The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11) — Thomas Hobbes — John Shaqi
The English works of Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury, Volume 06 (of 11)
Thomas Hobbes · en
_A._ He came back the 25th of November; and was welcomed with the
acclamations of the common people, as much as if he had been the most
beloved of all the Kings that were before him; but found not a reception
by the Parliament, answerable to it. They presently began to pick new
quarrels against him, out of every thing he said to them. December the
2nd, the King called together both Houses of Parliament, and then did
only recommend unto them the raising of succours for Ireland.
_B._ What quarrel could they pick out of that?
_A._ None: but in order thereto, as they may pretend, they had a bill in
agitation to assert the power of levying and pressing soldiers to the
two Houses of the Lords and Commons; which was as much as to take from
the King the power of the militia, which is in effect the whole
sovereign power. For he that hath the power of levying and commanding
the soldiers, has all other rights of sovereignty which he shall please
to claim. The King, hearing of it, called the Houses of Parliament
together again, on December the 14th, and then pressed again the
business of Ireland: (as there was need; for all this while the Irish
were murdering the English in Ireland, and strengthening themselves
against the forces they expected to come out of England): and withal,
told them he took notice of the bill in agitation for pressing of
soldiers, and that he was contented it should pass with a _salvo jure_
both for him and them, because the present time was unseasonable to
dispute it in.
_B._ What was there unreasonable in this?
_A._ Nothing: what is unreasonable is one question, what they quarrelled
at is another. They quarrelled at this: that his Majesty took notice of
the bill, while it was in debate in the House of Lords, before it was
presented to him in the course of Parliament; and also that he showed
himself displeased with those that propounded the said bill; both which
they declared to be against the privileges of Parliament, and petitioned
the King to give them reparation against those by whose evil counsel he
was induced to it, that they might receive condign punishment.