al
matters. Hardly was Milton's pamphlet out when he knew that they had
voted the revival of the Westminster Assembly's Confession of Faith
as the standard of doctrine in the National Church (March 2), and
the revival of the Solemn League and Covenant as a document of
perpetual national obligation (March 5). Then followed (March 14)
their vote for mapping out all England and Wales according to the
strict pattern of the Scottish Presbyterian organization. But, that
there might be no mistake, their votes predetermining the composition
of the coming Parliament were also in the direction of the admission
of Royalists and the exclusion of those that could be called Fanatics
for the Republic. The engagement to be faithful to the Commonwealth
without King or House of Lords was annulled (March 13); the clauses
disqualifying even the active and conspicuous Royalists of the Civil
Wars were far from stringent; and the very act by which the House
dissolved itself contained a proviso saving the legal and
constitutional rights of the old House of Lords and pointing to the
restitution of the Peerage. How significant also that scene in the
House on the last day of their sittings, Friday, March 16, when Mr.
Crewe moved for a vote of execration on the Regicides, and poor
Thomas Scott, standing up on the floor, and reckless though the words
should seal his doom, declared himself to be one of the blood-stained
band and claimed the fact as his highest earthly honour! What Scott
did that day in the House Milton had done even more publicly a
fortnight before in the daring peroration of his pamphlet. From March
16, 1659-60, Milton and Scott, whoever else, might regard themselves
as in the list for the future hangman.

In the list for the future hangman! It is a strong expression, but
true historically to the very letter. Read the following from a
scurrilous pamphlet, of six pages in shabby print, called _The
Character of the Rump_, which was out in London on Saturday the
17th of March, the day after the dissolution of the Parliament:--

"An ingenious person hath observed that Scott is the Rump's man
Thomas; and they might have said to him, when he was so busy with
the General,

"Peace, for the Lord's sake, Thomas! lest Monk take us,
And drag us out, as Hercules did Cacus.

"But John Milton is their goose-quill champion; who had need of a
help-meet to establish anything, for he has a ram's head and is
good only at batt