ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT BY THE COMMONS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT, In the Name of themselves and all the Commons in England.  
AGAINST Sir Thomas Gardiner, Recorder of the city of London, for several great Crimes, and Misdemeanours committed by him.  
As also the Votes concerning general Major Skipton.  
With an Order for the disposing of the Magazine of the Counties of England and Wales.  
Printed, May 23, 1642.   

Die Martis, 17 Maii. 1642.  
Several Votes of Parliament, concerning Sergeant Major general Skippon.  
Resolved upon the Question. 
 THat this command of his Majesty to call Captain Philip Skippon, Sergeant Major general of the Forces of London to attend his majesty's person at York, is against the L●w of the Land and the liberty of the Subject.  
Resolved upon the Question. 
 That this command of his Majesty, to call captain Philip Skippon Sergeant Major general of the Forces of London, to attend his majesty's person, being employed by both Houses to attend their service, without their consent, is against the privil●dge of Parliament.  
Resolved upon the Question. 
 That captain Philip Skippon, Sergeant Major general of the Forces of London, shall continue to attend the Service of both Houses, according to their former commands.  
Hen. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

Die Martis. 20 Maii. 1642.  
IT is this day Ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Magazines of the several Counties in England, and Wales, shall be forthwith put into the power of the Lord lieutenants of the said Counties, respectively, (being such as the Parliament doth confide in) for the Service and safety of his Majesty and the kingdom.  
Ordered by the Lords in Parliament, That this Order shall be Printed and published.  
Ioh. Browne, Cler. Parl.   

ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST Sir THOMAS GARDINER Recorder of the City of London.  

Imprimis.  
THat the said Sir Thomas Gardiner being now and for 6 years' last past, having been Recorder of the City of London, and having taken an oath for his faithful discharge of his said Office, and to maintain the Franchises and Customs of the said City, and not discover the council thereof to the hurt of the same▪ did in the year of our Lord God, 1638. contrary to the Laws, of this kingdom, and contrary to his Oath wickedly advise, direct, and earnestly press Sir Maurice Abbot, Knight, than Lord Major of London, the Aldermen and Common counsel of the said City, and others at several times since, to impose, levy, and take of the said Citizens and Inhabitants, without their consent in Parliament the illegal Tax of ship-money, and being told by some of the said common-council, That the said tax of ship-money was against Law, he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner replied, there would be Law found for it ere Long.   

II.  
That the said Sir Thomas Gardiner in the said year 1638. did wickedly advise and persuade the said then Lord Major, Aldermen, and common-council of London, that they might at their own will and pleasure by force and power of the Acts of that Court, tax, and levy on the said Citizens and Inhabitants, without their consent in Parliament, a certain sum of money by way of Loane, to furnish his Majesty for his wars, affirming that such Acts would bind and compel the Citizens to pay the same; And also in the said year 1638. contrary to his oath, and against the said laws of the Land did wickedly advise and direct the then Lord Maior, Aldermen and Common council, to raise and levy an army of 3000. men of the Trained Bands of the said city, to serve his Majesty in his warr●s in the North against his majesty's Subjects of Scotland, and therein he affirmed, That every Subject was bound by his allegiance to serve the King, and that neither the Statute-Law, nor their Charters could excuse them, saying also the same time, It 〈◊〉 now no time to plead Statutes and Charters.   

III.  
That about the month of February 1639. he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner, contrary to his Oath, and to the laws▪ of the Land, did earnestly persuade and press Sir Henry Garraway, Knight, than Lord Maior, the Aldermen and Common counsel of London, to impress ●loth, and conduct 200 men of the said Citizens and Inhabitants, to serve the King in his wars in the▪ North against his majesty's Subjects of Scotland, and also the same was to be done by the said Court of Common council as a thing against Law, yet by the persuasion of the said Sir Thomas Gardiner the same was then performed by the than Lord Major, and the money paid for the same out of the Chamber of London, without any consent or approbation of the said Court of Common council, contrary to the Liberties and customs of the said City, and in subversion of them.   

IV.  
That a Petition directed to his Majesty, being prepared in the said year 1638. by the said then Lord Major, Aldermen, and Common council, setting forth the laws and Statutes of this kingdom, and the Charters of the said City, to exempt the said Citizens and Inhabitants of London from certain illegal taxes and services, whereby his majesty might be pleased not to continue such his Demand of men and money from them, and the said Sir Thomas Gardiner, contrary to his Oath and duty of his place, did reveal and disclose to his Majesty their counsel and their intention of delivery of that Petition, and then told the persons appointed to deliver the same Petition, that his Majesty would receive no Petition from them.   

