The idea suggested itself that, as the peers had supported Charles against the Commons in the last Parliament, they might still be found on his side. It was asked whether some of the noblemen might not be won over if they were called to share in the deliberations of the Council. The next day, when Charles's missive arrived, the notion developed itself further. The idea that it was possible to raise money any longer by prerogative was only mentioned to be rejected. Manchester suggested that Sept. 2. A Great Council proposed. not merely a few peers, but all, should be summoned. They were the born counsellors of the King. In the reign of Edward III., such an assembly, the Great Council of the Lords, had assisted the King with large sums of money, without any Parliament at all. Shrewder members of the Council urged that it would be as easy to summon Parliament at once as it would be to summon the peers, and that the former alternative would be far more useful. It was, however, something to put off the evil day for a season, and a formal recommenda Sept. 3. tion was forwarded to Charles to summon the peers to meet in London as soon as possible.' So out of heart were the councillors now, that they were already taking measures for strengthening the fortifications of Portsmouth, as a last place of refuge for the King.2 Sept. 2. The King does not despair. Charles did not as yet share in the terrors of his Council. He still believed it to be possible to rally the kingdom round him. "Tell the Earl Marshal and all the Council," he wrote to Windebank, "that we here preach the doctrine of serving the King, everyone upon his charge, for the defence of the realm, which I assure you is taken as canonical here in Yorkshire; and I see no reason why you of Council should not make it be so understood there." 3 Charles's confidence was not entirely without foundation. The Yorkshire trained bands were moving at last. One regiment marched into York on the evening of the Sept. 3. my ' Memorial of the Council, Sept. 2, Hardwicke S. P. ii. 168. Obser vations of the Council, Sept. 3, S. P. Dom. 2 Windebank's Notes, Sept. 2, ibid. The King's Notes, Sept. 2, Clar. S. P. ii. 96. 164c THE GREAT COUNCIL. 201 "We 3rd, and the greater part of the remainder was expected on the following day. Vane was once more in good spirits. shall have a gallant army," he wrote. "God send us hearts to fight. We shall have horse and foot sufficient." It was for Juxon and Cottington to provide them in good time with money and provisions.' It was the last thing that Juxon and Cottington were capable of doing. The truth of his weakness was to be brought home to Charles through the emptiness of his exchequer. In the meanwhile he had to bend his ear to voices to which he was unaccustomed. On the 4th, after the occupation of Sept. 4. The Scottish Durham, the Scots sent in a supplication, couched supplication. in the usual humble terms, asking that their grievances might be redressed with the advice of an of the peers English Parliament.2 Almost at the same time, Mandeville and Howard arrived from London with Sept. 5. The petition presented. the Petition of the Twelve Peers. The Great Council summoned. Whilst the King's Council at York was debating on the answer to be given to demands which, coming from such opposite quarters, seemed to be concerted together, Windebank's messenger arrived with the news that the Council in London recommended the summoning of the peers. It was at once received as the only possible solution of the difficulty. Very likely Charles only regarded it as a means of gaining time. Lanark, Hamilton's brother, who was now Secretary for Scotland, was ordered to announce to his fellowcountrymen that the King had summoned the peers to meet at York on September 24. If the Scots would then express their demands more particularly, he would, by the advice of the Lords, give them a fitting answer, and, in the meantime, he desired them to advance no farther.3 The twelve peers were expected to be contented with a similar reference to a meeting of the Great Council. It was not likely that the petitioners would be well pleased Vane to Windebank, Sept. 3, Clar. S. P. ii. 98. 2 Petition of the Scots, Sept. 4, Rushworth, iii. 1255. petition with this delay. In all outward form the petition was addressed Copies of the to the King by twelve peers, and by them alone. Care was now taken that copies should be distributed spread abroad. in London. One of these fell into Manchester's hands, and Manchester carried it to the Council. There can be little doubt that the publication of the petition was the work of Pym. The force which popular support had given to the Scottish Covenanters had not been lost Popular support upon him. Earlier parliaments had been wrecked besought. cause they had confined themselves to parliamentary procedure. The echo of their debates had hardly reached the popular ear. Resolutions confined to the journals of the Houses could be torn out by the King. Documents prepared by committees could be seized and burnt. What was needed now was to bring the House of Commons into living connection with the wave of feeling which tossed outside its walls. In the Short Parliament, Pym had stood forth as the leader of the Commons. He was now to stand forth as the popular agitator as well. Bedford Two of the peers, Hertford and Bedford, went boldly before the Council, and asked the councillors to join with them in signing the petition. The councillors naturally refused Sept. 7. Hertford and to do anything of the kind. It was very strange, before the said Arundel, that they should 'desire the Scots to Council. join in the reformation of religion.' The two lords were asked whether they knew of any Covenant like that of Scotland in England. They asserted that they knew of none. They declared that the Council of Peers could grant no money. Nothing but a parliament could give satisfaction. As for the petition, it was not theirs alone. It was supported by 'many other noblemen and most of the gentry.' 