[Footnote 1:  The orders of the parliament with respect to the time and place are in the Lords’ Journals, ix. 241.  Yet the debates on the concessions did not close before Tuesday, nor did the negotiation between the commissioners and the military council conclude till afternoon on Thursday.—­Ibid. 247, 353.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1647.  June 9.] [Sidenote b:  A.D. 1647.  June 10.]

the latter presented a more effectual way of disbanding the forces under his command without danger, and of extinguishing satisfactorily the discontent which pervaded the whole nation.  If, however, the commissioners wished to ascertain in person the real sentiments of the soldiery, he was ready with his officers to attend upon them, whilst they made the inquiry.[1] It was now one in the afternoon; every corps had long since occupied its position on the heath; and there is reason to believe, that the opportunity afforded by this delay had been improved to prepare each regiment separately, and particular agents in each regiment, against the arrival and proposals of the commissioners.  The latter dared not act on their own discretion, but resolved to obey their instructions to the very letter.  Proceeding, therefore, to the heath, they rode at once to the regiment of infantry of which Fairfax was colonel.  The votes of the two houses were then read to the men, and Skippon, having made a long harangue in commendation of the votes, concluded by asking whether, with these concessions, they were not all satisfied.  “To that no answer can be returned,” exclaimed a voice from the ranks, “till your proposals have been submitted to, and approved by, the council of officers and agitators.”  The speaker was a subaltern, who immediately, having asked and obtained permission from his colonel to address the whole corps, called aloud, “Is not that the opinion of you all?” They shouted, “It is, of all, of all.”  “But are there not,” he pursued, “some among you who think otherwise?” “No,” was the general response, “no, not one.”  Disconcerted and abashed, the commissioners turned aside, and, as they withdrew, were

[Footnote 1:  The correspondence is in the Journals, ibid.]

greeted with continual cries of “Justice, justice, we demand justice."[1]

From this regiment they proceeded to each of the others.  In every instance the same ceremony was repeated, and always with the same result.  No one now could doubt that both officers and men were joined in one common league; and that the link which bound them together was the “solemn engagement."[2] Both looked upon that engagement as the charter of their rights and liberties.  No concession or intrigue, no partiality of friendship or religion, could seduce them from the faith which they had sworn to it.  There were, indeed, a few seceders, particularly the captains, and several of the lord general’s life-guard; but after all, the men who yielded to temptation amounted to a very inconsiderable number, in comparison with the immense majority of those who with inviolable fidelity adhered to the engagement, and, by their resolution and perseverance, enabled their leaders to win for them a complete, and at the same time a bloodless victory.