should have cause to
confide.[**]

* Rush. vol. v. p. 429.

** Bush. vol. v. p. 437. Nalson, vol. ii. p. 692.

By this phrase, which is so often repeated in all the memorials
and addresses of that time, the commons meant themselves and their
adherents.

As soon as the remonstrance of the commons was published the king
dispersed an answer to it. In this contest, he lay under great
disadvantages. Not only the ears of the people were extremely prejudiced
against him; the best topics upon which he could justify, at least
apologize for his former conduct, were such as it was not safe or
prudent for him at this time to employ. So high was the national
idolatry towards parliaments, that to blame the past conduct of these
assemblies would have been very ill received by the generality of the
people. So loud were the complaints against regal usurpations, that had
the king asserted the prerogative of supplying, by his own authority,
the deficiencies in government arising from the obstinacy of the
commons, he would have increased the clamors with which the whole nation
already resounded. Charles, therefore, contented himself with observing
in general, that even during that period so much complained of, the
people enjoyed a great measure of happiness, not only comparatively,
in respect of their neighbors, but even in respect of those times which
were justly accounted the most fortunate. He made warm protestations
of sincerity in the reformed religion; he promised indulgence to tender
consciences with regard to the ceremonies of the church; he mentioned
his great concessions to national liberty; he blamed the infamous libels
every where dispersed against his person and the national religion; he
complained of the general reproaches thrown out in the remonstrance
with regard to ill counsels, though he had protected no minister from
parliamentary justice, retained no unpopular servant, and conferred
offices on no one who enjoyed not a high character and estimation in the
public. "If, notwithstanding this," he adds, "any malignant party shall
take heart, and be willing to sacrifice the peace and happiness of their
country to their own sinister ends and ambition, under whatever
pretence of religion and conscience; if they shall endeavor to lessen my
reputation and interest, and to weaken my lawful power and authority; if
they shall attempt, by discountenancing the present laws, to loosen the
bands of government, that all di