It was not even required as a condition of eligibility that they should lay down their arms.

The same Gazette which announced that the Houses were about to meet contained a notification that Sir Edward Hales, who, as a Papist, as a renegade, as the foremost champion of the dispensing power, and as the harsh gaoler of the Bishops, was one of the most unpopular men in the realm, had ceased to be Lieutenant of the Tower, and had been succeeded by his late prisoner, Bevil Skelton, who, though he held no high place in the esteem of his countrymen, was at least not disqualified by law for public trust.

[549] But these concessions were meant only to blind the Lords and the nation to the King's real designs.

He had secretly determined that, even in this extremity, he would yield nothing.

On the very day on which he issued the proclamation of amnesty, he fully explained his intentions to Barillon.