The evil which we are considering is neither future nor uncertain.

A standing army exists.

It is officered by Papists.

We have no foreign enemy.

There is no rebellion in the land.
For what, then, is this force maintained, except for the purpose of subverting our laws and establishing that arbitrary power which is so justly abhorred by Englishmen ?" [32] Jeffreys spoke against the motion in the coarse and savage style of which he was a master; but he soon found that it was not quite so easy to browbeat the proud and powerful barons of England in their own hall, as to intimidate advocates whose bread depended on his favour or prisoners whose necks were at his mercy.