“Our Expiring Libertie” 1658–1660argues, Milton’s stop-gap proposal for its continuation “looks more unrealistic with
hindsight than it did at the time.”^67 Milton was at work on the first version of the
Readie & Easie Way, in which he casts the Rump as a perpetual legislative council,
despite its disappointing resolution on January 13 to retain tithes. As Monk marched
toward London he reiterated his support for the parliament in every venue, though
his true intentions invited intense speculation. The Rump had become a lightning
rod for royalist satire, its nickname ridiculed constantly in broadsides and doggerel
verse:
I have sometimes fed on a Rump in sowce,
And a man may imagine the Rump of a Lowse;
But till now was nere heard of the Rump of a House,
Which no body can deny.^68On all sides royalists and Presbyterians deluged Monk with petitions appealing for
the traditional rights of Englishmen to representative parliaments, and calling for
the return of the secluded members, those expelled in Pride’s Purge, or for a new
“full and free” parliament, either of which was expected to restore the king.^69 Rec-
ognizing that not-so-hidden agenda, many increasingly desperate commonwealth
supporters urged the Rump Parliament to fill itself up and get its house in order.
Praisegod Barebone presented a petition of many thousands against the return of
the secluded members.^70 Others urged Monk to become Protector or King.^71 Some
sectaries threatened force if they were denied liberty of conscience.^72 Ordered by
the Council of State to put down a tax revolt in the City by destroying the City
gates and fortifications, Monk began that action but then drew back. On February
11 he gave the Rump an ultimatum: they must issue writs for elections to fill up
their numbers within six days, and then quickly disband after arranging for succes-
sive parliaments.^73 Londoners, reading the signs aright, engaged in a frenzied cel-
ebration marked by the roasting of rumps throughout the city. From Strand Bridge,
Pepys describes seeing 31 fires blazing,
and all along burning, and roasting, and drinking for rumps – there being rumps tied
upon sticks and carried up and down. The butchers at the maypole in the Strand rang
a peal with their knifes when they were going to sacrifice their rump.... Indeed, it
was past imagination, both the greatness and the suddenness of it.^74Even in Petty France Milton could have heard the uproar and had someone de-
scribe the scene to him; he may also have had someone read to him the gleeful
reports of that scene in pamphlets and broadsides. On February l8 the Rump at last
passed an Election Act to fill up the vacant seats to the number of 400, with suffrage
limited to persons “well-affected” to the Commonwealth.
While things were at this pass Milton finished the first draft of his Readie & Easie