登陆注册
27054500000138

第138章 ENGLAND UNDER CHARLES THE FIRST(4)

Strafford and Laud were for conquering the Scottish people by force of arms.Other lords who were taken into council,recommended that a Parliament should at last be called;to which the King unwillingly consented.So,on the thirteenth of April,one thousand six hundred and forty,that then strange sight,a Parliament,was seen at Westminster.It is called the Short Parliament,for it lasted a very little while.While the members were all looking at one another,doubtful who would dare to speak,MR.PYM arose and set forth all that the King had done unlawfully during the past twelve years,and what was the position to which England was reduced.This great example set,other members took courage and spoke the truth freely,though with great patience and moderation.The King,a little frightened,sent to say that if they would grant him a certain sum on certain terms,no more ship money should be raised.They debated the matter for two days;and then,as they would not give him all he asked without promise or inquiry,he dissolved them.

But they knew very well that he must have a Parliament now;and he began to make that discovery too,though rather late in the day.

Wherefore,on the twenty-fourth of September,being then at York with an army collected against the Scottish people,but his own men sullen and discontented like the rest of the nation,the King told the great council of the Lords,whom he had called to meet him there,that he would summon another Parliament to assemble on the third of November.The soldiers of the Covenant had now forced their way into England and had taken possession of the northern counties,where the coals are got.As it would never do to be without coals,and as the King's troops could make no head against the Covenanters so full of gloomy zeal,a truce was made,and a treaty with Scotland was taken into consideration.Meanwhile the northern counties paid the Covenanters to leave the coals alone,and keep quiet.

We have now disposed of the Short Parliament.We have next to see what memorable things were done by the Long one.

SECOND PART

THE Long Parliament assembled on the third of November,one thousand six hundred and forty-one.That day week the Earl of Strafford arrived from York,very sensible that the spirited and determined men who formed that Parliament were no friends towards him,who had not only deserted the cause of the people,but who had on all occasions opposed himself to their liberties.The King told him,for his comfort,that the Parliament 'should not hurt one hair of his head.'But,on the very next day Mr.Pym,in the House of Commons,and with great solemnity,impeached the Earl of Strafford as a traitor.He was immediately taken into custody and fell from his proud height.

It was the twenty-second of March before he was brought to trial in Westminster Hall;where,although he was very ill and suffered great pain,he defended himself with such ability and majesty,that it was doubtful whether he would not get the best of it.But on the thirteenth day of the trial,Pym produced in the House of Commons a copy of some notes of a council,found by young SIR HARRY VANE in a red velvet cabinet belonging to his father (Secretary Vane,who sat at the council-table with the Earl),in which Strafford had distinctly told the King that he was free from all rules and obligations of government,and might do with his people whatever he liked;and in which he had added-'You have an army in Ireland that you may employ to reduce this kingdom to obedience.'

It was not clear whether by the words 'this kingdom,'he had really meant England or Scotland;but the Parliament contended that he meant England,and this was treason.At the same sitting of the House of Commons it was resolved to bring in a bill of attainder declaring the treason to have been committed:in preference to proceeding with the trial by impeachment,which would have required the treason to be proved.

So,a bill was brought in at once,was carried through the House of Commons by a large majority,and was sent up to the House of Lords.

While it was still uncertain whether the House of Lords would pass it and the King consent to it,Pym disclosed to the House of Commons that the King and Queen had both been plotting with the officers of the army to bring up the soldiers and control the Parliament,and also to introduce two hundred soldiers into the Tower of London to effect the Earl's escape.The plotting with the army was revealed by one GEORGE GORING,the son of a lord of that name:a bad fellow who was one of the original plotters,and turned traitor.The King had actually given his warrant for the admission of the two hundred men into the Tower,and they would have got in too,but for the refusal of the governor-a sturdy Scotchman of the name of BALFOUR-to admit them.These matters being made public,great numbers of people began to riot outside the Houses of Parliament,and to cry out for the execution of the Earl of Strafford,as one of the King's chief instruments against them.The bill passed the House of Lords while the people were in this state of agitation,and was laid before the King for his assent,together with another bill declaring that the Parliament then assembled should not be dissolved or adjourned without their own consent.The King-not unwilling to save a faithful servant,though he had no great attachment for him-was in some doubt what to do;but he gave his consent to both bills,although he in his heart believed that the bill against the Earl of Strafford was unlawful and unjust.The Earl had written to him,telling him that he was willing to die for his sake.But he had not expected that his royal master would take him at his word quite so readily;for,when he heard his doom,he laid his hand upon his heart,and said,'Put not your trust in Princes!'

