will procure a confusion and grudging among them Upon reading the Petition of the Six Persons chosen by the Commonalty of the City of London it is Ordered by the Lords in Parliament Order about Books to be used in the Case between Lord Major and Commons That the Book of Reversions shall be perused by them and afterwards with theBooks of A. D. E. F. G. H. I. K. L. Z. O. Liber Albus Transcript Dunthorn Customs Repertory Hamersly Journal of 6 H. 7. Journal Swinerton Middleton Hayes Journal Garroway shall be brought into the Vpper House of Parliament on Monday next being the 26th of this Instant Month of July by Nine of the Clock in the morning at which time their Lordships have Ordered to hear the said Cause Sir John Hotham Reports Friday July 23. That there will be due to the Scots upon the 12th of August 57400 l. 10000 l. is expected from the voluntary Loan of the Members so that 47000 will be requisite to pay them off Ordered That there shall be a Conference with the Lords to borrow 40000 l. of the City which the Lords agreed to and the Poll-Bill was proposed to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen for Security Earl of Essex made Lord Chamberlain This day His Majesty was pleased to give the white Staff to the Earl of Essex and he was Sworn Lord Chamberlain of His Majesties Household Sir Arthur Ingram carries up the Bill with amendments for the certainty of the Forrests as also a Bill for the Earl of Bedford Saturday July 24. The House of Commons then entered upon the Debate of the Articles from the Committee of Seven against Mr. Percy Mr. Jermyn c. Upon which they came to these Votes Votes upon the Articles from the Committee of 7. Resolved c. That Mr. Henry Percy in the Months of March and April last past in the Parish of St. Martin 's in the County of Middlesex did Compass Plot and Conspire with others to draw the said Army together and to employ them against the Parliament and by fear and dread thereof to compel the said Parliament to agree to certain Propositions by them contrived and to hinder and interrupt the Proceedings of the said Parliament Resolved c. The same against Mr. Henry Jermyn Sir John Suckling and Mr. William Davenant Resolved c. That in pursuance of the said Design the said Henry Percy by the Plot and Combination aforesaid did endeavour to persuade divers Members of the House of Commons of the said Parliament and others being Officers of the said Army that is to say Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Esq Sir John Berkly Hugh Pollard and Daniel Oneal Esquires that they were disobliged by the Parliament thereby to incense and disaffect them against the Parliament and did hold divers Consultations with the said persons to effect the said wicked and dangerous Designs and for that purpose did set down in writing certain Propositions to the effect following that is to say The preserving of Bishops Votes and Functions the not Disbanding of the Irish Army until the Scots were Disbanded and to endeavour the settling of the King's Revenue to the proportion it was formerly The House fell upon the further Debate of the Articles from the Committee of Seven and it was Resolved Further Votes about Mr. Percy c. c. That the said Henry Percy in pursuance of the said Plot and Combination for the more secret Carriage and further Engagement of the said Conspirators and others the Persons aforenamed did minister unto the said Henry Jermin Hugh Pollard Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal a wicked and unlawful Oath whereby they did Swear upon the Holy Evangelists not to reveal any thing spoken concerning that business in consultation directly or indirectly nor to think themselves absolved by any other Oath that should be after taken from the Secresie enjoyned by the said Oath Resolved c. That Mr. Henry Jermyn at the time the said Oath was Administred as aforesaid and at divers other times did propound and endeavour to perswade the Persons aforenamed and other Officers of the said Army to put the said Army into a Warlike Posture and to bring them up to London and likewise to make themselves sure of the Tower and so by force to compel the Parliament to conform to their Will Resolved c. That the said Henry Jermin Sir John Suckling and William Davenant in further Prosecution of the said Design by the Conspiracy aforesaid to disaffect the said Army towards the Parliament and to work a belief in the said Army that the King and Parliament would disagree and so under pretence of adhering to His Majesty to incense the said Army against the Parliament thereby the better to compass their wicked Design and further endeavoured to perswade the Army that all the French about London would assist them and to the great scandal of the King and his Government that the Prince and the Earl of Newcastle were to meet the said Army at Nottingham with a Thousand Horse Resolved c. That the said Sir John Suckling by the Conspiracy aforesaid for the better effecting the said wicked Design under the pretence and colour of some service to the King of Portugal did raise Men both Officers and Common Soldiers and further did contrive that a hundred of those Men should be put into the Tower of London under the Command of Captain Henry Billingsley thereby to possess themselves of the same as was formerly propounded by Mr. Henry Jermin that so they the said Henry Jermin and Sir John Suckling might better effect their said wicked Designs and have better opportunity to Master and Command the City of London that the said City should not be able to make any resistance when the said Army should come up according to the aforementioned Desing And the said Sir John Suckling in further pursuance of the said wicked intentions did by the means aforesaid Plot and Endeavour that Thomas Earl of Strafford then Prisoner in the Tower for High Treason and since Attainted and Executed for the same should make an Escape that by his Power they might the better compass and bring to pass the said wicked Design Resolved c. That the said Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Hugh Pollard Sir John Suckling Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal by the inticement practice and insinuation of the said Henry Percy did take the aforesaid unlawful Oath Resolved c. That the said Henry Percy for the advancement of the said wicked Design did propound unto them the aforesaid three Propositions Resolved c. That the said Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Hugh Pollard Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal were acquainted with the said Design mentioned in the first Article Resolved c. That the said Henry Wilmot William Ashburnham Hugh Polland Sir John Berkley and Daniel Oneal were together with the said Confederates present at divers Debates and Consultations touching the
desire the Lieutenant may be sent for to give an Account of these things Which the Lords agreed to and immediately sent for the Lieutenant and Captain Connisby to atttend both Houses of Parliament presently But this was not satisfactory enough for Mr. Pym came with a second Message to the same Effect And that therefore the House of Commons desire that Directions may be given to the Lieutenant of the Tower and the Master of the Ordnance That no Provisions or Ammunition whatsoever shall be sent out of the Tower without the King's Authority signified by both Houses of Parliament and that no extraordinary quantity of Provisions be brought into the Tower without his Majesties Pleasure signified by the Houses of Parliament For the putting this in Execution the House of Commons desire that a convenient Guard may be put about the Tower by Land and by Water and this Guard to be appointed by the Sheriffs of London and to be under the Command of Sergeant Major General Skippon and that the Care of the Parliament herein may be intimated to the Common Council of London Whereunto the House of Lords immediately agreed Thus did they exactly follow the Example of their Brethren of Scotland who in the beginning of the Rebellion there laid a Blockade to the Castle of Edinburgh till they got it into their Power and a Creature of their own placed in it which was the Design now upon the Tower of London And these Messages produced the following Order Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament Order of Lords and Commons to set a Guard upon the Tower That the Earl of Newport Master of the Ordnance and the Lieutenant of the Tower for the time being their Deputies or other Officers shall not permit or suffer any Ordnance Ammunition or other Provisions whatsoever to be carried out of the Tower nor permit extraordinary Increase of Waiters or any Provision of Victuals in any extraordinary Quantity or Proportion to be brought into the Tower without the King's Authority signified to both Houses of Parliament And for the better Safeguard of the Tower It is further Ordered by both Houses of Parliament That the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex shall appoint and place a sufficient Guard about the Tower both by Land and Water under the Command of Sergeant Major General Skippon Commander of the Guards of the Parliament and that these Guards be careful to see the former Order observed And the said Sheriffs