=Source.=--_Harleian Miscellany._ Vol. iv., p. 527.
Whereas the Knights, Citizens and Burgesses of the House of
Commons in this present Parliament assembled, have, in the name of
themselves, and all the Commons of England, impeached Thomas Earl of
Strafford of high treason, for endeavouring to subvert the ancient
and fundamental laws and government of his Majesty's realms of
England and Ireland, and to introduce an arbitrary and tyrannical
government against law in the said kingdoms; and for exercising a
tyrannous and exorbitant power over and against the laws of the said
kingdoms, over the liberties, estates and lives of his majesty's
subjects; and likewise for having, by his own authority, commanded
the laying and assessing of soldiers upon his Majesty's subjects in
Ireland against their consents, to compel them to obey his unlawful
commands and orders, made upon paper petitions, in causes between
party and party, which accordingly was executed upon divers of his
Majesty's subjects in a warlike manner within the said realm of
Ireland, and in so doing did levy war against the King's majesty and
his liege people in that kingdom; and also for that he, upon the
unhappy dissolution of the last Parliament, did slander the House of
Commons to his Majesty and did counsel and advise his Majesty that
he was loose and absolved from rules of government, and that he had
an army in Ireland which he might employ to reduce this kingdom;
for which he deserves to undergo the pains and forfeitures of high
treason.
And the said Earl hath been also an incendiary of the wars between
the two kingdoms of England and Scotland, all which offences have
been sufficiently proved against the said Earl upon his impeachment.
Be it therefore enacted by the King's most excellent Majesty and
by the Lords and Commons in the present Parliament assembled and
by authority of the same, that the said Earl of Strafford for the
heinous crimes and offences aforesaid, stand and be adjudged and
attainted of high treason, and shall suffer the pain of death, and
incur the forfeitures of his goods and chattels, lands, tenements,
and hereditaments, of any estate of freehold or inheritance in the
said kingdoms of England and Ireland which the said Earl, or any
other to his use, or in trust for him, have or had, the day of the
first sitting of this present parliament or at any time since.
Provided that no judge or judges, justice or justices whatsoever
shall adjudge or interpret any act or thing to be treason, nor hear
or determine any treason, in any other manner than he or they should
or ought to have done before the making of this act, and as if this
act had never been had or made.