found without drawing upon the
trained bands.(330) In spite of all efforts there was great delay in
forwarding to Buckingham the reinforcements in which he stood in sore
need, and in November he was forced to return home, baffled in his
enterprise, and with a loss from war and disease of little less than 4,000
men.(331)

(M129)

The time had now arrived for some arrangements to be made for discharging
the king's debt to the City.(332) After protracted negotiations an
agreement, known at the present day as the "royal contract," was drawn up
and executed (3 Jan., 1628) whereby the citizens covenanted to advance the
king a further sum of L120,000 by instalments of L60,000 at an interval of
six months, whilst Charles, on the other hand, covenanted to convey to the
City certain lands, tenements and hereditaments.(333) The City at once set
to work to raise the money required among the livery companies. The
Merchant Taylors were called upon to contribute L6,300, the highest sum.
The Grocers came next with L6,000, after which follow the Haberdashers
(L4,800), the Drapers (L4,608), the Goldsmiths (L4,380), the Mercers
(L3,720), the Fishmongers and Clothworkers (each L3,390) and the Vintners
(L3,120).(334) Certain members of the Vintners' Company having proved
refractory, the master and wardens complained to the Court of Aldermen,
who promptly committed the offenders to prison, thereby earning the
approval of his majesty.(335) In cases where the master and wardens of a
company had shown neglect in gathering the company's quota they were
themselves committed to Newgate.(336)

The Court of Aldermen even committed one of their own body for refusing to
contribute his quota.(337) With difficulty the first instalment of L60,000
was raised, several of the companies being forced to part with their
plate.(338)

(M130)

In such a hurry was Charles for the money that the aldermen had to advance
him L20,000 out of the L60,000 on their own personal security. This was in
February. Discharged seamen were again clamouring for pay, and the
Exchequer was empty. The aldermen came to his assistance, but, inasmuch as
the lands and tenements had not yet been conveyed to the City according to
the terms of the late agreement, the Court of Aldermen passed a formal
resolution that no further advances should be made until "one or more
books of the lands to be assured by the contract be passed under the great
seale of England."(339)

(M131)

Notwi