So Colonel Whalley pressed him no further: having indeed a special direction from me to use all tenderness and respect, as was due, towards His Majesty.
So the King came that night, or the second [6th June 1647] to Sir John Cutt's house [at Childerley] near Cambridge: where, the next day, I waited on His Majesty. It being also my business to persuade his return to Holmby. But he was otherwise resolved.
I pressed the Commissioners also to act again, according to the power that Parliament had given them: which they also refused to do.
So having spent the whole day [7th June 1647] about this business; I returned to my Quarters.
But before I took my leave of the King, he said to me, "Sir, I have as great an Interest in the Army as you." By which I plainly saw the broken reed he leaned upon.
These Agitators [or Adjutators], chameleon-like, could change into that colour which best served their ends; and so had brought the King into an opinion that the Army was for him: though [it was] never less for his safety and rights, than when it was theirs.
And that it might appear what real trouble this act was to me; notwithstanding the Army was almost wholly infected with the humour of Agitation, I called for a Court of War, to proceed against Joyce for this high offence, and the breach of the Articles of War. But the Officers (whether for fear of the distempered soldiers; or rather, as I fear, from a secret allowance of what was done) made all my endeavours herein ineffectual: and now (no punishment being able to reach them) all affairs steer after this compass: