ARTICLES EXHIBITED IN PARLIAMENT AGAINST WILLIAM ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, 1640.  
Printed in the year 1640   

Articles of the Commons assembled in Parliament, in maintenance of the accusation, whereby WILLIAM Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, stands charged with high Treason.  

I.  
THat the said William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, hath traitorously laboured to subvert the fundamental laws and Government of the kingdom, by giving his majesty advice privately, and at council Table, High Commission, and in other places said, that he would have them governed by civil laws, and further said, he would make the proudest subject in the kingdom to give way to him; and being told it was against Law, he replied he would make it Law, and that the King might at his own pleasure take away without Law, and make it warrantable by God's Law.   

II.  
His countenancing of Books & their authors for the maintenance of his unlimited and absolute power, wherein the power of the Parliament is denied, and the Bishop's power of prelacy set up.   

III.  
That he traitorously went about to interrupt the Judges by his threatenings, and other means, to constrain them to give false Judgement in the case of Ship-money, as will appear both by writings, and his hand, by testimony of divers persons of good worth and quality.   

IV.  
That he hath taken bribes, and sold Justice in the high Commission Court, as Archbishop, and hath not only corrupted the Judges there, but hath also sold Judicious places to be corrupted.   

V.  
That he hath endeavoured the encroachment of Jurisdiction and institution of Canons, which are not only unlawful, but prejudicial to the subject; and that he hath exercised his authority very cruelly, both as a chancellor, Commissioner, and Judge.   

VI.  
That he hath traitorously assumed a capital power over his majesty's subjects, denying his power of Prelacy as from the King.   

VII.  
That by false erroneous doctrines, and other sinister ways and means, he went about to subvert Religion established in this kingdom, and to set up Papistry and superstition in the Church.   

VIII.  
That by undue means and practices he hath gotten into his hands the power of nominating of Ministers to spiritual promotions, and hath preserved none but scandalous Ministers thereunto, and hath preferred corrupt Chaplains to his Majesty.   

Ix..  
That his own Ministers, as Heywood, ●eyfield, and others, are notoriously disaffected to Religion.   

X.  
That he hath endeavoured to reconcile us to the Church of Rome, and to that end hath employed a Jesuit and a Papist, and hath wrought with the Pope's Agent in several points.   

XI.  
That to suppress preaching, he hath suspended divers good men, and hath used unlawful means, by Letters, and otherwise, to several Bishops to suppress them.   

XII.  
That he hath traitorously endeavoured to suppress the French Religion here amongst us, which is the same that we are of; and the Dutch Church, and to set division between them and us.   

XIII.  
That he hath traitorously endeavoured to set division between the King and the subjects, and hath gone about to bring in Innovations into the Church, and hath induced the King to war with the Scots, and many upon their death beds to give towards the maintenance of the war; and hath caused the Clergy to give freely towards the same. And hath brought in many superstitions and innovations into the Church of Scotland, And that he procured the King to break the pacification, whereby to cause a bloody war between the two kingdoms.   

XIV.  
That to preserve himself from being questioned for these and other his traitorous designs, from the first year of his majesty's reign till now, he hath laboured to subvert the rites of Parliamentary proceedings, and to incense his Majesty against Parliaments.  
By all which Words, counsels and Actions, he hath traitorously laboured to alienate the hearts of the King's liege peolpe from his Majesty, to set 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.  
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 William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, and also of replying to the answers that he the said Archbishop shall make unto the said Articles, or to any of them; and of offering proofs 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 he the said William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury may be put speedily to answer for all and every the premises, that such proceedings, Examinations, Trials and Judgements, may be upon every of them had and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.   
FINIS.