[485] ‘Ils ne doutent point que Sa Majesté se pourroit retirer à Whitehall avec grand contentement de la ville et du parlement aussi.’ Bellièvre to Charles I, June 2.
[486] Sanderson 986. Sent from the committee of troopers in the army, after they had secured their guards, demanded the King of the commissioners, who in amaze asked for his warrant, whose answer that it was the sense of the army.
[487] A true impartial narrative, concerning the army’s preservation of the King. Rushworth vi. 513.
[488] Declaration or representation, June 14. Heads of charges, June 16. In Rushworth vi. 572.
[489] ‘(Gli artisti) loro fecero le tre propositioni, come si essi fussero stati membre del parlamento—ed obligarono i parlamentarii che stessero ritenuti nella camera sino alle q ore e sigillarlo con il gran sigillo.’ The only English report which I find intelligible is the one given by John Rushworth to Ferdinando Fairfax. Fairfax Correspondence i. 382.
[490] The Italian reporter from whom I take this notice adds: ‘Tutta la notte seguente delli 12 (2) il consiglio ed il parlamento che io dico presbyteriano, furono in piedi, e di comune accordo si per fermare la fazione contraria che si faceva piu grande, si per assicurare il stato deputarono verso l’armata.’ Cp. Parl. Hist. xvi. 235.
[491] Letter from the city. ‘They (the members) shall find all posts and passes open to receive you and them, as also such guards, two or three regiments, as your Excellency shall think fitting for their conduct of the two Houses of Parliament.’ Rushworth vii. 751.
CHAPTER IV.
INFLUENCE OF THE AGITATORS.
No one could yet have said which course events would take; either opposite still seemed possible, the abolition or the complete restoration of the monarchy, exclusive domination of one religious faction or tolerance of several, continuance or abridgment of Parliament, entire supremacy of the army, or union with other powers, maintenance of the laws, or even social reform. To estimate the contrary expectations that existed it is only necessary to know that the Pope at Rome solemnly took counsel as to how far the English Catholics should be authorised to unite with the Independents. It was maintained with a certain confidence that the Independents would restore the King and the episcopal establishment, but introduce universal toleration[492].
The King found himself not altogether in bad hands. He was again allowed Anglican worship: some old servants, like Berkeley and Ashburnham, were permitted to be near him: his children were brought to him, his friends might visit him. He again received foreign ambassadors with a certain ceremony in the hall at Hampton Court, devoted from old times to this purpose: the commissioners who surrounded him appeared as his ministers, though forced upon him. The King asserted that he had the word of the chief officers that his crown should not be assailed: in return he had promised not to quit Hampton Court without previous reference to A.D. 1647. them[493]. In the style used in the last generation by Cuneo, the terms of the oath of allegiance to be taken by the Catholics was then discussed between them and the King[494].