There were things in his sermon and its accompaniments, however, that might harm the King's cause otherwise than by the bad literary taste of the defence.

There was a tone of that revengeful spirit which it was the policy of all the more prudent Royalists to disown.

Hence the publication annoyed even in that quarter.

The unpardonable offence, however, was the address to Monk.

He was studying to be as secret as the grave, had signified his leanings to the King by not a single public word, and indeed had hardly ceased to swear he stood for the Commonwealth.