262 



tere; -^ Even when he composed the Basilicon Doron, he warned 

 Henry of the possibiHty of falling from the royal dignity, and cau- 

 tioned him against encouraging impeachments. When Charles, 

 instigated by Buckingham, pressed forward the impeachment of the 

 Lord Treasurer, (he king, says Lord Clarendon, sent for them, 

 and conjured them to use all their interest and authority to restrain 

 it, as such a wound to the Crown as would not easily be healed : 

 and, when he found the Duke unmoved, he said in great choler, 

 " By God, Stenny, you are a fool, and will shortly repent tliis folly ; 

 and will find that, in a fit of popularity, you are making a rod, with 

 which you will be scourged yourself." Two impeachments were 

 commenced against him in the following reign. Then, turning, in 

 some anger, to the prince, he told him, that he would live to have a 

 bellyfull of parliament impeachments : and, " when 1 shall be dead, 

 you will have too much cause to remember, how much you have 

 contributed to the weakening of the crown by the two precedents 

 you are now so fond of;" intending as well the engaging the parlia- 

 ment in the war, as the prosecution of the Earl of Middlesex.* 

 When a deputation of the commons were approaching with a remon- 

 strance, he ordered twelve chaii*s to be set ; " for," says he, " twelve 

 kings are coming." In fact, he acted as if he foresaw the revolu- 

 tion, that took place in the succeeding reign, in the declension of the 

 nobility, the rise of the commons, and the influence of the Puritans. 

 His penetration into character is so conspicuous on many occasions, 

 that I shall advance only one notable instance. When the Lord 

 Keeper, Williams, interceded for Laud, " Well," said the King, " I 

 perceive whose attorney you are. Stenny hath set you on. You 

 have pleaded the man a good Protestant, and I believe it ; neither 



» History of the Rebellion, 1.20. 



