Strafford and Laud were for conquering the Scottish people by force of arms.Other lords who were taken into council,recommended that a Parliament should at last be called;to which the King unwillingly consented.So,on the thirteenth of April,one thousand six hundred and forty,that then strange sight,a Parliament,was seen at Westminster.It is called the Short Parliament,for it lasted a very little while.While the members were all looking at one another,doubtful who would dare to speak,MR.PYM arose and set forth all that the King had done unlawfully during the past twelve years,and what was the position to which England was reduced.This great example set,other members took courage and spoke the truth freely,though with great patience and moderation.The King,a little frightened,sent to say that if they would grant him a certain sum on certain terms,no more ship money should be raised.They debated the matter for two days;and then,as they would not give him all he asked without promise or inquiry,he dissolved them.
But they knew very well that he must have a Parliament now;and he began to make that discovery too,though rather late in the day.
Wherefore,on the twenty-fourth of September,being then at York with an army collected against the Scottish people,but his own men sullen and discontented like the rest of the nation,the King told the great council of the Lords,whom he had called to meet him there,that he would summon another Parliament to assemble on the third of November.The soldiers of the Covenant had now forced their way into England and had taken possession of the northern counties,where the coals are got.As it would never do to be without coals,and as the King's troops could make no head against the Covenanters so full of gloomy zeal,a truce was made,and a treaty with Scotland was taken into consideration.Meanwhile the northern counties paid the Covenanters to leave the coals alone,and keep quiet.
We have now disposed of the Short Parliament.We have next to see what memorable things were done by the Long one.
SECOND PART
THE Long Parliament assembled on the third of November,one thousand six hundred and forty-one.That day week the Earl of Strafford arrived from York,very sensible that the spirited and determined men who formed that Parliament were no friends towards him,who had not only deserted the cause of the people,but who had on all occasions opposed himself to their liberties.The King told him,for his comfort,that the Parliament 'should not hurt one hair of his head.'But,on the very next day Mr.Pym,in the House of Commons,and with great solemnity,impeached the Earl of Strafford as a traitor.He was immediately taken into custody and fell from his proud height.
It was the twenty-second of March before he was brought to trial in Westminster Hall;where,although he was very ill and suffered great pain,he defended himself with such ability and majesty,that it was doubtful whether he would not get the best of it.But on the thirteenth day of the trial,Pym produced in the House of Commons a copy of some notes of a council,found by young SIR HARRY VANE in a red velvet cabinet belonging to his father (Secretary Vane,who sat at the council-table with the Earl),in which Strafford had distinctly told the King that he was free from all rules and obligations of government,and might do with his people whatever he liked;and in which he had added-'You have an army in Ireland that you may employ to reduce this kingdom to obedience.'
It was not clear whether by the words 'this kingdom,'he had really meant England or Scotland;but the Parliament contended that he meant England,and this was treason.At the same sitting of the House of Commons it was resolved to bring in a bill of attainder declaring the treason to have been committed:in preference to proceeding with the trial by impeachment,which would have required the treason to be proved.
So,a bill was brought in at once,was carried through the House of Commons by a large majority,and was sent up to the House of Lords.
While it was still uncertain whether the House of Lords would pass it and the King consent to it,Pym disclosed to the House of Commons that the King and Queen had both been plotting with the officers of the army to bring up the soldiers and control the Parliament,and also to introduce two hundred soldiers into the Tower of London to effect the Earl's escape.The plotting with the army was revealed by one GEORGE GORING,the son of a lord of that name:a bad fellow who was one of the original plotters,and turned traitor.The King had actually given his warrant for the admission of the two hundred men into the Tower,and they would have got in too,but for the refusal of the governor-a sturdy Scotchman of the name of BALFOUR-to admit them.These matters being made public,great numbers of people began to riot outside the Houses of Parliament,and to cry out for the execution of the Earl of Strafford,as one of the King's chief instruments against them.The bill passed the House of Lords while the people were in this state of agitation,and was laid before the King for his assent,together with another bill declaring that the Parliament then assembled should not be dissolved or adjourned without their own consent.The King-not unwilling to save a faithful servant,though he had no great attachment for him-was in some doubt what to do;but he gave his consent to both bills,although he in his heart believed that the bill against the Earl of Strafford was unlawful and unjust.The Earl had written to him,telling him that he was willing to die for his sake.But he had not expected that his royal master would take him at his word quite so readily;for,when he heard his doom,he laid his hand upon his heart,and said,'Put not your trust in Princes!'