h surprise in the Council, real or affected, Colonel Birch
protesting that he knew nothing of the business, but had merely
found a gentleman at the door inquiring for General Monk and had
brought in his message to the General. That gentleman was sent for
and asked how he came by the letter. "It was given to me by his
Majesty with his own hand," said Sir John. Altogether the Council
were at a loss how to act; but finally it was agreed that they dared
not read the letter without leave from Parliament. There was some
question of sending Greenville into custody meanwhile; but Monk said
he was a kinsman of his and he would be answerable for his
appearance. In short, this attempt to apply the match in the Council
had not sufficiently succeeded, and Sir John knew that he must be
forthcoming in the two Houses themselves.

Sir John was equal to the occasion. Early in the morning of Tuesday,
the 1st of May, he was at the door of the House of Lords with that
one of the six Letters from Breda which was addressed to their
Lordships. There were now forty-two peers present. By one of these
Greenville sent in his name to Speaker the Earl of Manchester, with
an intimation of the nature of his message. The Earl had no sooner
informed the House who and what were at the door than it was voted
that the Earl should walk down the floor, all present attending him,
to receive his Majesty's letter. Sir John having thus got rid of two
of his documents, presented himself next at the door of the Commons,
to try his chance with a third. He had already conveyed to Speaker
Sir Harbottle Grimstone the fact that he was in attendance with a
letter from his Majesty. He came now at the most fit moment, for the
House had just received a report from the Council of State of what
had happened at the sitting of the Council on the preceding Saturday.
The scene will be best imagined from the record in the Journals of
the House:--"_Tuesday, May the 1st_, 1660. PRAYERS. Mr. Annesley
reports from the Council of State a Letter from the King, unopened,
directed 'To our trusty and well-beloved General Monk, to be
communicated to the President and Council of State, and to the
Officers of the Armies under his command,' being received from the
hands of Sir John Greenville. The House, being informed that Sir
John Greenville, a messenger from the King, was at the door,
_Resolved_, &c. That Sir John Greenville, a messenger from the
King, be called in. He was called in accor