may still be the style of your commands: I may have "swords and maces carried before me, and please myself "with the sight of a crown and sceptre (though even these "twigs would not long flourish, when the stock upon which "they grew was dead); but as to true and real power, "I should remain but the outside, but the picture, but the "sign of a kings." He accordingly resolved to support his authority by arms; war, at any disadvantage, being esteemed preferable, by himself and all his counsellors, to so ignominious a peace. Collecting therefore some forces, and advancing southward he erected his royal standard at Nottingham.

This being considered as the open signal of discord and civil war throughout the kingdom, the abettors of the adverse parties began now more distinctly to separate themselves; and when two names so sacred in the English constitution as those of KING and PARLIAMENT, were placed in opposition to each other, little wonder the people were divided in their choice, and agitated with the most violent animosities!

The greater part of the nobility, and the gentlemen of ancient families, fearing a total confusion of ranks from the fury of the populace, attached themselves to the throne, from which they derived their lustre, and to which it was again communicated. Proud of their birth, of their consequence in the state, and of the loyalty and virtue of their ancestors, they zealously adhered to the cause of their sovereign: which was also supported by most men of a liberal education, or a liberal way of thinking, and by all who wished well to the church and monarchy. But, on the other hand, as the veneration for the commons was extreme throughout the kingdom, and the aversion against the hierarchy general, the city of London, and most of the great corporations, took part with the parliament, and adopted with ardour those principles of freedom, on which that assembly had originally

52. Id. ibid.

founded

founded its pretensions, and under colour of maintaining which it had taken up arms. Beside these corporations, many families that had lately been enriched by commerce, seeing with envious eyes the superior homage paid to the nobility and elder gentry, eagerly undertook the exaltation of a power, under whose dominion they hoped to acquire rank and distinction 53.

Thus determined in their choice, both parties, putting a close to argument, now referred the justice of their cause to the decision of the sword.

LETTER VI.

GREAT-BRITAIN AND IRELAND, FROM THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE CIVIL WAR TO THE BATTLE OF NASEBY, IN 1645,

No contest ever seemed more unequal, my dear Philip, than that between Charles I. and his parliament, when the sword was first drawn. Almost every advan A. D. 1642. tage lay on the side of the latter. The parliam entary party being in possession of the legal means of supply, and of all the sea-ports except Newcastle, the customis yielded them a certain and considerable sum; and all contributions, loans, and impositions, were more easily raised by the cities which possessed the ready money, and were also chiefly in their hands, than they could be by the nobility and gentry, who adhered to the king. The seamen naturally followed the disposition of the sea-ports to which they belonged; and the earl of Northumberland, lord high-admiral, having engaged in the cause of the commons, had named, at their desire, the earl of Warwick as his lieutenant. Warwick at once established his authority in the fleet, and kept the entire dominion of the sea in the hands of his party. They

53. Clarendon, vol. iii.

were

were likewise in possession of all the magazines of arms and ammunition in the kingdom, and had intercepted part of the stores the queen had purchased in Holland.

The king's only hope of counterbalancing so many advantages on the part of his adversaries, arose from the supposed superiority of his adherents in mental and personal qualities. More courage and enterprize were expected from the generous and lofty spirit of the ancient nobility and gentry than from the base-born vulgar. Nor was it doubted but their tenants, whom they levied and armed at their own expence, would greatly surpass in valour and force the sedentary and enervated inhabitants of cities. But, in making this comparison, the mysterious and elevating influence of the double enthusiasm of religion and liberty was forgot: a kind of holy fury, arising from apprehensions of danger, and a confidence in supernaturalaid, which, accompanied with supposed illuminations, inspires the daring fanatic with the most romantic bravery, and enables him to perform such acts of prowess as transcend the common standard of humanity. Confirm him in his belief of divine assistance-impel him to future exertions and you render his valour irresistible, when directed against those whom he regards as the enemies of God and of his country!

Of the power of this enthusiastic energy, in animating 'the most grovelling minds, Charles had unhappily too much reason to become acquainted, during his hostile struggle for dominion; and to learn, from fatal experience, in many a hard-fought field, that it was not inferior in efficacy, even to the courage connected with greatness of soul or infused by nobility of birth. At present he had a contemptible idea of the parliamentary party, considered as individuals; but their numbers, their resources, and their military preparations, were sufficient to fill him with the most awful apprehensions! He declared, however, against all advances toward an accommodation. "I have nothing left but my honour," said he, and this last possession I am firmly resolved to preserve, and rather to perish than yield any farther to the pretensions of

"my

(( my enemies'." But he was induced, by the earnest solicitations of his friends, to relax in his purpose; and in order to gain time, as well as to manifest a pacific disposition, to send ambassadors to the parliament with offers of treaty, before he began hostilities.

The conduct of the parliament justified Charles's opinion. Both houses replied, "That they could not treat with the king, until he took down his standard, and recalled his "proclamations," in which the members supposed themselves to be declared traitors; and when by a second message, he offered to recall those proclamations, they desired him to dismiss his forces, to reside with his parliament, and to give up delinquents to justice2; or, in other words, to abandon himself and his friends to the mercy of his ene

mies.

Hoping that the people were now fully convinced of the insolence of the parliament, and its aversion against peace, the king made vigorous preparations for war. Aware, however, that he was not yet able to oppose the parliamentary army, which was commanded by the earl of Essex, he left Nottingham, and retired, by slow marches, first to Derby, and afterwards to Shrewsbury. At Wellington, in that neighbourhood, he collected his forces, and made the following declaration before the whole army: "I do promise, in the "presence of Almighty God, and as I hope for his blessing "and protection, that I will, to the utmost of my power, "defend and maintain the true reformed protestant religion, “established in the church of England; and, by the grace "of God, in the same will live and die.

"I desire that the laws may ever be the measure of my 66 government, and that the liberty and property of the sub"ject may be preserved by them with the same care as my 66 own just right; and if it please God, by his blessing on "this army, raised for my necessary defence, to preserve

1. Clarendon, vol. iii.

2. Rushworth, vol. v.

" me

"me from the present rebellion. I do solemnly and faith"fully promise, in the sight of God, to maintain the just "privileges and freedom of parliament, and to govern, tò "the utmost of my power, by the known statutes and cus"toms of the kingdom; and particularly, to observe invio"lably the laws to which I have given my consent this parliament. Meanwhile, if this emergency, and the great "necessity to which I am driven, beget any violation of "law, I hope it will be imputed, by God and man, to the "authors of this war-not to me, who have so earnestly "laboured to preserve the peace of the kingdom3.”

This declaration, which was considered as a sacred engagement on the part of the king, was received with the warmest expressions of approbation and gratitude, by the generous train of nobility and gentry, by whom he was attended; and who, in the hope of his submitting to a legal and limited government, had alone been induced to take the field, with a resolution of sacrificing their lives and fortunes in his defence. They were in general no less animated with the spi rit of liberty than of loyalty, and held in contempt the high monarchical principles.

Charles was received at Shrewsbury with marks of duty and affection; and his army increased so fast, while it lay there, that he soon found himself at the head of ten thousand men. With these he resolved to give battle to the army of the parliament, as he heard it was daily augmented with recruits from London. He accordingly directed his march toward the capital, in order to bring on an engagement. Essex was prepared to oppose him. The two armies met on Edgehill, near Keinton in Warwickshire, where a desperate battle was fought. The earl of Lindsay was general of the royal army; prince Rupert, son of the unfortunate elector Palatine, commanded the horse; sir Jacob Astley the foot; sir Arthur Aston the dragoons;

ост. 23.

3. Clarendon, vol. iii.