I.

THat he the said Thomas, Earle of Strafford, hath traiterous­ly endeavoured to subvert the fundamentall Lawes and government of the Realmes of England and Ireland, and instead there­of to introduce an arbitrary and tyranni­call Government against Law, which he hath declared by traiterous words, coun­sels, and actions, and by giving his Maje­sty advice, by force of Armes to compell [Page 2]his loyall subjects to submit therunto.

II.

That hee hath traiterously assumed to himselfe Regall power over the lives, li­berties, persons, lands, and goods of his Majesties subjects in England and Ireland, and hath exercised the same tyrannically, to the subversion and undoing of many both of Peeres and others of his Majesties Liege people.

III.

That the better to inrich and enable himselfe to goe through with his traite­rous designes, hee hath detained a great part of his Majesties revenue, without gi­ving legall account; and hath taken great summes out of the Exchequer, converting them to his owne use, when his Majesty was necessirated for his owne urgent occa­sions, and his Army had beene a long time unpaid.

IV.

That hee hath traiterously abused the power & authority of his government, to the increasing, countenancing, and encou­raging of Papists, that so he might settle a mutuall dependance & confidence betwixt himselfe and that party, and by their helpe prosecute, and accomplish his malicious and tyrannicall designes.

V.

That he hath maliciously endeavoured to stirre up enmity and hostility betweene his Majesties subjects of England, and those of Scotland.

VI.

That he hath traiterously broken the great trust reposed in him by his Majesty, of Lieutenant generall of his Army, by wilfully betraying divers of his Majesties subjects to death, his Army to a dishonou­rable defeat by the Scots at Newborn, and the Towne of New-Castle into their hands, to the end, that by the effusion of blood, by dishonour, and so great a losse of New-Castle, his Majesties Realme of England might be engaged in a Nationall and irreconciliable quarrell with the Scots.

VII.

That to preserve himselfe from being questioned for those and other his trai­terous courses, hee laboured to subvert the right of Parliaments, and the anci­ent course of Parliamentary proceed­ings, and by false and malicious slan­ders to incense his Majestie against Par­liaments. By which words, counsels, and actions, hee hath traiterously, and con­trary [Page 4]to his Allegiance, laboured to alie­nate the hearts of the Kings liege people from his Majesty, to set a division be­tweene them, and to ruine and destroy his Majesties Kingdomes, for which they im­peach him of high Treason against our Soveraigne Lord the King, his Crowne and dignitie.

VIII.

And he the said Earle of Strafford was Lord Deputie of Ireland, and Lieute­nant generall of the Army there, viz. His most excellent Majesty for his Kingdomes, both of England and Ireland, and the L. President of the North, during the time, that all and every the crimes and offences before set forth were done and commit­ted, and he the said Earle was Lieutenant generall of all his Majesties Army in the North parts of England, during the time that the crimes and offences in the fift and sixt Articles set forth were done and com­mitted.

IX.

And the said Commons by protestati­ons, saving to themselves the liberty of ex­hibiting at any time hereafter any other accusation or impeachment against the said Earle, and also of replying to the an­swers that he the said Earle shall make un­to [Page 5]the said Articles, or to any of them, and of offering proves also of the premis­ses, or any of them, or any other impeach­ment or accusation that shall be exhibited by them, as the cause shall according to the course of Parliaments require, doe pray that the said Earle may be put to an­swer for all and every the premisses, that such proceedings, examinations, tryals, and Judgements may bee upon every of them had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.

I.

That he the said Earle of Strafford the 21 day of March, in the 8. yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, was president of the Kings Counsell in the Northerne parts of England.

That the said said Earle being President [Page 8]of the said Counsell on the 21. day of March, a Commission under the great Seale of England, with certaine Schedules of in­structions thereunto annexed, was directed to the said Earle, or others the Commissio­ners therein named, wherby amongst other things, power and authority is limited to the said Earle, and others the Commissio­ners therein named, to heare and determine all offences, and misdemeanors, suites, de­bates, controversies, and demandes, causes, things, and matters, whatsoever therein contained, and within certaine precincts in the said Northene parts therein specified, and in such manner as by the said Schedule is limited and appointed.

That amongst other things in the said In­structions, it is directed that the said Presi­dent & others therein appointed, shal heare and determine according to the course of proceedings in the Court of Starchamber, divers offences, deceits, and falsities therein mentioned, whether the same be provided for by the Acts of Parliament, or not, so that the Fines imposed be not lesse then by Act or Acts of Parliament provided for by those offences is appointed.

That also amongst other things in the said instructions, it is directed that the said [Page 9]president, and others therein appointed, have power to examine, heare, and determine, ac­coring to the course of proceedings in the Court of Chancery, all manner of complaints for any matter within the said precincts, as well concerning lands, tenements, and here­ditaments, either free-hold, Customary, or Copy-hold, as Leases, and other things ther­in mentioned, and to stay proceedings in the Court of Common Law by Injunction, or otherwise, by all wayes and means, as is used in the Court of Chancery.

