and T. GRIFFIN, in

St. Paul's Church-yard; and J. MOZLEY,

Printed for W. OSBORNE

Gainsbrough.

MDCCXCII.

226. k. 214

Mift M: Bartlett
Marldon

AN

HISTORY

O F

ENGLAND,

IN A

SERIES OF LETTERS.

NEE

LETTER XXXIX.

EVER did Monarch come to the throne of England with a greater variety of favourable concurrences than Charles I. He found himself poffeffed of a peaceful

A. D. 1625. and flourishing kingdom, his right undifputed by rival claimants, ftrengthened by an alliance with one of the most powerful Monarchs that ever reigned in France, whofe fifter he had married; and, to add to all this, loved by his fubjects, whom he had won by his virtues and addrefs.

However, this was but a flattering profpect: the fpirit of liberty was rouzed, and it was refolved to

:

oppofe the ancient claims of Monarchs, who ufurped their power in times of ignorance and danger, altho❜ they had confirmed it by laws, and continued it by long prescription. Charles had been, from his infancy, taught to confider the royal privileges as facred pledges, which it was his duty to defend his father had implanted the doctrines of hereditary and indefeasible right early upon his mind. James only defended these doctrines by words, and it was foon the fate of Charles to affert them by action. It is the duty of every fovereign to confider the genius and difpofition of his people, as a father does that of his children, and to adapt his government to each conjuncture. Charles miftook that genius: he wanted to govern a people who had, for fome time, learned. to be free, by maxims and precedents that had their origin in times of ignorance and flavery.

He therefore began his reign with two of the most difficult projects that could be conceived: the one to fuccour the proteftants in Germany against the Emperor and Duke of Bavaria; the other to keep the royal prerogatives entire, without a national ftanding army. In order to effect thefe purposes, the house of commons was to be managed; who, as I have already defcribed, from being the oppreffed party, were now willing in turn to become oppreffors; who, from a deteftation of Popery, had now overfhot the mark, and were become Puritans. His firft demand for the neceffary fupplies to carry on the war of the palatinate, in Germany, though undertaken at their own request, was answered with a petition for punishing Papifts, and for an examination into the grievances of the nation. Buckingham, who had been the late king's favourite, and who was still more careffed by the prefent monarch, did not escape their cenfures; fo that, instead of grant-.

ing the fums requifite, they employed the time in vain difputations and complaints, till the feason for profecuting the intended campaign was elapsed. The King, at length, wearied with their delays, and offended at their contempt of his demands, thought proper to diffolve a parliament which he could not bring to reafon. In fact, the commons, at this time, complained of imaginary grievances; but the time was approaching when their complaints were to become real.

The minifters of the King had not yet forgot that kind of tax which was called a benevolence, and which had been often exacted from the fubject in former reigns. Charles thought to avail himself of this method of procuring money, but at the fame time coloured it over with a greater appearance of justice than any of his predeceffors. He therefore determined to borrow money of fuch perfons as were beft able to lend, to whom, for this purpose, he directed letters mentioning the fum. With this the people reluctantly complied it was, in fact, a grievance, though authorised by a thoufand precedents; but no precedent can give fanction to injuftice. With this money a fleet was equipped and fent against Spain, but it returned without procuring either glory or advantage.

This ineffectual expedition demanded to be repaired by a new fupply greater than what extorted loans could produce, and another parliament was called for this purpose. The new parliament, upon this occafion, feemed even more refractory than the former, and appeared more willing to make or to complain of grievances than to grant money; but chiefly their refentment was directed against Buckingham, the royal favourite. Whenever the fubjects attack the royal prerogative,they begin with the