have inclined to popery if it be an obiection worth answering let me say truly that from the time since I was one and twenty years of age till this houre now going upon 49. I never had thought in my heart to doubt of the truth of my religion in England and never any had the boldnesse to suggest to me the contrary to the best of my remembrance and so being reconciled to the mercies of Christ Jesus my Saviour into whole bosome I hope shortly to be gathered to those eternall happinesses that shall never have end I desire heartily the forgivenesse of every man both for any rash or unadvised word or deed and desire your prayers And so my Lords farewell farewell all the things of this world Lord strengthen my faith give me confidence and assurance in the merits of Christ Jesus I desire you that you would be sâ—lent and ioyne in prayers with me and I trâ—st in God that we shall all meet and live eternally in heaven there to receive the accomplishment of all happinesse where every teare shall be wiped from our eyes and every sad thought from our hearts And so God blesse this kingdome and Jesus have mercy upon my Soule Amen The Earle of Strafford for treasonable practises beheaded on the Tower-hill Sr. Francis Windebank Sr. Iohn Finch the Lord Digbie Iermin etc fly for their lives beyond sea 48. Then they attempted by foule and false scandals on the Parliament to intice the Army of the Scots then still in the North to a newtralâ—ty and to sit still whiles our English army acted the farther designes hatched and hammered still in their heads and hearts but this plot prevailed not neither Anno 1641. Octob. 23. 49. About this time that most horrid and inhumane bloody rebellion and monstrous massacring of almost 200000 innocent English Protestants men women and children bâ—ake out in Ireland namely about October 23. 1641. This also being a main branch of this most mischievous design against this Parliament by Gods wonderfull power and providence so firmly fixed and setled that they knew not how to ruinate it those accursed Rebels having had their principall encouragements and Commissions to authorize them in that horrid and hideous rebellion from the Court of England and of purpose to have made England the chiefe seat of the warre and of all the papists prelates and malignants utmost wrath and rage 50. For the still effecting and underhand working on of this wicked designe the malignant party in private much prevailing still the designe now went on chiefly against the City of London for which purpose the Leivtenant of the Tower Sir William Belfâ—re was for his loyalty displaced by the King from his Leivtenantship and popish Lord Cottâ—â—gâ—on made Constable of the Tower but his dangerous designes being soon discovered he was as soon displaced and Colonâ—ll Lunsford was made Leivtenant of the Tower But he also by the Parliaments petition and importunity to the King was displaced and Sir John Byron a desperate malignant who afterward proved the most bloody Lord â—yrâ—n in 〈◊〉 was made Leivtenant of the Tower in Lunsfords stead but he also on many just jealousies being petitioned against was at length with much adoe removed and put out thence and Sir John Conyers by the power of the Parliament was put in his place To the Kings most excellent Majesty and the Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament The humble Petition and Protestation of all the Bishops and Prelates now 〈◊〉 by His Majesties Writs to attend the Parliameâ—t and present abouâ— London and Westminster for that Service THat whereas the Petitioners are called up by severall and respective Writs and under great penalties to attend the Parliament and have a clear and indubitable right to voâ—e in Bils and other matters whatsoever debatable in parliament by the ancient customes Laws and Statutes of this Realm and ought to be protected by your Maiesty quietly to attend and prosecute that great Service They humbly remonstrate and protâ—st before God your 〈◊〉 and the Noble Lords and Peers now assembled in Parliament that as they have an indubitaâ—e right to sit and Vote in the House of Lords so are they if they may be protected from force and violence most ready and willing to performe their duties accordingly And that they doe abhominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery and the maintainance thereof as also all propension and inclination to any malignant party or any other side or party whatsoever to the which their own reasons and conscience shall not move them to adhere But whereas they have been at The High Commission-Court and Starr-Chamber voted down and pluralities non residencies damned by Parliament The Queen-Mother sent away by Sea and the Capuchine Fryers Priests expell'd from Somersett House beyond Sea severall times violently menaced affronted and assaulted by multitudes of people in their comming to perform their services in that honourable House and lately chased away and put in danger of their lives and can finde no redresse or protection upon sundry complaints made to both Houses in these particulars They likewise humbly protest before your Majesty