198 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAP. His ally, the French king , he might expect ,lxv. would second him , if force became requisite for* 5 ‘ 3, restraining his discontented subjects, and supportingthe measures , which by common consent theyhad agreed to pursue. But the king was startled ,when he approached so dangerous a precipice,as that which lay before him. Were violenceonce offered, there could be no return , he saw,to mutual confidence and trust with his people;the perils attending foreign succours , especiallyfrom so mighty a prince, were sufficiently ap-parent; and the success, which his own arms hadmet with in the war, was not so great, as toincrease his authority, or terrify the malecontentsfrom opposition. The desire of power, likewise,which had engaged Charles in these precipitatemeasures, had less proceeded, we may observe,from ambition than from love of ease. Strictlimitations of the constitution rendered the con-duct of business complicated and troublesome;and it was impossible for him , without muchcontrivance and intrigue, to procure the moneynecessary for his pleasures, or even for the regularsupport of government. When the prospect,therefore, of such dangerous opposition presenteditself, the same love of ease inclined him to retractwhat it seemed so difficult to maintain ; and histurn of mind, naturally pliant and careless, madehim find little objection to a measure, which amore haughty prince would have embraced withthe utmost reluctance. That he might yield withthe getter grace, he asked the opinion of thy