to him, which, at length, iſſued in the loſs of his crown, and of that head which was unworthy to wear it.
But by whom was this reſiſtance made? Not by a private junta;—not by a ſmall ſeditious party;—not by a few deſperadoes, who, to mend their fortunes, would embroil the ſtate;—but by the LORDS and COMMONS of England. It was they that almoſt unanimouſly oppoſed the king's meaſures for overturning the conſtitution, and changing that free and happy government into a wretched, abſolute monarchy. It was they that when the king was about levying forces againſt his ſubjects, in order to make himſelf abſolute, commiſſioned officers, and raiſed an army to defend themſelves and the public: And it was they that maintained the war againſt him all along, till he was made a priſoner. This is indiſputable. Though it was not properly ſpeaking the parliament, but the army, which put him to death afterwards. And it ought to be freely acknowledged, that moſt of their proceeding, in order to get this matter effected; and particularly the court by which the king was at laſt tried and condemned, was little better than a mere mockery of juſtice.—
The next queſtion which naturally ariſes, is, whether this reſiſtance which was made to the king by the parliament, was properly rebellion, or not? The anſwer to which is plain, that it was not; but a moſt righteous and glorious ſtand, made in defenſe of the natural and legal rights of the people, againſt the unnatural and illegal encroachments of arbitrary power. Nor was this a raſh
