From Oxford he had sent several messages[b][c][d][e][f][g] to the parliament, by one of which he demanded passports for commissioners, or free and safe access for himself.  To all a refusal was returned, on the ground that he had employed the opportunity afforded him by former treaties to tempt the fidelity of the commissioners, and that it was unsafe to indulge him with more facilities for conducting similar intrigues.  Decency, however,

[Footnote 1:  Clarendon Papers, ii. 209-211.  Baillie, ii. 188.  Thurloe, i. 72, 73, 85.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1645.  August.] [Sidenote b:  A.D. 1645.  Dec. 5.] [Sidenote c:  A.D. 1645.  Dec. 15.] [Sidenote d:  A.D. 1645.  Dec. 26.] [Sidenote e:  A.D. 1645.  Dec. 29.] [Sidenote f:  A.D. 1646.  Jan. 15.] [Sidenote g:  A.D. 1646.  Jan. 17.]

required that in return the two houses should make their proposals; and it was resolved to submit to him certain articles for his immediate and unqualified approval or rejection.  The Scots contended in favour of the three original propositions; but their opponents introduced several important alterations, for the twofold purpose, first of spinning out the debates, till the king should be surrounded in Oxford, and secondly of making such additions to the severity of the terms as might insure their rejection.[1]

Under these circumstances Montreuil admonished him that he had not a day to spare; that the Independents sought to deceive him to his own ruin; that his only resource was to accept of the conditions offered by the Scots; and that, whatever might be his persuasion respecting the origin of episcopacy, he might, in his present distress, conscientiously assent to the demand respecting Presbyterianism; because it did not require him to introduce a form of worship which was not already established, but merely to allow that to remain which he had not the power to remove.  Such, according to his instructions, was the opinion of the queen regent of France, and such was the prayer of his own consort, Henrietta Maria.  But no argument could shake the royal resolution.[2] He returned[a] a firm but temperate refusal, and renewed his request for a personal conference at Westminster.  The message was conveyed in terms as energetic as language could supply, but it arrived at a most unpropitious

[Footnote 1:  Charles’s Works, 548-550.  Journals, viii. 31, 45, 53, 72.  Baillie, ii. 144, 173, 177, 184, 190.]

[Footnote 2:  Clarendon Papers, ii. 211-214.  “Let not my enemies flatter themselves so with their good successes.  Without pretending to prophesy, I will foretel their ruin, except they agree with me, however it shall please God to dispose of me.”]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1646.  Jan. 20.]

moment, the very day on which the committee of both kingdoms thought proper to communicate to the two houses the papers respecting the treaty between Glamorgan and the Catholics of Ireland.  Amidst the ferment and exasperation produced by the disclosure, the king’s letter was suffered to remain unnoticed.[1]