And although the former Presidents of the said Counsell had never put in practice such Instructions, nor had they any such In­structions, yet the said Earle in the moneth of May, in the said 8 yeare, and divers yeares following, did put in practise, exercise, and use, and caused to be used and put in practice the said Commission and Instructions, and did direct and exercise an exorbitant and un­lawfull power and jurisdiction on the per­sons and estates of his Majesties subjects in those parts, and did dis-inherit divers of his Majesties subjects in those parts of their in­heritances, sequestred their possessions, & did fine, ransome, punish and imprison them, and caused them to be fined, ransomed, punished, and imprisoned, to their ruine & destruction, [Page 10]and namely, Sir Coniers Darcy, Sir Iohn Bour­cher, and divers others, against the Lawes, and in subversion of the same. And the said Commission and Instrnctions were procu­red and issued by the advice of the said Earle.

And he the said Earle, to the intent that such illegall and unjust power might be ex­ercised with the greater License and will, did advise, counsell, and procure further directi­ons, in and by the said Instructions to be gi­ven, that no prohibition be granted at all, but in cases where the said Counsell shall exceed the limits of the said instructions: And that if any Writ of Habeas Corpus be granted, the party be not discharged till the party per­forme the Decree and Order of the said Counsell.

And the said Earle in the 13. yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, did procure a new Commission to himselfe and others therein appointed, with the said Instructions, and other unlawfull additions.

That the said Commission and instructi­ons were procured by the solicitation and advice of the said Earle of Strafford.

II.

That shortly after the obtaining of the said Commission dated the 21 of March, in the 8 [Page 11]yeare of his now Majesties Reigne (to wit) the last day of August then next following, he the said Earle (to bring his Majesty liege people into a dislike of his Majesty and of his Government, and to terrifie the Justices of the Peace from executing of the Lawes: he the said Earle, being then Pre­sident, as aforesaid, and a Justice of Peace) did publiquely at the Assises held for the County of Yorke, in the Citie of Yorke, in and upon the said last day of August, declare and publish before the people there attend­ing for the administration of Justice accor­ding to the Law, and in the presence of the Justices sitting; That some of the Justices were all for Law, but they should finde that the Kings little singer should be heavier than the loynes of the Law.

III.

That the Realme of Ireland having beene time out of minde annexed to the Imperiall Crowne of this his Majesties Realme of England, and governed by the same Lawes: the said Earle being Lord Deputy of that Realme, to bring his Maje­sties liege people of that Kingdome like­wise into dislike of his Majesties govern­ment, and intending the subversion of the sundamentall Lawes and setled government [Page 12]of that Realme, and the distraction of his Majesties liege people there, did upon the 30 day of September, in the ninth yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, in the Citie of Dublin (the chiefe City of that Kingdome, where his Majesties privie Counsell, and Courts of Justice doe ordinarily reside, and whether the Nobilitie and Gentry of that Realme doe usually resort for Justice,) in a publike Speech before divers of the Nobi­litie and Gentry, and before the Major, Aldermen, and Recorder, and many Ci­rizens of Dublin, and other his Majesties Liege people, declare and publish, that Jreland was a conquered Nation, and that the King might doe with them what he pleased; and speaking of the Charters of the former Kings of England made to that Citie, hee further said, that their Charters were nothing worth, and did bind the King no further then he pleased.

IV.

That Richard Earle of Corke, having sued out Processe in course of Law for reco­very of his possessions, from which he was put by colour of an order made by the said Earle of Strafford, and the Councell Table of the said Realme of Ireland. The said Earle of Strafford, upon a paper Petition without legall proceeding, did the 20. day of Fe­bruary, [Page 13]in the 11. yeere of his now Maje­sties Reigne, threaten the said Earle of Corke (being then a Peere of the said Realme) to imprison him, unlesse he would surcease his snit, and said, That hee would have neither Law nor Lawyers dispute or question any of his orders. And the 20 day of March in the said 1 [...] yeare of the said Earle of Strafford, speaking of an order of the said Counfell Table of that Realme, in the time of King James, which concerned a Lease which the said Earle of Corke claimed in certaine rectories or tithes which the said Earle of Corke alleadged to be of no force, said, That he would make the said Earle and all Ireland know, so long as he had the Government there, any Act of State, there made, or to be made, should bee as binding to the subjects of that Kingdome, as an Act of Parliament: And did question the said Earle of Corke in the Castle Chamber, upon pretence of breach of the said order of Counsell Table, and did sundry ther times, and set upon sundry other occasi­ons by his words and speeches arrogate to him­selfe a power above the fundamentall lawes, and established Government of that Kingdom, and scorned the said Lawes and established Government.

V.