and the Noble House of Peers that saving unto themselves all their rights and interests of sitting and voting in that House at other times they dare not sit or vote in the House of Peers untill your Majesty shall further secure them from all affronts indignities and dangers in the premises Lastly whereas their fears are not built upon phantasies and conceits but upon such grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good resolutions and much constancy They doe in all duty and humility protest before your Majesty and the Peers of that most honorable House of parliament against all Laws Orders Votes resolutions and determinations as in themselves null and of none effect which in their absence since the 27 of this instant moneth of December 1641. have already passed as likewise against all such as shall hereafter passe in that most honourable House during the time of this their forced and violent absence from the said most honourable House not denying but if their absenting of themselves were wilfull and voluntary that most honourable House might proceed in all their premises their absence or this protestation notwithstanding And humbly beseeching your most excellent Majesty to command the Clerk of that House of Peers to enter this their petition and protestation among their Records They will ever pray to God to blesse c. Jo. Eborac Tho. Duresme Rob. Co. Liâ—h Jos. Norw. Jo. Asa. Guli Ba. Wells Geo. Heref. Rob. Owon Ma. Ely Godfr G lonc Jo. Peterburg Morris Landaff 51. None of all these plots yet prevailing against the Parliament neither in generalls nor particulars they yet persist to plot and attempt against it and about this time found occasions craftily and causelesly in secret to foment many jealousies and jarres to dis-joynt both Houses of Parliament within themselves thereby at
least to obstruct and retard their then most weighty and great affaires in Church and State 52. The Bishops also themselves had a pestilent plot about this time to subvert and overthrow the Parliament by endevouring to get the King to protest against their proceedings in it But twelve of them were thereupon presently impeached of high treason and â—en of them imprisoned in the Towre of London and afterward they were all disabled from ever â—itting again in the Parliament Bishops Voted down root and branch Nullo contradiscente insomuch that the Citizens of London the same night made bonfires and had ringing of bels And for the better securing the City within as well as without the Parliament published an Ordinance thereby injoyning all Popish Recusants inhabiting in and about the City all disaffected persons and such as being able men would not lend any money for the defence of the Commonwealth should forthwith conâ—ine themselves to their own houses and not to goe 〈◊〉 without speciall licence as they would answer it at their 〈◊〉 to the Parliament Another Ordinance was sent to the Lord mayor by which the Trained Bands were authorised to apprehend many of the prime and richest malignants disâ—affected persons in the City whereof were foure Aldermen put in safe custody in Crosby house and some in Gressan Colledge The Bishops imprisoned in the Towre of London for protesting against the Parliament Popish Recusants disarmed for the greate security of the kingdome 53. About which time a most wicked fellow sent to Mr. John Pyâ—â— a most pious Patriot of his Country and then a most eminent member of the House of Commons a most reviling Letter therein calling him traytor and in the said Letter inclosed a plague-sore plaister thinking thereby to have destroyed him But God mightily preserved him from the infection of it 54. After this the King himself being guarded with about 500 armed ruffiâ—nly desperate Cavaliers or Souldiers violently rushed into the House of Commons accused five of their most eminent and pious members of treason demanded their persons to be delivered up unto him intending to destroy all that resisted him therein but this plot was blessedly crost by the happy absence of the Gentlemen this plot was attempted Jan. 4. 1641. Anno 1642. 55. After this one Binion a Silkman of London and the Kentish Malignants wherin Sir Edward Deering had a principall hand framed dangerous and destructive petitions against the proceedings of the Parliament but were both most justly rejected and themselves fined and imprisoned for them 56. Immediately after this things grew still worse and worse among the malignants the King himself in unjust discontent by the desperate and wicked counsell of that pernicious Cataline the young Lord Digby forsakes the Parliament and getting the Prince to him leaves London and presently posts into the North and there attempts to get Hull into his hands but was happily prevented and bravely opposed by Sir John Hotham then in that time of his outward and seeming fidelity 57. The King beingâ— at York interdicts the Militia then set on foot by the Parliament for their just safety and defence endevouring to remove the Term from the City of London but in both is opposed by the Parliament 58. The Lords and Gentry of Ireland and of Scotland