name of a popular government to bee specious, but the effect nothing answerable; on ye other side, Monarchichall, to carry an harsh sounde, but most conduceable to the people's weale; agreeing wth Seneca, that cities doe most flourish under just princes. And that hee should bee so wth us; our ancestors had framed very good lawes, and given the officers by whom justice was administred excelent instructions, the well executing of woh were of better consequence for y° people's ease, then to be commanded by paper Ordinances, and votes to bee interpreted by themselves, not the sworn Judges, weh I confesse I apprehended as the most arbytrary government imaginable, and ye would introduce the greatest misery to such as lay in subjection under it.
   17. The 10th of May, 1641, the King gave his assent to that fatall byll for perpetuating the Parlyament;¹  soone after wch the Commons beegan to think of barring Bishops from voting in the House of Peeres. I remember I told Sr John Finch, who spake to me of it, I did fear' that was but a step to take away their function; to well his answer was an assurance there would bee no considerable part of the howse for that; and to speak truth, they were generally so great advancers of Prerogative (wch an English Prince may better exercise, then taulk of) as joyning wth ye Privy Councell sundry tymes, they were thought to sway ye Lords, not wth so much an eye to the Countrie's good as the King's interest. Cardinall Bentivoglio² holds the Crown in Scotland would get no
small advantage if the King could again restore Bishops to the Parlyament. But soone after I found it was not so much ye men as their lands were faulty.
   18. But beefore hys Maty gave his consent for taking away their votes out of ye Lords howse,³ another contest wth
   ¹  In the margin of the MS. here Sir Roger writes :—"Initium malorum nostrorum. 10 May, 1641."—ED.
   ²  Relatione dello Stato della Religione in Scotia, p. 229.—T.
   ³  It is sayd King Charles subscribed the byll for taking away ye Votes of