"When the reign of the line of the Stuarts is ended!".--ED.
[311] So Burnet tells us.
[312] See "The Rehearsal Transprosed, the second part," p. 76.
[313] One of the canting terms used by the saints of those days, and
not obsolete in the dialect of those who still give themselves
out to be saints in the present.
[314] Marvell admirably describes Parker's journey to London at the
Restoration, where "he spent a considerable time in creeping
into all corners and companies, horoscoping up and down
concerning the duration of the government." This term, so
expressive of his political doubts, is from "Judicial
Astrology," then a prevalent study. "Not considering anything
as best, but as most lasting and most profitable; and after
having many times cast a figure, he at last satisfied himself
that the episcopal government would endure as long as this
king lived, and from thenceforwards cast about to find the
highway to preferment. To do this, he daily enlarged not only
his conversation but his conscience, and was made free of some
of the town vices; imagining, like Muleasses, King of Tunis
(for I take witness that on all occasions I treat him rather
above his quality than otherwise), that by hiding himself
among the onions he should escape being traced by his
perfumes." The narrative proceeds with a curious detail of all
his sycophantic attempts at seducing useful patrons, among
whom was the Archbishop of Canterbury. Then began "those
pernicious books," says Marvell, "in which he first makes all
that he will to be law, and then whatsoever is law, to be
divinity." Parker, in his "Ecclesiastical Polity," came at
length to promulgate such violent principles as these, "He
openly declares his submission to the government of a Nero and
a Caligula, rather than suffer a dissolution of it." He says,
"it is absolutely necessary to set up a more severe government
over men's consciences and religious persuasions than over
their vices and immoralities;" and that "men's vices and
debaucheries may lie more safely indulged than their
consciences." Is it not difficult to imagine that this man had
once been an Independent, the advocate for every congregation
being independent of a bishop or a synod?
[315] Parker's father was a lawyer, and one of Oliver's most
submissive sub-committee men, who so long pillaged the nation
and spilled its blood, "not in the hot and military way (which
diminishes always the offence), but in the cooler blood and
sedentary execution of an high court of justice." He wrote a
very remarkable book (after he had been petitioned against for
a misdemeanour) in defence of that usurped irregular state
called "The Government of the People of England." It had "a
most hieroglyphical title" of several emblems: two hands
joined, and beneath a sheaf of arrows, stuffed about with
half-a-dozen mottoes, "enough," says Marvell, "to have
supplied the mantlings and achievement of this (godly)
family." An anecdote in this secret history of Parker is
probably true. "He shortly afterwards did inveigh against his
father's memory, and in his mother's presence, before
witnesses, for a couple of whining fanatics."--_Rehearsal
Transprosed_, second part, p. 75.
[316] This preface was prefixed to Bishop Bramball's "Vindication of
the Bishops from the Presbyterian Charge of Popery."
[317] As a specimen of what old Anthony calls "a jerking flirting way
of writing," I transcribe the titles of these answers which
Marvell received. As Marvell had nicknamed Parker, Bayes,
the quaint humour of one entitled his reply, "Rosemary and
Bayes;" another, "The Transproser Rehearsed, or the Fifth
Act of Mr. Bayes's Play;" another, "Gregory Father Greybeard,
with his Vizard off;" another formed "a Commonplace Book out
of the Rehearsal, digested under heads;" and lastly, "Stoo him
Bayes, or some Animadversions on the Humour of writing
Rehearsals."--_Biog. Brit._ p. 3055.
This was the very Bartlemy-fair of wit!
[318] The title will convey some notion of its intolerant principles:
"A Discourse of Ecclesiastical Polity, wherein the authority
of the Civil Magistrate _over the Consciences of Subjects_, in
matters of external Religion, is asserted."
[319] Milton had become acquainted with Marvell when travelling in
Italy, where he had gone to perfect his studies. He returned
to England in 1653, and was connected with the Cromwellian
party, through the introduction of Milton, in 1657. The great
poet was at that time secretary to Cromwell, and he became his
assistant-secretary. He afterwards represented his native town
of Hull in Parliament.--ED.
[320] Vanus, pannosus, et famelicus poetaster oenopolis quovis
vapulans, fuste et calce indies petulantiae poenas tulit--are
the words in Parker's "_De Rebus sui Temporis Commentariorum_,"
p. 275.