Herbert had been with his father at Uxbridge, as the regiment of foot to which he belonged was on guard here, and it was with a heavy heart that he returned to London, convinced that the war must go on, but forboding as great a disaster to the country in the despotism which he saw the Independents would finally establish as in the despotism of King Charles.

There was a general gloom in the city when the news of the unsuccessful termination of the negotiations became known.  The vast majority of the people were eagerly desirous of peace.  The two years which the war had already lasted had brought nothing save ruin to trade and general disaster, and the great body of the public who were not tinged with the intense fanaticism of the Independents, and who did not view all pleasure and enjoyment in life as sinful, longed for the merry old days when Englishmen might smile without being accused of sin, and when life was not passed solely in prayer and exhortation.  Several small riots had broken out in London; but these were promptly suppressed.  Among the ’prentice boys, especially, did the spirit of revolt against the gloomy asceticism of the time prevail, and there can be little doubt that if at this period, or for a long time subsequent, the king could have appeared suddenly in the city at the head of a few score troops, he would have been welcomed with acclamation, and the great body of the citizens would have rallied round him.

When the Parliament commissioners reached London Fairfax received his commission as sole general of the army.  The military services of Cromwell were of such, importance that Fairfax and his officers urged that an exception should be made to the ordinance in his case, and that he should be temporarily appointed lieutenant-general and chief commander of horse.  The moderate party yielded to the demand of the Independents.  The Earls of Essex, Manchester, and Denbigh gave in their resignations.  Many of the more moderate advisers of Charles also retired to their estates, despairing of a conflict in which the king’s obstinacy admitted of no hope of a favorable termination.  They, too, had, as much perhaps as the members of the recalcitrant Parliament, hoped for reforms; but it was clear that the king would never consent to reign except as an absolute monarch, and for this they were unprepared.  The violent party among the Cavaliers now ruled supreme in the councils of Charles.  For a short time the royal cause seemed in the ascendant.  Leicester had been taken by storm, Taunton was besieged, Fairfax was surrounding Oxford, but was doing nothing against the town.  On the 5th of June he was ordered to raise the siege, and to go to the Midland counties after the royal army.  On the 13th Fairfax and Cromwell joined their forces, and pursued the king, whom they overtook the next day near Naseby.