"constancy in religion." He foolishly imagined that such an
assurance would induce the City to break at once with parliament and
declare for peace. The letter, as luck would have it, fell into the hands
of the Committee of Safety. The plot was discovered, and full particulars
of it laid before the Commons (6 Jan., 1644).(626)

The discovery led to stricter precautions being taken to prevent
inhabitants of the city leaving the city to join the king at Oxford, as
many ill-affected persons had already done. The number of passes was
reduced, and the keys of the portcullises of the city's gates were ordered
for the future to remain in the custody of the sheriffs.(627)

(M285)

In token of the City's constancy to parliament the Common Council resolved
(12 Jan.) to invite both Houses to dinner.(628) The entertainment, which
took place at Merchant Taylors' Hall (18 Jan.), was preceded by a sermon
preached at Christ Church, Newgate, in favour of union. The preacher,
Stephen Marshall, received the formal thanks of the City, besides a
"gratification," and was desired to print his sermon. On their way from
church to the banquet the Lords and Commons passed through Cheapside,
where a pile of crucifixes, pictures and popish relics were in the act of
being burnt on the site of the recently destroyed cross.(629) The City
afterwards received the thanks of the Commons for the entertainment.

(M286)

The day following the banquet the first regiments of the Scottish army
crossed the Tweed, driving the royalists of the extreme north of England
to take shelter in Newcastle. The mutual understanding between England and
Scotland--the result of Pym's policy--necessitated the appointment of some
definite authority at Westminster which should control both armies in
common. Hence it was that on the 16th February a Committee of Both
Kingdoms, composed of members of parliament and commissioners sent from
Scotland, was established to take the place of the Committee of Safety.

(M287)

Meanwhile the City was busy increasing its defences and raising a force to
join in the next campaign. It was found necessary to cut down the pay of
both officers and men,(630) and to such straits were the authorities
driven for money to pay the troops that they could devise no better method
than that the inhabitants of the city should be called upon to set apart
the price of one meal every week for the purpose. The idea was at first
distasteful to the Common Coun