DIE Jovis, 1 Septembris.
Domini tam Spirituales quam Temporales præsentes
fuerunt:
Georgius Princeps Walliæ.
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Epus. Sarum.
Epus. Bangor.
Epus. Carliol.
Epus. Landav.
Epus. Roffen.
Epus. Gloucestr.
Epus. Oxon. |
Ds. Cowper, Cancellarius.
Comes Nottingham, Præses.
Dux Devon, Senescallus.
Dux Shrewsbury.
Dux Bucks.
Dux Montagu.
Dux Montrose.
Dux Roxburgh.
Dux Ancaster, Magnus Camerarius.
Dux Kingston.
Dux Newcastle.
March. Tweddale.
March. Annandale.
Comes Derby.
Comes Lincoln.
Comes Dorset.
Comes Bridgewater.
Comes Northampton.
Comes Manchester.
Comes Scarsdale.
Comes Clarendon.
Comes Radnor.
Comes Berkeley.
Comes Portland.
Comes Jersey.
Comes Grantham.
Comes Greenwich.
Comes Poulet.
Comes Godolphin.
Comes Cholmondeley.
Comes Buchan.
Comes Loudoun.
Comes Orkney.
Comes Bute.
Comes I'lay.
Comes Strafford.
Comes Rockingham.
Comes Tankerville.
Viscount Say & Seale.
Viscount Townshend.
Viscount Longueville. |
Ds. Delawar.
Ds. Willughby Br.
Ds. Compton.
Ds. Berkeley.
Ds. Cornwallis.
Ds. Lumley.
Ds. Carteret.
Ds. Guilford.
Ds. Ashburnham.
Ds. Weston.
Ds. Rosse.
Ds. Belhaven.
Ds. Harcourt.
Ds. Montjoy.
Ds. Middleton.
Ds. Lansdown.
Ds. Masham.
Ds. Foley.
Ds. Bathurst.
Ds. Saunderson.
Ds. Carleton.
Ds. Cobham. |
PRAYERS.
Hoskyns Bill.
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to
enable Sir Hungerford Hoskins Baronet to raise Monies, to discharge his Brothers and Sisters Portions, and
to settle a Jointure on a Wife."
The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall
pass?"
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Ld. Visc. Rosse's Bill:
Hodie 3a
vice lecta est Billa, intituled, "An Act to
enable Richard Lord Viscount Rosse of the Kingdom
of Ireland, notwithstanding his Nonage, to make a
Jointure on Mary Viscountess Rosse his Wife, and a
Settlement on his Issue Male, with Provision for Younger Children; and for other Purposes therein mentioned."
The Question was put, "Whether this Bill shall
pass?"
It was Resolved in the Affirmative.
Message to H. C. with it, and Hoskyns' Bill.
A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by
Mr. Rogers and Mr. Holford:
To carry down both the said Bills, and desire their
Concurrence.
Yule Vacance in Scotland Bill.
Hodie 2a
vice lecta est Billa, intituled, An Act for
shortening the Time of the Yule Vacance, in that
Part of Great Britain called Scotland."
Ordered, That the said Bill be committed to a
Committee of the whole House, To-morrow.
Middleton versus Balfour.
Counsel were this Day called in, and heard, upon the
Petition and Appeal of Robert Middleton, Rector of St.
Mary's in Colchester, in the County of Essex; as also
upon the Answer of John Balfour of Fairnie Esquire
put in thereunto; and withdrew.
E. Strafford impeached.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Mr. Aislabie and others:
Who did, in the Name of that House and of all the
Commons of Great Britain, impeach Thomas Earl of
Strafford of high Crimes and Misdemeanors; and acquainted this House, "That the Commons had prepared Articles to maintain the said Charge, and commanded him to exhibit and leave the same with their
Lordships."
And he accordingly delivered the said Articles.
Message from H. C. to return the River Kennet Bill.
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Mr. London and others:
To return the Bill, intituled, "An Act for making
the River Kennet navigable, from Reading to Newbury,
in the County of Berks;" and to acquaint this House,
that they have agreed to their Lordships Amendments
made thereto.
Bill for Relief of Sufferers by Fire, Message from H. C. for a Conference about:
A Message was brought from the House of Commons,
by Mr. Colemore and others:
To desire a Conference with this House, upon the
Subject-matter of their Lordships Amendments to the
Bill, intituled, "An Act for the Relief of Anne Milner,
Thomas Colemore, William Hunt, William Parrot, and
others, as to Customs of Goods burnt and destroyed
by the late Fire in Thames Street, London."