That according to such his declarations and speeches, the said Earle of Strafford did use and exercise a power above, & against, and to the subvertion of the said fundamen­tall Lawes, and stablished government of the said Realme of Jreland, extending such his power to the goods, free-holds, inheri­tances, Liberties, and lives of his Majesties Subjects of the said Realme, viz. The said Earle of Strafford the 12. day of December, Anno Dom. 1635. in the time of full peace, did in the said Realm of Jreland, give and procure to bee given against the Lord Mount-Norris (then and yet a Peere of Jre­land, and then Vice-Treasurer and receiver generall of the Realme of Ireland, and one of the principall Secretaries of State, and Keeper of the Privie Signet of the said Kingdome, a sentence of death by a Councell of Warre called together by the said Earle of Strafford, without any warrant or authority of Law, or offence de­serving any such punishment. And he the said Earle die also at Dublin within the said Realme of Jreland, in the moneth of March, in the 14 yeare of his Majesties Reigne without any legall or due procee­dings or tryall, give or cause to bee given, a sentence of death against one other of his [Page 15]Majesties Subjects, whose name is yet un­knowne, and caused him to be put to death in execution of the said sentence.

VI.

That the said Earle of Strafford, without any legall proceedings, and upon a paper Petition of Richard Ralstone, did cause the said Lord Mount-Norris to be disseized and put out of possession of his free-hold and inheritance of his Mannor and Tymore in the Countrey of Armagh, in the King­dome of Ireland, the said Lord Mount-Norris having beene two yeares before in quiet possession therof.

VII.

That the said Earle of Strafford, in the Terme of Holy Trinity, in the 13 yeere of his now Majesties Reigne; did cause a case commonly called the case of Tenures upon defective titles, to be made and drawne up without any jury or tryall, or other legall processe, & without the consent of parties, and did then procure the Judges of the said Realme of Jreland to deliver their opini­ons and resolutions to that case, and by co­lour of such opinion, did without any legall pro­ceeding, cause Thomas Lord Dillon, a Peere of the said Realme of Jreland, to be put out [Page 16]of possession of divers Lands and Tene­ments, being his free-hold in the Countrey of Mago and Rosecomen, in the said King­dome, and divers other of his Majesties sub­jects to be also put out of possession, and disseized of their free hold by colour of the same resolution, without legall procee­dings, whereby many hundreds of his Ma­jesties subjects were undone, and their families utterly ruinated.

VIII.

That the said Earle of Strafford upon a Petition of Sir Iohn Gifford Knight, the first day of February, in the said 13 yeare of his Majesties Reigne, without any legall processe, made a Decree or Order against Adam Viscount Lofts of Elie, a Peere of the said Realme of Jreland, and Lord Chancellor of Jreland, and did cause the said Uiscount to bee imprisoned and kept close prisoner, on pretence of disobedience to the said de­cree or order.

And the said Earle without any authori­ty, and contrary to his Commission, requi­red and commanded the said Lord Vis­count to yeeld unto him the great Seale of the Realme of Ireland, which was then in his custody, by his Majesties command, [Page 17]and imprisoned the said Chancellor for not obeying such his command.

And without any legall proceedings, did in the same thirteenth yeare imprison George Earle of Kildare, a Peere of Jreland, against Law, thereby to enforce him to submit his title to the Mannor and Lord­ship of Castle Leigh in the Queenes Coun­tie, (being of great yearely value) to the said Earle of Straffords will and pleasure, and kept him a yeare prisoner for the said cause, two moneths whereof he kept him close prisoner, and refused to enlarge him, not­withstanding his Majesties Letters for his enlargement to the said Earle of Strafford directed.

And upon a Petition exhibited in Octo­ber, 1635. by Thomas Hibbots against dame Mary Hibbots Widdow, to him the said Earle of Strafford, the said Earle of Straf­ford recommended the said Petition to the Counsell Table of Ireland, where the most part of the Counsell gave their vote and opinion for the said Lady, but the said Earle finding fault herewith, caused an order to be entred against the said Lady, and threatned her, that if shee refused to submit thereunto, he would imprison her, [Page 18]and fine her five hundred pound; that if she continued obstinate, he would continue her imprisonment, and double her fine every month by month, whereof she was enforced to relinquish her estate in the land questio­ned in the said Petition, which shortly was conveyed to Sir Robert Meredith, to the use of the said Earle of Strafford.

And the said Earle in like manner did imprison divers others of his Majesties Sub­jects upon pretence of disobedience to his orders and decrees, and other illegall com­mand by him made for pretended debts, titles of Lands, and other causes in an arbi­trary and extrajudiciall course, upon Paper Petitions to him preferred, and no other cause legally depending.

IX.

That the said Earle of Strafford the six­tenth day of Febr. in the 12. yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, assuming to himselfe a power above and against Law, tooke upon him by a generall Warrant under his hand, to give power to the Lord Bishop of Down, and Connor his Chancellor, or Chancellors, to their severall Officers thereto to bee appointed, to Attach and Arrest the Bodies [Page 19]of all such of the meaner and poorer sort, where after citation should either refuse to appeare before them, or appearing should omit, or deny to performe, or undergoe all lawfull decrees, sentences, and orders, issued, imposed, or given out against them, and them, to commit and keepe in the next Goale, untill they should either performe such sentences, or put in sufficient Baile to shew some reason be­fore the Counsell Table, of such their contempt and neglect; and the said Earle, the day and yeare last mentioned, signed and issued a Warrant to that effect, and made the like Warrant to send to all other Bishops and their Chancellors in the said Realme of Ireland to the same effect.

