best understanding were they of
equal integrity, who affect to ingross all business, to be able to
quash any good motion by parliamentary skill, unless themselves be
the authors, and to be the leading men of the House, and for their
natural lives to continue so. But these are men that have been once
fooled, most of them, and discovered, and slighted at Court, so that
till some turn of State shall let them in their adversaries' place,
in the mean time they look sullen, make big motions, and contrive
specious bills for the subject, yet only wait the opportunity to be
the instruments of the same counsels which they oppose in others.

"There is a third part still remaining, but as contrary in themselves
as light and darkness; those are either the worst, or the best of
men; the first are most profligate persons, they have neither
estates, consciences, nor good manners, yet are therefore picked out
as the necessary men, and whose votes will go furthest; the charges
of their elections are defrayed, whatever they amount to, tables are
kept for them at Whitehall, and through Westminster, that they may be
ready at hand, within call of a question: all of them are received
into pension, and know their pay-day, which they never fail of:
insomuch that a great officer was pleased to say, 'That they came
about him like so many jack-daws for cheese at the end of every
Session.' If they be not in Parliament, they must be in prison, and
as they are protected themselves, by privilege, so they sell their
protections to others, to the obstruction so many years together of
the law of the land, and the publick justice; for these it is, that
the long and frequent adjournments are calculated, but all whether
the court, or the monopolizers of the country party, or those that
profane the title of old cavaliers, do equally, though upon differing
reasons, like death apprehend a dissolution. But notwithstanding
these, there is an handful of salt, a sparkle of soul, that hath
hitherto preserved this gross body from putrefaction, some gentlemen
that are constant, invariable, indeed Englishmen; such as are above
hopes, or fears, or dissimulation, that can neither flatter, nor
betray their king or country: but being conscious of their own
loyalty and integrity, proceed throw good and bad report, to acquit
themselves in their duty to God, their prince,