the Apprentices and others whose times are lately Expired in and about the City of London was read and the Parties that preferred this Petition were called in and Mr. Speaker told them That this House doth approve of the manner of the delivery of their Petition and the Interruptions complain'd of they will consider of when proofs shall be produced they will likewise consider of the desires of their Petition when the great Affairs of this House shall permit And their Complaints were referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Interruptions in preferring the Petition from the City of London All the World was now run into one Trade and that was Statemending and Church-modelling in which matters the Godly and Well-affected have ever had in their own opinion such a peculiar Gift that every little Blew-Apron-Boy behind the Compter undertakes as boldly as if he had served an Apprenticeship at the Council-Board and because Posterity shall be satisfied this is no abuse I here present the Reader with these Indenture-mens Petition as I find it among the Prints of the Time for they had the vanity after having presented it to think it would turn to account to Print and Publish it too to help Trading and procure Custom This Petition which by these young Reformers was addressed to the King but presented to the Commons with a multitude of Names who could not write and by consequence neither read nor understand Common Sense was as followeth The Apprentices Petition WHereas we of the lowest members of the City and Kingdom touched with the common Sense of all good Subjects do by Experience find both by our own and our Masters Tradings the beginning of great Mischief coming upon us to nip us in the bud when we are first entring into the World the Cause of which we can attribute to no others but to the Papists and Prelates and that Malignant Party which adheres unto them And where as by the late Protestation we stand solemnly ingaged in the presence of Almighty God by all lawful means with the utmost of our Lives Power and Estates to defend your Sacred Majesty and Royal Issue with the Rights and Liberties of Parliaments and all your Majesties Subjects against Papists and Popish Innovators such as Arch-Bishops Bishops and their dependants appear to be the Extirpation of which Government Root and Branch by several Petitions from this City and many parts of this Kingdom have been humbly desired We hold it our bounden Duty after long Expectation of due and just Proceedings against the forenamed Papists and Popish Innovators now at the last to become most humble Suitors to your Majesty in this present Parliament that you would please to take Notice that notwithstanding the much unwearied pains and industry of the House of Commons to subdue Papistry and Popish Innovators neither Popery is subdued nor Prelates are yet removed whereby many have taken great incouragement desperately to Plot against the Peace and Safety of this and other your Majesties Dominions Witness the most barbarous and inhumane Cruelties perpetrated by the Papists now in Ireland From whence ariseth in us a new Spring of fears and jealousies what the Issue of these things may be in this your Kingdom of England also without a speedy and timely prevention of the same In hope therefore of your Majesties willing readiness by the advice of this Honourable Court of Parliament to provide for our present Relief and Safety We Humbly Supplicate that the Popish Lords and other eminent and dangerous Papists in all parts of this Kingdom may be narrowly look'd unto and secured the Laws against Priests and Jesuits fully Executed the Prelacy Rooted out that so the work of Reformation may be prosperously carried on our distracting fears removed the weighty Affairs of the Kingdom settled and consequently God may
to perform their Duties accordingly And that they do abominate all Actions or Opinions tending to Popery and the maintenance thereof as also all Propension and Inclination to any malignant Party or any other Side or Party whatsoever to the which their own Reasons and Consciences shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have been at several times violently Menaced Affronted and Assaulted by multitudes of People in their coming to perform their Services in that Honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their Lives and can find no redress or protection upon sundry complaints made to both Houses in these Particulars They likewise humbly protest before your Majesty and the Noble House of Peers That saving unto themselves all their Rights and Interests of Sitting and Voting in that House at other times they dare not Sit or Vote in the House of Peers until your Majesty shall further secure them from all Affronts Indignities and Dangers in the Premisses Lastly Whereas their Fears are not built upon Phantasies and Conceits but upon such Grounds and Objects as may well terrifie Men of good Resolutions and much Constancy They do in all Duty and Humility protest before your Majesty and the Peers of that most Honorable House of Parliament against all Laws Orders Votes Resolutions and Determinations as in themselves Null and of none effect which in their Absence since the 27 of this instant Month of December 1641 have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter pass in that most Honorable House during the time of this their forced and violent Absence from the said most Honorable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were willful and voluntary that most Honorable House might proceed in all these Premisses their Absence