Page:The Maid's Tragedy Altered - Waller (1690).djvu/96
volved in the Confusion, which necessity produces; that the Heathen thought their Gods also obliged by the same; Pareamus necessitati, quam nec Homines nec Dii superant. This Judge then, having in his Charge at the Assize declared the dissolution of the Law, by this supposed necessity; with what Conscience could he at the same Assize proceed to condemn and punish Men; unless perhaps he meant, the Law was still in force, for our Destruction, and not for our Preservation? That it should have Power to kill, but none to Protect us? A thing no less horrid, than if the Sun should burn without lighting us; or the Earth serve only to bury, and not feed and nourish us.
But (my Lords) to demonstrate, that this was a supposititious impos'd Necessity, and such as they could remove when they pleased; at the last Convention in Parliament, a Price was set upon it; for Twelve Subsidies you shall reverse this Sentence. It may be said, that so much Money would have removed the present Necessity: but here was a Rate set upon future necessity; for Twelve Subsidies you shall never suffer necessity again, you shall for ever abolish that Judgment. Here this Mystery is revealed, this Vizor of Necessity is pull'd off: And now it appears, That this Parliament of Judges had very frankly and bountifully presented His Majesty with Twelve Subsidies, to belevi-