strengthened that rival's hands. But Lambert's efforts were unavailing.
Had he been able to remain in London, Hyde thinks he might, in time, have
organized an effective opposition. Instead of this he felt it needful to
strike at once. He made his way to Buckinghamshire, and from that county
and Warwickshire he was able to collect a considerable force. Colonel
Ingoldsby was despatched in pursuit of him, and soon overtook him at
Daventry in Northamptonshire. Ingoldsby had been a strong adherent of
Cromwell, and (as he asserted, against his will) had been forced to sign
the death warrant of the King. He had now an opportunity of rendering a
service that might wipe out some heavy scores against him. Lambert at
first endeavoured to detach Ingoldsby from his allegiance to Monk, by
offering to espouse the cause of Richard Cromwell. But Ingoldsby rightly
judged that such a scheme was doomed to failure. Lambert's troops refused
to fight and fast deserted him, and he was easily made prisoner and once
more committed to the Tower.

[Illustration: GENERAL LAMBERT. (_From the original by Robert Walker, in
the National Portrait Gallery._)]

During the interval between the Dissolution on March 17th, and the meeting
of the new Parliament, the administration was in the hands of a Council of
State, which acted with Monk's concurrence. The hopes of the Royalists
grew apace, and prominent members of the party no longer hesitated to take
an open part in political discussion. The command of the Fleet was put
into the hands of Monk--"the General," as he was called--and Admiral
Montague, and the latter was known as one well disposed to the King, and
ready, even at an earlier date, to have taken active steps for his
restoration. Monk alone kept up his prudent reserve. Even in April he
continued to express himself as strongly averse to the restoration of
monarchy, A conference of some leading men took place at Northumberland