ten thousand pounds, and another of
twenty-three thousand five hundred and eighteen on the rest of the
kingdom.[*] And as their authority was at present established in most
counties, they levied these taxes with regularity; though they amounted
to sums much greater than the nation had formerly paid to the public.

{1643.} The king and parliament sent reciprocally their demands; and a
treaty commenced, but without any cessation of hostilities, as had at
first been proposed. The earl of Northumberland and four members of the
lower house came to Oxford, as commissioners.[**] In this treaty, the
king perpetually insisted on the reestablishment of the crown in
its legal powers, and on the restoration of his constitutional
prerogative:[***] the parliament still required new concessions, and
a further abridgment of regal authority, as a more effectual remedy to
their fears and jealousies. Finding the king supported by more forces
and a greater party than they had ever looked for, they seemingly
abated somewhat of those extravagant conditions which they had formerly
claimed; but their demands were still too high for an equal treaty.
Besides other articles, to which a complete victory alone could entitle
them, they required the king, in express terms, utterly to abolish
Episcopacy; a demand which before they had only insinuated; and
they required, that all other ecclesiastical controversies should be
determined by their assembly of divines; that is, in the manner the most
repugnant to the inclinations of the king and all his partisans. They
insisted, that he should submit to the punishment of his most faithful
adherents. And they desired him to acquiesce in their settlement of the
militia, and to confer on their adherents the entire power of the sword.
In answer to the king's proposal, that his magazines, towns, forts,
and ships should be restored to him, the parliament required that
they should be put into such hands as they could confide in:[****] the
nineteen propositions which they formerly sent to the king, showed their
inclination to abolish monarchy: they only asked at present the power of
doing it.

* Clarendon, vol. iii. p. 171.

** Whitlocke, p. 6*.

*** Rush, vol. vi. p. 202.

**** Rush, vol. vi. p. 166. Clarendon, vol. iii. p. 119.

And having now in the eye of the law been guilty of treason, by
levying war against their sovereign, it is evident that their fears
and jealousies must on that