CCCxlii LIFE OF BACOX. 



The King s fears, notwithstanding his pecuniary dis 

 tresses, disposed him to dissolve the parliament, to which 

 he had been advised, (a) though by this measure he should 

 lose his two subsidies. Williams dissuaded him from such 

 Advice of an expedient. &quot; There is,&quot; he said, &quot; no colour to quarrel 

 at this general assembly of the kingdom, for tracing 

 delinquents to their form: it is their proper work, and 

 your majesty hath nobly encouraged them to it. Your 

 lordship,&quot; he said, turning to Buckingham, &quot;is jealous, if 

 the parliament continue embodied, of your own safety. 

 Follow it, swim with the tide: trust me and your other 

 servants that have some credit with the most active mem 

 bers, to keep you clear from the strife of tongues; but if 

 you break up this parliament, in pursuit of justice, only 

 to save some cormorants who have devoured that which 

 they must disgorge, you will pluck up a sluice which will 

 overwhelm you all.&quot; 



The King listened to the advice of Williams ; and his 

 determination not to dissolve the parliament was followed, 

 of course, by the consideration how the charges were to be 

 met, by resistance or by submission. 



There cannot be any difficulty in following the train of 

 Williams s reasoning in this conclave. &quot; Resistance will be 



(a) The obnoxious that were brought to the ear of justice, with a multi 

 tude that feared to be in as ill condition, saw no way for safety but to 

 poison the King with an ill opinion of the parliament, that it might evapo 

 rate into a nullity. They terrify the lord marquis that the grants of these 

 * things which are now bastardized by the knights and burgesses, nay, by 

 the lords that envy him, were begotten by his favour and credit. That the 

 arrow of vengeance, which is shot at his brother, grazed him. That it was 

 time to look about him ; for at the opening of that session it was much 

 noted, that the King had said before all the members, Spare none where 

 you find just cause to punish. That it were less danger for the King to 

 gather such a sum or greater by his prerogative, though it be out of the 

 way, than to wait for the exhibition of a little money, which will cost dis 

 honour, and the ruin of his most loyal and faithful servants. Racket, p. 49. 



