Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 5.djvu/143

1552.] had applied for that purpose, he was obliged to look to other resources. A Parliament had become a necessity, unwelcome but inevitable. A Parliament must meet. The blame of the public embarrassment could be cast upon Somerset; and in a letter to the council the Duke explained the arguments on which he intended to apply for a subsidy. As the subsidy, however, could not be collected till after the next harvest, the meeting, he at first thought, might be postponed till the following Michaelmas.

Circumstances, or the influence of others, or the necessity of pacifying the people, forbade the anticipated delay. The writs were sent out in January, and as Parliament would not grant money