6 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

CHAP. crimes as liad been committed, should receive aixiii. total impunity, had expressed himself very cauti-i66o. ously in his declaration of Breda , and had pro-mised an indemnity to all criminals, but such asshould be excepted by parliament. He now issueda proclamation, declaring that such of the lateking’s judges as did not yield themselves prisonerswithin fourteen days should receive no pardon.Nineteen surrendered themselves: Some were takenin their flight: Others escaped beyond sea.

The commons seem to have been more inclinedto lenity than the lords. The upper house, in-flamed by the ill usage, which they had received,were resolved, besides the late king’s judges, toexcept every one , who had sitten in any highcourt of justice. Nay, the earl of Bristol moved,that no pardon might be granted to those whohad any wise contributed to the king’s death.So wide an exception, in which every one, who' had served the parliament , might be compre-

hended , gave a general alarm; and men beganto apprehend , that this motion was the effect ofsome court- artifice or intrigue. But the kingsoon dissipated these fears. He came to the houseof peers; and in the most earnest terms, passedthe a est of general indemnity. He urged both theiiecestity of the thing, and the obligation of hisformer promise: A promise, he said, which hewould ever regard as sacred ; since to it heprobably owed the satisfaction, which at presenthe enjoyed, of meeting his people in parliament.This measure of the king’s was received withgreat applause and satisfaction.