DEPOSITIONS AND ARTICLES AGAINST THOMAS EARL OF STRAFFORD Febr. 16. 1640.  
Printed in the year 1640.   

  

ARTICLES OF the Commons assembled in Parliament, against THOMAS, Earl of Strafford, in maintenance of their accusation, whereby he stands charged of high Treason.  

I.  
THat he the said Thomas, Earl of Strafford, hath traitorously endeavoured to subvert the fundamental Laws and government of the Realms of England and Ireland, and instead thereof to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical Government against Law, which he hath declared by traitorous words, counsels, and actions, and by giving his Majesty advice, by force of Arms to compel his loyal subjects to submit thereunto.   

II.  
That he hath traitorously assumed to himself Regal power over the lives, liberties, persons, lands, and goods of his Majesty's subjects in England and Ireland, and hath exercised the same tyrannically, to the subversion and undoing of many both of Peers and others of his Majesty's Liege people.   

III.  
That the better to enrich and enable himself to go through with his traitorous designs, he hath detained a great part of his Majesty's revenue, without giving legal account; and hath taken great sums out of the Exchequer, converting them to his own use, when his Majesty was necessirated for his own urgent occasions, and his Army had been a long time unpaid.   

iv  
That he hath traitorously abused the power & authority of his government, to the increasing, countenancing, and encouraging of Papists, that so he might settle a mutual dependence & confidence betwixt himself and that party, and by their help prosecute, and accomplish his malicious and tyrannical designs.   

V  
That he hath maliciously endeavoured to stir up enmity and hostility between his Majesty's subjects of England, and those of Scotland.   

VI  
That he hath traitorously broken the great trust reposed in him by his Majesty, of Lieutenant general of his Army, by wilfully betraying divers of his Majesty's subjects to death, his Army to a dishonourable defeat by the Scots at Newborn, and the Town of Newcastle into their hands, to the end, that by the effusion of blood, by dishonour, and so great a loss of Newcastle, his Majesty's Realm of England might be engaged in a Nationall and irreconciliable quarrel with the Scots.   

VII.  
That to preserve himself from being questioned for those and other his traitorous courses, he laboured to subvert the right of Parliaments, and the ancient course of Parliamentary proceed, and by false and malicious slanders to incense his Majesty against Parliaments. By which words, counsels, and actions, he hath traitorously, and contrary to his Allegiance, laboured to alienate the hearts of the King's liege people from his Majesty, to set a division between them, and to ruin and destroy his Majesty's Kingdoms, for which they impeach him of high Treason against our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and dignity.   

VIII.  
And he the said Earl of Strafford was Lord Deputy of Ireland, and Lieutenant general of the Army there, viz. His most excellent Majesty for his Kingdoms, both of England and Ireland, and the L. Precedent of the North, during the time, that all and every the crimes and offences before set forth were done and committed, and he the said Earl was Lieutenant general of all his Majesty's Army in the North parts of England, during the time that the crimes and offences in the fift and sixth Articles set forth were done and committed.   

IX.  
And the said Commons by protestations, saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter any other accusation or impeachment against the said Earl, and also of replying to the answers that he the said Earl shall make unto the said Articles, or to any of them, and of offering proves also of the premises, or any of them, or any other impeachment or accusation that shall be exhibited by them, as the cause shall according to the course of Parliaments require, do pray that the said Earl may be put to answer for all and every the premises, that such proceed, examinations, trials, and Judgements may be upon every of them had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.    

The further impeachment of Thomas Earl of Strafford, by the Commons assembled in Parliament.  
1640.  
WHereas the said Commons have already exhibited Articles against the said Earl formerly expressed, etc. Now the said Commons do further impeach the said Earl as followeth, etc.  