are required to intimate to the Common Council of London in what manner the Lords and Commons have provided for the Safety of the Tower Order to stay 4 Dunkirkers with Ammunition c. for the Rebels Then an Order was directed to the Lord Admiral to stay four Ships lately come from Dunkirk with Arms and Ammunition for the Rebels in Ireland also the like Order to the L. Duke of Richmond Constable of Dover-Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque-Ports and to the Earl of Portland Captain of the Isle of Wight The House was informed that the Lieutenant of the Tower was served with the Order and after he had read it he said Lieutenant of the Tower's answer to the Order to attend the Parliament That he was very desirous to attend the Houses of Parliament according to the Order but conceived he could not come without his Majesties leave first obtained in respect he hath received a Warrant from his Majesty with a Command not to depart out of the Tower without his Majesties leave but to reside there A Copy of which Warrant the Lieutenant sent to the Parliament and Captain Conisby was called in and attested the same producing this following Warrant CHARLES R. TRusty and Well beloved We greet you well The King's Warrant to Sir John Byron Lieutenant of the Tower Forasmuch as in these Tumultuous times We have thought it necessary that the Tower of London where remains not only Our Principal Magazine of Arms and Munition but also Our Records and other Matters of great Importance should be always very well Ordered and that all the Officers and Guard there should be all Resident to perform their Duties Our Will and Command therefore is That you fail not to reside constantly in Our said Tower to see the Guard there to perform their several and respective Duties and that you at no time go out of Our said Tower upon any occasion whatsoever without first acquainting Vs therewith and receiving Our leave and Order for the same and herein We expect that you fail not as you tender Our displeasure and will Answer the contrary for which these shall be your sufficient Warrant Given under Our Signet at Our Court at White-Hall the 10 th day of January in the 17 Year of Our Reign To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir John Byron Knight of the Bath Lieutenant of Our Tower of London Whereupon the House conceived That the Lieutenant of the Tower had committed a high Contempt to the Order of this House in not coming notwithstanding the King's Warrant because the King's Command is always supposed to be in an Order of this House And after much debate a Message was sent to acquaint the Commons with the whole Matter A Message was then brought up from the Commons by Mr. Nathaniel Fines Information against Lord Digby Col. Lunsford That whereas the House of Commons hath been informed That Collonel Lunsford and the Lord George Digby Son to the Earl of Bristol with others have gathered together Troops of Horse and have appeared in a Warlike Manner at Kingston upon Thames within the County of Surrey where the Magazine of that Part of the Countrey lies to the Terror and Fright of his Majesties good Subjects and Disturbance of the Publick Peace of the Kingdom the House of Commons hold it fit that particular directions be sent to the Sheriffs of Surrey and Middlesex Bucks and Berks for the suppressing of such Assemblies being contrary to Law and to take some Course for the securing of those four Counties and the Strand and Westminster and the Magazines thereof and for the suppressing of all unlawful Assemblies that are gathered together to the disturbance of the Peace of the Kingdom and they to be required to call in the Justices of the Peace and Train'd Bands of the Counties for their Assistance herein and to give a speedy account of their Proceedings therein to the Parliament The House of Commons do also desire their Lordships to take Order That the Lord Digby a Member of this House be required to give his Attendance here Portsmouth And further they desire That an Order may be sent from both Houses to the Governor of Portsmouth requiring him that he do not deliver up the Town nor receive any Forces into it but by his Majesties Authority signified by both Houses of Parliament And Lastly Common-Council Whereas the Common Council of London hath appointed a Committee to consider of the defence and safety of the
nearly interested in the Ruin of this great Person than any other he satiated his private Revenge by the pretence of Publick Justice and when in all likelyhood the Earl must have Escaped the Prosecution of his Adversaries he produced that Fatal Scrip of Paper of which mention will be made hereafter which had lain so long Dormant or rather which was newly framed upon which the Bill of Attainder in the House of Commons was founded to take away that Life which a Legal Tryal would otherwise have acquitted though not of Misdemeanors yet of the Capital Crime of High Treason My Lord Wentworth being now made one of his Majesties Privy Council gave such daily Testimonies of his singular Wisdom as soon recommended him to the Observation of that Great Man William Laud then Bishop of London and afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury and that Discernment of each others Merits which generally in great Minds produces Emulation Envy and too commonly Aversion and Animosity begat in them a Friendship which being cemented by the common bond of Loyalty and Fidelity to their great Masters Service and Interest proved so firm and indissolvable as to have no other Period but that of their Untimely Deaths Nor did Fortune who seemed now wholy imployed in bestowing her treacherous Caresses upon this Noble Lord stop here for he was in a little time advanced to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland one of the Trusts and Honours as near the wearing of a Crown as any thing can be that is not actually possessed of one when he came to that Government he found all things in great Disorder the Revenue so low that Ireland was a Burthen to the Crown of England which by his Wise Management he not only took off but so improved the Trade of the Nation and the Revenue of the Crown that that Kindom was not only able to support it self but to lend supplies to England And as he was an Extraordinary Zealous promoter of the Interest and Glory of the Established Church and the Protestant Episcopal Party for which possibly there was a stricter bond of amitie between him and the Arch-Bishop he did by the assistance of that great Metropolitane procure from his Majesty the Restoring of all the Impropriations which in that Nation were then in the Crown to the Bishops and Clergy thereby rescuing the Church-men from those disadvantages which Contempt and Poverty in these declining Ages of Religion had reduced them to and by proposing Rewards to Merit Virtue Learning and Piety encouraged men of Parts to dedicate themselves to those Nobler Studies That contenting themselves with those competent Provisions they might be enabled to resist the Temptations of applying themselves to the more gainful Arts of Secular Professions In short how he managed the Government of that Kingdom notwithstanding the turbulent Humor of the Native Irish whose Religion being Popish and whose Interest to dispossess the English whom they ever esteemed incroachers and invaders continually prompted them to Rebellions this is the clearest Testimony that during all the time that he was his Majesties Vice-Roy in that Kingdom there was not the least murmur of Sedition but all things buried in a most profound Peace and Quiet But no sooner were the Reigns of his Government taken off and even before the blood was cold which dyed his blushing Scaffold but that Kingdom was all in a blaze and from thence such sparks of Jealousie flew over into England as set this miserable Nation into such an Universal Conflagration as was not Extinguished but with whole Rivers of Blood which one may say not altogether Poetically seemed to be sacrificed by the Revenging Deity to the Manes of this Illustrious Man And now the Sun of his Glory was gotten to the Top of his Meridian and from thence had Exhaled those Vapours and sulphureous ingredients which being condensed into Clouds of Popular Discontents raised so horrible a Storm as forced him to set in a dismal Cloud Laetis hunc Numina Rebus Crescendi posuêre modum Innocence is no Protection against Envy and those Merits which raised Admiration and Satisfaction in Good and Virtuous Men produced Emulation and Hatred in the Minds of the Turbulent and Discontented and as formerly all the Complaints and Grievances of the Nation seemed to Centre in the Duke of Buckingham so now the Noble Earl of Strafford for to that Honour he was advanced inherited with the Favour of his Prince all that was Black and Criminal in a Favourite which was now become a certain mark of the Peoples Hatred The long Discontinuance of Parliaments the Imposition of Ship-mony and the Design of introducing Arbitrary Government were all placed to his Score as the intentions of bringing in Superstitions Innovations and Popery were charged upon the Archbishop of Canterbury But above all he had so Exasperated the Scottish Faction and their Friends in England that his or their Ruin as they concluded was inevitable for he had raised a Considerable Army in Ireland and being in the Sickness of the Earl of Northumberland made Lieutenant General of the Army in the North he was an utter Enemy to the Treaty and of Opinion by force of Arms to drive the Scots out of England and so confident was he in the height of his Courage that it might Easily be Effected that in one of his Letters to the Archbishop he writ That he would venture his head if he did not drive the Scots out of England and though he did not think it proper for him as the Case now stood to give the King that Advice Yet if any of the Lords would propose to the King to try the Fortune of a Battle he made not the least scruple to send the Scots back again in more haste than they came into England And had his Majesty pursued those Counsels in all humane Probability this Noble Earl might have saved not only his own but the Royal Head of his Master and that vast Expence of Blood and Treasure as well as the Honour of the English Nation which suffered infinitely abroad by all the succeeding Accidents and Events which Ensued that dishonourable Treaty but Diis aliter visum est No sooner was the Parliament met at Westminster Friday November 6. and the necessary affairs of choosing a Speaker taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and upon Friday Novemb. 