ARTICLES EXHIBITED IN PARLIAMENT AGAINST WILLIAM ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY, Feb. 25. 1640.  
Published by a true and perfect Copy.  
Printed in the year 1640   

Articles of the Commons assembled in PARLIAMENT, AGAINST WILLIAM LAWD, Archbishop of Canterbury, in maintenance of their Accusation, whereby he stands charged with High Treason, Febr. 25. 1640.  
I. THat he, the said William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury, traitorously laboured to subvert the fundamental Laws and Government of the Kingdom by giving his Majesty advice, privately, and at Counsel Table, High Commission, and in other places, that he would have governed by Civil Laws, and further said, he would make the proudest Subject in the Kingdom to give way unto him: and being told it was against Law, he said he would make it Law, and that the King might at his own pleasure take away without Law, and make it warrantable by Gods Law.  
II. His countenancing of books, and their Authors, for the maintenance of his unlimited and absolute power, whereby the power of Parliament is denied, and the Bishop's power of Prelacy set up.  
III. That he traitorously went about to interrupt the Judges by his threaten, and other means, to constrain them to give false judgement in the case of Shipmoney, as will appear both by writings under his hand, and by testimony of divers persons of good worth and quality.  
iv That he hath taken bribes, and sold justice in the High Commission as Archbishop, and hath not only corrupted the Judges there, but 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 Counsellor, Commissioner, and a 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 enormous Doctrines and other synister ways and means He went about to subvert the Religion established in this Kingdom, and to set up Papistry and superstition in the Church.  
VIII. That by undue means and practice he hath gotten into his hand the power of nominating of Ministers to Spiritual promotion, and hath preferred none but scandalous Ministers thereunto, and that he preferred corrupt Chaplains to His Majesty.  
IX. That his own Ministers, as Haywood, Laifield and others, are notoriously disaffected to Religion.  
X. That he hath Traitorously endeavoured to reconcile us to the Church of Rome, and to that end hath employed a Jesuit and a Papist-Priest, and hath wrought with the Pope's Agents in several points.  
XI. That to suppress preaching, He hath suspended divers good men, and used unlawful means by Letters, and otherwise to several Bishops, to suppress them.  
XII. That he hath Traitorously endeavoured to suppress the French Religion, which is the same we are off, 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 his 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, thereby to cause a bloody War between the Kingdoms.  
XIIII. That to preserve Himself from being questioned, for these and other his Traitorous designs, from the First of his Majesty's Reign until now. He laboured to subvert the Rights of Parliaments; by all which Words, Counsels, and Actions he hath Traitorously 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.  
And the said Commons, by protestation 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, to the replying of the Answers that He, the said Archbishop shall make unto the said Articles, or any of them.  
And of offering proof also of the Premises, or any of them, or any other Impeachment or Accusation, that shall be exhibited by them, as 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 of 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.  
FINIS.