X.

That the said Earle of Strafford being Lord Lieutenant, or Deputy of Jreland, procured the Customes of the Merchandize ex­ported out, and imported into that Realme to be farmed to his owne use.

And in the ninth yeare of his now Ma­jesties Reigne, he having then intrest in the said Customes (to advance his owne gaine and lucre) did cause and procure the na­tive [Page 20]commodities of Jreland, to be rated in the booke of Rates for the Customes (ac­cording to which the Customes were usual­ly gathered) at farre greater values and prices, then in truth they were worth (that is to say) every hide at 20. shillings, which in truth was worth but five shillings, every stone of Wooll at thirteene shillings foure pence, though the same ordinarily were worth but five shillings, at the utmost but nine shillings; by which meanes the custome which before was but a twentieth part of the true value of the commoditie, was inhansed sometimes to a fift part, and sometimes to a fourth, and sometimes to a third part of the true value, to the great oppression of the sub­jects, and decay of Marchandize.

XI.

That the said Earle, in the ninth yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, did by his own will and pleasure, and for his owne lucre restraine the exportation of the commodi­ties of that Kingdome without his licence, as namely, Pipe-staves, and other commodi­ties, and then raised great summes of money for licensing of exportation of those com­modities, and dispensation of the said re­straints imposed on them, by which means [Page 21]the pipe-staves were raised from foure pound ten shillings; or 5 pound per thou­sand to ten pound, and sometimes eleven pound per thousand, and other commodities were inhanced in the like proportion, and by the same meanes by him the said Earle.

XII.

That the said Earle being Lord Deputy of Ireland, on the ninth day of Ianuary in the thirteenth yeere of his Majesties Reigne, did then under colour to regulate the Importation of Tobacco into the said Realme of Ireland, issue a Proclamation in his Majesties name, prohibiting the impor­tation of Tobacco without licence of him and the Counsell, there from and af­ter the first day of May, Anno Dom. 1638. after which restraint, the said Earle, not­withstanding the said restraint, caused di­vers great quantities of Tobacco to be im­ported to his owne use, and fraughted di­vers ships with Tobacco, which he impor­ted to his owne use: and that if any ship brought Tobacco into any Port there, the said Earle and his Agents used to buy the same to his owne use, at their owne 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; [Page 22]by which undue meanes, the Earle having gotten the whole Trade of Tobacco, into his owne hands, he sold it at great and ex­cessive prices, such as he list to impose for his owne profit.

And the more to assure the said Mono­poly of Tobacco, he the said Earle on the 23. day of February, in the thirteenth yeare 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 bee made up into Rolls, and the same sealed with two Seales by himselfe appointed, one at each end of the Roll. And such as was not Sealed to bee seized, appointing sixe 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 Goale, which last pro­clamation was covered by a pretence for the restraining of the seale of unholsome Tobacco, but it was truely to advance the said Monopoly.

Which Proclamation the said Earle did rigorously put in execution, by ceazing the goods, fining, imprisoning, whipping, and putting the offenders against the same Pro­clamation [Page 23]on the pillory, as namely, Barna­by Hubbard, Edward Covena, John Tumen, & divers others: and made the Officers of State, and Justices of Peace, and other Offi­cers to serve him in compassing and execu­ting these unjust and undue courses, by which cruelties and unjust Monopolies, the said Earle rised 100000. pound per annum gaine to himselfe. And yet the said Earle though he inhanced the Customes, where it concerned the Merchants in generall, yet drew downe the impost formerly taken on Tobacco from fixe pence the pound to 3. pence the pound, it being for his owne profit so to doe. And the said Earle, by the same, and other rigorous and undue meanes, raised severall other Monopolies and unlawfull exactions for his own gaine, viz. on Starch, Iron pots, Glasses, To­bacco pipes, and severall other commodi­ties.

XIII.

That flaxe being one of the principall & native Commodities of that Kingdome of Ireland, the said Earle having gotten great quantities thereof into his hands, & grow­ing on his owne Lands, did issue out severall Proclamations, viz. one dated the one and twentieth day of May, in the eleventh of his [Page 24]Majesties raign, and the other dated the 31 day of Ianuary in the same yeare, there­by prescribing and injoyning the working of Flax into Yarne and Thread, and the ordering of the same in such waies wherin the Natives of that Kingdome were unpra­ctised and unskilfull: 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 Flaxe wrought or ordered in other manner then as the said Proclamation prescribed, was seazed and employed to the use of him and his agents, and thereby the said Earle en­deavoured to gaine, and did gaine in effect the sole sale of that native commodity.

XIV.

