Page:Trenchard Tracts 074-124.djvu/3

 ''Inquiitors into their Actions. Thus the Government of England continu'd from the Time that the Romans the Iland, to the Time of Charles the Firt, who was the firt I have read of that made an Oppoition to  in the Houe of Commons the Road to Preferment; of which the Earl of Strafford and Noy were the mot remarkable Intances, who from great Patriots became the chief Aertors of Depotic Power. But this erv'd only to exaperate the ret; for he had not Places enough for all that expected them, nor Money enough to bribe them. 'Tis true, he rais'd great Sums of Money upon the People; but it being without Authority of Parliament, and having no Army to back him, it met with uch Difficulties in he raiing, that it did him little Good, and ended at lat in his Ruin, though by means of a long and mierable War, which brought us from one Tyranny to another; for the Army had got all Things into their Power, and govern'd the Nation by a Council of War, which made all Parties join in calling in Charles the Second: So that he came in with the general Applaue of the People, who in a kind Fit gave him a vat Revenue for Life. By this he was enabled to raie an Army, and bribe the Parliament, which he did to the Purpoe: but being a luxurious Prince, he could not part with great Sums at once. He only fed them from Hand to Mouth: So that they found it as neceary to keep him in a constand Dependance upon them, as they had upon him. They knew he would give them ready no longer than he had abolute Neceity for them, and he had not Places enough in his Dipoal to ecure a  in the Houe; for in thoe early Days the Art was not found out of plitting and multiplying Places; as  of a Lord Treaurer to have Five Lords of the ; intead of a Lord Admiral, to have Seven Lords of the Admiralty; to have Seven Commiioners of the, Nine of the Excie, Fourteen of the Navy Office, Ten of the Stamp Office, Eight of the Prize Office,  of the Commiioners of Trade, Two of the Pot , Four of the Tranports, Four for Hackney Coaches, Four for Wine-Licences, Four for the Victualling Office, Multitudes of other Offices which are endles to enumerate. I believe the Gentlemen who have the good Fortune to be in ome of thee Imployments, will think I complement them, ''