n;
a prerogative which invested him with the whole legislative authority,
even in matters of the highest importance.[*]

So far was laudable: but the most fatal blow given to royal authority,
and what in a manner dethroned the prince, was the article, that no
member of the privy council, in whose hands during the king's absence
the whole administration lay, no officer of state, none of the judges,
should be appointed but by advice and approbation of parliament. Charles
even agreed to deprive of their seats four judges who had adhered to his
interests; and their place was supplied by others more agreeable to the
ruling party. Several of the Covenanters were also sworn of the privy
council. And all the ministers of state, counsellors, and judges, were
by law to hold their places during life or good behavior.[**]

The king while in Scotland conformed himself entirely to the established
church, and assisted with great gravity at the long prayers and longer
sermons with which the Presbyterians endeavored to regale him. He
bestowed pensions and preferments on Henderson, Gillespy, and other
popular preachers, and practised every art to soften, if not to gain,
his greatest enemies. The earl of Argyle was created a marquis,
Lord Loudon an earl, Lesley was dignified with the title of earl of
Leven.[***] His friends he was obliged for the present to neglect
and overlook: some of them were disgusted; and his enemies were not
reconciled, but ascribed all his caresses and favors to artifice and
necessity.

* Burnet, Mem.

** Burnet, Mem.

*** Clarendon, vol. ii p. 309.

Argyle and Hamilton, being seized with an apprehension, real or
pretended, that the earl of Crawfurd and others meant to assassinate
them, left the parliament suddenly, and retired into the country; but
upon invitation and assurances, returned in a few days. This event,
which had neither cause nor effect that was visible, nor purpose, nor
consequence, was commonly denominated the incident. But though the
incident had no effect In Scotland; what was not expected, it was
attended with consequences in England. The English parliament, which
was now assembled, being willing to awaken the people's tenderness
by exciting their fears, immediately took the alarm; as if the
malignants--so they called the king's party--had had laid a plot at
once to murder them and all the godly in both kingdoms. They applied
therefore to Essex, whom the king had left gene