too petition the King to return to his Parliament yea and the Gentry and Commons of Yorkeshire do the like but are all rejected 59. The King set on foot a most illegall Commission of Array to clash against the Parliaments Militia which occasioned much mischief and misery over the whole kingdom but the Parliaments Militia prevailed in most places and parts of the land 60. Three letters were intercepted discovering a most desperate plot against the Parliament by the Roâ—â—lists Commissary Wilmot Digbie Jermine â—rofts and others which by Gods mercy failed them and came to nothing but we in taking some of their ships were advantaged thereby 61. Sir Richard Gurney then Lord Mayâ—r of the City of London proving a desperate malignant and Array man was crost in his desires and clapt up prisoner in the Tower of London by the power of the Parliament 62. 〈…〉 and Declaâ—â—â—â—â—â— against the Parliaments proceedings were Printed and published and commanded to be read in al the Churches and Chappels over the whole kingdom within the Kings power 63. Sir John Penington a brave Sea-man but a desperate malignant was constituted Admirall of the Seas for the Kings service but displaced and dispossessed thereof by the Parliament and the most noble and loyall Earl of Warwick notwithstanding the Kings Letter and command to interdict him therein and to give way to Penington being put in by the power and authority of the Parliament and possessed of the Ships most happily and honourably kept and continued in the place and office for the Parliaments service a Letter sent to Mr Pym Mr. Pym doe not think that a guard of men can protect you if you persist in your traiterous Courses and wiked designes I haue sent a Paper-mâ—ssenger to you and if this does not touch your heart a dagger shall so soon as I am recouered of my plague-sore In the meane time you may be forborn because no better man may be endanâ—gered for you Repent Traitor Colonell Lunfford assaulting the Londonens at Westminster Hall with a great rout of ruffinly Cavaleires The Citizens â—f London voluntarily profâ—ered their service to attend and guard the Parliament by Lan to Westminster to secure them from danger By Water also the stout Shipmasters and mariners likewise made ready a great number of longâ—Boats furnished with Ordnance muskets and other Sea-like warlike instruments their vessels also gallantly adorned with flagges and Sâ—râ—mers together with martiall musick Drums and Trumpets so as it was a rare sight and when they came to White Hall and understood that the Parliament Worâ—hies were safely arrived the Trained Bands by Land and the valiament Seamen by Water let fly their thundering shot both small and great their Trumpets sounding and their Drums beating in a triumphing and congratulating manner a singular testimony of their cordiall affections The very same day a numerous company of Buckinghamshire men both Gentlemen Ministers and others of that Country on horseback with their Protestations in their hats partly in behalf of their Knight of the shire but especially to petition the Parliament for Reformation of evills in Church and State and to assure their best services and assistance to the Parliament on all just occasions and out of Essex Hartford Barkeshire Surrey and other Counties of the Kingdom came one after another 65. The most noble and right honourable Earle of Essex was ordained Lord Generall over all the Parliaments Forces for the preservation of the kingdom which he famously and faithfully managed and marshalled as especially Edge-hill and Newbery and other places can abundantly witnesse 66. A plot to have blown up all the Lord Generalls Magazine of powder and another at Beverley
Commons and agreeable to a Bill passed by both Houses of Parliament for suppressing of divers innovations in Churches and Chappels this Committee doth require you and every of you to take away and demollish every Altar or Table of Stone within your Church or Chappell and to remove the Communion Table from the East end of the said Church or Chappel and to place the same in some other convenient place of the body of the said Church or Chappell and to remove and take away all Tapers Candlesticks and Basons from the Communion Table and to take away and demolish all crucifixes Crosses and all Images and Pictures of any one or more persons of the Trinity or of the Virgin Mary and this Committee doth further require you to demollish all crucifixes Crosses Images or Pictures of any one or more persons of the Trinity or of the Virgin Mary upon the outside of your said Church or Chappell or in any open place within your Parish Whereof you are to give an account to this Committee before the 20 day of this present moneth To the Church-Wardens of the Parish of c. and to every of them 79. A desperate plot for the betraying of the City or Town of Lincolne by the two Purfries two Captains of Hull who let in 60 Cavaliers by night in disguised habits and who issuing out about 12 of the clock that night to act their designe where a plain fellow of the Town discharging a piece of Canon upon them slew 10 of them at one