E.38 (1)
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Britaines Remembrancer: 12–19 March 1644. No. 1.
Britaines Remembrancer: Of the Most Remarkable Passages in Both Kingdomes
Britaines old Remembrancer, speaking of the Clergie, and Prelates, saith thus:
One part of these will for preferment strive, By lifting up the Kings Prerogative, Above it selfe: They shall perswade him to much more then Law or Conscience bids him do. And say God warrants it, &c.
Aulicus (you may be sure) will have a fling at the Remembrancer next weeke; as another of his enemies in print. The Remembrancer freely gives him leave from time to time to publish to the world, wherein he informes amisse.
I begin with the Archbishop of Canterbury, who had been long before this time brought to his Triall, but for the potency of the enemies of the Parliament, who to prevent Delinquents from being brought to Justice, have so involved the Kingdom in blood; as that it hath been their worke to make themselves a being, and ever since these distractions, the better to enable them to bring Delinquents to punishment.
March the 12. the little Bishop was brought to the Barre of the house of Peeres, where after he had kneeled a while, was commanded by my Lord Gray of Warke, Speaker of the house of Peeres Pro Tempore to rise up, the blacke Rod standing behinde him, and Master Burton on the one hand,1 and Master Pryn on the other,2 so that he could not looke on either hand, but see objects of his cruelty.
The Members of the House of Commons that this day opened the method of evidence against him, were Master Serjeant Wilde, and Master Maynard.
The first thing his little Grace insisted on, was, that the honourable house of Commons would give him all his charge, before he gave any answer, in regard he was old, and his memory was short, and the Articles were generall, and he would answer all the Charge together.
Master Maynard replied,3 his memory would be worse, when charged with many particulars, and so to answer then, then to answer every particular Charge as it is given, and while it is fresh in memory; besides, the inconvenience to have witnesses to be crosse examined on other dayes, then when their evidence is given against the prisoner: and lastly, that their Lordships would finde a difficulty to passe their judgement, on all together without hearing a particular answer to every particular Charge; as it is given in evidence.
After the prisoner had withdrawn a while, he was called in againe, and commanded by the House of Peeres to make his particular answer to every Charge, as it was given in order.
Whereupon Master Serjeant Wilde,4 after the Charge was read, made his observations of the charge, and of the disposition of the prisoner speaking to this purpose.
That after a long travaile, this Charge against the prisoner was come to its birth; that if all the oppressions, all the usurpations, and irreligious courses that have been used by any person, or in any age were lost, they may be found in this person, in this Cause, which was fit for the Justice, and cognizance of that high and honourable Court.
That this hath been so long uncalled for (He cannot say deferred by either House) no man can think strange, that doth but consider, the great danger and distraction of the times, the death and dispersion of divers Members, that have been imployed, and taken paines in this businesse.
That he did look upon the Arch-Bishop of Canterbury as a person, that hath been the Author of all the extravagant, illegall, and tyrannicall proceedings and sentences in the Court of the Starre Chamber, High Commission Court, and all other Courts of publick justice; and of suppressing of godly Ministers, and preaching: and of doing his utmost endeavour by the best art and skill he could, to introduce Popery, and to overthrow Religion, Lawes, and Liberty.
The Bishop replyed, That he begged leave of their Lordships to speak a few words, in answer to the Serjeant, who spoke to this purpose; That it was not a paine, but a torment, to answer at such a Barre; considering he was a person in Holy Orders, and in the highest place the Church of England could afford him.
The he hath so lived, whatsoever hath been said against him, that he is not ashamed to live, nor afraid to dye.
For the Lawes of the Land, that he hath been a strict observe of them all the dayes of his life, as my Lord Coventry could witnesse, were he living.5
For Religion, that he was as constant in his opinion, without shifting his Tenets, for by-ends or preferments, as ever any was, ever having regard to the Lawes of the Land, concerning the same.
For the introducing of Popery, That divers Libels and scandals have been published, to make the world believe his opinions were that way. That if his conscience would have let him gone over to them, he should not have wanted either honour or profit: No not a Cardinals Cap.
That nothing but truth may be spoken against him, and then, Let what can be said between Heaven and Hell, he cares not.
That if he intended to go that way, he took the wrong course to convert above twenty two persons that were going to Rome, and setled their consciences well in the Protestant Religion.
