HISTORY OF EUROPE. 
spoke of them so contemptuously, 
and even sent an ambassador to the 
person who called himself their 
king. . lt wasillusory, in the mean 
time, to buoy up the spirits of the 
people, by telling them to look at 
the distresses of the French, as if 
they were any mitigation of their 
own. These were no arguments 
to lay before men who had suffered 
somuch for the profusion and ill 
success that had so usually accom- 
panied ministerial measures, The 
[59 
opponents to these were arrogantly 
admonished, that it was the royal 
prerogative only to decide of peace 
and when to conclude it: but minis= 
ters also should be reminded, that it 
was no less the prerogative of the 
commons of England to interpose 
their advice, both as to the time and 
the conditions that were seasonable. 
On closing the debate, fifty divided 
for the motion, and one hundred apd 
Ninety against it, 
CHAP, 
