Speeches and passages of this great and happy Parliament: from the third of November, 1640, to this instant June, 1641.: Collected into one volume, and according to the most perfect originalls, exactly published.

THE CHARGE OF THE SCOTTISH Commissioners against the Livetenant of Ireland.

IN our Declarations we have joyned with Canterbury the Lord Lievetenant of Ireland, whose malice hath set all his wits and power on work, to devise and do mischiefe against our Kirk and Countrey.

No other cause of his malice can we conceive, but first his pride and supercilious disdain of the Kirk of Scotland, which in his opinion declared by his speeches hath not in it almost any thing of a Kirk, although the Reformed Kirks, and many worthy Divines of England have given ample testimony to the Reformation of the Kirk of Scotland.

Secondly, our open opposition against the dangerous innovation of Religion intended, and very far promoved in all his Majesties dominions; of which he hath shewed himselfe in his own way no lesse zealous then Canterbury himselfe, as may appeare by his advancing of his Chap∣lain, D. Bramble, not only to the Bishoprick of Derry, but also to be Vicar-generall of Ireland, a man prompted

for exalting of Canterburian Popery, and Arminianisme, that thus himself might have the power of both swords, a∣gainst all that should maintain the Reformation, by his his bringing of D. Chappel, a man of the same spirit, to Ʋniversity of Dublin, for poysoning the fountains, and corrupting the Seminaries of the Kirk.

And thirdly, when the Primate of Ireland did presse a new ratification of the Articles of that Kirk, in Parli∣ament for barring such Novations in Religion, he bold∣ly menaced him with the burning by the hand of the Hang-man, of that Confession, although confirmed in former Parliaments.

When he found that the Reformation begun in Scot∣land did stand in his way, he left no means unassaied to rub disgrace upon us, and our cause. The peeces prin∣ted at Dublin, Examen conjurationis Scoticanae, The un∣girding of the Scottish Armour: the pamphlet bearing the counterfeit name of Lisimachus Nicanor; all three so full of calumnies, slanders, and scurrilities against our Countrey, and Reformation, that the Jesuites in their greatest spite, could not have sayd more, yet not only the Authors were countenanced and rewarded by him, but the books must bear his name, as the great Patron both of the work and workman.

When the Nationall Oath and Covenant warranted by our generall Assemblies, was approved by Parlia∣ment in the Articles subscribed in the Kings name, by his Maiesties high Commissioner, and by the Lords of privie Counsell, and Commanded to be sworn by his Majesties Subiects of all ranks; and particular and ple∣nary information was given unto the Lievetenant, by men of such quality as he ought to have believed, of the loyalty of our hears to the King, of the lawfulnesse of our proceedings, and innocency of our Covenant, and whole course, that he could have no excuse: yet his desperate malice made him to bend his craft and

cruelty, his fraud and forces against us. For first, he did craftily call up to Dublin some of our Country-men both of the Nobility and Gentry, living in Ireland, shewing them, that the King would conceive and ac∣count them as Conspirers with the Scots, in their re∣bellious courses, except some remedie were provided; and for remedy, suggesting his own wicked invention, to present unto him and his own wicked Councell, a pe∣tition, which he caused to be framed by the Bishop of Raphoe, and was seen and corrected by himselfe, wher∣in they petitioned to have an oath given them, contai∣ning a formall renunciation of the Scottish Covenant, and a deep assurance never so much as to protest against any of his Majesties commandements whatsoever.

No sooner was this Oath thus craftily contriv'd, but in all haste it is sent to such places of the Kingdome where our Countrey-men had residence; and men, women, and all other persons above the years of sixteen, constrained either presently to take the Oath, and ther∣by renounce their Nationall Covenant as seditious and trayterous, or with violence and cruelty to be haled to the Jayle, fined above the valew of their estates, and to be kept close prisoners, and so farre as we know, some are yet kept in prison, both men and women of good quality, for not renouncing that Oath which they had taken forty years since, in obedience to the King who then lived. A cruelty ensued, which may para∣lell the persecutions of the most unchristian times: for weake women dragged to the Bench to take the Oath, dyed in the place, both mother and Child; hundreds driven to hide themselves, till in the darknesse of the night they might escape by Sea into Scotland, whither thousands of them did flye, being forced to leave Corn, Cattell, Houses, and all they possessed, to be prey to their persecuting enemies, the Lievetenants Officers. And some indited and declared guilty of high-treason, for no

other guiltinesse but for subscribing our National oath, which was not only impiety and injustice in it self, and an utter undoing of his Majesties Subiects, but was a weakning of the Scots Plantation, to the prejudice of that Kingdome, and his Majesties service, and was a high scandall against the Kings honour, and intolerable abuse to his Majesties trust and authority: his Majesties Commission, which was procured by the Lievetenant, bearing no other penalty then a certification of noting the names of the refusers of the oath.

