The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
_B._ Who would think that such horrible designs as these could so easily
and so long remain covered with the cloak of godliness? For that they
were most impious hypocrites, is manifest enough by the war these
proceedings ended in, and by the impious acts in that war committed. But
when began first to appear in Parliament the attempt of popular
government, and by whom?
_A._ As to the time of attempting the change of government from
monarchical to democratical, we must distinguish. They did not challenge
the sovereignty in plain terms, and by that name, till they had slain
the King; nor the rights thereof altogether by particular heads, till
the King was driven from London by tumults raised in that city against
him, and retired for the security of his person to York; where he had
not been many days, when they sent unto him nineteen propositions,
whereof above a dozen were demands of several powers, essential parts of
the power sovereign. But before that time they had demanded some of them
in a petition which they called a Petition of Right; which nevertheless
the King had granted them in a former Parliament, though he deprived
himself thereby, not only of the power to levy money without their
consent, but also of his ordinary revenue by custom of tonnage and
poundage, and of the liberty to put into custody such men as he thought
likely to disturb the peace and raise sedition in the kingdom. As for
the men that did this, it is enough to say they were members of the last
Parliament, and of some other Parliaments in the beginning of King
Charles and the end of King James his reign; to name them all is not
necessary, further than the story shall require. Most of them were
members of the House of Commons; some few also, of the Lords; but all,
such as had a great opinion of their sufficiency in politics, which they
thought was not sufficiently taken notice of by the King.
_B._ How could the Parliament, when the King had a great navy, and a
great number of trained soldiers, and all the magazines of ammunition in
his power, be able to begin the war?