ARTICLES of Impeachment exhibited in PARLIAMENT, AGAINST SPENCER Earl of Northamp WILLIAM Eatle of Devonsh. HENRY Earl of Dover HENRY Earl of Manmouth, ROBERT Lord Rich, CHARLES Lord Howard Charlton, CHARLES L. Grey of Ruthen THOMAS Lord Coventry, ARTHUR Lord chapel, etc. For several high Crimes and Misdemeanours Ordered to be Printed. Hen. Elsing Cler. D. C Whereunto is annexed, The Grounds of the Proceed of the Parliament from the beginning to this present, with the hindrances of their Proceed and causes of these distractions TOGETHER With the several means which they have used to prevent intestine War, and to hinder the malignant Designs of the enemies of the Peace of the Kingdom Likewise ordered to be Printed Jo. Browne Cler. Parl. July, 1. LONDON, Printed by T. F. for J. Y. 1642 Articles of Impeachment against the Nine Lords. THe Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, finding the distractions of the Kingdom to be great, have thought sit to explain, and remonstrate to the world the grounds of their proceed, and the causes of these distractions, in these ensuing particulars. 1. The Root of these mischievous designs 2. The maturity to which they had attained fore the beginning of this Parliament 3. The effectual means which hath been used for the extirpation of those desperate evils and the progression which therein has been made by the wisdom of the Parliament. 4. The ways of opposition, by which that progress is interrupted. 5. The courses to be taken for the removing of these obstacles, and for the accomplishing of our faithful endeavours of restoring the ancient Honour, greatness, and security of this Crown and Nation, the root of all this mischief we find to be a malignant design of subverting the fundamental Laws, upon which the Religion and Justice of this Kingdom are firmly established. The Actors hereof have been, 1. The Papists, which hate the Laws, as the obstacles of that subversion of Religion, which they so much long for. 2. Such Councillors, and Courtiers, as for private ends, have engaged themselves to further the interests of Foreign Princes, or States, to the prejudice of his Majesty, and the State at home. The common Principles by which they govern their Actions, are these. 1. To maintain continual Differences betwixt the King and the People, upon questions of Prerogative, and Liberty, that so they may gain to themselves, and their parties, the greatest places of trust and power in the Kingdom. 2. To suppress the purity of Religion, and such persons as were best affected to it. 3. To disaffect the King to Parliaments, by slanders, and false imputations, and by putting him upon other ways of supply, which in show were fuller of advantage, than the ordinary course of Subsidies, which indeed have been the greatest cause of these troubles and distractions under which we suffer. Hear are the Authors, and causes of these distempers made manifest, now it is necessary to declare how fare these mischiefs have extended. Former relations, and precedent Declarations have made some apparent, but yet so great is the power of ambition, that the infliction and execution of the Law upon Strafford, the durance and imprisonment of divers others of that faction, can no way deter them from using all means to perfect their designs, and finding no way so apt for their purposes, as to foment lealoufies betwixt the King and Parliament, they have cast many odionse scandals upon the proceed of Parliament, nay so fare has their treachery extonded, that they have seduced divers Members of the Parliament, (namely) Spencer Earl of Northanmpton, William Earl of Devonshire, Henry Earl of Monmouth, Charles Lord Howard of Charlton, Robert Lord Rich, Charles Lord Grey of Ruthen, Thomas Lord Coventry, and Arthur Lord chapel, who are Impeached for these high crimes and heinous misdemeanours, following. 1. That contrary to their duty, they being Peers of the Realm, and summoned by writ to attend the Parliament, and contrary to an Order of the House of Peers, of the ninth of April last, and several other Orders, requiring the attendance of the said House. 2. That after a Vote passed in both Houses the 20. of May last, that the King seduced by wicked Council intends to make War against his Parliament, etc. It was Voted that the departure of these nine Lords without leave at such a time, when the House had declared that the King intended to make War against his Parliament, and their still continuing at York, notwithstanding their summons, and command, is a high affront, and contempt of both Houses, and that the said Lords did as much as in them lav, that the business of Parliament might be deserted, and are justly suspected to promote a War against the Parliament. For that they have by another Order of the 30, of May, been duly summoned, by the House of Peers, to make their appearance before that House, upon the 8. day of June last passed, they refused to appear, and returned a scornful Answer, by a Letter under their Hand, directed to the Speaker of the Lords House, and remaining there upon Record. For which Crimes, and misdemeanour (they tending to the dissolution of the Parliament) and disturbance of the Kingdom. It is demanded by the Commons that the said Lords may be brought to their Answer, and receive speedy andexemplary punishment, according to their demerits. Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this both printed and published. Hen. Elsing, Cler. C. D. FINIS.