or this their Protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most Excellent Majesty to command the Clerk of that House of Peers to enter this their Petition and Protestation amongst the Records They will ever pray to God to bless and preserve c. Joh. Eborac Tho. Duresme Rob. Co. Lich. Jos Norwich Jo. Asaphen Guil. Ba. Wells Geo. Hereford Rob. Oxon. Mat. Ely Godfr Glocest Jo. Peterburg Morg. Landaff Hereupon a Message was sent to the Commons to desire a present Conference by a Committee of both Houses Conference about the Petition of the Bishops to Communicate to them the Petition of the Bishops and to let them know That the Petition containing matters of high and dangerous Consequence such as their Lordships are very sensible of and require a speedy and suddain Resolution the Petition extending to the deep intrenching upon the Fundamental Priviledges and being of Parliament In the afternoon the Lord Keeper Reported That he had according to their Lordships command moved the King in the humble desire of both Houses concerning the keeping of a monthly Fast during the troubles in Ireland throughout the Kingdom and for the 20th os Jan. next to be kept a Fast and that he would be pleased to give order that a Proclamation may issue forth for that Purpose to which his Majesty was pleased to give consent and will give a Warrant for a Proclamation to issue forth presently The Commons by this Message concerning the Bishops finding they were fallen under the displeasure of the Lords laid immediately hold of this fair occasion and fell to work upon the matter and having first Ordered That no Member of the House do go forth of the House during this debate and that the Door be lock'd and the Key brought up the outward Room cleared and the Door likewise lock'd and the Key brought up and that no Paper be delivered out What the Debate was I cannot tell but there is an Order which is Cancelled in these words That two of the Citizens that serve for the City shall go into the City and acquaint them that this House is beset and in danger But it seems upon cooler thoughts and more deliberation they thought this would too publiquely shew that they were the Authors of the Tumults and Routs as in reality by this it appears they were and therefore this was altered and it was Resolved c. That this House shall renew their desire of a Guard upon the Reasons which the Petition of the Bishops this day read gives them occasion to desire it But whatever was the beginning of the debate the end of it was to fall upon the Bishops and therefore it was Resolved upon the Question That John Arch-Bishop of York shall be accused by this House Votes against the Bishops by the Commons upon their Petition and Protestation in the Name of all the Commons of England of High Treason Resolved c. That Thomas Bishop of Durham shall be Accused by this House in the Name of all the Commons of England of High Treason The same Vote in terminis passed severally against Joseph Bishop of Norwich Robert Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield John Bishop of St. Asaph William Bishop of Bath and Wells George Bishop of Hereford Matthew Bishop of Ely Robert Bishop of Oxon. Godfrey Bishop of Glocester John Bishop of Peterborough and Morgan Bishop of Llandaff And Mr. Glyn was Ordered to go up to the Lords with this Message to take notice of the Lords respect to this House in Communicating this Petition with so much speed and so much affection and for expressing their sense of the Petition of the Bishops which he Immediately did And declared The twelve Bishops accused by the Commons of High Treason for the Petition That he was commanded to Accuse and did Accuse John Arch-Bishop of York Tho. Bishop of Durham Joseph Bishop of Norwich Robert Bishop of Coventry and Litchfield John Bishop of St. Asaph William Bishop of Bath and Wells George Bishop of Hereford Matthew Bishop of Ely Robert Bishop of Oxon. Godfrey Bishop of Glocester John Bishop of Peterborough and Morgan Bishop of Llandaff in the Name of the House of Commons and of all the Commons of England of High Treason for indeavouring to Subvert the Fundamental Laws of this Realm and the Being of Parliament by preferring this Petition and Protestation And the House of Commons desires that they may be forthwith Sequestred from Parliament and forthwith Committed into safe Custody And that a speedy Day may be given them for their Answers and the House of Commons will be ready to make good their Charge Hereupon it was Ordered The Bishops taken into Custody That the 12 Bishops that are Accused of High Treason shall be forthwith brought before this House and committed to safe Custody And accordingly order was given to the Gentleman-Usher attending the House to bring them After which the Earl of Bath reported the Kings Answer to the Petition presented to His Majesty from both Houses concerning the Earl of Newport and others viz. My Lords and Gentlemen IT is true that I have heard Rumors of some Proposition that should have been made at