shot the rest slain and taken by the centinels and Souldiers of the town and so by Gods mercy the City preserved 80. The Queen wrote a dangerous letter to the King to come with all his forces to surprize London but by Gods over-powring wisedome and good providence the King refusing that counsell resolved to take Gloucester first which he fiercely assaulted but was as bravely repulsed and by Gods blessing on Major Generall Masâ—ies fidelity and magnanimity of spirit timely aide comming to relieve the Town it was admirably freed and by the Lord Generalls Army and the City of Londons Regiments delivered 81. A desperate rebellion raised by the Keâ—tish malignants but by Gods mercy timely suppressed about Tunbridge by the valour of Colonell Brown and the wel-affected Gentry of the County of Kent 82. A Ship bound from Denmark to the King of about 300 tâ—n richly laden with armes and 〈◊〉 another Ship bound from Newcastle to Holland laden with 〈…〉 but in the midst thereof 〈…〉 between 3 and 4000li hid in the 〈…〉 to buy arms for the King and a third great ship called the Fellowship 〈…〉 least 400 tun carrying 24 pieces of Ordnance all these 3 ships taken by the Parliaments ships and made prize of 83. The comming in of our brethren of Scotland with an army of at least 20000 horse and foot invited thereunto by the Parl in the bitter depth of winter when they marched up to the middle in snow and were forced to bring their Artillery over the ice of the frozen river of Tyne and the Citizens of London lent the Parliament a 100000 li. for the Scots first pay to encourage their advance to helpe us against the Kings forces On Tuesday the 23 of May 1643. 23. May 1643. Voted that ye Queene Pawning the Iewells of ye Crowne in Holland there with buying Armes to assist the Warr against ye Parâ—aâ—â— her owne actuall performances with her popish army in the North was high Treason transmited to the Lords images Crucifixes papistâ—call bookes in Somerset and â—amâ—â—â—s â—are burnt and Capuchin friers sent away May 1643. an ordinance for the makeing of Fortes Trenches and Bull workes about the Cittie Iuly 1 43. the Assembly of Diuines mâ—tt Dr. â—â—iss Prolocutor 120 the totall May â—3 Challenor and Tomkins were hangd for seekeing to betray the Cittie The Bishop of Canterburies first prayer on the Scaffold 10 Janua 1644. O Eternall God and mercifull Father look down upon me in mercy in the riches and fulnesse of all thy mercies look upon me but not till thou hast nailed my sins to the crosse of Christ look upon me but not till thou hast hathed me in the blood of Christ not till I have hid my self in the wounds of Christ that so the punishment that is due to my sins may passe away and go over me and since thou art pleased to try me to the uttermost I humbly beseech thee give me now in this great instant full patience proportionable comfort a heart ready to dye for thine honour and the Kings happinesse and this Churches preservation and my zeale to these far from arrogancy be it spoken is all the sin humane frailty excepted and all incidents thereunto which is yet known of me in this particular for which I now come to suffer I say in this particular of Treason but otherwise my sins are many and great Lord pardon them all and those especially whatsoever they bâ— which 〈…〉 this present judgement upon me and when thou hast given me strength 〈…〉 it then doe with me as seems best in thine own eyes â—nd caâ—â—y me through death that I may look upon it in what visage soever it shall appear 〈…〉 and that there may be a step of this issue of blood in this more then miserable 〈…〉 I shall desire that I may pray for the people too as well as for my selfe 〈…〉 thee give grace of repentance to all people that hâ—ve a thirst for bâ—â—â—â— but if they will not 〈…〉 it deviceâ— so and such as are or shall be contrary to the glory of thy great 〈◊〉 the truth and sincerity of Religion the establishment of the King and his posterity after him in their just rights and priviledges the honour and conservation of Parliaments in their ancient and just power the preservation of this poore Church in her truth peace and patrimony and the settlement of this distracted and distressed people under the ancient laws and in their native liberties and when thou hast done all this in mercy for them O Lord fill their hearts with thankfulnesse and with religious dutifull obedience to thee and thy Commandements all their dayes So Amen Lord Jesus and I beseech thee receive my soule to mercy Our Father c. Sr Alexander Caroâ—â— Sr. Iohn Hotham Captâ—n Hotham the Arch Bishop of Canterbury beheaded on Toâ—erhill for Treason against ye Parliament 1645. The Great Seale broken before the Lords and Commons on Tusday the 11. August 1646 The Bishop of Canterburies last Prayer on the Scaffold Lord I am comming as fast as I can I know I must passe through the shadow of death before I can come to see thee but it is but umâ—ra mortis a meer shadow of death a little darknesse upon nature but thou by thy merits and passion hast broke through the jaws of death so Lord receive my soule and have mercy upon me and blesse this kingdome with peace and plenty and