I.  
That he the said Earl of Strafford the 21 day of March, in the 8. year of his now Majesty's Reign, was precedent of the King's Counsel in the Northern parts of England.  
That the said said Earl being Precedent of the said Counsel on the 21. day of March, a Commission under the great Seal of England, with certain Schedules of instructions thereunto annexed, was directed to the said Earl, or others the Commissioners therein named, whereby amongst other things, power and authority is limited to the said Earl, and others the Commissioners therein named, to hear and determine all offences, and misdemeanours, suits, debates, controversies, and demands, causes, things, and matters, whatsoever therein contained, and within certain precincts in the said Northene parts therein specified, and in such manner as by the said Schedule is limited and appointed.  
That amongst other things in the said Instructions, it is directed that the said Precedent & others therein appointed, shall hear and determine according to the course of proceed in the Court of Starchamber, divers offences, deceits, and falsities therein mentioned, whether the same be provided for by the Acts of Parliament, or not, so that the Fines imposed be not less then by Act or Acts of Parliament provided for by those offences is appointed.  
That also amongst other things in the said instructions, it is directed that the said precedent, and others therein appointed, have power to examine, hear, and determine, accoring to the course of proceed in the Court of Chancery, all manner of complaints for any matter within the said precincts, as well concerning lands, tenements, and hereditaments, either freehold, Customary, or Copyhold, as Leases, and other things therein mentioned, and to stay proceed in the Court of Common Law by Injunction, or otherwise, by all ways and means, as is used in the Court of Chancery.  
And although the former Precedents of the said Counsel had never put in practice such Instructions, nor had they any such Instructions, yet the said Earl in the month of May, in the said 8 year, and divers years following, did put in practice, exercise, and use, and caused to be used and put in practice the said Commission and Instructions, and did direct and exercise an exorbitant and unlawful power and jurisdiction on the persons and estates of his Majesty's subjects in those parts, and did disinherit divers of his Majesty's subjects in those parts of their inheritances, sequestered their possessions, & did fine, ransom, punish and imprison them, and caused them to be fined, ransomed, punished, and imprisoned, to their ruin & destruction, and namely, Sir Coniers Darcy, Sir john Bourcher, and divers others, against the Laws, and in subversion of the same. And the said Commission and Instrnctions were procured and issued by the advice of the said Earl.  
And he the said Earl, to the intent that such illegal and unjust power might be exercised with the greater Licence and will, did advise, counsel, and procure further directions, in and by the said Instructions to be given, that no prohibition be granted at all, but in cases where the said Counsel shall exceed the limits of the said instructions: And that if any Writ of Habeas Corpus be granted, the party be not discharged till the party perform the Decree and Order of the said Counsel.  
And the said Earl in the 13. year of his now Majesty's Reign, did procure a new Commission to himself and others therein appointed, with the said Instructions, and other unlawful additions.  
That the said Commission and instructions were procured by the solicitation and advice of the said Earl of Strafford.   

II.  
That shortly after the obtaining of the said Commission dated the 21 of March, in the 8 year of his now Majesty's Reign (to wit) the last day of August than next following, he the said Earl (to bring his Majesty liege people into a dislike of his Majesty and of his Government, and to terrify the Justices of the Peace from executing of the Laws: he the said Earl, being then Precedent, as aforesaid, and a Justice of Peace) did publicly at the Assizes held for the County of York, in the City of York, in and upon the said last day of August, declare and publish before the people there attending for the administration of Justice according to the Law, and in the presence of the Justices sitting; That some of the Justices were all for Law, but they should find that the King's little singer should be heavier than the loins of the Law.   

III.  
That the Realm of Ireland having been time out of mind annexed to the Imperial Crown of this his Majesty's Realm of England, and governed by the same Laws: the said Earl being Lord Deputy of that Realm, to bring his Majesty's liege people of that Kingdom likewise into dislike of his Majesty's government, and intending the subversion of the fundamental Laws and settled government of that Realm, and the distraction of his Majesty's liege people there, did upon the 30 day of September, in the ninth year of his now Majesty's Reign, in the City of Dublin (the chief City of that Kingdom, where his Majesty's privy Counsel, and Courts of Justice do ordinarily reside, and whether the Nobility and Gentry of that Realm do usually resort for Justice,) in a public Speech before divers of the Nobility and Gentry, and before the Major, Aldermen, and Recorder, and many Cirizens of Dublin, and other his Majesty's Liege people, declare and publish, that Jreland was a conquered Nation, and that the King might do with them what he pleased; and speaking of the Charters of the former Kings of England made to that City, he further said, that their Charters were nothing worth, and did bind the King no further than he pleased.   

iv  
That Richard Earl of Cork, having sued out Process in course of Law for recovery of his possessions, from which he was put by colour of an order made by the said Earl of Strafford, and the Council Table of the said Realm of Ireland. The said Earl of Strafford, upon a paper Petition without legal proceeding, did the 20. day of February, in the 11. year of his now Majesty's Reign, threaten the said Earl of Cork (being then a Peer of the said Realm) to imprison him, unless he would surcease his snit, and said, That he would have neither Law nor Lawyer's dispute or question any of his orders. And the 20 day of March in the said 1● year of the said Earl of Strafford, speaking of an order of the said Counfell Table of that Realm, in the time of King James, which concerned a Lease which the said Earl of Cork claimed in certain rectories or tithes which the said Earl of Cork alleged to be of no force, said, That he would make the said Earl and all Ireland know, so long as he had the Government there, any Act of State, there made, or to be made, should be as binding to the subjects of that Kingdom, as an Act of Parliament: And did question the said Earl of Cork in the Castle Chamber, upon pretence of breach of the said order of Counsel Table, and did sundry their times, and set upon sundry other occasions by his words and speeches arrogate to himself a power above the fundamental laws, and established Government of that Kingdom, and scorned the said Laws and established Government.   

