Hidden Works of Darkness Brought to Public Light, Letter 150
A little after Father Philips the Queenes Confessor writ a very SeditiousDiurnall Occurrences. p. 160, &c. Letter to Mr. Mountague into France, intercepted, and produced to bee read in the House of Commons, by Master Pym, the 25. of Iune 1641. to this effect, to stirre up the French against the PARLIAMENT.
This good King and Queen are left very naked;NOTE. the Puritans if they durst, would pull the good Queen in pieces: Can the good King of France suffer a Daughter of France his Sister, and her Children to be thus affronted? Can the wise Cardinall endure England and Scotland to unite, and not be able to discerne; in the end it is like they will joyne together and turn head against France? A stirring Active Ambassabour might do good service here; I have sent you a Copy of the Kings Speech on Satturday last, at which time he discharged his conscience, and was advised to make that speech by the Earle of Bristoll, and the Lord Sey, but I believe there is a mistake in the writing, and that it should have bin the Lord Savill. This Speech did much operate to the disadvantage of the Earle of Strasford. for the Commons were much thereby incensed and inflamed against him; and this brought forth the next day being Monday, a Protestation which was taken in both Houses of Parliament; of the same nature, but rather worse than the Scottish Covenant.
The Londoners who are very boysterous, came upon Munday 5 or 6000. and were so rude, that they would not suffer the Lords to come and go quietly and peaceably to their houses; but threatned them, that if they had not justice, and if they had not his life, it should go hard for all those that stood for him, following them up and down, and calling for Iustice, justice, justice.
There was in the House of Commons, fifty sixe that denied to passe the Earle of Straffords Bill, their names were taken, and they were fixed upon posts in divers parts of London, and there was written over the head, these are Straffordians, the betrayers of their Country.
By this meanes it came to passe that the Lords and Iudges were much affrighted, and the most of his friends in the Lords House forsooke him all; the Popish Lords did absent themselves, the Lord of Holland and Hartford were absent, so was Bristol and others; Savill and the Duke onelyonly stucke close and faithfully to him and some sew other Lords. God knowes the King is much dejected, the Lords much aff…ighted, which makes the Citizens and House of Commons shew their heads: some have braved little lesse than to unthrone His Majesty, who if hee had but an ordinary spirit, might easily quash and suppresse these people. Our good Queen is much afflicted,NOTE. and in my conscience, the Puritans if they durst would teare her in pieces; this cannot be for the honour of France, to endure a Daughter of that Nation, and her Children, should be thus oppressed and affronted.
The Earle of Holland is made Generall of the Army, whither he is gone down; the E. of Newport Master of the Ordnance, Belfore Lieverenant of the Tower hath proved an arrant Traytor to the King,NOTE. who commanded him upon his Allegiance to receive a Captain and 1000 men into the Tower, which he most traiterously refused to doe. One clause is omitted which should have bin placed in the middle of the Letter, which was to this effect: That there was a Report in London, that the Parliament House was on fire, whereupon there was more than 1000 people very suddenly gathered together, whereby you may easily perceive the heigth and … of the peoples affections. May 6. Anno Dom. 1641.
There was another Letter sent from one Robert Phillips, one of the Queenes Priests (supposed to Master Mountague…) to this effect; You may expect some company with you ere long, Crofts, Suckling, Piercy, Iermaine are gone; all things here are in great incertainties, Protestation is made, and taken by both Houses, much like, but much worse than the Scottish Covenant. I sent you some money by Mr. Iermaine; but now that he is gone, I make some doubt whether he might be mindfull of you to take it with him. I hauehave spoke to the Queen about your occasions, and will do what I can, though I am not able to undertake much.
Your loving friend, FRAN: PHILIPS.
HEereupon Father Philips was sent for by a Messenger to appear before a CommitteeIbidem p. …. that afternoone to be examined about it.
The Messenger comming to White-hall, and finding him, acquainted him therewith, who sayd he would go in and eate something, and come presently and goe with him.
But by a backe door he went and acquainted the Queen with his sending for; and after some stay, came and told the Officer that he had bin with the Queen, who had commanded him that he should not go till she had spoke with the King, and that he would obey her command before the Parliament. Which being related to the House of Commons, they were much distasted at it, and sent another Warrant to apprehend, and bring him forthwith the next day as a delinquent.
There was also a Warrant sent by the Serjeant at Arms for the Popes Nuncio,NOTE▪ and to bring him likewise before the House, but he was not to be found. The next day, the King sent a Message to the Commons, promising that the Popes Nuncio should be presently sent away out of this Kingdome. Presently hereupon, the Officer was again sent with a Warrant to apprehend Father Philips, and waiting for him at White-hall, complaint had bin made (as it seemed) to the King about it, and the Lord Chamberlain at the Kings Command, sent for the Officer to examine him, by what Authority he came within the Verge of the Court, to Attach any one; who shewing his Warrant, desired he would trust him with it to shew the King, which the Officer did; And the Lord Chamberlain soon after returning, gave this answer; That His Majesty would satisfie the House about it, if Philips did not appeare. But in the afternoon, the sayd Philips appeared before the Committee, and was examined, and commanded to attend the House of Commons the next day. After which Father Philips was committed prisoner to the Tower, and these Articles of Impeachment drawn up against him; most of them comprised in Brownes Relation.