That the said Earle of Strafford, by Pro­clamation dated the 16 day of October, in the 14 yeare of his Majesties Raigne, did mpose upon the Owners, Masters, Pur­sers, and Boatswaines of every ship, a new and unlawfull oath, viz. that they (two or more of them) immediately after the arri­vall of any ship within any Port or Creeke in the said Kingdom of Ireland, should give in a true in voyce of the outward bulke of [Page 25]Wares and Merchandises, and number of goods, and the qualities and condition of the said goods, as farre as to them should be known, the names of the severall Merchants proprietours of the said goods, and the pla­ces 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 unlawfull Oath.

XV.

That the said Earle of Strafford trayte­rously and wickedly devised and contrived by force of Armes in a warlike manner to subdue the Subjects of the said Realme of Jreland, to bring them under his tyrannicall power and will, and in pursuance of his wic­ked and trayterous purposes aforesaid, the said Earle of Strafford in the eighth yeare of his Majesties Reigne, did by his owne autho­rity, without any warrant or colour of Law, tax and impose great summes of money up­on the Townes of Baltemore, Baudenbridge, Talowe, and divers other Townes and pla­ces in the said Realme of Jreland, and did cause the same to be levied upon the Inhabi­tants of those Townes by troopes of Souldi­ers, with force and armes, in a warlike man­ner. [Page 26]And on the ninth day of March, in the twelfth yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, trayterously did give authoritie unto Robert Savile, a Serjeant at Armes, and to the Cap­taines of the Companies of Souldiers, in se­verall parts of that Realme, to send such numbers of Souldiers to lye on the Lands and Houses of such as would not conforme to his orders, untill they should render obe­dience to his said orders and warrants, and after such submission (and not before) the said Souldiers to returne to their Garrisons. And did also issue the like Warrants unto di­vers others, which Warrants were in war­like manner, with force and Armes put in execution accordingly, and by such warlike meanes did force divers of his Majesties sub­jects of that Realme, to submit themselves to his unlawfull commands.

And in the said twelfth yeare of his Ma­jesties Reigne, the said Earle of Strafford did trayterously cause certaine troupes of horse and foote, armed in warlike manner, and in warlike aray, with force and armes, to expell Richard Butler from the possession of Castle-Cumber, in the Territory of Idough, in the said Realme of Ireland, and did likewise and in like warlike manner, expell divers of his Majesties Subjects from their houses, fami­lies, [Page 27]and possessions, as namely, Edward Bren­man. Owen Oberman, Patricke Oberman, Sir Cyprian Horsfield, and divers others, to the number of about an hundred families, and tooke and imprisoned them and their wives, and carryed them prisoners to Dublin, and there detained them untill they did yeeld up, surrender, or release their respective estates and rights.

And the said Earle, in like warlike man­ner, hath during his government of the said Kingdome of Jreland, subdued divers others of his Majesties subjects easily to his will, and thereby, and by the meanes aforesaid, hath le­vied warre within the said Realme against his Majestie, and his liege people of that King­dome.

XVI.

That the said Earle of Strafford, the two and twentieth of February, in the seventh yeare of his now Majesties Reigne, intending to oppresse the said Subjects of Ireland, did make a proposition, and obtained from his Majesty an allowance, that no complaint of injustice or oppression done in Ireland, should be received in England against any, unlesse it first appeared, that the party made first his [Page 28]addresse to him the said Earle: and the said Earle having by such usurped, tyrannicall and exorbitant power, expressed in the former Articles, destroyed the Peeres and other sub­jects of that Kingdome of Ireland, in their lives, consciences, land, liberties, and estates, the said Earl to the intent the better to main­taine and strengthen his power, and to bring the people into a disaffection of his Majesty, as aforesaid, did use his Majesties name in the execution of his said power. And to pre­vent the subjects of that Realme of all means of complaints to his Majesty, and of redresse against him and his agents, did issue a Pro­clamation bearing date the seventeenth day of September, in the eleventh yeare of his Majesties Reigne, thereby commanding all the Nobilitie, undertakers and others, who held estates and offices in the said kingdome (except such as were employed in his Maje­sties service, or attending in England by his speciall command) to make their personall residence in the said Kingdome of Ireland, and not to depart thence without licence of himselfe. And the said Earle hath since issu­ed other Proclamations to the same purpose, by meanes whereof the subjects of the said Realme are restrained from seeking reliefe against the oppressions of the said Earle without his licence: which Proclamation the [Page 29]said Earle hath by severall rigoruos waies, as by fine, imprisonment, and otherwise, put in execution on his Majesties subjects, as namely, one — Parry, and others, who came over only to complaine of the exor­bitances and oppressions of the said Earle.

XVII.

That the said Earle having by such meanes as aforesaid, subverted the govern­ment & lawes of the Kingdome of Ireland, did in March in the 16 yeare of his Maje­sties Reigne, in scandall of his Majestie, of all his Kingdomes, & in further execution of his wicked purposes aforesaid, speaking of the Armies in Ireland, declare, that his Majesty was so well pleased with the Army of Ireland, and the consequence thereof, that his Majesty would certainely make the same a patterne for all his three King­domes.

