Mr. Pye, the late poet laureate, in his “Sketches,” says, “When I was at
Oxford, my tutor having the revisal of some papers relative to the civil
war, (I know not if they have been published,) showed me a letter from
one of the king’s secretaries, with remarks on the margin in the king’s
own handwriting. One expression particularly struck me, as seeming to
show his determination to lay aside the use of parliaments. The paper
was a circular request to some of the counties for their pecuniary
assistance, I believe on the Scots’ invasion. The words were, as nearly
as I can recollect, (sixteen years having elapsed since I saw the
letter,) ‘Your obliging me in this instance will induce me to ask your
aid in a manner more agreeable to yourselves.’ These words had a line
drawn through them; and there was written on the margin, in the king’s
hand: ‘I have SCORED out these words, as they seem to imply a promise of
calling a parliament, of which I have no intention.’”
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