attempt in their Petition and Protestation against the King and Parliament These Gentlemen with my self and others having the prosecution of that business and other Charges of great Crimes against them committed to our Trust did unanimously with one consent follow the same bringing to a period our Debates and Disputes concerning their Crimes what we conceived they were guilty of upon their several Charges and what guilty of for framing and preferring their Petition and Protestation to His Majesty that they were guilty of Misprison of Treason upon their former Accusations and guilty of High Treason upon this their last design And these our Votes and Conclusions grounded and warranted not only by the Common Laws of this Land but by divers Acts of Parliament and Presidents we presented to the whole House for Consideration and Confirmation of the same by general Vote with whom we again agreed by our publique Votes and thereupon they were Impeached and Committed This I conceive provoked their malice against us and was the principal cause of this their Plot in drawing an Accusation against us for the same Crime of Treason thereby to make us seem as vile as themselves and to take away our Votes at their Tryal And thus I have joyn'd together both the Cause and the Authors of this Accusation The Effects I conceive will be dangerous and cause great Trouble in these respects 1. In turning the Current of the Parliaments Proceedings against them upon us by which device they shall have further time to put in practice their Plots and bring to perfection their purposes against the Parliament 2. That being busily imployed concerning this business in their disputes about breach of Priviledg of Parliament in illegal accusing the Members thereof in drawing a Declaration to his Majesty concerning the same in appeasing him by shewing the sincerity and integrity of the Parliament toward his Majesty and other things pertinent thereunto this High Court may lay aside their Proceeding and avert their Purposes touching the Irish Affairs whereby the Rebellion there may increase and forraign Aid brought to them to the utter losing of that Kingdom 3. Many Fears and Troubles will arise in the Citizens concerning this Accusation of desperate and devillish Stratagems in agitation as well against them as the Parliament by disconsolate and disaffected persons to the Safety and Security thereof causing their continual Watching and Guarding by their Trained Bands which will be to them a great Charge and Molestation 4. It will incourage ill-affected and pernitious Cavaliers and Commanders about Court to attempt any mischief against both Houses of Parliament or particular Members thereof upon the least opportunity that shall be offered them thinking thereby they shall do the King good service which otherwise they dare not adventure to put in practise 5. And lastly It will provoke and stir up a dislike of these designs in the Hearts of all his Majesty's Subjects and disaffection to his Sacred Person cause great Uproars and Tumults of the Citizens yea and I fear a general Insurrection in the Kingdom if not suddainly prevented which God forbid And thus Master Speaker having nothing more to say concerning these Articles I humbly crave of this Honourable House That I may have Expedition in my Tryal upon the same and that all things done by this Wise Councel may tend to the Honour and Glory of Almighty God the Peace and Safety of His Sacred Majesty and all his Kingdoms A Message was this day brought up from the House of Commons by Sir John Hotham to desire a present free Conference Tuesday Jan. 4th if it may stand with their Lordships conveniency by a Committee of both Houses touching the safety of the King and Kingdom and the Privileges of both Houses of Parliament The Lord Keeper Reported the effect of the Conference which was To move the Lords again to joyn with them humbly to move his Majesty that the Guards at White-Hall may be discharged and to vindicate the Priviledges of Parliament and they do reiterate their desires of Yesterday upon these Reasons 1. The House of Commons have received fresh Informations that divers Gentlemen have made their Addresses to the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court and have dealt with them to come Armed to White-Hall when they shall be required yet they have not condescended thereto 2. The House of Commons have met with a scandalous Paper as was published abroad which contained Articles of High Treason against the Lord Kymbolton c. The House of Commons desires their Lordships would joyn with them to find out the Authors and to bring them to condign punishment for so high a breach of the Priviledges of Parliament But nothing at this time was Resolved of In the Commons House the Lord Faulkland reported the King's Answer to the Message of this House delivered to his Majesty last night That his Majesty asked them whether the House did expect an Answer They replied they had no more in Commission to say but only to deliver the Message The King asked them as private Persons what they thought of it They said they conceived the House did expect an Answer but his Majesty was informed the House was up so he said he would send an Answer this Morning as soon as this House was set but in the mean time he Commanded them to acquaint the House that the Serjeant at Arms did nothing but what he had directions from himself to do Mr. Whittaker Reported from a Committee at Guild Hall Mr. Toby Wood committed to Newgate That an Information was Exhibited upon Oath by one John Bricker against Mr. Toby Wood for Seditious and Treasonable Words whereupon he was committed to Newgate by Order of the Committee at Guild-Hall Also a Vote passed Sir Will. Killegrew a Delinquent That Sir William Killegrew be forthwith sent for as a Delinquent by the Sergeant at Arms attending on the House Then Mr. Smith Mr. Ellis Mr. Hill Mr. Brown and Sir Richard Vivian were appointed to go to the several Inns of Court Message to the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court and to acquaint them That this House hath taken notice of the Practice of some Gentlemen that have endeavoured to engage the Gentlemen of the Inns of Court to be in readiness upon all Occasions to come down to the Court if they should be required That this House hath sent for the Gentlemen that were with them as Delinquents and do believe that their Crime will prove to be of an high Nature And further to inform them That the Parliament is and will be upon all occasions as ready to defend his Majesties Person as any others and they are to inform them that the Cause of sending to them is not any diffidence they have in them but to advise them from any Practices that they shall be moved unto And that upon this occasion put the whole City into an uproar Message to the Common-Council It was Ordered That Alderman
