e now employed her credit, and persuaded
them that it was reasonable to give large contributions, as a mark of
their duty to the king, during this urgent necessity.[*] A considerable
supply was obtained by this means; to the great scandal of the Puritans,
who were offended at seeing the king on such good terms with the
Papists, and repined that others should give what they themselves were
disposed to refuse him.

Charles's fleet was formidable and well supplied. Having put five
thousand land forces on board, he intrusted it to the marquis of
Hamilton, who had orders to sail to the Frith of Forth, and to cause a
diversion in the forces of the malecontents. An army was levied of near
twenty thousand foot, and above three thousand horse; and was put under
the command of the earl of Arundel, a nobleman of great family, but
celebrated neither for military nor political abilities. The earl of
Essex, a man of strict honor, and extremely popular, especially among
the soldiery, was appointed lieutenant-general: the earl of Holland was
general of the horse. The king himself joined the army, and he summoned
all the peers of England to attend him. The whole had the appearance
of a splendid court, rather than of a military armament; and in this
situation, carrying more show than real force with it, the camp arrived
at Berwick.[**]

The Scottish army was as numerous as that of the king, but inferior
in cavalry. The officers had more reputation and experience; and the
soldiers, though undisciplined and ill armed, were animated, as well by
the national aversion to England, and the dread of becoming a province
to their old enemy, as by an unsurmountable fervor of religion. The
pulpits had extremely assisted the officers in levying recruits, and had
thundered out anathemas against all those "who went not out to assist
the Lord against the mighty."[***] Yet so prudent were the leaders of
the malecontents, that they immediately sent submissive messages to the
king, and craved to be admitted to a treaty.

* Rush. vol. iii. p. 1329. Franklyn, p. 767.

** Clarendon, vol. i p. 115, 116, 117.

*** Burnet's Memoirs of Hamilton.

Charles knew that the force of the Covenanters was considerable, their
spirits high, their zeal furious; and that, as they were not yet daunted
by any ill success, no reasonable terms could be expected from them.
With regard therefore to a treaty, great difficulties occurred on both
sides. Should he