The extrajudicial opinion of the judges in the case of ship money had been procured by his intrigues, persuasions, and even menaces.

In all unpopular and illegal measures, he was ever most active; and he was even believed to have declared publicly, that, while he was keeper, an order of council should always with him be equivalent to a law.

To appease the rising displeasure of the commons, he desired to be heard at their bar.
He prostrated himself with all humility before them; but this submission availed him nothing.

An impeachment was resolved on; and in order to escape their fury, he thought proper secretly to withdraw, and retire into Holland.

As he was not esteemed equal to Stratford, or even to Laud, either in capacity or in fidelity to his master, it was generally believed that his escape had been connived at by the popular leaders.[**] His impeachment, however, in his absence, was carried up to the house of peers.
* Clarendon, vol.i.p.