The feeling grew hotter and hotter, and the majority in Parliament came to the conclusion that Cromwell should be arrested.

Cromwell, however, obtained word of what was intended, and left London.
Upon the same day a party of soldiers went down to Holmby, and forcibly carried off King Charles from the Parliamentary commissioners, the troops stationed at Holmby fraternizing with their comrades.

The king, under the charge of these new guards, arrived at Royston on the 7th of June, and Fairfax and Cromwell met him there.

He asked if they had commissioned Joyce, who was at the head of the party of men who had carried him off, to remove him.

They denied that they had done so.
"I shall not believe you," said the king, "unless you hang him." And his majesty had good ground for his disbelief.
Cromwell returned to London and took his place in the House, and there blamed the soldiers, protesting that he would stick to the Parliament; but the same night he went away again down to the army, and there declared to them the actions and designs of Parliament.