y the free choice of the Estates of the Realm. Those who
ventured to interrogate him learned nothing, and yet could not accuse
him of shuffling. He quietly referred them to his Declaration,
and assured them that his views had undergone no change since that
instrument had been drawn up. So skilfully did he manage his followers
that their discord seems rather to have strengthened than to have
weakened his hands but it broke forth with violence when his control was
withdrawn, interrupted the harmony of convivial meetings, and did not
respect even the sanctity of the house of God. Clarendon, who tried to
hide from others and from himself, by an ostentatious display of loyal
sentiments, the plain fact that he was a rebel, was shocked to hear
some of his new associates laughing over their wine at the royal amnesty
which had just been graciously offered to them. They wanted no pardon,
they said. They would make the King ask pardon before they had done
with him. Still more alarming and disgusting to every good Tory was
an incident which happened at Salisbury Cathedral. As soon as the
officiating minister began to read the collect for the King, Barnet,
among whose many good qualities selfcommand and a fine sense of the
becoming cannot be reckoned, rose from his knees, sate down in his
stall, and uttered some contemptuous noises which disturbed the
devotions of the congregation. [567]

In a short time the factions which divided the Prince's camp had an
opportunity of measuring their strength. The royal Commissioners were
on their way to him. Several days had elapsed since they had been
appointed; and it was thought strange that, in a case of such urgency,
there should be such delay. But in truth neither James nor William was
desirous that negotiations should speedily commence; for James wished
only to gain time sufficient for sending his wife and son into prance;
and the position of William became every day more commanding. At length
the Prince caused it to be notified to the Commissioners that he would
meet them at Hungerford. He probably selected this place because,
lying at an equal distance from Salisbury and from Oxford, it was well
situated for a rendezvous of his most important adherents. At Salisbury
were those noblemen and gentlemen who had accompanied him from Holland
or had joined him in the West; and at Oxford were many chiefs of the
Northern insurrection.

Late on Thursday, the sixth of December, he reached Hungerfo