V  
That according to such his declarations and speeches, the said Earl of Strafford did use and exercise a power above, & against, and to the subvertion of the said fundamental Laws, and established government of the said Realm of Jreland, extending such his power to the goods, free-holds, inheritances, Liberties, and lives of his Majesty's Subjects of the said Realm, viz. The said Earl of Strafford the 12. day of December, Anno Dom. 1635. in the time of full peace, did in the said Realm of Jreland, give and procure to be given against the Lord Mount-Norris (then and yet a Peer of Jreland, and then Vice-Treasurer and receiver general of the Realm of Ireland, and one of the principal Secretaries of State, and Keeper of the Privy Signet of the said Kingdom, a sentence of death by a Council of War called together by the said Earl of Strafford, without any warrant or authority of Law, or offence deserving any such punishment. And he the said Earl die also at Dublin within the said Realm of Jreland, in the month of March, in the 14 year of his Majesty's Reign without any legal or due proceed or trial, give or cause to be given, a sentence of death against one other of his Majesty's Subjects, whose name is yet unknown, and caused him to be put to death in execution of the said sentence.   

VI  
That the said Earl of Strafford, without any legal proceed, and upon a paper Petition of Richard Ralstone, did cause the said Lord Mount-Norris to be disseized and put out of possession of his freehold and inheritance of his Manor and Tymore in the Country of Armagh, in the Kingdom of Ireland, the said Lord Mount-Norris having been two years before in quiet possession thereof.   

VII.  
That the said Earl of Strafford, in the Term of Holy Trinity, in the 13 year of his now Majesty's Reign; did cause a case commonly called the case of Tenors upon defective titles, to be made and drawn up without any jury or trial, or other legal process, & without the consent of parties, and did then procure the Judges of the said Realm of Jreland to deliver their opinions and resolutions to that case, and by colour of such opinion, did without any legal proceeding, cause Thomas Lord Dillon, a Peer of the said Realm of Jreland, to be put out of possession of divers Lands and Tenements, being his freehold in the Country of Mago and Rosecomen, in the said Kingdom, and divers other of his Majesty's subjects to be also put out of possession, and disseized of their free hold by colour of the same resolution, without legal proceed, whereby many hundreds of his Majesty's subjects were undone, and their families utterly ruinated.   

VIII.  
That the said Earl of Strafford upon a Petition of Sir john Gifford Knight, the first day of February, in the said 13 year of his Majesty's Reign, without any legal process, made a Decree or Order against Adam Viscount Lofts of Elie, a Peer of the said Realm of Jreland, and Lord Chancellor of Jreland, and did cause the said Uiscount to be imprisoned and kept close prisoner, on pretence of disobedience to the said decree or order.  
And the said Earl without any authority, and contrary to his Commission, required and commanded the said Lord Viscount to yield unto him the great Seal of the Realm of Ireland, which was then in his custody, by his Majesty's command, and imprisoned the said Chancellor for not obeying such his command.  
And without any legal proceed, did in the same thirteenth year imprison George Earl of Kildare, a Peer of Jreland, against Law, thereby to enforce him to submit his title to the Manor and Lordship of Castle Leigh in the Queen's County, (being of great yearly value) to the said Earl of strafford's will and pleasure, and kept him a year prisoner for the said cause, two months whereof he kept him close prisoner, and refused to enlarge him, notwithstanding his Majesty's Letters for his enlargement to the said Earl of Strafford directed.  
And upon a Petition exhibited in October, 1635. by Thomas Hibbots against dame Mary Hibbots' Widow, to him the said Earl of Strafford, the said Earl of Strafford recommended the said Petition to the Counsel Table of Ireland, where the most part of the Counsel gave their vote and opinion for the said Lady, but the said Earl finding fault herewith, caused an order to be entered against the said Lady, and threatened her, that if she refused to submit thereunto, he would imprison her, and fine her five hundred pound; that if she continued obstinate, he would continue her imprisonment, and double her fine every month by month, whereof she was enforced to relinquish her estate in the land questioned in the said Petition, which shortly was conveyed to Sir Robert Meredith, to the use of the said Earl of Strafford.  
And the said Earl in like manner did imprison divers others of his Majesty's Subjects upon pretence of disobedience to his orders and decrees, and other illegal command by him made for pretended debts, titles of Lands, and other causes in an arbitrary and extrajudicial course, upon Paper Petitions to him preferred, and no other cause legally depending.   

