In 1697 the pattern of political allegiances in England was profoundly affected by the Treaty of Ryswick. Despite the return of peace, William III was determined to retain the bulk of the land forces which had been used against France. His resolve provoked the ‘standing army controversy’ which raged from 1697 to 1699. The debate cut across Whig-Tory divisions and—as Toland was quick to point out—made possible the creation of an effective ‘country’, or anti-court, alliance. The controversy revealed the extent of the mistrust of William's constitutional intentions held by backbench M.P.s, and showed how widespread was the anxiety about the uses to which a standing army might be put by William's successors. It also brought into the open tensions within the Whig party which had been growing since 1693–4. The Whigs were held together before 1697, and were to be held together again after 1699, by fear of France. In the interim, however, the support given by Somers and his fellow ‘junto’ Whigs to the retention of William's land forces seemed to ‘country’ Whigs a final confirmation of the junto's apostacy from the revolutionary principles of 1688–9.

721 But it was not yet tyme for Monke to pull off his last hood, though it was so thin that every one might see through it that had a minde so to doe. For he now takes away Colonell Walton's regiment of horse, one of those generals appointed by the Parlament, who had all alonge declared with him, and gives it to Colonell Howard, who had bin a papist in armes for the King and stood very faire for popery againe. And haveing made choyse of a packed party of 200 horse for his guard, hee appoints Captaine Phillip Howard, his brother, and [theire?]b …. papist to have the command of them. He disposeth of Colonell Rich his regiment to Colonell Ingoldsby. But before the order was put in execution, Colonell Rich, hoping he should prevaile with his regiment to declare as he formerly had done for the lawfull authority, repaires to them, though before he went I told him I thought he would have no success in his enterprise had he not some garrison for them to retire into. Colonell Ingoldsby, with some of Monke's guard and other ruffianlike fellowes, were sent downe to take posession of the regiment; which together with his old interest in those of it (having bin under his command the greatest parte of Cromwel's usurpation), but principally because the torrent of the usurped authority and power ranne that way, did so overbalance Colonell Rich his interest that, though before Ingoldsby's going downe they promissed to be faithfull to him, now the third parte remained not with him; who finding himselfe thus deserted, upon Colonell Ingoldsby's letter sent to him, delivered up the rest, declaring his resolution to desist.

Untill this tyme, Monke continued his sollemne protestations that he would be true to the interest of the Comonwealth, against a King and Howse of Lords. Yet now finding the militia setled, and a Convention at Westminster (who called themselves a Parlament), and fit for his turne, he sends to those Lords who had continued with the Parlament till 1648, desiring them to take their places, that they might be a cheque to any exorbitancy that those who called themselves a Parlament might comit; which they doe, he engaging that no other should be permitted to sit with them; of which Mr. George Cooper, an honnest gentleman (though brother to Sir Anthony), had such an account given him that he looked upon them as the only ballance that the purchassers of publique lands had left them, and for the propounding of any tearmes to the King upon his coming in; for that seemed now to be concluded on. Yet to sweeten his returne of the King what might be, and to lull the Parlament party asleepe, most of the high cavaleers of the West signe a declaration, wherein they engage themselves to forget all that had bin done to them, and not to retaine any mallice against any who they conceived had injured them, and to endeavour that a generall act of indemnity should be passed, and that no blood should be shed for anythinge that was passed. And concurrent heereto, Charles Steward, being then at Breda, having quitted the Spanish territory, according to the advise given him by Monke, taking notice of that Convention at Westminster, sends a declaration; whereby, as he shewes his willingness to posess himselfe of England, Scotland and Ireland, so doth he promise his pardon to all those who should declare their acceptance thereof within forty dayes, except such as should be excepted by act of parliament, who he doubts not but will manifest their 753 sense of that crying sin, which had bin comitted…. the Protestant churches. He promises therein liberty to tender consciences…. they trouble not the peace of the nation; and that hee shall bee ready to consent to any act that shall bee presented to him for that effect; and that all gifts and purchasses of lands by souldiers, or others, shall bee determined as the Parliament shall thinke fit; and promiseth in conclusion to satisfy the arrears of the officers and souldiers of the army under Monke, and that hee will take them into his pay on the same tearmes as now they are. This declaration, which being dated the 14th of April was presented by Sir John Greenfell [to the?] two Hawses on the 27th day of April; who had ben som time before incognito at London, and had consulted with Monke and others about the return of the King, and had brought to Monke a commission from the King to command all his forces in the 3 kingdoms, and as an earnest of his confidence delivered him one of his Privy Seales to dispose of as hee should thinke fit; by which hee gave him authority to constitute a Secretary of State, for which imployment hee designed his countryman Mr. Maurice; which being presented by Sir John Greenvill to the pretended Howse of Comons, as also to that of the Howse of Lords, which was now full …. the Lords who were living that went to Oxford …. of …. those who were newly made, yea of [papists?] also …. Monke being so farr from hindring them, according to his promise, that (as I have heard) he invited them by letters to assemble in the usuall place at Westminster.