Some of those he so setled, were Mr. Birkhead,6 a Scholar in the University of Oxford, who was going to be of the Church of Rome, till he converted him.
The naming of this Gentleman caused the House of Peeres, and the whole Auditory to laugh, because Aulicus is of that name.
Whereupon the Bishop replyed, It was Birkhead, not Birkenhead, which was the person he conceived their Lordships meant.
[However it is well known, that Mr. Birkenhead that writes Aulicus, was brought up in the Arch-Bishop of Canterburies house under Doctor Bray, and did license bookes there; and therefore he may perhaps be the same man notwithstanding the Bishops saying to the contrary.]
Another of his Converts, was the Duke of Buckingham: how loose a Convert, and how infamous his Courses, all the Kingdome knowes.
Another Convert, was the old Dutchesse of Buckingham: what a ranke Papist she continued, and so died, notwithstanding his Graces Conversion, is well knowne.7
Another remarkable Convert, was the Lord Mayo of Ireland: a notorious Rebell in Ireland, that hath wallowed in the bloud of the Protestants, from the beginning of the Rebellion.8
All the rest were little better converts then these: And particularly, Master Chillingworth,9 who was the two and twentieth, and last Convert of his making: and his Grace did appeale to the Lords, what service Doctor Chillingworth had done to the Church by his Writing, and did challenge all the Bishops and Divines of England to shew the like example.
What Answer Master Peters gave the Bishop after he came from the Barre, concerning the number of Converts, you shall heare in the next, if this, my first fruits finde acceptance.
His little Grace concluded with thanks to their Lordships, for their patience to heare him, giving a defiance to any body to accuse him, of holding the opinion of Adoration, Transubstantiation, or bringing Innovations into the Church.
March the 13. the little Bishop was againe brought to the Barre, Master Maynard mannaged the Charge. It appeared upon proofe, out of his own memoriall, of his own hand writing, which was found about him in the passages of the fifth of December: That upon the Kings declaring himselfe for a Parliament: they were bound to assist the King in extraordinary wayes, if the Parliament proved peevish, this in effect was confirmed by the testimony of Sir Henry Vane, upon the dissolution of that Parliament.
To this the Bishop answered, that it was impossible he should be guilty of the abolishing of Parliaments, for he was one of the three that moved the King to call that Parliament, and besides in his answer to Dr. Fisher, he had writ in maintenance of Parliaments besides, if the words charged be true, he spoke them without malice or conspiracy.
Then it was proved against the Bishop by severall witnesses, his countenancing of that illegall Tax of Ship money, his punishing of such as refused to pay it, or collect it, by committing them to prison by Warrants under his own hand, also his imprisoning of men, for refusing to pay Knighthood money, Lone money, and Tunnage, and Poundage telling such men that refused the payment of such illegall Taxes, that they eat the Kings bread out of his mouth; also in the Soap boilers project; that he said, he would make a Proclamation equall to a Statute-law, & of as much force, the like he said of the Cannons.
It was further proved against him, his frequent preferring such men to great places, that did preach or write most against the Common law of the land, as Dr. Manwaring, who preached the King had right to order all without consent of his people; after he was sentenced in plaine Parliament he preferred him: Dr. Healing and Dr. Dowal was likewise preferred by him, this was proved by writings under the Bishops own hand: Likewise, when he was often addressed unto to suppresse Cowlyes interpreter, where under the title King or Rex, and Prerogative, he writ, that the Prerogative of Kings is above the Common Law and above Parliaments, yet notwithstanding he put off the parties that complained unto him, severall times, in a slight manner, and bid them go to Sir John Lamb, though they shewed his Grace the Proclamations formerly made, for the suppressing thereof, and the bookes came out accordingly. But his punishing of good ministers and other persons, in long and close imprisonment for preaching any thing in maintenance of the laws of the land, was fully proved by several witnesses.
The answer he gave to the most materiall of these charges was, that it was impossible he should do any such thing, for he ever stood for the maintenance of the Common Lawes of the Land.
