1G42.] THE KING AND THE PARUAMENT. 47 



and forwards, show the extreme anxiety both of the King's 

 advisers and of the Parhament to make out a good case before 

 the country. 



" Sir Thomas Fairfax was a man of action and of few 

 words, and he took no part in pubHc affairs until Charles 

 brought the centre of attraction to his very door by establish- 

 ing his head-quarters at York. Yet it will be necessary to 

 cast a glance over the rapidly developing stages of the paper 

 controversy which followed the departure of the King from 

 London, and continued with ever-increasing activity, even 

 after the war commenced. 



" The Militia Bill set forth that, whereas there had been 

 a most dangerous and despotic design upon the House of 

 Commons, it was ordained by the Lords and Commons in 

 Parliament assembled, that certain noblemen named in the 

 Bill should be the lord-lieutenants of the several counties, with 

 power to call together, arm, and train men fit for the wars, 

 and to appoint deputy-lieutenants. In short, the House 

 demanded the right of seeing that the power of the sword 

 was in the hands of men on whose honour and loyalty they 

 could rely. Charles refused his assent to the Bill, and left 

 London, fully resolved upon attempting to destroy the Parlia- 

 ment, but undecided and irresolute as to the means. 



"On March 9 {sic), 1642, a Committee from both Houses 

 overtook the King at Newmarket, and presented a declara- 

 tion urging him to join with his Parliament in defence of 

 the religion and public good of the kingdom, to put from him 

 his wicked and mischievous counsellors, and to return to 

 London. The conduct of the weak, misguided man, on this 

 occasion, was undignified and peevish. 



" He gave the lie to the Committee in the coarsest terms, 

 grossly insulted the Earl of Pembroke, who was one of their 

 number, and flatly refused to give up his absolute power over 

 the militia for a single day. On March 15th he continued 

 his journey northwards, and arrived at York on the i8th, 

 accompanied by the Prince of Wales, his nephew the Prince 

 Elector [Rupert], and several officers of his camp. On this 

 occasion he did not take up his residence at the Manor 



