lled.
He had likewise been so imprudent as to commit to prison Sir Edwin
Sandys,[**] without any known cause, besides his activity and vigor
in discharging his duty as member of parliament. And, above all, the
transactions in Germany were sufficient, when joined to the king's
cautions, negotiations, and delays, to inflame that jealousy of honor
and religion which prevailed throughout the nation.[***] This summer,
the ban of the empire had been published against the elector palatine;
and the execution of it was committed to the duke of Bavaria.[****] The
Upper Palatinate was, in a little time, conquered by that prince; and
measures were taking in the empire for bestowing on him the electoral
dignity, of which the palatine was then despoiled. Frederic now lived
with his numerous family, in poverty and distress, either in Holland, or
at Sedan with his uncle the duke of Bouillon. And throughout all the new
conquests, in both the Palatinates, as well as in Bohemia, Austria, and
Lusatia, the progress of the Austrian arms was attended with rigors and
severities, exercised against the professors of the reformed religion.

* Rushworth, vol. i. p. 36. Kennet, p. 733.

** Journ. 1st December, 1621.

*** To show to what degree the nation was inflamed with
regard to the Palatinate, there occurs a remarkable story
this session. One Floyd, a prisoner in the Fleet, a
Catholic, had dropped some expressions in private
conversation, as if he were pleased with the misfortunes of
the palatine and his wife. The commons were in a flame; and,
pretending to be a court of judicature and of record,
proceeded to condemn him to a severe punishment. The house
of lords checked this encroachment; and, what was
extraordinary, considering the present humor of the lower
house, the latter acquiesced in the sentiments of the peers.
This is almost the only pretension of the English commons in
which they have not prevailed. Happily for the nation, they
have been successful in almost all their other claims. See
Parliamentary History, vol. v. p 428, 429, etc. Journ. 4th,
8th, 12th of May, 1621.

**** Franklyn. p. 73.

The zeal of the commons immediately moved them, upon their assembling,
to take all these transactions into consideration. They framed
a remonstrance, which they intended to carry to the king. They
represented, that the enormous growth of the Aust