VI. 1642. pularity, he would soon have regained the affec- CHAP. tions of his people. Whether such a course would have been attended with success, is a problem which posterity cannot solve. It was not the course pursued by Charles, who, taking with him the Prince, repaired to Theobalds, intending thence to travel northwards. This step seems to have excited fears that the King intended to go to Scotland, and try to engage the Scots to aid him. Hyde, in a letter to the King at Newmaket, expressed himself on this subject thus:-" Men's discourses "here are full of your Majesty's designs of imme"diate force, of a retreat into Scotland, of the "divisions there; to none of which your ser"vants give the least credit, assuring themselves "that however your affairs and conveniences "have invited you to York, you intend to sit as quietly there as if you were at Whitehall. "For your Majesty well knows that your greatest strength is in the hearts and affections of those 66 66 66 persons who have been the severest assertors of "the public liberties; and so, besides their duty "and loyalty to your person, are in love with your inclinations to peace and justice, and value "their own interests upon the preservation of your rights. These your Majesty will not lose 66 66 by any act which may beget just fears in them; "neither can there be so cunning a way found "out to assist those who wish not well to your Majesty (if any such there be) as by giving the "least hint to your people that you rely upon 66 CHAP. 1642. any thing but the strength of your laws, and "their obedience." * Clar. State Papers, ii. 139. "This letter," say the editors in a note, "is without a date, but it was evidently sent between March 9th " and 15th, 1641-2." CHAP. VII. THE KING'S ANSWER RESPECTING THE MILITIA. PARLIA MENT'S REJOINDER AND DEPUTATION TO THE KING AT - STATE PAPERS DRAWN UP FOR THE KING BY HYDE. SUPERIORITY OVER THOSE OF OF THE ROYALISTS. STITUTIONAL FREEDOM. 1642. VII. 1642. The King's answer re the militia. On the 28th of February the King returned the CHAP. promised answer respecting the militia; the delay of which had been declared by the Parliament to be as unsatisfactory as an absolute denial. He denied that he was obliged, by his answer of the specting 2d, to comply with their petition. He made exceptions to the preamble of the ordinance, which might be considered applicable to his entry into the House of Commons, on the 4th of January. He said, speaking of that fatal measure, that "he "believes it, upon the information since given, to "be an apparent breach of their privilege, and "hath offered to repair the same for the future by any act that shall be desired" of him, " calls the Almighty God to witness that he was far from any intention or thought of force or violence," 66 66 СНАР. VII. 1642. The message from the Par liament to the King at Theo balds. 66 66 66 gardful of his honour herein, that he shall not undergo any imputation by the rash or indis"creet expressions of any young men then in his train, or by any desperate words uttered by others who might mingle with them without his "consent or approbation." After this humiliating and fruitless attempt at exculpation, he adverted to the subject of the ordinance. He expressed willingness to grant to lords lieutenant, recommended by the Parliament, such commissions as he had granted before; "but if that power be not "thought enough, but that more shall be thought "fit to be granted to those persons named, than 66 by the law is in the crown itself, his Majesty "holds it reasonable that the same be by law first “vested in him, with power to transfer it to those persons, which he will willingly do; and what"ever that power shall be, to avoid all future 66 doubts and questions, his Majesty desires it may "be digested into an act of parliament rather than "an ordinance." The King was at Theobalds when the Commons, after receiving his answer of the 28th of February, presented another petition in reply. They denied that "the desperate and dangerous design upon "the House of Commons, mentioned in their pre"amble, was inserted with any intention to cast "the least aspersion" on the King. They entreated him "to put from him wicked counsellors,”—to reside near London, and the Parliament,-to keep the Prince near London also, whereby the "jealousies and fears of the people may be pre VII. 1642. "vented ;" and they besought the King "to be in- CHAP. "formed by them that, by the laws of the kingdom, "the power of raising, ordering, and disposing of "the militia within any city, town, or other place "cannot be granted to any corporation, by charter "or otherwise, without the authority and consent " of parliament; and that those parts of the king"dom, which have put themselves in a posture of "defence, against the common danger, have therein "done nothing but according to the declaration " and direction of both Houses, and what is justi"fiable by the laws of the kingdom." forewarns The tone of this message, which was to be con- Hyde veyed to the King, at Theobalds, by a deputation the King. of twelve members of the two Houses of Parliament, was such as might, perhaps, have wrung from the King some intemperate and impolitic reply, had not Hyde, with judicious promptness, forearmed him against this emergency. "When "the persons designed for the message withdrew "to prepare themselves for their journey, the mes 66 sage being read and agreed upon, Mr. Hyde "went likewise out of the house; and that the King might not be surprised with the sight of "the message before he heard of it, he sent in 66 stantly to the Lord Grandison (in whom he had "entire confidence) to speak with him; and de"sired him to cause his horse to be made ready "that he (Lord Grandison) might, with all pos"sible expedition, carry a letter to the King, which "he (Hyde) would prepare by the time he could |