ABSTRACT
Richard Cromwell’s accession to the Protectorate at his father’s death marked the end of the relative governmental stability there had been in Britain since 1653. Less able but more popular than his younger brother Henry, Richard could not control the army and became a prisoner of its civilian opponents. The third Protectorate Parliament gave way to a restored Rump, Cromwell was deposed, and the army was firmly established as arbiter of government, ostensibly headed by John Lambert who had crushed the Booth Rising. Lambert’s eminence was resented by other army chiefs including George Monck, the ex-royalist who had virtually ruled Scotland in 1654/5, and Edward Montagu commanding the Baltic Fleet. Monck’s capacity to maintain peace in Scotland during the 1659 uprising in England served him well, and his army background coupled with his espousal of the civilian/parliamentarian position in England made him a figure of national importance to rival Lambert. By October 1659 Monck was clearly threatening the English army leaders, Lambert and Fleetwood, but neither side was militarily ready for any confrontation and in November talks were initiated at London. The talks went against Monck in an agreement on 15 November, but he remained inactive, opting for further discussions in December at Alnwick in Northumberland, but actually preparing his army to march.
