Among those who originally were doomed to destruction was Hamilton: but at the crisis when the Scots penetrated into England a change of policy was observed in him. Though formerly he had recommended extreme measures, he was not prepared to risk his life for them. He now recommended the King to grant the demands of the Scots, and entered into an alliance with their leaders, his former opponents, and with the lords of the opposition party. By his mediation the most conspicuous of the latter, Bedford and Hertford, Essex, Mandeville, Saville, Say, as well as Bristol, were admitted into the Privy Council, thereby obtaining a certain share in the administration. It was generally believed at the time that this suggestion proceeded from the Scots, who desired to see their friends in the King’s [A.D. 1641] council, in order to ensure the granting of their demands. The court based on it the prospect of a better understanding with the Parliament. Hamilton had at first some difficulty, but ultimately the King once more obeyed the voice to which for some years he had been wont to pay special attention[222]. On the whole we may suppose that the King under this influence cherished the idea of conducting a Parliamentary government, and, since his late ministers had fallen, of trying to work it through members of the opposition. But circumstances were such that very little could be achieved by means of a mere change of ministry. The restraints imposed on the King meant far more than mere alterations in form: the principle from which they sprang touched the vital point of his power. And the tendencies of a totally different nature and extent which were exhibited in the spirit both of members of Parliament and of the people were such that no accommodation with them was possible. FOOTNOTES: [206] Journal of the House of Commons ii. [207] Giustiniano, Nov. 9. ‘Risolutione la quale--palesa a sudditi, d’avere acconsentito alla convocatione costretto delle sole violenze dell’ inimico.’ Clarendon, Reb. Book ii. Guizot, Book iii. [208] The editing of these speeches in Rushworth and in the Parliamentary History leaves much to be desired. In the second speech the King is made to say, ‘when I called my Lords and Great ones at York,’ although ‘Great ones’ is not an English political phrase. The King really said ‘when I called the lords of my great counsel to York:’ he accuses the Scots, because they ‘did cavil a delay,’ not merely ‘delay.’ As has before been said, all these important documents require to be better edited. [209] Hutchinson, Massachusetts Bay i. 64. Garrard to Strafford, December 1637. Letters ii. 191. [210] Montereuil: ‘J’ay entretenu longtems le Sr. Pimme: il me doit tenir bien informé de tout qui se passera au parlement, où il m’a témoigné qu’il seroit bien aise de servir en même temps son pais et la France, dont il reconnoit que les interêts sont unis.’ [211] ‘All men who knew him either loved or hated him in extremity.’