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Inquiſitors into their Actions. Thus the Government of England continu'd from the Time that the Romans quit-
ted the Iſland, to the Time of Charles the Firſt, who was the firſt I have read of that made an Oppoſition to him-
ſelf in the Houſe of Commons the Road to Preferment; of which the Earl of Strafford and Noy were the moſt remarkable Inſtances, who from great Patriots became the chief Aſſertors of Deſpotic Power. But this ſerv'd only to exaſperate the reſt; for he had not Places enough for all that expected them, nor Money enough to bribe them. 'Tis true, he rais'd great Sums of Money upon the People; but it being without Authority of Parliament, and having no Army to back him, it met with ſuch Difficulties in he raiſing, that it did him little Good, and ended at laſt in his Ruin, though by means of a long and miſerable War, which brought us from one Tyranny to another; for the Army had got all Things into their Power, and govern'd the Nation by a Council of War, which made all Parties join in calling in Charles the Second: So that he came in with the general Applauſe of the People, who in a kind Fit gave him a vaſt Revenue for Life. By this he was enabled to raiſe an Army, and bribe the Parliament, which he did to the Purpoſe: but being a luxurious Prince, he could not part with great Sums at once. He only fed them from Hand to Mouth: So that they found it as neceſſary to keep him in a conſstand Dependance upon them, as they had upon him. They knew he would give them ready Mo-
ney no longer than he had abſolute Neceſſity for them, and he had not Places enough in his Diſpoſal to ſecure a Majo-
rity in the Houſe; for in thoſe early Days the Art was not found out of ſplitting and multiplying Places; as in-
ſtead of a Lord Treaſurer to have Five Lords of the Trea-
ſury; inſtead of a Lord Admiral, to have Seven Lords of the Admiralty; to have Seven Commiſſioners of the Cu-
ſtoms, Nine of the Exciſe, Fourteen of the Navy Office, Ten of the Stamp Office, Eight of the Prize Office, Six-
teen of the Commiſſioners of Trade, Two of the Poſt Of-
fice, Four of the Tranſports, Four for Hackney Coaches, Four for Wine-Licences, Four for the Victualling Office, Multitudes of other Offices which are endleſs to enumerate. I believe the Gentlemen who have the good Fortune to be in ſome of theſe Imployments, will think I complement them,