XI - Prelude to The Restoration

Summary

After the second restoration of the Long Parliament, Okey received back the command of his old regiment. On 13 January, 1660, the House approved the names of the officers for the regiment. Many of the officers had been in the regiment in the previous year, but on this occasion Richard Wagstaffe replaced John Daberon as major:

Okey and a number of these officers waited on the House on 20 January and were given their commissions by the Speaker. In the same month an Act was passed for an assessment on the country and once again Okey was appointed one of the Commissioners for Bedfordshire.

Meanwhile Monck was marching south from Scotland, and, realising that his forces were smaller than those in the London area, he wrote to the House suggesting that some of the London troops, whose loyalty was open to suspicion in view of their recent support of Lambert, should be removed to make way for his own loyal units. With pathetic trust in his fidelity, the House accepted his suggestion and ordered various units out of the capital. On 3 February, Monck entered London at the head of some 5,000 horse and foot, and thenceforth was to be the arbiter of England’s destinies.

In Bristol there were again serious disturbances in the early days of February. Apprentices and other rioters declared for a free parliament and became so strong that they were able to set a guard upon the Mayor in his own house. The regiment of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper had been ordered out of London, one of its troops going to Basingstoke, one to Bath, two to Bristol and two to Salisbury. When Major Izard of the regiment reached Bristol with his troops, the courage of the rioters left them and they melted away. The Council of State, however, decided to send a force to the west to maintain order, and as in the previous July Okey was chosen for the command.