treated with the parliament, as a species of fourth estate holding itself under arms, and ready for offensive action. At the first of this crisis, Cromwell opposed the mutineers with such apparent energy and zeal, that for a time he lost his popularity with his own soldiery; and shortly afterward having been accused, or at the least suspected in the House of underhanded tampering with the mutineers, he cleared himself to the full satisfaction of all present by a most vehement and overpowering burst of indignation, mingled with tears and prayers and explanations, such as removed from every mind all doubts of his integrity.

Shortly, however, fresh suspicions were excited among the presbyterian leaders, who, dark and wily in their own secret machinations, naturally feared the like manoeuvres from their political opponents. By some means it transpired, that a new presbyterian army was to be raised forthwith, the veteran host compelled to disband at the sword's point, and Cromwell,

Ireton, and Harrisson-the champions of the independents-committed to the Tower.

Thus forced in self-defence to concur in those very movements, which they had first opposed as mutiny-unless they should prefer to submit tamely to their own destruction, and to the overthrow of all those principles of civil and religious freedom for which they had so long and painfully contended—the military chieftains acted with all that rapid and decisive energy, which had continually signalized their conduct in the field. The instant they had ascertained the truth of these reports, one Joyce, a man of well-proved resolution, though by rank only cornet in Whalley's regiment of horse, was sent to Holmby to secure the person of the King, who was conducted with all the speed consistent with respect, to the head-quarters of the army; and such was the considerate and honourable bearing of the soldiery toward their captive monarch, that, on Fairfax disavowing Joyce's enterprise and offering to send him back to

Holmby, he at once replied that "nought but force should urge him to it."

Both

In good truth, the difference of his situation was so great, as well to justify his preference; and, could he even then have laid aside dissimulation and acted with straightforward singleness of purpose, it is most certain he might again have filled the throne of his forefathers. parties were, indeed, at this time willing, nay desirous, to reinstate the sovereign; for such an union, as that measure would have caused, with the still powerful, though beaten, faction of the cavaliers, would have placed either permanently in the ascendant. The presbyterians proffered to replace him on the throne, provided he would yield assent to the substitution of a presbytery for the established church of England, endowed with all its ancient privileges; to the absolute suppression of all other sects; and further to such cessions of prerogative as would have left him but the shadow of a sceptre. The independents stipulated merely for univer

sal toleration-excepting only papistry, which they insisted he should extirpate entirely, root and branch-and for the full securing to all men of every constitutional and civil privilege.

In either case Charles's life and throne would have been both secured to him; yet could he not refrain from playing off the one against the other faction, till both had learned that they could place no confidence in his sincerity or truth.

While he continued with the army all was for a long time comparatively sunshine; at Cromwell's intercession, his children the young Dukes of York and Gloucester and the Princess Elizabeth—were suffered constantly to visit him, and to remain in his society. Two chaplains of his own persuasion-an indulgence sternly refused him by the parliament —were granted willingly by the commanders of the soldiery, who, while they asserted their own liberty to worship as they chose to preach and pray themselves, and listen to the exhortations, not of licensed

gospellers, but of their own military saintsconsistent at the least in this-were willing to concede to others, unlike the bitterer presbyterians, the same rights which they claimed for themselves.

Fortified now by possessing not the person only, but the confidence and favour of the King, the army moved toward London. From Newmarket they marched to Royston, Reading, and Windsor; and at the latter place Charles occupied his royal castle. Thence, after some delay, advancing, they encamped on Hounslow, their leaders holding constant although guarded intercourse with their now trembling and halfdiscomfited opponents.

Early in August the King was reinstalled in Hampton Court, and all things seemed to be once more his own. His yeomen of the wardrobe and the guard attended him; he was permitted to hold levees of all parties-all his own favourite advisers were permitted to resort to him, including many under the ban of