POLITICAL HISTORY 



it eventually proved, even of England, hung upon the attitude of these 

 Lancashire members. The most outspoken of them were strongly opposed 

 to the unlimited exercise of the king's arbitrary power. The Asshetons, 

 Richard Shuttleworth, WiUiam Ashhurst, Sir John Moore, were of this party; 

 the rest sided with the king. 



The long pent up indignation at the king's high-handed and unlawful 

 exercise of the royal authority found immediate expression in the Parliament's 

 impeachment of Strafford in May, 1641. The popular rage against the 

 courts of Star Chamber and of High Commission which had, particularly in 

 Lancashire, been such sources of oppression, also broke forth, and these 

 tyrannical tribunals were now by Act of Parhament abolished. °' Thus ended, 

 rather more than a century after its revival, the authority of the great 

 ' Council of the North,' and with it the subserviency of Lancashire to its 

 arbitrary and persecuting judgements. The strong Puritan bias of the 

 Parliament was manifested still further by the bill for the abolition of 

 Episcopacy (the Root and Branch Bill) that was on 27 May read in the 

 Commons. This was indeed ' the hour ' of those whom King James had so 

 rashly insulted in his proclamation more than twenty years before ; when he 

 seemed to imagine he could banish Puritans from Lancashire by the mere 

 expression of his royal will and pleasure. 



In addition to these general grievances those Lancashire members of 

 strong Protestant leanings were indignant at the arbitrary acts of Lord Strange, 

 who had, they alleged, tampered with the election of the knights of the shire. 

 In this irritated mood they hastened to emphasize their acceptance of a new 

 lord-lieutenant appointed by Parliament, in the person of Lord Wharton. 

 Their petition to the House of Commons thanked that assembly 



for purging the fountains of Government and establishing his Majesty's Royal throne upon 

 the old and sure foundation of impartial justice, national laws and subjects' love . . . For 

 expunging out of the Church innovations, and confining Churchmen to their proper 

 functions ; and the future hopes of a National Synod of able Divines to compose the Civil 

 War of the Church, and settle the differences both of doctrine and discipline . . . For 

 settling the . . . hopes of a lasting possession of these high and invaluable benefits by 

 disposing of the Militia and that of the Kingdom under command of persons of honour and 

 unquestionable fidelity, of which members your petitioners do acknowledge the Noble Lord 

 the L. Wharton appointed by Parliament Lord Lieutenant of this County. . . . For giving 

 Life by Execution to the Laws against recusants and security of life to the Protestants by 

 their disarming, for vindication of the Privileges of Parliament (. . . the best guard of His 

 Majesty's Royal person, Crown, and dignity) . . . That the Petition concerning the breach 

 of privileges at the Election of Knights for this County. ... as also the other grievances of 

 the County . . . may receive examination and redress : and that such as shall be found to 

 have been instruments of bringing in an arbitrary and insolent Government may make 

 reparation for the oppressions they have done to their country and henceforth may be 

 excluded from the exercise of that authority which . . . they would again abuse if they had 

 the like occasion. And your Petitioners will ever be ready with their lives and estates to 

 defend His Majesty's Royal Person, the persons and privileges of the members of this House, 

 the Protestant Religion, and Laws of this Kingdom. . . .'' 



This petition has been quoted at some length because its importance as 

 a statement of the questions then at issue between the Lancastrian Puritans 

 and the crown, cannot be over-estimated. From the ultra- Royalist point of 



" Stat, of the Realm, 1 6 Chas. I, cap. xi (Pari. R. i6 Chas. p. z, No. 7), also ibid. cap. x (Stat, of 

 Realm, v, p. 110-2). 



" This petition was presented and read to the House, and ordered to be entered on the Journals of the 

 House of Commons ; vide Com. Journ. ii, 476. 



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