One failing his most fervent admirer cannot ignore--a strong leaning to avarice. But his popularity was unbounded, and 'it was his singular fortune to win in succession the affection of three very different populations, those of Dublin, Edinburgh, and London.' In Ireland his men were devoted to him. 'A soldier, tho' sick and without shoes, would strive to go out with honest George Monk.' After the death of Cromwell he was offered the crown, but he refused, 'holding it a greater honour to be an honest subject than a great usurper.' During the frightful visitation of the Plague, the Earl of Craven, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and Monk, were the only high officials who stayed at their posts, and exposed themselves perpetually to the 'seeds of death.' So great was the public confidence in him, that at the time of the Great Fire, he being then at sea, 'the people did believe and say: "If he had been there, the city had not been burned."' No idol of the mob could ask a more whole-hearted adoration. The popular feeling is expressed in a rather limping acrostic on his name, of which I quote only the first quarter. It was called 'England's Heroick Champion, or The ever-renowned General George Monck.' The date is about 1659-60. 'G ood may'st thou be, as thou are great. E ver regarded. O r like _Alexander_ compleat, R ichly rewarded. G ainst thy virtue none dare stand, E xcluded Members now are Back return'd by thy hand. 'M any miles didst thou compass, O nly us to free; N othing by thee too hard was, C ompared to be. K eep us in thy protection! We were all greatly distrest; Bring thou in all the best. 'G reat bonfires then was made, E xpressing joy, O f us that sorrow did invade, R efresh our annoy. G uard us with thy aid, we desire; E xaltation we all will raise Unto heaven in thy praise. 'M uch good hast thou already done, O ver this land; N ow our hearts thou hast quite won: C ommand! Command! K indly we will entertain Those that were excluded, For they have not intruded.' In later years, as Duke of Albemarle, he returned to the estate of his forefathers, and rebuilt Potheridge in a very magnificent manner. It has since been pulled down. If the traveller follows the Torridge upstream, he will be led south till he is within two miles of Hatherleigh, and here the river curves away westwards, and then in a northerly direction. In the spring, this clear, rippling stream has a special charm--thousands and thousands of daffodils grow along the banks though only sparingly in the fields beyond, so that, if the river happens to be low and the water not to be seen at a little distance, the windings of the river through the wide green valley are marked by two broad lines of pale, clear yellow. Hatherleigh Moor was given a bad name very long ago. The saying is double-edged: 'The people are poor, as Hatherleigh Moor, And so they have been for ever and ever.'