同类推荐
  • 辽东志

    辽东志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • The First and Last

    The First and Last

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 粤客谈咸丰七年国耻

    粤客谈咸丰七年国耻

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 诗概

    诗概

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 北江诗话

    北江诗话

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 逐影天下

    逐影天下

    初出茅庐的他因为自己的睿智达到了同龄人所不能企及高度;年少轻狂的他因为自己的傲慢失去了他所拥有的一切;脑部遭受重创的他,边陲小镇苏醒;黑影,脑海中不时闪现;令已遗忘一切的他惊恐不已;机缘巧合狼灵附体,为了寻找记忆中的影像;一人一狼,决定逐影天下!
  • 废材崛起:霸道宗主靠边去

    废材崛起:霸道宗主靠边去

    她本是21世纪最牛逼的神偷千雪,出了99次任务,在第100次时不小心触动机关导致整个人翘了辫子。谁知道她的灵魂却附在与她同名的墨千雪身上。什么?她的口碑竟然这么差!没事,咱有亲爹护着;说她没权没钱没势没实力,得,后面出现五个人,大哥二哥三哥四哥五哥霸气侧漏,直接揪出乱传绯闻的人交给她处置,一朝展露实力天赋,惊爆你们的眼球!啥,后面什么时候多出来一个萌爆了的小正太,一口一口地叫着“妈妈!”靠,早知道就不该一时手贱救了她了!还有,后面这个死皮赖脸叫着她娘子的真的不是脑子进水了吗!可是,为什么她会沉迷在这个人的怀抱下!
  • 红裙

    红裙

    记得有人说“有好书相伴,永远不会孤独”我想这里书籍充当的不仅是良友更是灵魂知己,前进亦或是背后最坚实的力量。生而为人,身处社会,免不了有众多感慨。也许我们说不清道不明如在梗咽,但书籍可以,它总能帮你理清了,阐明了,舒畅了。
  • 若美丽的故事来得太晚

    若美丽的故事来得太晚

    别人的感情专家,自己却不能收获属于自己的爱情。或许会有几分可笑。那么当这个爱看漫画的恋爱恐惧症患者,遇上一个热衷于画漫画的心理专家。在克服恐惧和寻找爱情的路上,她一路走来...“你听不到我的声音,怕脱口而出是你姓名。”“我听见了你的声音,就像曾经交换过眼睛。”
  • 深宫满庭芳

    深宫满庭芳

    其实这是一个不是宫斗的故事。问世间情是何物,直教生死相许。摸鱼儿-雁邱词(元好问)“既然如此,我为什么不嫁全天下最有权势最有地位的男人?就像你说的,那样至少可以扬眉吐气。”煌煌深宫,极尽华丽的背后,难掩那一段段的心酸与悲凉。在这里生存的每一天都要如履薄冰。主动或被动的尔虞我诈,是否能逃得过?女人如花,开了又谢,谢了再开。所以,你争赢了又怎样?我失败了又如何?那就让风雨过后,再来开启那个尘封已久的惊世之秘吧!
  • 山的那边是小山

    山的那边是小山

    写的是少年成长的故事,不是简单的打怪升级,想写一些自己的故事,一个自己的世界。这是一篇说明文求点击,求收藏下面介绍一下体系:先天感气,以气入门,百日筑基,是为一阶,筑基感气入门,气沉丹田,练气有成,是为二阶,练气练气化分,融于己身,脉络初凝,是为三阶,凝脉经脉贯通,气聚九窍,神通天生,是为四阶,开窍开窍入道,道路三分,武道练法,仙道练神,淬体练身,法身不灭,神聚金丹,金身不坠,是为五阶,法身,金丹,金身法身未成,金丹之下,金身之前,蝼蚁凡人,法身凝实,金丹不散,金身自成,仙凡之别
  • exo十三人之命运之轮

    exo十三人之命运之轮

    不喜欢苏的直接跳过前三十章,前三十章都是废话,也是我不适合的文风(小白文风不是我的feel)上一世十三个人团结一心共抗强魔,这一世神灵依旧在心,但那份纯净却被慢慢的俗情而代替,只是命运之轮依旧在旋转,该轮到的还是要轮到,这一次的强魔会掀起怎样的人间波澜和感情狂暴。。。。。。{此文是NP不喜勿喷,简介不靠谱,请戳正文,康赛蜜达!!【此书多是都市文,到中后篇会加异能开头略苏,后文正常】
  • 仙战3

    仙战3

    神秘的减肥馆里流传了这样的一句话,减肥不只是女人专利,胖子同样需要!掲开减肥后的神秘的面具,你会发现收费很高!————十二根神秘黑铁巨物,迁引出神秘巨大的世界。世界碰撞世界,精彩只能无限放送,创仙之篇,生死相约!
  • 跃鱼

    跃鱼

    鱼儿跃出水面,只为一睹云端的风景。这是一本关于写手的非常小众的小书。免责声明:本书涉及的写手、作品、出版社等纯属虚构,请勿对号入座。*******************************书友群210420480
  • 如果有来生,你要记得回头

    如果有来生,你要记得回头

    青春时期纯纯欲动的情愫,意外擦身而过的缘分,来自另一个世界的守候。如果有那么一个人,那就请好好珍惜吧!