148

HISTORY OB ENGLAND.

CIUP.

XIX.

11192 .

people had become Roundheads: but the body which alonewas authorised to speak in the name of the people was still abody of Cavaliers. It is true that the King occasionally foundeven that House of Commons unmanageable. From the first ithad contained not a few true Englishmen: others had beenintroduced into it as vacancies were made by death; and eventhe majority, courtly as it was, could not but feel some sym-pathy with the nation. A country party grew up and becameformidable. But that party constantly found its exertionsfrustrated by systematic corruption. That some members ofthe legislature received direct bribes was with good reasonsuspected, but could not be proved. That the patronage of theCrown was employed on an extensive scale for the purpose ofinfluencing votes was matter of notoriety. A large proportionof those who gave away the public money in supplies receivedpart of that money back in salaries; and thus was formed amercenary band on ■which the Court might, in almost any ex-tremity , confidently rely.

The servility of this Parliament had left a deep impression onthe public mind. It was the general opinion that Englandought to be protected against all risk of being ever again re-presented, during a long course of years, by men who had for-feited her confidence, and who were retained by a fee to voteagainst her wishes and interests. The subject was mentionedin the Convention; and some members wished to deal with itwhile the throne was still vacant. The cry for reform had eversince been becoming more and more importunate. The people,heavily pressed by taxes, were naturally disposed to regardthose who lived on the taxes with little favour. The war, it wasgenerally acknowledged, was just and necessary; and warcould not be carried on without large expenditure. But thelarger the expenditure which was required for the defence ofthe nation, the more important it was that nothing should be