ARTICLES OF THE COMMONS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT, IN Maintenance of their Accusation, against WILLIAM LAUD Archbishop of Canterbury, whereby he stands charged with high Treason.  
ALSO, Further Articles of Impeachment by the Commons in Parliament, against the said Archbishop of Canterbury, of high Treason, and divers high Crimes and misdemeanours.  

Die Mercurii, 17 Jan. 1643.  
ORdered by the Lords assembled in Parliament, That these Articles and Impeachment, be forthwith Printed and published.  
John Brown Cler. Parliamentor.   
Jan. 19 Printed for John Wright, in the Old-bailey. 1643.   

Articles of the Commons assembled in Parliament, in maintenance of the Accusation against William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, whereby he stands charged with high Treason.  
1. THat he hath Traitorously endeavoured to subvert the Fundamental Laws, and Government of the Kingdom of England, and in stead thereof to introduce an Arbitrary and Tyrannical Government against Law, and to that end hath wickedly and Traitorously advised his Majesty, that he might at his own will and pleasure levy and take money of his subjects, without their consent in Parliament, and this he affirmed, was warrantable by the Law of God.  
2. He hath for the better accomplishment of that his Traitorous design, advised and proeured divers Sermons and other discourses, to be preached, Printed, and published, in which the authority of Parliaments, and the force of the Laws of the Kingdom are denied, and an absolute and unlimited power over the Persons and Estates of his Majesty's Subjects, is maintained and defended, not only in the King, but also in himself and other Bishops, above and against the Law, and he hath been a great protector, favourer, and promoter of the publishers of such false and pernicious opinions.  
3. He hath by Letters, Messages, Threats, promises, and divers other ways to judges and other Ministers of justice; interrupted and perverted, and at other times by the means aforesaid, hath endeavoured to interrupt and pervert the course of justice, in his Majesty's Courts at Westminster, and other Courts, to the subversion of the Laws of this Kingdom, whereby sundry of his Majesty's Subjects have been stopped in their just suits, and deprived of their lawful rights, and subjected to his Tyrannical will, to their utter ruin & destruction.  
4. That the said Archbishop, hath Traitorously and corruptly sold justice to those that have had causes depending before him, by colour of his Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as Archbishop, High Commissioner, Refaree or otherwise, and hath taken unlawful Gifts and Bribes of his Majesty's Subjects, and hath as much as in him lieth, endeavoured to coreupt other Courts of justice, by advising his Majesty to sell places of judicature and other Offices, and procuring the sale of them contrary to the Laws and Statutes in that behalf.  
5. He hath Traitorously caused a Book of Canons to be composed and published, and these Canons to be put in execution, without any lawful warrant and authority in that behalf; In which pretended Canons, many matters are contained, contrary to the king's Prerogative, to the Fundamental Laws and Statutes of this Realm, to the right of Parliament, to the propriety and liberty of the Subjects, & matters tending to sedition, and of dangerous consequence, & to the Establishment of a vast unlawful, and presumptuous power in himself, and his Successors; many of which Canons, by the practice of the said Archbishop, were surreptitiously passed in the late Convocation, without due consideration and debate, others by fear and compulsion were subscribed to by the Prelates and Clerks there assembled, which had never been voted and passed in the convocation as they ought to have been, and the said, Archbishop hath contrived and endeavoured, to assure and confirm the unlawful and exorbitant power, which he hath usurped and exercised over his Majesty's Subjects, by a wicked and ungodly Oath in one of the said pretended Canons, enjoined to be taken by all the Clergy, and many of the Laity of this Kingdom.  
6. He hath Traitorously assumed to himself, a Papal and Tyrannical power, both in Ecclesiastical and Temporal matters, over his Majesty's Subjects in this Realm of England, and in other places, to the disherrison of the Crown, dishonour of his Majesty, and derogation of his supreme Authority in Ecclesiastical matters.  
And the said Archbishop claims the King's Ecclesiastical jurisdiction, as incident to his Episcopal and Archiepiscopall Office in this Kingdom, and doth deny the same to be derived from the crown of England, which he hath accordingly exercised to the high contempt of his Royal Majesty, and to the destruction of divers of the King's Liege-people, in their persons and Estates.  
