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A57925 The Tryal of Thomas, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, upon an impeachment of high treason by the Commons then assembled in Parliament, in the name of themselves and of all the Commons in England, begun in Westminster-Hall the 22th of March 1640, and continued before judgment was given until the 10th of May, 1641 shewing the form of parliamentary proceedings in an impeachment of treason : to which is added a short account of some other matters of fact transacted in both houses of Parliament, precedent, concomitant, and subsequent to the said tryal : with some special arguments in law relating to a bill of attainder / faithfully collected, and impartially published, without observation or reflection, by John Rushworth of Lincolnes-Inn, Esq. Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 1593-1641, defendant.; Rushworth, John, 1612?-1690.; England and Wales. Parliament. House of Commons. 1680 (1680) Wing R2333; ESTC R22355 652,962 626

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time or no. The Lord High Steward answered that their Lordships Commandment is to let his Lordship know That if the House of Commons proceed not by their Members to manage the Evidence this day then what his Lordship hath to say to this House may be put off to another time And so their Lordships Adjourned to the House above by which is meant the House where the Lords use to sit in Parliament and appointed the next morning to proceed in this business The Second day Tuesday March 23. 1640 THeir Lordships being set the Lord Steward recited in brief the proceedings of the day before adding that naturally and properly it belongs in the next place for those whom the House of Commons have deputed to manage their Evidence in pursuance of the Articles of Impeachment to begin the work of the day Then Mr. Pym one of the Committee appointed for the management of the Evidence began as followeth My Lords We stand here by the Commandment of the Knights Citizens and Burgesses now assembled for the Commons in Parliament And we are ready to make good that Impeachment whereby Thomas Earl of Strafford stands charged in their Name and in the Name of all the Commons of England with High Treason This My Lords is a Great Cause and we might sink under the weight of it and be astonished with the Lustre of this Noble Assembly if there were not in the Cause strength and vigour to support it self and to encourage us It is the Cause of the King it concerns His Majesty in the Honour of His Government in the Safety of His Person in the Stability of His Crown It is the Cause of the Kingdom It concerns not only the Peace and Prosperity but even the Being of the Kingdom We have that piercing Eloquence the Cries and Groans and Tears and Prayers of all the Subjects assisting us We have the three Kingdoms England and Scotland and Ireland in Travail and Agitation with us bowing themselves like the Hindes spoken of in Iob to cast out their Sorrows Truth and Goodness My Lords they are the Beauty of the Soul they are the Perfection of all created Natures they are the Image and Character of God upon the Creatures This Beauty Evil Spirits and Evil Men have lost but yet there are none so wicked but they desire to march under the shew and shadow of it though they hate the reality of it This unhappy Earl now the Object of your Lordships Justice hath taken as much care hath used as much cunning to set a face and countenance of Honesty and Justice upon his Actions as he hath been negligent to observe the rules of Honesty in the Performance of all these Actions My Lords it is the greatest baseness of wickedness that it dares not look in his own Colours nor be seen in its natural Countenance But Virtue as it is amiable in all respects so the least is not this That it puts a Nobleness it puts a Bravery upon the Mind and lifts it above Hopes and Fears above Favour and Displeasure it makes it always uniform and constant to it self The Service Commanded me and my Colleagues here is to take off those Vizards of Truth and Uprightness which hath been sought to be put upon this Cause and to shew you his Actions and his Intentions in their own natural Blackness and Deformity My Lords He hath put on a Vizard of Truth in these words wherein he says That he should be in his Defence more careful to observe Truth than to gain Advantage to himself He says he would endure any thing rather than be saved by Falshoood It was a noble and brave Expression if it were really true My Lords He hath likewise put on the Vizard of Goodness on his Actions when he desires to recite his Services in a great many particulars as if they were Beneficial to the Common-wealth and State whereas we shall prove them Mischievous and Dangerous It is left upon me My Lords to take off these Vizards and Appearances of Truth and Goodness in that part of his Answer which is the Preamble And that I shall do with as much Faithfulness and Brevity as I can 1. The First thing My Lords that I shall observe in the Preamble is this That having recited all those great and honourable Offices which he hath done under His Majesty he is bold to affirm That he hath been careful and faithful in the Execution of them all My Lords If he might be his own Witness and his own Judge I doubt not but he would be Acquitted It is said in the Proverbs of the Adulterous Woman That she wipes her mouth and says she had done no Evil. Here is a wiping of the mouth here is a verbal expression of Honesty But My Lords the foulness and unjustness will never be wiped off neither from his Heart nor from his Actions I mean for the time past God may change him for the time to come That is the first thing I observe 2. My Lords In the second place out of his Apologetical Preamble I shall observe this He doth magnifie his own Endeavours in five particulars 1. That he hath