x66 7he HISTORY 'of the -PuRITANs. Vor.. II. K. Charles I. Such was the unhappy fpirit of this prelate, who "though he had feen ~ " the violent effects of his ill counfels, and had been fo long (hut up, and " [o much a-t leifure to reflect upon what bad pa ll in the hurry of paffion, "and in the exaltation of his profperity, yet (as bifhop Burnct obferves) " he does not in any one part of his diary acknowledge his own errors, " nor mix any wife or pious reflections upon the unhappy fl:eps he had " made." It was no doubt a great mortification to his fpirir, to be expofed to the people, and to wait fometimes an hour or two before he was called to the bar; but as for his charity and patience under his fufferings, I mufl: leave the reader to form his own judgment. Pet;tions for While the proceedings againll: the archbif'nop were at a fiand, by rea– juJ!icc fon of the lords being diffatisfied, whether tbe foRs proved agailjt him Pgainjl him. were treajim by flatute law; the citizens of London affembled, and prefented a petition to the houfe of commons ORob. ·z8th. figned with a great number of hand~, prayi ng for fpeedy jull:ice againft delinquents, and .particularly againll: the archbifhop; which was no doubt an artful contri– vance of his enemies. The commons to prevent all further delays, deter– mined not to prefs the lords for judgment upon the trial, but ordered a bill .of attainder to be brought in; .arid when it hacl been twice read, the arch– .bifhop was brought t; the bar of the houfe of commons, to hear the evidence on which it proceeded, and to make what further defence he thought proper; Mr. Browne fummed up the charge Nov. 2. and the archbifhop had nine days given him to prepare his defence, Nov. I I, he fpoke for himfelf fume hours at the bar of the houfe of commous, and Mr. Browne replied before the archbi!bop withdrew; after which the bill of attainder palfed the houfe the very fame day with but one diifent– ing voice, and that not upon the fubftance of the charge, but upon the m anner of proceeding. The bill being fent up to the lords they made an order Dec. 4· that all books, writings, &c. concerning the archbijhop's tri– .al, jhould be brought in to the clerk of tbe parliament, which being done, they examined over again, all the heads and principal parts of the evidence, .and voted each particular as they went forward ; fo tender were they of the life of this prelate, and fo careful to maintain the honour and jull:ice C 1 ndemned of their proceediugs. When they had gone through the whole, they vo– hy .bill of at- ted J-.im guilty of all the facts charged againfi l1im, in three branches, taznde~·. nam'dy, guilty if endeavouring to Jubvert the laws;-- qf endeavouring to Gverthrow the proteflant religion,-- and tbe rights of parliaments. After this they fent a melfage to the commons, to de fire them to anrwer the argument of the archbifl10p's council, as to the points of law, which they accordingly did at a conference Jan, 2. when ferjeant 11/ild, Mr. Browne, and Mr. Nicolas, having given the reafons of the commons for .their attainder, the lords were fatisfied, and Jmz 4· palied the bill, where-
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=