quarters, the whole army ought to be drawn together, that they might consult in common for the security of their persons and the reparation of their characters.  Orders were despatched at the same time to secure the park of artillery at Oxford, and to seize the sum of four thousand pounds destined for the garrison in that city.  These measures opened the eyes of their adversaries.  A proposal was made in parliament to expunge the offensive declaration from the journals, a more comprehensive bill of indemnity was introduced, and other

[Footnote 1:  Journals, ix. 164.  Commons’, Ap. 27, 30.  Whitelock, 245, 246.  Rushworth, vi. 447, 451, 457, 469, 480, 485.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1647.  May 21.] [Sidenote b:  A.D. 1647.  May 25.] [Sidenote c:  A.D. 1647.  May 29.]

votes were suggested calculated to remove the objections of the army, when the alarm of the Presbyterian leaders was raised to the highest pitch by the arrival of unexpected tidings from Holmby.[1]

Soon after the appointment of the agitators, an officer had delivered to the king a petition from the army, that he would suffer himself to be conducted to the quarters of their general, by whom he should be restored to his honour, crown, and dignity.[a] Charles replied, that he hoped one day to reward them for the loyalty of their intention, but that he could not give his consent to a measure which, must, in all probability, replunge the nation into the horrors of a civil war.  He believed that this answer had induced the army to abandon the design; but six weeks later, on Wednesday the 2nd of June, while he was playing at bowls at Althorp, Joyce, a cornet in the general’s lifeguard, was observed standing among the spectators; and late in the evening of the same day, the commissioners in attendance upon him understood that a numerous party of horse had assembled on Harleston Heath, at the distance of two miles from Holmby.[b] Their object could not be doubted; it was soon ascertained that the military under their orders would offer no resistance; and Colonel Greaves, their commander, deemed it expedient to withdraw to a place of safety.  About two in the morning a body of troopers appeared before the gates, and were instantly admitted.[c] To the questions of the commissioners, who was their commander, and what was their purpose, Joyce replied, that they were all commanders, and that they had

[Footnote 1:  Whitelock, 248, 250.  Holles, 92.  Journals, 207, 222, 226-228.  Commons’, May 14, 21, 25, 28, June 1, 4, 5.  Rushworth, vi. 489, 493, 497-500, 505.]

[Transcriber’s Note:  Footnote 2 not found in the text.]

[Footnote 2:  Clarendon Papers, ii. 365.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1647.  April 21] [Sidenote b:  A.D. 1647.  June 2] [Sidenote c:  A.D. 1647.  June 3]