firme peace upon any other tearmes Your Majesties friends in the Houses and the Commissioners from Scotland after much wrasling did consent to the sending of those Propositions or to be â—ated the hunderers of peace or otherwayes to send no Propositions at all And now Sir if your Majesty as God forbid shall refuse to assent to the Propositions You will lose all Your friends in the Houses lose the City and all the Countrey And all England will joyne against you as one man they will processe and depose you and set up another Government they will charge us to deliver your Majesty to them and to tender their Garrisons and remove our Armies out of England and upon your Maiesties refusall of the propositions both Kingdomes will be constrained for their mutuall safety to agree and settle Religion and peace without You which to our unspeakable griefe will ruine your Maiesty and your posterity and if your Maiesty refuse our faithfull advice who desire nothing on Earth more than the preservation of your Maiesties Royall Throne And if your Maiesty lose England by your wilfulnesse You will not be permitted to come and reigne in Scotland Sir we have laid our hands upon our hearts we have asked Counsell and direction from God and have had our most serious thoughts upon the remedy but can finde no other to save your Crowne and Kingdomes than your Maiesties assenting to the propositions and dare not say but they are higher in some things if it were in our power and option to remedy than we approved of but when we see no other meanes for curing the distempers of the Kingdomes and closing the breach between your Majesty and your Parliament our most humble and safe advise is your Majesty will be graciously pleased to assent to them as the onely way to establish your Throne because your Majesty shall be thereby received againe in your Parliament with the applause and acclamations of your people by your Royall presence all friends will be strengthened and all Enemies who feare nothing so much as the granting the propositions will be weakned your Maiesty will have a fit opportunity hereafter to offer such propositions as You and your Parliament in wisedome shall thinke fit for your Crowne and Kingdome the Armies will be disbanded and your people finding the sweet fruit of a peaceable Government you will gaine their hearts and affections and that will be your Maiesties strength and glory and will recover all that you have lost in this time of tempest of trouble And if it please God to incline your Royall heart to this advise of your humble and faithfull servants who next to the honour and service of God esteem nothing more pretious than the safety of your person and Crowne our actions shall make it appeare that we esteem no hazard too great for your Maiesties safety and that we are willing to sacrifice our lives and fortunes for establishing your Throne and iust Right Die Sabbathi 5. April 1645. Be it Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled That all and every person of what degree or quality soever that hath lived or shall live within the Kings Quarters or been aiding assisting or adhering unto the Forces raised against the Parliament and hath or shall come to inhabite or reside under the power and protection of the Parliament shall swear upon the holy Evangelist in manner following The Negative Oath I A. B. doe swear from my heart that I will not directly nor indirectly adhere unto or willingly assist the King in this Warre or in this Cause against the Parliament nor any Forces raised without the consent of the two Houses of Parliament in this Cause or Warre And I doe likewise swear that my comming and submitting my self under the power and protection of the Parliament is without any manner of designe whatsoever to the prejudice of the proceedings of the two Houses of this present Parliament and without the direction privity and advice of the King or any of his Councell or Officers other then what I have now made known So help me God and the Contents of this Book And it is further Ordained by the authority aforesaid that the Commissioners for keeping of the Great Seale of England for the time being shall have power and are hereby authorized to tender and administer the said Oath unto any Peere or Wife or Widow of any Peere so comming to inhabit as abovesaid And it shall be lawfull to and for the Committee of the House of Commons for Examinations the Committee for the Militia in London and all Committees of Parliament in the severall Counties and Cities of the Kingdom to tender and administer the said Oath unto every other person so comming to inhabit as abovesaid And if any person not being a member of or Assistant unto either of the Houses of Parliament shall refuse or neglect to take the said Oath so duly tendered unto him or her as abovesaid the said Commissioners and Committees respectively shall and may commit the same person to some prison there to remain without Baile or Mainprize untill he shall conforme thereunto Jo. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum Collected by John Vicars FINIS