(44) It will not be impertinent And now, in order to explain, as
nor _unnatural to this_ (50) far as possible, how so prodigious
_present discourse_, to set down an alteration could take place in
in this place the present temper so short a time, and how the[19]
and constitution of both Houses royal power could fall so low as
of Parliament, and (34) of the to be unable to support itself,
court itself, (30) that (5) _it_ its dignity, or its faithful
may be the less wondered at, that servants, it will be of use to set
so prodigious an alteration should down here, where it comes most
be made in so short a time, and naturally, some account of the[20]
(37) the crown fallen so low, that present temper and composition,
it could neither support itself not only of both Houses of
nor its own majesty, nor _those Parliament, but also of the court
who would_ (47 _a_) _appear itself.
faithful to it_.
* * * * * * * * * *
(Here follows a description of the House of Lords.)
In the House of Commons were many In the House of Commons
persons of wisdom and gravity, who there were many men of wisdom
(7) _being possessed_ of great and and judgment whose high
plentiful fortunes, though they position and great wealth disposed
were undevoted enough to the them, in spite of their indifference
court, (19) had all imaginable to the court, to feel
duty for the king, and affection a most loyal respect for the
to the government _established_(47 king, and a great affection for
_a_) _by law_ or ancient custom; the ancient constitutional
(43) and without doubt, the _major government of the country. Indeed,
part of that_ (54) _body_ it cannot be doubted that
consisted of men who had no mind the majority had no intention to
to break the peace of the kingdom, break the peace of the kingdom
or to make any considerable or to make any considerable
alteration in the government of alteration in Church or State.
Church or State: (43) and Consequently, from the very
therefore (18) _all_ inventions outset, it was necessary to resort
were set on _foot from the_ (15) to every conceivable device
_beginning_ to work upon (5) for the purpose of perverting
_them_, and (11) corrupt (5) this honest majority into rebellion.
_them_, (43) (45) by suggestions
"of the dangers (8) _which_ With some, the appeal was
threatened all that was precious addressed to their patriotism.
to the subject (19) in their They were warned "of the
liberty and their property, by dangers that threatened [all
_overthrowing_ (47 _a_) _or that was precious in] the liberty
overmastering_ the law, _and_ (47 and property of the subject,
_a_) _subjecting_ it to _an if the laws were to be made
arbitrary_ (47_a_) _power_, and by subservient to despotism, and
countenancing Popery to the if Popery was to be encouraged
subversion of the Protestant to the subversion of the Protestant
religion," and then, by religion."
infusing terrible apprehensions
into some, and so working upon The fears of others were appealed
their fears, (6 _b_) "of (11 _a_) to. "There was danger," so[21] it
being called in question for was said, "that they might be
somewhat they had done," by which called to account for something
(5) _they_ would stand in need of they had done, and they would then
(5) _their_ protection; and (43) stand in need of the help of those
(45) raising the hopes of others, who were now giving them this
"that, by _concurring_ (47 _a_) timely warning." In others, hopes
_with_ (5) _them_ (5) _they_ were excited, and offices,
should be sure to obtain offices honours, and preferments were held
and honours and any kind of out as the reward of adhesion.
preferment." Though there were too Too many were led away by one or
many corrupted and misled by these other of these temptations, and
several temptations, and (19) indeed some needed no other
others (40 _a_) who needed no temptation than their innate
other temptations than from the fierceness and barbarity and the
fierceness and barbarity _of malice they had contracted against
their_ (47 _a_) _own natures_, and the Church and the court. But the
the malice they had contracted leaders of the conspiracy were not
against the Church and against the many. The flock was large and
court; (43) yet the number was not submissive, but the shepherds were
great _of those in whom the very few.
government of the rest_ (47 _a_)
_was vested_, nor were there many
who had the absolute authority
(13) to lead, though there were a
multitude (13) that was disposed
to follow.
