Restoration of The Monarchy
Lenthall now supported the Restoration. He strongly opposed the oath abjuring the House of Stuart, sought by the republican faction in parliament, and absented himself from the House for ten days, to avoid any responsibility for the bill. He had been in communication with George Monck for some time, and on Monck entering London with his army (3 February 1660) Lenthall met him in front of Somerset House. On 6 February Monck visited the House of Commons, when Lenthall pronounced a speech of thanks.
On 28 March, Lenthall forwarded to the king a paper containing Heads of Advice. According to Monck, "he was very active for the restoring of His Majesty and performed many services ... which could not have been soe well effected without his helpe." Lenthall notwithstanding found himself in disgrace at the Restoration. In spite of Monck's recommendation, he was not elected by Oxford University for the Convention Parliament, nor was he allowed by the king, though he had sent him a present of £3000, to remain Master of the Rolls.
On 11 June, he was included by the House of Commons, in spite of a recommendatory letter from Monck, among the twenty persons excepted from the act of indemnity and subject to penalties not extending to life. In the House of Lords, however, Monck's testimony and intercession were effectual, and Lenthall was only declared incapable of holding for the future any public office. In his last public act, he consented to appear as a witness against the regicide Thomas Scot, for words spoken in the House of Commons while Lenthall was in the chair. It was probably after this that he was allowed to present himself at court, and his contemporaries took a malicious glee in telling how, when, with some difficulty, he obtained leave to kiss the king's hand he, out of guilt, fell backwards, as he was kneeling.
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