CHARGE AGAINST MR. OLIVER ST. JOHN. 141 



shall not be drowned or lost in discourse, which I 

 hold worthy the observation, for the honour of the 

 state and confusion of slanderers ; whereby it will 

 appear most evidently what care was taken, that that 

 which was then done might not have the effect, no 

 nor the shew, no nor so much as the shadow of a 

 tax ; and that it was so far from breeding or bring 

 ing in any ill precedent or example, as contrariwise 

 it is a corrective that doth correct and allay the 

 harshness and danger of former examples. 



The first is, that what was done was done imme 

 diately after such a parliament, as made general 

 profession to give, and was interrupted by accident : 

 so as you may truly and justly esteem it, &quot; tanquam 

 &quot; posthuma proles parliament!,&quot; as an after-child of 

 the parliament, and in pursuit, in some small mea 

 sure, of the firm intent of a parliament past. You 

 may take it also, if you will, as an advance or pro 

 visional help until a future parliament ; or as a gra 

 tification simply without any relation to a parliament; 

 you can no ways take it amiss. 



The second is, that it wrought upon example, as 

 a thing not devised or projected, or required ; no 

 nor so much as recommended, until many that were 

 never moved nor dealt with, &quot; ex mero motu,&quot; had 

 freely and frankly sent in their presents. So that 

 the letters were rather like letters of news, what 

 was done at London, than otherwise : and we know 

 &quot; exempla ducunt, non trahunt :&quot; examples they do 

 but lead, they do not draw nor drive. 



The third is, that it was not done by commission 



