254 HISTORY OF GRF.AT BRITAIN.

CHAP.

LV.

1641 -

Tumults.

King leaves

liDiidon.

tinued for some time. When the people, bythese affected panics, were wrought up to a suf-ficient degree of rage and terror, it was thoughtproper, that the accused members should , witha triumphant and military procession, take theirseats in the house. The river was covered withboats, and other vessels, laden with small piece*of ordnance , and prepared for, fight. Skippon ,whom the parliament had appointed, by theirown authority, major general of the city-mili-tia 7 * , conducted* the members, at the head ofthis tumultuary army, to Westminster-hall. Andwhen the populace , by land and by water , pas-sed Whitehall , they still asked with insultingshouts, What was become of the king and his cavaliers ?And whither are they fled*° P

The king, apprehensive of danger from theenraged multitude, had retired to Hampton-court,deserted by all the world, and overwhelmed withgrief, so ame, and remorse, for the fatal measures,into which he had been hurried. His distressedsituation he could no longer ascribe to the rigorsof destiny, or the malignity of enemies : Hisown precipitance and indiscretion must bear theblame of whatever disasters should henceforthbefal him. The most faithful of his adherents,between sorrow and indignation , were con-founded with reflections on what had happened,

79 Nelson, vol. ii. p. 8 z).

9 Whitlocke, p. 53. Dugdale, p. 82. Clarendon,vol. ii. p. ; 8 v.