Above forty peers of the first rank attended the king,[*] whilst the house of lords seldom consisted of more than sixteen members.

Near the moiety, too, of the lower house absented themselves from counsels which they deemed so full of danger.

The commons sent up an impeachment against nine peers, for deserting their duty in parliament.

Their own members, also, who should return to them, they voted not to admit till satisfied concerning the reason of their absence.
Charles made a declaration to the peers who attended him, that he expected from them no obedience to any commands which were not warranted by the laws of the land.

The peers answered this declaration by a protest, in which they declared their resolution to obey no commands but such as were warranted by that authority.[**] By these deliberate engagements, so worthy of an English prince and English nobility, they meant to confound the furious and tumultuary resolutions taken by the parliament.
* May, book ii.p.