vere
administration, to overcome those terrors, and to retain the people in
obedience by penalties of a more immediate execution. In the beginning
of this summer, a combination, formed against them in London, had
obliged them to exert the plenitude of their authority.

* The king afterwards copied from this example; but, as the
far greater part of the nobility and landed gentry were his
friends, he reaped much less profit from this measure.

Edward Waller, the first refiner of English versification, was a
member of the lower house; a man of considerable fortune, and not more
distinguished by his poetical genius than by his parliamentary talents,
and by the politeness and elegance of his manners. As full of keen
satire and invective in his eloquence, as of tenderness and panegyric
in his poetry, he caught the attention of his hearers, and exerted the
utmost boldness in blaming those violent counsels by which the commons
were governed. Finding all opposition within doors to be fruitless, he
endeavored to form a party without, which might oblige the parliament
to accept of reasonable conditions, and restore peace to the nation.
The charms of his conversation, joined to his character of courage and
integrity, had procured him the entire confidence of Northumberland,
Conway, and every eminent person of either sex who resided in London.
They opened their breasts to him without reserve, and expressed their
disapprobation of the furious measures pursued by the commons, and their
wishes that some expedient could be found for stopping so impetuous a
career. Tomkins, Waller's brother-in-law, and Chaloner, the intimate
friend of Tomkins, had entertained like sentiments: and as the
connections of these two gentlemen lay chiefly in the city, they
informed Waller that the same abhorrence of war prevailed there among
all men of reason and moderation. Upon reflection, it seemed not
impracticable that a combination might be formed between the lords and
citizens; and, by mutual concert, the illegal taxes be refused, which
the parliament, without the royal assent, imposed on the people. While
this affair was in agitation, and lists were making of such as they
conceived to be well affected to their design, a servant of Tomkins, who
had overheard their discourse, immediately carried intelligence to
Pym. Waller, Tomkins, and Chaloner were seized, and tried by a court
martial.[*]

* Rush. vol. vi. p. 326. Clarendon, vol.