with the Earl of Strafford trusting too much on the same so High is Pride that at length he presumed to oppose and set himself against the proceedings of the whole House against the said Earl Obstinately refusing to be admonished concerning the same and yet keeping his Friends many of the Lords was by his Majesty as a Baron called to their House and aspiring yet higher obtained his Princes favour not being yet acquainted with his secret Intentions by which means too confident of his safety and security in his Designs adventured openly to comply with the publick Enemies both of King and Country As especially now with this other Person of whom I am to speak this Collonel being by his Majesty advanced to that dignity and trust could not so content himself but imitating the water Toad seeing the Shadow of a Horse seem bigger then it self Swell to compare with the same and so Burst even so this Gentleman having obtained first this Place of Command and afterwards Lieutenant of the Tower and being found of such a Malignant Spirit that he was unfit and uncapable for that great Place of Trust and therefore removed taking the sameâ—â— great dishonour to his worth now endeavours by Traiterous and Desperate Actions to defend himself and be revenged of his pretended Adversaries and to that purpose they have between them joyntly raised Arms against the State met together in peaceable Consultations for the good of Church and Common-wealth Mr. Speaker These attempts made by these Persons are of dangerous consequence and this their Insurrection by taking up of Arms without Warrant both from his Royal Majesty and this High Court of Parliament only to do Mischief in raising Sedition and Contention thereby to preserve themselves from being called to an account for their desperate Actions and Disloyal taking up Arms will prove harder to Appease and Suppress then any Troubles we have yet suffered Mr. Speaker I conceive quick dispatch in our Intentions for the Apprehending and Suppressing these Persons is the only means to prevent future danger And to that purpose I desire to present to your considerations these particulars 1. That Warrants may Issue forth for the speedy and private apprehending of them in what places soever they shall be found and immediately to bring them before the House 2. If this cannot be effected to Issue forth Proclamations for their calling in within a certain time perfixed under penalty of being Prosecuted and Proceeded against as Traytors to their King and Country 3. That Warrants be forthwith sent for the Guarding and Securing of all the Ports of this Kingdom and for the Intercepting of all Paquets or Letters intended to be conveyed into Forraign Kingdoms or any brought from thence hither 4. That Order be sent down into the several Counties of this Kingdom where it is suspected either of these Persons have any Friends or Favorites well-wishers to their Cause with command to the Sheriffs and several Officers of such Counties to stand upon their Guard and to raise Force for their own Defence and Safety and to endeavour by all means Possible to apprehend and suppress them and such of their Conspiracy as shall be taken presently to be sent up to this House to be Examined and Prosecuted according as they shall be found 5. That Order may be made by the Parliament that no Officer that shall be found to have a hand in this Plot may be imployed in any Service of publick Command either for Ireland or any other of his Majesties Dominions or any private Affairs of this Kingdom 6. That we may without further delay proceed to Sentence against all Delinquents by this Honourable House accused for any Crime whatsoever in whose Defence or for whose cause these Persons now accused pretend to take up Arms. 7. That his Majesty may be moved Graciously to be pleased to declare himself against these Persons and all others that do any ways pretend to his Authority or Warrant for what they do 8. And Lastly His Majesty may be moved to avert his intended Journey for Portsmouth for the safety and security of his Royal Person til such time as their dangers be removed and the Peace and Vnity of all his Majesties Loyal Subjects be procured and settled And thus Mr. Speaker having presented such things to this House which I humbly conceive to be necessary to suppress and prevent this new danger threatned by those two Disaffected and Male-contented Persons the Lord Digby and Collonel Lunsford I leave the same to the further consideration of this Honourable House desiring from my heart that it would please God to end all the Troubles and Distempers of this Common-wealth and that this High Court of Parliament may prove the firm Settlement of all things amiss both in Church and State After this Mr. Pierpoint Reports from the Committee appointed yesterday for putting the Kingdom into a Posture of Defence That the Opinion of the Committee was Mr. Pierpoint's