CHAP. caused it to be read and delivered to the messengers, who reported it to the Parliament.* VI. 1642. It appears to have been the opinion of Hyde, that the King would have acted wisely, if, after the departure of the Queen, he had again resided at Whitehall; that, if he had done so, he would have been treated with more respect; that moderate compliances would have proved efficacious and that, in the absence of the Queen, who was the chief cause of the King's unpo *Life of Clar. i. 119-125. The message and answer, as reported by Rushworth, were as follows: "The Lords and Commons in Parlia"ment humbly desire his Majesty that the Prince may not be removed "from Hampton Court, and that for these ensuing reasons:- 1. They "conceive that his Majesty had resolved that the Prince should stay at "Hampton Court until his Majesty's return. 2. That the Lord Marquis "of Hertford, appointed by his Majesty to be governour of the Prince, "and approved of and commanded by the Parliament to give his personal "attendance on the Prince, is now so indisposed in his health, that he is "not able to attend the Prince to any other place. 3. That the Prince "his removal, at this time, from Hampton Court, may be a causeto promote jealousies and fears in the hearts of his Majesty's good subjects, which they conceive very necessary to avoid. The King returned "the following answer:- - That his Majesty intended, at his remove "from Hampton Court with his royal consort the Queen towards Dover, "that the Prince his son should stay at Hampton Court till his Majesty "returned to some of his houses; and thereupon, as soon as his Majesty "resolved, upon a certain day, to be at Greenwich, he commanded that "his son should attend him there, which was no way contrary to his "former intention. 2. That his Majesty was very sorry to hear of the indisposition of the Marquis of Hertford, being the person upon whom ❝he principally relies for the care of his dearest son. But if that indisposition should have lasted, his Majesty could no way think fit that "his want of health should have hindered the Prince from waiting upon "his Majesty, according to his command, and therefore would have "been much offended if the Prince had failed of meeting his Majesty, according to his appointment. 3. To the fears and jealousies his Majesty knows not what answer to give, not being able to imagine from what grounds they proceed; but if any information have been given to that purpose, his Majesty much desires that the same may be "examined to the bottom, and then he hopes that their fears and jea"lousies will be hereafter continued only with reference to his Majesty's " rights and honour." pularity, he would soon have regained the affections 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 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 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. VI. 1642. CHAP. 1642. 66 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- TO THE DEPUTATION.- DECLARATION PRESENTED TO THE STATE PAPERS DRAWN UP FOR THE KING BY HYDE. THE PARLIAMENT. OF THE ROYALISTS. BENEFICIAL TO THE CAUSE OF CON- 1642. He CHAP. VII. 1642. The King's answer re the militia. On the 28th of February the King returned the promised answer respecting the militia; the delay of which had been declared by the Parliament to be as unsatisfactory as an absolute denial. 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 66 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," and "doubts not but his Parliament will be re 66 66 CHAP. VII. 1642. The message from the Par liament to the King at Theo balds. 66 gardful of his honour herein, that he shall not "undergo any imputation by the rash or indiscreet 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 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 "doubts and questions, his Majesty desires it may "be digested into an act of parliament rather than "an ordinance." 66 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 preamble, 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 66 |