6. the Grand Committees for Religion Grievances Courts of Justice Trade and Priviledges settled but Mr. Pym moved for a Committee of the whole House to take into Consideration the Irish Affairs from whence there were great and numerous Complaints This was seconded by Sir John Clotworthy in a Speech wherein though he did not name the Earl of Strafford yet the pointed reflections were so easie to be interpreted that the whole House knew he was the Person at whose head the Thunderbolt was levell'd After some Debate the House was Divided upon the Question and there being Yeas 165 Noes 152 it was carried in the affirmative
existit at quod in Recordo illo in nullo est errat ' Ide◠Consideratum est quod judicium predictum in omnibus affirmetur in omnibus suo robore effectu stet remanet dicta Causa pro Errore superius assignat ' aut allegat ' in aliquo non obstante super quo Record processum predict ' necnon process ' predict ' Curia Parliamenti ibidem in premissis habit ' è predict ' Curia Parliamenti coram Domino Rege ubicunque c. per predict ' Cur ' Parliamenti Remittentur ac predictus Carolus in Curia Domini Regis coram ipso Rege habeat Executionem judicii predicti versus prefatum Thomam juxta formam effectum judicii illius predict ' Breve de Errore super ' inde non obstante Subscribed by the Clerk of the Parliament and delivered to the Defendant in the Writ of Error 29 May 1641. to be remitted into the King's-Bench that Execution may be had upon the Judgment Mr. Monday May 31. Bills for taking away the Court of Sear-Chamber and regulating the Council Board ingrosted Tuesday June 1. Votes about the Petty Farmers of the Customs Prideaux reports the Bill for taking away the Jurisdiction of the Court of Star-Chamber as being contrary to Law and tending to the bringing in of Arbitrary Government as also a Bill for regulating the proceedings of the Council-Board upon which they were ordered to be ingrossed The House fell this day upon the business of the petty Farmers of the Customs Sir Nicholas Crisp Sir John Nulls Sir John Harrison c. and upon the Debate it was Resolved c. That the Petty Farmers of the Customs taking above three pence in the pound of Merchants Strangers and others of the King's Subjects more then by Law allowed is Illegal Resolved month June 1641. c. That the said Petty Farmers for taking above the said three pence in the pound are Delinquents Resolved c. That the said Petty Farmers are for the said offence liable and ought to make restitution Notwithstanding which in favour of Sir John Harrison Resolved That Sir John Harrison a Member of the House in regard of his great service in advancing fourty thousand pounds shall not be prejudiced as to his sitting in the House Sir John Strangeways moved in the behalf of himself and the 59 that Voted against the Bill of Attainder of Thomas Earl of Strafford that there might be some order taken for their security for that they went in fear of their Lives daily affronts and great abuses being put upon them by licentious people who resorted about the Parliament House But these mighty asserters of the Priviledges of Parliament one of the greatest whereof is freedom of Speech and liberty to Vote according to a Man's Conscience thought not fit in this Case to assert their Priviledge but to leave these worthy Gentlemen at the mercy of the Rabble who were by no means to be disobliged there being further occasion to make use of their Tumultuary Insolence in order to their thorough Reformation This day Mr. Tayler presented his Petition Wednesday June 2. desiring to be restored upon his submission but it was rejected A Debate arising about ways for raising of Mony a Motion was made Motion to bring in Plate to be Coined That in regard Mony could not be procured so suddenly as the present necessity of Affairs required there might be some Expedient thought on to bring in the Plate of the Kingdom to the Mint and it was referred to a Committee to consider of it and what way it might be done The Bill for Regulating the Clerks of the Market being Reported Bill for the Clerk of the Market ingrossed Thursday June 3. Report of the Conference with the Lords about the Bishops Bill was Ordered to be Ingrossed Mr. Pierrepoint Reports the Conference with the Lords concerning the Bill for disabling Bishops to Vote in the House of Peers That their Lordships conceive that the Commons understand not unlawfulness to have any Votes there to mean to be contrary to any Law but of convenience or inconvenience because if they had thought it absolutely unlawful they would not have made Exception of the Vniversities and of such of the Nobility as should happen to be in Holy Orders And for the Bishops Right to Sit and Vote in Parliament their Lordships conceive that both by the Common Law Statutes and constant practice there is no question of it As for inconveniencies their Lordships did not yet Vnderstand any such that might induce them to deprive the Bishops and their Successors of the Right of voting in Parliament but if there be such which they yet know not they will be willing to hear them and take it into Consideration For their Votes in the Star-Chamber Council Table or any Office in Secular Affairs they have fully consented to the desires of the Commons Their Lordships have Excepted the Dean of Westminster as being a Corporation confirmed by Act of Parliament Sexto Eliz. As also that of Durham Ely and Hexam and the several Jurisdictions of those Bishops to keep Courts-Baron there by their Stewards c. And all other Courts Executed by Temporal Officers which their Lordships conceive not to be contrary to this Bill After which the Bill for disarming Recusants being reported Bill for Disarming Recusants ingrossed Bill against New Canons Read first time was ordered to be ingrossed Then a Bill for the making void of certain Canons and Constitutions Ecclesiastical lately made and for the punishment of such Prelates and others as were the framers and makers of them was read the first time The House then Entred upon the consideration of the Scottish Articles some of which were assented to Sir Thomas Widdrington reports the Case of Sir John Corbet Friday June 4th Report of Sir John Corbet's Case upon which these Votes passed Resolved c. That the Imposition of 30 l. per annum laid upon the Subjects of the County of Salop for the Muster Masters Fee by the Earl of Bridgwater Lord Lieutenant of that County is an Illegal Charge and against the Petition of Right and that it is high presumption for a Subject to impose any Tax upon the Subject and that the taking it is at Extortion against the Right of the Subject Resolved c. That the Attachment from the Council Board by which Sir John Corbet was committed was an Illegal Warrant Resolved c. That Sir John Corbet ought to have Reparation for his unjust vexation and imprisonment Resolved c. That the Earl of Bridgwater ought to make Sir John Corbet reparation Resolved c. That the House thinks sit that the Attorney General take the Information in the Star-Chamber against Sir John Corbet off the File and that he take some Course that the Bond which he entred into to attend the Suit at the Hearing be delivered unto him Resolved c. That the Lords
