x. 2). Nevertheless, even during the first session, his divergence from the leaders of the popular party was considerable. He opposed the acceptance of the London petition against episcopacy (8 Feb.) and the demands of the Scots for religious union. When the House of Commons went into committee to discuss the latter subject, Colepeper was placed in the chair in order to silence him in the debate (17 May). On 11 June he moved an important amendment to the Root and Branch Bill, and on 1 Sept. brought forward a resolution in defence of the prayerbook (ib. ix. 281, 377, x. 14). Thus it was specially on religious questions that Colepeper separated himself from the popular party. Clarendon thus explains his attitude : 'In matters of religion he was in his judgment very indifferent, but more inclined to what was established, to avoid the accidents which commonly attend a change, without any motives from his conscience, which yet he kept to himself, and was well content to have it believed that the activity proceeded from thence' (Life, ii. 12). In the second session he opposed the Grand Remonstrance, and attempted to enter his protest against its being printed. He also spoke against the Militia Bill and against the declaration proposed by Pym to refuse toleration to the Irish catholics (Gardiner, x. 76, 95). So soon, therefore, as the king decided to confer office on the leaders of his party in the commons, Colepeper became a member of the privy council and chancellor of the exchequer (2 Jan. 1642, ib. x. 127). The king's attempt to seize the five members was made without his privity, and, like Hyde and Falkland, he was 'much displeased and dejected' thereby (Clarendon, Rebellion, iv. 158). But it was in accordance with Colepeper's advice, although mainly owing to the influence of the queen, that the king gave his assent to the bill for the exclusion of the bishops from the House of Lords (13 Feb. 1642, Clarendon, Life, ii. 18). It was also by Colepeper's sole advice, given without the knowledge of Falkland or Hyde, that Charles formed the design of removing to the north of England with the object of obtaining possession of Hull (ib. ii. 17). After the king left London, Colepeper continued to meet Hyde and Falkland at Hyde's lodgings to prepare the king's answers to the messages of the parliament and concert plans for his service, in spite of the warning that the parliamentary leaders intended to send all three to the Tower (ib. ii. 38-9). Escaping this fate by his precautions, he remained in London till about the end of May, and then joined the king at York. He was one of the councillors who signed their names to the declaration professing their belief that the king had no intention of making war on the parliament (15 June), and to the promise not to obey any order not warranted by the known laws of the land, or any ordinance concerning the militia not assented to by the king (13 June, Husbands, Exact Collection, 1643, 350, 357). In company with the Earl of Southampton and two others, Colepeper was despatched from Nottingham on 25 Aug. 1642 to near the king's last offfer to negotiate before the war began. He was refused permission to address the house from his seat, and obliged to deliver his message from the bar. 'There standing bareheaded,' says D'Ewes, 'he looked so dejectedly as if he had been a delinquent rather than a member of the house, or privy counsellor, or a messenger from his majesty' (Sanford, Studies and Illustrations, 529). Colepeper was present at Edgehill, where he charged with Prince Rupert, and vehemently opposed those who urged the king to retreat under cover of the darkness instead of holding his ground (Clarendon, Rebellion, Appendix 2 Y). In December following the post of master of the rolls became vacant, and the king appointed Colepeper to fill it, intending Hyde to fill his place as chancellor of the exchequer. But Colepeper, 'though he professed much friendship, had no mind he should be upon the same level with him, and believed he would have too much credit in the council.' Accordingly, although installed as master of the rolls on 28 Jan. 1643 (Black Docquets of Letters Patent signed by Charles I at Oxford, 2), he delayed the surrender of the chancellorship of the exchequer as long as possible (22 Feb. 1643), and even after it persuaded the king to infringe the prerogatives of that office by a grant to Mr. Ashburnham. Nevertheless, though this caused considerable coolness between Hyde and Colepeper, 'it never brake out or appeared to the disturbance or prejudice of the King's service' (Clarendon, Life, ii. 77, iii. 31). In the Oxford parliament Colepeper played a considerable part, being one of the two privy councillors who were included in it (Clarendon, Rebellion, Appendix 3 Y). It was believed in London that he took up an attitude of opposition, moved that peace propositions should be sent to Westminster, and urged the sacrifice of Digby and other obnoxious councillors (Gardiner, History of the Great Civil War, i. 351). His influence with the king in military affairs roused the hostility of the generals (Clarendon, Rebellion, viii. 28-93). He was particularly charged with advising the siege of Gloucester; 'all conspired to lay the whole reproach upon the master of the rolls, who