Ordered, That this House will give a Conference,
as desired; and appoint the same To-morrow, at One a
Clock, in the Painted Chamber.
Answer to H. C.
Then the Commons were called in; and the Lord
Chancellor acquainted them, "That this House will
give a Conference, as desired; and appoint the same
To-morrow, at One a Clock, in the Painted Chamber."
Middleton versus Balfour.
Ordered, That the Hearing of the Residue of the
Cause, wherein Robert Middleton Rector of St. Mary's
in Colchester in the County of Essex is Appellant, and
Lieutenant Colonel John Balfour Respondent, be adjourned till To-morrow, at Twelve a Clock.
Then the Articles of Impeachment against Thomas
Earl of Strafford were read, as follows:
"Articles of Impeachment, of high Crimes and
Misdemeanors, against Thomas Earl of Strafford.
Articles of Impeachment against the E. of Strafford.
"Whereas His late Majesty King William the Third,
of Ever-glorious Memory, out of His great Wisdom
and tender Regard for His own Kingdoms and the
Protestant Succession, and to vindicate the Honour of
the Crown and Nation, then affronted by France, in
proclaiming the Pretender King of Great Britain,
after the French King had but lately before acknowledged His Majesty's Title to the same, as well as
from a just Concern for the Preservation of the Liberties of Europe, against the growing Power of
France, which was then become more formidable from
the Duke of Anjou's having taken Possession of the entire Spanish Monarchy, did, upon the Advice and
Request of both Houses of Parliament, in or about
the Month of September. One Thousand Seven Hundred and One, enter into, make, and conclude, a Treaty
with Leopold Emperor of Germany and The States General of the United Provinces; wherein, a strict Conjunction and Alliance amongst themselves being thought
necessary for repelling the Greatness of the common
Danger, it was, amongst other Things, agreed, "That
there should be and continue, between the said Confederates, a constant, perpetual, and inviolable Friendship and Correspondence; and that each Party should
be obliged to promote the Advantages of the other,
and prevent all Inconveniencies and Dangers that
might happen to them, as far as lay in their Power:
That the said Allies, desiring nothing more earnestly
than the Peace and general Quiet of all Europe, had
adjudged, that nothing could be more effectual for the
Establishment thereof, than the procuring an equitable and reasonable Satisfaction to His Imperial Majesty
for His Pretensions to the Spanish Succession; and
that the King of Great Britain and The States General
might obtain a particular and sufficient Security for
their Kingdoms, Provinces, and Dominions, and for
the Navigation and Commerce of their Subjects: That
it should not be permitted to either Party, when the
War is once begun, to treat of Peace with the Enemy,
unless jointly and by a Communication of Councils;
and no Peace should be made, unless an equitable and
reasonable Satisfaction for His Imperial Majesty, and
a particular Security for the Kingdoms, Provinces,
Dominions, Navigation, and Commerce, of His Majesty of Great Britain and The States General, be first
obtained; and unless Care be taken, by fitting Security, that the Kingdoms of France and Spain shall
never come and be united under the same Government, nor that one and the same Person shall be King
of both Kingdoms." And whereas His said late Majesty
King William and The States General, seriously considering that France was then become so formidable,
from the Accession of Spain to the Duke of Anjou,
that, in the Opinion of all the World, Europe was in
Danger of losing her Liberty, and undergoing the
heavy Yoke of universal Monarchy; and that the
surest Means of effecting that Design were, to divide
the King of Great Britain from The States General,
for which Purpose all imaginable Efforts would be
made; they therefore thought it necessary to unite in
the strictest Manner that was possible; and, to that End,
a defensive Treaty and Alliance was concluded and
entered into between them, in or about November
One Thousand Seven Hundred and One, wherein,
amongst other Things, it was further agreed, "That, by
the Alliance with the Emperor, made in September
then last, particular Care being taken for the Recovery
of The Spanish Low Countries out of the Hands of the
Most Christian King, the said Consederates expressly
engaged to aid one another with all their Forces for
the Recovery of the same; and, in regard the principal Interest of the said Confederates consisted in the
Preservation of the Liberties of Europe, that the beforementioned Treaty with the Emperor shall be faithfully and sincerely executed, and both Sides shall guarantee the same, and use their Endeavours to confirm
and render it more strong from Time to Time: That,
in making Peace, particular Care shall be taken of
the Commerce and Traffic of both Nations, and also
for their Security, as well in regard to The Low Countries, as the Countries adjacent: That, when the
War is begun, the Confederates shall act in Concert,