Endeavoured the maintenance of Religion I may miss in words I shall not miss in sense 2. That he hath Endeavoured the Honour of the King 3. The Encrease of His Revenue 4. The Peace and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom 5. The Quiet and Peace of the People These are his five particulars and I shall give a short Answer to every one of them 1. For Religion My Lords we say and we shall prove that he hath been diligent indeed to favour Innovations to favour Superstitions to favour the Incroachments and Usurpations of the Clergy But for Religion it never received any advantage by him nay a great deal of hurt 2. For the Honour of the King My Lords We say it is the Honour of the King that He is the Father of His People that He is the Fountain of Justice and it cannot stand with His Honour and Justice to have His Government Stain'd and Polluted with Tyranny and Oppression 3. For the Increase of His Revenue It is true there may be some Addition of Sums but we say There is no Addition of Strength nor Wealth because in those parts where it hath been increased this Earl hath taken the greatest share himself And when he hath spoiled and ravined on the People he hath been content to yield up some part to the King that he might with more security enjoy the rest 4. For the Strength and Honour and Safety of the Kingdom My Lords In a time of Peace he hath let in upon us the Calamities of War Weakness Shame and Confusion 5. And for the Quiet of the Subjects He hath been an Incendiary he hath Armed us amongst our selves and made us weak and naked to all the World besides This is that I shall answer to the second Head of his Apology 3. The Third is
off the Leases in being And Urges That they intended the Lease of Tobacco among the rest which appeares not But admit it their Intention was to take off the Fetters and Ingagements from the Kings Revenue that the King might make the best of it not that others should feed on what was His and he in the mean time want Now their Lordships may observe how my Lord of Strafford executes these Intentions he gets a Lease of it but doth not he retain the Kings Revenue being worth 100000 l. a year to himself for 5000 l. if the Witness speaks truth So it falls on his own head and is a plain deceiving of the King There is a Letter which Answer is made to but if their Lordships recall to Memory what the Letter was it was as just as could be to take a course for Preemption of Tobacco no they afterwards enter into Consultation and Advice what should be done And What do they They lay a Restraint that no Man should Import unless they would Sell unto my Lord of Strafford at his Rate and so it is executed to Tyranny over the People There is another thing my Lord Insists on Is the making of a good Bargain Treason But out of the making of this Bargain if their Lordships well consider it They shall find a double Treason to result First Exercising an Arbitrary Power by laying what Tax he will for he may lay 19 Shillings as well as 6d. Secondly His depriving the King of His Estate under Colour of Advancing His Revenue which is to deprive the King of His Government For if one takes away my meanes of Livelihood and defence against an Enemy it is a killing of me round about though it were a more immediate killing of me to run me through If he take away the Kings Livelihood and Just Revenue whereby He is enabled to Govern and Protect His People Is it not to take away the Government out of His Hand And one word Mr. Glyn desired to add from something that fell from my Lord of Strafford by way of Prevention concerning the Parliament of Ireland We live under one King and one Government and no doubt ought to be sensible of one anothers Honour the Parliament of England and the Parliament of Ireland Here is an Article against my Lord of Strafford for endeavouring to put Him out of Opinion of Parliaments In this Assembly where the Commons and Peers are Assembled he hath endeavoured to blast a Parliament In the next Kingdom he talkes of a Tyrannical Government an Arbitrary Power these were his Words in effect Is not this as much as in his Power to cast a Blast and Ill Affection in any Man that hears him on the Parliament of Ireland And he that will do it in the presence of a Parliament in England What will he do of a Parliament of this Kingdom in the absence of a Parliament and when there is no Parliament Sitting And so Concluded the Twelfth Article and the House was ADJOURNED THE Thirteenth Article The Charge 13. THat Flax being one of the principal and Native Commodities of that Kingdom of Ireland the said Earl having gotten Great Quantities thereof into his Hands and growing on his own Lands did Issue out several Proclamations viz. The one Dated the One and Thirtieth of May in the Twelfth of His Majesties Reign and the other Dated the One and Thirtieth day of January in the same Year Thereby prescribing and enjoyning the Working of Flax into Yarn and Thread and the ordering of the same in such wayes wherein the Natives of that Kingdom were unpractised and unskilful Which Proclamations so Issued were by his Commands and Warrants to His Majesties Justices of Peace and other Officers and by other Rigorous Meanes put in Execution and the Flax Wrought or ordered in other manner then as the said Proclamation prescribed was Seized and employed to the Use of him and his Agents and thereby the said Earl endeavoured to gain and did gain in effect the Sole Sale of that Native Commodity April 1. 