XVIII.

That the said Earle of Strafford, for the better effecting of his traytrous designes & wicked puposes, did indeavour to draw de­pendency upon himselfe of the Papists in both Kingdomes of Eengland and Ireland, and to that end during the time of governe­ment [Page 30]in Jreland, hee restored divers Frie­ries and Masse-houses (which had beene formerly suppressed by precedent Depu­ties of that Kingdome, two of which hou­ses were in the City of Dublin, & had been assigned to the use of the University there) to the pretended owners thereof, who have since imployed the same to the exercise of the Popish Religion.

And in the moneth of May and Iune last, the said Earle did raise an Army in the said Realme of England, consisting of eight thou­sand foote, all of which, except one thousand or there abouts, were Papists, and the said one thousand were drawne out of the old Army there consisting of two thousand foot, and in their places there were a thousand Papists, or thereabouts, put into the said old Army by the said Earle.

And the more to ingage and tye the new Army of Papists to himselfe, and to encourage them, and to discourage and weare out the old Army, the said Earle did so provide; That the said new Army of Pa­pists were duely paid, and had all necessaries provided for them, and permitted the exercise of their Religion, but the said old Army were for the space of one whole yeare and upwards unpaid.

And that the said Earle being appoin­ted a Commissioner within eleven severall Counties in the Northern parts of England, for compounding with Recusants for their forfeitures due to his Majestie; which com­mission beareth date the eight day of July in the fift yeare of his Majesties Reigne that now is, and being also receiver of the composition money thereby arising, and of other debts, duties, and penalties for his Majesties use, by Letters Patents, dated the ninth day of the said July: he, to engage the said Recusants to him, did compound with them at low and under rates, and pro­vided that they should be discharged of all proceedings against them, in all his Maje­sties Courts, both temporall and Ecclesiasti­call, in manifest breach of and contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of this Realme, in that behalfe established.

XIX.

That the said Earle having taxed and levied the said impositions, and raised the said Monopolies, and committed the said oppressions in his Majesties name, and as by his Majesties Royall command, he the said Earle in May the fifteenth yeare of his [Page 32]Majesties Reigne, did of his owne authori­tie contrive and frame a new and unusuall oath, by the purport whereof among many other things, the party taking the said oath, was to sweare that hee should not protest against any of his Majesties Royall com­mands, but submit themselves in all obedi­ence thereunto. Which oath he so contri­ved to enforce the same on the subjects of the Scottish Nation, inhabiting in Ireland, and out of a hatred to the said Nation, and to put them to a discontent with his Maje­sty, and his government there, and compel­led divers of his Majesties said Subjects there to take the said oath, some he grie­vously fined and imprisoned, and others he destroyed and exiled, and namely, the 10. of October, Anno Dom. 1639. he fined Hen­ry Steward and his wife, who refused to take the said oath, five thousand pounds a piece, and their two daughters & James Gray, three thousand pounds a piece, and imprisoned them for not paying the said fines. The said Henry Stewards wife and daughters & James Gray, being the Kings liege people of the Scottish Nation, and divers others he used in the like manner; and the said Earle upon that occasion did declare, that the said oath did not onely oblige them in point of alle­giance [Page 33]to his Majesty, and acknowledge­ment of his Supremacy onely, but to the Ceremonies & government of the Church established, or to be established by his Ma­jesties royall Authoritie; and said, that the refusers to obey, he would prosecute to the blood.

XX.

That the said Earle in the 15. and 16. yeares of his Majesties Reigne, and divers yeares past, laboured and endeavoured to beget in his Majestie an ill opinion of his Subjects, namely, those of the Scottish Na­tion, and diverse and sundry times, and espe­cially since the pacification made by his Majesty with his said Subjects of Scotland in Summer, in the fifteenth yeare of his Ma­jesties reigne; he, the said Earle did labour and endeavour to perswade, incite, and pro­voke his Majestie to an offensive warre a­gainst his said Subjects of the Scottish Na­tion: and the said Earle, by his counsell, actions, and endeavours, hath beene and is a principall and chiefe incendiary of the warre and discord betweene his Majesty and his Subjects of England, and the said Subjects of Scotland, and hath declared, [Page 34]and advised his Majestie, that the demand made by the Scots in this Parliament were a sufficient cause of warre against them. The said Earle having formerly expressed the height and rancor of his minde towards his Subjects of the Socttish Nation, viz. the tenth day of October, in the fifteenth yeare of his Majesties Reigne, he said that the Nation of the Scots were rebels, and traytors; and he being then about to come to England, he then further said, that if it pleased his Master (meaning his Majestie) to send him backe againe, he would roote out of the said Kingdome (meaning the Kingdome of Ireland) the Scottish Nati­on both root and branch. Some Lords, and others, who had taken the said Oath in the precedent Article onely excepted: and the said Earle hath caused divers of the said Ships and goods of the Scots to be stayed, seized, and molested, to the intent to set on the said warre.