according to the Seventh and Eighth Articles of the
Treaty of the Third of March One Thousand Six
Hundred Sixty-seven-eight, between England and
Holland, which was thereby renewed and confirmed;
and no Peace nor Truce, or Suspension of Arms,
shall be negotiated or made, but according to the
Ninth and Tenth Articles of that Treaty; by which
it was agreed, that, when the Two Allies came once
to an open War, it shall be lawful for neither of them
afterwards to come to any Cessation of Arms with
him who shall be declared and proclaimed an Enemy,
without it be done conjointly and with common Consent; that no Negotiation of Peace shall be set on
Foot by one of the Allies, without the Concurrence
of the other; that each Ally shall continually, and
from Time to Time, impart to the other every Thing
that shall pass in the said Negotiation; and shall stipulate with the common Enemy for the same Rights,
Immunities, Exemptions, and Prerogatives, for his
Ally, as he should do for himself, if so be the said Allies do not agree to the contrary." And whereas the
French King, having got Possession of a great Part
of the Spanish Dominions, exercised an absolute Authority over that Monarchy, having seized Milan and
The Spanish Low Countries by His Armies, and made
Himself Master of Cadiz and of the Entrance into
The Mediterranean, and of the Ports of The Spanish
West Indies, by His Fleets, every where designing to
invade the Liberties of Europe, and to obstruct the
Freedom of Navigation and Commerce; and, instead
of giving the Satisfaction that was justly expected,
had proceeded to further Violences and Indignities;
and, having influenced Spain to acknowledge the Pretender, and thereby to concur with Him in the said
Affront; Her late Sacred Majesty Queen Anne, taking
Notice, "that She found Herself obliged, for maintaining the public Faith, for vindicating the Honour of the
Crown, and to prevent the Mischiefs which all Europe
were threatened with, to declare War against France
and Spain," did accordingly, in the Month of May One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Two, in the most
public and solemn Manner proclaim the same; as His
Imperial Majesty and The States General did likewise
do, in or about the said Month of May, in Pursuance
of the beforementioned Treaties. And whereas many
Kings, Princes, and States of Europe, being invited
by the said Grand Alliance, and relying on the Faith
thereof, did afterwards become Parties to the said
Confederate War against France and Spain; and, in
the Treaty entered into in or about the Month of
May One Thousand Seven Hundred and Three, between His Imperial Majesty, the Queen of Great Britain, The States General, and the King of Portugal, it
was, amongst other Things, expressly stipulated, "That
no Peace or Truce shall be made, but by the mutual
Consent of all the Confederates; nor shall any at any
Time be made, whilst the Second Grandson of the Most
Christian King, by the Dauphin or any other Prince of
the Line of France, continued in Spain." And whereas,
to give the greatest Strength that was possible to the
Union so necessary to both Nations, Her late Majesty
and The States, by a Treaty in the Month of June
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Three, renewed
and confirmed all Treaties and Alliances then subsisting
between them; and, to the End a just and reasonable
Peace might the better be obtained, that might establish the Repose and Tranquillity of Europe, it was
agreed, that neither of the said Allies should make a
Suspension, of Arms or a Peace with France or Spain;
but in Conjunction and by common Consent. And
whereas the said War was for several Years carried
on with Vigour and Unanimity, at a vast Expence of
Blood and Treasure; for the Support of which, on
the Part of Great Britain, many Millions were granted
by Parliament, who, on many Occasions, expressed
their Sense of the Justice of it, and frequently gave
their humble Advice to the Throne, "That no Peace
could be safe, honourable, or lasting, so long as
Spain and The West Indies continued in any Branch of
the House of Bourbon." And whereas the just Cause
of Her Majesty and Her Allies, in Defence of the
common Liberty, and in Vindication of the Honour
of Her Crown of Great Britain, was favoured by the
Divine Providence with unparalleled Success and signal Victories, whereby, as well as by the Wisdom and
Unanimity of their Councils, the Reputation of the
Confederate Arms was highly advanced, and Great
Britain was esteemed the Guardian of the Liberties of
Europe. And whereas, from the prosperous Condition of the Affairs of the Allies, nothing remained, in
all human Appearance, but that they should reap the
Fruits of all their Victories, in a speedy, just, honourable, and lasting Peace; and on the other Hand nothing was left to raise the Hopes of the Enemy,
whereby to defeat that happy Prospect, but His secret Endeavours to disunite the Consederacy. And
whereas divers evil-minded Persons, Enemies to the
true Interests of their own Country as well as to the