Report concerning Posture of Defence and the Commons Vote upon it and so it was by the House Resolved upon the Question That the Knights and Burgesses of the several Counties shall by two of the Clock this afternoon deliver in the Names of such Noble Persons as they think fit to be appointed Lord Lieutenants in the several Counties and that those Gentlemen of this House that have Estates in the Bishoprick of Durham shall nominate such a one as they shall think fit to be Lord Lieutenant in that County Sir Richard Cave then acquainted the House That according to the Command of the House he had returned thanks to the States Embassador for his affections Expressed to the service of this State Who answered That he thinks himself much honoured by the acknowledgements of his service from this House and knows that the desires of this House will be upon all occasions very acceptable to his Masters the States It was also Ordered That Alderman Pennington and Mr. John Goodwin do speak with the Executors of Sir James Cambell and to desire them from this House that in the disposing of the Estate which Sir James Cambell hath given for Charitable Vses they will specially take into consideration the War in Ireland which will be an acceptable service to the Common-wealth Serjeant Wild then Reported the Conference had on Thursday night last with the Lords concerning Mr. The Examination of Mr. Attorney General Reported by Serjeant Wild. Attorney's Exhibiting Articles in the Lords House against Members of this House The Conference consisted of two Parts First the Narrative Part That these Articles Exhibited by Mr. Attorney and entred in the Lords House was a Breach of Priviledge of Parliament and that in due time this House would desire that Justice may be done upon Mr. Attorney The Second Part was to Examine Mr. Attorney upon certain Questions and to receive his Answer First He being asked Whether he Contrived Framed or advised the said Articles or any of them if not then
Whether he doth know or have heard who did Frame Contrive or advise the same or any of them To this he answered That he would deal clearly freely and Ingeniously and that he should say the same which he had before delivered to the Lords and should need no long time to answer this for that he had done none of these three that is neither Framed Advised these Articles or any of them and would be contented to die if he hid Secondly Being demanded whether he knew the truth of these Articles or any of them of his own knowledge or had it by Information To this he Answered He did know nothing of his own knowledge of the truth of these Artitles or any part of them nor hath heard it by Information All that ever he hath heard concerning this was from his Master Thirdly Being asked whether he will make good these Articles when he shall be thereunto called in due course of Law To this he Answered He cannot do it nor will not do it otherwise then as his Master shall Command him and shall Enable him no more then he that never heard of them can do it Fourthly Being asked from whom he received these Articles and by whose direction and advice he did Exhibit them He answered He did Exhibit them by his Masters Command and from his hands he did receive them Fifthly Being asked whether he had any Testimony or Proof of the Articles before the Exhibiting of them He gave this Answer That he received the Command of his Majesty but whether he had any proof then offered or intimation of Testimony to make good those Articles he desired time to consider of it he was pressed again to make answer to this but desired time to consider of it saying there was a secret trust between a Master and Servant much more in this Case The great Design of this Examination was to have got out who were the Witnesses of this Accusation that so they might have fallen upon them and worried them to death and though nothing was more justifiable then this Plea of Secrecy to which Mr. Attorney was obliged by his Oath from which they could have no power to Absolve him Yet it did so Exasperate the Faction that it was Ordered That some way be thought of for Charging Mr. Attorney by this House as Criminous for Exhibiting those Articles in the Lords House against Members of this House without any Information or proof that appears and that this House and the Gentlemen Charged by him may have Reparation from him and that he may put in good Security to stand to the Judgement of Parliament And it was Resolved Votes against the Attorney General c. That this Act of Mr. Attorney 's in this Impeachment against Members of this House is Illegal and a High Crime Resolved c. That the Lords shall be desired That Mr. Attorney may put in good Security to stand to the Judgement of Parliament And Mr. Whitlock Serjeant Wild Mr. Hill Mr. Glyn Mr. Brown Mr. Rigby and Mr. Buller were appointed a Committee they or any three of them to withdraw presently and prepare a Charge against Mr. Attorney upon the Votes of the House And that Posterity may see how Zealous these People after all their pretensions were for the Relief of Ireland Collonel Hill and Lieutenant Bowles Delinquents for raising Volunteers for Ireland It was Resolved c. and Ordered That Collonel Hill and Robert Bowles his Lieutenant shall be forthwith sent for as Delinquents by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House for beating up Drums and raising of Men contrary to the Ordinance of Parliament And that all Constables and other Officers be assisting to the Serjeant in the Execution of his Warrant And that Mr. Whistler Mr. Pury Mr. Smith and Mr. Hill