(44) (30) Mr. Pym was looked upon Of these, Mr. Pym was thought
as the man of greatest experience superior to all the rest in
in parliaments, _where he had_ parliamentary experience. To this
(50) _served very long_, and _was advantage he added habits of
always_ (50) _a man of business_, business acquired from his
(7) being an officer in the continuous service in the
Exchequer, (43) and of a good Exchequer. He had also a good
reputation generally, (30) though reputation generally; for, though
known to be inclined to the known to be inclined to the
Puritan party; yet not of those Puritan party, yet he was not so
furious resolutions against the fanatically set against the Church
Church as the other leading men as the other leaders. In this
were, and (44) wholly devoted to respect he resembled the Earl of
the Earl of Bedford, who had Bedford, to whom he was
nothing of that spirit. thoroughly devoted.
(Here follow descriptions of Hampden and Saint John.)
It was generally believed that These three persons, with the
these three persons, with the three peers mentioned before, were
other three lords mentioned united in the closest confidence,
before, were of the most intimate and formed the mainspring of the
and entire trust with each other, party. Such at least was the
and made _the engine which_ (47 general belief. But it was clear
_a_) _moved_ all the rest; (30) that they also admitted to their
yet it was visible, that (15) unreserved confidence two others,
_Nathaniel Fiennes, the second son (45) whom I will now
of the Lord Say, and Sir Harry describe,--Nathaniel Fiennes,
Vane, eldest son to the Secretary, second son of Lord Say, and Sir
and Treasurer of the House_, were Harry Vane, eldest son of the
received by them with full Secretary, and Treasurer of the
confidence and without reserve. House.
The former, being a man of good Nathaniel Fiennes, a man of good
parts of learning, and after some parts, was educated at New
years spent in New College in College, Oxford, where[22] his
Oxford, (43) of which his father family claimed and enjoyed some
had been formerly fellow, (43) privileges in virtue of their
that family pretending[23] and kindred to the founder, and
enjoying many privileges there, as where[22] his father had formerly
of kin to the founder, (43) (19) been a fellow. He afterwards spent
had spent his time abroad in some time in Geneva and in the
Geneva and amongst the cantons of cantons of Switzerland, where[22]
Switzerland, (30) where he he increased that natural
improved his disinclination to the antipathy to the Church which he
Church, with which milk he had had imbibed almost with his
been nursed. From his travels he mother's milk.[24] By a singular
returned through Scotland (52) coincidence, he came home through
(which[24] few travellers took in Scotland (not a very common route
their way home) at the time when for returning travellers) just
(5) _that_ rebellion was in bud: when the Scotch rebellion was in
(30) (43) (44) and was very little bud. For some time he was scarcely
known, except amongst (5) _that_ known beyond the narrow and
people, _which conversed_ (47 _a_) exclusive circle of his sect,
_wholly amongst themselves,_ until until at last he appeared in
he was now (15) _found in Parliament. Then, indeed, it was
Parliament_, (30) (43) (44) when quickly discovered that he was
it was quickly discovered that, likely to fulfil even the fond
as he was the darling of his hopes of his father and the high
father, so (5) _he_ was like to promise of many years.
make good whatsoever _he_ had
for many years promised.
(5) _The other_, Sir H. Vane, was Fiennes' coadjutor, Sir H. Vane,
a man of great natural parts[25] was a man of great natural
(45) and of very profound ability.[25] Quick in understanding
dissimulation, of a quick and impenetrable in dissembling,
conception, and of very ready, he could also speak with
sharp, and weighty expression. He promptness, point, and weight. His
had an (50) unusual aspect, which, singular appearance, though it
though it might naturally proceed might naturally proceed from his
from his father and mother, parents, who were not noted for
neither of which were beautiful their beauty, yet impressed men
persons, yet (19) made men think with the belief that he had in him
there was somewhat in him of something extraordinary, an
extraordinary: and (52) his whole impression that was confirmed by
life made good that imagination. the whole of his life. His
Within a very short time after he behaviour at Oxford, where he
returned from his studies in studied at Magdalen College, was
Magdalen College in Oxford, where, not characterized, in spite of the
(43) though he was under the care supervision of a very worthy
of a very worthy tutor, he lived tutor, by a severe morality. Soon
not with great exactness, (43) he after leaving Oxford he spent some
spent some little time in France, little time in France, and more in
and more in Geneva, and, (43) Geneva. After returning to
after his return into England, England, he conceived an intense
(38) contracted a full prejudice hatred not only against the
and bitterness against the Church, government of the Church, which
both against the form of the was disliked by many, but also
government and the Liturgy, (43) against the Liturgy, which was
which was generally in great held in great and general
reverence, (15 _a_) _even with reverence.