7. That he hath Traitorously endeavoured to alter and subvert Gods true Religion, by Law established in this Realm, and in stead thereof to set up Popish superstition and Idolatry: And to that end, hath declared and maintained in speeches and printed, Books, divers Popish doctrines and opinions, contrary to the Articles of Religion established. He hath urged and enjoined divers Popish and superstitious Ceremonies without any warrant of Law, and hath cruelly persecuted those who have opposed the same, by corporal, punishment and imprisonment, and most unjustly vexed others who refused to comforme thereunto, by Ecclesiastical Censures of Excommunication, Suspension, Deprivation, & Derogation, contrary to the Law of, this Kingdom.  
8. That for the better advancing of his Traitorous purpose and design, he did abuse the great power and trust his Majesty reposed in him, and did, intrude upon the places of divers great Offcers, and upon the right of other his Majesty's Subjects, whereby he did procure to himself nomination of sundry persons, to Ecclesiastical Dignities, Propitious, and Benefices, belonging to his Majesty, and divers of the Nobility, Clergy, & others, and hath taken upon him the commendation of Chaplains to the King, by which means he hath preferred to his Majesty service, and to other great promotions in the Church, such as have been Popishly affected, or otherwise unsound and corrupt both in Doctrine and Manners.  
9 He hath for the same Traitorous and wicked intent, chosen & employed such men to be his Chaplains, whom he knew to be notoriously disaffected to the reformed Religion, grossly addicted to Popish superstition, and Erroneous and unsound both in judgement and practice, and to them or some of them, he hath committed the Lycensing of Books to be printed, by which means, divers false and Superstitious Books have been published, to the great scandal of Religion, and to the seducing of many of his Majesty's Subjects.  
10. He hath Traitorously and wickedly endeavoured to reconcile the Church of England, with the Church of Rome, and for the effecting thereof, hath consorted and confederated with divers popish Priests and jesuits, and hath kept secret intelligence with the Pope of Rome, and by himself his Agents or Instruments treated with such as have from thence received authority and instruction, he hath permitted and countenanted a Popish Hierarchy or Ecclesiastical Government, to be established, in this Kingdom, by all which Traitorous & malicious practices, this Church & Kingdom hath been exceedingly endangered & like to fall under the tyranny of the Roman See.  
11. He in his own person and his Suffragans, Visiters, Surrogates, Chancellors, or other Officers, by his command, have caused divers learned, pious, and Orthodox Preachers of God's Word, to be Silenced, Suspended, Deprived, Degraded, Excommunicated, or otherwise grieved and vexed without any just and lawful cause, whereby, and by divers other means he hath hindered the preaching of God's Word, caused divers of his Majesty's loyal Subjects to forsake the Kingdom, and increased and cherished ignorance & profaneness amongst the people, that so he might the better facilitate the way to the effecting of his own wicked and Traitorous design of altering and corrupting the true Religion here established.  
12. He hath Traitorously endeavoured to cause division and discord between the Church of England and other Reformed Churches, and to that end hath suppressed and abrogated the privileges & immunities which have been by His Majesty and His Royal Ancestors granted to the French and Dutch Churches in this Kingdom, and divers other ways hath expressed his malice and disaffection to those Churches, that so by such disunion, the Papists might have more advantage for the overthrow and extirpation of both.  
13. He hath maliciously and Traitorously plotted and endeavoured to stir up war and enmity betwixt His Majesty's two Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and to that purpose hath laboured to introduce into the Kingdom of Scotland, divers innovations both in Religion and Government, all or the most part tending to Popery and Superstition, to the great grievance and discontent of His Majesty's Subjects of that Nation, and for their refusing to submit to such innovations, he did Traitorously advise His Majesty to subdue them by force of Arms, and by his own Authority and Power contrary to law, did procure sundry of His Majesty's Subjects, and enforced the Clergy of this Kingdom to contribute towards the maintenance of that war, and when his Majesty with much wisdom and justice had made a pacification betwixt the two Kingdoms, the said Archbishop by his council and endeavours did presumptuously censure that pacification as dishonourable to His Majesty, and incense His Majesty against his said Subjects of Scotland, that he did thereupon by advice of the said Archbishop enter into an offensive war against them, to the great hazard of His Majesty's Person, and Subjects of both Kingdoms.  
14. That to preserve himself from being questioned for these and other his Traitorous courses, he hath laboured to subvert the rights 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, 〈◊〉 set a division between them, and to ruin and destroy His Majesty's Kingdoms, for which they do impeach him of high Treason, against Our Sovereign Lord the King, His Crown and Dignity.  
