's God in the Mount.

*** Whitlocke, p. 58. Dugdale, p. 96, 99.

Meanwhile the splendor of the nobility with which the king was environed
much eclipsed the appearance at Westminster. Lord Keeper Littleton,
after sending the great seal before him, had fled to York. Above forty
peers of the first rank attended the king,[*] whilst the house of lords
seldom consisted of more than sixteen members. Near the moiety, too, of
the lower house absented themselves from counsels which they deemed so
full of danger. The commons sent up an impeachment against nine peers,
for deserting their duty in parliament. Their own members, also, who
should return to them, they voted not to admit till satisfied concerning
the reason of their absence.

Charles made a declaration to the peers who attended him, that he
expected from them no obedience to any commands which were not warranted
by the laws of the land. The peers answered this declaration by a
protest, in which they declared their resolution to obey no commands
but such as were warranted by that authority.[**] By these deliberate
engagements, so worthy of an English prince and English nobility, they
meant to confound the furious and tumultuary resolutions taken by the
parliament.

* May, book ii. p. 59.

** Rush vol. v. p. 626, 627. May, book ii. p. 86. Warwick,
p. 210.

The queen, disposing of the crown jewels in Holland, had been enabled to
purchase a cargo of arms and ammunition. Part of these, after escaping
many perils, arrived safely to the king. His preparations were not near
so forward as those of the parliament. In order to remove all jealousy,
he had resolved that their usurpations and illegal pretensions should be
apparent to the whole world; and thought that to recover the confidence
of the people was a point much more material to his interest, than
the collecting of any magazines, stores, or armies which might breed
apprehensions of violent or illegal counsels. But the urgent necessity
of his situation no longer admitted of delay. He now prepared himself
for defence. With a spirit, activity, and address, which neither the one
party apprehended nor the other expected, he employed all the advantages
which remained to him, and roused up his adherents to arms. The
resources of this prince's genius increased in proportion to his
difficulties, and he never appeared greater than when plunged into the
deepest perils and distresses. From the mixed character