262 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

chap. lower house, as appeared in the vote for thei.v. remonstrance ; and this party , had every newisi 4 », cause of disgust been carefully avoided, wouldsoon have become the majority; from the odiumattending the violent measures, embraced by thepopular leaders. A great majority he alwayspossessed in the house of peers, even after thebishops were confined o,r chased away; and thismajoripy could not have been overcome, but byoutrages, yphich, in the end, would have drawndisgrace and .ruin on those who incited them. Bythe present j;ury of the people, as by an inunda-tion, weje all these obstacles swept away, andevery rampart of royal authority laid level withthe ground. The victory, was pursued with im-petuosity by the sagacious commons, who knewthe importance o| a ; favorable moment in allpopular commotions. The terror of their authoritythey extended over the whole nation; and allopposition, and even all blame vented in private- conversation, were treated as the most atrociouscrimes, by these, severe inquisitors. Scarcely wasit permitted to find fault with the conduct of anyparticular member, if he made a figure in thehouse; and reflections, thrown out on Pym, wereat this time treated as breaches of privilege. Thepopulace without doors were ready to execute,from the least hint, the will of their leaders^ norwas it safe for any member to approach eitherbouse, who pretended to controul or oppose thegeneral torrent. After so undisguised a manner,was this violence conducted, that Holiis, in a