The said Commons do further aver, That the said William, Archbishop of Canterbury, during the time in which the Treasons and Offences aforementioned were committed, hath been a Bishop or Archbishop in this Realm of England, one of the King's Commissioners for Ecclesiastical matters, and of his Majesty's most Honourable Privy Council, and that he hath taken an Oath for his faithful discharge of the said Office of a Counsellor, and hath likewise taken the Oath of Supremacy and Allegiance. 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 Archbishop, and also of replying to the answers that the said Archbishop shall make unto the said Articles, or to any of them, and of offering further proof also of the premises, or any of them, as the case shall according to the course of Parliaments require, do pray, that the said Archbishop may be put to answer to all and every the premises, and that such proceed, Examination, Trial, and Judgement, may be upon every of them, had, and used, as is agreeable to Law and Justice.   

Further Articles of Impeachment by the Commons assembled in Parliament against William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, of high Treason and divers high crimes and misdemeanours, as followeth.  
1. THat the said Archbishop of Canterbury to introduce an Arbitrary government within this Realm, and to destroy Parliaments in the third and fourth years of his Majesty's reign that now is, a Parliament being then called, & sitting at Westminster, traitorously and maliciously caused the said Parliament to be dissolved, to the great grievance of his Majesty's subjects, and prejudice of this Commonwealth: And soon after the dissolution thereof, gave divers Propositions under his hand, to George then Book of Buckingham, casting therein many false aspersions upon the said Parliament, calling it a factious Parliament, and falsely affirming that it had cast many scandals upon his Majesty, and had used him like a child in his minority, styling them Puritan, and commending the Papists for harmless and peaceable subjects.  
2. That within the space of ten year's last passed, the said Archbishop hath treacherously endeavoured to subvert the fundamental Laws of this Realm, and to that end hath in like manner endeavoured to advance the power of the Council Table, the Canons of the Church, and the King's Prerogative, above the Laws and Statutes of the Realm. And for manifestation thereof, about six year's last passed, being then a Privy Councillor to his Majesty, and sitting at the Council Table, he said, that as long as he sat there they should know that an Order of that Board should be of equal force with a law or Act of Parliam. And at another time used these words, That he hoped ere long that the Canons of the Church, and the King's Prerogative, should be of as great power as an Act of Parliament. And at another time said, that those that would not yield to the King's power, he would crush them to pieces.  
3. That the said Archbishop, to advance the Canons of the Church, and power Ecclesiastical above the law of the Land, and to pervert and hinder the course of justice, hath at divers times within the said time, by his Letters and other undue means and solicitations used to judges, opposed and stopped the granting of his Majesty's Writs of Prohibition, where the same aught to have been granted for stay of proceed in the Ecclesiastical Court, whereby justice hath been delayed and hindered, and the judges diverted from doing their duties.  
4. That for the end and purpose aforesaid, about seven year's last passed, a judgement being given in his Majesty's Court of King's Bench, against one Burley a Parson, being a man of bad life and conversation, in an information u●on the Statute of 21. Hen. 8. for wilful Nonresidency, the said Archbishop by solicitations and other undue means used to the judges of that Court, caused Execution upon the said judgement to be stayed: And being moved therein, and made acquainted with the bad life and conversation of the said parson, he said, that he had spoken to the judges for him, and that he would never suffer a judgement to pass against a Clergyman by nihil dicit.  
5. That the said Archbishop about eight year's last past being then also a privy Counsel or to his Majesty, for the end and purpose aforesaid, caused Sir John Corbet of Stoake in the County of Salop Baronet, than a justice of peace of the said County, to be committed to the prison of the Fleet, where he continued prisoner for the space of half a year, or more, for no other cause, but for calling for the Petition of Right, and causing it to be read at the Sessions of the peace for that County, upon a just and necessary occasion. And during the time of his said imprisonment the said Archbishop, without any colour of right, by a writing under the Seal of his bishopric, granted away parcel of the Glebe land of the Church of Adderley in the said County, whereof the said Sir John Corbet was then patron, unto Robert Viscouns Kilmurrey, without the consent of the said Sir John, or the then Incumbent of the said Church, which said Viscount Kilmurrey built a Chapel upon the said parcel of Gleve land, to the great prejudice of the said sir John Corbet, which doth caused great suits and dissensions between them. And whereas the said Sir John Corbet had a judgement against Sir James Stonehouse Knight, in an action of Waste, in his Majesty's Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, which was after wards affirmed in a Writ of Error in the King's Bench, and Execution thereupon awarded: yet the said Sir John, by means of the said Archbishop could not have the effect thereof, but was committed to prison by the caid Archbishop and others at the Council Table, until he had submitted himself unto the Order of the said Table, whereby he lost the benefit of the said judgement and Execution.  
