The person of Hampden was now scarcely safe.  His prudence and moderation had hitherto disappointed those who would gladly have had a pretence for sending him to the prison of Eliot.  But he knew that the eye of a tyrant was on him.  In the year 1637 misgovernment had reached its height.  Eight years had passed without a Parliament.  The decision of the Exchequer Chamber had placed at the disposal of the Crown the whole property of the English people.  About the time at which that decision was pronounced, Prynne, Bastwick, and Burton were mutilated by the sentence of the Star-Chamber, and sent to rot in remote dungeons.  The estate and the person of every man who had opposed the court were at its mercy.

Hampden determined to leave England.  Beyond the Atlantic Ocean a few of the persecuted Puritans had formed, in the wilderness of Connecticut, a settlement which has since become a prosperous commonwealth, and which, in spite of the lapse of time and of the change of government, still retains something of the character given to it by its first founders.  Lord Saye and Lord Brooke were the original projectors of this scheme of emigration.  Hampden had been early consulted respecting it.  He was now, it appears, desirous to withdraw himself beyond the reach of oppressors who, as he probably suspected, and as we know, were bent on punishing his manful resistance to their tyranny.  He was accompanied by his kinsman Oliver Cromwell, over whom he possessed great influence, and in whom he alone had discovered, under an exterior appearance of coarseness and extravagance, those great and commanding talents which were afterwards the admiration and the dread of Europe.

The cousins took their passage in a vessel which lay in the Thames, and which was bound for North America.  They were actually on board, when an order of council appeared, by which the ship was prohibited from sailing.  Seven other ships, filled with emigrants, were stopped at the same time.

Hampden and Cromwell remained; and with them remained the Evil Genius of the House of Stuart.  The tide of public affairs was even now on the turn.  The King had resolved to change the ecclesiastical constitution of Scotland, and to introduce into the public worship of that kingdom ceremonies which the great body of the Scots regarded as Popish.  This absurd attempt produced, first discontents, then riots, and at length open rebellion.  A provisional government was established at Edinburgh, and its authority was obeyed throughout the kingdom.  This government raised an army, appointed a general, and summoned an assembly of the Kirk.  The famous instrument called the Covenant was put forth at this time, and was eagerly subscribed by the people.

The beginnings of this formidable insurrection were strangely neglected by the King and his advisers.  But towards the close of the year 1638 the danger became pressing.  An army was raised; and early in the following spring Charles marched northward at the head of a force sufficient, as it seemed, to reduce the Covenanters to submission.