CHARLES I. 355

themselves but little about the execution ofrheir chat*ordinance. . . • .lvii.

Such was the king’s-situation, that, in order m4.to restore peace to the nation, he had no occa-sion to demand any other terms than the .restoring of the laws and constitution; the re-placing him in the same rights which had everbeen enjoyed by his predecessors; and the re- *establishing, on its ancient basis, the whole frameof governmen.t, civil as well as ecclesiastical.

And'that he might facilitate an end, seeminglyso desirable, he offered to employ means equally*popular, an universal act of oblivion , and Ltoleration or indulgence to tender consciences- •'Nothing therefore could contribute more to his *interests , than every discourse of peace r andevery discussion of the conditions , upon whichthat blessing' could be obtained. Fir Dis reason,he solicited a treaty', on all occasidfcs, and desireda conference and'mutual examination of preten-sions, even when he entertained no.hopes, that'

Any conclusion could possibly result from it.

For like reasons, the parliament prudentlyavoided, as much as possible, all advances towardsnegociation, and were cautious not to exposetoo easily to censure those high terms, Whichtheir apprehensions or their ambition made thempreviously demand of the king. Though theirpartisans were blinded with the thickest veil ofreligious |prejudices, they dreaded to bring theirpretensions to the test, or lay them open beforethe whole nation. In opposition to the sacred

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