carriage； and a sober diet； as constant at prayers as a priest； as heedless of oaths as an atheist。〃
Mr Cowley answered somewhat sharply： 〃I am sorry； Sir； to hear you speak thus。 I had hoped that the vehemence of spirit which was caused by these violent times had now abated。 Yet； sure； Mr Milton； whatever you may think of the character of King Charles； you will not still justify his murder？〃
〃Sir；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃I must have been of a hard and strange nature； if the vehemence which was imputed to me in my younger days had not been diminished by the afflictions wherewith it hath pleased Almighty God to chasten my age。 I will not now defend all that I may heretofore have written。 But this I say； that I perceive not wherefore a king should be exempted from all punishment。 Is it just that where most is given least should be required？ Or politic that where there is the greatest power to injure there should be no danger to restrain？ But； you will say； there is no such law。 Such a law there is。 There is the law of selfpreservation written by God himself on our hearts。 There is the primal compact and bond of society； not graven on stone； or sealed with wax； nor put down on parchment； nor set forth in any express form of words by men when of old they came together； but implied in the very act that they so came together； pre…supposed in all subsequent law； not to be repealed by any authority； nor invalidated by being omitted in any code； inasmuch as from thence are all codes and all authority。
〃Neither do I well see wherefore you cavaliers； and； indeed； many of us whom you merrily call Roundheads； distinguish between those who fought against King Charles； and specially after the second commission given to Sir Thomas Fairfax； and those who condemned him to death。 Sure； if his person were inviolable； it was as wicked to lift the sword against it at Naseby as the axe at Whitehall。 If his life might justly be taken； why not in course of trial as well as by right of war？
〃Thus much in general as touching the right。 But； for the execution of King Charles in particular； I will not now undertake to defend it。 Death is inflicted； not that the culprit may die； but that the state may be thereby advantaged。 And； from all that I know； I think that the death of King Charles hath more hindered than advanced the liberties of England。
〃First； he left an heir。 He was in captivity。 The heir was in freedom。 He was odious to the Scots。 The heir was favoured by them。 To kill the captive therefore； whereby the heir； in the apprehension of all royalists； became forthwith kingwhat was it； in truth； but to set their captive free； and to give him besides other great advantages？
〃Next； it was a deed most odious to the people； and not only to your party； but to many among ourselves； and； as it is perilous for any government to outrage the public opinion； so most was it perilous for a government which had from that opinion alone its birth； its nurture； and its defence。
〃Yet doth not this properly belong to our dispute； nor can these faults be justly charged upon that most renowned Parliament。 For； as you know； the high court of justice was not established until the House had been purged of such members as were adverse to the army； and brought wholly under the control of the chief officers。〃
〃And who；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃levied that army？ Who commissioned those officers？ Was not the fate of the Commons as justly deserved as was that of Diomedes； who was devoured by those horses whom he had himself taught to feed on the flesh and blood of men？ How could they hope that others would respect laws which they had themselves insulted； that swords which had been drawn against the prerogatives of the king would be put up at an ordinance of the Commons？ It was believed； of old； that there were some devils easily raised but never to be laid； insomuch that； if a magician called them up； he should be forced to find them always some employment； for； though they would do all his bidding； yet； if he left them but for one moment without some work of evil to perform； they would turn their claws against himself。 Such a fiend is an army。 They who evoke it cannot dismiss it。 They are at once its masters and its slaves。 Let them not fail to find for it task after task of blood and rapine。 Let them not leave it for a moment in repose； lest it tear them in pieces。
〃Thus was it with that famous assembly。 They formed a force which they could neither govern nor resist。 They made it powerful。 They made it fanatical。 As if military insolence were not of itself sufficiently dangerous； they heightened it with spiritual pride；they encouraged their soldiers to rave from the tops of tubs against the men of Belial； till every trooper thought himself a prophet。 They taught them to abuse popery； till every drummer fancied that he was as infallible as a pope。
