Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

94
HAMPTON COURT
" He told them he had been till then silent, because
he would not say or do anything that might seem
in any sort to take from any person the full freedom
of deliberating and voting in matters of such importance:
he was resolved neither to court nor threaten
any one; and therefore he had declined to give out his
own thoughts. Some were for putting the government
in the hands of a Regent: he would say nothing against
it,if it was thought the best means for settling their
affairs: only he thought it necessary to tell them that
he would not be the Regent : so, if they continued in
that design, they must look out for some other person
to be put in that post : he himself saw what the
consequences of it were like to prove, so he would not
accept of it. Others were for putting the Princess
singly on the throne, and that he should reign by her
courtesy: he said no man could esteem a woman more
than he did the Princess;but he was so made that he
could not think of holding anything by apron-strings;
nor could he think it reasonable to have any share in
the government unless it was put in his person, and
that for term of life:if they did think it fit to settle
it otherwise, he would not oppose them in it; but he
would go back to Holland, and meddle no more in
their affairs. He assured them, that whatsoever others
might think of a crown, it was no such thing in his
eves, but that he could live very well, and be very
well pleased without it. In the end he said, that he
could not resolve to accept of a dignity, so as to hold
it only (during) the life of another: yet he thought