in favor of the
king's party. This was one of those popular torrents, where the most
indifferent, or even the most averse, are transported with the general
passion, and zealously adopt the sentiments of the community to which
they belong. The enthusiasts themselves seemed to be disarmed of their
fury; and, between despair and astonishment, gave way to those measures
which they found it would be impossible for them, by their utmost
efforts, to withstand. The Presbyterians and the royalists, being
united, formed the voice of the nation, which, without noise, but with
infinite ardor, called for the king's restoration. The kingdom was
almost entirely in the hands of the former party; and some zealous
leaders among them began to renew the demand of those conditions which
had been required of the late king in the treaty of Newport: but
the general opinion seemed to condemn all those rigorous and jealous
capitulations with their sovereign. Harassed with convulsions and
disorders, men ardently longed for repose; and were terrified at the
mention of negotiations or delays, which might afford opportunity to
the seditious army still to breed new confusion. The passion too for
liberty, having been carried to such violent extremes, and having
produced such bloody commotions, began, by a natural movement, to give
place to a spirit of loyalty and obedience; and the public was less
zealous in a cause which was become odious, on account of the calamities
which had so long attended it. After the legal concessions made by the
late king, the constitution seemed to be sufficiently secured; and the
additional conditions insisted on, as they had been framed during the
greatest ardor of the contest, amounted rather to annihilation than a
limitation of monarchy. Above all, the general was averse to the mention
of conditions; and resolved, that the crown, which he intended to
restore, should be conferred on the king entirely free and unencumbered.
Without further scruple, therefore, or jealousy, the people gave
their voice in elections for such as they knew to entertain sentiments
favorable to monarchy; and all paid court to a party, which they
foresaw was soon to govern the nation. Though the parliament had voted,
that no one should be elected who had himself, or whose father, had
borne arms for the late king, little regard was any where paid to this
ordinance. The leaders of the Presbyterians, the earl of Manchester,
Lord Fairfax, Lord Robarts,