From Breda, Grenville and Mordaunt were despatched to England, with their
batch of all-important letters. No pains were spared to confirm the new-
found loyalty of the General, and to assure him of the gratitude of the
King. It was in compliment to him, and on Grenville's suggestion, that
William Morrice was appointed to the Secretaryship of State, vacant in
consequence of the Earl of Bristol having joined the Roman Catholic
Church. All the letters were entrusted to the General, and although those
other than his own were sealed, copies were supplied to him, so that he
might know their contents before they were delivered and read. At the same
time a Declaration was issued under the Privy Seal, pledging the King "to
grant a free and general pardon" to all his subjects who, within forty
days, should throw themselves upon his mercy, "excepting only such persons
as shall hereafter be excepted by Parliament." For religious differences,
it was provided that they should be settled by Act of Parliament, to which
the King pledged his consent.

The messengers reached London a week before Parliament was to meet. The
General approved the letters, and found no difficulty in the reference to
Parliament of those points on which the King was not prepared to give an
unlimited pledge. The fact was that the time was already past for haggling
about terms. The tide of loyalty was now flowing with a rush that nothing
could stem. A month ago, careful observers might say that the question was
no longer whether the King was to be restored, but only as to the terms on
which the Restoration was to take place. Now, the question of terms was
already settled; the only point remaining was, who were to have the
prominent parts as agents, and were to be counted as deserving the chief
share of gratitude.

On April 25th the new Parliament met, and Sir Harbottle Grimston, who had