THE IMPEACHMENT AGAINST THE Bishops.  
Sent up by Sergeant Wylde, and delivered at the Bar in the Lord's house by order of the House.  
August the 4. 1641.  
LONDON Printed by I. N. for Henry Twyford, and are to be sold at the three Daggers in Fleetstreet. 1641.   

August 4. 1641.  
The impeachment against the Bishops, sent up by Sergeant Wylde, and delivered at the B●rr in the Lord's house verbally, by order of the House.  
My Lords,  
THe Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons house of Parliament, being sensible of the great Infelicities and Troubles which the Common-wealth hath sustained by the exorbitant courses of the Bishops, and knowing well what the wiseman saith, That if sentence be not speedily executed against an evil work, the hearts of the sons of men are set upon further mischief. The timely redress whereof doth better become the wisdom of Parliament, than a too-late woeful Repentance, Have commanded me to represent unto your Lordships, That 

Walter Bishop of Winchester.  
Robert Bishop of Coventry and Leichfield.  
Godfrey Bishop of Gloucester.  
joseph Bishop of Excester.  
john Bishop of Asaph.  
William Bishop of Bath and Wells.  
George Bishop of Hereford.  
Matthew Bishop of Ely.  
William Bishop of Bangor.  
Robert Bishop of Bristol.  
john Bishop of Rochester.  
john Bishop of Peterborough.  
Morgan Bishop of Landaffe.   Together with William Archbishop of Canterbury, and others of the Clergy of that Province, at a Convocation or Synod for the same Province begun at London in the year 1640, did contrive, make, and promulge several Constitutions and Canons Ecclesiastical, containing in them divers matters contrary to the King's Prerogative, To the fundamental Laws and Statutes of the Realm, To the Rights of Parliament, To the Propriety and Liberty of the Subjects, and matters tending to sedition, and of dangerous consequence.  
And to add the more weight and efficacy to this their monstrous design, They did at the same Synod under a specious and fair Title grant a Benevolence or Contribution to his Majesty, to be paid by the Clergy of that Province, contrary to Law: It rested not there, for though this had been enough to have affrighted and terrified the King's People with strange apprehensions and fears, yet that these might not seem to be contrivancies of the Brain or Fancies only, They were put in Execution, and were executed upon divers with animosity and rigour, to the great oppression of the Clergy of this Realm, and other his Majesty's Subjects, and in contempt of the King, and of the Law.  
Whether these persons, my Lords, that are culpable of these Offences, shall be thought fit to have an Interest in the Legislative power your Lordship's wisdom and justice is able to judge.  
But for these matters and things, The Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses of the Commons house in Parliament, in the name of themselves, and of all the Commons of England, do impeach the said Bishop's beforenamed of the Crimes and Misdemeanours before expressed, and do therefore pray that they may be forthwith put to their Answers in the Presence of the Commons, and that such further Proceed may be had against them as to Law and justice shall appertain.  
FINIS.