The Commons assembled in Parliament, well weighing their mock-proffers for peace at Oxford, and considering their intentions thereupon, to set out a Declaration to the Kingdome, That the Parliament is averse to peace; they have thought fit to resolve as followeth:
Whereas there have been many endeavours from Oxford, by Declarations, Messages, and otherwise, to raise a beliefe in the people, and in forreine parts, that they were inclined to peace, and the Parliament averse to it, notwithstanding that the severall means and addresses to the Parliament for that purpose have been such, as in conclusion did appeare clearly to hinder and obstruct the same; which the House of Commons takeing into consideration, & that the Parliament hath alwayes endeavoured a firm and just peace, they do think fit of themselves further to prosecute the same; finding the Commissioners of Scotland by instructions to joyne with them, to consider and prepare grounds for a peace, as by mutuall service and consent, may bring all his Majesties Dominions to a happy and safe peace, for which purpose they passed this Vote further.
Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdomes, to consider of and prepare some grounds for setling a just and safe peace in all his Majesties Dominions, such as both kingdomes may consent unto, and prosecute.
This Vote was communicated to the Lords for their concurrence, on Thursday last.
But such is their temperature at Oxford, that nothing is so hatefull unto them as Peace; and this appeared by the ensuing Votes, which the Lords and Commons of Parliament (as they called themselves) assembled at Oxford have agreed upon; purposely, to avoide all addresses for peace.
Resolved upon the Question: That the Lords and Commons now remaining at Westminster that have given their Votes or Consents to the raising of forces under the command of the Earle of Essex, or have been abetting, aiding, or assisting thereunto, have levyed and made war against the King, and are therein guilty of High Treason.
Resolved, &c. That the Lords and Commons now remaining at Westminster, which have given their consent, or have been abetting or assisting to the present comming in of the Scots into England in a warlike manner, have therein committed High Treason.
Resolved, &c; That the Lords and Commons now remaining at Westminster, that have given their Vote or consent for the making and using a new Great Seale, have thereby counterfeited the Kings Great Seale, and therein committed High Treason.
Resolved, &c. That the Lords and Commons now remaining at Westminster, who have committed the ____ mentioned in the three former Votes, have therein broke the trust in them reposed by their Countrey, and ought to be proceeded against as traytors to the King and Kingdome.
Resolved, &c. That all the endeavours, and offers of peace and Treaty, made by his Majesty by the advice of the Lords and Commons of Parliament assembled at Oxford, have been refused and rejected by the Lords and Commons remaining at Westminster.
The House of Commons have Ordered, that these Votes be inserted into a Declaration to the Kingdome to undeceive the people.
Sir Alex. Denton and Col. Smith,10 formerly two Members of the House of Commons, till they were put out for deserting the Parliament and taken prisoners in Buckinghamshire, were brought prisoners to the House of Commons, and called into the Barre, and kneeling on the bare boards, were required to make answer to the House, whether they had not taken the former Protestation and Covenant, not to desert this Parliament, not to adhere unto or aide the forces raised against the Parliament. To which they answered, They had taken such a Covenant. Then Colonell Smith being demanded if he or some former Officer of his Regiment did not bear in a Cornets Colours, The City of London portrayed with this Motto, Urbs illa Urbs Rebellis, [est et] Nocens Regibus.11 He confessed it was his Majors Colours, not his owne.
This Colonell Smith, is Britanicus his spruse12 Gentleman, that was combing his hair when he should have been fighting.
The next day after these two prisoners came to Town, there was a Gibbet set up in the Pallace yard, which occasioned a great concourse of people; some saying (till the certainty appeared afterwards) that the spruse Colonell was to be hanged, others said Aulicus was discovered at the Bishop of Canterburies Triall, was to be hanged: but most said the Bishop himselfe was to suffer; but the truth was, it was set up in memory of Sir Richard Greenvile, which you may perceive by these ensuing lines, which was affixed to the Gibbet: Whereas Richard Greenvile hath been entertained by the Parliament as a Colonell of a Regiment of horse; whereas the said Greenvile, contrary to his promise, ingagement, and honour of a souldier, hath basely, unworthily, and faithlessly deserted the said service; and feloniously carried away the money paid unto him in regard of the said service; These are to proclaime the said Richard Greenvile Traitour, Rogue, Villane, and Scellum, not onely incapable of military emploiment, but of all acquaintance, and conversation with men of honesty and honour, and this Proclamation in the mean time to be nailed on the Gallowes, whilest it shall please God to deliver the said Greenvile into the hands of justice, that he himselfe may supply the room of this Proclamation.
