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selfpreservation written by God himself on our hearts。 There is the
primal compact and bond of society； not graven on stone； or sealed with
wax； nor put down on parchment； nor set forth in any express form of
words by men when of old they came together； but implied in the very act
that they so came together； pre…supposed in all subsequent law； not to be
repealed by any authority； nor invalidated by being omitted in any code；
inasmuch as from thence are all codes and all authority。
〃Neither do I well see wherefore you cavaliers； and； indeed； many of
us whom you merrily call Roundheads； distinguish between those who
fought against King Charles； and specially after the second commission
given to Sir Thomas Fairfax； and those who condemned him to death。
Sure； if his person were inviolable； it was as wicked to lift the sword
against it at Naseby as the axe at Whitehall。 If his life might justly be
taken； why not in course of trial as well as by right of war？
〃Thus much in general as touching the right。 But； for the execution
of King Charles in particular； I will not now undertake to defend it。
Death is inflicted； not that the culprit may die； but that the state may be
thereby advantaged。 And； from all that I know； I think that the death of
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King Charles hath more hindered than advanced the liberties of England。
〃First； he left an heir。 He was in captivity。 The heir was in freedom。
He was odious to the Scots。 The heir was favoured by them。 To kill the
captive therefore； whereby the heir； in the apprehension of all royalists；
became forthwith kingwhat was it； in truth； but to set their captive free；
and to give him besides other great advantages？
〃Next； it was a deed most odious to the people； and not only to your
party； but to many among ourselves； and； as it is perilous for any
government to outrage the public opinion； so most was it perilous for a
government which had from that opinion alone its birth； its nurture； and its
defence。
〃Yet doth not this properly belong to our dispute； nor can these faults
be justly charged upon that most renowned Parliament。 For； as you know；
the high court of justice was not established until the House had been
purged of such members as were adverse to the army； and brought wholly
under the control of the chief officers。〃
〃And who；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃levied that army？ Who commissioned
those officers？ Was not the fate of the Commons as justly deserved as
was that of Diomedes； who was devoured by those horses whom he had
himself taught to feed on the flesh and blood of men？ How could they
hope that others would respect laws which they had themselves insulted；
that swords which had been drawn against the prerogatives of the king
would be put up at an ordinance of the Commons？ It was believed； of
old； that there were some devils easily raised but never to be laid；
insomuch that； if a magician called them up； he should be forced to find
them always some employment； for； though they would do all his bidding；
yet； if he left them but for one moment without some work of evil to
perform； they would turn their claws against himself。 Such a fiend is an
army。 They who evoke it cannot dismiss it。 They are at once its
masters and its slaves。 Let them not fail to find for it task after task of
blood and rapine。 Let them not leave it for a moment in repose； lest it tear
them in pieces。
〃Thus was it with that famous assembly。 They formed a force which
they could neither govern nor resist。 They made it powerful。 They
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made it fanatical。 As if military insolence were not of itself sufficiently
dangerous； they heightened it with spiritual pride；they encouraged their
soldiers to rave from the tops of tubs against the men of Belial； till every
trooper thought himself a prophet。 They taught them to abuse popery； till
every drummer fancied that he was as infallible as a pope。
〃Then it was that religion changed her nature。 She was no longer the
parent of arts and letters； of wholesome knowledge； of innocent pleasures；
of blessed household smiles。 In their place came sour faces； whining
voices； the chattering of fools； the yells of madmen。 Then men fasted
from meat and drink； who fasted not from bribes and blood。 Then men
frowned at stage…plays； who smiled at massacres。 Then men preached
against painted faces； who felt no remorse for their own most painted lives。
Religion had been a pole…star to light and to guide。 It was now more like
to that ominous star in the book of the Apocalypse； which fell from heaven
upon the fountains and rivers and changed them into wormwood； for even
so did it descend from its high and celestial dwelling…place to plague this
earth； and to turn into bitterness all that was sweet； and into poison all that
was nourishing。
〃Therefore it was not strange that such things should follow。 They who
had closed the barriers of London against the king could not defend them
against their own creatures。 They who had so stoutly cried for privilege；
when that prince； most unadvisedly no doubt； came among them to
demand their members； durst not wag their fingers when Oliver filled their
hall with soldiers； gave their mace to a corporal； put their keys in his
pocket； and drove them forth with base terms； borrowed half from the
conventicle and half from the ale…house。 Then were we； like the trees of
the forest in holy writ； given over to the rule of the bramble； then from the
basest of the shrubs came forth the fire which devoured the cedars of
Lebanon。 We bowed down before a man of mean birth； of ungraceful
demeanour； of stammering and most vulgar utterance； of scandalous and
notorious hypocrisy。 Our laws were made and unmade at his pleasure；
the constitution of our Parliaments changed by his writ and proclamation；
our persons imprisoned； our property plundered； our lands and houses
overrun with soldiers； and the great charter itself was but argument for a
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scurrilous jest； and for all this we may thank that Parliament； for never；
unless they had so violently shaken the vessel； could such foul dregs have
risen to the top。〃
Then answered Mr Milton： 〃What you have now said comprehends
so great a number of subjects； that it would require； not an evening's sail
on the Thames； but rather a voyage to the Indies； accurately to treat of all：
yet； in as few words as I may； I will explain my sense of these matters。
〃First； as to the army。 An army； as you have well set forth； is always
a weapon dangerous to those who use it； yet he who falls among thieves
spares not to fire his musquetoon； because he may be slain if it burst in his
hand。 Nor must states refrain from defending themselves； lest their
defenders should at last turn against them。 Nevertheless； against this
danger statesmen should carefully provide； and； that they may do so； they
should take especial care that neither the officers nor the soldiers do forget
that they are also citizens。 I do believe that the English army would have
continued to obey the parliament with all duty； but for one act； which； as it
was in intention； in seeming； and in immediate effect； worthy to be
compared with the most famous in history； so was it； in its final
consequence； most injurious。 I speak of that ordinance called the 〃self…
denying〃； and of the new model of the army。 By those measures the
Commons gave up the command of their forces into the hands of men who
we