288 HISTORY OF GREAT BRITAIN.

c h a p. temper of Charles; and he immediately issuedrxvi. orders for discontinuing the bonds and the writs

i67S. of law-burrows. But as he was commonly little

touched with what lay at a distance, he enter-tained not the proper indignation against thosewho had abused his authority : Even while heretracted these oppressive measures, he was pre-vailed with to avow and praise them in a letter ,which he wrote to the privy council. This proofof confidence might fortify the hands of theministry ; but the king ran a manifest risque oflosing the affections of his subjects, by not per-mitting, even those who were desirous of it,to distinguish between him and their oppressors.

It is reported ", that Charles, after a fullhearing of the debates concerning Scottish affairs,said, " I perceive, that Lauderdale has been“ guilty of many bad things against the peoplec< of Scotland; but I cannot find, that he has“ acted any thing contrary to my interest. ” Asentiment unworthy of a sovereign !

During the absence of Hamilton and theother discontented lords, the king allowed Lau-derdale to summon a convention of estates atEdinburgh. This assembly, besides granting somemoney, bestowed applause on all Lauderdale’sadministration , and in their addresses to the king,expressed the highest contentment and satisfaction.But these instances of complaisance had the con-trary effect in England from what was expected

n Burnet.

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