“SIR,—­I see you are greatly scandalized at our slow and confused Proceedings.  I confess you have cause enough; but were you but within these walls for one half day, and saw the strange make and complexion that this house is of, you would wonder as much that ever you wondered at it; for we are such a pied Parliament, that none can say of what colour we are; for we consist of Old Cavaliers, Old Round-Heads, Indigent-Courtiers, and true Country Gentlemen:  the two latter are most numerous, and would in probability bring things to some issue were they not clogged with the numerous uncertainties of the former.  For the Old Cavalier, grown aged, and almost past his vice, is damnable godly and makes his doting piety more a plague to the world than his debauchery was, for he is so much a by-got to the B(ishop) that he forces his Loyalty to strike sail to his Religion, and could be content to pare the nails a little of the Civil Government, so you would but let him sharpen the Ecclesiastical Talons:  which behaviour of his so exasperates the Round-Head, that he on the other hand cares not what increases the Interest of the Crown receives, so he can but diminish that of the miter:  so that the Round-Head had rather enslave the Man than the Conscience:  the Cavalier rather the Conscience than the Man; there being a sufficient stock of animosity as proper matter to work upon.  Upon these, therefore, the Courtier mutually plays, for if any Ante-court motion be made he gains the Round-Head either to oppose or absent by telling them, If they will join him now he will join them for Liberty of Conscience.  And when any affair is started on behalf of the Country he assures the Cavaliers, If they will then stand by him he will then join with them in promoting a Bill against the fanatics.  Thus play they on both hands....  Wherefore it were happy that he had neither Round-Head nor Cavalier in the House, for they are each of them so prejudicate against the other that their sitting here signifies nothing but their fostering their old venom and lying at catch to stop every advantage to bear down each other, though it be in the destruction of their country.  For if the Round-Heads bring in a good bill the Old Cavalier opposes it, for no other reason but because they brought it in."[98:1]

Such was the theatre of Marvell’s public actions for the rest of his days, and if at times he may need forgiveness for the savagery of his satire, it ought to be found easy to forgive him.

The two members for Hull were soon immersed in matters of much local importance.  They began by quarrelling with one another, Marvell writing “the bond of civility betwixt Col.  Gilby and myself being unhappily snappt in pieces, and in such manner that I cannot see how it is possible ever to knit them again.”  House of Commons quarrels are usually soon made up, and so was this one.  The custom was for both members to sign these letters, though they are all written in Marvell’s hand—­but if this was for any reason inconvenient, Marvell signed alone.  No letters, unless in Marvell’s writing, are preserved at Hull, which is a curious fact.