1641. THe Thirteenth Article was this Day Read and Opened by Mr. Maynard concerning Flax one of the Native Commodities of the Kingdom which my Lord of Strafford by several Proclamations enjoyned the Natives to work into Yarn in a way wherein they were Unskilful and Prohibited the Buying of any Yarn of this Flax otherwise made and upon this occasion much was Seized So that by the Complaints of the Commons it appears that Thousands were Undone their Goods being taken away and Converted to my Lords Use. For Proofe The Second Proclamation of Deputy and Counsel was Read wherein the first is Recited Importing in effect That by reason of the multiplicity of ends in Yarne there is much confusion That for remedy a Proclamation Issued the last of May last which hath taken good effect and in regard some ill-disposed persons have nevertheless contracted for Yarn at cheap and low rates though not made according to the first Proclamation That therefore the said first Proclamation be strictly observed and that none presume to buy any Linnen-Yarn but shall be Reeled on one end and no more c. That if any person shall after the first of April next offend contrary to this Proclamation he shall be proceeded against at the Council Board or Castle Chamber Some are appointed to enquire of Contempts to whom Recompence is promised Given c. 31 Ian. 12 Car. 1638. The Natives not being able to apply themselves to his Commands a Warrant went to Seize the Goods made or brought contrary to this Proclamation so that People forbore the Markets durst not sell none openly and so could not pay their Rents The Warrant was produced under my Lord of Straffords Hand and Seale which his Lordship affirmed being in effect By the Lord Deputy Wentworth TO all Iustices of the Peace c. Whereas Benjamin Croky is Authorized to inform himself and advertise the State of Abuses and Contempts committed and done against a Proclamation made for Reformation of the Abuse of Spinsters of Linnen Yarn and to stay all Yarn made contrary c. till Our pleasure be further known And whereas he now informs us he cannot discharge that Trust in regard diverse persons do privily in their own Houses and not in open Markets make Sale of their Yarn and though he hath desired Assistance of Publick Magistrates yet they have failed to afford him the same in that measure that is fitting In consideration whereof our pleasure is and we do hereby require and authorize you to be aiding and assisting to Benjamin Croky and his Deputy To seize on and take all Yarn which shall be found to be made contrary to the said Proclamation and to cause diligent search to be made in all Houses c. where you shall be informed any such Remaines lie hidden and the same to seize and bring to Dublin to be disposed of as We shall direct the Party delivering it taking Crokies hand
Merchandise XI That the said Earl in the Ninth Year of His Majesties Reign did by his own Will and Pleasure and for his own Lucre restrain the Exportation of the Commodities of that Kingdom without his Licence as namely Pipe-staves and other Commodities and then raised great Sums of Money for Licences of Exportation of those Commodities and dispensation of the said Restraints imposed on them by which means the Pipe-staves were raised from Four pound ten shillings or Five pound per thousand to ten pounds and sometimes Eleven pound per thousand and other Commodities were enhanced in the like proportion and by the same means by him the said Earl XII That the said Earl being Lord Deputy of Ireland on the Ninth day of January in the Thirteenth Year of His now Majesties Reign did then under colour to regulate the Importation of Tobacco into the said Realm of Ireland issue a Proclamation in His Majesties Name prohibiting the Importation of Tobacco without Licence of Him and the Council there from and after the First day of May Anno Dom. 1638. after which Restraint the said Earl notwithstanding the said Restraint caused divers great quantities of Tobacco to be Imported to his own use and fraughted divers Ships with Tobacco which he Imported to his own use and that if any Ship brought Tobacco into any Port there the said Earl and his Agents used to buy the same to his own use at their own price and if that the Owners refused to let him have the same at under values then they were not permitted to vent the same there by which undue means the said Earl having gotten the whole Trade of Tobacco into his own hands he sold it at great and excessive prizes such as he list to Impose for his own profit And the more to assure the said Monopoly of Tobacco he the said Earl on the Thrée and twentieth day of February in the Thirteenth Year aforesaid did issue another Proclamation commanding that none should put to sale any Tobacco by Whole-Sale from and after the last day of May then next following but what should be made up into Rolls and the same sealed with two Seals by himself appointed one at each end of the Roll. And such as was not sealed to be seized appointing six pence the pound for a Reward to such persons as should seize the same and the persons in whose custody the unsealed Tobacco should be found to be committed to Gaol which last Proclamation was coloured by a pretence for the restraining of the sale of unwholesome Tobacco but it was truly to advance the said Monopoly Which Proclamation the said Earl did rigorously put in execution by seizing the Goods Fining Imprisoning Whipping and putting the Offenders against the same Proclamation on the Pillory as namely Banaby Hubbard Edward Cavena John Tumen and divers others and made the Officers of State and Iustices of Peace and other Officers to serve him in the compassing and executing these unjust and undue Courses by which Cruelties and unjust Monopolies the said Earl raised 100000 l. per annum gain to himself And yet the said Earl though he enhanced the Customs where it concerned the Merchants in general yet drew down the Impost formerly taken on Tobacco from Six pence the pound to Three pence the pound it being for his own profit so to do And the said Earl by the same and other rigorous and undue means raised several other Monopolies and unlawful Exactions for his own gain viz. on Starch Iron-pots Glasses Tobacco-pipes and several other Commodities XIII That Flax being one of the principal and