many of those who were not
friends_ to (5) _the other_. In Incurring or seeming to incur, by
his giddiness, which then much his giddiness, the displeasure of
displeased, or seemed to his father, who at that time,
displease, (30) (43) his father, beside strictly conforming to the
who still appeared highly Church himself, was very bitter
conformable, and exceedingly sharp against Nonconformists, the young
against those who were not, Vane left his home for New
(5) _he_ transported himself into England.
New England, (43) a colony within
few years before planted by a This colony had been planted a few
mixture of all religions,[26] which years before by men of all sorts of
disposed the professors to dislike religions, and their
the government of the Church; who differences[26] disposed them to
(30) (43) (44) were qualified by dislike the government of the
the king's charter to choose their Church. Now, it happened that their
own government and governors, privilege (accorded by the king's
under the obligation, "that every charter) of choosing their own
man should take the oaths of government and governors was
allegiance and supremacy;" (30) subject to this obligation, "that
(43) (5) _which_ all the first every man should take the oaths of
planters did, when they received allegiance and supremacy." These
their charter, before they oaths had been taken, not only by
transported themselves from hence, all the original planters, on
nor was there in many years after receiving their charter, before
the least scruple amongst them of leaving England, but also for many
complying with those obligations: years afterwards, without exciting
so far men were, _in the infancy_ the slightest scruple. Indeed,
(15) _of their schism_, from scruples against lawful oaths were
refusing to take lawful oaths. unknown[27] in the infancy of the
(45) He was no sooner landed English schism. But with the
there, but his parts made him arrival of Vane all this was
quickly taken notice of, (26) and changed. No sooner had he landed
very probably his quality, being than his ability, and perhaps to
the eldest son of a some extent his position, as eldest
Privy-councillor, might give him son of a Privy-councillor,
some advantage; _insomuch_ (51) recommended him to notice: and at
_that_, when the next season came the next election he was chosen
for the election of their Governor.
magistrates, he was chosen their
governor: (30) (45) (43) in which In his new post, his restless and
place he had so ill fortune (26) unquiet imagination found
(his working and unquiet fancy opportunity for creating and
raising and infusing a thousand diffusing a thousand conscientious
scruples of conscience, which (5) scruples that had not been brought
_they_ had not brought over with over, or ever even heard of, by the
them, nor heard of before) (19) colonists. His government proved a
that he unsatisfied with failure: and, mutually
them and they with him, dissatisfied, (45) governed and
he retransported himself governor parted. Vane returned
into England; (30) (43) (44) to England, but not till he had
having sowed such seed of accomplished his mischievous task,
dissension there, as grew up too not till he had sown the seeds of
prosperously, and miserably those miserable dissensions which
divided the poor colony into afterwards grew only too
several factions, and divisions prosperously, till they split the
and persecutions of each (15 _a_) wretched colony into distinct,
_other_, (30) (43) which still hostile, and mutually persecuting
continue _to the great_ (54) factions. His handiwork still
_prejudice of that plantation_: remains, and it is owing to (15)
insomuch as some of (5) _them_, _him_ that some of the colonists,
upon the ground of their first on the pretext of liberty of
expedition, liberty of conscience, conscience, the original cause of
have withdrawn themselves from (5) their emigration, have withdrawn
_their_ jurisdiction, and obtained themselves from the old colonial
other charters from the king, by jurisdiction and have obtained
which, (30) (43) in other forms of fresh charters from the king.
government, they have enlarged These men have established new
their plantations, within new forms of government, unduly
limits adjacent to (5) (15 _a_) enlarged their boundaries, and set
_the other_.their plantations, up rival settlements on the
within new limits adjacent to (5) borders of the original colony.
