of these emissaries, a Major Whitby, found Ludlow in
Somersetshire, and delivered Lambert's message to him. Ludlow was not
unwilling to join Lambert, but wanted to know more precisely what he
declared for. With some passion, Whitby suggested that it was not a
time to be asking what a man declared _for_; it was enough to
know what he declared _against_. Ludlow demurred, and said it
was always best to put forth a distinct political programme! He
merely circulated the information; therefore, in Somersetshire and
adjoining counties, and waited for further light. Along many roads,
however, especially in the midland counties, others were straggling
to the appointed rendezvous. Discharged soldiers, Anabaptists,
Republican desperates of every kind, were flocking to Lambert.--Alas!
before many of these could reach Lambert, it was all over. Hither and
thither, wherever there were signs of disturbance, Monk had been
despatching his most efficient officers; and, on the 18th of April,
having received more exact information as to Lambert's whereabouts,
he sent off Colonel Richard Ingoldsby to do his very best in that
scene of action. There could not have been a happier choice. For this
was honest Dick Ingoldsby, the Cromwellian, of whom his kinsman
Richard Cromwell had said that, though he could neither preach nor
pray, he could be trusted. He was also "Dick Ingoldsby, the
Regicide," who had unfortunately signed the death-warrant of Charles
I., to please Cromwell; and that recollection was a spur to him now.
Since the abdication of Richard, he had been telling people that he
would thenceforth serve the King and no one else, even though his
Majesty, when he came home, would probably cut off his head. That
consequence, however, was to be avoided if possible; and already,
since the restoration of the secluded members, Ingoldsby had been
doing whatever stroke of work for them might help towards earning
his pardon. Now had come his most splendid opportunity, and he was
not to let it slip.--On Sunday, the 22nd of April, being Easter
Sunday, he came up with Lambert in Northamptonshire, about two miles
from Daventry. Lambert had then but seven broken troops of horse, and
one foot company; but Colonels Okey, Axtell, Cobbet, Major Creed, and
several other important Republican ex-officers, were with him.
Ingoldsby had brought his own horse regiment from Suffolk; Colonel
Streater, with 500 men of a Northamptonshire foot-regiment, had
joined him;