354 The HIsT 0 R y of the PuRITANS. VoL. n. K. Charlesl.up the m ain pillars of the hierarchy, by confenting to abolilh archbifhops, ~deans, an_d chapters, an_d that a bi(;1op lhould not act without his prefby– ters; whtch was archbtlhop Ujher s fcheme, and all that the puritans at firfl: contended for; but the .fcots and englijh prej/Jyterians grown lofty in power, and being lefs apprehenfive of danger from the army, than they ought, concluded they could not fail of their whole efiablifhment in a few weeks, though there was not the leaJ1 provifion for liberty of conji:imce for dijfenters, which they might have been fenfible, would occafion high difcontents in the army. The commiffioners were difpofed to nn accom– modation, and took all opportunities to affure his majefl:y, that if he would but yield for a time, things lhould be made eafy to him after– wards. But the truth is, as the king would not truf\: the parliament, fo Clarend. P· neither wol!ld they the king, becaufe they obferved, ( r .) His dilatorinefs 222 • in the treaty, as if he waited for fome advantageous turn of affairs to re– voke his conceffions. (2.) His refolute difputing every inch of ground without yielding a t]ngle propofition, or none ofany confiderablc moment. ( 3·) His majef\:y's maxim, that what was yielded out qf nec~lfity ~vas ?lot binding when the reflraint was taken qff. (4.) They fufpected his finceri– ty, becaufe the duke of Ormond was at this very time treating with th~ irijh rebels by his majef\:y's commialon, which he would not recal. (5.) They remembered his majefiy's artful m anner of interpreting away his conceffions. (6.) They gave out that he was not his own man:er, bnt that his confcience was under the direction of his divines, who would put him upon all extreams for their fupport. (7.) They were incenfed at the murders and depredations of the cavalier foldier.s, even after they were beaten out of the field, and were afraid of their recovering the ma– nagement of public affairs. And lqfily, . They were as firmly perfuaded ..• of the divine inll:itution of pre!bytery, and the obligation of the cove– nant, as the king and his divines were of the jus divinum of epifco– pacy. Book XI. p. Yet under all thefe prepoffeffions, lord Clarendon obferves fame of the 217. commil1ioners found means to advcrtife the king in private, "that they " were of his majef\:y's judgment about church government, which they " hoped might be preferved, but not by the method his majefiy purfued ; " that all the reafonable hope of preferving the crown was in dividing the " parliament and the army, which could be done no other way than by " giving fat isfaction with refere nce to the church. This might probably ' ' unite the parliament and the city of London, and enable them to bring " his maje(l:y to London with honour, where he might have an opportunity " of gaining more abatements than he could ever expect by refuting to " fign the preliminaries. Many advertifements came from his majefl:y's " friends in London, and other places, that it was high time the treaty was · '' at
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=