XXI.

That the said Earle of Strafford, shortly after his speeches mentioned in the last precedent Article, to wit, in the fifteenth yeare of his Majesties Reign, came into this [Page 35]Realme of England, and was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and continued his government of that Kingdome by a Depu­ty: At his arrivall here, finding that his Majesty with much wisedome and good­nesse had composed the troubles in the North, and had made a Pacification with his Subjects of Scotland; he laboured by all meanes to procure his Majesty to breake that pacification, incensing his Majesty a­gainst his Subjects of that Kingdome, and the proceedings of the Parliament there. And having incensed his Majesty to an of­fensive warre against his said Subjects of Scotland, by Sea and by Land; and by pretext thereof, to raise Forces for the maintenance of that warre: he counselled his Majestie to call a Parliament in Eng­land, yet the said Earle intended, if the said proceedings of that Parliament should not be such as would stand with the said Earle of Straffords mischievous designes, hee would then procure his Majestie to breake the same, and by wayes of force and power, to raise monies upon the said Subjects of this Kingdome.

And for the incouragement of his Ma­jesty to hearken to his advice, he did before [Page 36]his Majesty and his Privie Councell, then sitting in Counsell, make a large Declara­tion, that he would serve his Majesty in any other way, in case the Parliament should not supply him.

XXII.

That in the moneth of March, before the beginning of the last Parliament, the said Earle of Strafford went into Ireland, and procured the Parliament of that King­dome to declare their assistance in a warre against the Scots. And gave directions for the raising of an Army consisting of 8000. foot, and 1000. horse, being for the most part Papists, as aforesaid. And confedera­ting with one Sir George Radcliffe, did toge­ther with him the said Sir George, trayte­rously conspire to imploy the said Army for the ruine and destruction of the King­dome of England, and of his Majesties Sub­jects, and of altering and subverting of the fundamentall Lawes of this Kingdome.

And shortly after, the said Earle of Straf­ford returned into England, and to sundry persons declared his opinion to be, that his Majesty should first try the Parliament here, [Page 37]and if that did not supply him according to his occasions, he might then use his Prerogative as he pleased, to levie what he needed, and that he should be acquitted both of God and man, if he tooke some other courses to supply himselfe, though it were against the will of his Sub­jects.

XXIII.

That upon the thirteenth day of Aprill last, the Parliament of England met, and the Commons house (then being the repre­sentative Body of all the Commons in the Kingdome) did according to the trust reposed in them, enter into debate and con­sideration of the great grievances of this Kingdome, both in respect of Religion, and the publike Libertie of the Kingdome; and his Majesty referring chiefly to the said Earle of Strafford, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the ordering and disposing of all matters concerning the Parliament: He the said Earle of Strafford, with the as­sistance of the said Archbishop, did pro­cure his Majesty, by sundry speeches and messages, to urge the said Commons house to enter into some resolution for his Maje­sties supply, for maintenance of his warre [Page 38]against his Subjects of Scotland, before any course was taken for the reliefe of the great and pressing grievances, wherewith this Kingdome was then afflicted. Where­upon, a demand was then made from his Majesty, of twelve Subsidies, for the re­lease of Ship-money onely; and while the said Commons then assembled (with ex­pressions of great affection to his Majesty and his service) were in debate and consi­deration of some supply, before resolution by them made, He the said Earle of Straf­ford, with the helpe and assistance of the said Archbishop, did procure his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament, upon the fifth day of May last: and upon the same day, the said Earle of Strafford did treache­rously, falsely, and maliciously endeavour to incense his Majesty against his loving and faithfull Subjects, who had been mem­bers of the said house of Commons, by telling his Majesty, they had denied to supply him. And afterward upon the same, did treacherously and wickedly counsell and advise his Majestie to this effect, viz. that having tryed the affections of his people, hee was loose and absolved from all Rules of government, and was to doe every thing that power would admit, and that his Majesty had [Page 39]tryed alwaies, and was refused, and should bee acquitted both of God and man; and that Hee had an Army in Ireland (meaning the Army above mentioned, consisting of Papists, his dependants, as is aforesaid) which Hee might imploy to reduce this Kingdome to obe­dience.

XXIV.

That in the same moneth of May, He the said Earle of Strafford, falsly, treacherously, and maliciously, published and declared before others of his Majesties Privie Coun­cell, that the Parliament of England had forsaken the King, and that in denying to supply the King, they had given him the advantage to supply himselfe by other waies: and divers other times he did mali­ciously, wickedly, and falsly publish and declare, that seeing the Parliament had re­fused to supply his Majesty in the ordinary and usuall way, the King might provide for the Kingdome in such waies, as hee should hold fit, and that he was not to suffer him­selfe to be mastered by the frowardnesse of the people.

