Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

HIS LAST DAYS 77
have been satisfied that there was a possibility of their
success: Charles certainly was not. He looked rather
for help to a Scottish reaction, which came, but too
late.
In different directions schemes sprang up. The
Agitators set out one for the recognition of a fundamental
law, and the residence of all power " originally
and essentially in the whole body of the people
of this nation." The "Case of the Army" was utterly
rejected by Cromwell, and a long discussion did little
to reconcile divisions in the army which seemed to be
essential. The " Agreement of the People " proposed
a new form of government, which should be based
upon religious freedom and amnesty. Cromwell's
party rejected it and planned a new constitution.
The Scots Commissioners urged Charles to escape
while there was yet time, and leave the army to
fight out a solution with the constitution-mongers.
But Charles, who had all along stood out on one question,
the maintenance of the Church in her essential
attributes, and to some extent at least in her property,
would not break his word. He was on parole, and
"till he had freed himself of that, he would rather
die than break his faith." But when he refused to
renew his promise, the guards were reinforced; officers
clamoured for the sacrifice of the King; Cromwell
spoke darkly, and kept up long discussions and a
hesitating tone, which it is difficult to believe could
have had any other object than to let matters develop
themselves.