"fears! Lay your hands on your hearts, and ask yourselves, "whether I may not likewise be disturbed with fears and jealousies? and if so, I assure you, that this message has nothing lessened them. As to the militia, I thought so "much of it before I gave that answer, and am so much "assured that the answer is agreeable to what, in justice or

66

66

reason, you can ask, or I in honour grant, that I shall not "alter it in any point. For my residence near you, I wish it "might be safe and honourable, and that I had no cause to "absent myself from Whitehall: ask yourselves, whether I "have not? What would you have? Have I denied to pass any bill for the ease and security of my subjects? I do not "ask what ye have done for me! Have any of my people "been transported with fears and apprehensions? I offer as "free and general a pardon as yourselves can devise. All "this considered, there is a judgment of heaven upon this “ nation, if these distractions continue. God so deal with "me and mine, as all my thoughts and intentions are up"right for the maintenance of the true protestant profes❝sion, and for the observance and preservation of the laws! "and I hope God will bless and assist those laws for my pre"servation44."

The firmness of this reply surprised the commons, but did not discourage them from prosecuting their ambitious aim. They had gone too far to retract: they therefore voted, that those who advised his majesty's answer, "were enemies to "the state, and mischievous projectors against the safety of "the nation; that this denial is of such dangerous consequence, that, if his majesty persist in it, it will hazard the peace and tranquillity of all his kingdoms, unless some 26 speedy remedy may be applied by the wisdom and autho"rity of parliament: and that such of the subjects as have "put themselves in a posture of defence against the common danger, have done nothing but what is justifiable, and

"approved of by the house 5." And, in order to induce the people to second these usurpations, by arming themselves more generally, the most unaccountable panics were spread throughout the nation by rumours of intended massacres and invasions.

Alarmed at those threatening appearances, and not without apprehensions that force might be employed to extort his assent to the militia-bill, the king thought it prudent to remove to a greater distance from London. Taking with him his two sons, the prince of Wales, and the duke of York, he accordingly retired northward, and made the city of York, for a time, the seat of his court. The queen had already taken refuge in Holland. There she resided with her daughter Mary, who had been given in marriage to the prince of Orange.

In the northern parts of his kingdom, where the church and monarchy were still respected, Charles found himself of more consequence than in the capital or its neighbourhood, which was become a scene of fury and fanaticism. The marks of attachment shewn him at York exceeded his fondest expectations. The principal nobility and gentry, from all quarters of England, either personally or by letters, expressed their duty toward him, and exhorted him to save them from that democratical tyranny with which they were threatened.

Finding himself supported by so considerable a body of his subjects, the king began to assume a firmer tone, and to retort the accusations of the commons with spirit. As he still persisted in refusing the militia-bill, they had framed an ordinance, in which, by the sole authority of the two houses of parliament, they had named lieutenants for all the counties, and conferred on them the command of the whole military force of all the guards, garrisons, and forts in the kingdom. He issued proclamations against this usurpation;

45. Id. ibid.

and

and declared, that as he had formed a resolution, strictly to observe the laws himself, he was determined that every one should yield a like obedience46. The commons, on their part, were neither destitute of vigour nor address. In order to cover their usurped authority with a kind of veil, and to confound in the minds of the people the ideas of duty and allegiance, they bound, in all their commands, the persons to whom they were directed, to obey the orders of his majesty, signified by both houses of parliament47. Thus by a distinction, hitherto unknown, between the office and the person of the king, they employed the royal name to the subversion of royal authority!

The chief object of both parties being the acquisition of the favour of the people, each was desirous to throw on the other the odium of involving the nation in civil discord. With this view, a variety of memorials, remonstrances, and declarations were dispersed ; and the royal party was supposed to have greatly the advantage in the war of the pen. The king's memorials were chiefly composed by himself and lord Falkland, who had accepted the office of secretary of state, and whose virtues and talents were of the most amiable and exalted kind. In these papers Charles endeavoured to clear up the principles of the constitution; to mark the boundaries of the powers entrusted by law to the several orders in the state; to shew what great improvements the whole political system had received from his late concessions; to demonstrate his entire confidence in his people; and to point out the ungrateful returns which had been made to that confidence and those concessions. The parliament, on the other hand, exaggerated all his unpopular measures; and attempted to prove, that their whole proceedings were necessary for the preservation of religion and liberty48.

But whatever advantage either side might gain by these writings, both were sensible, that the sword must ultimately

decide the dispute: and they began to prepare accordingly. The troops which had been raised under pretence of the Irish rebellion, were now openly enlisted by the parliament for its own purposes, and the command of them given to the earl of Essex. Nor were new levies neglected. No less than four thousand men are said to have been enlisted in London in one day49. And the parliament having issued orders that loans of money and plate might be furnished, for maintaining these forces, such vast quantities of plate were brought to their treasurers, that they could hardly find room to stow it. Even the women gave up their ornaments, to support the cause of the godly against the malignants 5o.

Very different was the king's situation. His preparations were not near so forward as those of the parliament. In order to recover the confidence ofhis people, and remove all jealousy of violent counsels, he had resolved that the usurpations and illegal pretensions of the commons should be evident to the whole world. This he considered as of more importance to his interest than the collecting of magazines, or the assembling of armies. But had he even been otherwise disposed, he would have found many difficulties to encounter, for although he was attended by a splendid train of nobility, and by a numerous body of gentlemen of great landed property, supplies could not be raised without a connection with the monied men, who were chiefly attached to the parliament, which had seized his revenues since the beginning of the contest concerning the militia bill. Yet was he not altogether unprepared. The queen by disposing of the crown jewels, had been enabled to purchase a cargo of arms and ammunition in Holland. Part of these had arrived safe; and Charles finding that the urgent necessities of his situation would no longer admit of delay, prepared himself for defence, and roused his adherents to arms, with a spirit, activity, and address, that alike surprized his friends and his enemies. The

49. Vicar's Ged in the Mount.

50. Whitlocke. Dugdale.

resources

resources of his genius on this, as on all other occasions, seemed to increase in proportion to the obstacles to be overHe never appeared so great as when plunged in distress, or surrounded with perils.

come.

The commons, however, conscious of their superiority in force, and determined to take advantage of it, yet desirous to preserve the appearance of a pacific disposition, sent the king conditions on which they were willing to come to an agreement, but to which they knew he would not submit. Their demands, contained in nineteen propositions, amounted to a total abolition of monarchical government, and would have involved in ruin the whole royal party. They required. that no man should remain in the privy council, who had not the approbation of parliament; that no deed of the sovereign should have validity, unless it passed that council, and was attested under its seal; that all the principal officers of state and chief judges should be chosen with consent of parliament and enjoy their offices during life; that none of the royal family should marry without consent of both houses of parlia ment; that the laws should be executed against Catholics ; that the votes of popish lords should be excluded; that the reformation of the liturgy and church government should have place, according to the advice of parliament: that the parliamentary ordinance, with regard to the militia, be submitted to: that the justice of parliament pass upon all delinquents that a general pardon be granted for all past offences, with such exceptions as shall be advised by parliament; that the forts and castles be disposed of by consent of parliament; and that no peers be made but with the concurrence of both houses51.

"Should I grant these demands," said Charles, in his animated reply, "I may be waited on bare-headed; I may have "my hand kissed; the title of majesty may be continued to me; and The king's authority, signified by both houses,

51. Rushworth, vol. v. May, book ii,

may