No wonder, therefore, he was in great perplexity.

But he did worse than embrace the worst side; for, properly speaking, he embraced no side at all.

He concluded a sudden pacification, in which it was stipulated, that he should withdraw his fleet and army; that within eight and forty hours the Scots should dismiss their forces; that the king's forts should be restored to him; his authority be acknowledged; and a general assembly and a parliament be immediately summoned, in order to compose all differences.[*] What were the reasons which engaged the king to admit such strange articles of peace, it is in vain to inquire; for there scarcely could be any.

The causes of that event may admit of a more easy explication.
* Rush vol.iii.p.

945.
The malecontents had been very industrious in representing to the English the grievances under which Scotland labored, and the ill counsels which had been suggested to their sovereign.