2/8 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

Chap. treasurers could find leisure to receive them,iv. Such zeal animated the pious partisans of the par-liament, especially in the city! The women gaveup all the plate and ornaments of their houses,and even their silver thimbles and bodkins, inorder to support the good cause against the ma-lignants

Meanwhile the splendor of the nobility ,with which the king was environed , mucheclipsed the appearance at Westminster. Lordkeeper Littletoh , after sending the great sealbefore him , had fled to York. Above fortypeers of the sir st rank attended the kingwhilst the house of lords seldom consisted of morethan sixteen members. Near the moiety too ofthe lower house absented themselves from counsels,which they deemed so full of danger. Thecommons sent up an impeachment against ninepeers , for deserting their duty in parliament.Their own members also, who should return tothem , they voted not to admit , till satisfiedconcerning the reason of their absence.

Charles made a declaration to the peers,who attended him , that he expected from themno obedience to any commands which were notwarranted by the laws of the land. The peersanswered this declaration by a protest, in whichthey declared their resolution to obey qo com-mands but such as were warranted by that

117 Whitlocke , p. s 8- Bugdale, p. 9 6 . 99.

May, book ii. p. 59.