Even yet the long misfortunes which Charles had suffered were insufficient to teach him wisdom.

Had he now heartily thrown himself into the hands of the moderate majority in Parliament he might--aided by them and by the Scots, who, seeing that the Independents were ignoring all the obligations which had been undertaken by the Solemn League and government, were now almost openly hostile to the party of the army--have again mounted the throne, amid the joyful acclamations of the whole country.

The army would have fought, but Charles, with England at his back, would assuredly have conquered.

Unfortunately, the king could not be honest.

His sole idea of policy was to set one section of his opponents against the other.