IX.  
That the said Earl of Strafford the sixtenth day of Febr. in the 12. year of his now Majesty's Reign, assuming to himself a power above and against Law, took upon him by a general Warrant under his hand, to give power to the Lord Bishop of Down, and Connor his Chancellor, or Chancellors, to their several Officers thereto to be appointed, to Attach and Arrest the Bodies of all such of the meaner and poorer sort, where after citation should either refuse to appear before them, or appearing should omit, or deny to perform, or undergo all lawful decrees, sentences, and orders, issued, imposed, or given out against them, and them, to commit and keep in the next Goal, until they should either perform such sentences, or put in sufficient Bail to show some reason before the Counsel Table, of such their contempt and neglect; and the said Earl, the day and year last mentioned, signed and issued a Warrant to that effect, and made the like Warrant to send to all other Bishops and their Chancellors in the said Realm of Ireland to the same effect.   

X.  
That the said Earl of Strafford being Lord Lieutenant, or Deputy of Jreland, procured the Customs of the Merchandise exported out, and imported into that Realm to be farmed to his own use.  
And in the ninth year of his now Majesty's Reign, he having then interest in the said Customs (to advance his own gain and lucre) did cause and procure the native commodities of Jreland, to be rated in the book of Rates for the Customs (according to which the Customs were usually gathered) at fare greater values and prices, then in truth they were worth (that is to say) every hide at 20. shillings, which in truth was worth but five shillings, every stone of Wool at thirteen shillings four pence, though the same ordinarily were worth but five shillings, at the utmost but nine shillings; by which means the custom which before was but a twentieth part of the true value of the commodity, was inhansed sometimes to a fift part, and sometimes to a fourth, and sometimes to a third part of the true value, to the great oppression of the subjects, and decay of Merchandise.   

XI.  
That the said Earl, in the ninth year of his now Majesty's Reign, did by his own will and pleasure, and for his own lucre restrain the exportation of the commodities of that Kingdom without his licence, as namely, Pipe-staves, and other commodities, and then raised great sums of money for licensing of exportation of those commodities, and dispensation of the said restraints imposed on them, by which means the pipe-staves were raised from four pound ten shillings; or 5 pound per thousand to ten pound, and sometimes eleven pound per thousand, and other commodities were enhanced in the like proportion, and by the same means by him the said Earl.   

XII.  
That the said Earl being Lord Deputy of Ireland, on the ninth day of january in the thirteenth year of his Majesty's Reign, did then under colour to regulate the Importation of Tobacco into the said Realm of Ireland, issue a Proclamation in his Majesty's name, prohibiting the importation of Tobacco without licence of him and the Counsel, there from and after the first day of May, Anno Dom. 1638. after which restraint, the said Earl, notwithstanding the said restraint, caused divers great quantities of Tobacco to be imported to his own use, and fraughted divers ships with Tobacco, which he imported to his own use: and that if any ship brought Tobacco into any Port there, the said Earl and his Agents used to buy the same to his own use, at their own price. And if that the owners refused to let him have the same at under values, than they were not permitted to vent the same; by which undue means, the Earl having gotten the whole Trade of Tobacco, into his own hands, he sold it at great and excessive prices, such as he list to impose for his own profit.  
And the more to assure the said Monopoly of Tobacco, he the said Earl on the 23. day of February, in the thirteenth year aforesaid, did issue another Proclamation; commanding that none should put to sale any Tobacco by wholesale, from and after the last day of May, than next following but what should be made up into Rolls, and the same sealed with two Seals by himself appointed, one at each end of the Roll. And such as was not Sealed to be seized, appointing six pence the pound for a reward to such persons as should seize the same: and the persons in whose custody the unsealed Tobacco should be found to be committed to Goal, which last proclamation was covered by a pretence for the restraining of the seal of unwholesome Tobacco, but it was truly to advance the said Monopoly.  
Which Proclamation the said Earl did rigorously put in execution, by seizing the goods, fining, imprisoning, whipping, and putting the offenders against the same Proclamation on the pillory, as namely, Barnaby Hubbard, Edward Covena, John Tumen, & divers others: and made the Officers of State, and Justices of Peace, and other Officers to serve him in compassing and executing these unjust and undue courses, by which cruelties and unjust Monopolies, the said Earl rised 100000. pound per annum gain to himself. And yet the said Earl though he enhanced the Customs, where it concerned the Merchants in general, yet drew down the impost formerly taken on Tobacco from fix pence the pound to 3. pence the pound, it being for his own profit so to do. And the said Earl, by the same, and other rigorous and undue means, raised several other Monopolies and unlawful exactions for his own gain, viz. on Starch, Iron pots, Glasses, Tobacco pipes, and several other commodities.   

XIII.  
That flax being one of the principal & native Commodities of that Kingdom of Ireland, the said Earl having gotten great quantities thereof into his hands, & growing on his own Lands, did issue out several Proclamations, viz. one dated the one and twentieth day of May, in the eleventh of his Majesty's reign, and the other dated the 31 day of january in the same year, thereby prescribing and enjoining the working of Flax into Yarn and Thread, and the ordering of the same in such ways wherein the Natives of that Kingdom were unpractised and unskilful: which Proclamations so issued, were, by his commands and warrants to his Majesty's Justices of Peace, and other Officers, and by other rigorous means put in execution, and the Flax wrought or ordered in other manner then as the said Proclamation prescribed, was seized and employed to the use of him and his agents, and thereby the said Earl endeavoured to gain, and did gain in effect the sole sale of that native commodity.   

