A Sight of the Transactions of these Latter Years, Section 6 – Section 8
On Tueſday the 23 of May, 1643.
The Houſe of Commons diving into the depth and ſearching to the roote of the kingdomes great and grievous diſtractions, and deep diſtempers, and finding that all Papiſts in the kingdome, have (for the moſt part) been main and moſt eminent;
23. May. 1643. Voted that ye Queene Pawning the Iewells of ye Crowne in Holland & there with buying Armes to aſſiſt the Warr againſt ye Par…a… & her owne actuall performances with her popiſh army in the North was high Treaſon & tranſmited to the Lords▪ images. Crucifixes papiſt…call bookes in Somerſet and …am…s …are burnt and Capuchin friers ſent away
May: 1643. an ordinance for the makeing of Fortes, Trenches, and Bull workes, about the Cittie, Iuly. 1: 43. the Aſſembly of Diuines m…tt, Dr. …iſs Prolocutor. 120: the totall May. …3. Challenor and Tomkins were hangd for ſeekeing to betray the Cittie.
ye…, and moſt virulent actors, and abetters, of this preſent moſt unnaturall war againſt the Parliament, and that therefore they ſhould be proceeded againſt as traytors to the State and kingdome, and thereupon alſo having juſt cauſe to ſearch and ſee into the prime and principall head or leader of that perfideous faction, fell neceſſarily into a long and ſerious debate, touching the proceedings of the Queen, in her late being in Holland, and ſince her comming back into the North of England, not onelyonly in her countenancing and incouraging, her aiding and aſſiſting the preſent Civill war, but in her actuall performance in the ſame to foment and advance it to the utmoſt ruine (as much as in her was) of our Religion and whole Realme, for all which, and many other ſuch like miſdemenours, it was debated, and at laſt fully agreed, that ſhe was as liable to the cenſure of the Law, as any Subject in the kingdome, whereupon it was put to the queſtion, whether the Queenes pawning the Jewels of the Crown in Holland, and therewith buying Armes and Ammunition, to be ſent into England, to aſſiſt the ſaid war againſt the Parliament, and her own actuall performances, with her popiſh Army in the North, were not high Treaſon, and it was reſolved moſt unanimouſly by the whole houſe for the affirmative, afterward it being alſo put to the queſtion, whether they ſhould forthwith declare their intentions to proceed againſt her by impeachment of high Treaſon, this alſo was immediately reſolved for the affirmative, and Voted that Articles of impeachment ſhould be ſpeedily drawn up againſt her, which Votes the Houſe of Commons tranſmitted to the Lords for their aſſent.
The Biſhop of Canterburies firſt prayer on the Scaffold, 10 Janua. 1644.
O Eternall God and mercifull Father, look down upon me in mercy, in the riches and fulneſſe of all thy mercies, look upon me, but not till thou haſt nailed my ſins to the croſſe of Chriſt, look upon me; but not till thou haſt hathed me in the blood of Chriſt, not till I have hid my ſelf in the wounds of Chriſt, that ſo the puniſhment that is due to my ſins may paſſe away and go over me and ſince thou art pleaſed to try me to the uttermoſt, I humbly beſeech thee, give me now in this great inſtant, full patience, proportionable comfort, a heart ready to dye for thine honour, and the Kings happineſſe, and this Churches preſervation, and my zeale to theſe, far from arrogancy be it ſpoken, is all the ſin, humane frailty excepted, and all incidents thereunto, which is yet known of me in this particular, for which I now come to ſuffer, I ſay in this particular of Treaſon, but otherwiſe my ſins are many and great, Lord pardon them all, and thoſe eſpecially whatſoever they b… which … this preſent judgement upon me, and when thou haſt given me ſtrength … it, then doe with me as ſeems beſt in thine own eyes …nd ca…y me through death, that I may look upon it in what viſage ſoever it ſhall appear … and that there may be a ſtep of this iſſue of blood in this more then miſerable … ▪ I ſhall deſire that I may pray for the people too, as well as for my ſelfe▪ … thee give grace of repentance to all people that h…ve a thirſt for b…, but if they will not … it device… ſo, and ſuch as are or ſhall be contrary to the glory of thy great …, the truth and ſincerity of Religion, the eſtabliſhment of the King, and his poſterity after him, in their juſt rights and priviledges, the honour and conſervation of Parliaments, in their ancient and juſt power, the preſervation of this poore Church, in her truth, peace, and patrimony, and the ſettlement of this diſtracted, and diſtreſſed people, under the ancient laws, and in their native liberties, and when thou haſt done all this in mercy for them, O Lord, fill their hearts with thankfulneſſe, and with religious dutifull obedience to thee and thy Commandements all their dayes: So Amen, Lord Jeſus, and I beſeech thee receive my ſoule to mercy. Our Father, &c.
Sr Alexander Caro…. Sr. Iohn Hotham, Capt…n Hotham & the Arch Biſhop of Canterbury, beheaded on To…erhill for Treaſon againſt ye Parliament 1645.