common Liberties and Welfare of Europe, having, by
many wicked Arts and base Insinuations, obtained
Access to Her late Majesty Queen Anne, and being admitted into Her Councils and into Places of the highest
Trust, and having formed a wicked and treacherous
Correspondence with the Emissaries of France, and set
on Foot a private and destructive Negotiation of
Peace, thereby intending to weaken and dissolve the
Consederacy, which had so long and happily subsisted,
between Her Majesty and Her good and faithful Allies, to the Honour and Safety of the Nation; had
prevailed upon Her said late Majesty, for that Purpose, to declare Her Resolution of entering into a
Treaty of Peace with the common Enemy, against the
Consent and Opinion of all Her Majesty's Allies; and
also to appoint John then Lord Bishop of Bristol and
Thomas Earl of Strafford Her Plenipotentiaries, to
transact the same at Utrecht. And whereas Her Sacred
Majesty, in pursuance of the Treaties She stood engaged in, and of Her Declaration in the Month of
April One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven to
the Grand Pensionary and the other Ministers of
Holland, being still determined, in making Peace as in
making War, to act in perfect Concert with Her Allies,
and, in Conjunction with them, to demand and procure
from France a just Satisfaction for all their Pretensions,
according to, and in Performance of, the many solemn
Treaties and Alliances then subsisting between Her
Majesty and them, did, in Pursuance thereof, by Her
Instructions under the Sign Manual, dated the Twentyfirst of October One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Eleven, to him the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, Her
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to The
States General, direct him, "That, during the Course
of the then intended Negotiation of Peace, it must be
the most careful Endeavour and the fixed Principle
of all the Confederates, to hold fast together, in order
to obtain from the Enemy the utmost which could be
hoped for in the present Circumstances of Affairs;
and that he might assure the Consederates, that Her
Majesty on Her Part would firmly adhere to that
Rule; and that She was so far from making Peace
without the Concurrence of The States General, that
She had declared Her firm Resolution, not to make it
without their Satisfaction:" And also, by Her Instructions under the Sign Manual to the said then Bishop
of Bristol and him the said Thomas Earl of Strafford,
Her Plenipotentiaries, to treat of a good and general
Peace, Her said Majesty, amongst other Things, did
direct them, "Upon their Arrival at Utrecht, to concert with the Ministers of the Allies, in what Manner
it might be most proper to open the Conferences, and
what Method to observe in the Progress of the Treaty;
upon that and all other Occasions, earnestly to represent to those Ministers the great Importance of appearing united; and, for that Reason, to recommend
to them, that, if any Difference or Dispute should
arise, the same should be accommodated amongst themselves, that France might have no Hold to break in
upon them; but, on the contrary, whenever they meet
the Enemies Ministers in the Congress, every Opinion that is delivered, and every Instance that is
made, may be backed by the concurrent Force of
the whole Confederacy: That, if it should be thought
proper to begin by the Disposition of the Spanish
Monarchy, they were to insist, that the Security and
reasonable Satisfaction, which the Allies expected,
and which His Most Christian Majesty had promised,
could not be obtained, if Spain and The West Indies
be allotted to any Branch of the House of Bourbon."
Notwithstanding all which Premises;
"ARTICLE I.
"He the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, being of
Her Majesty's Privy Council, and Her Ambassador
Extraordinary to The States General, and appointed
One of Her Plenipotentiaries to treat with the Ministers of France, of a good and general Peace, in
Concert with the Ministers of Her Majesty's Allies,
who for that Purpose were assembled at Utrecht, with
those of France, with full Powers to transact the same;
having no Regard to the true Ends of his said Commissions and Powers, to the Honour or Safety of Her
Majesty or Her Kingdoms, to the many solemn Engagements She was under to the old and faithful Allies of this Nation, or to the common Liberties of
Europe; but being devoted to the Interest and Service
of the French King, the then common Enemy, in Defiance of the Tenor of the several Treaties beforementioned, or some of them, as well as of the frequent Advices of Parliament, and the many Declarations of Her Majesty from the Throne; but more
particularly in Defiance of the solemn and mutual
Assurances which had been so lately renewed between
Her Majesty and The States General, to act in perfect
Concert with each other, in making Peace as in making
War, and of the several Instructions from Her Majesty
under the Sign Manual to him the said Earl in Pursuance thereof; was not only wanting in his Duty and
