Chapter The Protectorate, 1653-60 of Age of Milton and Marvell by History

There followed a period during which political power fluctuated between direct rule by the Army Council and the restored Commonwealth Parliament until General George Monck answered calls for settlement and marched on London. The collapse of the Army as a political force allowed the return of reactionary opinion to the political arena. Monck refused to bend to the attempts of the restored Rump Parliament to take control, and insisted that the MPs excluded in 1648 by Pride's Purge be allowed to retake their seats. The political balance was subsequently transformed as politically radical members such as Lambert were purged.

Lambert, though he lacked the support of other prominent figures such as Fleetwood, Desborough and Haselrig, attempted to stage yet another coup d'etat with a number of regiments of the Army. Monck defeated Lambert's rising in 1660 and in parallel to this military victory outmanoeuvred the republicans through parliamentary election. The House of Lords was restored and considered with the Commons the Declaration of Breda for the Restoration of the Stuart monarchy.