XIV.  
That the said Earl of Strafford, by Proclamation dated the 16 day of October, in the 14 year of his Majesty's Reign, did mpose upon the Owners, Masters, Pursers, and Boatswaines of every ship, a new and unlawful oath, viz. that they (two or more of them) immediately after the arrival of any ship within any Port or Creek in the said Kingdom of Ireland, should give in a true in voice of the outward bulk of Wares and Merchandises, and number of goods, and the qualities and condition of the said goods, as fare as to them should be known, the names of the several Merchant's proprietours of the said goods, and the places from whence they were fraughted, and whither they were bound to discharge: which Proclamation was accordingly put in execution, and sundry persons enforced to take the said unlawful Oath.   

XV.  
That the said Earl of Strafford traitorously and wickedly devised and contrived by force of Arms in a warlike manner to subdue the Subjects of the said Realm of Jreland, to bring them under his tyrannical power and will, and in pursuance of his wicked and traitorous purposes aforesaid, the said Earl of Strafford in the eighth year of his Majesty's Reign, did by his own authority, without any warrant or colour of Law, tax and impose great sums of money upon the Towns of Baltemore, Baudenbridge, tallow, and divers other Towns and places in the said Realm of Jreland, and did cause the same to be levied upon the Inhabitants of those Towns by troops of Soldiers, with force and arms, in a warlike manner. And on the ninth day of March, in the twelfth year of his now Majesty's Reign, traitorously did give authority unto Robert Savile, a Sergeant at Arms, and to the Captains of the Companies of Soldiers, in several parts of that Realm, to send such numbers of Soldiers to lie on the Lands and Houses of such as would not conform to his orders, until they should render obedience to his said orders and warrants, and after such submission (and not before) the said Soldiers to return to their Garrisons. And did also issue the like Warrants unto divers others, which Warrants were in warlike manner, with force and Arms put in execution accordingly, and by such warlike means did force divers of his Majesty's subjects of that Realm, to submit themselves to his unlawful commands.  
And in the said twelfth year of his Majesty's Reign, the said Earl of Strafford did traitorously cause certain troops of horse and foot, armed in warlike manner, and in warlike array, with force and arms, to expel Richard Butler from the possession of Castlecumber, in the Territory of Idough, in the said Realm of Ireland, and did likewise and in like warlike manner, expel divers of his Majesty's Subjects from their houses, families, and possessions, as namely, Edward Brenman. Owen Oberman, Patrick Oberman, Sir Cyprian Horsfield, and divers others, to the number of about an hundred families, and took and imprisoned them and their wives, and carried them prisoners to Dublin, and there detained them until they did yield up, surrender, or release their respective estates and rights.  
And the said Earl, in like warlike manner, hath during his government of the said Kingdom of Jreland, subdued divers others of his Majesty's subjects easily to his will, and thereby, and by the means aforesaid, hath levied war within the said Realm against his Majesty, and his liege people of that Kingdom.   

XVI.  
That the said Earl of Strafford, the two and twentieth of February, in the seventh year of his now Majesty's Reign, intending to oppress the said Subjects of Ireland, did make a proposition, and obtained from his Majesty an allowance, that no complaint of injustice or oppression done in Ireland, should be received in England against any, unless it first appeared, that the party made first his address to him the said Earl: and the said Earl having by such usurped, tyrannical and exorbitant power, expressed in the former Articles, destroyed the Peers and other subjects of that Kingdom of Ireland, in their lives, consciences, land, liberties, and estates, the said Earl to the intent the better to maintain and strengthen his power, and to bring the people into a disaffection of his Majesty, as aforesaid, did use his Majesty's name in the execution of his said power. And to prevent the subjects of that Realm of all means of complaints to his Majesty, and of redress against him and his agents, did issue a Proclamation bearing date the seventeenth day of September, in the eleventh year of his Majesty's Reign, thereby commanding all the Nobility, undertakers and others, who held estates and offices in the said kingdom (except such as were employed in his Majesty's service, or attending in England by his special command) to make their personal residence in the said Kingdom of Ireland, and not to departed thence without licence of himself. And the said Earl hath since issued other Proclamations to the same purpose, by means whereof the subjects of the said Realm are restrained from seeking relief against the oppressions of the said Earl without his licence: which Proclamation the said Earl hath by several rigoruos ways, as by fine, imprisonment, and otherwise, put in execution on his Majesty's subjects, as namely, one— Parry, and others, who came over only to complain of the exorbitances and oppressions of the said Earl.   

