Survey of the Annals of King Charles, Part 7
Anno 1642.
55. After this, one Binion, a Silkman of London; and the Kentiſh Malignants, wherein Sir Edward Deering, had a principall hand, framed dangerous and deſtructive petitions againſt the proceedings of the Parliament; but were both moſt juſtly rejected, and themſelves fined and impriſoned for them.
56. Immediately after this, things grew ſtill, worſe and worſe among the malignants, the King himſelf in unjuſt diſcontent (by the deſperate and wicked counſell of that pernicious Cataline, the young Lord Digby) forſakes the Parliament, and getting the Prince to him, leaves London and preſently poſts into the North, and there attempts to get Hull into his hands, but was happily prevented and bravely oppoſed by Sir John Hotham, then, in that time of his outward and ſeeming fidelity.
57. The King being at York, interdicts the Militia, then, ſet on foot, by the Parliament, for their juſt ſafety and defence; endevouring to remove the Term from the City of London, but in both is oppoſed by the Parliament.
58. The Lords and Gentry of Ireland, and of Scotland too, petition the King, to return to his Parliament, yea and the Gentry and Commons of Yorkeſhire do the like, but are all rejected.
59. The King ſet on foot a moſt illegall Commiſſion of Array, to claſh againſt the Parliaments Militia, which occaſioned much miſchief and miſery over the whole Kingdom, but the Parl. Militia prevailed in moſt places and parts of the land.
60. Three letters were intercepted, diſcovering a moſt deſperat… …lot againſt the Parliament by the Royaliſts, Commiſſary Wìlmot, Digbie, Jermine, Crofts, and others, which by Gods mercy failed them and came to nothing, but we in taking ſome of their ſhips were advantaged thereby.
61. Sir Richard Gurney, then Lord Mayor of the City of London, proving a deſperate malignant and Array man, and more apt than able to act for the King, was croſt in his deſires, and clapt up priſoner in the Tower of London, by the power of the Parliament.
62. Proclamations and Declarations againſt the Parliaments proceedings were Printed and publiſhed and commanded to be read in all the Churches and Chappels over the whole kingdom, within the Kings power.
63. Sir John Penington, a brave Sea-man, but a deſperate malignant, was conſtituted Admirall of the Seas, for the Kings ſervice, but diſplaced and diſpoſſeſſed thereof by the Parliament; and the moſt noble and loyall Earl of Warwick (notwithſtanding the Kings Letter and command to interdict him therein, and to give way to Penington) being put in by the power and authority of the Parliament, and poſſeſſed of the Ships, moſt happily and honourably kept and continued in the place and office for the Parliaments ſervice.
64. Hull having been long beſieged by that moſt miſcheivous and atheiſticall Marqueſſe of Newcaſtle, for the King; and in that interim, one Beck with a known Papiſt, plotting to have betrayed it, by firing it in foure ſeverall places and then aſſaulting it; yet Hull, by Gods mighty providence was preſerved, and the King after much loſſe of men and money, enforced to leave and forſake it.
65. The moſt noble and right honourable Earle of Eſſex was ordained Lord Generall over all the Parliaments Forces, for the preſervation of the kingdom, which he famouſly and faithfully managed and marſhalled, as eſpecially Edge-hill and Newbery, and other places can abundantly witneſſe.
66. A plot to have blown up all the Lord Generalls Magazine of powder; and another at Beverley in Yorkeſhire, to have ſlain Sir John Hotham, both intended by one David Alexander, and hired thereunto by the Kings party, but both, by Gods providence timely prevented.
67. Commiſſions granted to popiſh Recuſants to levy men and armes againſt the Parliament; but the Parlia: publiſhed a Declaration or Proteſtation to the whole world againſt the Kings dealings, and moſt unjuſt proceedings therein.
68. The King received the moſt bloody Iriſh rebels petition, and permitted their perſons with great favour and allowance about him; calling, and counting them his good Catholick Subjects; but utterly rejecting the Parliaments petition, (exhibited by the Lord Generall) deſiring peace and reconciliation with him.
69. A Treaty of peace was really intended by the Parliament, but meerly pretended and fraudulently for a while, tranſacted by the Royaliſts; in which interim, that moſt bloody bickering at Brainford, was moſt treacherouſly committed by the Kings party, and a moſt wicked piece of villany carryed on therein, but (though with much loſſe on both ſides, but eſpecially on theirs) by Gods great mercy the miſchiefe prevented, and the City of London mightily preſerved.
70. A dangerous plot againſt the kingdom, in new High-Sheriffes to be liſted by the King, for his better collecting of the 400000 li. Subſidies, intended to have been confirmed to the King in a former Parliament; but, that plot croſt by the Parliaments providence, and an Ordinance of Parliament ſet on foot for the ſucceſſefull Aſſociation of Counties for mutuall defence one of another, againſt regall injurious taxations and oppreſſions on them.
71. A wicked deſign of the Royaliſts at Oxford and elſewhere, to proceed againſt the Parliaments priſoners, as traytors, and ſo to put them to death; by which Doctor Baſtwick, and Captain Lilburn, were to have been tryed for their lives; but prevented by an Ordinance of Parliament for execution of a Lex Talionis, and ſo of executing the Royall priſoners among us.