shall search in such Offices as they shall think fit to see if any Commissions or other Warrants have been granted to any Person or Persons for Levying of Men. A Paper was delivered by Mr. Hambden from the Scotch Commissioners which was read in these words OUr Treaty concerning the Irish Affairs being so oft interrupted by the Emergent Distractions A Paper of the Scotch Commissioners offering their Mediation to the King c. gives us occasion to desire your Lordships and those Noble Gentlemen of the House of Commons for to present to the Honourable Houses of Parliament that we having taken to our Consideration the manifold Obligations of the Kingdom of Scotland to our Native and Gracious Soveraign his Person and Government confirmed and multiplyed by the great and Recent Favours bestowed by his Majesty on that Kingdom at his last being there and settling the troubles thereof and considering the mutual Interest of the Kingdoms in Welfare and Prosperity of others acknowledged and Established in the late Treaty And finding our selves warranted and obliged by all means to labour to keep a right Understanding betwixt the Kings Majesty and his People to confirm that Brotherly affection begun between the two Nations to advance their Unity by all such ways as may tend to the Glory of God and Peace of the Church and State of both Kingdoms to render thanks to the Parliament of England for their assistance given to the Kingdom of Scotland in settling the late Troubles thereof wherein next to the Providence of God and the Kings Majesties Justice and Goodness they do acknowledge themselves most beholding to the Mediation and Brotherly kindness of the Kingdom of England and likewise to proffer our selves for removing all Jealousies and mistakings which may arise betwixt the Kings Majesty and this Kingdom and our best indeavours for the better Establishment of the Affairs and quiet of the same We do therefore in the name of the Parliament and Kingdom of Scotland acknowledge our selves next to the Providence of God and his Majesties Justice and Goodness most beholding to the Mediation and Brotherly kindness of the Kingdom of England in many respects especially in condescending to the Kings Majesties coming to Scotland in the midst of their great Affairs whereof we have tasted the sweet and comfortable Fruits and do heartily wish the like happiness to this Kingdom And as we are heartily sorry to find our Hopes thereof deferred by the present distractions growing daily here to a greater height and out of the sense thereof have taken the Boldness to send our humble and faithful advice to the Kings most Excellent Majesty for remedying of the same to the just satisfaction of his People so out of our duty to his Majesty and to testifie our Brotherly Affection to this Kingdom and acquit our selves of the Trust Imposed upon us We do most Earnestly beseech the most Honourable Houses in the deep of their Wisdoms to think timously upon the Fairest and Fittest Ways of Composing all present differences to the Glory of God the good of the Church and State of both Kingdoms and to his Majesties Honour and Contentment Wherein if our
Faithful endeavours may be any way useful we shall be most ready at all occasions to contribute the same 15th of Jan. 1641. Ja. Primrose The very same Paper Verbatim was 〈◊〉 their request presented to the Lords by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland After the reading of this Paper Sir Philip Stapleton Mr. Long and Mr. Arthur Goodwin were Ordered to return thanks from the House of Commons to the Scotch Commissioners for their good Affections Exprest to this State and Parliament and likewise to desire to know of them what it is that they have sent unto his Majesty by way of Advice To which Sir Philip Stapelton brought this answer That most of the Commissioners were gone from the place of Meeting not expecting any Message from this House besides they have not as yet sent the Paper to the King by reason they could not get Post-Horses and till such time as his Majesty hath first received the same they conceive it not so fit it should be made known But upon Monday morning they make no doubt to give this House full satisfaction I know no reason I have to make the Reader stay till Monday whose Expectation may be as willing to be gratified with a sight of this Paper as the House of Commons were and therefore I present him with it as followeth To the King 's most Excellent Majesty The Humble desires of the Commissioners of his Majesties Kingdom of SCOTLAND WE your Majesties humble and faithful Subjects The Petition and advice of the Commissioners of Scotland to the King by way of Mediation considering that the Mutual Relation betwixt your Majesties Kingdoms of Scotland and England is such as they must stand or fall together and the disturbance of the one must needs disquiet and distemper the Peace of the other as has been often acknowledged by them both and especially in the late Treaty which is ratified in Parliament and confirmed by the publick Faith of the Estates of your Majesties ancient and Native Kingdom of Scotland so that they are bound to maintain the Peace and Liberties of one another being highly concerned therein as the assured means of the safety and preservation of their own And finding our selves Warranted and obliged by all means to labour to keep a right Vnderstanding betwixt your Majesty and your People to confirm that Brotherly Affection betwixt the two Nations to advance their Vnity by all such ways as may tend to the Glory of God and Peace of the Church and State of both Kingdoms