d be tendered also to the private
soldiers throughout the whole army. In the troops and companies of
Fleetwood's old regiments, as many as a third of the soldiers, or in
some cases a half, were leaving the ranks in consequence; but in
Monk's own regiments from Scotland only two sturdy Republicans had
stepped out.[1]

[Footnote 1: Phillips, 698-699; Skinner, 286-289; Ludlow, 873-877;
Wood's Fasti, II. 133-134; Whitlocke, IV. 407-409; M. de Bordeaux to
Mazarin, Guizot, II. 415.]

So sure was the Restoration of Charles now that the only difficulty
was in restraining impatience and braggartism among the Royalists
themselves. The last argument of the Republican pamphleteers having
been that the Royalists would be implacable after they had got back
the king, and that nothing was to be then expected but the bloodiest
and severest revenges upon all who had been concerned with the
Commonwealth, and some of the younger Royalists having given colour
to such representations by their wild utterances in private, there
had been printed protests to the contrary by leading Royalists in
London and in many of the counties. They desired no revenges, they
said; they reflected on the past as the mysterious course of an
all-wise Providence; they were anxious for an amicable reunion of all
in the path so wonderfully opened up by the wisdom and valour of
General Monk; they utterly disowned the indiscreet expressions of
fools and "hot-spirited persons"; and they would take no steps
themselves, but would confide in Monk, the Council of State, and the
Parliament, The London "declaration" to this effect was signed by ten
earls, four viscounts, five lords, many baronets, knights, and
squires, with several Anglican clergymen, among whom was Jeremy
Taylor. It was of no small use to Monk, who had equally to be on his
guard against too great haste. They were crowding round him now, and
asking why there should be any more delay, why the king should not be
brought to England at once. His one reply still was that the
Parliament alone could decide what was to be done, and that he and
others were bound to leave all to the Parliament. Meanwhile Sir John
Greenville had been back from his mission for some time, and had duly
delivered to Monk the important documents from Breda. Monk had kept
Charles's private letter, but had given Greenville back all the rest,
including his own commission to be his Majesty's Captain-General. Not
a soul was to know of their ex