released from their Imprisonment in the Tower but nothing was done upon it The Earl of Northumberland sent a Message to the Commons to let them know he had received a Letter from his Brother Mr. Henry Percy and that if they would send some of their House they should have an account of it Whereupon Mr. Hollis and some others were sent to his Lordship The Letter was in these words WHat with my own innocency Mr. Henry Percy 's Letter to the Earl of Northumberlan concernin the business of the Army and the violence I hear is against me I find my self much distracted I will not ask your Counsel because it may bring prejudice upon you but I will with all faithfulness and truth tell you what my part hath been that at least it may be cleared by you whatsoever becomes of me When there was 50000 l. designed by the Parliament for the English Army there was as I take it a sudden demand by the Scots at the same time of 25000 Pounds of which there was 15000 l. ready this they pressed with much necessity as the Parliament after an order made did think it fit for them to reduct 10000 l. out of the 50000 l. formerly granted upon which the Souldiers in our House were much Scandalized amongst which I was one and sitting by Wilmot and Ashburnham Wilmot stood up and told them if that the Scots would procure Money he doubted not but the Officers of the English Army might easily do the like but the first order was reversed notwithstanding and 10000 l. given to the Scots this was the cause of many discourses of dislike amongst us and came to this purpose that they were disobliged by the Parliament and not by the King this being said often to one another we did resolve that Wilmot Ashburnham Pollard Oneale and my self to make some expressions of serving the King in all things he would command us that were Honourable for him and us being likewise agreeing to the Fundamental Laws of the Kingdom that so far we would Live and Die with him this was agreed upon with us not having any Communication with others that I am coupled now withal and further by their joynt consent I was to tell his Majesty thus much from them but withal I was to order the matter so as the King might apprehend this as a great Service done unto him at this time when his Affairs were in so ill a condition they were most confident That they would engage the whole Army thus far but farther they would undertake nothing because they would neither infringe the Liberties of the Subjects nor destroy the Laws to which I and every one consented and having their Sense I drew the Heads up in a Paper to the which they all approved when I read it and then we did by an Oath promise one another to be constant and secret in all this and did all of us take that Oath together then I said Well Sirs I must now be informed what your particular desires are that so I may be the better able to serve you which they were pleased to do and so I did very faithfully serve them therein as far as I could this is the truth and all the truth upon my Soul In particular discourses after that we did fall upon the Petitioning to the King and Parliament for Moneys there being so great Arrears due to us and so much delays made in the procuring of them but that was never done 1. Concerning the Bishops Functions and Votes 2. The not Disbanding of the Irish Army until the Scots were Disbanded too 3. The endeavouring to settle his Majesties Revenue to that proportion as formerly And it was resolved by us all if the King should require our assistance in those things that as far as we could we might contribute thereunto without breaking the Laws of the Kingdom And in case the King should be denyed those things being put to them we would not fly from him all these persons did act and concur in this as well as I this being all imparted to the King by me from them I perceived he had been treated with by others concerning some things of our Army which agreed not with what was purposed by me but inclined a way more sharp and high not having limits either of Honour or Law I told the King he might be pleased to consider with himself which way it was fit for him to hearken unto for us we were resolved not to depart from our grounds we should not be displeased whosoever they were but the particular of the designs or the persons we desired not to know though it was no hard matter to guess at them In the end I believe the danger of the one the justice of the other made the King tell me he would leave all thoughts of other propositions but ours as things not practiceable but desired notwithstanding that Goring and Jermin who were acquainted with the other proceedings should be admitted amongst us I told him I thought the other Gentry would never consent to it but I would propose it which I did and we were all much against it but the King did press it so much as at the last it was consented unto and Goring and Jermin came to my Chamber there I was appointed to tell them after they had sworn to secrecy what we had proposed which I did But before I go into the debate of the way I must tell you Jermin and Goring were very earnest Suckling should be admitted which we did all decline and were desired by all our men to be resolute in it which I was and gave many reasons Whereupon Master Goring made answer he was engaged with Suckling his being employed in the Army but for his meeting with us they were contented to pass it by Then we took up again the ways which were proposed which took great debate and theirs differed from ours in violence and height which we all protested against and parted disagreeing totally yet remitted it to be spoken of by me and Jermin to the King which we both did And the King constant to his former resolutions told him these ways were all vain and foolish and would think of them no more I omit one thing of Mr. Goring he desired to know how the Chief Commanders were to be disposed of for if he had not a condition worthy of him he would not go along with us we made answer that no body thought of that we intended if we were sent down to go all in the same capacity we were in he did not like that by any means and by that did work so with Master Chidley that there was a Letter sent by some of the Commanders to make him Lieutenant General and when he had ordered this matter at London and Master Chidley had his instructions then did he go to Portsmouth pretending to be absent when this was aworking we all desired my Lords of Essex and Holland that if
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
and thrie Borrowis to meet the Erle of Eglingtowne at thrie Howris afternoon to take to thair Consideration be way of Estimation or Conjecture the Nombre of Bottis or Lime Faddis which in the Partis of this Kingdom lying opposite to Ireland may be had in readiness and what Nombre of men may be Transported thairin and to report again to the Parliament Vera Copia GIBSON After which was read An Information from Chester against two Irish Men. a Packet of Letters directed to the Lords in Parliament sent from the Maior of Chester wherein was an Information upon Oath taken by the Maior and Aldermen of one Thomas Cremer of Graies-Inn Gent. Dated the 30th of October last That he meeting with a Gentleman that calleth himself by the Name of Magenes Brother to the Lord Magenes at the House of Widdow Belson in Weston upon some Conference betwixt them the said Magenes told the said Cremer that he was to go for Ireland being lately come from Spain to see my Lord Mac-guire and that he was sent for thither and further said That he hoped ere long that the Irish would drive out the Scots out of Ireland and that there is a Business that you would not think of And said to the said Cremer that he had returned 8 or 900 l. out of London into Ireland to raise Forces for the King of Spain And also saith that there was one other in Company of the said Magenes which called himself by the Name of Readmond Yesternight in the Company of the said Cremer who drunk a health to the Confusion of the Protestants in Ireland and that the aforesaid Magenes further said That since the Business was discovered he would go to London along with the said Cremer if he would lend him some Mony And further Cremer saith that the said Magenes hearing of the Rebellion in Ireland said That he was very glad and joyful of the News and that he liked very well of it and that he would give any thing to be in Ireland and did shew himself to be very angry with the Master of the Ship in which he intended to go for Ireland for neglecting the Wind saying he might meet with him in Ireland where a Man might be revenged on such Fellows but afterwards the said Magenes hearing that my Lord Macguire was taken seemed to be very sorrowful and said to the said Cremer That since it is discovered he would go to London along with him if he would lend him some Money Tho. Cowper Major Will. Gamull Tho. Cremer Nich. Ivie c. Whereupon it was Ordered That the said Arthur Magenes and Readmond Comyn being now under restraint in the City of Chester shall be forthwith brought in safe Custody by the Sheriffs of the said City and appear before the Lords in Parliament to answer the aforesaid Information and then this House will give such further Order and Directions therein as shall be agreeable to Justice The Lord Seymour Reported to the House That he had according to their Lordships Command presented the Message from this House to the Queen concerning Robert Phillips and Her Majesty returned this answer viz. My Lords THe Message I received from you by my Lord Seymour The Queens Answer concerning Father Phillips I have taken into serious Consideration and do not a little wonder that Father Phillips should so much forget himself as I find he hath done by the Message sent unto me which I am so far from approving as I cannot but be sorry he hath done it I must acknowledg your Respects unto me in giving Me Satisfaction of your Proceedings therein if I did not believe what is done by him is out of Simplicity I should not speak for him You all know how near he is unto me by that place which he holds and if it shall appear unto you that he hath not maliciously done any thing against the State if for my Sake you shall pass by his present Offence I shall take it as a further Testimony of your farther Respects unto me which I shall be ready to acknowledg upon all Occasions thaâ— shall be offered Whereupon it was Ordered to have a Conference with the House of Commons to acquaint them with this Answer of the Queens This day an Ordinance of Parliament to give Power to the L. Lieutenant of Ireland to give Commissions and to raise Men for Ireland having been read yesterday Saturday Novemb. 