by her priests affected with the meritoriousness of advancing her own religion, whose principle it is to subvert all others, applied that way her great wit and parts, and the power her haughty spirit kept over her husband, who was enslaved in his affection only to her, though she had no more passion for him than what served to promote her designs. Mr. Hume says of her, that by her sense and spirit, as well as by her beauty, she justified the fondness of her husband; though it is allowed that, being somewhat of a passionate temper, she precipitated him into hasty and imprudent measures. That her religion likewise, to which she was much addicted, must be regarded as a great misfortune, since it augmented the jealousy which prevailed against the court, and engaged her tò procure for the Catholics some indulgences which were generally distasteful to the nation.

CHAPTER III.

THE FIFTH (LONG) PARLIAMENT, 3D NOV. 1640.

BERS. -THE KING'S SPEECH.

NUMPETITIONS ON BEHALF GRIEVANCES.

MONEY

OF MR. PRYNN AND OTHERS.
ORDERED FOR THE MAINTENANCE OF THE ENGLISH AND

SCOTCH ARMIES.

-

FORD.
SURED.

ACCUSATION OF THE EARL OF STRAF

2

EXTRAJUDICIAL OPINION OF THE JUDGES CENCONDEMNATION OF THE CANONS AND CONSTITUTIONS OF THE CLERGY.—SCOT'S ACCUSATION OF LAUD, ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY. IMPEACHMENT OF THE LORD-KEEPER FINCH. ATION OF THE JUDGES.

--

HIS ESCAPE. ACCUSREMOVAL OF IMAGES, &c.

BIIL FOR TRIENNIAL PARLIAMENTS PASSED.

TENCES OF MR. PRYNN, &c. REVERSED. THE EARL OF STRAFFORD'S TRIAL. ACT OF ATTAINDER PASSES THE LORDS AND COMMONS.

PROTESTATION OF THE LORDS

AND COMMONS, &c. THE KING'S ASSENT TO THE BILL OF ATTAINDER. LORD STRAFFORD'S EXECUTION.

DEBATES UPON EPISCOPAL GOVERNMENT. CHANGES OF THE PRIVY COUNCIL. ARCHBISHOP LAUD'S IMPEACH

ON Tuesday the 3d of November, 1640, the par

liament met at Westminster.

Then follow, in Rushworth, the names of the members of the House of Commons, and places they represented, amounting to the number of 497. The number of the last parliament was 502. The

difference between the numbers appears to arise principally from the different number of members representing particular places.

The King, in a short speech, states the objects of their meeting, and refers to the Lord-keeper for the rest. He describes His Majesty as a king of exemplary piety and justice, of rare endowments and abilities of nature; and what he had acquired, depth of judgment, quickness of apprehension, unparalleled moderation in great councils and great affairs. He then speaks of the Queen as the mirror of virtue. He relates the proceedings in the affairs of Scotland since the last parliament; and concludes with desiring the Commons to choose their Speaker. They chose William Lenthall, Esq. a bencher of Lincoln's Inn.

Petitions were presented on behalf of Prynn, Bastwick, Burton, Lilburn, Leighton, and Alexander Jennings, who were ordered to be brought to the bar of the house.

The first member, says Rushworth, that stood up to represent the grievances of his country was Arthur Capel, Esq., knight of the shire for the county of Hertford, (afterwards Lord Capel,) who presented a petition in the name of the freeholders of that county, setting forth the burden and oppression of the people during the long intermission of Parliament, in their consciences, liberties, and properties, particularly in the heavy tax of shipmoney. Similar petitions were also presented from

the counties of York, Lincoln, and several other counties and boroughs.

Mr. Pym, one of the members for Tavistock, spoke at considerable length upon the subject of grievances, and concluded with proposing a conference with the Lords.

Mr. May observes, that though the King was thanked for his grace towards his English Parliament, the desire of expelling the Scots was otherwise considered by the Houses for that, about a week after, it was ordered by the House of Commons, that 100,000l. should be paid to the two armies, to be levied rateably upon all the counties of England; and that, till it could be levied, the money to be taken up at interest. And the Scots' commissioners were allowed to come and exhibit their complaints, and dispute the business at London.

Many excellent speeches upon the subject of grievances were delivered by different members. Lord Digby concludes his speech by moving the appointment of a select committee, to draw, out of all that had been there represented, such a remonstrance as might be a faithful and lively representation to His Majesty of the deplorable state of the kingdom, and such as might happily discover unto his clear and excellent understanding the pernicious authors of it. And being prepared, that they might repair to the Lords, and desire them to join in it.

So numerous, says Rushworth, were the complaints and petitions touching grievances, that the whole House was divided and subdivided into above forty committees, to hear and examine them: but the principal were reducible to these general heads; namely, committees concerning religion, innovations in the church, and grievances by ecclesiastical courts; concerning public affairs in general, and particularly concerning Ireland and Scotland. Other committees, relating to shipmoney, judges, and courts of justice; concerning popery, the popish hierarchy, the pope's nuncios, plots, and designs, &c.

Upon Lord Digby's above motion, a committee of twenty-four was appointed to draw, out of that which had been presented to the House, such a declaration as might be a faithful representation to the House, of the state of the kingdom. Lord Digby, Sir Francis Seymour, Mr. Selden, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Capel, were amongst the members of this committee.

Upon the 11th of November, at the instance of Mr. Pym, a committee was formed to consider of information received against the Earl of Strafford, supposed to be sufficient to charge him with high treason. The committee reported that they found just cause for accusing him of high treason, and the House was moved to desire the Lords that he might be sequestered from Parliament, and committed. The House of Lords accordingly committed him