remonstrance be adopted, they said, and it should not be published. This language was not without effect, for suspicions were now so general that men who were otherwise of a moderate disposition received them, as soon as they were expressed, with gentleness and moderation. In a few days, at the moment the house, after a sitting of several hours, were about to retire, the leaders requested that the remonstrance should be immediately voted; they had reckoned their numbers and thought themselves sure of success; but lord Falkland, Hyde, Colepepper, and Palmer, opposed it, strongly insisting that it should be deferred till the next day, to which the house willingly assented. "Why," said Cromwell to lord Falkland, "are you so tenacious about this delay ?" "Because it is too late to-day, and that there will surely be a debate." "A little debate," answered Cromwell, with a tone of real or affected security. The next day the debate opened at three o'clock in the afternoon, and when night came on it seemed scarcely begun. It was no longer the court in presence of the country; for the first time two parties were engaged, if not both national, at least risen alike from the midst of the nation; both upheld by public interests and feelings, both reckoning worthy and independent citizens among their followers. The same hopes had united them; they were now divided by opposite fears; each

a November 21st, 1641.

keenly foresaw the destiny which would follow the triumph of their adversaries, and mistook that which their own victory would bring. They struggled with unparalleled animosity, and were the more obstinate inasmuch as they still observed decorum, and dared not openly accuse each other according to the extent of their suspicions. It grew late; fatigue obliged the weak, the old, and the indifferent, to depart; even one of the king's ministers, the secretary of state, Nicholas, left the house before the end of the debate. “ "This," said Sir Benjamin Rudyard, "will be the verdict of a starving jury." Towards midnight the house divided: one hundred and fifty-nine appeared for the remonstrance, one hundred and forty-eight against it. Hampden directly rose and proposed that it should be printed. "We knew it!" many cried, "We knew it! you want to raise the people and free yourselves of the concurrence of the lords." "The house," said Mr. Hyde, "is not in the habit of thus publishing its decisions; in my opinion this is illegal, and will become fatal; if it be adopted, let me be allowed to protest." "I protest," said Mr. Palmer; "I protest, I protest!" echoed from the voices of all their friends. On the other side, astonishment and indignation prevailed; the right of protest, long possessed by the lords, had never been heard of in the commons: Pym rose to demonstrate the illegality and the danger of it, but he was interrupted by invectives: he still persisted, and

was answered by threats. The whole house was in confusion, and several members, their hands on their swords, seemed on the point of beginning a civil war within the walls of parliament. Two hours passed away, and the tumult was renewed every time a resolution was on the point of being adopted. At last Hampden, with mildness and gravity, deplored that these humiliating riots should have taken place, and proposed that the question should be adjourned till the afternoon. They separated; "Well," said lord Falkland to Cromwell, as he was going out, "was there not a debate?" "I'll believe you another time," said Cromwell; and, bending towards his ear, he added, "had the remonstrance been thrown out, I would, to-morrow, have sold every thing I possess, and have left England for ever; and I know a great many honest folks who would have done the same "."

b

The meeting that evening was not much agitated; the royalists had given up all hope of victory, and their adversaries had seen themselves so near the point of losing it, that they cared but little to renew the struggle. They had announced the intention of bringing to trial those who had protested; but Mr. Hyde had friends among them who refused to give him up; and Mr. Palmer, who had been sent to the

b Clarendon, Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. ii. p. 246-250; Warwick's Memoirs, p. 168, in the Collection; May, Hist. of the Long Parl. vol. i. p. 225-259, ibid.; Rushworth, part 3. vol. ii. p. 425-428; Whitelocke, p. 49.

Tower, was almost immediately released. After some explanations, the quarrel was made up. A majority of twenty-three voices ordered the remonstrance to be printed: yet the printing was delayed, as it was first necessary to present it to the king, who was now daily expected.

He arrived, haughty and confident, notwithstanding the check he had received in Scotland, and notwithstanding what he knew of the disposition of parliament. Everywhere, as he passed, but particularly at York, he was received with loud acclamations of joy and affection. In many places his concessions to the Scots had delighted the people; while his secret plans were but little known, or, misunderstood. Besides, in the country, as well as in parliament, a royalist party was forming, which even in London numbered many adherents. The king's friends had caused Richard Gourney, an active and courageous man, who was devoted to the king, to be elected lord mayor, who prepared a most brilliant reception to welcome Charles to his capital. A multitude of citizens on horseback, armed, and bearing the banners of the various companies, went to meet him, and escorted him with acclamations to the palace of Whitehall. The king in return gave them a magnificent repast, and conferred the honour of knighthood

c Clarendon, Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. ii. p. 250; Parl. Hist., vol. ii. col. 937.

d November 25th, 1641.

e

on the lord mayor and several of the aldermen *; and the day after his arrival, anxious to let the commons see that he thought himself powerful, he took away from them the guard which in his absence the earl of Essex had appointed for their safety'.

The appearance of affairs was now changed; party dissensions had succeeded to that unanimity which had at first prevailed, and reform was followed by revolution. The leaders perceived it and their conduct suddenly assumed a different character. The remonstrance was presented to the king"; he patiently listened to it; and then, addressing himself to the committee, he asked; "Does the house intend to publish this declaration ?" "We are not authorised to answer any of your majesty's questions," was the reply. "Well, I suppose you do not want my answer neither immediately; I will send it to you as soon as the importance of the subject will permit "." The leaders of the commons cared little for his decision; without waiting for any answer, they all at once brought forward projects that the remonstrance did not so much as hint at. Thus far they had redressed grievances, by appealing to ancient laws; now they proclaimed principles and imperiously de

e Rushworth, part 3, vol. i. p. 429-434; May, Hist. of the Long Parl., vol. i. p. 253, in the Collection; Clarendon, Hist. of the Rebellion, vol. ii. p. 267; Whitelocke, p. 48; Evelyn's Memoirs, Append., vol. ii. p. 79.

f November 26th, 1641; Parl. Hist. vol. ii. col. 940.

December 1st, 1641.

h Parl. Hist. vol. ii. col. 942, 943.