Note 323 — SECRET HISTORY OF CHARLES THE FIRST AND HIS FIRST PARLIAMENTS.

At the time many undoubtedly considered that it was a mere faction in the house. Sir Symonds D’Ewes was certainly no politician—but, unquestionably, his ideas were not peculiar to himself. Of the last third parliament he delivers this opinion in his Diary: “I cannot deem but the greater part of the house were morally honest men; but these were the least guilty of the fatal breach, being only misled by some other Machiavelian politics, who seemed zealous for the liberty of the commonwealth, and by that means, in the moving of their outward freedom, drew the votes of those good men to their side.”