(15 _a_) _the other_.
FOOTNOTES:
[19] The original metaphor uses the crown as a prop, which seems a
confusion. Though the metaphor is so common as scarcely to be regarded
as a metaphor, it is better to avoid the appearance of confusion.
[20] We sometimes say, briefly but not perhaps idiomatically, "the
_then_ sovereign," "the _then_ temper," &c.
[21] The personality of the tempters and organizers of the conspiracy
is purposely kept in the background.
[22] The relative is retained in the first two cases, because it
conveys the _reason why_ Fiennes was educated at New College; and in
the third case, because the increased "antipathy" is regarded as the
natural _consequence_ of the residence in Calvinistic Geneva.
[23] Claiming.
[24] An insinuation of sedition seems intended.
[25] This sentence is a preliminary summary of what follows.
[26] If "which" is used here according to Rule (8), the meaning is,
(_a_) "and their differences;" if it is used for "that," the meaning
will be, (_b_) "all religions that were of a nature to dispose &c." I
believe (_a_) is the meaning; but I have found difference of opinion
on the question.
[27] The following words appear to be emphatic, bringing out the
difference between the _infancy_ and the development of schism.
BURNET.
The principal faults in Burnet's style are (_a_) the use of
heterogeneous sentences (see 43); (_b_) the want of suspense (see 30);
(_c_) the ambiguous use of pronouns (see 5); (_d_) the omission of
connecting adverbs and conjunctions, and an excessive use of _and_
(see 44); and (_e_) an abruptness in passing from one topic to another
(see 45). The correction of these faults necessarily lengthens the
altered version.
ORIGINAL VERSION. PARALLEL VERSION.
And his maintaining the honour of He also gratified the English
the nation in all foreign feeling of self-respect by
countries gratified the (1) maintaining the honour of the
_vanity which is very natural_ nation in all foreign countries.
(50) _to Englishmen_; (30) (43) of So jealous was he on this point
which he was _so_ (15) (17 _a_) that, though he was not a crowned
_careful_ that, though he was not head, he yet secured for his
a crowned head, yet his (40 _a_) ambassadors all the respect that
ambassadors had all the respects had been paid to the ambassadors
paid them which our (15) _kings'_ of our kings. The king, he said,
ambassadors ever had: he said (6 received respect simply as the
_b_) the dignity of the crown nation's representative head,
was upon the account of the and, since the nation was the
nation, _of which the king was_ same, the same respect should
(50) _only the representative be paid to the[28] nation's
head_; so, the nation being the ministers.
same, he would have the same
regards paid to (41) his
ministers.
Another[29] instance of (5) _this_ The following instance of jealousy
pleased _him_ much. Blake with the for the national honour pleased
fleet _happened_ (50) _to be_ at him much. When Blake was at Malaga
Malaga before he made war upon with his fleet, before his war
Spain: (44) _and_ some of his with Spain, it happened that some
seamen went ashore, _and_ met the of his sailors going ashore and
Host carried about; (44) _and_ not meeting the procession of the
only paid no respect to it, but Host, not only paid no respect to
laughed at those who did; (43) it, but even laughed at those who
(30) (51) so one of the priests did. Incited by one of the priests
put the people upon resenting this to resent the indignity, the
indignity; _and_ they fell upon people fell on the scoffers and
(5) _them and_ beat them severely. beat them severely. On their
When they returned to their ship return to the ship the seamen
(5) _they_ complained of (5) complained of this ill-usage,
_this_ usage; and upon that Blake whereupon Blake sent a messenger
sent a trumpet to the viceroy to to the viceroy to demand the
demand the priest who was the priest who was the instigator of
chief (1) _instrument_ in that the outrage. The viceroy answered
ill-usage. The viceroy answered that he could not touch him, as he
_he_ had no authority over the had no authority over the priests.
