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HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

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c n* p - At first James seemed disposed to make excellent use of■ 1688 — the time which he had taken for consideration. The Chan-ne ap _ cellor was directed to issue writs convoking a Parliament forpoinis the thirteenth of January. Halifax was sent for to the closet,sioners’to had a long audience, and spoke with much more freedom thanhe had thought it decorous to use in the presence of a largeassembly. He was informed that he had been appointed aCommissioner to treat with the Prince of Orange. With himwere joined Nottingham and Godolphin. The King declaredthat he was prepared to make great sacrifices for the sake ofpeace. Halifax answered that great sacrifices would doubt-less be required. “Your Majesty, ” he said, “must not expectthat those who have the power in their hands will consent toany terms which would leave the laws at the mercy of the pre-rogative.” With this distinct explanation of his views, heaccepted the Commission which the King wished him toundertake. * The concessions which a few hours before hadbeen so obstinately refused were now made in the most liberalmanner. A proclamation was put forth by which the Kingnot only granted a free pardon to all who were in rebellionagainst him, but declared them eligible to be members of theapproaching Parliament. It was not even required as acondition of eligibility that they should lay down their arms.

unmogelyck was te pardoneren persoonen wie so hoog in syri reguardescbuldig stondcri, vooral seer uylvarende jegens den Lord Churchill,wien hy hadde grool gemaakt, en nogtans meynde de eenigste oorsakevan alie dese desertie en van de retraite van hare Coning yckeIloogheden te wesen." One of the lords, probably Halifax or Notting-ham, “seer hadde geurgeert op de sccuriteyt van de lords die nil metsyn Hoogheyt geengageert staan. Soo hoor ick,” says Citters, “datsyn Majesteyt onder andercn soude gesegt hebben; ’Men spreekt alvoor de securileyt voor andere, en niel voor de myne.’ \Yaar op eender Pairs resolut dan met groot respect soude geantwoordt hebbendat, soo syne Majesteyl’s wapenen in staat waren om hem te connenmaintencren, dat dan sulk syne securiteyte ltoude wesen; soo niet, ensoo de difficulteyt dan nog te surmonteren was, dat het den moeslegesehieden door de meeste condescendance, en hoe meer die was, enhy genegen om aan de natic contentement te gcven, dat syne securlteytook des te grooter soude wesen.”

• Letter of the bishop of St. Asaph to the Prince of Orange, Dec. 17.

1688.