Speech in Parliament Clearing Himself of High Treason, Oration 1
Sir Arthur Haſlerigg his Speech in Parliament, the fifth of Ianuary laſt.
Whereby he cleareth himſelfe of the Articles of high Treaſon, exhibited againſt himſelfe, the Lord Kimbolton, Mr. I. Pym, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Stroud, and M. Hollis, by his Majeſty on tueſday 4. of Ianu. 1641.
Whereunto is added Maſter PIM his SPEECH In PARLIAMENT, Concerning the Vote of the Houſe of Commons, for his Diſcharge upon the Accuſation of High Treaſon, exhibited againſt himſelf, and others.
London, Printed for F. C. and T. B. 1641.
Sir Arthur Haſlerigg his Speech in PARLIMENT.
Mr. Speaker.
THis misfortune of mine ſeemes to mee at the firſt exceeding ſtrange, not onelyonly in reſpect of the Crimes laid to my charge, but moſt of all having thereby incurred not only the disfavour but irefull diſpleaſure of his Sacred Majeſty. For the firſt, knowing the innocency and integrity of my heart, that it is free from any ſuch crime either in thought, word or deed againſt either my gratious Soveraign, or my native Country, I ſhall the more eaſily beare the burthen of the charge, but to groane under the burthen of a moſt Pious and wiſe Prince his diſpleaſure, wounds me ſore.
Mr. Speaker, I humbly deſire ſo much favour of this Honourable Houſe of which I have had the happineſſe to be a Member, to ſpeake ſomething of my Innocence in all theſe Crimes I am charged withall.
This Honourable Houſe▪ (Mr. Speaker) can I hope witneſſe for me, the manner of my carriage and diſpoſition in any debate or arguments wherein I have beene one, I hope nothing hath proceeded from me; that can come any wayes within the compaſſe of Treaſon.
In all diſputes and concluſions of any matter by Vote of the Houſe, my Vote hath commonly agreed with the Major part then I hope my Vote in Parliament being free cannot be Treaſon.
Mr. Speaker, The Articles that are exhibited againſt mee and the other Gentlemen, are of moſt dangerous and pernitious conſequence, if wee ſhould be found guilty of them, which God defend, I would to God theſe perſons that incenſed his Majeſty againſt us, (which is eaſily conceived who they are) were as free from thoughts, words, may actions within the limits of Treaſon) as I hope we ſhall prove our ſelves by Gods bleſſing.
MASTER Speaker, It is alleadged, wee have endeavoured to ſubvert the fundamentall Lawes of this Land, abridge the Kings power, and deny his Royall Prerogatives. Give mee leave I beſeech you, to ſpeake concerning this Article. There is (as I conceive) not two Formes or Governement in this Kingdome: there it not two ſorts of Fundamentall Lawes: there is but one forme of Government; One ſort of Fundamentall Lawes, that is, the Common Lawes of this Land, and acts, Statutes, and Ordinances of Parliament, theſe two Mr. Speaker, depend and hang one upon another, ſo that they cannot bee ſeparated; and he that ſubverts the one, breaks and infringes the other. Now under favour Mr. Speaker, to ſpeake freely in Parliament (freely called and aſſembled by his Majeſties moſt Royal Authority) to Vote freely in the ſame, upon the concluſion of any Bill to be made a Law by the whole conſent of Parliament aſſented to by his Majeſty: to agree in Voting with the whole Parliament againſt Delinquents, and Malefactors in the State, to bring them to condigne puniſhment for the ſame: to give my Vote in the Houſe, or removing evill Counſellours from his ſacred Majeſty, to place loyall and faithfull ones in their place: To aſſent with the whole State aſſembled together in Counſell for the ſetling of peace and tranquillity in the ſame: To ordaine and enact ſuch wholſome Lawes and Ordinances whereby his Majeſties good Subjects may be governed in righteouſneſſe and good obedience: To Vote with the Houſe for redresſing the many grievances of the Common-wealth, If theſe be to ſubvert the Fundamentall Lawes of the Land, then Mr. Speaker am I guilty of this Article in giving my Vote againſt the Earle of Strafford; in Voting thoſe acts already made and paſſed by his Majeſty; in Voting againſt the Biſhops; in proteſting to maintaine the Fundamentall Lawes of the Land, the true Proteſtant Religion, according to the true Doctrine of the Church of England: I ſay then Mr. Speaker, in this am I guilty of high Treaſon: but if this bee not to ſubvert the Lawes of the Land; then (as I conceive) am I cleare from beeing guilty of this Article. Which I humbly leave to the conſideration of this Honourable Houſe.
