Page:CromwellHugo.djvu/225

And Selden on Abuses, book the third:
Quid de his censetur modo codicibus.—
My lord, you needs must reign!
[He resumes his seat.
Cromwell [congratulating Whitelocke with look and gesture.
My lord, you needs must reign! How well he reasons!
How meetly he doth intersperse his speech
With tags of Latin!—Wolseley let us hear.
Sir Charles Wolseley [rising.]My lord, I, too, shall venture, in my turn,
To undeceive your Highness in plain words.
The chief of a free people, saith the prophet,
Tanquam in medio positus, and not
Upon the summit. But however high
His seat, this chief is major singulis,
And minor universis. Hence the name
Of king our privileges doth subvert:
Rex legem violat.
[He resumes his seat.
Cromwell. Rex legem violat. A schoolboy's plea!
In Latin phrases I am little versed.
'Tis poorly reasoned.
[To Pierpoint.] Pierpoint, you.
Pierpoint [rising.] … reasoned. Pierpoint, you. My lord,
Buttress invincible of Israel,
Who rules the earth through you, thus do I say:
This English people, whose high Parliament
Doth designate itself imperial,
Hath the time-honoured, glorious, sacred right
To have for head a king; its dignity
Demands it. Let your Highness, then, accept
A title which doth irk you. 'Tis your duty.
Yes, good my lord, methinks you fail therein
To rule this people and not be their king.
[He resumes his seat.