The Great Seale broken before the Lords and Commons on Tuſday the 11. Auguſt 1646
The Biſhop of Canterburies laſt Prayer on the Scaffold.
Lord, I am comming as faſt as I can, I know I muſt paſſe through the ſhadow of death, before I can come to ſee thee, but it is but um…ra mortis, a meer ſhadow of death, a little darkneſſe upon nature, but thou by thy merits and paſſion haſt broke through the jaws of death; ſo, Lord, receive my ſoule and have mercy upon me, and bleſſe this kingdome with peace and plenty, and with brotherly love and charity, that there may not be this effuſion of Chriſtian blood amongſt them, for Jeſus Chriſt his ſale, if it be thy will. And when he ſaid, Lord receive my ſoule, which was his ſign, the Executioner did his office.
84. A deſperate plot of the Royaliſts to ſtarve up the City of London, by breaking into Surrey, Suſſex, Kent, and the other aſſociated Counties, but diſappointed by the Parliaments Victories at Ault…n and Alſ…rd, fought by Sir Will: Waller, with the help of the City of Londons regiments; and the Royaliſts plots to hinder our brethren of Scot… comming in to our help, by letters and Embaſſadors ſent from France, and meſſengers from King Charles to inveagle them to keep from us; but all in vain by Gods good providence and mercy to us.
85. The King gran…d a ceſſation of arms with the bloody rebels of Ireland, and afterward juſtified it by a Declaration of his, printed and publiſhed at Oxford; but it was remarkably obſerved, that he never proſpered in any of his great deſigns after that.
86. A Solemn League and Covenant taken by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and by the City of London, and all parts of the kingdom, in the Parliaments power, for a pure reformation of Religion and Church-Government, and a mutuall defence betwixt us and our brethren of Scotland.
87. A notable plot by the Royaliſts to have Nottingham town & Caſtle, betrayed unto them, the Officers therein being proffered above 10000 li. to conſent to it; but prevented by Gods mercy in the fidelity of Colonell Hutchinſou, who was then the Governour thereof.
88. A Generall plot againſt the Proteſtant Religion over all Chriſtendom, and the Danes and Holl…nde… alſo, but God wrought a mighty overture therein by the ſudden breaking out of the Danes plot againſt the Swedes, and their over-running almoſt all D…nmark thereupon.
89. A deſperate plot againſt the City of London, under a pretence of petitioning for peace, acted by Sir … Brook, Colonell Read, and one Mr. Riley, & Vilet, 2 Citizens of London …, but by Gods providence diſcovered and prevented.
1645.
90. Two … the betraying of Milsbury into the Royaliſts hands; and another againſt … all then by Gods mercy timely diſcovered alſo and prevented.
91. One Mr. Edward S…nford, a Papiſt, plotted with Captain Backhouſe a Capt. of Horſe, under Colonell Maſſ…e▪ for the be… …aying of the City of Glouceſter into the Enemies hands, and pr…ffered 5000 li. for a reward thereof, 200 li. whereof was paid in hand to the ſaid Captain, but by Gods providence the plot fruſtrated, and Glouceſter ſafely preſerved.
92. Englands great wonder to Gods glory, there being (about May 30. 1644.) ſix brave armies in the kingdome, on the Parliaments ſide, and other forces for defence of the City of London, beſides.
93. A plot to have betrayed our whole Army in Cornwall in the VVeſt, but by Gods bleſſing moſt of the Souldiers lives were preſerved, though with the loſſe of our Artillery.
94. Sir Alexander Carew, Sir John Hotham, Captain Hotham, and the Arch-prelate of Canterbury beheaded on Tower-Hill for treaſon againſt the Parliament.
95. A peace onelyonly pretended by the royaliſts at Uxbridge, and a treacherous petition framed by the malignants of Buckingham ſhire, wherein one Sir John Lawrence of that County was a great ſtickler, but the miſchief of both was fruſtrated.
96. A deſperate aſſault on Melcomb-Regis, to have betrayed it into the royaliſts hands, wherein divers of the malignant Townſmen had a principall hand, and Colonell Goring, and Sir Lewis Dives, were agents therein, but by Gods bleſſing the plot was fruſtrated, the Town and Forts recovered, and two ſhips with rich prize from Rhoan in France, were ſeized on to make amends for their trouble.
1645.
97. Divers Earles and Lords forſook Oxford, and came in and ſubmitted themſelves to the Parliament.
98. A deſperate plot in the Weſt againſt the Parliament, by the Clubmen, but by Gods providence turned to the Enemies greateſt hurt in the iſſue.
99. A devilliſh ſudden plot upon Scotland, which was almoſt over run, by traiterous Montroſſe; but as ſuddenly recovered again, by Gods bleſſing on Generall David Leſley, and Montroſſe diſcomfitted and beaten away into the mountaines.