ffirmed in the house, that the amount of twelve
subsidies was a greater sum than could be found in all England: such
were the happy ignorance and inexperience of those times with regard to
taxes.[**]

* Clarendon, vol. i. p. 138.

** Clarendon, vol. *i. p. 136.

The king was in great doubt and perplexity. He saw that his friends in
the house were outnumbered by his enemies, and that the same
counsels were still prevalent which had ever bred such opposition and
disturbance. Instead of hoping that any supply would be granted him to
carry on war against the Scots, whom the majority of the house regarded
as their best friends and firmest allies; he expected every day that
they would present him an address for making peace with those rebels.
And if the house met again, a vote, he was informed, would certainly
pass, to blast his revenue of ship money; and thereby renew all the
opposition which, with so much difficulty, he had surmounted in levying
that taxation. Where great evils lie on all sides, it is difficult
to follow the best counsel; nor is it any wonder that the king, whose
capacity was not equal to situations of such extreme delicacy, should
hastily have formed and executed the resolution of dissolving this
parliament: a measure, however, of which he soon after repented, and
which the subsequent events, more than any convincing reason, inclined
every one to condemn. The last parliament, which ended with such rigor
and violence, had yet at first covered their intentions with greater
appearance of moderation than this parliament had hitherto assumed.

An abrupt and violent dissolution naturally excites discontents among
the people, who usually put entire confidence in their representatives,
and expect from them the redress of all grievances. As if there were not
already sufficient grounds of complaint, the king persevered still in
those counsels which, from experience, he might have been sensible were
so dangerous and unpopular. Bellasis and Sir John Hotham were summoned
before the council; and, refusing to give any account of their
conduct in parliament, were committed to prison. All the petitions
and complaints which had been sent to the committee of religion, were
demanded from Crew, chairman of that committee; and on his refusal
to deliver them, he was sent to the Tower. The studies, and even the
pockets of the earl of Warwick and Lord Broke, before the expiration of
privilege, were searched, in expec