ely, the proposed loan from the city, and
one from the Spanish government, but, according to history, he himself
voted for the dissolution of Parliament, though the play is accurate in
laying the necessity of the dissolution at the door of old Vane. It was
truly his ill-judged vehemence, for, not able to brook the arguments of
the Commons, "He rose," says Gardiner, "to state that the King would
accept nothing less than the twelve subsidies which he had demanded in
his message. Upon this the Committee broke up without coming to a
resolution, postponing further consideration of the matter to the
following day." The next morning the King who had called his councillors
together early "announced his intention of proceeding to a dissolution.
Strafford, who arrived late, begged that the question might first be
seriously discussed, and that the opinions of the Councillors, who were
also members of the Lower House, might first be heard. Vane declared
that there was no hope that the Commons 'would give one penny.' On this
the votes were taken. Northumberland and Holland were alone in wishing
to avert a dissolution. Supported by the rest of the Council the King
hurried to the House of Lords and dissolved Parliament."

Wholly imaginary is the episode in this scene where Pym and his
followers break in upon the interview of Wentworth and the King. Just
at the climax of Wentworth's sorrowful rage at the King's treatment of
him, they come to claim Wentworth for their side.

That you would say I did advise the war;
And if, through your own weakness, or what's worse,
These Scots, with God to help them, drive me back,
You will not step between the raging People
And me, to say....
I knew it! from the first
I knew it! Never was so cold a heart!
Remember that I said it--that I never
Believed you for a moment!
--And, you loved me?
You thought your perfidy profoundly hid
Because I could not share the whisperings
With Vane, with Savile? What, the face was masked?
I had the heart to see, sir! Face of flesh,
But heart of stone--of smooth cold frightful stone!
Ay, call them! Shall I call for you? The Scots
Goaded to madness? Or the English--Pym--
Shall I call Pym, your subject? Oh, you think
I'll leave them in the dark about it all?
They shall not know you? Hampden, Pym shall not?

_PYM, HAMPDEN, VANE, etc., enter._

[_Dropping on his knee._] Thus fav