And having so maliciously slandered the [Page 40]said house of Commons, hee did with the helpe and advice of the said Arch-bishop of Canterbury and the Lord Finch, late Lord Keeper of the great Seale of England: cause to bee printed, and published in his Majesties name, a false and scandalous book intituled, His Majesties Declaration of the pauses that mooved him to dissolve the last Parliament, full of bitter and malicious in­vectives, and false, and scandalous aspersi­ons against the said house of Commons.

XXV.

That not long after the dissolution of the said last Parliament, (viz. In the monethes of May and June) hee the Earle of Straffard did advise the King to goe on rigorously in leavying the Ship-Money, and did procure the Sheriffes of severall Countries to be sent for, for not levying the Ship-mony, divers of which were threat­ned by him to be sued in the Starchamber, and afterwards by his advice were sued in the Starchamber, for not levying the same, and divers of his Majesties loving Subjects were sent for and imprisoned by his advice, about that and other illegall payments.

And a great loane of a hundred thousand pounds was demanded of the City of Lon­don, and the Lord Major and the Alder­men and the Sheriffes of the said City, were often sent for by his advice to the Councel Table, to give an account of their procee­dings in raising of Ship-mony, and furthe­ring of that loane, and were required to cer­tifie the names of such Inhabitants of the said City as were fit to lend, which they with much humility refusing to doe, he the said Earle of Strafford did use these or the like speeches: viz. That they deserved to be put to Fine and Ransom, and that no good would be done with them, till an example were made of them, and they were laid by the heeles, and some of the Aldermen hanged up.

XXVI.

That the said Earle of Strafford by his wicked counsell having brought his Maje­stie into excessive charges without any just cause, he did in the moneth of Iuly last (for the support of the said great charges) coun­sell and approve two dangerous and wicked Projects: viz.

To seize upon the Bullion and the Mo­ney in the Mint.

And to imbase his Majesties Coine with the mixtures of Brasse.

And accordingly [...] procured one hun­dred & thirty thousand pounds which was then in the Mint, and belonging to divers Merchants, strangers & others, to be seized on and stayed to his Majesties use. And when divers Marchants of London, owners of the said Bullion, came to his house to let him understand the great mischiefe, that course would produce here, and in other parts, what prejudice it would bee to the Kingdome, by discrediting the Mint, and hindring the importation of Bullion: hee the said Earle told them, that the Citie of London dealt undutifully and unthankeful­ly with his Majesty: and that they were more ready to helpe the Rebell, then to helpe his Majesty: and that if any hurt came to them, they might thanke themselves: and that it was the course of other Princes, to make use of such monies to serve their occasions

And when in the same moneth of Iuly, the Officers of his Majesties Mint came to him [Page 41]and gave him divers reasons against the imbasing of the said mony, hee told them that the French King did use to send Com­missaries of Horse with Commission to search into mens estates, and to peruse their accompts, so that they may know what to levy of them by force, which they did ac­cordingly levie: and turning to the Lord Cottington then present, said, That this was a point worthy his Lordships consideration.

XXVII.

That in or about the moneth of August last he was made Lieutenant generall of all his Majesties forces in the Northerne parts a­gainst the Scots, and being at Yorke did in the month of September by his owne autho­rity, and without any lawfull warrant, im­pose a Tax on his Majesties subjects in the County of Yorke, of 8. pence per diem, for maintenance of every Souldier of the trai­ned bands of that County, which summes of mony hee caused to bee levied by force. And to the end to compell his Majesties subjects out of feare and terrour to yeeld to the payment of the same, He did declare that hee would commit them that refused the payment thereof, and the Souldiers [Page 44]should be satisfied out of their estates; and they that refused it, were in very little bet­ter condition then of High Treason.

XXVIII.

That in the moneth of September and October last, hee the said Earle of Strafford being certified of the Scottish Army com­ming into the Kingdome, and hee the said Earle of Strafford being Lieutenant gene­rall of his Majesties Army, did not provide for the defence of the Towne of Newca­stle as He ought to have done, but suffered the same to be lost, that so hee might the more incense the English against the Scots. And for the same wicked purpose, and out of a malicious desire to ingage the King­domes of England and Scotland in a Natio­nall and bloody war, hee did write to the Lord Conway the generall of the horse, and under the said Earles command, that hee should fight with the Scottish Army at the passage over the Tyne, whatsoever should follow, notwithstanding that the said Lord Conway had formerly by Letters informed him the said Earle, that his Majesties Army then under his command, was not of force sufficient to incounter the Scots, by which [Page 45]advice of his, hee did contrary to the duty of his place betray his Majesties Army then under his command, to apparent dan­ger and losse.

All and every which words, counsells, and actions of the said Earle of Strafford traiterously and contrary to his allegiance to our Soveragne Lord the King, and with an intention and endeavour to alienate and withdraw the hearts and affections of the Kings liege people of all his Realmes from his Majesty, and to set a division betweene them, and to ruine and destroy His Maje­sties said Kingdomes. For which they doe further impeach him the said Thomas, Earle of Strafford of High Treason against our Soveraigne Lord the King, his Crowne and dignity.