ion, these very virtues were sufficient to draw on
him the public hatred. The manners too and character of this great man,
though to all full of courtesy, and to his friends full of affection,
were at bottom haughty, rigid, and severe. His authority and influence
during the time of his government had been unlimited; but no sooner did
adversity seize him, than the concealed aversion of the nation blazed up
at once, and the Irish parliament used every expedient to aggravate the
charge against him.

The universal discontent which prevailed in England against the court,
was all pointed towards the earl of Strafford; though without any
particular reason, but because he was the minister of state whom the
king most favored and most trusted. His extraction was honorable, his
paternal fortune considerable, yet envy attended his sudden and great
elevation. And his former associates in popular counsels, finding that
he owed his advancement to the desertion of their cause, represented
him as the great apostate of the commonwealth, whom it behoved them to
sacrifice as a victim to public justice.

Strafford, sensible of the load of popular prejudices under which he
labored, would gladly have declined attendance in parliament; and he
begged the king's permission to withdraw himself to his government of
Ireland, at least to remain at the head of the army in Yorkshire; where
many opportunities, he hoped, would offer, by reason of his distance, to
elude the attacks of his enemies. But Charles, who had entire confidence
in the earl's capacity, thought that his counsels would be extremely
useful during the critical session which approached. And when Strafford
still insisted on the danger of his appearing amidst so many enraged
enemies, the king, little apprehensive that his own authority was so
suddenly to expire, promised him protection, and assured him that not a
hair of his head should be touched by the parliament.[*]

No sooner was Strafford's arrival known, than a concerted attack was
made upon him in the house of commons. Pym, in a long studied discourse,
divided into many heads, after his manner, enumerated all the grievances
under which the nation labored; and, from a complication of such
oppressions, inferred that a deliberate plan had been formed of changing
entirely the frame of government, and subverting the ancient laws and
liberties of the kingdom.[**] Could any thing, he said, increase our
indignation against so enormous a