How is one to choose?
The king is overbearing, haughty, and untrue to his word.

The Parliament is stiff-necked and bent upon acquiring power beyond what is fair and right.

There are, indeed, grievous faults on both sides.

But it seems to me that should the king now have his way and conquer the Commons, he and his descendants will henceforth govern as absolute monarchs, and the liberty of the people will be endangered; while on the other hand, should the Parliament gain the upper hand, they will place on a firm basis the liberties of Englishmen, and any excesses which they may commit will be controlled and modified by a future parliament, for the people of England will no more suffer tyranny on the part of the Commons than of the king; but while they cannot change the one, it is in their power to elect whom they will, and to send up men who will govern things moderately and wisely." "At any rate," Harry said, "my father thinks that there is neither moderation nor wisdom among the zealots at Westminster; and as I hear that many nobles and country gentlemen throughout England are of the same opinion, methinks that though at present the Parliament have the best of it, and have seized Portsmouth, and the Tower, and all the depots of arms, yet that in the end the king will prevail against them." "I trust," Herbert continued earnestly, "that there will be no fighting.
England has known no civil wars since the days of the Roses, and when we see how France and Germany are torn by internal dissensions, we should be happy indeed that England has so long escaped such a scourge.

It is indeed sad to think that friends should be arrayed against each other in a quarrel in which both sides are in the wrong." "I hope," Harry said, "that if they needs must fight, it will soon be over, whichever way fortune may turn." "I think not," Herbert answered.