The Tryal of Thomas, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, upon an impeachment of high treason by the Commons then assembled in Parliament, in the name of themselves and of all the Commons in England, begun in Westminster-Hall the 22th of March 1640, and continued before judgment was given until the 10th of May, 1641 shewing the form of parliamentary proceedings in an impeachment of treason : to which is added a short account of some other matters of fact transacted in both houses of Parliament, precedent, concomitant, and subsequent to the said tryal : with some special arguments in law relating to a bill of attainder / faithfully collected, and impartially published, without observation or reflection, by John Rushworth of Lincolnes-Inn, Esq.
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- Title
- The Tryal of Thomas, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, upon an impeachment of high treason by the Commons then assembled in Parliament, in the name of themselves and of all the Commons in England, begun in Westminster-Hall the 22th of March 1640, and continued before judgment was given until the 10th of May, 1641 shewing the form of parliamentary proceedings in an impeachment of treason : to which is added a short account of some other matters of fact transacted in both houses of Parliament, precedent, concomitant, and subsequent to the said tryal : with some special arguments in law relating to a bill of attainder / faithfully collected, and impartially published, without observation or reflection, by John Rushworth of Lincolnes-Inn, Esq.
- Author
- Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of, 1593-1641, defendant.
- Publication
- London :: Printed for John Wright ... and Richard Chiswell ...,
- 1680.
- Rights/Permissions
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- Subject terms
- Strafford, Thomas Wentworth, -- Earl of, 1593-1641.
- Trials (Impeachment) -- England.
- Link to this Item
-
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A57925.0001.001
- Cite this Item
-
"The Tryal of Thomas, Earl of Strafford, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, upon an impeachment of high treason by the Commons then assembled in Parliament, in the name of themselves and of all the Commons in England, begun in Westminster-Hall the 22th of March 1640, and continued before judgment was given until the 10th of May, 1641 shewing the form of parliamentary proceedings in an impeachment of treason : to which is added a short account of some other matters of fact transacted in both houses of Parliament, precedent, concomitant, and subsequent to the said tryal : with some special arguments in law relating to a bill of attainder / faithfully collected, and impartially published, without observation or reflection, by John Rushworth of Lincolnes-Inn, Esq." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A57925.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 14, 2025.
Pages
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To the Right HONOURABLE GEORGE EARL OF HALIFAX; One of His Majesties most Honourable PRIVY COUNCIL.
My LORD,
NO Man (I believe) understands better than your Lordship, the In∣terest and Concern that Posterity hath, in a true account of all matters of moment, that were transacted by their An∣cestors; and I know none in whose Devotion, to the service of the King and Kingdom, I could so confide, as in your
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Lordships, to Patronize this plain and full Rela∣tion of the proceedings in Parliament, in the Case of the greatest Minister of State, in his time.
I some times doubted that the Dedication of these Papers to your Lordship, might be impro∣per, because of your Lordships Descent from the Sister of that great Personage, whose unhappy Fate is here related. But having well consider∣ed, that Honor, Truth, and Justice, have the Su∣preme Empire in your truly Noble Soul; and that a full and clear Narrative of all the Mat∣ters of Fact, that occurred in this great Affairs, with the Intentions and Constructions of them, as de∣clared from the mouth of your Noble Ancestor himself, is the fairest and justest way to represent him truly to future Ages; I conceived it not unfit for your Lordship to favour this true Account of him, which may protect his Name from the injuries, both of Ignorance and Malice.
I ought not, neither can I flatter your Lord∣ship; you are too well known to need any thing that can be said by me of your Worth and true Nobleness; and the Character of this your Ance∣stor is best to be collected from the following Pa∣pers. His Letters published by me in the Second Part of my Historical Collections, and his Behaviour
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in this solemn Tryal here published, discovers the greatness of his Parts, the quickness of his Ap∣prehension, the excellence of his Wit and Elo∣quence, the contempt he had of Death, and the serene Composure of his mind in that Part of his Life, which falls within this History,
I should not have dared to present this Work to your Lordship, so nearly related to this emi∣nent Minister of State, if I had not been a Wit∣nesse to all the steps of the proceedings in this great▪ Action, and if I had not taken in Cha∣racters, as well and truly, all that was said for him, as what his Accusers said against him; and therefore I can with great assurance aver it to be a candid Representation of Matter of Fact, which is all I pretend to publish to the World: andas far as the exactest care could carry me, I have done it so punctually true, that I am hope∣ful there is none can have any just Exception to any part of it. My Lord, There is none alive can judge of a Work of this nature better than your self, who as you are descended from a Race of Statesmen, being Nephew and Grandson to the Two chief Ministers of the last age, this Great Earl, and the Wise and Fortunate Lord Keeper Coventry, so are you lookt on by all, as a Per∣son born for the Service of the KING, and the publique good of your Countrey: And as
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I have always had a constant Experience of your Goodness and Indulgence to my self, so I hum∣bly hope your Lordship will favourably construe my intentions in this Dedication, and accept of it as a tribute of Duty and Acknowledgement humbly offered by
May it please your Lordship,
Your Lordships most Humble, Most Faithful, and Most obliged Servant JO. RUSHWORTH.
March 25. 1680.