In June he caused another application to be made to the City.(393) On the 7th the lord mayor, who had been summoned to appear before the lords of the council, appeared with so few of his brother aldermen that he was ordered to go back and to return on the 10th with the whole court. When they at last made their appearance they were told that the king expected from them no less a sum than £100,000. The war was, if possible, more unpopular in the city than in the country. The memory of the recent confiscation of their Irish estates had not been obliterated from the minds of the citizens by the subsequent grant of a charter. The mayor and aldermen replied that it was impossible to find the money. The council told them that it must be done, one of the lords declaring that they ought to have sold their chains and gowns before making such a reply. They were ordered to appear once more on the 12th June with a final answer.(394) (M154) A warrant had in the meantime been issued for raising 3000 men from the trained bands of the city for service in Scotland.(395) Although it does not appear that this demand was acceded to,(396) seeing that the trained bands were a force especially intended for the defence of the city, greater activity was shown in making the city’s troops as perfect in their drill as circumstances permitted.(397) Boys from Christ’s Hospital and Bridewell were taught to play the drum and fife, weapons were marked, and musters held in Goodman’s Fields and elsewhere under the eye of Captain John Fisher, recently appointed muster-master.(398) (M155) That the citizens were not indisposed to assist the king, if left to themselves and not subjected to threats and intimidation, is shown by the fact that, in anticipation of the return of Charles from the North, the Common Council voted him (31 July, 1639) the sum of £10,000 as a free gift in consideration that the City had not contributed anything to his majesty on his setting out, as had been required, "albeit the counties and private personnes both nobles and others had done the same."(399) Even this small sum could not be raised without resorting to sheriffs’ fines, no less than sixteen individuals being mulcted for refusing to serve as sheriff in less than two months.(400) It was no difficult task to find men unwilling to serve such a thankless office at so critical a time. (M156) Before the close of the year (1639) the country was agreeably surprised at the news that it was the king’s intention to summon a parliament. Parliament opened on the 13th April (1640). Few of its members could have served in the last parliament of eleven years before, but although so long a time had elapsed since the Commons had met, they had not forgotten their old constitutional claims to have the country’s grievances redressed before proceeding to grant supplies. An offer to relinquish ship money proved insufficient, and after three weeks the "short parliament" was dissolved (5 May, 1640). (M157)