A confidential council was called in the afternoon, and it was decided instead of repudiating the treaty to prolong the negotiations. To this end it was resolved to request a conference at Alnwick to explain doubtful points in the articles on the ground that they appeared to be inconsistent with the commissioners' instructions. Next morning a general advance to the Border was ordered, and by the end of the month the head-quarters were at Berwick. Another delay was gained, and to prevent the possibility of a premature collision Monk withdrew his outpost in Northumberland. Every day some encouraging news added a fresh value to the armistice. Clarges had returned to London, but before he left Edinburgh Monk had told him that if he restored the Parliament he should not feel it his duty to prevent the secluded members resuming their seats. With this the astute commissary had been able to satisfy Lord Fairfax on his way south, and was now able to announce that the Yorkshire gentlemen would be ready to rise for a free Parliament by the middle of January. The old Council of State had met in secret at the capital, and sent down to Monk a commission as general of all the forces in England and Scotland. Fleetwood was growing more suspicious of Lambert every hour, and in his anxiety to come to an understanding with Monk agreed to the proposed conference. Lambert was in despair. His army at Newcastle was showing signs of insubordination. Money was running short. The ranks were full of sectaries devoted to Fleetwood. He knew that further delay meant ruin, and he despatched Colonel Zankey to Berwick with fresh proposals on his own account to hasten the ratification of the treaty. Zankey arrived early in December, in company with the retreating outpost from Alnwick. In high spirits at this new sign of discord in the enemy's camp the Council met. A long bantering discussion ensued. Every argument which Zankey could urge was made light of, his terms refused, and Monk, well satisfied with the day's work, went to bed--but not to rest.