From the moment of his landing till he reached London he had exercised the authority which, by the laws of war, acknowledged throughout the civilised world, belongs to the commander of an army in the field.

It was now necessary that he should exchange the character of a general for that of a magistrate; and this was no easy task.

A single false step might be fatal; and it was impossible to take any step without offending prejudices and rousing angry passions.
Some of the Prince's advisers pressed him to assume the crown at once as his own by right of conquest, and then, as King, to send out, under his Great Seal, writs calling a Parliament.

This course was strongly recommended by some eminent lawyers.

It was, they said, the shortest way to what could otherwise be attained only through innumerable difficulties and disputes.