CHARLES I. 261

speech to the peers, desired to know the names c n a r.of such members as should vote contrary to the lv.sentiments of the commons **: And Pym said inthe lower house, that the people must not berestrained in the expressions 'of their just desires* 9 ..

By the flight, or terror, or despondency ofthe king’s party, an undisputed majority remainedevery-where to their opponents; and the billssent up by the commons, which had hithertostopped with the peers, and would certainly havebeen rejected , now passed, and wer^ presented'for the royal assent. These were, the' pressingbill with its preamble, and the bill against thevotes of the bishops in parliament. The king’sauthority was at that time reduced to the lowestebb. The queen too, being secretly threatenedwith an impeachment, and finding no resourcein her husband's protection , was preparing toretire into Holland. The rage of the people was,on account of her religion , as well as her spiritand activity, universally levelled against her.

Usage, the most contumelious, she had hithertoborne with silent indignation. The commons ,in their fury against priests, had seized her veryconfessor; nor would they release him upon herrepeated applications. Even a visit of the princeto his mother had been openly complained of,and remonstrances against it had been presentedto her *\ Apprehensive of attacks still more

" King’s Declar. of 12th August, 1643. " I hid.

*° Nelson , vol. ii. p. 512.

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