The writs issued by the Rump for recruiting itself were now useless.

It had been recruited in the way it least liked, by the sudden reappearance in it of the excluded Presbyterians and Royalists of the pre-Commonwealth period of the Long Parliament.
Far more than the mere stopping of his pamphlet was involved for Milton in the events of that fortnight.

He could construe them no otherwise than as the breaking down of the inner rampart that defended the Commonwealth against Charles Stuart.

The _Roasting of the Rump_ in London was but a rough popular metaphor for "Down with the Republic"; and, had the tumult of that night extended from the City to Westminster and the breaking of the windows of "fanatics" become general, Milton's would not have escaped.

Then, in the course of the negotiations with Monk through the fatal fortnight, had not the Rump itself quailed?
Had they not offered to cancel the solemn Abjuration Oath, alike for the Councillors of State and for future members of Parliament, and to substitute only a general engagement to be faithful to the Commonwealth, without King, Single Person, or House of Lords?
Hardly anywhere now did there seem to be that stern, bold, uncompromising opposition to Royalty which would register itself, as Milton wanted, in an oath before God and man, but only that feebler Republicanism which would pledge itself with the understood reservation of "circumstances permitting." But worst of all was the crowning fact that the Secluded Members had been restored.