Newes being brought to Dover of Charles Steward's being put to sea, Monke with his garde etc. marcheth to Dover to meete him; where upon his landing the 26th of May, wayting on him, Charles Steward ownes Monke to be his father, embraceing and kissing him. And truly they were as brethren in iniquity, in treachery and falsehood neare allyed. The King bestowes on him the George at Canterbury, and the Duke of Yorke puts on him the George, the Duke of Glocester the Garter. Thus began the pageantry. And because the army who had fought against him were in their affections still the same, it was thought fit (besides the Declaration that was sent by Sir John Greenvill from Bredagh, wherein he oblieged himselfe to confirme all sales, and to give liberty of conscience, and to leave those thinges and the payment of the souldiers' arreares wholy to the Parlament), further to cajole the army, that Charles Steward's lodging, and his brother's the Duke of Yorke, be taken up at Colonell Gibbons his howse, a collonell of the army living at Rochester. Many knights were made as he came to London; and amongst others Mr. Robert Reynolds, for the good service he did in complying with Monke for the restoring of him; which some who were of the King's retinew observing, imediately told him that he had bestowed honour upon one of the veryest knaves of the Parliament party; which he seemed troubled that he had done, but sayd that Clergyes (whom he had before given a patient to to be a baronet) had presented him to him as one that had done him very good service.

The Court party finding it not a tyme to disobleige, by reason the army was not disbanded, press for the hastning of the act. The Earle of Bristoll, a Jesuited papist, though engaged for a particcular person, yet manifested his bloody intention in a speech he made, which according to his usuall vaine way of ostentation he caused to be printed; wherein taking occation to vaunt of his imployments he had whilest beyond sea, desires, for the expediting of the act, that they would pass it with the only exception of those who had a hand in the death of the late King, who he moved might be more particularly described in an act that should be afterwards passed to that purpose; wherein for ought I knew he might intend to include not only the judges, and the members of parlament who sate after 1648, with those who petitioned for justice to be done upon him, but all those who made warr against him. The Earle of Lincolne, who had sate in the Howse of Lords during all the tyme of the warr against the King, was as vyolent against us as any, blaming some of the popish Lords for not expressing so much zeale therein as he would have had them done. Neither was the Lord Seymour, who once passed for a patriot, much behinde him.

Within fowerteene dayes after my coming to Geneve, I finde in the Gazet the execution of Major Generall Harrison, Mr. John Carew, Cheife Justice Cooke and Mr. Hugh Peters; the first upon the 13 October, the second upon the 15th, and the two last upon the 16th, at the place where Charing Cross stood (as well to revenge the wrong done to that sacred relique, as to gratify Nero with the sight of that tragedy, the shedding the blood of those eminent servants of the Lord). The next weeke's Gazet gave an account of the execution of Mr. Thomas Scot, Mr. Gregory Clement, Colonell Adrian Scroope and Colonell John Jones, on the 17th of October, at the same place with the former; and of Colonell Francis Hacker and Colonell Daniell Axtell at Tybourne, the comon place of execution, upon October the 19th.

