Irene  begins  in  Drummond's  most  picturesque
manner  :  "  As  pilgrims,  wandering  in  the  night
by  the  inconstant  glances  of  the  moon,  when
they  behold  the  morning  gleams  ;  as  mariners,
after  tempests  on  the  seas,  at  their  arrival  in
safe  harbours  ;  as  men  that  are  perplexed  and
taken  with  some  ugly  visions  and  afrrightments
in  their  slumbers,  when  they  are  awaked  and
calmly  roused  up  ;  so  did  this  kingdom,  state,
nay,  the  whole  isle,  amidst  those  suspicions,
jealousies,  surmises,  misrepresentations,  terrors
more  than  panic,  after  the  late  declaration  of
the  King's  Majesty  find  themselves  surprised
and  over-reached  with  unexpected  and  inex
pressible  joys. Religion  was  mourning,  Justice
wandering,  Peace  seeking  whither  to  fly ;  a
strange,  hideous,  grim,  and  pale  shadow  of  a
government  was  begun  to  crawl  abroad,  put
ting  up  a  hundred  heads. Men's  courages
were  growing  hot,  their  hatred  kindled,  all
either  drawing  their  swords  or  laying  hands


INTRODUCTORY  MEMOIR        Ixxxv

upon  them. The  enemy  was  the  country  ;  the
quarrel,  differences  of  opinions. Towns  were
pestered  with  guards  of  armed  citizens,  the
country  and  villages  thralled  with  dormant
musters ;  the  danger  seemed  great,  the  fear
greater :  all  expected  the  prince  would  enter
the  lists. And  so  he  did  !  Mean  things  must
yield  unto  the  more  noble  ;  mat  amor  patriot;
that  same  wind  which  gathered  the  clouds  did
dissipate  them. He  not  only  giveth  way  to  our
zeal,  graciously  assenting  to  all  our  desires,  but
condescendeth,  nay  commandeth,  that  our  own
writ  should  be  current,  and  embraced  by  all  his
subjects. To  human  eyes  a  perfect  conclusion
of  our  wretched  distractions."

"  The  quarrel,  differences  of  opinions,"  says
Drummond,  and  truly  ;  but  there  was  another
question  involved  :  was  the  country  to  be  ruled
by  the  will  of  the  people,  or  by  that  of  the  King?
On  this  point  Drummond  is  perfectly  clear. He
stands  for  the  principle  of  unconditional  submis
sion  to  the  will  of  the  sovereign. "  Obedience
being  the  strongest  pedestal  of  concord,  and
concord  the  principal  pillar  of  state,  we  should
always  embrace  and  follow  her  if  we  would
enjoy  a. 