Native Commodities of that Kingdom of Ireland the said Earl having gotten great quantities thereof into his hands and growing on his own Lands did issue out several Proclamations viz. the one dated the One and thirtieth day of May and the Twelfth of His Majesties Reign and the other dated the One and thirtieth day of January in the same Year thereby prescribing and enjoyning the working of Flar into Yarn and Thread and the Ordering of the same in such ways wherein the Natives of that Kingdom were unpractized and unskilful which Proclamations so issued were by his Commands and Warrants to His Majesties Iustices of Peace and other Officers and by other rigorous means put in Execution and the Flax wrought or ordered in other manner than as the said Proclamation prescribed was seized and employed to the use of him and his Agents and thereby the said Earl endeavoured to gain and did gain in effect the sole Sale of that Native Commodity XIV That the said Earl by Proclamation dated the Sixteenth of October in the Fourteenth Year of His Majesties Reign did impose upon the Owners Masters Pursers and Boat-Swaines of every Ship a new and unlawful Oath viz. That they or two or more of them immediately after the arrival of any Ship within any Port or Créek in the said Kingdom of Ireland should give in a true In-voice of the outward bulk of Wares and Merchandizes first laden aboard them together with the several marks and number of Goods and their qualities and condition of the said Goods as far as to them should be known the Names of the several Merchants Proprietors of the said Goods and the place from whence they were Fraughted and whither they were Bound to discharge which Proclamation was accordingly put in Execution and sundry persons enforced to take the said unlawful Oath XV. That the said Earl of Strafford trayterously and wickedly devised and contrived by force of Arms and in a War-like manner to subdue the Subjects of the said Realm of Ireland and to bring them under his Tyrannical Power and Will and in pursuance of his wicked and trayterous Purposes aforesaid the said Earl of Strafford in the Eighth Year of His Majesties Reign did by his own Authority without any Warrant or colour of Law Tax and Impose great Sums of Money upon the Towns of Baltemore Bauden-Bridge Talowe and divers other Towns and Places in the said Realm of Ireland and did cause the same to be levied upon the Inhabitants of those Towns by Troops of Souldiers with Force and Arms in a War-like manner And on the Ninth day of March in the Twelfth Year of His now Majesties Reign trayterously did give Authority unto Robert Savile a Serjeant at Arms and to the Captains of the Companies of Souldiers in several parts of that Realm to send such numbers of Souldiers to lie on the Lands and Houses of such as would not conform to his Orders until they should render Obedience to his said Orders and Warrants and after such submission and not before the said Souldiers to return to their Garrisons And did also issue the like Warrants unto divers others which Warrants were in War-like manner with Force and Arms put in Execution accordingly and by such War-like means did force divers of His Majesties Subjects of that Realm to submit themselves to his unlawful Commands And in the said
found the affairs of Scotland so distempered that he thought fit to reduce the Kings Subjects there by force His Lordship says That if the Demands struck at the root of Government then it was fit to say they should be reduced by force But the words were spoken before the reasons of the Demands were known and before he could know how they could be warranted by the Laws of that Kingdom and it is part of the Charge of the House of Commons That he said They struck at the root of Government which it appears they did not for those very Demands against which my Lord of Strafford delivered his opinion are since enacted by the Parliament of Scotland and confirmed by His Majesties Royal Authority in the Treaty which is very well known to divers of their Lordships sitting here My Lord sayes It was first resolved a War should be had and then for him to debate Whether an Offensive or Defensive War is no Crime but that receives a clear Answer for it was his Resolution his Advice That there should be a War and an Offensive War which shewes his Design against the Kingdom of Scotland My Lord labours to prove That the seising of the Scotch Ships was not by his Warrant but by Warrants otherwise procured That was not insisted on in the Charge and therefore they will not insist upon it in the Reply there is enough besides My Lord is further pleased to say That there is no substantial or concluding proofe of his intent that the Parliament should be only called to try whether there would be supply given or no and that is only deposed by my Lord Primate a single Testimony But my Lord Primate concurs with others in the same sence and meaning To my Lord Conwayes Testimony my Lord sayes That for the King to help Himself is a Natural Motion and proper to every one But the other words of my Lord Conwayes Testimony That the King might help and supply Himself though it were against the will of His Subjects must be understood not of a Natural but a violent motion and it appears to be my Lord of Straffords Design to have it so He comes to the Testimony of my Lord Treasurer and sayes That doth not at all touch him that he promised to assist the King in any other way in case the Parliament did not succeed But this proves his intent That if the Parliament were dissolved as he was willing it should as it will afterwards appear he would assist the King in any other way whatsoever He took a good Pattern Stare super vias antiquas and we shall prove that too but this was not via antiqua of Parliaments to propose Supplies in the first place and to put off consideration of grievances to urge nothing but to give to the