Malignants, a term used by the parliament men to designate those whom they considered to be the evil advisers of Charles I. They are so called in the Grand Remonstrance, Laud and Strafford being singled out as the most prominent, and to their door are laid all the evils which afflicted the kingdom. Afterwards the name was extended to all who sided with the king against the parliament.
Malignants
Chambers's Encyclopaedia, Volume 6: Humber to Malta, p. 824
Source scan(s): p. 0839