proclaimed  '  a  liberty  to  tender  consciences,
and  that  no  man  shall  be  disquieted  or  called
in  question  for  difference  of  opinion  in  matters
of  religion  which  do  not  disturb  the  peace  of
the  kingdom ;  and  that  we  shall  be  ready  to
consent  to  such  an  Act  of  Parliament  as  upon
mature  deliberation  shall  be  offered  to  us,  for
the  full  granting  that  indulgence.'  After  his
return  to  England,  Charles  welcomed  a
suggestion  of  Baxter's  (q.v.),  that  agreement
might  be  reached  by  conference  between  the
'  episcopal '  party  and  the  '  presbyterian,'
'  puritan,'  or  '  nonconformist '  party,  and  pro-
mised to  further  such  a  conference.  To  a  depu-
tation of  divines — Calamy,  Reynolds,  Baxter,
and  others— he  urged  that  the  agreement  must
be  effected,  not  by  the  surrender  of  either
party,  but  by  mutual  concession  ;  declared
that  it  should  not  be  his  fault  if  the  parties
were  not  reconciled ;  and  invited  the  divines
to  submit  proposals  for  reform.  Accordingly
an  Address  to  the  King  was  drawn  up,  chiefly
by  Calamy  and  Reynolds,  containing  pro-
posals for  the  amendment  of  discipline,
Church  government,  liturgy  and  ceremonies,
praying  in  particular  that  kneeling  at
Communion,  holidays,  bowing  at  the  Holy


(  548  )


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[Savoy


Name,  the  sign  of  the  cross,  and  the  surplice
should  not  be  enforced.  A  reply  to  this  was
drawn  up  by  the  bishops,  in  which,  without
suggesting  any  concessions,  they  criticised
the  proposals  in  detail  in  a  hostile  sense,
while  expressing  willingness  that  the  Book  of
Common  Prayer  (q.v.)  should  be  revised.
