[66] See a "Declaration," which is worth reading, printed in Kennet's Register, 121 (April 24), with a long list of noble signatures.
[67] All this Baxter describes with great simplicity in his Life and Times, ii. 216.
[68] See correspondence between Sharp and Douglas, in the months of March and April, Kennet's Register, 78–124.
[69] Thurloe, vii. 872, 873.
[70] April 8, Thurloe, vii. 889.
[71] April 6, Ibid., 887.
[72] Price's Mystery and Method of His Majesty's Happy Restoration, 136.
[73] See Lives of him by Gumble and by Price. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper was a confidant of Monk, and Mrs. Lucy Hutchinson tells us that he assured her husband, even after Monk's designs became apparent, that there was no intention besides a Commonwealth, and that if the violence of the people should bring the King in, he would perish body and soul rather than see a hair of any man's head touched, or a penny of any man's estate forfeited through the quarrel. Hutchinson held Cooper "for a more execrable traytor than Monke himselfe."—Memoirs, 360.
Aubrey, putting down his recollections of what he heard at the time from Royalist agents in London, says, "I remember, in the main, that they were satisfied he no more intended or designed the King's restoration, when he came into England, or first came to London, than his horse did." Letters iii. 454. I have no doubt that, in February, Monk thought of restoring the King; but before that date I am inclined to believe he was waiting to see which way the wind blew. Whatever hypothesis may be adopted as to his intentions, it must be admitted that he acted the part of a thoroughly untruthful man. Guizot, in his life of Monk, represents him as a Royalist at heart throughout the whole of the business. Of course Monk, after he openly took the King's side, would wish to be so regarded.
[74] Ludlow's Memoirs, ii. 865.