XVII.  
That the said Earl having by such means as aforesaid, subverted the government & laws of the Kingdom of Ireland, did in March in the 16 year of his Majesty's Reign, in scandal of his Majesty, of all his Kingdoms, & in further execution of his wicked purposes aforesaid, speaking of the Armies in Ireland, declare, that his Majesty was so well pleased with the Army of Ireland, and the consequence thereof, that his Majesty would certainly make the same a pattern for all his three Kingdoms.   

XVIII.  
That the said Earl of Strafford, for the better effecting of his traitorous designs & wicked puposes, did endeavour to draw dependency upon himself of the Papists in both Kingdoms of Eengland and Ireland, and to that end during the time of government in Jreland, he restored divers Friaries and Masse-houses (which had been formerly suppressed by precedent Deputies of that Kingdom, two of which houses were in the City of Dublin, & had been assigned to the use of the University there) to the pretended owners thereof, who have since employed the same to the exercise of the Popish Religion.  
And in the month of May and june last, the said Earl did raise an Army in the said Realm of England, consisting of eight thousand foot, all of which, except one thousand or there abouts, were Papists, and the said one thousand were drawn out of the old Army there consisting of two thousand foot, and in their places there were a thousand Papists, or thereabouts, put into the said old Army by the said Earl.  
And the more to engage and tie the new Army of Papists to himself, and to encourage them, and to discourage and wear out the old Army, the said Earl did so provide; That the said new Army of Papists were duly paid, and had all necessaries provided for them, and permitted the exercise of their Religion, but the said old Army were for the space of one whole year and upwards unpaid.  
And that the said Earl being appointed a Commissioner within eleven several Counties in the Northern parts of England, for compounding with Recusants for their forfeitures due to his Majesty; which commission beareth date the eight day of July in the fift year of his Majesty's Reign that now is, and being also receiver of the composition money thereby arising, and of other debts, duties, and penalties for his Majesty's use, by Letters Patents, dated the ninth day of the said July: he, to engage the said Recusants to him, did compound with them at low and under rates, and provided that they should be discharged of all proceed against them, in all his Majesty's Courts, both temporal and Ecclesiastical, in manifest breach of and contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this Realm, in that behalf established.   

XIX.  
That the said Earl having taxed and levied the said impositions, and raised the said Monopolies, and committed the said oppressions in his Majesty's name, and as by his Majesty's Royal command, he the said Earl in May the fifteenth year of his Majesty's Reign, did of his own authority contrive and frame a new and unusual oath, by the purport whereof among many other things, the party taking the said oath, was to swear that he should not protest against any of his Majesty's Royal commands, but submit themselves in all obedience thereunto. Which oath he so contrived to enforce the same on the subjects of the Scottish Nation, inhabiting in Ireland, and out of a hatred to the said Nation, and to put them to a discontent with his Majesty, and his government there, and compelled divers of his Majesties said Subjects there to take the said oath, some he grievously fined and imprisoned, and others he destroyed and exiled, and namely, the 10. of October, Anno Dom. 1639. he fined Henry Steward and his wife, who refused to take the said oath, five thousand pounds a piece, and their two daughters & James Grace, three thousand pounds a piece, and imprisoned them for not paying the said fines. The said Henry Stewards wife and daughters & James Grace, being the King's liege people of the Scottish Nation, and divers others he used in the like manner; and the said Earl upon that occasion did declare, that the said oath did not only oblige them in point of allegiance to his Majesty, and acknowledgement of his Supremacy only, but to the Ceremonies & government of the Church established, or to be established by his Majesty's royal Authority; and said, that the refusers to obey, he would prosecute to the blood.   

XX.  
That the said Earl in the 15. and 16. years of his Majesty's Reign, and divers years past, laboured and endeavoured to beget in his Majesty an ill opinion of his Subjects, namely, those of the Scottish Nation, and divers and sundry times, and especially since the pacification made by his Majesty with his said Subjects of Scotland in Summer, in the fifteenth year of his Majesty's reign; he, the said Earl did labour and endeavour to persuade, incite, and provoke his Majesty to an offensive war against his said Subjects of the Scottish Nation: and the said Earl, by his counsel, actions, and endeavours, hath been and is a principal and chief incendiary of the war and discord between his Majesty and his Subjects of England, and the said Subjects of Scotland, and hath declared, and advised his Majesty, that the demand made by the Scots in this Parliament were a sufficient cause of war against them. The said Earl having formerly expressed the height and rancour of his mind towards his Subjects of the Socttish Nation, viz. the tenth day of October, in the fifteenth year of his Majesty's Reign, he said that the Nation of the Scots were rebels, and traitors; and he being then about to come to England, he then further said, that if it pleased his Master (meaning his Majesty) to send him bacl again, he would root out of the said Kingdom (meaning the Kingdom of Ireland) the Scottish Nation both root and branch. Some Lords, and others, who had taken the said Oath in the precedent Article only excepted: and the said Earl hath caused divers of the said Ships and goods of the Scots to be stayed, seized, and molested, to the intent to set on the said war.   

