178 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. to the circumstance of treason , and on thatliv. account declared his difficulty in giving his assent»«»i. to the bill of attainder *\ The commons tookfire, and voted it a breach of privilege for theking to take notice of any bill depending beforethe houses. Charles did not perceive that hisattachment to Stratford was the chief motive forthe bill; and that, the greater proofs he gave ofanxious concern for this minister , the moreinevitable did he render his destruction.

About eighty peers had constantly attendedStratford’s trial ; but such apprehensions wereentertained on account of the popular tumults,that only forty-five were present when the billof attainder was brought into the house. Yet ofthese, nineteen had the courage to vote againstit A certain proof, that, if entire freedomhad been allowed, the bill had been rejected bya great majority.

In carrying up the bill to the lords, St. John,the solicitor-general, advanced two topics, wellsuited to the furyiof the times; that, though thetestimony against-*Stratford were not clear, yet,in this way of bill, private satisfaction to eachman’s conscience was sufficient, even should noevidence at all be produced ; and that the earlhad no title to plead law, because he had brokenthe law. It is true, added he, we give law tohares and deer; for they are beasts of chafe. Butit was never accounted either cruel or unfair to

8 *

IS

Rusliworth, vol. v. p. 339.

Whitlocke, p. 4Z-