the king's
service.[**]

Here is another instance of that rigorous subjection in which all men
were held by Laud. Some young gentlemen of Lincoln's Inn, heated by
their cups, having drunk confusion to the archbishop, were at his
instigation cited before the star chamber. They applied to the earl of
Dorset for protection. "Who bears witness against you?" said Dorset.
"One of the drawers," they said. "Where did he stand when you were
supposed to drink this health?" subjoined the earl, "He was at the
door," they replied, "going out of the room." "Tush!" cried he, "the
drawer must be mistaken: you drank confusion to the archbishop of
Canterbury's enemies and the fellow was gone before you pronounced the
last word." This hint supplied the young gentlemen with a new method of
defence: and being advised by Dorset to behave with great humility and
great submission to the primate, the modesty of their carriage, the
ingenuity of their apology, with the patronage of that noble lord, saved
them from any severer punishment than a reproof and admonition, with
which they were dismissed.[***]

* Rush. vol. ii. p. 465, 466, 467.

** Rush. voL ii. p. 470. Welwood, p. 278.

*** Rush. vol. iii. p. 180.

This year, John Hambden acquired, by his spirit and courage, universal
popularity throughout the nation, and has merited great renown with
posterity, for the bold stand which he made in defence of the laws and
liberties of his country. After the imposing of ship money, Charles, in
order to discourage all opposition, had proposed this question to
the judges: "Whether, in a case of necessity, for the defence of the
kingdom, he might not impose this taxation; and whether he were not sole
judge of the necessity." These guardians of law and liberty replied,
with great complaisance, "that in a case of necessity he might impose
that taxation, and that he was sole judge of the necessity."[*] Hambden
had been rated at twenty shillings for an estate which he possessed in
the county of Buckingham: yet, notwithstanding this declared opinion
of the judges, notwithstanding the great power and sometimes rigorous
maxims of the crown, notwithstanding the small prospect of relief from
parliament, he resolved, rather than tamely submit to so illegal an
imposition, to stand a legal prosecution, and expose himself to all the
indignation of the court. The case was argued during twelve days, in
the exchequer chamber, before all the judges of