[Friends, though divided by G. A. Henty]@TWC D-Link book
Friends, though divided

CHAPTER XI
16/25

They had, indeed, passed votes for the raising of taxes and supplies; but had also insisted upon the king granting several reforms.

Charles, untaught by adversity, was as obstinate as ever; and instead of using the opportunity for showing a fair disposition to redress the grievances which had led to the civil war, and to grant concessions which would have rallied all moderate persons to his cause, he betrayed much irritation at the opposition which he met with, and the convocation of Parliament, instead of bringing matters nearer to an issue, rather heightened the discontents of the times.

The Parliament at Westminster, upon their side, formed a council, under the title of the committee of the two kingdoms, consisting of seven lords, fourteen members of the commons, and four Scottish commissioners, into whose hands the entire conduct of the war, the correspondence with foreign states, and indeed the whole executive power of the kingdom was given.
The king received Harry with great condescension and favor, and heard with satisfaction of the preparations which Montrose was making for an invasion of the Lowlands of Scotland, and promised Sir Henry to bestow the rank of knighthood upon his son as soon as he attained the age of twenty-one.
For some weeks Harry resided with his father at Furness Hall.

He then fell back into Oxford upon the advance of an army from London destined to besiege that town.

This force was far greater than any that the king could raise.


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