King and before a Resolution whether they would give or not to informe against the Parliament by Misinformation My Lord mentions the Declaration of the House of Commons in Ireland concerning the giving of Four Subsidies for the Kings supply of the War with Scotland which is in the Charge but was not insisted upon But by shewing this my Lord of Strafford hath procured that which is likewise in the Charge That the Parliament of Ireland did engage themselves in the War against Scotland and by the Preamble of his Answer This was in my Lord of Straffords Knowledge and may be easily proved to be by his Procurement being the Chief Governor there He sayes That had he ever entertained such thought as the words proved import he should give Judgment against himself But as no mans thoughts can be proved but by his words and actions so the words proved do manifest that his thoughts were no other and shew clearly his intention to bring in an Army on us to reduce this Kingdom My Lord calls Sir Robert Kings Testimony a Report on a Report and sayes the like of the Testimony of my Lord Ranalagh which shall be answered when he comes to lay the whole matter together according to the course of opening the Articles Diverse Witnesses his Lordship produces to prove that the 8000 Foot raised in Ireland were designed for Scotland and particularly for the Town of Aire which is very improbable for that Town as was informed and will be proved was at that time very well fortified and the Coasts thereof and the Haven so barred and narrow that one of my Lord of Straffords own Witnesses says there could be no probability of Landing an Army there The like may be said of the Frith of Dunbarton that was Fortified long before And if their Lordships repair to some part of my Lord of Straffords Answer where he sayes they were to be landed in some places near the Country of my Lord of Argile to divert him These places are so far from his Country and such Armes of the Sea and unpassable Mountains are interposed that they could not be landed there with any intention to go to Argyles Country But admit there were a primary intention of this Army in some part of Scotland the Witnesses speak onely to what was intended before the Army was raised But when the Army was on foot my Lord of Straffords intention might be changed and it seems it was for he laboured to perswade His Majesty to make use of it to reduce this Kingdom He sayes The Testimony touching Sir George Wentworths words is single and spoken by his Brother and could not reach him but though one Witness testifies the words yet it may be made appear to their Lordships that presently after the words spoken Sir Tho. Barrington related them to other Gentlemen who are ready to testifie that he so related them But their Lordships seeming satisfied in that point directed him to proceed Next my Lord Discourses of my Lord of Bristols Testimony and the differences of opinion between them touching the summoning of a Parliament But my Lord of Bristol proves the following words That the King was not to suffer himself to be mastered by the frowardness of His People c. and to these no Answer is given To which Mr. Whitlock said he would further answer in the General Reply And so for the words proved by my Lord of Newbrough my Lord of Holland and diverse other Noble Lords of this House My Lord of Strafford was pleased to mention the Statute of 1 E. 6. ca. 12. where to compass by Preaching or saying to deprive the King is not for the first offence Treason though words of a more transcendent and high nature and hence he inferr'd that the words charged on him are not Treason But that Statute is onely of Treasons spoken of the King but not of Words and Counsels that advise the thing to be done And there is no Question but at this day for any man to Advise and Counsel the Destruction of the King is High-Treason notwithstanding that Statute These words charged on my Lord are a Declaration of his intention to subvert
the Laws and Government of the Kingdom and the use made of the words is not that they are in themselves Treason but as they prove that intention But this is the work of another time being matter of Law and therefore Mr. Whitlock said he would say no more to it now neither doth it require his Answer nor is it at all to this business My Lord did much insist on it that there was no mention by any of the Lords that were of the Committee for the Scotch Affairs concerning the words of bringing the Army out of Ireland to reduce this Kingdom diverse of their Lordships being to that point examined But Mr. Treasurer Swears in the Affirmative he heard the words spoken and when they come to sum up the rest of these words and applying them to this shew the dependance they have one upon another their Lordships will see plainly that must be his intention and that there could be no other interpretation of his words It is possible for some that were at the Council not to hear the words and yet that disproves not a Witness that sayes in the Affirmative he did hear the words And though some of my Lords do not remember some other passages as That His Majesty was loose and absolved from all Rules of Government yet that is proved by two Witnesses and though the rest remember them not yet that stands clearly proved Other things which some of their Lordships did not remember were proved by three Witnesses Whence it may be deduced that what Mr. Treasurer deposes is to be believed though some of my Lords that were present did not remember it By making a sum and Collection of the words and comparing one with another it will appear very clear that my Lord of Straffords intention was to bring in that Army to reduce this Kingdom And first their Lordships will remember the words that passed betwixt Sir George Rateliffe and Sir Robert King and the Relation between my Lord of Strafford and Sir George Ratcliffe And before my Lord