78 with a people who were no foreign enemy.

Once more, and more fiercely than ever, the festering hostility to the Scots burst forth. Some, like Sir John Strangways and Selden, wanted to rescind the past resolution of the House, and seemed prepared to risk war for honour's sake— a prospect as terrible for those who thought first of peace as for those who cared more for strategy. Sometime during this debate Sir Benjamin Rudyard

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delivered a speech. It was a speech significant on several oounts. While it was by now clear that opinions about the Scots and the treaty were becoming sharply divided, attitudes were also shifting. As we saw at the opening of Parliament,

78. D'Ewes, Notestein, 317-20. According to Peyton it was Sir John Strangways who first raised the question of Parliament's power to treat of reparations. Selden supported him: Peyton, f.79v.

79» Nalson dates this speech to 22 January: Nalson, i, 737* Rushworth puts it at 3 February: Rushworth, iv, 167* I believe Rushworth is right because Rudyard mentions a particular sum which was not in question on 22

January. Furthermore, Giustiniani claims that the Scots did not present their paper of expenses until after 22 January: G .S.P.V. . xxv, 118; cf. above, 29.

But by February he had found himself in a predicament similar to that of Sir Edward Hales— hostile and suspicious but,

paradoxically, grateful. N o w Rudyard was wounded by the ingratitude of the Scots. Had not His Majesty assented to

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their articles? Was this satisfaction not enough? Rudyard was increasingly dubious about their good intentions.

Referring to the Scottish protestations of innocence, which preceded their invasion, Rudyard recalled their claim

That they would take nothing of the English, but what they would pay for, or give security.., But what had in fact happened was quite to the contrary. Rather than the Scots paying and giving security,

we have defrayed them hitherto and are provided to do it longer. They did well remember, That we

assisted them in Time of their Reformation; and it is not to be forgotten, that we did bear our own Charges.

Yet Rudyard was prepared to give them a fair sum 'that we may go off with a friendly and handsome Loss: If they reject it, we shall improve our cause.* V/ith the words

'our cause' we come to the matter that was troubling

Rudyard. It seems he had begun to think there was a 'cause* or case against the Scots which would be strengthened if they were not prepared to accept a reasonable and *friendly'

settlement. Such a refusal would indicate some other,

perhaps sinister, intention in the Scots' Invasion, and lend strength to the argument that there was an English cause to

So.

2.

81. See Rushworth, iv,

36

6

80

32

vindicate. Perhaps Rudyard was beginning to worry about the integrity of English lands. Whatever it was, he hinted

gravely at something tempting the Scots:

It was never yet thought, Mr Speaker, any great Wisdom, over-much to trust a successful Sword. A Man that walks upon a rising Ground, the further he goes the larger his Prospect; Success enlarges Mens Desires, extends their Ambition, it breeds Thoughts in them they never thought before: this is natural and usual. But the Scots being truly touched with Religion, according to their

Profession, that is only able to make them keep their Word; for Religion is stronger and wiser than Reason or Reason of State.

However, despite these doubts, Rudyard hoped to return to what seemed to be his former opinion of the Scots and

their deeds in England. But in hoping that Providence would guide them to a 'closer, firmer, Union', for the benefit of religion and the greatness of the King, he was admitting that things were not ending as he had hoped in the

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beginning. Such a shift of opinion bespoke increasing anxiety over the Scots and whether they could be trusted.

Most men make no mark in history. Some appear briefly and disappear unremembered. Thus Gervase Holies seized the stage for one defiant, chivalrous moment and then, to his honour, was cast into the Tower. He achieved nothing except to prove that men were now raging at one another because of the Scottish army. Incensed probably as much by the uncertainties of a Hales or a Rudyard as by those like Wray who frankly applauded the Scots, Gervase Holies rose to deliver a denunciation that rocked the

82. For the text of the speech see Rushworth. iv, 167-8; Nalson, i, 737-8.

Sir, We are now upon the 5th /sic/ Article... which as it was expressed by a Noble Lord at the Conference, is a very teeming Article; it hath produced many other, and they such /that/...

whatsoever Focus or Artifice they may be slighted over with, I do not like their Countenance; they may well be our Younger Brother of Scotland, but, like Jacob, they seem to me as if they had an Aim to supplant us, and take away our Birthright.

Sir, There is no Man that hath a more

charitable Construction of their intentions than I had, whilst they made their Addresses in humble Distance as befitted Subjects to their Sovereign... my heart went along with them...but now, Sir, when

I see them swell in their Demands beyond all Proportion; when I heard them enlarge upon their first Proposition and require Things unfit for a King to grant, and dishonourable for this Nation to Suffer, I cannot but fix a Mark of Danger upon them: I fear we have nourished in our Bosom those that will sting us to Death.

Here he was interrupted, but the House bade him continue. He observed that he had known oppressions, but that the Scots' demand for reparation was in reality a command more

threatening than any oppression. Such arrogance would not have been suffered from the Scots in bygone days, so 'it cannot but trouble me, that we should not only meet them at the Half Way, but embrace the Bearers.' He hoped, therefore, that the blood of their ancestors had not run cold. He

proposed that a select committee should consider those demands which were reasonable, that they might be granted, and the rest should be rejected:

And if our firm Peace may be had upon honest and favourable Terms, I will cherish the Thoughts of it; if not, there are but two Ways left worthy the Entertainment of this Nation; that is to stand or fall with Honour.

God, I hope, and our English Virtues, will secure the first; if otherwise, he is neither worthy of Life nor Memor y? that shall not bury himself in the Ruins of his Country.

Immediately there were cries of 'To the bar*. To the bar] ' Parliament:

3V

Gervase Holies went on later to vote for Strafford and to

8V

join Charles in the field. Ultimately the Commons voted £

300,000

Gervase Holies confirmed that the House was not unanimous. Gardiner claims that with this vote all chances of a break

8 5

with the Scots came to an end. Be that as it may, the tension unleashed in the House by the debate made a rupture within the Commons more likely than before.

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