-sant with the affairs of the world to apprehend the hazard and danger of the attempt, and so referred himself and the whole business to the governed and conducted by one whom they believed by his discourse to be an able soldier."
   Maidstone was I believe appointed as their rendezvous, and immense numbers resorted thither on the appointed day. Whereupon Mr. L'Estrange made an address inveighing against the Parliament, and asserting—which he had no authority for doing—that his Majesty was willing to have a gentleman of their own country well known to them to be their general, and named Mr. Hales, who was then present. No questions were asked; but they one and all expressed their readiness to join, and to march as General Hales should direct. Shortly afterwards Mr. Hales, as General, made out the commissions, and after two more general

gatherings, they agreed to keep together till they  could march to London.
   It is not difficult to imagine the effect which these tidings would have on the dominant Parliament. The gentlemen of Kent, indeed, who sat in the Parliament, utterly disbelieved and denied the facts asserted; and Sir Edward Hales, who was present, told them he was confident that his grandson could not be engaged in such an affair. But when it appeared that the meetings were continued, and the declarations published, together with the fact that young Hales was their general, the Parliament sent two or three troops of horse into Kent to suppress "that seditious insurrection," as it was called; Sir Edward Hales now exercising himself with revilings, threats, and detestations of his grandson, who, he protested, should never be his heir.