of Strafford came out of Ireland he gave direction to Sir George Ratcliffe and afterwards on a Discourse Sir Robert saying how my Lord of Strafford and how the said Sir George Ratcliffe had least cause to desire a War Sir George replyed We are ingaged not himself onely but We speaking of my Lord of Strafford are ingaged in a War and Sir George sayes further that the King hath 30000 Men and 400000 l. in his Purse and a Sword by His Side and if he wanted Money who would pity Him which cannot be intended but by raising of Money on the Subjects of England But besides their Lordships may remember the expression of my Lord Ranalaugh and Sir Robert King that these Forces were intended to be used for raising Moneys here and that my Lord of Strafford offers to sell his Land in Ireland Besides his Brother said the Commonwealth is sick of Peace and would not be well till it was Conquer'd again which must imply Force and an Army to do it It is a Proof of my Lord of Straffords intention that a Parliament should be summon'd to give Supply and if not that then it should be Dissolved and other Courses should be taken My Lord Primates Deposition is that in case of necessity His Majesty might use His Prerogative might levy what he needed only first it was fit to try the Parliament and if that succeeded not then to use his Prerogative as he pleases My Lord Conway proves the same Intention my Lord of Strafford saying to him That if the Parliament supplied not the King His Majesty would be acquitted before God and Men if he took some other course to supply himself though against the will of His Subjects And it cannot be intended to be against their will but it must be by force for if it be with their will it is voluntary And Mr. Treasurer proves that my Lord would be ready to serve the King any other way that is by Force by Armes or any way whatsoever Their Lordships may remember his words to His Majesty That the Parliament had denyed to supply Him that they had forsaken Him which was onely to incense His Majesty against Parliaments He told my Lord of Bristol in that Discourse with him that His Majesty was not to suffer Himself to be Mastered with the frowardness and undutifulness of His People and if His Majesty was not to suffer Himself to be Mastered by them but to Master them it cannot be but by strength of others My Lord of Holland proves more fully and my Lord of Newbrough concurs with him that His Majesty had an Advantage to supply Himself other wayes because the Parliament had denyed to supply Him And there be no other wayes save Parliament-wayes but extraordinary and illegal wayes My Lord of Strafford hath much laboured to answer and qualifie the last words but he comes short of it And those words are as fearful and of as high a nature as can be expressed by a Subject and by a Counsellor to his Soveraign The first part of the said last words are clearly proved by the Testimony of my Lord of Northumberland and Mr. Treasurer That the King had tryed His People and was Absolved from all Rules of Government That He was to do all that Power would admit that he had tryed all wayes and was refused and should be acquitted before God and men The latter part Mr. Treasurer onely reaches to that His Majesty had an Army in Ireland which He might imploy to reduce this Kingdom and comparing these words with the former if the King be absolved from all Rules of Government Which way can that Power be used but by bringing in an Army the latter words being dependant and consequent to the former and if they be compared together and sum'd up their Lordships will be satisfied that this was the intention of my Lord of Strafford to bring an Army out of Ireland into this Kingdom to reduce it and that his purpose was by a strong hand to compel the Subjects of the Kingdom to submit to an Arbitrary Power and whatsoever should be imposed on them And whereas my Lord makes it a great part of his excuse that nothing was executed upon this Counsel we must give humble thanks to His Majesty for if his Counsel might have taken place no doubt but that had been done which was laboured and advised to be done But a Gracious Sovereign would not take hold on those Counsels but rejected them as to that though so much was done on other Counsels and Misinformations of my Lord of Strafford as my Lord of Strafford will never be able to justifie That nothing is done is no excuse to him It is an Obligation to the Kings Subjects the more to Love and Honor him But it shews clearly my Lord of Straffords intention if it might have taken place to have changed the Lawes to have brought an Army upon us and by
with relation to action For these be Counsels and if a Man shall Counsel the death of the King Will any Man doubt whether this be Treason surely no man will doubt it that knowes the Laws of England The Treason is not in his words but in his wicked Counsels For under favor if it be true that he spake them they may be called wicked and that it is true they have offered proof and so he left it to their Lordships Mr. Glyn desired to add a word it concerning the Kingdom and Peers Their Lordships observe how my Lord of Strafford stands questioned for subverting of the Laws and for designing to introduce an Arbitrary Government the other day his design appeared in the exercising of a Tyrannical Power over the Persons Estates and Liberties of the Kings Subjects and though a design was in practice and something put in execution yet there was something left whereby that Treason might be raised to a higher strain For that proofs were produced the other day the exercise of this Tyrannical power in his person which was the stopping of the Streams of Justice but the Fountain of Justice was still uncorrupted and hope left and God be thanked we have hope still But this dayes work is to prove That he ascended the Throne and by his ill Counsels the Venome he had hatcht in his own heart