6. and passed in the Commons House was also read and passed by the Lords as followeth viz. THe Lords and Commons in Parliament An Ordinance of Lords and Commons to enable the E. of Leicester to raise men for Ireland being very sensible of the great Danger and Combustion in Ireland by reason of the multitude of Rebels now in Arms for the destruction of His Majesties Loyal Subjects there and the withdrawing that Kingdom from the Allegiance of His Majesty and the Crown of England and forasmuch as in this time of His Majesties absence his Royal Commission cannot be so soon obtained as the necessity of that Kingdom doth require and for more speedy opposing the wicked and Trayterous attempts of the Rebels there and for that His Majesty hath especially recommended the care of the preservation of that Kingdom unto both the Houses of Parliament do hereby Ordain and Authorize Robert Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland by Warrant under his Hand and Seal to give one or more Commissions to such Captains Commanders and other Officers as to his Lordship shall seem Expedient for the Levying of 3500 Foot and 600 Horse by the beating of Drum of such Persons as shall voluntarily undertake the same Service by accepting of Prest-mony which persons are to be raised in such several Parts of the Kingdom as shall be most convenient for their passage into the Parts of Ireland which his Lordship shall think most necessary to be forthwith supplied and for the furnishing of the same Men as also of other of his Majesties Subjects in that Kingdom we have Ordained that the Earl of Newport Master of His Majesties Ordnance shall deliver a number of Arms Munition and Powder answerable unto the said Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to be disposed of as he shall think fit for the best defence of that Kingdom and for the Levying of the said number of Men this Ordinance of Parliament shall be his sufficient Warrant The Ordinance to enable the Lord Newport to deliver the Arms and Ammunition was also read and passed as the other in these Words FOrasmuch as it is held most expedient and necessary for the safety of His Majesties Kingdom of Ireland The Ordinance of the Lords and Commons to enable the Master of the Orduance to deliver Arms c. to the Lieutenant of Ireland and his Loyal Subjects there that such numbers of Soldiers both Horse and Foot as are forthwith to be raised for the defence of that Kingdom should be supplied with Arms and other Munition
which by reason of his Majesties absence out of the Kingdom cannot be done by His Majesties immediate Warrant so speedily as the imminent danger and necessity of that Kingdom doth require and for that His Majesty hath especially recommended the Care of the Preservation of that Kingdom unto both the Houses of Parliament It is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament That Mountjoy Earl of Newport Master of His Majesties Ordnance shall deliver to the Earl of Leicester Lord Lieutenant of Ireland or to such other person or persons as he shall appoint to receive the same the full number of 1000 Arms for Horse-men and 8000 Arms for Foot and the quantity of 10 Last of Powder and such other Munition Tents and Provisions of all sorts as shall be needful for this Service according to a List to be agreed upon and allowed by the said Lords and Commons hereunto annexed out of His Majesties Stores and Magazines in the Tower of London the City of Carlisle the Town of Hull or elsewhere and for so doing this shall be a sufficient Warrant as well for his Lordship as for any of his Deputies or Vnder-Officers in that behalf An Ordinance also for providing Shipping for Transportation of Men and Munition was read and passed in haec verba WHereas by Order of Parliament Men Arms The Ordinance of the Lords and Commons to impower the L. High Admiral to provide Shipping c. Munition and other Provisions are suddenly to be transported from several Ports in this Realm viz. Bristol Chester and others for which Service it will be requisite that Ships be provided with all expedition It is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament that the Lord High Admiral of England be desired to take care that Ships be accordingly provided in the several Ports respectively within this Kingdom from whence the aforesaid Men Arms Ammunition and other Provisions are Ordered to be Transported into Ireland which is to be done with all expedition the Parliament having resolved to see Moneys supplied for the performance of this Service After this the Lord Keeper reported the Conference with the House of Commons to this effect That the House of Commons have presented to their Lordships some Propositions which have been Voted in their House The Report of the Conference about Capuchins c. and desires their Lordships to take them into Consideration and join with them therein 1. Concerning the Dissolving the House of the Capuchins and the speedy sending them away according the former desires of their House 2. That the Ambassadors may be sent to from both Houses to deliver up such Priests of the King's Subjects as are in their Houses 3. That a List may be brought in of the Queens Priests and other her Servants and that a List may be likewise brought in of the Prince's and other of the King's Childrens Servants 4. That a Proclamation may issue for the Commanding that all Strangers that are not of the Protestant Religion except such as are Men of Rank and Quality and live here in such a publick way whereby notice is taken of them and of the Cause of their aboad in this Kingdom do deliver in Tickets of their Names and an account of their stay here within two days after the issuing forth of the Proclamation or else depart the Kingdom forthwith And likewise requiring that all Inn-keepers or others that entertain Lodgers to give Tickets of the Names of such as lodge in their Houses within two days likewise after the issuing forth of the said Proclamation and that these Tickets be given by those in the City of London to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the Wards respectively where they reside and by those of Middlesex and Surrey and other Places within 10 Miles of London to the Justices of the Peace next adjoining to the place of their Residence and this Order to extend to the City of London and Ten Miles about 5. That the House of Commons had presented their Lordships with some Scottish Papers being Examinations concerning the late Design against the Lord Marquess Hamilton Earl of Arguile and the Earl of Lannerick Likewise they produced written from their Committees at Edinburgh Letters dated the 27th of October with an enclosed Paper containing as follows viz. The Paper of the 5th of October Exhibited by the English Committee October the 7th 1641. THE Committees of the Parliament of England have now sent down sufficient Moneys for the Total Disbanding of the Garrisons of Barwick and Carlisle Some Transactions between the English Committee at Edinburgh and the Scottish Parliament and have Ordered That it shall be Effected by the 10th of this present Month And have likewise taken a Course for removing the Ammunition and Ordnance and for slighting of the Works according to the Treaty We desire therefore That that part of the Army which is yet on foot may be forthwith Disbanded and that what new Fortifications have been made in Scotland by occasion of the late Troubles may be presently demolished according to the same Treaty The Answer to the Paper delivered in by the English Committees to the Committee of the Army Exhibited 7. Octobris 1641. THat the Regiments which are yet on foot may be speedily Disbanded they are drawn according to the Order already given near towards Edenburgh to the Effect they may with greater Conveniency be Mustered and thereafter money may be given for their Pay and forthwith disbanded And any new Fortifications which have been made in Scotland by Occasion of the late Troubles shall presently be demolished that every Condition on our part may to your full Satisfaction be performed according to the Treaty And we do no wise doubt to find mutual performances and that the Garrisons at Barwick and Carlisle according to the Orders of the Parliament be totally Disbanded which being shewn to the Parliament of England we hope will give them Satisfaction 22 October 1641. Produced by the Lord Chancellor and read in Audience of his Majesty and the Parliament who nominates the Lord Burgley in place of the Earl of Argyle to be upon the Committee for providing Money to pay the Regiments And also Ordains An Order to be given to the Lord General for causing the demolishing the Fortifications at Mordington which was accordingly done Alex. Gibsone 6. Concerning the putting the Custody of the Isle of Wight into another hand as formerly was desired 7. Concerning the securing of the persons of Papists upon the former Propositions 8. That the Earl of Essex may have Power from both Houses to Command the Trained Bands on this side Trent upon all Occasions for the Defence of the Kingdom and that this power may continue until the Parliament shall take further Order This Report being Ended the House caused those particulars to be distinctly read again and gave these Resolutions upon them Resolved upon the Question Nemine Contradicente That the House or Covent of Capuchins here
