ning
to them that, by the grace of God and good London management, they
had passed through another revolution. The Letter began "Dear
Brethren and Fellow-Soldiers," and bore Monk's signature, followed by
those of Colonels Ralph Knight, John Clobery, Thomas Read, John
Hubblethorn, Leonard Lydcott, Thomas Sanders, William Eyre, John
Streater, Richard Mosse, William Parley, Arthur Evelyn, and sixteen
inferior officers. It was vague, but intimated that the Government
was still to be that of a Commonwealth, and that all disturbances of
the peace "in favour of Charles Stuart or any other pretended
authority" were to be put down. More explicit had been Monk's speech
at Whitehall that morning to the secluded members on their way to the
House, published copies of which were also distributed by Monk's
authority. He had assured the secluded members, "and that in God's
presence," that he had nothing before his eyes "but God's glory and
the settlement of these nations upon Commonwealth foundations"; and
he had pointed out the interest of the Londoners especially in the
preservation of a Commonwealth, "that Government only being capable
to make them, through the Lord's blessing, the metropolis and bank of
trade for all Christendom." On the Church question he had been very
precise. "As to a Government in the Church," he had said, "the want
whereof hath been no small cause of these nations' distractions, it
is most manifest that, if it be monarchical in the State, the Church
must follow and Prelacy must be brought in--which these nations, I
know, cannot bear, and against which they have so solemnly sworn; and
indeed moderate, not rigid, Presbyterian Government, with a
sufficient liberty for consciences truly tender, appears at present
to be the most indifferent and acceptable way to the Church's
settlement." It is not uninteresting to know that Monk's chief
ecclesiastical adviser at this moment, and probably the person who
had formulated for him the description of the kind of Church that
would be most desirable, was Mr. James Sharp, from Crail in Scotland.
He had followed Monk to London with a commission from the leaders of
the Scottish Resolutioner clergy; and from his arrival there he had
been, Baillie informs us, "the most wise, faithful, and happy
counsellor" Monk had, keeping him from all wrong steps by his
extraordinary Banffshire sagacity.[1]

[Footnote 1: Phillips, 688-689; Parl. Hist. III, 1579-1581 (Monk's
Speech and Declar