he endeavored to infuse into the Kings Person to make Him of the same opinion with himself and that is to endeavor to corrupt the Fountain But God be thanked he hath met with a Gracious King upon whom he cannot prevaile The words laid to his Charge are very many That he should tell the King he was Absolved from all Rules of Government and that he had an Army in Ireland which he might employ to reduce this Kingdom The latter part of the words he hath endeavoured to answer and the former part proved by positive Witnesses which he hath not given answer to For the latter that concerns the Irish Army Mr. Glynn said He shall not need to put their Lordships in mind of any thing said but whereas my Lord sayes They are proved by one Witness only if your Lordships revise their Notes they shall find them prov'd by many Witnesses When he was not accused by the Commons he tells Sir William Pennyman at York he did intend to bring the Army into England but there was Vox populi and that 's a horrid Witness My Lord Cottington one of the Honourable persons present when the words were spoken testifies to their Lordships That he remembers my Lord of Strafford told the King That after things were setled he was bound to repair the property of the Subject and this under favour proves something for if some Counsel and advice were not given that there should be an invasion on the property what should engage him to tell the King he should restore it Here my Lord Cottington explained himself saying That his meaning was he hath often heard my Lord say The King and People would never be happy till there was a good agreement Mr. Glynn proeceded that if their Lordships please to look on my Lord of Straffords Interrogatory they shall find it asked his Lordship Whether he did not tell the King that he should make restitution of the Subjects propertie when the danger was over and why should his Conscience aske such a question unless there were Counsel given to invade the propriety of the Subject Your Lordships remember the words of Sir George Wentworth which Mr. Glynn said he will not repeat and when my Lord was fixed by the words of his Brother he said That tho he be my Brother I do not use to communicate my Counsels to him and that I am on my oath to conceal yet this great Counsel he did impart to Mr. Slingsby for his own purpose and to Sir William Pennyman And so having spoken to the latter part of the words the reducing of the Subjects of England by the Irish Army to shew that it stands not only on a single proof but if the whole be recollected together there be many things concurring to the positive proof thereof Mr. Glynn put their Lordships in mind of the other words to which two great Witnesses concurr and no Answer at all is given viz. That the Parliament denyed Supply and the King is loose and absolved from all rules of Government put the other words out of doors as they are not if the King be loose from all rules of Government is he not loose to doe what he will And Mr. Glynn added That he must needs give Answer to something that fell from my Lord concerning other words that they were words of Discourse and what he speaks at his Bed or his Table or in private Discourse he thinks they should not be brought against him But Mr. Glynn besought their Lordships to remember that if my Lord speaks the words as a Privy Counsellor speaking to the King concerning the Subjects property compare these words with the other Extermination and then see what the Case is The last thing in his Defence is as high as the Charge it self He is charged That being a Privy Counsellor and entrusted by the King and a man of such Eminence he should indeavour to infuse into the Kings Sacred Person such dangerous Counsels tending to the destruction of the Law and Government and consequently of King and Subject And in the close my Lord of Strafford put their Lordships in mind what a dangerous thing it is for one of the Kings Counsel to be charged for Words spoken at Council-Table to speak this in such a Presence before the Peers and Commons of the Realm that a Privy Counsellor who ought to be clear and candid is not to be questioned though he infuse dangerous Counsels That it is justification of his own Act and so great that he knows not how my Lord could say greater and so he said he hath no more to say their Lordships had heard the Proofs and Defence and comparing them together he doubts not but their Lordships are satisfied that the Commons had just cause to do what they have done My L of Strafford desired to answer one thing the Gentleman that spake last said touching his revealing the Kings Counsels to Mr. Slingsby and others he would be loth to be charged with breaking his Duty to God and the King but where he hath Power and Liberty for as concerning the imployment of that Army the King left it wholly to him to acquaint whom he thought fit for the bettering of the service But the thing that makes him rise is to represent to their Lordships that he hath been there constantly in a great deal of weakness and infirmity since 7 or 8 of the clock and now it is 5. That his Speech and Voice are spent and it is not possible for him to come here to morrow and therefore he most humbly besought their Lordships to