XXI.  
That the said Earl of Strafford, shortly after his speeches mentioned in the last precedent Article, to wit, in the fifteenth year of his Majesty's Reign, came into this Realm of England, and was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and continued his government of that Kingdom by a Deputy: At his arrival here, finding that his Majesty with much wisdom and goodness had composed the troubles in the North, and had made a Pacification with his Subjects of Scotland; he laboured by all means to procure his Majesty to break that pacification, incensing his Majesty against his Subjects of that Kingdom, and the proceed of the Parliament there. And having incensed his Majesty to an offensive war against his said Subjects of Scotland, by Sea and by Land; and by pretext thereof, to raise Forces for the maintenance of that war: he counselled his Majesty to call a Parliament in England, yet the said Earl intended, if the said proceed of that Parliament should not be such as would stand with the said Earl of strafford's mischievous designs, he would then procure his Majesty to break the same, and by ways of force and power, to raise moneys upon the said Subjects of this Kingdom.  
And for the encouragement of his Majesty to hearken to his advice, he did before his Majesty and his Privy Council, then sitting in Counsel, make a large Declaration, that he would serve his Majesty in any other way, in case the Parliament should not supply him.   

XXII.  
That in the month of March, before the beginning of the last Parliament, the said Earl of Strafford went into Ireland, and procured the Parliament of that Kingdom to declare their assistance in a war against the Scots. And gave directions for the raising of an Army consisting of 8000. foot, and 1000 horse, being for the most part Papists, as aforesaid. And confederating with one Sir George Radcliffe, did together with him the said Sir George, traitorously conspire to employ the said Army for the ruin and destruction of the Kingdom of England, and of his Majesty's Subjects, and of altering and subverting of the fundamental Laws of this Kingdom.  
And shortly after, the said Earl of Strafford returned into England, and to sundry persons declared his opinion to be, that his Majesty should first try the Parliament here, and if that did not supply him according to his occasions, he might then use his Prerogative as he pleased, to levy what he needed, and that he should be acquitted both of God and man, if he took some other courses to supply himself, though it were against the will of his Subjects.   

XXIII.  
That upon the thirteenth day of April last, the Parliament of England met, and the Commons house (then being the representative Body of all the Commons in the Kingdom) did according to the trust reposed in them, enter into debate and consideration of the great grievances of this Kingdom, both in respect of Religion, and the public Liberty of the Kingdom; and his Majesty referring chief to the said Earl of Strafford, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, the ordering and disposing of all matters concerning the Parliament: He the said Earl of Strafford, with the assistance of the said Archbishop, did procure his Majesty, by sundry speeches and messages, to urge the said Commons house to enter into some resolution for his Majesty's supply, for maintenance of his war against his Subjects of Scotland, before any course was taken for the relief of the great and pressing grievances, wherewith this Kingdom was then afflicted. Whereupon, a demand was then made from his Majesty, of twelve Subsidies, for the release of Ship-money only; and while the said Commons then assembled (with expressions of great affection to his Majesty and his service) were in debate and consideration of some supply, before resolution by them made, He the said Earl of Strafford, with the help and assistance of the said Archbishop, did procure his Majesty to dissolve the last Parliament, upon the fifth day of May last: and upon the same day, the said Earl of Strafford did treacherously, falsely, and maliciously endeavour to incense his Majesty against his loving and faithful Subjects, who had been members of the said house of Commons, by telling his Majesty, they had denied to supply him. And afterward upon the same, did treacherously and wickedly counsel and advise his Majesty to this effect, viz. that having tried the affections of his people, he was lose and absolved from all Rules of government, and was to do every thing that power would admit, and that his Majesty had tried always, and was refused, and should be acquitted both of God and man; and that He had an Army in Ireland (meaning the Army above mentioned, consisting of Papists, his dependants, as is aforesaid) which He might employ to reduce this Kingdom to obedience.   

XXIV.  
That in the same month of May, He the said Earl of Strafford, falsely, treacherously, and maliciously, published and declared before others of his Majesty's Privy Council, that the Parliament of England had forsaken the King, and that in denying to supply the King, they had given him the advantage to supply himself by other ways: and divers other times he did maliciously, wickedly, and falsely publish and declare, that seeing the Parliament had refused to supply his Majesty in the ordinary and usual way, the King might provide for the Kingdom in such ways, as he should hold fit, and that he was not to suffer himself to be mastered by the frowardness of the people.  
And having so maliciously slandered the said house of Commons, he did with the help and advice of the said Archbishop of Canterbury and the Lord Finch, late Lord Keeper of the great Seal of England: cause to be printed, and published in his Majesty's name, a false and scandalous book entitled, His Majesty's Declaration of the pauses that moved him to dissolve the last Parliament, full of bitter and malicious invectives, and false, and scandalous aspersions against the said house of Commons.   

