hym beegan about the Militia, weh he denyed absolutely
the putting into their hands, after the manner they required it.1 The last clause of which was that such as
did not obey their commands should answer their neglect
or contempt in a Parlyamentary way, and not otherwise.
This desire of theirs was apprehended by some,
and very grievous to many, who observed that giving
moeving originally from ye Commons, they of late had
gayned an interest in disbursing ye guift; if they should now that of arming and punishing, they had in
effect all
ye rights of Soveraignity, the people under an absolute
arbitrary voting Tyrany; That this was the imitation of
the Tyrants of Athens, to get an army for their defence;
that it was to make themselves lords of all wee had, by
giving, expending, punishing by votes variable as best
liked themselves. That of Tacitus2 was remembred,
"Odium et invidiam apud multos valere," and of ye
Councell of Trent,3 that in those great assemblies, for ye
differing aymes men brought, it was not allways ye best
opinion had ye most voyces, and the opponent had ever
an advantage of the proponent.
19. And these men did more admire when the I of
March,4 1641-2, both Howses did protest, if hys Maty
should not give them satisfaction, the dangers and distempers
of ye Kingdome were such, they should bee
inforced to dispose of the Militia after the same manner
had beene propounded to his Maty, and they resolved
to doe it accordingly. By wch men observed how easy
their minds were changed, to see those very men, who
Bishops in ye very house where
ye Christian religion was first
preached, viz. St. Augustin's by Cant.—T.
1 Collect, of
Orders, p. 89, torn, i.—T.
2 Tacit. Annal. 3.—T.
3 " Per la varieta delle opinioni et interessi, e
difficile ridur tanti in un,
pareresse ben buono; la maggiore parte vince la megliore, et chi
s'oppone
ha sempre avantagio che chi promove." (Hist. Concil. Trident,
lib. vj, p.
560, " Gli Ambasoiatori," edit. Lond.)—T.
4 Collect. of Orders, torn. i. p. 93.—T.
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