Trust to Her Majesty, by not advising against, and as
far as was in his Power by not opposing, the going into
any private separate Negotiation with France; but, on
the contrary, when a separate, dishonourable, and
destructive Negotiation of Peace was entered into,
between the Ministers of Great Britain and France,
without any Communication thereof to Her Majesty's
Allies, according to the several Treaties; he the said
Earl did not only take upon himself, and presume,
from Time to Time, to advise and exhort that the
same should be continued and carried; but did likewise frequently concert private and separate Measures
with the Ministers of France, in order to impose upon
and deceive Her Majesty's good Subjects and Her
Allies, and was instrumental in promoting the said separate Negotiation, exclusive of all the Allies, and to
their manifest Prejudice and Detriment. And further,
he the said Earl, when the Ministers of France, at
Utrecht, refused to answer in Writing, and on many
other Occasions, proceeded in a fallacious and unjustifiable Manner, in transacting the Negotiations of
Peace; was not only wanting in his Duty, in not representing to Her Majesty and Her Ministers against
the same, and in not supporting in the Manner he
ought to have done Her Majesty's good Allies in
their reasonable Demands from France; but, on the
contrary, commended the French Prudence in taking
such Measures; and even suggested himself the Methods for France to make Use of, to create Dissentions
amongst the Allies, and separate Negotiations between each of the Allies and France, thereby to dissolve the whole Confederacy. By which wicked and
treacherous Practices, he the said Earl prostituted the
Honour of Her Majesty and the Imperial Crown of
these Realms, and grossly violated his Powers and Instructions, the many Treaties which Her Majesty then
stood engaged in to Her Allies, and the repeated Assurances which the said Earl had, by Her Majesty's
Order and in Her Name, given to the said Allies,
to act in perfect Concert with them throughout the
whole Negotiations of Peace; thereby rendering the
Design of the Consederacy, and the mutual Support
expected from the same, altogether useless, and giving
up the Affairs of Europe into the Hands of France.
ARTICLE II.
"Whereas the maintaining a perfect Union and good
Correspondence between Her late Majesty and the
Illustrious House of Hanover was of the utmost Importance, for preserving to these Kingdoms the invaluable Blessings of their Religion and Civil Liberties,
by securing the Succession to the Crown to a Race of
Protestant Princes ever renowned for their great
Justice and Clemency, and thereby defeating the
traiterous Designs of the Pretender; and, for that Purpose, the great Wisdom of divers Parliaments, which
had fixed and confirmed the said Succession, had also
laid the Obligation of an Oath upon the Subjects of
these Realms, to support and maintain the same to
the utmost of their Power; he the said Thomas Earl
of Strafford, not regarding the many ill Consequences
to Her Majesty and these Kingdoms, which would
naturally ensue from a Disunion or Coolness of Affection between Princes so nearly allied in Blood and Interest, instead of doing what in him lay to prevent
the same, did, on the contrary, in His Letters from
Holland to Her Majesty's Ministers of State in Great
Britain, by divers false Representations and scurrilous
Reflections upon His present most Gracious Majesty,
then Elector of Hanover, endeavour to alienate Her
Majesty's Affections from His said Electoral Highness,
and to create or widen fatal Differences or Misunderstandings between Them: And when, by the wicked
and pernicious Advice of him the said Thomas Earl
of Strafford and divers other evil Counsellors, Her
late Majesty was at last prevailed upon to make a
fatal Cessation of Arms with the then common Enemy,
without any Concert with His said Electoral Highness,
and against the Consent, and contrary to the most
earnest Representations, of all the Allies; for the Execution of which, he the said Earl was sent over to
the Army in The Netherlands, where the (fn. *) Generals of
the Auxiliaries paid by Her Majesty, whose Honour
and Consciences would not permit them to abandon
the Confederates and leave them as a Sacrifice to
France, refused to withdraw with the Duke of Ormonde,
without particular Orders from their respective Masters; which Proceedings of the Consederate Generals being wickedly represented by the said evil
Counsellors, in Conjunction with the Ministers and
Emissaries of France, as an Indignity offered to Her
Sacred Majesty; he the said Thomas Earl of Strafford,
to create Uneasinesses and Dissension between Her
late Majesty and His then Electoral Highness, did, by
his Letter, on or about the Seventeenth of July One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Twelve, to Her Majesty's then Secretary of State, maliciously and wickedly suggest and affirm, "That the said Separation of
the Consederate Generals from the Duke of Ormonde
ought to be imputed to His said Electoral Highness."
