By F. A. Carrington, Esq. 149 



of these powers the Major- Generals exercised an authority still more arbitrary 

 and acted as if absolute masters of the property and person of every subject. 



"All reasonable men now considered that the very mask of liberty was 

 thrown aside, and that the nation was for ever subject to militar}' and despotic 

 government, exercised not in the legal manner of European nations, but accord- 

 ing to the maxims of Eastern Tyranny." 



The "former oppressions," to whicli Hume alludes, took place 

 under an ordinance of the Parliament of March 31st, 1643, when 

 the following sums were exacted from Wiltshire, as appears from 

 "A Catalogue of the Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen that have com- 

 pounded for their Estates." 



" London : Printed for Thomas Dring, at the Signe of the George, in Fleet 

 Street, neare Cliffords Inne, 1655." 



It has the following dedication : — 



" To those Noble Persons that are concern'd, the Stationer humbly dedicates 

 the ensuing pages. 



" Protesting that he hath no desire to revive your past misfortunes, or to 

 involve you in newe ones ; could he harbour a just fear, this black legend should 

 be more gladly sacrificed to the flames, than offered to the world. He knowes 

 you too Generous to gather solace from the sufferings of others, or else, to shew 

 you that your affliction is not solitary, woiild be a sufficient excuse to patronize 

 this publication. 



" 'Tis a melancholy thing to reflect upon crimes, but not alwaies so upon losses ; 

 since it may be necessitated to imbrace the last, out of a conscience to evade the 

 first. This Book is but an Index to a greater Volume ; such as have been 

 scourged by the times, used to number many such lashes as these. But 'tis not 

 for us of the lowest sphear to censure or moderate in those intricate contests, 

 which our home divisions have engendered : our inconsidcrablenesse has re- 

 deemed us from sharing Enigmaes, those works upon which the greatest 

 Reasons and Estates have da.sh'd and perished. You yourselves best know 

 your own ingngements: But in (Thesi) this maybe received as sober truth, that 

 he happilic consults his Treasure, who honestly loses or piously expends it ; yea 

 more, every drop of blood that is shed in a good cause shall commence a Ruby 

 in Heaven. 



" The meanest of those that serve and honour you, 



"T. D." 



Then follow the names/ residences, and sums to be paid ; those 

 here extracted being that portion of the catalogue which relates to 

 Wiltshire. 



£ 8. D. 



" Arundell, Will. Horningshara, Wilts 0333 06 08 



Aldworth, Kieh., of Hinton Pipard, Wilts, Gent 0200 00 00 



Beunet, John, Pithouse, Wilts 0065 00 00 



Bownnaii, Andrew, Stratford, Wilts 0125 00 00 



' Priuted, without the preface, in KcUowcs's " UiHtorical Skctchea of Charles I." 