6. That whereas divers gifts and dispositions of divers sums of money were heretofore made by divers charitable and well disposed persons, for the buying in of divers Impropriatrons for the maintenance of preaching the word of God in several Churches, the said Archbishop about eight year's last passed, wilfully and maliciously caused the said gifts, feoffements, and conveyances made to the uses aforesaid, to be overthrown in his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, contrary to Law, as things dangerous to the Church and State, under the specious pretence of buying in Appropriations, whereby that pious work was suppressed and trodden down, to the great dishonour of God, and scandal of Religion.  
7. That the said Archbishop at several times, within these ten years last passed, at Westminster and elsewhere within this Realm, contrary to the known Laws of this Land, hath endeavoured to advance Popery and Superstition within the Realm: And for that end and purpose hath wittingly and willingly received, harboured and relieved divers Popish Priests and jesuits, namely one called Sancta Clara, alias Damport, a dangerous Person, and Franciscan Friar, who having written a Popish and seditious Book, entitled Deus natura gratia, wherein the thirty nine Articles of the Church of England, established by Act of Parliament, were much traduced and scandalised: The said Archbishop had divers conferences with him, while he was in writing the said Book; and did also provide maintenance and entertainment for one Monster St. Giles a Popish Priest at Oxford knowing him to be a Popish Priest.  
That the said Archbishop about four year's last passed at Westminster aforesaid; said, that there must be a blow given to the Church, such as hath not been yet given, before it could be brought to conformity; declaring thereby his intention to be, to shake and after the true Protestant Religion established in the Church of England.  
9 That in, or about the month of May, 1641. presently after the dissolution of the last Parliament, the said Archbishop for the ends and purposes aforesaid, caused a Synod or Convocation of the Clergy to be held for the sever all Provinces of Canterbury and York; wherein were made and established by his means and procurement, divers Canons and Constitntions Ecclesiastical; contrary to the Laws of this Realm, the Rights and Privileges or Parliament, the Liberty and property of the Subject, tending also to sedition, and of dangerous consequence: And amongst other things, the said Archbishop caused a most dangerous and illegail Oath to be therein made and contrived, the tenor whereof followeth in these words. That I A. B. do swear that I do approve the Doctrine and Discipline or Government established in the Church of England; as containing all things accessary to Salvation; And that I will not endeavour by myself or any other, directly or indirectly to bring in any Popish Doctrine, contrary to that which Is so established: Nor will I ever give my consent to alter the Government of this Church by Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and Arch-Deacons, etc. as it stands now established, and as by right it ought to stand: Nor yet ever to subject it to the usurpations and superstitions of the Sea of Rome. And all these things I do plainly and sincerely acknowledge and swear, according to the plain and common sense, and understanding of the same words, without any equivocation or mental evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever. And this I do hearty, willingly and truly, upon the faith of a Christian: So help me God in jesus Christ.; Which Oath the said Archbishop himself did take, and caused divers other Ministers of the Church to take the same, upon pain of suspension and deprivation of their Lviings, and other severe penalties: And did also cause Godfrey, than Bishop of Gloucester, to be committed to prison for refusing to Subscribe to the said Canons, and to take the said Oath: And afterward the said Bishop submitting himself to take the said Oath, he was set at liberty.  
10. That a little before the calling of the last Parliament, anno 1640. a Vote being then passed, and a resolution taken at the Council Table by the advice of the said Archbishop, for assisting of the King in extraordinary ways if the said Parliament should prove peevish, and refuse to supply his Majesty: The said Archbishop wickedly and maliciously advised his Majesty to dissolve the said Parliament, and accordingly the same was dissolved: And presently after the said Archbishop told his Majesty, that now he was absolved from all rules of Government, and left free to use extraordinary ways for his supply.  
For all which matters and things the said Commons assembled in Parliament in the name of the ●●●●●es and of all the Commons of England, do impeach the said Archbishop of Canterbury of high Treason, and other crimes and misdemeanours tending to the subversion of our Religion, Laws, and Liberties, and to the utter ruin of this Church and Commonwealth.  
And the said Commons by protestation saving to themselves the liberty of exhibiting at any time hereafter, any further or other Accusation or Impeachment against the said William Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, and also of replying to the answer that he shall make unto the said articles, or any of them: Or of offering proof of the premises, or any other Impeachment or accusations 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 called to answer the said several crimes and misdemeanours, and receive such condign punishment as the same shall deserve and that such further proceed may be upon every of them had, and used against him as is agreeable to Law and justice.   
FINIS.