1. Sept. 9. Far away in the North, the King hardly yet felt the force of the tide which was running against him. His chief The King's preoccupation was the difficulty of finding money. feelings. "I see," he wrote to his ministers on their refusal to meddle further with the debasement of the coinage, “ye are 'Windebank's Notes, Sept. 7, Treaty of Ripon, 79. Windebank to the King, Sept. 7, Clar. S. P. ii. 110. 1640 Sept. 11. Demands of the Scots discussed. THE SCOTTISH DEMANDS. 203. It was at last all so frightened ye can resolve on nothing." evident to Charles that money was only to be had by the goodwill of his subjects; but at York it seemed not altogether impossible that the subjects would now see their true interests. On the 11th, the Council was summoned to consider the answer to be given to the Scottish demands which had at last arrived, and which formulated, more clearly than before, the expectation of the invaders that all the acts of the last session would be accepted and the persons named as incendiaries be delivered for trial.2 The message, galling as it was to the King, was accompanied by news which raised his hopes. The money which the Scots had brought with them was already exhausted. The contribution. assurance that they would pay their way had held good till they had gained their object. They now informed the magistrates of the two counties of Northumberland and Durham, together with the magistrates of Newcastle, that it was for them to support the invading army, at the cost of 850/. a day. Tenants of the Bishop and Chapter were forced to pay rents by anticipation to the Scottish commanders,3 and deserted houses were freely plundered. Householders remaining at home and paying the contribution, suffered nothing.1 The Scots deinand a Such news was worth much to the King's cause in Yorkshire. Strafford's expectation that Englishmen would rally round the King when they once understood what a Scottish invasion was, seemed destined to be realised. On the oth the King had held a review of the army. In the eyes Sept. 10. The review of Vane it was all that could be desired. "Braver at York. bodies of men and better clad," he wrote, "have I not seen anywhere, for the foot. For the horse, they are such as no man that sees them, by their outward appearance, but will judge them able to stand and encounter with any whatsoever." What was better still, the Yorkshire trained bands did not now stand alone. The counties of Nottingham and Derby 1 The King's Notes, Sept. 9, Clar. S. P. ii. 112. 2 The Scots to Lanark, Sept. 8, Kushworth, iii. 1258. * Petition of Tenants, Rushworth, iii. 1272. • Vane to Windebank, Sept. 16, Hardwicke S. P. ii. 180. were ready to send their men as soon as they were bidden, and some of their horse had already come in. Leicestershire was equally prepared. Stafford and Lincoln still held back, but hopes were entertained that they would not be wanting. It was evident that the men of central England were unwilling to become tributary to a Scottish army.' Encouraged by these demonstrations of returning loyalty, Charles sent a short answer to the Scots, referring them to the Council of Peers for their answer, and demanding the immediate delivery of the prisoners taken at Answer to the Scots. Newburn.2 Want of money. Sept. 12. Yorkshire petition prepared. Charles, however, was not out of his difficulty. His army cost him 40,000l. a month, and he himself acknowledged that he should be undone unless he had two months' pay secured. There was still uncertainty whether the Yorkshire gentlemen would take the pay of their trained bands on themselves. They now drew up a petition demanding a parliament. Upon this Strafford called them together again, obtained the rejection of the petition, and a direct offer to support their trained bands till the meeting of the Great Council. He then took them at once to the King. Charles received them most affably, and told them that in future he would require no more from them than 6,000 men instead of 12,000, that he would excuse them from the obligation of scutage, and that the heirs of those who might be killed in his cause should be freed from the claims of the Court of Wards. Sept. 13. The Yorkshiremen offer to support their trained bands. So far had Strafford succeeded. Charles was not slow in acknowledging his obligation. On the day on which the offer of the Yorkshiremen was made he held a special chapter of the Order of the Garter, and invested the Lord Lieutenant with the blue riband." Strafford a Knight of the Garter. 1 Vane to Windebank, Sept. 10, S. P. Dom. cccclxvii. 5; Sept. 11, Hardwicke S. P. ii. 172. Newport to Nicholas, Sept. 11, S. P. Dom. Sept. 11, Balfour, ii. 402. 2 Lanark to the Scots, The King's Notes, Sept. 11, Clar. S. P. ii. 114. • Vane to Windebank, Sept. 13, 14, Hardwicke S. P. ii. 176, 177. Rushworth's statement (iii. 1265) that the Yorkshiremen insisted on re |