messengers, and serjeant-deputies remain (one of the former clerks, Matthew Fairbank, now promoted from his original 6_s._ 8_d._ a day to 20_s._ a day); but Thurloe, Jessop, Meadows, two younger Frosts, and a good many others are gone, while new men are Deane, Robinson, Kingdon, Morland, Marvell, and others.  Morland, as we know, had been brought in a while ago to assist Thurloe; and his salary, we now see, was larger than Milton’s.—­When Milton’s salary was reduced, in April 1655, it was arranged that it should be a life-pension, and payable out of the Exchequer; but the present warrant Directs payment to him, as to the rest, out of the Council’s contingencies.  It would seem, therefore, that Oliver’s arrangement for him had not taken effect, or had been cancelled by the Rump, and that he was now not a life-pensioner, but once more a mere official at the Council’s pleasure.]

There is nothing in this warrant to show that Milton’s services were transferred to the new Committee of Safety; but the fact seems to be that he did remain nominally in the Latin Secretaryship with Marvell through the whole duration of that body and of the Fleetwood-Lambert rule, i.e. to Dec. 26, 1659.  Nominally only it must have been; for we have no trace of any official work of his through the period.  There was very little to do for the Government at that time in the way of foreign correspondence, and for what there was Marvell must have sufficed.

Through the months of November and December Milton’s thoughts, like those of other people, must have been much occupied with the negotiations going on between the new Government and their formidable opponent in Scotland.  What would be the issue?  Would Monk persevere in that championship of the ill-treated Rump which he had so boldly undertaken?  Would he march into England to restore the Rump, as he had threatened; or would he yet be pacified and induced to accept the Wallingford-House order of things, with a competent share in the power?  No one could tell.  Lambert was in the north with his army, to beat and drive back Monk if he did attempt to invade England,—­at York early in November, and at Newcastle from the 20th of November onwards; Monk was still in Scotland,—­at Edinburgh or Dalkeith till the end of November, then at Berwick, but from the beginning of December at Coldstream.  Between the two armies agents were passing and repassing; negotiators on the part of the London Government were round about Monk and reasoning with him; Monk’s own Commissioners in London had concluded their Treaty of the 15th of November with Fleetwood and the Wallingford-House Council, and there had been rejoicings over what seemed then the happy end of the quarrel; but again the news had come from Scotland that Monk repudiated the agreement made by his Commissioners, and that the negotiation must be resumed at Newcastle.  To that the Committee of Safety and the Wallingford-House Council had consented; but, through Monk’s delays, the negotiation