And further, he the said Earl, by frequently affirming,
and sometimes in the most solemn Manner, to the
Ministers of His said Electoral Highness as well as
others, the most notorious and manifest Untruths,
contrary to the Intentions and Interest of Her Majesty,
and vainly intending thereby to deceive and impose
upon His said Electoral Highness and the rest of Her
Majesty's good and faithful Allies in Matters of the
highest Importance; and particularly, by solemnly
affirming, on or about the Sixteenth of July One
Thousand Seven Hundred and Twelve, to Monsieur
Buleau, General of the Hanover Forces, and the rest
of the Confederate Generals, "That Her Majesty had
made no Truce with France;" whereas he the said
Earl then well knew the same was made and concluded several Weeks before; did thereby, as well as by
all the beforementioned Proceedings, not only prostitute and dishonour the high Characters he was then
invested with, but, as far as in him lay, did dissolve
the mutual Confidence and good Understanding so
necessary to be maintained between Her said late
Majesty and the Illustrious House of Hanover, for the
Safety and Prosperity of Great Britain, and the common Liberty of Europe.
"ARTICLE IIId.
"Whereas, in the pernicious Negotiations of Peace
carried on by him the said Earl and other evil Counsellors with the Ministers of France, the French King
had proposed to acknowledge Her Majesty's Title to
the Crown of these Realms, and the Protestant Succession in the Illustrious House of Hanover, when
the Peace should be signed between Great Britain and
France, and not before: Whereupon the House of
Lords, by an humble Address to Her Majesty, on the
Fifteenth of February One Thousand Seven Hundred
and Eleven, begged Leave to represent their just Indignation at that dishonourable Treatment of Her
Majesty; as also their utmost Resentment at the Terms
of Peace offered to Her Majesty and Her Allies by
the Plenipotentiaries of France; for which Addresses
Her Majesty was pleased to return them Her hearty
Thanks, for the Zeal they had therein expressed for
Her Honour: He the said Earl was not only wanting
in his Duty to Her Majesty, and Zeal for the Protestant Succession, in not advising Her Majesty against
treating with France upon such dishonourable Terms;
but did himself, with other evil Counsellors, privately,
wickedly, and traiterously, concert and agree with
the Ministers of France, that the said Proposals, so
derogatory to the Dignity of Her Majesty, and dangerous to these Kingdoms, should be the Conditions
upon which France would agree to treat of a Peace
with Great Britain. And further, he the said Earl, in
Contempt and Defiance of the Judgement of the House
of Peers, which had received Her Majesty's gracious
Approbation, and acting the Part of an Emissary of
France instead of a Plenipotentiary of Great Britain,
being thereunto encouraged, and founding his Presumption on a Letter to the then said Bishop of Bristol and him the said Earl, from Henry Saint John
Esquire, then Principal Secretary of State, on the Sixteenth of February One Thousand Seven Hundred and
Eleven, the next Day after the said Address of the
House of Peers was made, and informing them of the
Indignation expressed in Great Britain at the Offers of
France, but that by the Management of Master Thomas
Harley (then Secretary of the Treasury) the House of
Commons was perfectly and absolutely secured to the
Measures of Peace; did wickedly, deceitfully, and
perfidiously, concert and agree with the Ministers of
France, at Utrecht, that the said French Ministers
should write a collusive Letter to him the said Earl
and the then said Bishop of Bristol, wherein Her
Majesty should be styled Queen of Great Britain;
which Letter was not to be made any Use of at
Utrecht, or taken as an Acknowledgement by France
of Her Majesty's Title to the Crown; but was agreed
to be transmitted to Great Britain, thereby to deceive
and impose upon Her Majesty and the Parliament, as
if France had then actually acknowledged the same:
Which said Letter was accordingly written by the
Ministers of France, and transmitted to Great Britain
by him the said Earl; whereby Her Majesty, the Parliament, and the whole Nation, were most grossly and
scandalously abused, and drawn in to the said destructive Measures of Peace, to the great Dishonour of Her
Majesty and these Kingdoms, and to the apparent
Danger of the Protestant Succession.
"ARTICLE IV.
