presence. At the back of the throne, there was two rooms on the sydes; in the one did Duke de Vanden, Duke de Vallet, and other French nobles sit; in the other the king, the queen, Princesse Mary, the Prince Elector, and some Court ladies. lattice work The tirlies, that made them to be secret, the king brake The king down with his own hands; so they sat in the eye of all, bot removes the little more regarded than if they had been absent; for the before his box Lords sat all covered; those of the Lower House, and all other except the French Noblemen, sat discovered when the Lords came, not else. A number of ladies was in boxes, above the railes, for which they payed much money. It was dailie the most glorious Assemblie the Isle could afford; yet the gravitie not such as I expected; oft great clamour without about the doores; in the intervalles, while Strafford was making readie for answers, the Lords got alwayes to their feet, walked and clattered; the Lower House men too loud clattering; after ten houres, much public eating, not onlie of confections, bot of flesh and bread, bottles of beer and wine going thick from mouth to mouth without cups, and all this in the king's eye; ... there was no outgoing to returne; and oft the sitting was till two, or three, or four o'clock. The first session was on Monday the 22nd of March. All being sett, as I have said, the Prince in his robes on a little chyre at the syde of the throne, the Chamberland and BlackRod went and fetched in my Lord Strafford; he was always in the same sute of black, as in doole. At the entrie he gave a low courtesie, proceeding a little, he gave a second, when he came to his dask a third, then at the barr, the foreface of his dask, he kneeled: ryseing quicklie, he saluted both sides of the Houses, and then satt down. Some few of the Lords lifted their hats to him; this was his dailie carriage. My Lord Steward, in a sentence or two, shew that the House of Commons had accused the Earle of Strafford of High Treason; that he was there to answer; that they might manadge their evidence as they thought meet. They desyred one of the Clerks to read their impeachment. . . . On Tuesday the 13th, all being sett as before, Strafford made a speech two hours and ane half; went through all the Beginning of the trial (Monday, March 22, 1641) Conclusion of articles. . . . To all he repeated nought new, bot the best of the trial (Tues- his former answers; and in the end, after some lashness and day, April 13, 1641) fagging, he made such ane pathetick oration for ane half houre, as ever comedian did upon a stage. . The bill of attainder against Strafford 281. Charles I The prosecution was soon afterward resumed, this time in the form of a bill of attainder introduced into the House of Commons. The odiousness of the cryme was referred to the handeling of another. This was Mr. Pym, who truelie, to the confession of all, in half ane hour, made one of the most eloquent, wise, free speeches that ever we heard, or I think shall ever hear. Some of the passages of it, and no more bot some, and these defaced, I send yow in print, as they have been taken in speaking by some common hand. To humble the man, God lett his memorie faill him a little before the end. His papers he looked bot they could not help him to a point or two, so he behoved to passe them: I believe the King never heard a lecture of so free language against that his idolised prerogative.... For diverse dayes thereafter the House of Commons went on with their Bill of Attainture. When it was readie and read three diverse dayes, at last it was voyced and carried, only fifty-eight contradicting. For this there was great joy among us all, and praise to God. on; During Strafford's trial the king wrote to him the following letter of protection and comfort. Strafford: The misfortune that is fallen upon you by the strange mistaking and conjuncture of these times, being such that I must lay by the thought of employing you hereafter in my affairs; yet I cannot satisfy myself in honor or conscience without assuring you (now in the midst of your troubles) that upon the word of a king you shall not suffer in life, honor, or fortune. This is but justice, and therefore a very mean reward from a master to so faithful and able a servant as you have showed yourself to be; yet it is as much as I conceive the present times will permit, though none shall hinder me from being, Your constant, faithful friend, CHARLES R. The difficult position in which Charles was placed by the condemnation of Strafford is shown in the following extract from the contemporary Memorials of Whitelocke. save Straf The king called both houses of parliament together, and 282. Efforts did passionately desire of them not to proceed severely against of the king to the earl, whom he answered for, as to most of the main par- ford (May 1, ticulars of the charge against him; tells them that in conscience 1641) he cannot condemn the earl of high treason, and that neither fear nor any other respect should make him go against his conscience. ... The bill for continuance of the parliament was brought into the house the next morning after it was propounded. . . . This bill, and the act of attainder, being both passed by the commons, a conference