obliged General Monk in the point on which A.D. 1659. Monk had, by his letter, desired his interest; and, upon that, had established a correspondence, and entered into a friendship with him. As he thought he might depend on Monk's secrecy, and knew his jealousy with regard to the removal of his officers, he gave him notice that the committee intended a regulation among them, and yet causing some remote preparations, alarmed Wallingford House, where the committee of safety sat, and made them so attentive to all actions and discoveries that might give them any light, that at last they were fully persuaded there was something brewing against them, and that matter for commotions in several parts was gathering. They knew the vigour and activity of Sir A. Ashley, and how well he stood affectionated to them, and therefore suspected that he was at the bottom of the matter. To find what they could, and secure the man they most apprehended, he was sent for to Wallingford House, where Fleetwood examined him according to the suspicions he had of him, that he was laying designs in the west against them, and was working the people to an insurrection that he intended to head there. He told them he knew no obligation he was under to give them an account of his actions, nor to make them any promises; but, to show them how ill-grounded their suspicions were, he promised that he would not go out of town without coming first and giving them an account of it. Fleetwood knowing his word might be relied on, satisfied with the promise he had made, let him go on his parole. That which deceived them in the case was, that knowing his estate and interest lay in the west, they presumed that that was his post, and there certainly, if any stir was, he would appear; since there lay his VOL. I. Р Sir Anthony's advice to Monk. A.D. 1659. advised him to prevent it by marching directly with all his forces towards the borders of England. Monk, not being one of the committee, was the more dissatisfied with their proceedings; and, having this notice of their intentions, resolved to secure himself in the interest he had acquired. For this purpose he new modelled his army, imprisoned some of his officers, and cashiered great strength, and they had nobody else in view who could supply his room and manage that part. But they were mistaken. Haslerigge, upon the knowledge that they would have Portsmouth, forwardly took that province; and he, who had instruments at work in the army quartered about London, and who knew that must be the place of most business and management, and where the turn of affairs would be, had chosen that. "Lambert, who was one of the rulers at Wallingford House, happened to be away when he was there, and came not in till he was gone: when they told him that Sir Anthony Ashley had been there, and what had passed, he blamed Fleetwood for letting him go, and told him they should have secured him; for that certainly there was something in it that they were deceived in, and they should not have parted so easily with so busy and dangerous a man as he was. Lambert was of a quicker sight and a deeper reach than Fleetwood and the rest of that gang, and knowing of what moment it was to their security to frustrate the contrivances of that working and able head, was resolved, if possibly he could, to get him into his clutches." The diligent search which was now again made after Sir Anthony furnished him with many opportunities for the exercise of that remarkable penetration with which he was endowed. Upon one occasion he was entering his own house, when a others, who were suspected by him to favour the A.D. 1659. conduct of the committee and the army in Eng land. In their places he put creatures of his own, and advanced towards the borders of England; Monk begins his but there he was forced to stop, because Lambert march. was advancing against him with a stronger army. The two generals, unwilling to trust the whole success of their cause to the hazard of a decisive battle, agreed to a truce; whilst Monk sent the Colonels Wilkes, Cloberry, and Knight, to treat stranger stepped up, and, upon some frivolous pretence, held him for a short time in conversation. He then took his leave, and Sir Anthony went into the house. But he had perceived sufficient in the manner of the stranger to excite his suspicion; and as soon as he was out of sight, Sir Anthony left the house again, and went over to a barber's which was nearly opposite. His penetration saved him. He had no sooner got up stairs than he could see his own door surrounded by a file of soldiers, with the stranger who had so recently held him in conversation at their head. They searched and re-searched every part of the house with indefatigable perseverance; the officer declaring that it was impossible that Sir Anthony, whom he left only three minutes before going in at his own door, could be gone again in so short a time. The object of their search watched all their proceedings in security; but as he had no inclination to undergo a second series of interrogatories at Wallingford House, he disguised himself and withdrew into the city, where he remained hid for some time, and worked his conspiracy in secrecy, until its success enabled him to reappear with safety. the com mittee of safety. Sir Anthony's endeavours to break the treaty. At this A.D. 1659. with Fleetwood and the committee of safety. Treats with Sir Anthony, apprehensive of an union between. Monk and the committee, used his utmost endeavours to prevent it. After many attempts, he procured a meeting between Monk's three commissioners, and himself and Sir Arthur Haslerigge, at the Fleece Tavern in Covent-Garden. conference they told him they had fully agreed with Fleetwood the day before, and settled the terms upon which Monk was to join him and support the committee of safety. Sir Anthony represented to them the instability of such a power as the committee of safety had, and the great danger to which Monk would expose himself in adhering to them; that, after having answered their views, and strengthened their hands, he must soon expect to be laid aside, and then ruined, though with more artifice and by slower steps than others who were less formidable to them; but that, if Monk would declare for the parliament, he might depend on being general of all their forces. Sir Anthony showed the commissioners the probability of success in restoring the parliament by the interest which he himself had in the army about London; that Portsmouth, besides, was at his disposal; that Sir Charles Coote had assured him of six thousand A.D. 1659. men from Ireland upon the first notice; that Vice-admiral Lawson, who commanded the fleet, was in the mouth of the river, and was his firm friend; and that Lord Fairfax, who had so great an influence on the soldiers, utterly abhorred the proceedings of the council of officers. Colonel Wilkes persisted that they had, in General Monk's name, and by his authority, concluded a treaty, from which Monk ought not to recede: but Sir Anthony's discourse had such an effect on Cloberry and Knight, that they expressed their satisfaction at so fair a prospect; and promised to use their interest with General Monk to break off the treaty, refuse the terms which were offered him, and declare for restoring the parliament. Whilst the commissioners were returning to the general, Sir Anthony was not inactive. He had engaged Colonel Whetham, the governor of Portsmouth, with whom he was intimate, to deliver that place to him, or any friends he should appoint; and, accordingly, Sir Arthur Haslerigge and Colonel Morley, at Sir Anthony's desire, went and took possession of it in the name of the parliament; while Sir Anthony remained behind, with a commission which empowered him to take Sir An thony's ac tivity for the parliament. |
