8o'8 The HISTORY of the PURITANS. Chap.XII. k. Charles I. or to as by themfelves, as the GUARDIANS Or THE PEOPLE, in a r642. time of imminent danger : had they diltolved themfelves, or flood full while his majefy had garrifoned the Prong fortreffes of Portfmouth and Hull, and got poffefion of all the arms artillery and ammunition of the kingdom ; had they suffered the fleet to fall into his majefly's hands, and gone on meekly petitioning for the militia, or for his majefly's return to his two houles of parliament, till the queen was returned with foreign re- cruits, or the irifh at liberty to fend his majefly fuccours ; both they and we, mutt in all probability have been buried in the ruins of the liberties of our country. The two houles were not infenfible of the rifk they run in crofling the meafures of their fovereign, under whole government they thought they were to live, and who had counfellors about himwho would not fail to put him upon the feveref reprifals, as foon as the fword of the kingdom fhould return into his hands ; but they apprehended that their own and the public fafety was at flake ; that the king was preparing to a ì againfl them, by raifing extraordinary guards to his perfon, and fending for arms and ammunition from abroad ; therefore they ventured to make a fand in their own defence, and to perform fuch aéls of fovereignty as were neceffary to put it out of the power of the court, to make them a Sacrifice to the refentmeuts of their enemies. But though in a full and neceffary war 'tis of little moment to enquire who began it, 'tis neverthelefs of of great confequence to confider on which fide the jufice of it lies. Let us therefore take a fhort view of the arguments on the king's fide with the parliament's reply. a. It was argued by the royalifs, that all grievances both real and ima- ginary were removed by the king's giving up fhip-money, by his abol- tng the court of honour, thejiar-chamber, and high-common, and by his giving up the bi/hop's votes in parliament, &c. The parliament writers own thefe to be very important concefions, though far from comprehending all the real grievances of the nation, The queen was fill at the head of his majefty's councils, without whole approbation no confiderableaffairs of government were tranfaEted. None of the authors of the late opprefions hadbeen brought to jufice, except the earl of Straford; and 'tis more than probable, if the parliament had been diffolved, they would not onlyhave been pardoned, but reflored to favour. Though the bithops were deprived of their feats in parliament, yet the defeas in the public fervice (which the puritans Complained of) were almoft untouched; nor were any effeftual meafures taken toprevent the growth of popery, which threatned the ruin of the protefant reli- gion. Thegrounds and reafons on which it proceeded. Claren. Vol. I. p. 262. 2. It
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