iament had
ever been to the last degree odious. When that assembly was expelled by
Cromwell, contempt had succeeded to hatred; and no reserve had been used
in expressing the utmost derision against the impotent ambition of these
usurpers. Seeing them reinstated in authority, all orders of men
felt the highest indignation; together with apprehensions, lest such
tyrannical rulers should exert their power by taking vengeance upon
their enemies, who had so openly insulted them. A secret reconciliation,
therefore, was made between the rival parties; and it was agreed, that,
burying former enmities in oblivion, all efforts should be used for the
overthrow of the rump; so they called the parliament, in allusion
to that part of the animal body. The Presbyterians, sensible from
experience that their passion for liberty, how ever laudable, had
carried them into unwarrantable excesses were willing to lay aside
ancient jealousies, and at all hazards to restore the royal family.
The nobility, the gentry, bent their passionate endeavors to the same
enterprise, by which alone they could be redeemed from slavery. And no
man was so remote from party, so indifferent to public good, as not to
feel the most ardent wishes for the dissolution of that tyranny, which,
whether the civil or the military part of it were considered, appeared
equally oppressive and ruinous to the nation.

Mordaunt, who had so narrowly escaped on his trial before the high court
of justice, seemed rather animated than daunted with past danger; and
having by his resolute behavior obtained the highest confidence of the
royal party, he was now become the centre of all their conspiracies. In
many counties, a resolution was taken to rise in arms. Lord Willoughby
of Parham and Sir Horatio Townshend undertook to secure Lynne. General
Massey engaged to seize Gloucester: Lord Newport, Littleton, and other
gentlemen, conspired to take possession of Shrewsbury; Sir George
Booth of Chester; Sir Thomas Middleton of North Wales; Arundel, Pollar,
Granville, Trelawney, of Plymouth and Exeter. A day was appointed for
the execution of all these enterprises. And the king, attended by the
duke of York, had secretly arrived at Calais, with a resolution of
putting himself at the head of his loyal subjects. The French court
had promised to supply him with a small body of forces, in order to
countenance the insurrections of the English.

This combination was disconcerted by the infidelity