Barring his sourness in regard of stage-plays and Bishops--which seemed
strangely coupled in his mind--he was ever a wise and moderate man."

"Marry," replied Carteret, "I will show you what he hath writ. He would
persuade us--I will be plain with you--to send Charles packing, and to
yield ourselves wholly to the present Government in England. He argues
that might is right, and that it is to that a weak state like ours must
needs bow;--Here be your three organs of Government--or rather were--yet
one hath ever the last word, the casting vote; and that it is which in
very truth governs: the others are but baubles. For, put case it were
otherwise, then how would it fare with the public weal when one organ
says, 'This shall be so, while another saith, 'Nay, but it shall be
_so_;' and a third perhaps is divided. It is put to the touch, as hath
been lately seen in this nation, where the King came forth on one side
with his cavaliers, followed by tapsters, serving-men and clodhoppers;
officers and men for the most part broken in fortune, debauched in body
and mind. Against him were ranged the citizens, the gentry, many even of
the lords and the sober well-informed part of the yeomen. Your Royal
tapsters are scattered in almost every encounter, your King is taken,
dethroned, slain. Where be then your joint-organs, your paper-balance?
Is it not the merest audit of a bankrupt's books?' So far Mr. Prynne, of
whose wisdom you perhaps will make short work."

"I do not say that he is wrong," answered the Secretary, with a puzzled
look. "I must own that we are beaten for the nonce. And it may be that
if we were uppermost we should equally destroy the balance. But who will
judge a man's constitution by the symptoms of calenture? The nation is
sick, yet it is not like to die."

"My faith!" said Sir George, after a brief pause of reflection, "I think