feel that he was remaining as true as he could be, in such
perplexed circumstances, to the cause wherein his father had lived
and died. Monk, without any such reservation, had already adhered to
the Parliament, and Charles's letter, when it did reach him, was not
even to remain in his own pocket till he should see his way more
clearly. Falconbridge and Howard, those two "sons of Belial" in
Desborongh's esteem, had meanwhile, I believe, let it be known that
they might be reckoned on by Charles, Montague and Broghill tended
that way, but were in no such haste. Lockhart had deemed it best to
enter the service of the Restored Rump, and would act honourably for
them while he remained their servant. Thurloe also, though not yet
safe from prosecution by the new Government, thought it only fair to
assist them with advices and information.[1]

[Footnote 1: Phillips, 650-651; Guizot, I. 177-178.]

Meanwhile the new Government had been stoutly at work. The spirit of
the "good old cause" was strong in the two or three scores of members
most regularly in attendance, among whom were Vane, Marten, Ludlow,
Hasilrig, Scott, Salway, Weaver, Neville, Raleigh, Lister, Walton,
Say, Downes, Morley, and John Jones. Remembering the great days of
the Commonwealth between 1649 and 1653, and not inquiring how much of
the greatness of those days had been owing to the fact that the
politicians at the centre had then a Cromwell marching over the map
for them, and winning them the victories that gave them great work to
do, they set themselves, with all their industry, courage, and
ability, to prove to the world that those great days might be renewed
without a Cromwell. The Council generally held its meetings early in
the morning, so that the Council-business might not interfere with
their attendance in the House. Johnstone of Warriston, though a
non-Parliamentary member of the Council, at once acquired high
influence in it. He, Vane, and Whitlocke, were most frequently in the
chair.

A new great seal; new Commissioners for the same (Bradshaw, Tyrrell,
and Fountain); new Judges; state of the public debts; orders for the
sale of Hampton Court and Somerset House; suspension of the sale of
Hampton Court; votes for pay of the Army and Navy; an Act of
Indemnity and Oblivion; a Bill for settling the Union with Scotland;
re-declarations of a Free Commonwealth, without Single Person,
Kingship, or House of Peers; Irish affairs; a Vote for ending the
prese