C II A I'.IXVII.167S.

Accusationof iianby.

Z22 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

But if they would contrive any other bill forordering the militia , and still leave it in his powerto assemble or dismiss them as he thought proper ,he would willingly give it the royal assent. Thecommons, dissatisfied with this negative, thoughthe king had never before employed that prero-gative, immediately voted that all the new-leviedforces should be disbanded. They passed a bill,granting money for that purpose ; but to sliovrtheir extreme jealousy of the crown, besides ap-propriating the money by the strictest clauses,they ordered it to be paid, not into the exchequer,but into the chamber of London. The lords de-murred with regard to so extraordinary a clause,wich threw a violent reflection on the king’s mi-nisters , and even on himself; and by that meansthe act remained in suspense.

It was no wonder, that the present fermentand credulity of the nation engaged men ofinfamous character and indigent circumstances tobecome informers; when persons of rank andcondition could be tempted to give into thatscandalous practice. Montague, the king’s am-bassador at Paris, had procured a feat in the lowerhouse; and without obtaining or asking the king’sleave, he suddenly came over to England. Charles,suspecting his intention , ordered lus papers to beseized; but Montague, who foresaw this measure,had taken care to secrete one paper, which heimmediately laid before the house of commons.It was a letter from the treasurer Danby, writtenin the beginnning of the year , during the

negotiations