CROSSES THE RUBICON. 211 classes of the people. In Scotland, the general feeling was that of encouragement of Monk's supposed designs.* It seemed, then, to the politic general that the fortunate opportunity had at length arrived, and on the 1st of January 1660 he took the decisive step of crossing the Tweed and entering England. "The Rubicon was scarcely passed," says a biographer, "when a letter was brought to him from Lenthal, the Speaker of the Parliament, informing him that Fleetwood and the Committee of Safety, alarmed by the general demonstration of opinion throughout the country, had yielded their usurped power, and restored the Commons to their seats. Many thanks were expressed for Monk's support and firmness; but no orders for marching to London were contained in the epistle, and it was very evident that such a proceeding was not at all what the Parliament desired. Monk, however, had no thought of receding. The path he had traced out for himself in the secret depths of his own mind was onward still; and, seeming not in the least to feel the distrust of the Parliament, he commanded the Speaker's letter to be read at the head of the regiments, and, amidst the acclamations of the soldiers, declared his resolution of leading them to London, to see their rulers fixed firmly in their seats." Monk and his army reached the metropolis on the 3rd of February, and were warmly welcomed by the citizens, whom months of confusion and misrule had disposed to desire a re-establishment of order guaranteed by a monarchical form of government. By degrees the astute general dropped the mask he so long had worn. He * Guizot's "Monk: a Biography." See also Guizot's "Monk and his ContemIoraries;" Clarendon, "Great Rebellion," and Ludlow's "Memoirs," pp. 660–820. compelled "the Rump" to consent to its own dissolution, and convoke a new Parliament, in which, as he had expected, the Royalists largely predominated. He received the King's envoys, still balancing parties one against another with admirable dexterity. The opposition of Lambert, Fleetwood, and their adherents, was skilfully neutralized, and Lambert himself committed to the Tower. The Royal arms were gradually exhibited in various places, and the emblems of the Commonwealth treated with open contumely. At last the game was played out. With Monk's consent, Sir John Grenville delivered a letter from Charles II. to the Council of State, and, on the 1st of May, to the two Houses of Parliament. It was immediately resolved, "That, according to the ancient and fundamental laws of the kingdom, the Government is, and ought to be, by King, Lords, and Commons." Supplies were then voted for the use of the King and his royal brothers; deputies were appointed to wait upon him at Breda; and Montagu sailed with a powerful fleet to escort him to the English shore. Thus was accomplished, and, as Monk boasted, "without bloodshed," the second great Revolution, and Charles II. was restored to his father's throne. His powerful subject, with generous self-abnegation, had made no stipulations for the recompense of his services -services the most important which subject ever rendered to sovereign; but it is due to Charles II. to acknowledge that, in this instance at least, he was not ungrateful. Monk received the Order of the Garter, and was admitted to the Privy Council. Soon afterwards, he was created Lieutenant-General of the armies of the three kingdoms. He was made Master of the Horse in the King's household, that he might always have ready access to the royal presence; and the dukedom of Albemarle, the earldom of Torrington, and the barony of Potheridge were added to his titles. Το enable him adequately to support the dignity of his splendid position, he was favoured with a perpetual annuity of £7000, secured upon lands taken from the royal domains. But neither his services nor his honours shook ever so little the even balance of Monk's wellregulated mind. He never forgot that he was a subject. "The Duke of Albemarle," said Charles II., "does not presume on the services of General Monk;" and to the last he afforded a singular example of moderation of temper, and of a happy contempt of those prizes which most minds discover to be so attractive.* CHAPTER VI.-CLOSE OF A GREAT CAREER. Monk's Illness-His Heroism during the Great Plague-The Dutch WarAppointed to a Naval Command-Action with De Ruyter-Battle of the 25th of July-Dryden's Poetical Eulogium-The Fire of London-The Dutch in the Thames-Monk's Increasing Infirmities-His Illness-His Death and Public Funeral-His Character. Two great events distinguished the closing years of Monk's honourable life,-the Plague in London, and the Dutch War. After the Restoration he lived in comparative privacy, never over-valuing his past services-never obtruding his advice-but readily giving the King's councils his support at an opportune moment, until, towards the close For a less favourable view of Monk's conduct, see the republican Ludlow's stirring "Memoirs." of the year 1661, his strong constitution suddenly gave way, and he fell dangerously ill. Attacked by asthma, and inclined to lethargy and drowsiness, he seemed all at once to abandon the energy and activity which had formerly distinguished him, when a remarkable incident once more aroused the latent vigour of his unwieldy frame. England declared war against Holland in 1664, and Monk, on the departure of the Duke of York to take the command of the British fleet, assumed the administration of the Admiralty. He applied himself to the duties of his novel position with characteristic zeal-to be interrupted for a time, in the spring of 1665, by the terrible Plague, which swept like a desolating simoom through the reeking streets of the metropolis. At this season of peril he acted with a splendid heroism which, in the eyes of an impartial biographer, will more than redeem the errors of his life and the weaknesses of his character. When others abandoned their posts in fear, Monk remained steadfast and unshaken. When even the bravest were appalled, his courage shone conspicuous. When the most ingenious were at a loss for expedients, his calm common sense suggested the proper precautionary measures. He soothed, he encouraged, he reproved; order and security were preserved by his energy, and a spirit of hopefulness excited by his example. On his own personal danger he never for a moment reflected. He penetrated into the most pestilent alleys; he gazed on the most putrid corpses. Every one had access to him at all times without difficulty or precaution, though they might be fresh from the plaguepit or the bedside of the stricken. Through the long and weary weeks that the terrible Pestilence reigned ANOTHER DUTCH WAR. 215 triumphant in the ill-fated city, when every hour was marked by the death-bell's solemn toll, and from every side arose the sorrowful cry, "Bring forth your dead!" Monk preserved the serene composure and tranquil aspect of a man who was conscious of a sacred duty, and resolute to discharge its claims at whatever individual peril! The plague passed away, and England once more directed her attention to the scourge of war. The Duke of York, after obtaining over the Dutch an undoubted success-which, for some mysterious reason, he failed to convert into a complete victory-was recalled from the command of the English fleet, and the Duke of Albemarle and Prince Rupert were appointed jointadmirals. As soon as it became understood that Monk had expressed his willingness to serve, and was making active exertions to prepare his ships for sea, the seamen thronged in great numbers to tender their services. "They were sure," was their cry, "that honest George would see them well fed and justly paid." The fleet put to sea towards the end of April 1666. Meanwhile, the wits at Court were as busy in sharpening epigrams against the Dutch as their swords, and overwhelmed the grave and ponderous Hollanders with the light artillery of their sarcasms. In this war of words, our English poets bore a loyal and prominent part, and stimulated the national feeling by the humorous exaggeration of their satires. Thus Butler could write of Holland, as "A country that draws fifty foot of water, In which men live, as in the hold of Nature; |