"That he the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, in Defiance
of the many Treaties between Her Majesty and Her Allies, for the Recovery of the Monarchy of Spain to the
House of Austria, thereby to preserve a due Balance of
Power in Europe; and in Contempt of the Advice and
Opinion of Parliament, "That no Peace could be safe,
honourable, or lasting, so long as Spain and The
West Indies continued in any Branch of the House of
Bourbon;" and also in direct Violation of Her Majesty's Instructions of the Twenty-third of December
One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven, in Pursuance thereof; whereby he the said Earl was expressly commanded, "To insist, in the Conferences of
Peace, with the Ministers of France, that the Security
and reasonable Satisfaction which the Allies expected,
and which His Most Christian Majesty had promised
to grant, could not be obtained, if Spain and The
West Indies be allotted to any Branch of that House;"
did not only presume to treat about the Peace with
the Ministers of France, without insisting, as he ought
to have done, that Spain and The West Indies should
not be allotted to the said House of Bourbon; but
also, when the Ministers of His Imperial Majesty
and of the King of Portugal, in Conformity to the
mutual Obligations and Treaties between Her Majesty and them and with each other, demanded of
France, "that Spain and The West Indies should be restored to the House of Austria;" and requested him
the said Earl, "to join with them, to strengthen that
Demand," did decline and refuse to do the same: By
which persidious and unwarrantable Practices of him
the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, incurable Jealousies
and Discords were created between Her Majesty and
Her Allies; that mutual Confidence, which had so
long and so successfully been cultivated between
them, and which was so necessary for their common
Safety, was absolutely dissolved; the just Balance of
Power in Europe was wickedly betrayed; and apparent Advantages were given to the common
Enemy, to impose what Terms of Peace he should
think fit upon Her Majesty and the whole Confederacy.
"ARTICLE Vth.
"Whereas Her late Majesty, on the Seventh of December One Thousand Seven Hundred and Eleven,
having earnestly recommended from the Throne, "That
Provision might be made for an early Campaign, in
order to carry on the War with Vigour, and as the
best Way to render the Treaty of Peace effectual;"
and accordingly Supplies were granted, and Magazines provided at a great Expence; and, in Pursuance thereof, Her Majesty having given early Assurances to Her Allies of Her sincere Intentions, and
likewise expressly instructed Her General the Duke
of Ormonde, not only to renew the same Assurances,
and declare Her Resolution of pushing on the War
with the utmost Vigour, but to concert with the
Generals of the Allies the proper Measures for entering upon Action; which Assurances were accordingly given by the said Duke, and the Consederate
Army was thereupon ordered to be assembled, which
at that Time was the strongest that had been in the
Service during the whole Course of the War, and
greatly superior to that of the Enemy: Notwithstanding which Premises, he the said Thomas Earl
of Strafford, then of Her Majesty's Privy Council,
being informed of the reasonable Prospect, which, by
the Blessing of God, the Army of the Consederates
then had, of gaining new Conquests over the Army
of France; in order to disappoint the Expectations
of the Allies, and to give Success to the secret and
wicked Negotiations then carrying on by himself and
other evil Counsellors with the Ministers of France,
on divers very false and groundless Suggestions and
Allegations, and in Violation of many Treaties then
subsisting between Her Majesty and The States General, as well as several other Princes, at several
Times, and particularly by his Letter of the Thirtieth
of April One Thousand Seven Hundred and Twelve,
to Henry Viscount Bolingbroke, then Henry St. John
Esquire, One of Her Majesty's Principal Secretaries
of State, did wickedly and treacherously suggest and
advise, that a Cessation of Arms should be made with
France, by Her Majesty, without and even against
the Consent of Her good Allies and Confederates:
In Pursuance of which wicked Counsels and Advices,
Directions were afterwards privately sent, in Her
Majesty's Name, to the Duke of Ormonde, in Flanders,
to avoid engaging in any Siege, or hazarding a Battle,
till further Orders, although nothing had been then
settled in the said private Negotiations for the Interest and Security of Great Britain. And further, he
the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, at that Time also
of Her Majesty's Privy Council, did advice Her late
Majesty, that he himself should be sent, and accordingly he was afterwards sent, from England, to the
Army under the Duke of Ormonde in Flanders, with
Directions, in Her Majesty's Name, to cause a Cessation of Arms to be made and proclaimed between
Her Majesty's and the French Army, and a Separation to be made by the Troops of Great Britain
from the Consederate Army; which were accordingly
performed and executed, by the Advice and Direction
of him the said Earl, without the Consent, and contrary to the earnest Representations of Her Majesty's
Consederates, and in open Violation and Defiance
of the many Treaties then subsisting between Her
Majesty and Her good and faithful Allies: By which
wicked and perfidious Counsels and Practices of him
the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, the Progress of
the victorious Arms of the Consederates was stopped,
and a most favourable Opportunity lost for conquering the Enemy; all Hopes of Confidence between
Her Majesty and Her Allies were entirely destroyed,
and the French King made absolute Master of the
Negotiations of Peace.
"ARTICLE VI.
