udge; no wise man can justify it." After the reading of the
Remonstrance, the duke fell on his knees, desiring to answer for
himself; but Charles no way relaxed in showing his personal favour.[316]

The duke was often charged with actions and with expressions of which,
unquestionably, he was not always guilty; and we can more fairly decide
on some points relating to Charles and the favourite, for we have a
clearer notion of them than his contemporaries. The active spirits in
the commons were resolved to hunt down the game to the death: for they
now struck at, as the king calls it, "one of the chief maintenances of
my crown," in tonnage and poundage, the levying of which, they now
declared, was a violation of the liberties of the people. This subject
again involved legal discussions, and another "Remonstrance." They were
in the act of reading it, when the king suddenly came down to the
house, sent for the Speaker, and prorogued the parliament. "I am forced
to end this session," said Charles, "some few hours before I meant,
being not willing to receive any more Remonstrances, to which I must
give a harsh answer." There was at least as much of sorrow as of anger
in this closing speech.

Buckingham once more was to offer his life for the honour of his
master--and to court popularity! It is well known with what exterior
fortitude Charles received the news of the duke's assassination; this
imperturbable majesty of his mind--insensibility it was not--never
deserted him on many similar occasions. There was no indecision--no
feebleness in his conduct; and that extraordinary event was not suffered
to delay the expedition. The king's personal industry astonished all the
men in office. One writes that the king had done more in six weeks than
in the duke's time had been done in six months. The death of Buckingham
caused no change; the king left every man to his own charge, but took
the general direction into his own hands.[317] In private, Charles
deeply mourned the loss of Buckingham; he gave no encouragement to his
enemies: the king called him "his martyr," and declared "the world was
greatly mistaken in him; for it was thought that the favourite had ruled
his majesty, but it was far otherwise; for that the duke had been to him
a faithful and an obedient servant."[318] Such were the feelings and
ideas of the unfortunate Charles the First, which it is necessary to
become acquainted with to judge of; few have possessed the leisure o