But by this his restlesse rage and insatiable cruelty, against our Religion and Countrey, cannot be kept within the bounds of Ireland.

By this means a Parliament is called, And although by the six subsidies granted in Parliament not long be∣fore, and by the base means which himself and his Offi∣cers did use, as is contained in a late Remonstrance, that Land was extreamly impoverished, yet by his speeches full of oathes and asseverations, That we were Traytors and Rebels, casting off all Monarchicall Govern∣ment, &c. he extorted from them foure new Subsidies, and indicta causa before we were heard, procured that a Warre was udertaken, and forces should be levied a∣gainst us, as a rebellious Nation, which was also inten∣ded to be an example and president to the Parliament of England for granting subsidies, and sending a joynt Ar∣mie for our utter ruine.

According to his appointment in Parliament, the Armie was gathered, and brought down to the Coast, threatning a daily invasion of our Countrey, intending to make us a conquered Province, and to destroy our Religion, liberties, and Lawes, and thereby laying up∣on us a necessity of vast charges, to keep forces on foot on the West coast to wait upon his comming.

And as the War was denounced, and forces leavied before we were heard. So before the denouncing of the

War, our Ships, and goods on the Irish Coast were ta∣ken, and the owners cast in prison, and some of them in Irons. Frigats were sent forth to scour our Coasts, which did take some, and burn others of our Barques.

Having thus incited the Kingdome of Ireland, and put his forces in order there against us, with all haste he commeth to England.

In his parting, at the giving up of the Sword, he o∣penly avowed our utter ruine and desolation, in these or the like words, If I returne to that honourable Sword, I shall leave of the Scots neither root nor branch.

How soon he commeth to Court, as before he had done very evill offices against our Commissioners, cleering our proceedings before the poynt: So now houseth all means to stir up the King and Parliament a∣gainst us, and to move them to a present war, accord∣ing to the precedent, and example of his own making in the Parliament of Ireland. And finding that his hopes failed him, and his designes succeeded not that way, in his nimblenesse he taketh another course, that the Parliament of England may be broken up, and de∣spising their wisedome and authority, not onely with great gladnesse accepteth, but useth all means that the conduct of the Army in the expedition against Scotland, may be put upon him; which accordingly he obtaineth as generall Captain, with power to invade, kill, slay, and save at his discretion, and to make any one, or moe Deputies in his stead, to do, and execute all the power and authorities committed to him.

According to the largenesse of his Commission, and Letters Patents of his devising, so were his deportments afterwards; for when the Scots, according to their de∣clarations sent before them, were comming in a peace∣able way, far from any intention to invade any of his Majesties Subiects, and still to supplicate his Majesty for a setled peace, he gave order to his Officers to fight

with them on the way, that the two Nations once en∣tred in bloud, whatsoever should be the successe, he might escape triall and censure, and his bloudy designs might be put in execution against his Maiesties Sub∣iects of both Kingdomes.

When the Kings Maiesty was again enclined to hear∣ken to our petitions, and to compose our differences in a peaceable way, and the Peers of England conveened at Yorke, had, as before, in their great wisedome and faith∣fulnesse given unto his Maiesties Counsels of peace, yet this firebrand still smoaketh; and in that honorable As∣sembly, taketh upon him to breath out threatnings a∣gainst us as Traytors, and enemies to Monarchiall go∣vernment; that we be sent home again in our bloud, and he will whip us out of England.

And as these were his speeches in the time of the Treaty appointed by his Maiesty at Rippon, that if it had been possible, it might have been broken up. So when a Cessation of Arms was happily agreed upon there, yet he ceaseth not, but still his practises were for war; His under officers can tell who it was that gave them Com∣mission to draw near in Arms beyond the Teese, in the time of the Treaty at Rippon.

The Governour of Barwicke, and Carlile can shew, from whom they had their warrants for their Acts of hostility after the cessation was concluded. It may be tryed how it cometh to passe, that the Ports of Ireland are yet closed, our Country-men for the oath still kept in prison, traffique interrupted, and no other face of af∣fairs, then if no cessation had been agreed upon.

We therefore desire that your Lordships will repre∣sent to the Parliament, that this great incendiary upon these and the like offences, not against particular persons, but against Kingdomes, and Nations, may be put to a tryall, and from their knowne and renowned justice, may have his deserved punishment.

16. December, 1640.