was had with the lords after they had passed them; and a message sent by some lords to the king, to entreat his answer, who promised to satisfy them within two days. The king being much perplexed upon the tendering of these two bills to him, between the clamors of a discontented people and an unsatisfied conscience; he took advice (as some reported) of several of the bishops, what to do in this intricate affair; and that the major part of them urged to him the opinions of the judges, that this was treason, and the bill legal. They pressed likewise the votes of the parliament, that he was but one man, that no other expedient could be found out to appease the enraged people, and that the consequences of a furious multitude would be very terrible. Upon all which they persuaded him to pass the bills. But the chief motive was said to be a letter of the earl of Strafford, then sent unto him, wherein the gallant earl takes notice of these things, and what is best for his Majesty in these straits, and to set his conscience at liberty: he doth most humbly beseech him, for prevention of such mischief as may happen on his refusal to pass the bill, to remove him out of the way, "towards that blessed agreement which God, I trust, shall forever establish betwixt you and your subjects. Sir, my consent herein shall more acquit you to God than all the world can do besides to a willing man there is no injury done." The following letter sent to the House of Lords by the hands of Prince Charles gives further indication of the king's desire to save Strafford. 283. Charles I My Lords: of Lords to the House I did yesterday satisfy the justice of the kingdom, by pass(Whitehall, ing of the bill of attainder against the earl of Strafford; but May 11, 1641) mercy being as inherent and inseparable to a king as justice, I desire at this time, in some measure, to show that likewise, by suffering that unfortunate man to fulfill the natural course of his life in a close imprisonment, yet so that, if ever he make the least offer to escape, or offer, directly or indirectly, to meddle with any sort of public business, especially with me, either by message or letter, it shall cost him his life, without further press. This, if it may be done without the discontent of my people, will be an unspeakable comfort to me; to which end, as in the first place, I by this letter do earnestly desire your approbation; and to endear it the more, have chosen him to carry, that of all your house is most dear to me; so I do desire, that by a conference you will endeavor to give the House of Commons contentment; likewise assuring you, that the exercise is no more pleasing to me than to see both Houses of parliament consent, for my sake, that I should moderate the severity of the law in so important a case. I will not say that your complying with me in this my pretended mercy shall make me more willing, but certainly it will make me more cheerful in granting your just grievances; but if no less than his life can satisfy my people, I must say, fiat justitia. Thus again earnestly recommending the consideration of my intentions to you, I rest, Your unalterable and affectionate friend, CHARLES R. If he must die, it were charity to reprieve him till Saturday. II. THE CRISIS OF 1642 The following petition to parliament, known as the "Root and Branch Petition," from the use of those words in it, was one of several of much the same character presented by various counties, towns, and persons during the summer of 1641. These petitions indicate that the religious question was coming into greater prominence and that the Puritans wished to use this opportunity to reorganize the church. and Branch The humble petition of many of his Majesty's subjects in 284. Extracts and about the City of London, and several counties of the from the Root kingdom, sheweth; That whereas the government of archbishops Petition and lord bishops, deans and archdeacons, etc., with their courts and ministrations in them, have proved prejudicial and very dangerous both to the church and commonwealth; they themselves having formerly held that they have their jurisdiction or authority of human authority, till of these later times, being further pressed about their unlawfulness, they have claimed their calling immediately from the Lord Jesus Christ, which is against the laws of this kingdom, and derogatory to his Majesty and his state royal; and whereas the said government is found by woeful experience to be a main cause and occasion of many foul evils, pressures, and grievances of a very high nature unto his Majesty's subjects in their own consciences, liberties, and estates; as in a schedule of particulars hereunto annexed may in part appear. ization of We therefore most humbly pray and beseech this honorable Opposition assembly, the premises considered, that the said government, to the organwith all its dependencies, roots, and branches, may be abol- the church ished, and all laws in their behalf made void, and the government according to God's word may be rightly placed amongst us and we your humble suppliants, as in duty we are bound, will daily pray for his Majesty's long and happy reign over us, and for the prosperous success of this high and honorable court of parliament. |