part of
fifty-six weeks, which they claimed as their due: no visible security
was given for the remainder: and having been declared public enemies
by the commons, they might hereafter be prosecuted as such, unless
the declaration were recalled.[**] Before matters came to this height,
Cromwell had posted up to London, on pretence of laying before the
parliament the rising discontents of the army.

The parliament made one vigorous effort more, to try the force of their
authority: they voted, that all the troops which did not engage for
Ireland, should instantly be disbanded in their quarters.[***]

* Rush. vol. vii p. 485. Clarendon, vol. v. p. 43.

** Rusk. vol. vii p. 497, 505. Whitlocke, p. 250.

*** Rush. vol. vii. p. 487.

At the same time, the council of the army ordered a general rendezvous
of all the regiments, in order to provide for their common interests.
And while they thus prepared themselves for opposition to the
parliament, they struck a blow which at once decided the victory in
their favor.

A party of five hundred horse appeared at Holdenby, conducted by one
Joyce, who had once been a tailor by profession, but was now advanced
to the rank of cornet, and was an active agitator in the army. Without
being opposed by the guard, whose affections were all on their side,
Joyce came into the king's presence, armed with pistols, and told him,
that he must immediately go along with him. "Whither?" said the king.
"To the army," replied Joyce. "By what warrant?" asked the king. Joyce
pointed to the soldiers whom he brought along; tall, handsome, and
well accoutred. "Your warrant," said Charles, smiling, "is writ in
fair characters, legible without spelling."[*] The parliamentary
commissioners came into the room: they asked Joyce whether he had any
orders from the parliament? he said, "No;" from the general? "No;" by
what authority he came? he made the same reply as to the king. "They
would write," they said, "to the parliament to know their pleasure."
"You may do so," replied Joyce; "but in the mean time, the king
must immediately go with me." Resistance was vain. The king, after
protracting the time as long as he could, went into his coach and was
safely conducted to the army, who were hastening to their rendezvous at
Triplo Heath, near Cambridge. The parliament, informed of this event by
their commissioners, were thrown into the utmost consternation.[**]

* Whitlocke, p. 254. Warwick, p.