"That he the said Thomas Earl of Strafford having,
in Concert with other false and evil Counsellors,
wickedly advised and procured the said fatal Cessation
of Arms, and likewise obtained for France the Separation of the Troops of Great Britain from the
Confederate Army; in further Execution of his treacherous Purposes, to advance and promote the Interests of France; and being determined, as far as
in him lay, not only to render all furture Correspondence and good Harmony between Her Majesty
and The States General utterly impracticable; but designing, by all possible Means, to weaken and distress
the said States, in order to bring them under an absolute Necessity of complying and submitting to the
Measures of France; and well knowing that taking
Possession of Ghent and Bruges was the readiest
Means of effecting the same; did wickedly and treacherously advise, that a Party of the Queen's Troops
should be sent to march through some of the Towns
belonging to The States General; in Hopes, that the
Commanders of the said Towns, incensed by such
unjust and unnecessary Provocations, and through the
Apprehensions of the ill Consequences that such
Attempts and Proceedings might subject them to,
would be induced to refuse them Admittance, and
thereby give a Pretence for putting in Execution
the perfidious Desigus and Resolutions which had
been concerted by him the said Earl, and other evil
Counsellors, with the Ministers of France: In Pursuance of which wicked Advice, a Party of Her
Majesty's Troops, was accordingly sent with Orders
to march through some of the fortified Towns belonging to The States General; and, on Pretence of
their being denied Passage through the same, the said
treacherous and destructive Design was immediately
put in Execution, and Ghent and Bruges were seized
upon by the Troops of Great Britain; whereby, all
Means of Communication between Holland and the
Confederate Army being entirely cut off, or put into
the Hands of those who had so lately and shamefully
betrayed the common Cause, apparent Advantages
and Encouragement were given to the French Army,
and Her Majesty's good and faithful Allies were deterred from forming or prosecuting any Designs
against the common Enemy; since the same could not
be put in Execution without their Knowledge and
Consent, who, on many Occasions, had given the
most evident Proofs of their Disaffection to the Confederates, and of their firm Adherence to the Interests of France. All which Crimes and Misdemeanors were committed and done by him the said
Earl, against our late Sovereign Lady the Queen,
Her Crown and Dignity, the Peace and Interest of
this Kingdom, and in Breach of the several Trusts
reposed in him the said Earl; and he the said Earl
of Strafford was of Her late Majesty's Privy Council, Her Ambassador Extraordinary to The States
General, and One of Her Plenipotentiaries, to treat
of a good and general Peace with France, during the
Time that all and every the Crimes before set forth
were done and committed. And the said Knights,
Citizens, and Burgesses, by Protestation, saving to
themselves the Liberty of exhibiting at any Time
hereafter any other Accusation or Impeachment
against the said Thomas Earl of Strafford, and also
of replying to the Answer that the said Thomas Earl
of Strafford shall make unto the said Articles, or any
of them; or of offering Proof of the Premises, or
any other Impeachments or Accusations that shall be
exhibited by them, as the Case shall (according to
the Course of Parliament) require; do pray, that
the said Thomas Earl of Strafford be put to answer
the said Crimes and Misdemeanors, and receive such
condign Punishment as the same shall deserve; and
that such Proceedings, Examinations, Trials, and
Judgements, may be upon every of them had and
used, as are agreeable to Law and Justice."
E. Strafford's Requests, and Order thereon.
Then the said Earl of Strafford was heard in his
Place.
And requesting a Copy of the said Articles; and,
That the Papers delivered by him to either of the
Principal Secretaries of State may be restored to
him; without which, it will be impossible for him to
make his just Defence; and that he may have such
sufficient Time for answering to the said Articles as
this House shall think fit:"
Ordered, That the said Earl of Strafford have
Liberty to take a Copy of the said Articles of Impeachment, in order to his Defence.
Then, his Lordship's Second Request being taken into
Consideration; and, after Debate, and reading the Petition of the Earl of Oxford of the Eighth Day of
August last, and the Order of this House of the
Thirteenth of the same Month, made after searching
Precedents in relation to the Petition of the said Earl
of Oxford:
Ordered, That the said Earl of Strafford have
Leave to cause Copies to be taken of all Journals of
Parliament; of Public Treaties, referred to in any of the
Articles exhibited against him, or the Preamble thereof;
of all other Records whatsoever; and also of all such
Papers as were delivered up by the said Earl, which
are, or whereof any Copies now are, in the Secretaries Office, or in the Hands of any of the Clerks of
the Privy Council; and that his Lordship have a Month's
Time for putting in his Answer to the said Articles.
Adjourn.
Dominus Cancellarius declaravit præsens Parliamentum continuandum esse usque ad et in diem Veneris,
secundum diem instantis Septembris, hora undecima
Auroræ, Dominis sic decernentibus.