were persevering, bold, capable of business and self-devotion. The government of Ireland had not long been confided to Strafford, when that kingdom, which had till then been only an encumbrance to the crown, became a source of riches and strength. Public debts were paid; the revenue, which before had been gathered without system, and shamefully squandered, was regularly administered, and soon rose above the expenditure; the nobles no longer vexed the people with impunity, and aristocratic and religious factions no longer dared to libel each other. The army, which Strafford had found weak, without necessaries and without discipline, was recruited, well disciplined, well paid, and ceased to pillage the inhabitants. Under the protection of order, commerce flourished, manufactories were established, and agriculture improved. In short, Ireland was governed harshly, arbitrarily, and often even with odious violence; but yet, to the interest of general civilisation and royal power, instead of being, as it used to be, a prey to commissioners of the treasury, and to the dominion of an ignorant and selfish aristocracy *.

Laud, invested in England, as far as civil affairs were concerned, with a less extended and yet no less concentrated authority than that of

k See in "Strafford's Letters and Despatches," vol. ii. p. 20, a letter addressed by Strafford to his intimate friend Christopher Wandesford, in which he himself describes the character of his administration.

Strafford in Ireland, pursued the same conduct though with less ability than his friend. As commissioner of the treasury, not only did he repress all unreasonable expenses, but applied himself to the right understanding of the various branches of the public revenue, in order to find out by what means it could be collected with least expense to the people. Odious extortions, serious abuses, had introduced themselves into the administration of the custom duties, to the profit of private interests. Laud listened to the statements of merchants, employed his leisure in conversing with them, gained a knowledge of the general interests of commerce, and freed it from many vexations which existed without any advantage to the exchequer. The office of high treasurer was soon afterwards, 1636, given, at his intercession, to Juxon, bishop of London, a man of a moderate and active disposition, who repressed many disorders which were equally annoying to the crown and to the citizens. To serve, as he thought, the king and the church, Laud lent a hand in oppressing the people, and gave the most iniquitous advice; but where neither king nor church were concerned, he sought for what was just and right, and upheld it without fear of the consequences either to himself or others.

This administration, upright, diligent, but arbitrary, even tyrannical where necessary, and

1 Memoirs of Clarendon, vol. i. p. 28-29.

refusing all responsibility, by no means satisfied the nation; while for the court, it was a great deal too much. Favourites may succeed there; if they meet with enemies, they also make partisans, and in this conflict of personal interests an able intriguer may successfully oppose those he serves to those whom he offends. Such had been Buckingham. But whoever would govern, whether by despotism or by the laws, for the common interests of the king and the people, must expect hatred from all courtiers. Against Strafford and Laud the court was quite as violent, and far more busy than the nation. When Strafford first appeared at Whitehall, a contemptuous smile welcomed the sudden elevation and rather rude manners of the country gentleman, known most especially for his opposition in parliament. The austere manners, the theological pedantry, and inattentive bluntness of Laud, were no less disliked. Both these men were haughty, of by no means agreeable or affable manners; they disdained intrigues, advised economy, and talked of business and necessities which a court does not relish. The queen disliked them, as they disturbed her influence with the king; the higher nobles were jealous of their power; and after a very short time the whole court joined the people in run

m Howell's Letters, No. 34, edit. of 1650; Strafford's Letters, vol. i. p. 79; Biographia Britannica, vol. vi. p. 4178, note K. art. Wentworth.

ning them down, and in outcries against their tyranny.

Charles did not forsake them; he trusted in their talents and their devotion to his service; for the profound piety of Laud he felt indeed a respect blended with affection. But though he retained them in his confidence in spite of the dislike of his courtiers, he could not oblige the court to submit to their government. Though of a serious turn of mind, and grave in his exterior deportment, he had neither sufficient depth of mind nor ability to understand the difficulties of absolute power, and the necessity of sacrificing every thing to it; so clear in his eyes were the rights of royalty, that he thought nothing ought to cost him an effort. In council he occupied himself regularly, and with attention, upon public affairs; but this duty once fulfilled, he thought little more about them; and he had much less consideration of the necessity of governing, than of the pleasure of reigning. The good or bad temper of the queen, the usages of the court, and the prerogatives of the officers of the household, appeared to him matters of importance, which the political interests of his crown could never make him forget. This occasioned his ministers petty but continual troubles, and these the king left them to bear as they could, thinking he did enough for them and for himself by retaining them in his employment. They were charged with the administration of absolute power, yet found themselves thwarted the moment they claimed

F

any domestic sacrifice, any measure opposed to the forms and rules of Whitehall. Whilst Strafford remained in Ireland he was worn out by explanations and apologies; from Dublin he had to contradict the reports continually spread against him in the palace; sometimes he had spoken lightly of the queen; some high family had complained of his haughtiness; all these idle accusations obliged him to enter into long justifications of his words, his manners, his character; and he did not even then always obtain an answer that quite destroyed the misgivings these obscure perils caused, and that enabled him to display without fear the authority which was yet left him ".

Thus, notwithstanding the energy and zeal of his principal counsellors, notwithstanding the tranquil state of the country, notwithstanding the dignity of his manners and the high bearing of his speech, the king and his ministers were without strength and consideration. Assailed by domestic dissensions, governed alternately by contrary influences, sometimes arrogantly shaking off the yoke of the laws, sometimes yielding to the most frivolous obstacles, Charles governed without any settled plan; he constantly forgot his own designs. He had abandoned the cause of the protestants on the continent, and had even forbidden lord Scudmore, his ambassador at Paris, to attend divine service in the chapel of the re

n Strafford's Letters and Despatches, vol. i. pp. 128, 138, 142, 144; vol. ii. pp. 42, 105, 126, etc.