which time they met and concluded of an Order to Adjourn the House till Tuesday the 11th of January 1641. And in the mean time appointed a Committee of the House of Commons to Sit in London to consider of the Safety of the King Kingdom and Parliament and of repairing of the Priviledges of Parliament so highly broken Which Meeting hath produced several Orders and Decalrations for maintaining the Priviledges of Parliament which are to be reported to the House and there to have its force But for the Safety of the Kingdom and City which they conceived to be in Imminent danger the Committee for Irish Affairs of the House of Commons propounded the consideration thereof to the Committee of the Lords House for Irish Affairs who sate likewise in London who in regard the King had denyed both Houses a Guard to protect them and in regard such an Hostile Plot was intended as was apparently proved declared their Opinion That whereas the King and Parliament was in so great danger that in that Case the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex ought to come with the Posse Comitatus to the Parliament to defend the King and Parliament To which Opinion the Committee of the House of Commons assented which was communicated to the Lord Mayor Aldermen and Common Councel of London and they delivered their Opinions herein and expressed their forwardness hereunto This Breach of Priviledg of Parliament begot much discontent in the Parliament and People and the more in regard by special Command the Articles against Master Pym and the rest were Printed and the same published by Sir William Killegrew and Sir William Flemyn and delivered in his Majesties Name as they falsely pretended to the Four Inns of Court to the end to make these persons the more odious to them and the Kingdom And in regard the consequence of admitting this Accusation in this manner against these five persons is a president to take away the whole House of Commons at a breath under pretence of High Treason if as God forbid an Accusation of this Nature should be hereafter and considering that to this very day 11 Januar. 1641. no Articles of Impeachment is come into the House of Commons by the King's Attorney or otherwise or from the Lords House if any be there against them till which time that it come from thence by Messengers of their own if there first depending the House cannot legally take notice thereof This and many other Reasons made the House of Commons to insist upon it besides the great merit of these persons whom as the House hath declared though as dear as their Lives unto them they will deliver over unto a Tryal so as his Majesty will proceed against them in a Legal way either at the Kings-Bench or in Parliament and produce any Subject in England that will stand to make good the Accusation and in case they fail to make it good that his Majesty will let them be forth-coming and also to discover those wicked Counsels that have advised him to this course that they may be brought to condigne punishment The City and People in the adjacent Parts are so much moved in this business and fearing some suddain Execution may be done upon the Parliament both the House of Peers and House of Commons and the Lords of the Privy Councel having declared that this Act of his majesties without their Advice and against the Priviledges of Parliament That they yesterday declared That Eight Companies of the Trayned Bands with 8. Pieces of Ordnance and divers Horsemen mounted shall Guard the Committees of the House of Peers and Commons from Grocers-Hall in London to Westminster And the Sea Captains Masters of Ships and Marriners with small Barges and Long-Boats sufficiently Mann'd and Armed with Murderers Rablets Faulchion and Minion with Musquet and Half-Pikes to the number of 2000 persons have engaged themselves to Guard the Parliament by Water The Trayned Bands in Southwark have offered themselves to secure all the other side of the Water and the Apprentices tendred their Services to attend the Parliament to the number of Ten Thousand with Warlike Weapons but those the Parliament enjoyned to stay at home And lastly the Watermen tendred their Barges for more Safety to carry the Parliament-men by Water All which to the great admiration of all the Beholders put in Execution this day And that which is most considerable 4000 Horsemen are come to the House of Commons this day except some of them which lay at Vxbridge and places thereabouts with a Petition in the Name of the whole County of Buckingham That Mr. Hampden their Knight of the Shire may receive his Tryal and not lie under the name of High Treason and cannot obtain a Legal way of Tryal and that if he acquit himself as no good men make doubt of Justice in a high measure may be done upon the false informers of his Majesty how near or how great soever They being confident that it is but design of the Popish Party to put an interruption in the Proceedings of Parliament that no Relief may be sent to Ireland but that more Protestant Blood may be shed there and that all Acts made this Parliament may be avoided under pretence of no Free Parliament And lastly to force a Breach of this Parliament by an untimely Adjournment or fayl of meeting through fear of danger By this it will be easy to observe how the People were deluded and inflamed into those Heats and Commotions which cast this Nation so dear and by what wayes the popular Poison and and Contagion spread it self far and wyde so as to become almost an Epidemical Disease throughout the Kingdom and will plainly demonstrate how dangerous a Tool the Press is when the Hand of Faction And now let us take a view of their Actions and how they demeaned themselves having got the Bishops cooped into the Tower and the King out of the Town Tuesday Jan. 11. and themselves triumphantly replaced at Westminster The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Reported That the Lords Committees for the Irish Affairs have met in London with the Committee of the House of Commons and have agreed upon some Resolutions concerning the Affairs of Ireland 1. That 2500 l. out of the Loan Money be forthwith delivered to Sir Job Harvey and Sir John Nulls who have undertaken to return it to Chester for the Paying and Transporting the 300. Men now there to Dublin 2. That 3000 l. more be paid to them they having undertaken to give Credit to Mr. Walter Frost Commissary for the Victuals The Committee of the House of Commons told the Lords Committees likewise That they were now at the bottom of their Purses and for-as-much as the necessity of providing Money and of the Supply for the present relief of Ireland requireth the Consideration of both Houses of Parliament and for-as-much as they cannot sit in safety without strong and sufficient Guards from the City of London and adjacent Parts they desire
charged for no less then Treason before I write next doubt not but to have them in the Tower or their Heads from their Shoulders The Sollicitor and Fiennes and Earl we must serve with the same Sauce And in the House of Lords the Lord Mandeville is touched but Essex Warwick Say Brooke and Paget must follow or else we shall not be quiet Falkland and Culpeper are made Friends to our side at least-wise they will do us no hurt The Protestants and Puritans are so divided that we need not fear them the Protestants in great part will join with us or stand Neuters while the Puritan is suppressed if we can bring them under the Protestants will either fall in with us generally or else if they do not they are so indifferent that either by fair or foul means we shall be able to command them The mischievous Londoners and the Apprentices may do us some hurt for the present but we need not much fear them they do nothing Orderly but Tumultuously therefore we doubt not much but to have them under Command after one brunt for our Party is strong in the City especially Holbourn in the new Buildings and Westminster We are afraid of nothing but the Scots appearing again but we have made a Party there at the King's last being there which will hold their hands behind them †The very stile of a Canting Puritan as no doubt he was that forged this Letter while we Act our part at home Let us acquit our selves like Men for our Religion and Country Now or Never The King's heart is Protestant but our Friends can perswade him and make him believe any thing He hates the Puritan Party and is made irreconcilable to that side so that the