p. 239.

v Whitlocke, p. 43.

In carrying up the bill to the lords, St. John, the solicitor-general,
advanced two topics well suited to the fury of the times; that though
the testimony against Strafford were not clear, yet, in this way of
bill, private satisfaction to each man's conscience was sufficient, even
should no evidence at all be produced; and that the earl had no title to
plead law, because he had broken the law. It is true, added he, we give
law to hares and deer, for they are beasts of chase: but it was never
accounted either cruel or unfair to destroy foxes or wolves wherever
they can be found, for they are beasts of prey.[*]

After popular violence had prevailed over the lords, the same battery
was next applied to force the king's assent. The populace flocked about
Whitehall, and accompanied their demand of justice with the loudest
clamors and most open menaces. Rumors of conspiracies against the
parliament were anew spread abroad; invasions and insurrections talked
of; and the whole nation was raised into such a ferment, as threatened
some great and imminent convulsion. On whichever side the king cast his
eyes, he saw no resource or security. All his servants, consulting their
own safety, rather than their master's honor, declined interposing with
their advice between him and his parliament. The queen, terrified with
the appearance of so mighty a danger, and bearing formerly no good will
to Strafford, was in tears, and pressed him to satisfy his people in
this demand, which, it was hoped, would finally content them. Juxon,
alone, whose courage was not inferior to his other virtues, ventured to
advise him, if in his conscience he did not approve of the bill, by no
means to assent to it.[**]

Strafford, hearing of Charles's irresolution and anxiety, took a very
extraordinary step: he wrote a letter, in which he entreated the king,
for the sake of public peace, to put an end to his unfortunate, however
innocent life, and to quiet the tumultuous people by granting them the
request for which they were so importunate.[***]

* Clarendon, vol. i. p. 232.

** Clarendon, vol. i. p. 257. Warwick, p. 160.

*** Clarendon, vol. i. p. 258. Rush. vol. v. p. 251.

"In this," added he, "my consent will more acquit you to God than all
the world can do besides. To a willing man there is no injury. And as,
by God's grace, I forgive all the world, with a calmness and meekness of
infinite contentmen