Before this Courte also were tryed those eighteene who had rendred themselves upon the proclamation published by the advice of the two Howses. And though they were excepted out of the act of indemnity as to life and estate, yet was provission made by the said act that, if found guilty, the sentence should not be executed against them as to life, save as should be declared by an act of Parlament; the names of whom were, Sir Hardress Waller, Mr. William Heviningham, Alderman Isaac Pennington, Colonell Henry Martyn, Mr. Gilbert Millington, Colonell Robert Tichborne, Colonell Owen Rowe, Colonell George Fleetwood, Colonell Robert Lilborne, Mr. Henry Smyth, Colonell Edmund Harvey, 889 Colonell John Downes, Colonell Vincent Potter, Mr. Augustine Garland, Mr. Symon Mayne, Colonell James Temple, Mr. Temple and Colonell Thomas Wayte. Sir Hardress Waller, as you heard before, confessed the inditement. So did Colonell Fleetwood. The rest at first pleaded not guilty. But when they came particularly to pleade for themselves, Colonell Tichbourne, Colonell Downes, Colonell Harvey and severall others (whether out of feare of death, love of life, hopes of favour, or being under a temptation by reason of old age, I cannot say) pleaded ignorance, and acknowledged the guilt, but denyed the mallice. Some others, as Colonell James Temple, Mr. Peter Temple and Colonell Vincent Potter, confessed matter of fact, but denyed the guilt; amongst which last number was Colonell Henry Martyn, who in shorte spake as much as could be said in that case, considering what before the Courte had overruled. He being charged with signing and sealing the praecept for summoning the Courte, and the warrant for execution, and for sitting almost every day, and particcularly the day of sentence, answered that he declyned not a confession as to matter offact, the mallice set aside. But being told by the Courte that mallice is implyed by the law in the act itselfe, and it being observed by the droling councell that he was of oppinion a man might sit upon the death of the King, sentence him to death, signe a warrant for his execution, meekely, innocently, charitably and honestly, he replyed, I shall not presume to compare my knowledge in the law with that of the learned gentleman, but according to that poore understanding of the law of England that I was capable of, there is no fact that he can name that is a cryme in itselfe but as it is circumstantiated. Of killing a watchman, which had bin instanced, a watchman may be killed in not doing his office, and yet no murder.

The Queene, shortly after her retorne into France, marryes her daughter to the Duke of Anjou, brother to the King of France. The match with the King of Portugal's sister is resolved upon; which resolution Charles Steward, at the first meeting of his Convention which he calls a Parliament, acquaints them with, not as desiring their advice therein, or a probation thereof (thinking that below him), but in order to their providing of monyes for her reception, and for setling of his revenue. Those in the Howse of Comons order the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to be taken by all their members kneeling, which Colonell Norton 908 and Mr. Hampden, son to that famous patriot Mr. John Hampden, scrupled to doe. Alderman Love, one of the members in parlament for the citty of London, was voted out of the Howse for having spoken against the Booke of Common Prayer. And Gunning that popish preist (though passing under the name of prelaticall), pressing in a sermon he preached before the Howse to a reconcilliation with the church of Rome, speaking favourably of them, had the thankes of the Howse given him of his sermon, notwithstanding Mr. Morris one of the King's Secretaryes publiquely opposed it, saying he thought he expected none from them as yet before he had wonne the Howse to his oppinion, and therefore moved he might be sent to Rome for this thankes, for for his parte he had none to give him. Yea such hopes had the popish party now conceived of carrying the day, that the Lady Abbess of Fountarabeau, base daughter to Henry the 4th, sent into England to demaund the restitution of the lands there belonging to her nunnery, it being founded by one of our kinges who endowed it with lands in England. And an intimate freind of myne, going to see the English convent of monkes in Paris, found them full of hopes concerning England.