Sun the Moon and the Seven Stars are for us * * A notorious untruth in fact as to matter of Number There are no less then 20000 Ministers in England the greater half will in their places be our Friends to avenge the Bishops dishonour let our Friends be incouraged the work is more then half done Your Servant R. E. I cannot tell whether it will not appear equally ridiculous as the Letters themselves to indeavour to manifest that this Letter with the inclosed were mere Fictions since it seems they thought little better of them themselves for when these Letters were sent up to the Lords by Sir John Hotham he delivered the Message in these words That he was sent to inform their Lordships of two Letters one sent to Mr. Orlando Bridgman a Member of the House of Commons another written to one Mr. Anderton which they offer to their Lordships to make use of them as they think fit which kind of slight recommendation their Lordships it seems understood so well that they were only read and laid by without further notice taken of them But there was a further use for them for these Letters quickly got into Print and contributed not a little by those cursed Reflexions with which they were stuffed to blacken the Reputation of the King and Queen and confirm the Credulous Multitude in the belief of a great and horrid Plot of the Papists and Episcopal Protestants against the Parliament which was a point absolutely necessary to be gained by the Faction in order to what was now too apparent to all Honest and Loyal Men the carrying on a Plot of the Puritans as they were then called by Rebellion to accomplish the work of Reformation But to put the matter out of dispute having occasion to search among the old musty Papers of that time in the Clerk of the Parliaments Office I found these very Original Letters and being strongly possessed in my imagination that by comparing of hands there being something very particular in the hand that writ those Letters I should find out the cheat I found several Letters written by Sir Anthony Welden with the very exact and distinguishing stroaks and cutting of the Letters so like that written to Mr. Bridgman that I do not in the least doubt but whoever was the Contriver Sir Anthony was the Amanuensis and indeed it suits well enough with such a Kitchin-stuff Courtier as he afterwards proved both by his Actions and the Infamous Libel written by him called The Court of King James The Papers are in my possession if any Persons doubts shall tempt them to disbelieve my positive Opinion in this matter The Commons that they might Rivet themselves into the hearts of the Seditious Rabble who had conducted them and the five Members to Westminster resolved not only to thank them but to indemnifie them too for this Riotous and Tumultuary procedure And therefore first divers Sea Captains Masters of Ships and Marriners were called in to whom Mr. Speaker delivered this by the Command of the House 1. Thanks to the Sea Captains c. That the House did take special notice of the performance of this Service of theirs to this House and to the Common-wealth and gave them thanks for it and desired them to Communicate the same to the rest of the Sea-men and Marriners 2. For the Petition which they delivered to the Committee of this House the other day in London that this House will take it into speedy Consideration as also any other desire of theirs that they shall make to this House Then divers of the Trained Bands of Westminster were called in Thanks to the Trained Bands of Westminster whose Petition being read and Ordered to be Entred Mr. Speaker acquainted them as followeth That this House hath taken notice of the Expression of a great deal of Affection in their Petition unto this House and have Commanded him to give them thanks for it and that this House had never any cause to be Jealous of them and shall make use of them as there shall be occasion The Sheriffs of London were also called in Thanks to the Sheriffs of London c. to whom Mr. Speaker spake as followeth That this House was very sensible of their great care and love and respect to this House and in them to the Common-wealth as also to the Committee of this House that sate in London and for the special Service done this day and hath Commanded him to give them hearty thanks for it and to desire them to return the like to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen Thus did they Court the People like Absolom Order Indemnifying the Citizens for Guarding the Parliament indeavouring to steal their hearts from their Sovereign by flattering Speeches with the same intention that he did those of his King and Father and to incourage them to persist in those Tumultuary Courses it was Resolved upon the Question That the Actions of the Citizens of London and others in the guarding and defence of the Parliament or the Priviledges or Members thereof either by the Trained Bands or otherwise are according to their Duties and the late Protestation and the Laws of this Kingdom and that if any Person shall
since we find there is little hope of it for some of the Priests are returned nothing being wrought thereby However it is fit your Lordship should know what we do we must now crave leave to declare to your Lordship That things being risen here to this height threatning not only the shaking of the Government but the loss of the Kingdom as the Supplies of Men Arms and more Treasure are of great necessity to be hastned away hither so is it also needful that we enjoy your Lordships presence here for the conduct in your own person of the great and important Affairs of this State as well in the Martial as in the Civil Government which do necessarily require it in this time of great imminent danger wherein so far as we may be able to contribute any assistance with you we shall be ready to discharge our duties therein with that loyalty and uprightness of heart which we owe to his Majesty and the particular respect due from us to your Lordship but we hope you will bring that strength with you which may befit the greatness of the King our Master to send with his Lieutenant against so numerous Enemies as these Rebels are become as well for the Honour of his Majesty as for the terror of those Rebels By what we have heretofore and now humbly represented to your Lordship you may in part see the greatness of the publick danger wherein this Kingdom now stands and particularly this City and Castle the principal piece thereof that if those be lost which we now again assure your Lordship were never in so great peril to be lost since the first Conquest of this Kingdom by the Crown of England the whole Kingdom must quickly follow that the danger which must thereupon arise to the Kingdom of England is very great in many Respects There is no possibility to prevent those Evils with Honor and Safety to England but by Succors from thence or Scotland or both and that if those Succors come not speedily it cannot be avoided but the Kingdom must be lost And if notwithstanding all this so often and truly made known by us to your Lordship we shall perish for want of Supplies we shall carry this Comfort with us to our Graves or any other Burial we shall have That your Lordship can witness for us to the Royal Majesty and to all the World that we have discharged our Duties to God to his Majesty to that Nation and to this in humbly representing to his Majesty by your Lordship the chief Governour of the Kingdom the Extremities and Dangers wherein his Kingdom and People stand and the necessity of hastning Supplies hither by all possible means for preservation of both so as whatever become of our persons our memory cannot be justly stained with so wretched a breach of Faith and Loyalty to the King our Master as to forbear representing thither the Extremities wherein we are whether we have the Credit to be believed or no and that we write Truth and most needful Truth will be found true when perhaps we shall perish and which is more considerable the Kingdom also for want of being Relieved and Succoured in time And so we remain Your Lordships to be Commanded William Parsons Ormond Ossory Char. Lambert John Temple Francis Willoughby Jo. Burlace R. Dillon Ad. Loftus Charles Coot R. Meredith From his Majesties Castle of Dublin 14 December 1641. Postscript BY our Letters to your Lordship of the 22. of November We did desire to be informed from thence Whether the Parliament here being once Prorogued may not again be Prorogued by Proclamation before they Sit or whether it be of necessity that they must Sit again and the Parliament to be Prorogued the House Sitting And now that this Rebellion hath over-spread the whole Kingdom and that many Members of both Houses are involved therein so as the Parliament cannot Sit We humbly desire to know his Majesties Pleasure therein and if his Majesty shall think fit to Prorogue it which at present we hold expedient that then we may receive his Commandment for Prorogation and that the doubt concerning that be cleared for to assemble at that time cannot be with Safety Our Letters of the Third of December have been hitherto with-held on this side by contrary Winds The Propositions mentioned in this Letter for a Treaty by Sir Thomas Carey and Dr. Cale a Doctor of the Sorbon were