The King felt that his conduct demanded an apology, and accordingly issued an explanatory declaration*, which was prepared by Lord Falkland; a declaration weak, and little worthy of its framer. The King retired to Reading, and having garrisoned that town, and also Wallingford, Banbury, and Abingdon, retreated still farther to Oxford, where he proposed to establish himself in winter quarters. "That declaration, and the answer to the nineteen propositions "which is mentioned before, were the only two declarations which were not prepared and drawn up by Mr. Hyde." Clar. Hist. Reb. " iii. 320. CHAP. VIII. 1642. CHAP. IX. SUSPENSION OF HOSTILITIES. - HYDE DECLINES THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE. — - IS MADE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER AND PRIVY COUNCILLOR. CHARACTER OF HIS COLLEAGUES IN THE PRIVY COUNCIL. WAR RESUMED. WALLER'S PLOT. UNCONCILIATORY SPIRIT OF THE ROYALISTS. DISCUS PARLIAMENT RESPECTING NEGOTIATIONS FOR DISSENSIONS IN THE COURT. -PARLIAMENT MAKE A NEW GREAT SEAL. SUBSCRIBE THE SOLEMN LEAGUE AND COVENANT. -SCOTCH ARMY ENTERS ENGLAND TO AID THE PARLIAMENT. EXPEDIENTS PROPOSED BY HYDE. THE KING, BY HYDE'S ADVICE, SUMMONS A PARLIAMENT AT OXFord, NEGOTIATIONS ATTEMPTED WITH LORD Essex. -MEASURES FOR RAISING SUPPLIES. REINFORCEMENTS FROM IRE LAND DEFEATED. MARSTON MOOR. NEGOTIATIONS FOR 1643. IX. 1643. СНАР. ALL conflicts between the armies of the King and the Parliament were now suspended for several months; but divers unwarlike contests for authority took place in the mean time. The King directed indictments for high treason, against some of those who encountered him at Edgehill: the Parliament declared such indictments illegal. The King appointed sheriffs: the Parliament denied the legality of the appointments. The term for which tonnage and poundage was granted being expired, the King published a proclamation, exempting all persons from paying it in future: the Parliament denied that he had the power to grant CHAP. any such exemption. Peace was still the earnest desire of a vast majority of the people. In compliance with this wish, the Parliament again attempted to treat, and about the end of January, sent twelve commissioners for that purpose to Oxford. The propositions which they brought were not more moderate than the nineteen propositions which had already been rejected. They required the entire abolition of episcopacy, and the settlement of the militia according to the will of the Parliament. The commissioners appear to have been aware that these propositions were not such as the King was likely to accept.* They despaired of the King's consent to the abolition of episcopacy, and attempted rather to gain some concession, with respect to the militia. A secret negotiation was, at the same time, opened, for replacing the Earl of Northumberland (one of the commissioners) in the office of Lord High Admiral. Hyde urged this measure to the King as one which, while it would cause no detriment to his service, might be the means of effecting a peace with the Parliament. But his arguments "They had all," says Clarendon, in one of those passages which the original editors suppressed, "a great desire of peace, but knew well that "there must be a receding, mutually on both sides, from what they "demanded; for if the King insisted on justice, and on the satisfaction "and reparation the law would give him, the lives and the fortunes of "all who had opposed him would be at his mercy. On the other side, "if the Parliament insisted on all that they had demanded, all the power of the crown and monarchy itself would be thrown off the hinges, and that themselves should be as much involved in the con"fusion as those they called their enemies." Life of Clarendon, i. 178. IX. 1643. CHAP. 1649. Feb. 22. 66 did not avail. There appears to have been an obstacle against which argument was useless; and the knowledge of which must have chilled with despondency the advisers of the King. Charles was so far swayed by the influence of the Queen, that, before her departure for Holland, he "made a "solemn promise to her, at parting, that he would "receive no person into any favour or trust who "had disserved him, without her privity and con"sent; and that, as she had undergone so many "reproaches and calumnies at the entrance into "the war, so he would never make any peace but by her interposition and mediation, that the "kingdom might receive that blessing only from "her."* The Queen had now landed in Yorkshire, with arms and ammunition, and was endeavouring to join the King at Oxford. expectation of her arrival, he desired that the commissioners might prolong the time which had been allowed them by the Parliament. But to this the Parliament did not accede; the commissioners were recalled; and thus again the hope for peace was disappointed. About the same time, commissioners from Scotland were also obliged to depart without effecting the object of their mission. Their mission, which was professedly one of mediation, also required the abolition of episcopacy, and leave that a Parliament might be called in Scotland previous to the time, then distant about two years, when, by the provisions of a late act, it must neces Life of Clarendon, i. 179-186. In sarily be convened. On this point they obtained a promise of partial compliance with their request; but with respect to episcopacy, their proposed interference was peremptorily rejected. 66 CHAP. IX. 1643. In the course of this spring, a considerable change took place in the fortunes of Hyde. He was raised from the situation of a secret agent, to that of an avowed and responsible servant of the Crown. When the commissioners came to Oxford, there appeared a printed copy of an intercepted letter from the King to the Queen, expressing an intention to make Secretary Nicholas Master of the Wards; adding, "and then I must make Ned Hyde Secretary of State; for the truth is, I "can trust nobody else." This was quickly circulated; and a copy was shown to Hyde by the King himself, who avowed the intention expressed in the letter, and proposed to carry it immediately into effect. Hyde remonstrated; and refused to ac- Hyde decept the proffered office, unless Nicholas, upon due consideration, should desire the change, a change offer of which, as it appeared from a conversation which of State. Hyde held on this subject with Nicholas, would have been disadvantageous to the latter. after this offer, which Hyde had thus honourably resisted, another means of preferment unexpectedly occurred. The death of Sir Charles Cæsar caused a vacancy in the Mastership of the Rolls, a place which had long been desired by Colepepper, and which the King had promised to give him. Colepepper was, therefore, made Master of the Rolls; and the Chancellorship of the Exchequer, which Soon clines the proffered Secretary |