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and unsettled assembly。 For their other requisition； that he should give
up to their vengeance all who had defended the rights of his crown； his
honour must have been ruined if he had complied。 Is it not therefore
plain that they desired these things only in order that； by refusing； his
Majesty might give them a pretence for war？
〃Men have often risen up against fraud； against cruelty； against rapine。
But when before was it known that concessions were met with
importunities； graciousness with insults； the open palm of bounty with the
clenched fist of malice？ Was it like trusty delegates of the Commons of
England； and faithful stewards of their liberty and their wealth； to engage
them for such causes in civil war； which both to liberty and to wealth is of
all things the most hostile。 Evil indeed must be the disease which is not
more tolerable than such a medicine。 Those who； even to save a nation
from tyrants； excite it to civil war do in general but minister to it the same
miserable kind of relief wherewith the wizards of Pharaoh mocked the
Egyptian。 We read that； when Moses had turned their waters into blood；
those impious magicians； intending； not benefit to the thirsting people； but
vain and emulous ostentation of their own art； did themselves also change
into blood the water which the plague had spared。 Such sad comfort do
those who stir up war minister to the oppressed。 But here where was the
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oppression？ What was the favour which had not been granted？ What
was the evil which had not been removed？ What further could they
desire？〃
〃These questions；〃 said Mr Milton； austerely； 〃have indeed often
deceived the ignorant； but that Mr Cowley should have been so beguiled； I
marvel。 You ask what more the Parliament could desire？ I will answer
you in one word； security。 What are votes； and statutes； and resolutions？
They have no eyes to see； no hands to strike and avenge。 They must
have some safeguard from without。 Many things； therefore； which in
themselves were peradventure hurtful； was this Parliament constrained to
ask； lest otherwise good laws and precious rights should be without
defence。 Nor did they want a great and signal example of this danger。 I
need not remind you that； many years before； the two Houses had
presented to the king the Petition of Right； wherein were set down all the
most valuable privileges of the people of this realm。 Did not Charles
accept it？ Did he not declare it to be law？ Was it not as fully enacted as
ever were any of those bills of the Long Parliament concerning which you
spoke？ And were those privileges therefore enjoyed more fully by the
people？ No： the king did from that time redouble his oppressions as if to
avenge himself for the shame of having been compelled to renounce them。
Then were our estates laid under shameful impositions； our houses
ransacked； our bodies imprisoned。 Then was the steel of the hangman
blunted with mangling the ears of harmless men。 Then our very minds
were fettered； and the iron entered into our souls。 Then we were
compelled to hide our hatred； our sorrow； and our scorn； to laugh with
hidden faces at the mummery of Laud； to curse under our breath the
tyranny of Wentworth。 Of old time it was well and nobly said； by one of
our kings； that an Englishman ought to be as free as his thoughts。 Our
prince reversed the maxim； he strove to make our thoughts as much slaves
as ourselves。 To sneer at a Romish pageant； to miscall a lord's crest；
were crimes for which there was no mercy。 These were all the fruits which
we gathered from those excellent laws of the former Parliament； from
these solemn promises of the king。 Were we to be deceived again？
Were we again to give subsidies； and receive nothing but promises？
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Were we again to make wholesome statutes； and then leave them to be
broken daily and hourly； until the oppressor should have squandered
another supply； and should be ready for another perjury？ You ask what
they could desire which he had not already granted。 Let me ask of you
another question。 What pledge could he give which he had not already
violated？ From the first year of his reign； whenever he had need of the
purses of his Commons to support the revels of Buckingham or the
processions of Laud； he had assured them that； as he was a gentleman and
a king； he would sacredly preserve their rights。 He had pawned those
solemn pledges； and pawned them again and again； but when had he
redeemed them？ 'Upon my faith；''Upon my sacred word；''Upon the
honour of a prince；' came so easily from his lips； and dwelt so short a
time on his mind that they were as little to be trusted as the 'By the hilts' of
an Alsatian dicer。
〃Therefore it is that I praise this Parliament for what else I might have
condemned。 If what he had granted had been granted graciously and
readily； if what he had before promised had been faithfully observed； they
could not be defended。 It was because he had never yielded the worst
abuse without a long struggle； and seldom without a large bribe； it was
because he had no sooner disentangled himself from his troubles than he
forgot his promises； and； more like a villainous huckster than a great king；
kept both the prerogative and the large price which had been paid to him
to forego it； it was because of these things that it was necessary and just to
bind with forcible restraints one who could be bound neither by law nor
honour。 Nay； even while he was making those very concessions of which
you speak； he betrayed his deadly hatred against the people and their
friends。 Not only did he； contrary to all that ever was deemed lawful in
England； order that members of the Commons House of Parliament should
be impeached of high treason at the bar of the Lords； thereby violating
both the trial by jury and the privileges of the House； but； not content with
breaking the law by his ministers； he went himself armed to assail it。 In
the birth…place and sanctuary of freedom； in the House itself； nay in the
very chair of the speaker； placed for the protection of free speech and
privilege； he sat； rolling his eyes round the benches； searching for those
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whose blood he desired； and singling out his opposers to the slaughter。
This most foul outrage fails。 Then again for the old arts。 Then come
gracious messages。 Then come courteous speeches。 Then is again
mortgaged his often forfeited honour。 He will never again violate the laws。
He will respect their rights as if they were his own。 He pledges the
dignity of his crown； that crown which had been committed to him for the
weal of his people； and which he never named； but that he might the more
easily delude and oppress them。
〃The power of the sword； I grant you； was not one to be permanently
possessed by Parliament。 Neither did that Parliament demand it as a
permanent possession。 They asked it only for temporary security。 Nor
can I see on what conditions they could safely make peace with that false
and wicked king； save such as would deprive him of all power to injure。
〃For civil war； that it is an evil I dispute not。 But that it is the greatest
of evils； that I stoutly de