to do this for all future time. If he allowed that his veto should not be exercised with regard to their next proceedings, he was yet resolved not to allow himself to be robbed of this veto for ever. But these are just the most important questions which arise as to parliamentary or representative forms of government. How could it be expected that the strong opposition between royal authority and the independence of parliamentary and ecclesiastical assemblies which was implied in these questions, and which had deep root in Scotland especially, should so easily be brought to a settlement without a real and strenuous conflict. The news of the Pacification of Berwick was received with great satisfaction, especially in the Protestant world. That the Scots had not been overpowered appeared of itself to be an advantage; but it was thought moreover that King Charles would desire to give employment to the Scots in order to keep them obedient; and where else could that employment be found but in the German war? It is affirmed that Lesley offered him to lead his troops immediately to the Continent for the reconquest of the Palatinate; that he did not require the King to bear any other cost but that of their transport; for Lesley intended to maintain his Scots in Germany as Mansfeld and Wallenstein had maintained their troops[125]. King Charles is said to have entered for a moment into this plan. The rejection of his last overtures [A.D. 1638.] by Austria appeared to justify it, and no doubt all his affairs might, had he accepted the proposal, have assumed a different aspect. But so bold and reckless an enterprise was repugnant to his character. After some reflection he put it aside. Apart from his fears of strengthening his opponents at home, his relations with France and Spain were not in such a condition that he could throw his weight decisively into the scale. FOOTNOTES: [111] I have taken the description of these contending motives from an essay entitled, Révolte des Écossais (Biblioth. imp. at Paris, Melanges Harlay 218), with the inscription: ‘fait deux mois après la révolte d’Écosse’--apparently from the pen of a French Catholic who was closely connected with the English Court. [112] Strafford Letters ii. 250. [113] John Spalding: Memorials of the trubles of England and Scotland, i. 77, gives a very detailed account. He knew of ‘ane clandestine band drawn up and subscrivit secretly between the malcontents, or rather malignantis of Scotland and England, that eche one should concur and assist utheris, while they gat their willis both in church and policie, and to bring both kingdomes under a reformed religion, and to that effect to root out the bischopis of both kingdomes crop and root, quairby His Majesty should loiss ane of his trie estatis: and likevayes that they sould draw the King to dispenss with diverss pointis of his royall prerogative.’