In fact from this moment the city became the scene on which the drama of the Restoration was to be played out. A week ago Mordaunt had arrived on a special mission from Charles to assure the Corporation of his constitutional intentions should he return, and the city had definitely turned its face to the King. The situation which the prevailing political uncertainty had brought about was no longer endurable. Trade was in a state of complete stagnation. Property was felt to be unsafe. The city was without a single representative in Parliament. It saw the moment had come for a decisive step, and two days after Monk's speech, on the ground that the sitting Parliament was not a representative assembly, the Common Council resolved to pay no more taxes till the House had filled up its vacancies. Monk's principles were immediately put to a severe test. It was late at night when the vote of defiance became known at Whitehall, but a summons came for his instant attendance at the Council of State. The hours went by and he did not return. His friends remembered young Scot's boast, and gathered in alarm. Ashley Cooper tried to take his seat in the Council-chamber, but found it locked and guarded. Mrs. Monk hammered on the door and cried frantically to her husband, but not a sound came back. In despair she retired to her apartments, and it was past two before she was relieved by her husband's reappearance. Then it was only for a moment. To his friends' dismay he briefly told them that at daybreak the city was to be occupied, and then refusing to listen to any one went to bed. His paymasters had ordered him to coerce those on whom all his hopes depended, and he was going to obey. The movement was punctually carried out, and no sooner were the guards set and the troops at their quarters than Monk, in accordance with his instructions, sent for a number of the leading citizens and placed them under arrest. This done, to the amazement of his officers, he ordered them to remove the city gates and portcullises, and the post and chains by which the streets were barricaded. In vain they protested, in vain his most devoted followers tendered their commissions. His only reply was to order the subordinate officers to do the work of their superiors. Of so astounding a piece of obedience no one knew what to think. The common soldiers were inclined to look upon it as a joke; the officers were in despair. At last a deputation of the Corporation waited on him to expostulate, and promise that if he would desist the Common Council would meet early on the morrow and reconsider its determination.