ded
in a nullity! Charles, disappointed in this predatory attempt, in
despair called his _second_ parliament--as he says, "in the midst of his
necessities--and to learn from them how he was to frame his course and
counsels."

The Commons, as duteously as ever, profess that "No king was ever dearer
to his people, and that they really intend to assist his majesty in such
a way as may make him safe at home and feared abroad"--but it was to be
on condition that he would be graciously pleased to accept "the
information and advice of parliament in discovering the causes of the
great evils, and redress their grievances." The king accepted this "as a
satisfactory answer;" but Charles comprehended their drift--"You
specially aim at the Duke of Buckingham; what he hath done to change
your minds I wot not." The style of the king now first betrays angered
feelings; the secret cause of the uncomplying conduct of the Commons was
hatred of the favourite--but the king saw that they designed to control
the executive government, and he could ascribe their antipathy to
Buckingham but to the capriciousness of popular favour; for not long ago
he had heard Buckingham hailed as "their saviour." In the zeal and
firmness of his affections, Charles always considered that he himself
was aimed at in the person of his confidant, his companion, and his
minister!

Some of "the bold speakers," as the heads of the opposition are
frequently designated in the manuscript letters, have now risen into
notice. Sir John Eliot, Dr. Turner, Sir Dudley Digges, Mr. Clement Coke,
poured themselves forth in a vehement, not to say seditious style, with
invectives more daring than had ever before thundered in the House of
Commons! The king now told them--"I come to show your errors, and, as I
may call it, _unparliamentary proceedings of parliament_." The lord
keeper then assured them, that "when the irregular humours of _some
particular persons_ were settled, the king would hear and answer all
just grievances; but the king would have them also to know that he was
equally jealous to the contempt of his royal rights, which his majesty
would not suffer to be violated by any pretended course of
parliamentary liberty. The king considered the parliament as his
council; but there was a difference between councilling and controlling,
and between liberty and the abuse of liberty." He finished by noticing
their extraordinary proceedings in their impeachment of Buckingham. Th