CHARLES I., S Z5?

merit, though apprehensive of the extremities to c H a p.which, they were driving, though desirous of ivn.any reasonable • accomnjodation ; yet was stillmore resolute to preserve an honorable fidelityto the trust reposexi in him. Hg replied, that,as the paper sent him neither contained any addressto the two houses of parliament, nor any ac-knowledgment of their authority, he could notcommunicate it to them. Like proposals loadbeen.reiterated by the king, during the ensuingcampaign, and still met with a like answer fromEssex 7 . .

order to make a new.trial for a treaty, theking, this spring, sent another letter directed tothe lords and commons of parliament assembledat Westminster : But as he also mentioned, in,the letter*, the lords and commons of parliamentassembled at Oxford, -nd declared, that his scopeand intention was to make provision, that allthe members of both houses might securely meetin a full and free assembly; the parliament, per-ceiving the conclusian implied, refused all treatyupon such terms \ And the king, whd knew whatsmall hopes.there were of accommodation, wouldnot abandQn the pretensions, which he had as-sumed ; nor acknowledge the two houses, moreexpressly, for a free parliament.

This winter, the famous Pym died; a man as

7 Clarendon, vol. ili. p. 444. Rush. vol. vi p. $69*

570. Whitlucke , p. 94.

’ Clarendon , vol. iii. p. 449. Whitlocke, p. 79.

A a 3