yielded to
their superior valor.
After these suggestions had been infused into the army, Lambert suddenly
made his escape from the Tower, and threw Monk and the council of state
into great consternation. They knew Lambert's vigor and activity; they
were acquainted with his popularity in the army; they were sensible
that, though the soldiers had lately deserted him, they sufficiently
expressed their remorse, and their detestation of those who, by false
professions, they found had so egregiously deceived them. It seemed
necessary, therefore, to employ the greatest celerity in suppressing so
dangerous a foe: Colonel Ingoldsby, who had been one of the late
king's judges, but who was now entirely engaged in the royal cause,
was despatched after him. He overtook him at Daventry, while he had yet
assembled but four troops of horse. One of them deserted him. Another
quickly followed the example. He himself, endeavoring to make his
escape, was seized by Ingoldsby, to whom he made submissions not
suitable to his former character of spirit and valor. Okey, Axtel,
Cobbet, Crede, and other officers of that party, were taken prisoners
with him. All the roads were full of soldiers hastening to join them. In
a few days, they had been formidable. And it was thought, that it might
prove dangerous for Monk himself to have assembled any considerable body
of his republican army for their suppression: so that nothing could be
more happy than the sudden extinction of this rising flame.
When the parliament met, they chose Sir Harbottle Grimstone speaker, a
man who, though he had for some time concurred with the late parliament,
had long been esteemed affectionate to the king's service. The great
dangers incurred during former usurpations, joined to the extreme
caution of the general, kept every one in awe; and none dared for some
days to make any mention of the king. The members exerted their spirit
chiefly in bitter invectives against the memory of Cromwell, and in
execrations against the inhuman murder of their late sovereign. At
last, the general, having sufficiently sounded their inclinations, gave
directions to Annesley, president of the council, to inform them, that
one Sir John Granville, a servant of the king's, had been sent over by
his majesty, and was now at the door with a letter to the commons. The
loudest acclamations were excited by this intelligence. Granville was
called in; the letter, accompanied with a declaration, greed
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