_their_ backs. And do they among them who are so forward to
bring in the Single Person think to be by him trusted or long
regarded? So trusted they shall be and so regarded as by Kings are
wont reconciled enemies,--neglected and soon after discarded, if
not prosecuted for old traitors, the first inciters, beginners, and
more than to the third part actors, of all that followed."

Milton, does not deny that the vast majority of the nation desire the
restoration of the King. He admits the fact and scouts it. He asserts
that by "the trial of just battle" the larger part of the population
of England long ago "lost the right of their election what the form
of Government shall be," and that, if even a majority of the rest
would now vote for Kingship, their wishes must go for nothing. "Is it
just or reasonable that most voices, against the main end of
Government, should enslave the less number that would be free? More
just it is, doubtless, if it come to force, that a less number compel
a greater to retain (which can be no wrong to them) their liberty
than that a greater number, for the pleasure of their baseness,
compel a less most injuriously to be their fellow-slaves." When he
wrote this, he must have known well enough that he was writing in
vain. He confesses as much in his peroration. He confesses it there
even by that single modification of the language which might seem at
first sight the only sign of prudential concession and anticipation
of personal consequences throughout the whole pamphlet. In citing the
prophecy of Jeremiah he omits the passage exulting in God's decree of
exile against Coniah and his seed for ever (ante p. 654-655). But
this is no prudential concession, no softening down in anticipation
that the passage might be produced against him. Of that state of
mind, of any fear of consequences whatever, there is not a trace
throughout the recast of his pamphlet. He is defying and daring the
worst, and has thrown in already every possible addition of matter of
insult to the coming Charles. He omits the passage about Coniah
precisely because its application to Charles is unfortunately no
longer possible; and the peroration for the rest is modified by the
sorrow that so it should be. He will exhort against the Restoration
to his latest breath; but he is looking across the Restoration now,
and sending his words on to an unknown posterity.

"What I have spoken is the language of that which is not c