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CHAP.
I.
16 THE RESTORA TION IN ENGLAND. 1660
Bishop of Worcester in October, and was chosen to preach the
sermon at the coronation. In the next year he was translated
to the bishopric of Winchester. These two men, with
Lord Clarendon, were chiefly influential in guiding Church
legislation during the next four years.
The general election took place while the popular enthusiasm
for the restored monarchy was stimulated by the king's
coronation, which was solemnised with unusual pomp on April
23, 1661. The new parliament met on May 8, and it was at
once apparent that the composition of the lower house had
undergone a complete alteration. The fervour of the royalist
reaction had swept away most of the presbyterian royalists
and had filled their places with ardent cavaliers. 1 The conference
of Anglican and presbyterian leaders, which Charles
had promised in his declaration to convene, was actually sitting
in Sheldon's lodgings in the Savoy when parliament assembled.
Whatever prospect there was of an agreement was removed by
the temper of the house of commons. Within the first two
sessions (May 8-July 30, and November 20, 1661-May 19,
1662) a series of statutes effectually put an end to all projects
of comprehension and restored Church and Crown to nearly all
their old powers. The act of indemnity was only confirmed
with reluctance and at the pressing instance of the king. For
the safety of the king and his government, the treason laws were
made more severe during Charles' lifetime. To affirm that the
king was a heretic or a papist was an offence to be punished by
exclusion from ecclesiastical, military, and civil office. To hold
that parliament or either house could exercise legislative authority
without the crown, involved the penalties of praemunire.
The solemn league and covenant was pronounced
to be "an unlawful oath imposed on subjects against the
fundamental laws and liberties of the people," and the covenant
itself was ordered to be burned by the common hangman.
The sole command of the militia and of all naval and
military forces was declared to be vested in the crown; and
neither parliament nor either house of parliament might lawfully
levy war against the king. •
Still more noteworthy were the measures passed in the
1 London, however, returned two presbyterians and two independents, Calendar
of State Papers, Domestic, 1660-61, pp. 536-39.