the monarch it only strengthened the hands of his opponents. The introduction of Romish practices into the service of the church also increased the discontent of Charles's subjects, but his attempt at this period (1637) to compel the introduction of the episcopal liturgy into the churches in Scotland caused an outbreak of popular indignation which made the king pause in his career of unbridled power. The following year (1638) the Scots entered into the famous National Covenant, took up arms, and in a great measure made themselves masters of the country. The Scotch forces then advanced to Berwick, and the king having marched with an army to the neighbourhood of that town a pacification took place between Charles and the Scots. Without resources, however, Charles was obliged to disband his army, while the Scots took care to hold their forces ready for any emergency. After the treaty the Scots were almost more hostile than before, and as the state of matters did not improve, Charles in April 1640, reluctantly assembled his fourth parliament. Nearly twelve years had elapsed since the last parliament had assembled, and from this circumstance the advisers of Charles fondly hoped that the Commons would display a less independent spirit than their predecessors in this reign, and vote with alacrity the requisite supplies. Instead however of doing so the Commons at once began to take into consideration the question of grievances. Charles repeatedly urged the Commons to proceed with the vote of supplies, but they resented the interference. Charles shortly afterwards angrily dissolved the parliament before any supplies had been voted. This act of indiscretion on the part of the king greatly increased the general discontent, and as the Scotch forces had crossed the border, and seemed likely to possess themselves of the northern counties, Charles was obliged to adopt instant measures to repel the foe. For this purpose he borrowed large sums from private friends, sold for cash goods purchased on credit, and adopted other expedients for raising money. With the sums thus procured Charles managed to muster a

affairs of the nation without a parliament, and freed from the control of that assembly, committed as might have been expected, numerous arbitrary acts. Hardly had the late parliament been dissolved before three of the king's leading opponents in the Commons, Elliot, Holles, and Valentine, were prosecuted and fined, notwithstanding their objection that the court had no jurisdiction for things done or said in parliament. Without a parliament Charles was obliged to resort to other methods to obtain money to meet the expenses of the government. Compositions for refusal of knighthood by the the tenants of the crown in capite, the enforcement of the harsh forest laws, and the revival of the system of monopolies in trade (although declared illegal in the preceding reign) produced considerable sums to the exchequer. A mode of raising money was however revived, which (although obsolete for ages) seemed likely to furnish a perpetual supply for the exigencies of government, and this was the enforcement of ship-money: an ancient assessment on maritime towns in times of danger from invasion, to provide ships. Though at first the assessment was confined to the maritime towns it was afterwards extended to the inland districts. The collectors of the ship-money encountered considerable opposition in these districts and at length, in 1637, John Hampden, a country gentleman of Buckinghamshire, determined to try the legality of the assessment. Accordingly he refused payment of the sum demanded from him, and proceedings having been instituted against him, the question came on for argument before the Court of Exchequer Chamber. The arguments on behalf of Hampden, based as they were on the Confirmation of the Charters, and other express enactments prohibiting taxation without the consent of parliament, were unanswerable, but the doctrine of the absolute power of the crown prevailed with_the majority, consisting of seven of the twelve judges. The five other judges decided in favour of Hampden for various reasons. Judgment was accordingly given for the crown, but so far from increasing the power of

the monarch it only strengthened the hands of his opponents. The introduction of Romish practices into the service of the church also increased the discontent of Charles's subjects, but his attempt at this period (1637) to compel the introduction of the episcopal liturgy into the churches in Scotland caused an outbreak of popular indignation which made the king pause in his career of unbridled power. The following year (1638) the Scots entered into the famous National Covenant, took up arms, and in a great measure made themselves masters of the country. The Scotch forces then advanced to Berwick, and the king having marched with an army to the neighbourhood of that town a pacification took place between Charles and the Scots. Without resources, however, Charles was obliged to disband his army, while the Scots took care to hold their forces ready for any emergency. After the treaty the Scots were almost more hostile than before, and as the state of matters did not improve, Charles in April 1640, reluctantly assembled his fourth parliament. Nearly twelve years had elapsed since the last parliament had assembled, and from this circumstance the advisers of Charles fondly hoped that the Commons would display a less independent spirit than their predecessors in this reign, and vote with alacrity the requisite supplies. Instead however of doing so the Commons at once began to take into consideration the question of grievances. Charles repeatedly urged the Commons to proceed with the vote of supplies, but they resented the interference. Charles shortly afterwards angrily dissolved the parliament before any supplies had been voted. This act of indiscretion on the part of the king greatly increased the general discontent, and as the Scotch forces had crossed the border, and seemed likely to possess themselves of the northern counties, Charles was obliged to adopt instant measures to repel the foe. For this purpose he borrowed large sums from private friends, sold for cash goods purchased on credit, and adopted other expedients for raising money. With the sums thus procured Charles managed to muster a

considerable army. In an engagement between some of the forces of Charles, and the Scots the latter had the advantage, and as the king saw no prospect of an improvement in the state of matters he consented, though much against his will, to call another parliament which met in November, 1640. This was the fifth parliament which had assembled in this reign, and is known in English history as the Long Parliament. On the opening of parliament the sympathies of the Commons were evidently with the Scots, and Charles wisely, making a virtue of necessity, took care not to come into collision with the parliament. Statutes to abolish tonnage and poundage, ship-money and monopolies were passed, the duration of parliaments limited to three years, but the most important legislative enactment was the suppression of the Courts of Star Chamber and of High Commission.

Against the king's principal adviser the Commons did not fail to manifest their resentment. The Earl of Strafford, formerly Lord Wentworth, having returned from Ireland shortly after the opening of parliament, was committed to the Tower by the Commons. Articles of impeachment were then prepared against Strafford, and the trial took place in March, 1641. Most of the charges against Strafford were those of subverting the constitution, and making the crown absolute, but even if they had been proved, they clearly did not constitute the crime of treason. Some of Strafford's proceedings while in Ireland, and forming the subject of some of the charges, did however in the opinion of the judges, who were consulted by the peers, render him liable to the pains and penalties of treason, but the proof of these proceedings was by no means conclusive. This circumstance did not however prevent the peers from finding Strafford guilty of these treasonable procceedings. The Commons however determined to discontinue the impeachment and to proceed by bill of attainder against Strafford. A bill of attainder accordingly passed both Houses, and on being presented to the king for his signature, caused the monarch the greatest