LAUD, The next day being a public fast, this prelate was brought into Abp. Cant. the Abbey-church at Westminster by six bishops, and officiated as dean there. The commons, according to custom, went to St. Margaret's church; and here, while the second service was reading at the communion-table, the audience began to sing some of Hopkins' metre, and disturbed the office. disturbed at St. MargaThis breaking in upon the prayers was somewhat surprising; ret's. but the commons, it seems, had a mind to acquaint the people L'Estrange's with part of their design. The service Hist. of K. Charles 1. p. 206. The earl of Strafford impeached. The earl of Strafford, who commanded the English army, came up to London at the king's instance, and ventured himself with the parliament. This, both by himself and his friends, was thought a step somewhat too hardy. But the caution was overruled by his majesty, who promised his protection, and reWhitlock's fused to dispense with his absence at the council-board. However, this nobleman's apprehensions of danger were too well founded; for upon his appearing in the house he was impeached for high treason by the commons, committed to the black rod, and sent to the Tower soon after. Memoirs. The government being now in a visible declension, Burton and Pryn got loose from their confinement, and made a pompous entry into London, being attended from Brentford by several thousands of horse and foot, with rosemary in their hats. Thus the king's courts of justice, which had censured these men, were openly insulted; and the criminals were admitted to the house of commons to prefer petitions against the L'Estrange, prosecutors. Hist. of K. Charles 1. The resolves of the Com This By this countenance the Puritan faction was further animated to attack the Church. And alderman Pennington, with a retinue of some hundreds, came to the house of commons and presented a petition, subscribed by fifteen thousand Londoners, though not in the name of the corporation. paper exhibited a strong complaint against the ceremonies and discipline of the Church of England; but containing too much matter for sudden despatch, it was postponed to a time of more leisure. Upon the 15th of December the commons attacked the late convocation in form; and resolved, nullo contradicente "1. That the clergy of England, convened in any convocamons against tion or synod, or otherwise, have no power to make any con the canons. I. stitutions, canons, or acts whatsoever in matter of doctrine, CHARLES discipline, or otherwise, to bind the clergy or laity of the land, without common consent of parliament. "2. That the several constitutions and canons ecclesiastical, treated upon by the archbishops of Canterbury and York, presidents of the convocation for the respective provinces of Canterbury and York, and the rest of the bishops and clergy of those provinces, and agreed upon with the king's majesty's licence in their several synods, begun at London and York, 1640, do not bind the clergy or laity of this land, or either of them." The next day the same subject being resumed, it was resolved, nullo contradicente "1. That these canons and constitutions ecclesiastical, treated upon by the archbishops of Canterbury and York, presidents of the convocations for the respective provinces of Canterbury and York, and by the rest of the bishops and clergy of those provinces, and agreed upon with the king's majesty's licence in their several synods begun at London and York, in the year 1640, do contain in them many matters contrary to the king's prerogative, to the fundamental laws and statutes of this realm, to the rights of parliament, to the property and liberty of the subject, and matters tending to sedition, and of dangerous consequence. "2. That the several grants of the benevolences or contributions granted to his most excellent majesty by the clergy of the provinces of Canterbury and York, in the several convocations or synods holden at Canterbury and York, A.d. 1640, are contrary to the laws, and ought not to bind the clergy.” 797. Rushworth, part 2. p. 1365. The making these canons was afterwards urged against the archbishop at his trial, with all the aggravations already mentioned. But I find no proof produced to support the Troubles, charge. Hist. of the &c. of Archbishop p. 154. 283. bishop of The next day, Mr. Denzil Hollis was sent up from the lower Laud, house to the lords, with an impeachment of high treason against The archarchbishop Laud. And to give a stronger colour upon the prose- Canterbury cution, the Scotch joined him in the charge with the earl of and the earl of Strafford Strafford, as a public incendiary. Upon this impeachment he impeached. LAUD, Abp. Cant. Anabaptistical heterodoxies. Jan. 18, 1640-41. Fuller's Ch. Hist. Cyprian. The king's speech in bishops. was committed to the black rod, and continued under that restraint till the first of March, when he was sent to the Tower. And now the discipline of the Church sinking with the archbishop, about fourscore Anabaptists meeting at a house in St. Saviour's, Southwark, preached that the 35th of Eliz. enjoining the use of the Common Prayer, was no legal statute, because the bishops concurred to the making it. From hence they advanced upon the crown, asserting that the king cannot make a good law, because not "perfectly regenerate:" and that he is only to be obeyed in matters relating to the state. Upon their being brought before the lords, they confessed the articles, but were dismissed without punishment. The speeches of several members in the house of commons against the bishops, were followed with petitions from several counties; one of which was signed by seven hundred presbyters. This remonstrance against the hierarchy being well entertained by the parliament, the