XXV.  
That not long after the dissolution of the said last Parliament, (viz. In the months of May and June) he the Earl of Straffard did advise the King to go on rigorously in levying the Ship-Money, and did procure the Sheriffs of several Countries to be sent for, for not levying the Shipmoney, divers of which were threatened by him to be sued in the Starchamber, and afterwards by his advice were sued in the Starchamber, for not levying the same, and divers of his Majesty's loving Subjects were sent for and imprisoned by his advice, about that and other illegal payments.  
And a great loan of a hundred thousand pounds was demanded of the City of London, and the Lord Major and the Aldermen and the Sheriffs of the said City, were often sent for by his advice to the Council Table, to give an account of their proceed in raising of Shipmoney, and furthering of that loan, and were required to certify the names of such Inhabitants of the said City as were fit to lend, which they with much humility refusing to do, he the said Earl of Strafford did use these or the like speeches: viz. That they deserved to be put to Fine and Ransom, and that no good would be done with them, till an example were made of them, and they were laid by the heels, and some of the Aldermen hanged up.   

XXVI.  
That the said Earl of Strafford by his wicked counsel having brought his Majesty into excessive charges without any just cause, he did in the month of july last (for the support of the said great charges) counsel and approve two dangerous and wicked Projects: viz.  
To seize upon the Bullion and the Money in the Mint.  
And to embase his Majesty's Coin with the mixtures of Brass.  
And accordingly 〈◊〉 procured one hundred & thirty thousand pounds which was then in the Mint, and belonging to divers Merchants, strangers & others, to be seized on and stayed to his Majesty's use. And when divers Merchants of London, owners of the said Bullion, came to his house to let him understand the great mischief, that course would produce here, and in other parts, what prejudice it would be to the Kingdom, by discrediting the Mint, and hindering the importation of Bullion: he the said Earl told them, that the City of London dealt undutifully and unthankefully with his Majesty: and that they were more ready to help the Rebel, then to help his Majesty: and that if any hurt came to them, they might thank themselves: and that it was the course of other Princes, to make use of such moneys to serve their occasions  
And when in the same month of july, the Officers of his Majesty's Mint came to him and gave him divers reasons against the embasing of the said money, he told them that the French King did use to send Commissaries of Horse with Commission to search into men's estates, and to peruse their accounts, so that they may know what to levy of them by force, which they did accordingly levy: and turning to the Lord Cottington then present, said, That this was a point worthy his Lordship's consideration.   

XXVII.  
That in or about the month of August last he was made Lieutenant general of all his Majesty's forces in the Northern parts against the Scots, and being at York did in the month of September by his own authority, and without any lawful warrant, impose a Tax on his Majesty's subjects in the County of York, of 8. pence per diem, for maintenance of every Soldier of the trained bands of that County, which sums of money he caused to be levied by force. And to the end to compel his Majesty's subjects out of fear and terror to yield to the payment of the same, He did declare that he would commit them that refused the payment thereof, and the Soldiers should be satisfied out of their estates; and they that refused it, were in very little better condition then of High Treason.   

XXVIII.  
That in the month of September and October last, he the said Earl of Strafford being certified of the Scottish Army coming into the Kingdom, and he the said Earl of Strafford being Lieutenant general of his Majesty's Army, did not provide for the defence of the Town of Newcastle as He ought to have done, but suffered the same to be lost, that so he might the more incense the English against the Scots. And for the same wicked purpose, and out of a malicious desire to engage the Kingdoms of England and Scotland in a Nationall and bloody war, he did write to the Lord Conway the general of the horse, and under the said Earls command, that he should fight with the Scottish Army at the passage over the Tyne, whatsoever should follow, notwithstanding that the said Lord Conway had formerly by Letters informed him the said Earl, that his Majesty's Army then under his command, was not of force sufficient to encounter the Scots, by which advice of his, he did contrary to the duty of his place betray his Majesty's Army then under his command, to apparent danger and loss.  
All and every which words, counsels, and actions of the said Earl of Strafford traitorously and contrary to his allegiance to our Soveragne Lord the King, and with an intention and endeavour to alienate and withdraw the hearts and affections of the King's liege people of all his Realms from his Majesty, and to set a division between them, and to ruin and destroy His Majesties said Kingdoms. For which they do further impeach him the said Thomas, Earl of Strafford of High Treason against our Sovereign Lord the King, his Crown and dignity.  
FINIS.