by, and resolving on measures (such as the attempt on
Hull) without Hyde's knowledge or approval.

War, accordingly, in spite of his efforts, broke out. He was expelled
the House of Commons on the 11th of August 1642, and was one of those
excepted later from pardon. He showed great activity in collecting
loans, was present at Edgehill, though not as a combatant, and followed
the king to Oxford, residing at All Souls College from October 1642 till
March 1645. On the 22nd of February he was made a privy councillor and
knighted, and on the 3rd of March appointed chancellor of the exchequer.
He was an influential member of the "Junto" which met every week to
discuss business before it was laid before the council. His aim was to
gain over some of the leading Parliamentarians by personal influence and
personal considerations, and at the Uxbridge negotiations in January
1645, where he acted as principal manager on the king's side, while
remaining firm on the great political questions such as the church and
the militia, he tried to win individuals by promises of places and
honours. He promoted the assembly of the Oxford parliament in December
1643 as a counterpoise to the influence and status of the Long
Parliament. Hyde's policy and measures, however, all failed. They had
been weakly and irregularly supported by the king, and were fiercely
opposed by the military party, who were jealous of the civil influence,
and were urging Charles to trust to force and arms alone and eschew all
compromise and concessions. Charles fell now under the influence of
persons devoid of all legal and constitutional scruples, sending to
Glamorgan in Ireland "those strange powers and instructions inexcusable
to justice, piety and prudence."[3]

Hyde's influence was much diminished, and on the 4th of March 1645 he
left the king for Bristol as one of the guardians of the prince of Wales
and governors of the west. Here the disputes between the council and the
army paralysed the proceedings, and lost, according to Hyde, the finest
opportunity since the outbreak of the war of raising a strong force and
gaining substantial victories in that part of the country. After
Hopton's defeat on the 16th of February 1646, at Torrington, Hyde
accompanied the prince, on the 4th of March, to Scilly, and on the 17th
of April, for greater security, to Jersey. He strongly disapproved of
the prince's removal to France by the queen's order and of the schemes
of assistance