king made a speech to both houses to this effect: : He told them "he could not but take notice of some very defence of the surprising petitions, sent up in the name of several counties, against the present establishment of the Church: that the bishops were menaced with being reduced to an utter insignificancy, if not wholly set aside. Now (continued the king) I must acquaint you, I make a difference between reformation and alteration of government: and though I am for the first, I cannot give way to the latter. I will not say but that the bishops may have over-strained their authority, and encroached upon the temporal jurisdiction. If you are disposed to check such irregular motions, and reform the abuse, I am Rushworth's ready to concur with you. Nay further, if you can demonstrate the bishops have an over-weight of temporal authority; if you can show me that they have some branches of jurisdiction inconvenient to the state, and not necessary for the support of their order, I shall not be unwilling to persuade them to resign. But by this concession you must not understand, I can consent to the taking away their votes in parliament. Of this privilege they have been possessed under many of my ancestors, before the Conquest to the present time: and a right they have enjoyed, without interruption, for so many hundred years, I conceive myself bound to maintain, and look Hist. Coll. part 3. upon it as fundamental to the constitution." The rest of his CHARLES majesty's speech being foreign to the Church, shall be omitted. And now the commons sent a message to the lords by Glyn, to desire they would join with them in an address, to be informed who solicited the king to reprieve Goodman, a seminary priest, in the face of the parliament. The king sent them word by the lord privy-seal, that Goodman being found guilty of no crime, but his character, the reprieving him was no more favour than had formerly been shown to Roman Catholic priests by his father and queen Elizabeth. The commons, not being satisfied with this answer, had another conference with the lords: and here they agreed upon the follow ing remonstrance : I. L'Estrange's mons' re 210. "That considering the present juncture, they conceived the The Comstrict execution of the laws against recusancy more necessary monstrance. than formerly. "1. Because by divers petitions from several parts of the kingdom, complaints are made of the great increase of pope y and superstition. "2. They complain of the great number of priests and Jesuits; and that they appear publicly with such assurance, as if there were no laws enacted against them. "3. It appears to the house that of late years, about the city of London, priests and Jesuits have been discharged out of prison, many of them being condemned for high treason. 4. The parliament is credibly informed, that at this present the pope has a nuncio, or agent, resident in the city, and they have good reason to believe the information. "5. The Papists go as publicly to mass at Denmark-house, at St. James's, and the ambassadors' chapels, as other people go to their parish churches. 6. It is found this Goodman had been twice before committed and discharged, and was formerly a minister of the Church of England: therefore they humbly desire the said John Goodman may be left to the justice of the law.” To this remonstrance the king replied: Jan. 27. Idem. "That the increase of popery and superstition (if any such The king's thing had happened) was contrary to his inclination. And that answer. LAUD, to take off all occasion of complaint, he shall order the laws may Abp. Cant. be put in execution. Idem. Rushworth, part. 3. Fuller's Ch. Hist. book 11. P. 174. 798. Articles granted to the Scots. "That he is resolved to set forth a proclamation, to command Jesuits and priests to depart the kingdom within a month and, in case they either fail, or return, they shall be proceeded against according to law. "As touching the pope's nuncio (Rosetti) his commission reaches only to keep up a correspondence between the queen and the pope, in things relating to the exercise of religion: that this correspondence comes within the compass of full liberty of conscience, secured her by the articles of marriage. However, since Rosetti's character happens to be misunderstood, and gives offence, he has persuaded the queen to consent to his being recalled. 66 Further, his majesty will take special care to restrain his subjects from going to mass at Denmark-house, St. James's, and the chapels of the ambassadors. 66 Lastly, touching Goodman, he is contented to remit him to the pleasure of both houses, but then, in case they resolve to press the law close upon this priest, he desires they would consider the inconveniences which may be drawn upon his subjects, and other Protestants in foreign countries: for that which looks like necessary justice at home, may probably be interpreted as severity abroad." This Goodman was said to have been so generous and resigned, that he petitioned the king he might be treated like Jonah the prophet, thrown overboard to lay the tempest, and sacrificed to the public repose. I have already mentioned the treaty at Ripon was to be drawn out to further articles, and perfected at London. For this purpose the king issued a commission to the sixteen lords, formerly employed in this affair, or any ten of them, to treat with the Scotch commissioners, to receive their demands, and settle the differences on foot. Amongst the articles granted, I shall mention only some few relating to the Church. To begin, therefore, with the third demand of the Scots, which was, "That Scotchmen, within his majesty's dominions of England and Ireland, may be free from censure for subscribing the covenant, and no more pressed with oaths and |