BHO

The trial of Strafford: The twenty-first article

Pages 516-517

Historical Collections of Private Passages of State: Volume 8, 1640-41. Originally published by D Browne, London, 1721.

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Citation:

The One and Twentieth Article.

The Charge.

Charge.

21. That the said Earl of Strafford, shortly after his Speeches, mentioned in the last Precedent, Articles, to wit, in the fifteenth year of His Majesties Reign, came into this Realm of England, and was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and continued his Government of that kingdom by a Deputy: at his arrival here, finding that His Majesty; with much wisdom and goodness, had composed the Troubles in the North, and had a Pacification with His Subjects of Scotland; he laboured by all means, to procure His Majesty to break that Pacification, Incensing His Majesty against His Subjects of that kingdom, and the Proceeding of the Parliament there.

And having Incited His Majesty to an Offensive war against His Subjects of Scotland by Sea and Land, and by pretext thereof to raise forces for the maintenance of that war, he compelled His Majesty to call a Parliament in England; yet the said laid Earl intended, that if the said proceedings of that Parliament should not be such as would stand with the said Earl of Strafford's mischievous Designs, he would then procure His Majesty to break the same; and, by ways of force and power, to raise Monies upon the Subjects of this kingdom. And, for the encouragement of His Majesty to hearken to his Advice, he did before His Majesty and privy Council, then sitting in Council, make a large Declaration, That he would serve His Majesty in any other way, in case the Parliament should not supply him.