First That there should be a Toleration of Religion Some Overtures for a Treaty Secondly That Popish Officers as well as Protestants should be admitted to all Employments Thirdly That the wrongs of Plantations should be repaired since 1610. Fourthly That there should be a Proclamation to take off the File the Title of Rebels and Traitors But Sir Phelim O Neil would not be perswaded to condescend to any manner of Treaty unless the Lord Mac-guire Mac-Mahon and the other Prisoners in the Castle were first set at Liberty which the Board rejecting with Contempt and Indignation that Overture died almost as soon as it was born Though it now began to be notorious that the Lords of the The Board Vindicates Sir Charles Coot and themselves from the Imputation of the Lords of the Pale Pale were deeply in the Conspiracy yet to take away their pretences the Board published a Proclamation and sent it to those Noblemen wherein it was positively Affirmed That the Lords Justices and Council did never hear Sir Charles Coot or any other utter at the Council Board or elsewhere any Speeches tending to a Purpose or Resolution 〈◊〉 Execute on those of their Profession or any other a general Massacâ—â— nor was it ever in their thoughts to dishonour His Majesty or the State by such an Odious Detestable and Impious Action giving them assurance of their safety if they would repair to Dublin the 17th of that Month. In Answer to which The Answer of the Lords of the Pale the Lords of the Pale return a Letter to the Lords Justices wherein they complain That they were so justly affrighted with Sir Charles Coot's severity and deportment that they durst not adventure their persons within the Confines of his Government they heavily charge upon him the inhumane acts perpetrated in the County of Wickloe the Massacre of Santry and the burning of Mr. King's house at Clantorfe contrary to the Publick Faith given but the day before for which severity they said they did not blame their Lordships but Sir Charles Coot for his Rigor in the Execution and therefore desire that no sinister Construction may be made of their stay but that they may have some Commissioners appointed to confer with them concluding with professions of their Loyalty and readiness to give their advice for the advancement of His Majesty's Service and the Common Peace of the Kingdom But though they did not proceed to open Hostilities chusing rather to force the Government to be the Aggressors yet they began to form themselves into a
distinct Body of an Army and thereupon declared the Lord Gormanston General of the Forces to be raised in the Pale Hugh Birne Lieutenant General and the Earl of Fingal General of the Horse And to straiten the City of Dublin by keeping Provisions from coming thither Luke Neterville sent two strong Parties the one to possess Finglass within two Miles of the City and the other to Santry where they lay till those at Finglass were dislodged from thence by Col. Crafford lately arrived out of England with a Recommendation from the Prince Elector Palatine under whom he had served in the Wars of Germany The dislodging of the Rebels from Finglass happened by a pretty odd Adventure for Crafford having raised a Regiment of the stripped and despoiled English who came to Dublin for Sanctuary he daily Exercised them and being a Person of a good competency of Confidence and forwardness he requested the Earl now His Grace the Duke of Ormond to take a view of them and see how well in so short a time he had improved and disciplined his Men the next Morning His Grace with about 20 Horse of his Servants and some Persons of Quality went into the Field to see them Train but when he came there he found no Men upon the place but presently after hearing some shooting and conceiving they might be marched to some more convenient place he advanced to the place where by the shooting he judged they were when he came near he saw there was a Man brought off wounded whereupon he perceived it was no matter of Jest for it seems Crafford who had resolved to signalize himself had made an attempt upon the Rebels at Finglass but his Men who had scarcely recovered the fright they had escaped were not so well in either Courage or Discipline but that they had shewed the Rebels their Backs if His Grace by the opportune appearance of this small body of Horse had not reinforced them and the Rebels having no Horse and not knowing what strength or numbers were coming upon them immediately retired and drew off from the place The other Party at Santry hearing of the approach of Sir Charles Coot consulted with their heels for the security of the rest of their Bodies and quitted the place with so much fear and haste that they left behind them the best part of their Equipage and Provisions And to add to these misfortunes under which the Government and the English Protestants were so miserably oppressed the Provinces of Munster and Connaght now followed the Example of Vlster and Lemster and broak out into actual Rebellion so that now there was not one Corner of Ireland but what was infected with this dismal Contagion the whole Body was sick and the Heart faint and languishing The landing of Sir Simon Harcourt Sir Simon Harcourt with a Regiment arrives at Dublin Decemb. 31. a brave Experienced Captain with his Regiment who arrived at Dublin the last of December raised some hopes that Assistance and Relief would come from England but those very hopes were strangely over-ballanced by the Fears lest they should come too late And these delays had like to have proved Fatal for many of the Soldiers who came out of England seeing the weak and low condition of the City and the great Strength and Numbers of the Rebels began not only to shrink from the Service which appeared so desperate but mutinuously to perswade their fellows to return for England which occasioned the Publishing of this Proclamation By the Lords Justices and Council William Parsons John Borlase WE do hereby in His Majesties Name A Proclamation forbidding Soldiers to return to England Charge and Command all His Majesties Soldiers of this Army that upon pain of Death none of them presume to depart hence for England without express License in that behalf from the Lieutenant General of the Army And we Command all Owners and Masters of Ships Barques and other Vessels that upon pain of Death none of them do permit or suffer any of the said Soldiers to go aboard them or to be carried from hence into England And we require the Searcher and all other Officers and Waiters of the Customs that they and every of them do take special Care to prevent the Shipping or Exporting of any of the said Soldiers as aforesaid whereof they may not fail Given at His Majesties Castle of Dublin the 18th of Jan. 1641. Ormond Ossory R. Dillon Ad. Loftus J. Temple Charles Coote Fra. Willoughby Rob. Meredith The Board had not been at all wanting to represent the sad Condition of their Affairs to the Lord Lieutenant and the Two Houses of Parliament in England and the Reader may have observed that upon all occasions His Majesty had indeavoured to the uttermost of the Power he had left to forward the Relief and Assistance of Ireland But the Scots stood upon high Terms being rather managed with the desire of the English Money the sweetness of which they had tasted then with compassionate Zeal and Brotherly Kindness though they affected that word mightily to afford Sudden and Seasonable Relief to Ireland which they might with the greatest ease imaginable have done from Scotland that Country lying so near as to be within a few hours Sail from thence And for the Two Houses of Parliament in England they were so wholly taken up with their own Affairs and Designs against the King which now began to ripen apace towards an open Rebellion that they had no leisure to attend the present Relief of Ireland to any purpose insomuch that the Arms and Ammunition taken out of the King's Stores for that Service could not get a conveyance to the Ports whither they were Ordered for Transportation for want of Money as was often represented to the Two Houses by the Lord Newport Master of the Ordnance as before hath been made appear from the Journals and the Men who were raised and got as far as Chester lay there also Money-bound as is evident from this following Letter written from Col. Monk afterwards the memorable Duke of Albemarle to the Lord Lieutenant My Lord I Have received one Letter from your Lordship A Letter from Col. Monk to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and one from your Secretary and all your Lordships Commands have been observed here are Twelve Companies of your Lordships Regiment come to Chester there is only wanting your Lordships own Company and 40 Men of Captain Cope 's Company the which 40 Men he is bringing up himself and your Lordships Regiment is 1200 marching Men in Rank and File at this present We shall want nothing for our present Imbarquing but Money and your Lordships own Company for our Men are all Armed and Shipping ready to carry them over the want of Money with us has been very great by reason we have been forced to pay our Companies our selves ever since our Arrival here We could not prevail with the Townsmen of Chester for the furnishing of us with any