xclaimed
against, namely, his arbitrary principles in government, one may venture
to assert, that the greatest enemies of this prince will not find, in
the long line of his predecessors, from the conquest to his time, any
one king, except perhaps his father, whose administration was not more
arbitrary and less legal, or whose conduct could have been recommended
to him, by the popular party themselves, as a model, in this particular,
for his government. Nor is it sufficient to say, that example and
precedent can never authorize vices. Examples and precedents, uniform
and ancient, can surely fix the nature of any constitution, and the
limits of any form of government. There is indeed no other principle by
which those landmarks or boundaries can be settled.

What a paradox in human affairs, that Henry VIII. should have been
almost adored in his lifetime, and his memory be respected; while
Charles I. should, by the same people, at no greater distance than a
century, have been led to a public and ignominious execution, and his
name be ever after pursued by falsehood and by obloquy!

Even at present, an historian, who, prompted by his courageous
generosity, should venture, though from the most authentic and
undisputed facts, to vindicate the fame of that prince, would be sure
to meet with such treatment as would discourage even the boldest from so
dangerous, however splendid an enterprise.]

[Footnote 21: NOTE U, p. 394. The following instance of extravagance is
given by Walker, in his History of Independency, part ii. p. 152. About
this time there came six soldiers into the parish church of Walton upon
Thames, near twilight; Mr. Faucet, the preacher there, not having till
then ended his sermon. One of the soldiers had a lantern in his hand,
and a candle burning in it, and in the other hand four candles not
lighted. He desired the parishioners to stay a while, saying he had a
message from God unto them, and thereupon offered to go into the pulpit.
But the people refusing to give him leave so to do, or to stay in the
church, he went into the churchyard, and there told them that he had a
vision, wherein he had received a command from God to deliver his will
unto them, which he was to deliver and they to receive upon pain
of damnation; consisting of five lights. 1. "That the Sabbath was
abolished, as unnecessary, Jewish, and merely ceremonial. And here
(quoth he) I should put out the first light, but the wind is so high
I c