Rump, and that he was now not a life-pensioner, but once more a
mere official at the Council's pleasure.]

There is nothing in this warrant to show that Milton's services were
transferred to the new Committee of Safety; but the fact seems to be
that he did remain nominally in the Latin Secretaryship with Marvell
through the whole duration of that body and of the Fleetwood-Lambert
rule, i.e. to Dec. 26, 1659. Nominally only it must have been; for we
have no trace of any official work of his through the period. There
was very little to do for the Government at that time in the way of
foreign correspondence, and for what there was Marvell must have
sufficed.

Through the months of November and December Milton's thoughts, like
those of other people, must have been much occupied with the
negotiations going on between the new Government and their formidable
opponent in Scotland. What would be the issue? Would Monk persevere
in that championship of the ill-treated Rump which he had so boldly
undertaken? Would he march into England to restore the Rump, as he
had threatened; or would he yet be pacified and induced to accept the
Wallingford-House order of things, with a competent share in the
power? No one could tell. Lambert was in the north with his army, to
beat and drive back Monk if he did attempt to invade England,--at
York early in November, and at Newcastle from the 20th of November
onwards; Monk was still in Scotland,--at Edinburgh or Dalkeith till
the end of November, then at Berwick, but from the beginning of
December at Coldstream. Between the two armies agents were passing
and repassing; negotiators on the part of the London Government were
round about Monk and reasoning with him; Monk's own Commissioners in
London had concluded their Treaty of the 15th of November with
Fleetwood and the Wallingford-House Council, and there had been
rejoicings over what seemed then the happy end of the quarrel; but
again the news had come from Scotland that Monk repudiated the
agreement made by his Commissioners, and that the negotiation must be
resumed at Newcastle. To that the Committee of Safety and the
Wallingford-House Council had consented; but, through Monk's delays,
the negotiation had not yet been resumed. Would it ever be, or would
Monk's army and Lambert's come into clash at last? If so, for which
ought one to wish the victory? So far as Milton was concerned, he was
bound to wish the success of Monk. Was not Monk the ch