those dangerous times are come in which many account Treason to be Saintship, and the madness of the people, like the inundation of waters, hath for many years overflowed all the bounds, &c ... [The writer, in continuation, refers to the assiduity of the fanatical enemies of Charles, still working, though at the end of their wits, to keep him out.] Among many of whom MR. MILTON comes on the stage in post haste and in this juncture of time, that he may, if possible, overthrow the hopes of all good men, and endeavours what he can to divert those that at present sit at the helm, and by fair pretences and sophisticate arguments would, &c ...  Which I taking notice of, and meeting with this forementioned pamphlet of MR. MILTON’S, and upon perusal of it finding it dangerously ensnaring, the fallacy of the arguments being so cunningly hidden as not to be discerned by any nor every eye,—­observing also the language to be smooth and tempting, the expressions pathetical and apt to move the affections, ...  I thought it my duty, &c.

Before this salutation of his returning Majesty was visible on the book-stalls the great event which it anticipated was as good as accomplished.

The two Houses of Parliament had met on Wednesday, the 25th of April.  There was not only the “full and free” House of Commons for which writs had been issued, but a House of Lords also, assembled by its own will and motion.  In the Commons, where Sir Harbottle Grimstone was elected Speaker, there were present over 400 out of the total of 500 and more that were actually due; in the Lords, where the Earl of Manchester was chosen Speaker pro tem., there were present on the first day only nine peers besides himself:  viz. the Earls of Northumberland, Lincoln, Denbigh, and Suffolk, Viscount Say and Sele, and Lords Wharton, Hunsdon, Grey of Wark, and Maynard.  It was for these two bodies to execute between them the task appointed.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Commons Journals and Parl.  Hist., for the opening of the Convention Parliament.]

The meetings of the first three days were but preliminary, and not a word passed in either House to signify what was coming.  On Friday, the 27th of April, there was an adjournment of both Houses to Tuesday, the 1st of May.  During that breathless interval it was as when a mine is ready, the gunpowder and other explosives all stored, the train laid, and what is waited for is the application of the lighted match.  That duty fell to Sir John Greenville, and the mode in which it should be performed was settled privately between him and wary Old George.