and aykways to proffer our service for removing all Jealousies and mistakes which may arise betwixt your Majesty and this Kingdom and our best endeavours for the better Establishment of the Affairs and quiet of the same that both your Majesties Kingdoms of Scotland and England may be Vnited in the enjoying of their Liberties in Peace under your Majesties Scepter which is the most assured Foundation of your Majesties Honour and Greatness and of the security of your Royal Person Crown and Dignity We have taken the Boldness to shew your Majesty that we are heartily sorry and grieved to behold these Distractions which increase daily betwixt your Majesty and your People and which we conceive are entertained by the wicked Plots and Practices of Papists Prelates and their Adherents whose aim in all these Troubles has not been only to prevent all further Reformation but also to subvert the Purity and Truth of Religion within all your Majesties Kingdoms for which end their constant Endeavours have been to stir up Divisions betwixt your Majesty and your People by their Questioning the Authority of Parliaments the lawful Liberties of the Subjects and real Weakning your Majesties Power and Authority nay all upon pretence of Extending the same whereof by Gods Providence being disappointed in your Majesties Kingdom of Scotland these have now converted thir Mischievous Councels Conspiracies and Attempts to produce these distempers in your Majesties Kingdoms of England and Ireland And therefore according to our Duty to your Majesty to testifie our Brotherly Affection to this Kingdom and acquit our selves of the trust Imposed in us We do make offer of our humble Endeavours for composing of these differences And to that purpose do beseech your Majesty in these Extremities to have Recourse to the sound and faithful advice of the Honourable Houses of Parliament and to repose thereupon as the only assured and happy means to Establish the Prosperity and quiet of this Kingdom And in the depth of your Royal Wisdom to consider and prevent these Apprehensions of Fear which may possess the Hearts of your Majesties Subjects in your other Kingdoms if they shall conceive the Authority of Parliament and the Rights and Liberties of the Subject to be here called in Question And we are confident that if your Majesty shall be graciously pleased to take in good part and give Eare to these our humble and faithful Desires that the success of your Majesties Affairs howsoever perplexed shall be happy to your Majesty and joyful to all your People over whom that your Majesty may long and prosperously Reign is the Fervent and Constant Prayer of us your Majesties Faithful Subjects and Servants It was likely to come to a hopeful issue for his Majesty and all his Loyal Friends when those who had by Rebellion wrested from him so great a share of his Sovereignity and Regal Authority undertook to be Umpires and Mediators in a difference to which they were Principal Parties and to compose those differences which the Faction following their Example were resolved should be determined by no other terms of Accommodation then his Majesties parting with the Sword which Guarded his Septer and which they were resolved either to have or to force it from him by the down-right strength of a most deep rooted and formidable Rebellion But what thanks soever they had for this officious diligence from the King they received many thanks from both Houses for the affection expressed to the Kingdom in the advice which they gave the King in this Paper which was mightily to the Grace of the Faction and Tuned to the humor of the Times which charged all the Miseries and Distractions upon the King 's refusing the sound advice of his great Council the Parliament This day an Order was made in the Lords House Munday January 17. The Lo. Nettervile's Son ordered to be brought before the Lords for the bringing up to the Lords in Parliament Mr. Thomas Netterville Son to the Lord Neterville who was stayed in Chester by the Mayor of the place upon Suspicion and the Lord Admiral was Ordered to write to the Mayor thanks from the House of Lords for his care in staying the said Mr. Netterville Then the Lord Duke of Richmond Reported the King's Answer to the Message delivered to him Jan. 15th The King's Answer to the Bill for adjournment Hull c. 1. Concerning his Majesties Assent to be given to the Bill for the Adjourning of the Parliament
And truely they had some reason to do so for certainly this was a direct Levying of War being absolutely without the King's knowledge privity or consent and from this Period ought to be Dated the actual Rebellion which manifestly proves the Faction to be the Aggressors A Message was brought up to the Lords by Mr. Nathanael Fiennes 1. To desire that their Lordships would give dispatch to the Scots Propositions 2. To the Bill for a Contribution for Ireland 3. To let their Lordships know Message concerning adjourning to Grocers-Hall c. That the House of Commons do resolve to Adjourn their House till Thursday at Eight of the Clock and had appointed in the mean time a Committee whereunto all that would come should have Voices to sit in London at Crocers-Hall and have given them a large Power 1. Concerning the Safety of the Kingdom 2. Concerning Priviledges of Parliament 3. The Affairs of Ireland 4. Concerning the setling of the present Distempers And the House of Commons desire That if their Lordships think so fit that they would appoint a like Committee and that their Lordships would give them power to meet and confer with the Committee of the House of Commons 