"I can boast to any man's face of the power of the English people," replied Pym, "and I believe it is that power that Your Majesty wisheth to reckon with."
Charles was silent, not being able to master his humiliation and pride sufficiently to speak.
"It is that power Your Majesty must reckon with," added John Pym, without bravado or insult, but with intense firmness.
The blood stained the King's pallor as if it had been called there by a blow.
"You have changed your language since last we spoke together, Mr. Pym!" he cried.
"Much hath changed, sire. There is a broad river with many currents and many whirlpools flowing now through England, and it hath swept away many old landmarks. I do not mean discourtesy, but Your Majesty must have seen for himself the swift changes of the times."
"Yes," replied the King. "I have marked a crop of sedition such as few sovereigns have been called upon to cope with."
"And the advisers of Your Majesty have ordered and permitted an upset of the laws such as few peoples have had to endure, and as it is not in the temper of the English to bear."
A haughty and bitter reply was on Charles' lips, but he remembered that it was his object to in some way gain Pym and Pym's enormous influence, and he summoned his slender stock of tact and patience.