And in that case, they determined that the punishment was arbitrary; only that it could not extend to life.

Middleton, as commissioner, passed this act; though he had no instructions for that purpose.
An act of indemnity passed; but at the same time it was voted, that all those who had offended during the late disorders, should be subjected to fines; and a committee of parliament was appointed for imposing them.
These proceeded without any regard to some equitable rules which the king had prescribed to them.[*] The most obnoxious compounded secretly.
* Burnet, p.

152.
** Burnet, p.

147.
No consideration was had, either of men's riches, or of the degrees of their guilt: no proofs were produced: inquiries were not so much as made: but as fast as information was given in against any man, he was marked down for a particular fine: and all was transacted in a secret committee.

When the list was read in parliament, exceptions were made to several: some had been under age during the civil wars; some had been abroad.