turned the course of the water but changed the nature of it converted it into poyson a legal and just proceeding into a Tyrannical and Arbitrary Government which is not turning but corrupting of the clear and chrystal streams to bitterness and death But yet the Fountain remains clear and perhaps when his hand is taken off you shall have the streams run as pure and uncorrupt as ever they did This is it troubles him remove but this obstacle and the work is perfect and therefore now he will go about to corrupt the streams if he can but infuse his poyson into the Kings heart which is the Fountain then all is done and now he attempts that and approacheth the Throne endeavours to corrupt the Kings Goodness with wicked Counsels but God be thanked he finds there too much Piety to prevail And therefore the next Article is that that charges him to be an Incendiary to the War betwixt the two Kingdoms and now I shall be bold to unfold the mystery and answer his objection To what purpose should he be an Incendiary were it not better to enjoy his Estate in peace and quietness than have it under danger of a War Now your Lordships shall have the Riddle discovered The first thing he doth after his coming into England is to incense the King to a War to involve two Nations of one faith and under one Sovereign to imbrue their hands in each others Blood and to draw Armies into the field That he was this Incendiary give me leave to revive your Lordships memories with the proofs which will make it plain and first give me leave to note unto your Lordships that His Majesty with much wisdom did in Iuly 1639. make a pacification with His Subjects and even at the very heels of this pacification when all things were at peace upon the tenth of September which was the next month but one your Lordships remember the Sentence of Steward in the Star-Chamber of Ireland for not taking the Oath your Lordships may call to mind the language my Lord of Strafford was pleased to use to the Scots when all was in quietness he then calls them no better than Traitors or Rebels if you will believe what the witnesse testifies whom my Lord is pleased to call a Schoolmaster And truly admit he were so because he is a Schoolmaster therefore not to be believed is a non sequitur And another Witness one Loftus speaks to the words though not in the same manner but I say the Tenth of September when things were at peace and rest when the King was pleased to be reconciled to them by that pacification what boiled in his breast then to the breaking forth of such expressions I know not unless it were an intention to be an Incendiary My Lords I must say and affirm and he hath not proved it to the contrary that all this while I am confident there was not any breach of the pacification on either side and it lyes on his part to prove there was But the Parliament of Scotland then sitting and making preparation for their demands in pursuance of the Articles of pacification he coming over into England in September immediately upon the pacification answers That he found things so distracted here that it was fit the Scots should be reduced by force if they could not be otherwise yet no breach appears no War was denounced there was no intention of a War but see what harboured in his breast all the while The fourth of December following my Lord Traquaire made his relation to the Council of the Scots proceedings and all this while there was no Demands brought by the Scots themselves nor reason of their Demands brought by others though they were not prepared yet you have heard his advice was for an offensive War and that the Demands were a just cause of the War And though he pretends he said no more than what the rest of the Lords of the Council concurred with him in I will joyn in issue with him in that and if some of your Lordships be not satisfied you have many noble Lords among you from whom you may be satisfied that it is not so I am sure he proves it not It is true in the proposition of the Demands some of the Lords of the Council did say That these Demands hypothetically if the Scots did not give satisfaction by their reasons were a just cause of War but not any Lord of the Council was of that opinion that the very Demands positively without hearing of the reasons were a just cause of War but himself and I believe the Noble Lords of the Council their Consciences can tell them and I believe will deliver it to the rest of the Peers that I speak truth For the offensive War he pretends a concurrence of the rest but it was disapproved many were for it upon these terms If they did not give reasons and shew just cause for their Demands and many were against an offensive War upon any terms and therefore herein he fixes that upon the Lords of the Council which he cannot make good All this while his intentions are discovered by a matter precedent but after the breach he discovers his anger further towards the Scottish Nation and makes it his design to incense the King to this War My Lords he is not at end yet for he confesses himself that he advised the King to call a Parliament and now I come to his work of merit but it was to his destruction and serves to prove this Article directly for to what purpose was this Parliament called Exitus acta probat it was no sooner set but within three weeks a proposition is made for supply towards a War against the Scots Who was the cause of calling the Parliament himself and therefore who was the cause of this Proposition but himself and so the calling of the Parliament is a concurring evidence of his being an Incendiary to put on the War and it shall appear anon absolutely that he was the occasion of it though he thinks there be no proof of it Did not he go over into Ireland and by his sollicitation there Subsidies were granted by the Parliament only to maintain this War and to shew their ingagement in it and who was the occasion of drawing them on I referr to your Lordships judgements by the circumstances precedent Your Lordships heard his good opinion of the Scots when he began to discourse with the Citizens touching Money and their affording of the King supply and seizing the Mint by giving them no better expositions than Rebels for saith he you are more forward to help the Rebels here than to pay the King his own I know not who he meant but certainly the Scots were in his thoughts so that from the beginning he incensed the War against them First he exclaimed against them during time of peace He alledges in his Answer That things were found in such distraction that it was fit the Scots