〃Then it was that religion changed her nature。 She was no longer the parent of arts and letters； of wholesome knowledge； of innocent pleasures； of blessed household smiles。 In their place came sour faces； whining voices； the chattering of fools； the yells of madmen。 Then men fasted from meat and drink； who fasted not from bribes and blood。 Then men frowned at stage…plays； who smiled at massacres。 Then men preached against painted faces； who felt no remorse for their own most painted lives。 Religion had been a pole…star to light and to guide。 It was now more like to that ominous star in the book of the Apocalypse； which fell from heaven upon the fountains and rivers and changed them into wormwood； for even so did it descend from its high and celestial dwelling…place to plague this earth； and to turn into bitterness all that was sweet； and into poison all that was nourishing。
〃Therefore it was not strange that such things should follow。 They who had closed the barriers of London against the king could not defend them against their own creatures。 They who had so stoutly cried for privilege； when that prince； most unadvisedly no doubt； came among them to demand their members； durst not wag their fingers when Oliver filled their hall with soldiers； gave their mace to a corporal； put their keys in his pocket； and drove them forth with base terms； borrowed half from the conventicle and half from the ale…house。 Then were we； like the trees of the forest in holy writ； given over to the rule of the bramble； then from the basest of the shrubs came forth the fire which devoured the cedars of Lebanon。 We bowed down before a man of mean birth； of ungraceful demeanour； of stammering and most vulgar utterance； of scandalous and notorious hypocrisy。 Our laws were made and unmade at his pleasure； the constitution of our Parliaments changed by his writ and proclamation； our persons imprisoned； our property plundered； our lands and houses overrun with soldiers； and the great charter itself was but argument for a scurrilous jest； and for all this we may thank that Parliament； for never； unless they had so violently shaken the vessel； could such foul dregs have risen to the top。〃
Then answered Mr Milton： 〃What you have now said comprehends so great a number of subjects； that it would require； not an evening's sail on the Thames； but rather a voyage to the Indies； accurately to treat of all： yet； in as few words as I may； I will explain my sense of these matters。
〃First； as to the army。 An army； as you have well set forth； is always a weapon dangerous to those who use it； yet he who falls among thieves spares not to fire his musquetoon； because he may be slain if it burst in his hand。 Nor must states refrain from defending themselves； lest their defenders should at last turn against them。 Nevertheless； against this danger statesmen should carefully provide； and； that they may do so； they should take especial care that neither the officers nor the soldiers do forget that they are also citizens。 I do believe that the English army would have continued to obey the parliament with all duty； but for one act； which； as it was in intention； in seeming； and in immediate effect； worthy to be compared with the most famous in history； so was it； in its final consequence； most injurious。 I speak of that ordinance called the 〃self…denying〃； and of the new model of the army。 By those measures the Commons gave up the command of their forces into the hands of men who were not of themselves。 Hence； doubtless； derived no small honour to that noble assembly； which sacrificed to the hope of public good the assurance of private advantage。 And； as to the conduct of the war； the scheme prospered。 Witness the battle of Naseby； and the memorable exploits of Fairfax in the west。 But thereby the Parliament lost that hold on the soldiers and that power to control them； which they retained while every regiment was commanded by their own members。 Politicians there be； who would wholly divide the legislative from the executive power。 In the golden age this may have succeeded； in the millennium it may succeed again。 But； where great armies and great taxes are required； there the executive government must always hold a great authority； which authority； that it may not oppress and destroy the legislature； must be in some manner blended with it。 The leaders of foreign mercenaries have always been most dangerous to a country。 The officers of native armies； deprived of the civil privileges of other men； are as much to be feared。 This was the great error of that Parliament： and； though an error it were； it was an error generous； virtuous； and more to be deplored than censured。
〃Hence came the power of the army and its leaders； and especially of that most famous leader； whom both in our conversation to…day； and in that discourse whereon I before touched； you have； in my poor opinion； far too roughly handled。 Wherefore you speak contemptibly of his parts I know not； but I suspect that you are not free from the error common to studious and speculative men。 Because Oliver was an ungraceful orator； and never said； either in public or private； anything memorable； you will have it that he was of a mean capacity。 Sure this is unjust。 Many men have there been ignorant of letters； without wit； without eloquence； who yet had th