A Sight of the Transactions of these Latter Years, Section 4
Anno 1641. Octob. 23.
49. About this time, that moſt horrid and inhumane bloody rebellion and monſtrous maſſacring of almoſt 200000 innocent Engliſh Proteſtants, men, women, and children, b…ake out in Ireland, namely, about October 23. 1641. (This alſo being a main branch of this moſt miſchievous deſign againſt this Parliament, by Gods wonderfull power) and providence, ſo firmly fixed and ſetled, that they knew not how to ruinate it) thoſe accurſed Rebels having had their principall encouragements and Commiſſions to authorize them in that horrid and hideous rebellion from the Court of England, and of purpoſe to have made England the chiefe ſeat of the warre, and of all the papiſts, prelates, and malignants utmoſt wrath and rage.
50. For the ſtill effecting, and underhand working on, of this wicked deſigne, the malignant party in private, much prevailing ſtill; the deſigne now went on, chiefly againſt the City of London, for which purpoſe, the Leivtenant of the Tower, Sir William Belf…re, was (for his loyalty) diſplaced by the King from his Leivtenantſhip, and popiſh Lord Cott…g…on, made Conſtable of the Tower; but his dangerous deſignes being ſoon diſcovered, he was as ſoon diſplaced; and Colon…ll Lunsford, was made Leivtenant of the Tower; But, he alſo by the Parliaments petition and importunity to the King, was diſplaced; and Sir John Byron, a deſperate malignant (who afterward proved the moſt bloody Lord …yr…n in … ) was made Leivtenant of the Tower, in Lunsfords ſtead, but he alſo, on many juſt jealouſies being petitioned againſt, was at length, with much adoe removed and put out thence, and Sir John Conyers, by the power of the Parliament, was put in his place.
To the Kings moſt excellent Majeſty, and the Lords and Peers now aſſembled in Parliament.
The humble Petition and Proteſtation of all the Biſhops and Prelates now … by His Majeſties Writs to attend the Parliame…t, and preſent abou… London and Weſtminſter for that Service.
THat whereas the Petitioners are called up by ſeverall and reſpective Writs, and under great penalties to attend the Parliament, and have a clear and indubitable right to vo…e in Bils, and other matters whatſoever debatable in parliament, by the ancient cuſtomes, Laws, and Statutes of this Realm, and ought to be protected by your Maieſty, quietly to attend and proſecute that great Service. They humbly remonſtrate and prot…ſt before God, your …, and the Noble Lords and Peers now aſſembled in Parliament, that as they have an indubita…e right to ſit and Vote in the Houſe of Lords; ſo are they, if they may be protected from force and violence, moſt ready and willing to performe their duties accordingly. And that they doe abhominate all actions or opinions tending to Popery, and the maintainance thereof; as alſo all propenſion and inclination to any malignant party, or any other ſide or party whatſoever, to the which their own reaſons and conſcience ſhall not move them to adhere. But, whereas they have been at
The High Commiſsion-Court and Starr-Chamber voted down, and pluralities & non reſidencies damned by Parliament.
The Queen-Mother ſent away by Sea, and the Capuchine Fryers & Priests expell'd from Somerſett Houſe▪ beyond Sea.
ſeverall times violently menaced, affronted and aſſaulted by multitudes of people, in their comming to perform their ſervices in that honourable Houſe, and lately chaſed away, and put in danger of their lives, and can finde no redreſſe or protection, upon ſundry complaints made to both Houſes in theſe particulars. They likewiſe humbly proteſt before your Majeſty, and the Noble Houſe of Peers, that ſaving unto themſelves all their rights and intereſts of ſitting and voting in that Houſe at other times, they dare not ſit or vote in the Houſe of Peers, untill your Majeſty ſhall further ſecure them from all affronts, indignities and dangers in the premiſes. Laſtly, whereas their fears are not built upon phantaſies and conceits, but upon ſuch grounds and objects as may well terrifie men of good reſolutions, and much conſtancy. They doe in all duty and humility proteſt before your Majeſty, and the Peers of that moſt honorable Houſe of parliament, againſt all Laws, Orders, Votes, reſolutions, and determinations, as in themſelves null, and of none effect, which in their abſence, ſince the 27 of this inſtant monethmonth of December 1641. have already paſſed; as likewiſe againſt all ſuch as ſhall hereafter paſſe in that moſt honourable Houſe, during the time of this their forced and violent abſence from the ſaid moſt honourable Houſe; not denying, but if their abſenting of themſelves were wilfull and voluntary, that moſt honourable Houſe might proceed in all their premiſes, their abſence, or this proteſtation notwithſtanding. And humbly beſeeching your moſt excellent Majeſty to command the Clerk of that Houſe of Peers to enter this their petition and proteſtation among their Records.
They will ever pray to God to bleſſe, &c. Jo. Eborac. Tho. Dureſme, Rob. Co. Li…h. Joſ. Norw. Jo. Aſa. Guli. Ba. & Wells Geo. Heref. Rob. Owon. Ma. Ely. Godfr. G lonc. Jo. Peterburg. Morris Landaff.
51. None of all theſe plots, yet, prevailing againſt the Parliament, neither in generalls nor particulars, they yet, perſiſt to plot and attempt againſt it; and about this time found occaſions, craftily and cauſeleſly (in ſecret) to foment many jealouſies and jarres, to diſ-joynt both Houſes of Parliament, within themſelves; thereby at leaſt, to obſtruct and retard their (then) moſt weighty, and great affaires in Church and State.
52. The Biſhops alſo themſelves had a peſtilent plot about this time, to ſubvert and overthrow the Parliament, by endevouring to get the King to proteſt againſt their proceedings in it; But twelve of them were thereupon preſently impeached of high treaſon, and …en of them impriſoned in the Towre of London, and, afterward, they were all diſabled from ever …itting again in the Parliament.
Biſhops Voted down root and branch: Nullo contradiſcente, inſomuch that the Citizens of London the ſame night, made bonfires, and had ringing of bels. And for the better ſecuring the City within, as well as without, the Parliament publiſhed an Ordinance, thereby injoyning all Popiſh Recuſants, inhabiting in and about the City, all diſ affected perſons, and ſuch as being able men, would not lend any money for the defence of the Commonwealth, ſhould forthwith con…ine themſelves to their own houſes, and not to goe … without ſpeciall licence, as they would anſwer it at their …, to the Parliament.
Another Ordinance was ſent to the Lord mayor, by which the Trained Bands were authoriſed to apprehend many of the prime and richeſt malignants, diſ…affected perſons in the City, whereof were foure Aldermen put in ſafe cuſtody, in Crosby houſe, and ſome in Greſſan Colledge.
The Biſhops impriſoned in the Towre of London for proteſting againſt the Parliament,
Popiſh Recuſants diſarmed, for the greate ſecurity of the kingdome,
53. About which time, a moſt wicked fellow ſent to Mr. John Py… (a moſt pious Patriot of his Country, and then a moſt eminent member of the Houſe of Commons) a moſt reviling Letter, therein calling him traytor, and in the ſaid Letter incloſed a plague-ſore plaiſter, thinking thereby to have deſtroyed him, But, God mightily preſerved him from the infection of it.
54. After this, the King himſelf (being guarded with about 500 armed, ruffi…nly deſperate Cavaliers or Souldiers) violently ruſhed into the Houſe of Commons, accuſed five of their moſt eminent and pious members of treaſon, demanded their perſons to be delivered up unto him, intending to deſtroy all that reſiſted him therein; but this plot was bleſſedly croſt, by the happy abſence of the Gentlemen; this plot was attempted, Jan. 4. 1641.