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to the House of Lords.
87

Wound to the Commonwealth, as any of the rest; but dipt his Dart in such a Poyson, that, so far as in him lay, it might never receive a Cure. As by those abortive Opinions, subscribing to the Subversion of our Propriety, before he heard what could be said for it, he prevented his Own; So by this Declaration of his, he endeavours to prevent the Judgment of Your Lordships too; and to confine the Power of a Parliament, the only Place where this Mischief might be re­drest. Sure he is more wise and learned, than to believe himself in this Opinion; or not to know how Ridiculous it will appear to a Parliament, and how Dangerous to himself: And therefore, no doubt, by saying, no Par­liament could abolish this Judgment; his mean­ing was, That this Judgment had abolish'd Par­liaments.

This Imposition of Ship-money, springing from a pretended Necessity; was it not enough, that it was grown Annual, but he must entail it upon the State for ever; at once making Necessity inherent to the Crown, and Slavery to the Sub­ject? Necessity, which dissolving all Law, is so much more prejudicial to His Majesty than to a­ny of us, by how much the Law has invested his Royal State with a greater Power, and am­pler Fortune. For so undoubted a Truth, it has ever been, that Kings, as well as Subjects, are in-volved

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