V.  
That the said Sir Thomas Gardiner, to the end to preserve himself from being questioned for the same crimes, laboured to hinder the calling of Parliaments: And therefore in the month of May, in the year 1640. presently after the dissolving of Parliament, he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner, advised and persuaded the then Lord Major, Aldermen and Common council of London to lend the King 100000. l for his wars against His majesty's subjects of Scotland, and albeit they told him it was not safe for them to do it, when the Parliament and kingdom had refused it; yet he earnestly persuaded them thereunto, and in of about July in the said year 1640. when many thousand of the said Citizens of London joined in a Petition to be delivered unto his Majesty to call a Parliament for settling the distractions of this kingdom, and for the peace and welfare thereof, and of His majesty's kingdom of Scotland, he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner did earnestly dissuade them from it; saying, it was dangerous and needless, and the Petition would come unseasonable to interrupt the King's affairs.   

VI.  
That in December last, when a petition was prepared and subscribed by many thousands of the said Citizens to be presented to the House of Commons to assure them of their good affection to the King and Parliament, and not to divert the Parliament in their just ways: he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner caused some of the Petitioners to be sent for before the Lord Major and himself, and questioned them as Rioters and disturbers of the peace, saying that the putting of their hands to a Petition, was the way to put all together by the ears, and being then answered by some of the said Petitioners, that they sought nothing but peace, he replied in these or the like words: Is this your way to peace? no, it tends to sedition and blood, and to cutting of throats, and if it come to that you may thank yourselves; your bloods be upon your own heads; & he used other threatning speeches to discourage and terrify the Petitioners from further proceeding in their said petition, which Petition was afterwards presented to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and well approved by them, and doth not contain any dangerous matter, as was maliciously by him pretended; as may appear by the Copy of a Petition hereunto annexed.   

VII.  
That in January last, at a Court of common-council in London, an Order of the House of Commons was sent and delivered to the Lord Major, Aldermen, and common-council of the said City, appointing them to make choice of meet persons to have the ordering of the Militia: Whereat the said Sir Thomas Gardiner was present and took notice of the said Order, and declared his opinion, That the persons of the Committee formerly chosen for the safety of the said City, were the fittest men to take that service upon them. Whereupon the Lord Major and sheriff desiring to be excused, the persons of the said Committee were chosen by a clear Vote, and their names sent to the House of Commons, and by them and the House of peers allowed and approved of. Yet afterwards, he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner endeavouring and plotting to hinder the proceedings in Parliament, the peace and safety of this kingdom, did most maliciously and wickedly advise and direct, the making and framing of two false and seditious petitions. And he the said Sir Thomas Gardiner upon perusal of them, affirmed, the matters contained in them, to be agreeable to Law, and to the custom of the said City; thereby encouraging divers of the said City to subscribe the same, and to send the one of them to be presented to His Majesty, and the other unto the Lords and Commons in Parliament, which petitions do contain in them, divers false, scandalous, and seditious matters. And in particular, that petition annexed hereunto, a Copy whereof was afterwards subscribed by divers Citizens, and presented to the House of Commons containeth false matter, That the Ordering of the Arms of the said City of London, had been time out of mind annexed to the Majoralty for the time being, and insinu●ting that if the same should be conferred upon others, it would reflect upon the Government and custom of the said City, which every Freeman of the said City, was by his Oath of freedom bound to maintain to the uttermost of his power▪ Which Petitions were so contrived, framed, and published on purpose to divert his Majesty from assenting to the said Ordinance, and to work a distraction in the said City, and to bring the Parliament, City, and whole kingdom into disorder and confusion. All which matters committed and done by the said Sir Thomas Gardiner, were, and are high crimes and misdemeanours contrary to the Laws of this realm, and in subversion of them, and contrary to the Rights and privileges of Parliament, the liberty and propriety of the subject, tending to sedition, and to the disturbance of the public peace of this realm.  
And the said Commons by Protestation to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other Accusation or Impeachment against the said Sir Thomas Gardiner, and also of replying to the answers that the said Sir Thomas Gardiner shall make unto the said Articles, or to any of them, and of offering further proof of the premises, or any of them, or of any other Impeachment, or Accusation that shall be exhibited by them, as the cause shall according to the course of Parliament require, do pray, that the said Sir Thomas Gardiner may be put to answer all and every the premises, And that such proceedings, Exactions, trials, and Judgements may be upon every of them, had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.   
FINIS.