(15) _priests_, and so could not To this Blake replied, that he did
dispose of him. Blake upon that not intend to inquire to whom the
sent him word that _he_ would not authority belonged, but, if the
inquire who had the (1) power to priest were not sent within three
send the priest to him, but if hours, he would burn the town. The
_he_ were not sent within three townspeople being in no condition
hours, _he_ would burn their town; to resist, the priest was at once
(43) and (5) _they_, being in no sent. On his arrival, he defended
condition to resist _him_, sent himself, alleging the insolence of
the priest to _him_, (43) (44) who the sailors. But the English (50)
justified himself upon the Admiral replied that a complaint
petulant behaviour of the seamen. should have been forwarded to him,
and then he would have punished
(44) Blake answered that, if (5) them severely, for none of his
_he_ had sent a complaint to (5) sailors should be allowed to
_him of_(5) _it_, (5) _he_ would affront the established religion
have punished them severely, since of any place where they touched.
(5) _he_ would not suffer _his_ "But," he added, "I take it ill
men to affront the established that you should set on your
religion of any place at which (5) countrymen to do my work; for I
_he_ touched; but (5) (6) _he_ will have all the world know that
took it ill, that _he_ set on the an Englishman is only to be
Spaniards to do (5) _it_; for _he_ punished, by an Englishman." Then,
would have all the world to know satisfied with having had the (50)
that an Englishman was only to be offender at his mercy, Blake
punished by an Englishman; (43) entertained him civilly and sent
(44) and so he treated the priest him back.
civilly, and sent him back (30),
being satisfied that he had him at
his mercy.
Cromwell was much delighted with Cromwell was much delighted with
(5) _this_, (43) and read the Blake's conduct. Reading the
letters in council with great letters in council with great
satisfaction; _and_ said he (6) satisfaction, he said, "I hope I
hoped he should make the name of shall make the name of an
an Englishman as great as ever Englishman as much respected as
that of a Roman (15 _a_) _had ever was the name of Roman."
been_. (44) The States of Holland Among other countries the States
were in such dread of (5) him that of Holland were in such dread of
they took care to give him no sort Cromwell that they took care to
of umbrage; (43) (44) _and_ when give him no sort of umbrage.
at any time the king or his Accordingly, whenever the king or
brothers came to see their sister his brothers came to see the
the Princess Royal, (23) within a Princess Royal their sister, they
day or two after, (5) _they_ used were always warned in a day or two
to send a deputation to let _them_ by a deputation that Cromwell had
know that Cromwell had required of required of the States to give
the States that (5) _they_ should them no harbourage.
give _them_ no harbour.
* * * * * * * * * *
Cromwell's favourite alliance was The free kingdom of Sweden was
Sweden.[30] (44) Carolus Gustavus Cromwell's favourite ally; not
and he lived in great conjunction only under Charles Gustavus, with
of counsels. (44) Even Algernon whom he was on most confidential
Sydney, (10 _a_) _who_ was not terms, but also under Christina.
inclined to think or speak well of Both these sovereigns had just
kings, commended _him_ (5) to me; notions of public liberty; at
and said _he_ (5) had just least, Algernon Sydney, a man
notions of public liberty; (44) certainly not prejudiced in favour
(43) _and_ added, that Queen of royalty, assured me this was
Christina seemed to have _them_ true of Gustavus. He also held the
likewise. But (44) she was same opinion of Queen Christina;
much changed from that, when but, if so, she was much changed
I waited on her at Rome; for when I waited on her at Rome; for
she complained of us as a factious she then complained of the factious
nation, _that did not readily and unruly spirit of our nation.
comply with the commands_ (47 _a_)
_of our princes_. (44) All Italy All Italy, no less than
trembled at the name of Cromwell, Holland,[31] trembled at the name
and seemed under a (1) _panic_ as of Cromwell, and dreaded him till
long as he lived; (43) his fleet he died. Nor durst the Turks
scoured the Mediterranean; and the offend the great (50) Protector
Turks durst not offend him; but whose fleet scoured the
delivered up Hyde, who kept up the Mediterranean; and they even gave
character of an ambassador from up Hyde, who, for keeping up in
the king there (23) (43), and was Turkey the character of ambassador
brought over and executed for (5) from the king, was brought to
_it_. England and executed.