4. The House of Commons desires That the Committees for Ireland might meet there if their Lordships think it fit 5. That the Committee that their Lordships have appointed to take Examinations upon Oath as also the Committees appointed to draw a Petition to his Majesty concerning the Breach of Priviledges might likewise sit there Order of the Lords for adjournment to Grocers-Hall if their Lordships think fit To all which their Lordships consented as appears by this their Ensuing Order Ordered That the Committee for the Irish Affairs shall meet at Grocers-Hall on Tuesday the 18th of this Instant January at Nine of the Clock in the Morning and that they shall have Power to Treat and Debate concerning the Safety of this Kingdom the Priviledges of Parliament the Affairs of Ireland and the setling of the present Distempers and to take into Consideration his Majesties Message sent to both Houses And likewise that the Committee to take Examinations upon Oath may be there as also the Committee appointed to draw a Petition to his Majesty concerning breach of Priviledges and to consider of all means for vindicating the same And it is further Ordered That all the Lords may be present at the said Committees and have Votes and every of them shall have Power to Debate among themselves and with the Committee of the House of Commons and to call all Persons whom they shall think fit before them and likewise to Adjourn from time to time and from place to place as they shall see Cause and the Votes and Results of the Committee to Report unto this House This Adjournment was to keep up the belief that they did not sit in safety at Westminster and to countenance the attempt upon the Militia at which they were now driving might and main Still Sir John Byron the Lieutenant of the Tower was a great Beam in their Eye and therefore to get possession of the Tower they had perswaded several Merchants and others to Petition against him and that it was framed by the Artifice of the Faction the wording of it and the Answers of the Petitioners make apparent for they speak the same Language the Commons had taught them at the last Conference for this purpose with the Lords For a Message was brought up from the House of Commons by Sir Henry Vane Junior to this Effect That the House of Commons having by divers Conferences expressed unto their Lordships the just causes of Fears and Jealousies that are in the City by reason of Sir John Byron 's being Lieutenant of the Tower of London which caused the House of Commons formerly to desire their Lordships to joyn with them to Petition the King that he might be removed from that Place which their Lordships thought not fit to joyn in then Now the House of Commons present to their Lordships a Petition delivered to them from divers Merchants and Goldsmiths of London that have great store of Bullion in the Tower and have divers Ships laden with Bullion lately come into the River and by reason of the Fears and Jealousies they have of the now Lieutenant of the Tower they forbear to bring in their Bullion as may appear by the Petition which was read in haec verba To the Honourable Assembly of the House of Commons in Parliament The Humble Petition of the Merchants and Goldsmiths Traders to His Majesties Mint with Foreign Bullion and Coin Sheweth THat many Jealousies and Fears have risen in your Petitioners Merchants and Goldsmiths Petition against the Lieutenant of the Tower Jan. 17. 1641. by reason of the sudden Removal of that worthy Gentleman Sir William Balfour Lieutenant of the Tower and that the same is now Commanded by one of whom we have not that satisfaction as formerly we have had Your Petitioners therefore in all humility tender this considerable Request to this Honourable Assembly That there may be such a Lieutenant there-placed it being a Place of so great Trust and Considence as shall be thought fitting by this Honourable Assembly which undoubtedly will not only cease our Fears and Jealousies in these distractive times but will occasion us to continue all possible incouragement to our Correspondents beyond the Seas that the Importation of Bullion and Coin of which great quantity is newly arrived in Spain may have its free Course as in former times to the wellfare of Trade in general And Your Petitioners shall pray c. Henry Futter David Otgher Nic. Corsellis Abra. Fortry Diericke Ooste with several others The House of Commons upon this do desire that their Lordships would joyn with them humbly to Petition the King That Sir John Byron Knight now Lieutenant of the Tower of London may be removed and Sir John Conyers recommended to his Majesty from both Houses for that place Whereupon the Merchants and Goldsmiths that Exhibited the aforesaid Petition to the House of Commons presented another verbatim the same to the Lords which being read the House fell into Debate of it and they were called in and asked these Questions by the direction of the House 1. What number of Merchants and Goldsmiths besides themselves brings in Bullion to the Mint To which they Answered Sir Peter Riccaut and a few more but no great number 2. What reasons they have for their Fears and Jealousies of Sir John Byron Lieutenant of the Tower and why they forbear to bring in Bullion to the Mint They had Conn'd their Lesson perfectly and therefore said That they heard that he hath disobeyed the Orders of both Houses of Parliament when he was sent for to come and attend them Also that he is a Gentleman unknown to them and they desire to have such a Lieutenant put in as the Parliament approves of But the Lords it seems easily saw