Under favour (Maſter Speaker) I come now to the other Articles of the Charge: I will onelyonly recite the ſubſtance of them; for they all harpe on one thing: To indeavour to bring in an Arbitrary and tyrannicall Forme of Government: To invite Tumults, and unlawfull reſorts of multitudes of people to the Parliament, to be a colour for our Deſignes: to raiſe Forces and Armies in this Land to asſiſt me in my practiſes: To invite forraigne Princes to bring an Army into the Land: To endeavour by Declarations, Proclamations, and otherwiſe to alienate the hearts of his Majeſties loyall Subjects from their lawfull Soveraigne thereby to avert their due obedience from him, and having an evill opinion of his ſacred Majeſty, to ſide with us, and take our parts to effect our Deſignes.
Give me leave I beſeech you to ſpeake concerning theſe crimes: And firſt Mr. Speaker to endeavour to bring in an Arbitrary power and tyrannicall Forme of Goverment in the Subject, is to deny Parliamentary proceedings: To oppoſe the Laws enacted by Parliaments: To incenſe his Majeſty againſt Parliaments; to protect and Petition againſt the proceedings thereof, is to bring in an Arbitrary forme of Government. But to agree with the Parliament being a Member thereof by Vote to make and enact Lawes; I conceive this cannot be termed Arbitrary; neither I perſwade my ſelfe can the effects thereof be tyrannicall.
Secondly, concerning the late Tumults about the Houſe, I am innocent thereof; neither came they by my invitation or incouragement: I alwaies thought their reſorts in that ſort were illegall and riotous: I have Voted with this Houſe for their ſuppresſing; have aſſented to all Orders for their appeaſing; agreed with the Parliament in all things concerning their petitions and Requeſts: Then I hope this Honourable Houſe will not conceive me guilty of this Crime: if it be one, and granted; yet I conceive far without the limits of Treaſon for theſe Reaſons.
1. They came not with Armes to force any thing to be done in Parliament; but humbly by Petition ſhewed their grievances, and deſired redreſſe thereof which is one Priviledge (and one of the greateſt) to make their griefs knowne to a Parliament, and by them to be relieved.
2. They offered no aſſault; but (beeing aſſaulted) preſerved themſelves and departed.
3. The matter of their clamour was not againſt the King nor any of his Counſell: It was not againſt the Lords, nor Houſe of Commons: It was only againſt Delinquents, againſt ſuch as had been the greateſt oppreſſors of them.
Thirdly, I come in a word to the other Articles of the charge which I intend to ſpeake of (under favour) altogether: I pray you who raiſed any army actually in this Land but the trained Bands, which was done by the Parliament for the ſecurity of their owne perſons in the Kings abſence; and in obedience to his commands, at his returne home they were diſcharged, and afterwards againe raiſed by his Majeſties owne Royal Authority. And for inviting or procuring any forreigne Princes to ayd me with an Army, I am altogether innocent therein; I know of no aid required but from Scotland, which is done by the Parliament, my Vote as a Member thereof only agreeing with them in the ſame: And that aid is procured for his Majeſties asſiſtance in ſubduing the Rebellion in Ireland, and (as I conceive) for no other purpoſe. And for the laſt Article wherewith I am charged, I hope to bee cleared by this whole Houſe for what Declamations or Proclamations have beene publiſhed but by Authority of the Parliament, joyn'd with his Majeſties moſt Royall Power and aſſent thereunto. It is manifeſt to all people that nothing is publiſhed by the Parliament; or any of the Members thereof, but tendeth to the winning of the hearts of his Majeſties Subjects to dutifull obedience and intire love and tender affection towards their gracious Soveraign. And I dare confidently ſay, that there is none of his Majeſties Subjects that are true Proteſtants, and well affected to Religion; but upon the leaſt command of his Majeſties, will ſpend their deareſt bloud in defence of his Sacred Perſon, his Queene and Princely Iſſue, of the Lawes and Conſtitutions of this Kingdome, of Parliaments and the Rights and Priviledges thereof; of Religion and the Doctrine of the Church of England. And therefore I conceive I am far from intending any Treaſon againſt his Majeſty or Kingdome. And thus craving pardon for my preſumption, and humbly thanking this Honourable Houſe for their patience, beſeeching them to have a good opinion of me and my Actions, that I may receive ſuch Tryall as to their wiſedomes ſhall ſeeme meet, with my hearty Prayers for the happy continuance of this Parliament; to effect and finiſh ſuch great matters both in Church and State, as may advance Gods glory, ſettle all things in a right frame for the good Governement of this Kingdome, and the everlaſting peace and tranquillity of his Majeſty and all his Kingdomes.