If the like course had been taken with faithlesse Fortescue,13 Hugh Cholmley, and the rest of the Runnegadoes, it had perhaps prevented Greenviles apostasie. This Greenvile tooke the Covenant, and made great protestations and asseverations in private, of his resolution to live and dye with the Parliament. He had two Whores in town; and the one finding more favour from him then the other, gave out some words intimating his intention to desert the Parliament, which caused him to go sooner to the enemy then he intended.
I shall not adventure to expresse any thing concerning Scotland, by conjecture, by Letters it is certified thus, dated at Sunderland the 11. of march instant, that Generall Lesley,14 and the Commissioners were at Sunderland, six miles on this side Newcastle, and that a great party was gone to Hartlepoole, whether to Quarter there, or besiege that place, the Letter mentions not; that the Earle of Newcastle is retreated back into Yorkshire, leaving part of his forces to make good the passage over Teeze, that Newcastle is close begirt.
From Hull, that the Lord Fairfax hath brought to Hull, the Ordnance and Armes he took at Stamford Bridge, & hath slighted the worked, and broken down the bridge.
From the Camp before Newark it is certified, that the enemy within is resolute, and hopes for succour, either from the Marquesse or the Prince of Cumberland,15 to whom the Queen hath writ two Letters to raise the Siege, they are and have been a good while within Pistoll shot, and they in the Town want salt and fire, & cannot long hold out.
Colonell Massey16 hath sent to the Earle of Denbigh, and Sir Thomas Fairfax, and Colonell Beere,17 that he is able to hold out this six moneths, admitting the Town were close besieged, and therefore if any designe, and a fair opportunity be offered, that they would pursue that, or else attend Prince Ruperts motion.
At Rumsey in Hampshire, Colonell Norton his forces possessed themselves of the Town, while Sir William Balfore faced Winchester, the enemy that deserted the Town in the night, met with a party of their own, towards the new Forrest, and conceiving them to be Balfore s forces fired on them, and routed one another, and slew many on the place; but being afterwards reconciled, such as were unwounded, and not fled, returned to the Towne, and surprised Colonell Nortons forces, and tooke an hundred prisoners, whereof twenty escaped.
The Archbishop of Canterbury was brought to the bar again, Saturday and Monday last; The Charge those two days made good against him, was, his endeavour to make an Order at Councell Table equall with an Act of Parliament, and thereby did his endeavour to subvert the fundamentall Lawes of the Land.
His answer did principally consist in affirming, that though his hand was at such warrants, which may bear that construction, yet there were other Lords hands at it, and therefore it was the Act of the Board & not his Act singly; The Lords that for most part subscribed with him, were Coventry, Cottington,18, Dorset, 19 Privy Seal, 20 Windebank, 21 &c.
The Charge concerning Mr. Pryn was so home, that he was not able to give any answer; save only, that he did not that day he was sentenced, to loose the remnant of his ears, give any sentence against him, and yet after the sentence was past and executed, and that Mr. Pryn had lost the remnant of his ears, and was branded in the face with hot irons, this little Bishop caused him, as also Mr. Burton and Bastwicke, to be banished to the Ilands and there kept close prisoners for three years together, and their wives were ordered by his little Grace and the rest, to be kept close prisoners, if they did presume to land in the Iland where they were prisoners, to see the dressing of their soares, or offer to send their husbands victualls or cloathes; his little grace and the rest did further order, that whosoever, did but offer to look on the prisoners, or speak to them, or give them any reliefe, that they should be complained of, to the Councell Table, and accordingly, a Quo Warranta was brought against the City of Coventry, for assisting Mr. Pryn, and looking on him as he rid through the Towne, likewise at Westchester those that did but look on him with a sorrowful countenance, were questioned in the high Commission at Yorke, and there sentenced deeply, in fine and imprisonment, and publique Acknowledgement for the great sinne they had committed against God, in visiting Master Pryn.
Printed according to Order for Robert White
Source: British Library, E.31(17)
Search tags: Barnstaple (Barnstable), Cornwall (Cornewall), Earl of Bristol (Bristow), Earl of Warwick (my Lord of Warwicke), Lord George Digby (Digby), Marquess of Hamilton (Marquesse Hamilton), Oliver St John (Mr. St. Johns), Pendennis Castle (Pendennis), Prince d'Harcourt French Ambassador (Prince Harcourt), Stephen Marshall (Mr. Marshall), Thomas Violet (Violet), William Lenthall (Mr. Speaker)
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