550 'The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANs. VoL. It Cl Kz 1'ng !I In_the interval between the diifolution of the long p-arliament, and the lar es ' <> t f th · h" 1 b h ' h I · I66o. mve. mg 0 e co~ventton w 1~ 1 r.oug t m i e '1:111g, general Monk feeing ~ whtch way the ttde ran, fell 10 With the fl:ream, and ventured to corre{:. G. Monk pond more freely with the king by Sir J. Greenvil!e, who brought the correfponds 1 1 d r b j • h with the genera a etter, an was •ent ac{ wtt an aifurance that he would ferve king. his majefl:y in the bell: manner he could. He defired the king to remove Burnet, p. out of the JPanijh dominions, and promifed, that if his majefty wrote .7 8 · 19· letters to the parliament, he would deliver them at the opening of the Convention parliament .meets. feffions. Bilhop Burnet fays, th1t he had like to have let the honour flip t?rough his fingers, and that a very fmall ih.re of it really belonged to htm. The convention met April 2 5, the earl of Manchijler being chofen fpeaker of the houfe of peers, and Sir Harbottle Grimjlone of the com– mons. At the opening the feffions Dr. Reynolds preached before the houfes. April 30 was appointed for a fafl:, when Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Hardy preached b~fore the lords, and Dr. Gauden Mr. Calamy and Bax– ter before the commons; all except Gauden of the presbyterian party: Lord C!arendon fays, the presby terian party in the hou[e, were rather troublefome than pown:fu/; but others with greater probability affirm, that the body of the commons were at fidl: of tbat party. Next day af– ter the fall, the king by the advice .of the general, havi ng removed pri– vately to Breda, and addreifed lwers to both houfes; the general llood up and acquainted the fpeaker, that one Sir J. Greenvil/e had brought him a letter from the king, but that he had not prefumed to open it; and thar the fame gentleman attended at the door with another to the houfe. Sir John was immediately called in, and having delivered his letter at the bar withdrew, and carried another to the lords. The letter contained an earnell invitation to the commons to return to their duty, as the only way to a fettled peace ; his majefl:y promifing an act of oblivion for what was pafi, and all the fecurity they could defire for their liberties and properties, and the rights of parliament for the future. \ King's declaUnder the fame cover was enclofed his majefty's drclaration from Bre– L ~Bati~nfrom da, granting "a general pardon to all his loving fubjetl:s who ihould lay • · re a. " hold of it within forty days, excep t fnch who ihould be excepted " by parliament. Thofe only excepted (fays he) let all our fubjeCl:s, cc how fault~' foever, rely upon the word of a ~i~g folemnly given, that " no crime committed againfl: us, or our royal father, ihJ!I ever be brought " into quefl:ion to the prejudice of their lives, cfl:ates, or reputation. We do " olfo declare a liber_f)!.~o.lender confciences, and that no man jha/1 ke !ifiluie~ed " or called in quejlion for differences ofopit~ion in matters if reltg1on, ~vhtcb « do not diflurb the peace ofthe kingdom.And we ihall be ready to confent " to fuch an act of parliament as upon mature deliberation ihall be offer- " ed
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