This decision has been put down to a result of war-weariness, the large numbers of Parliamentary troops facing them and the generous surrender terms on offer, although the 19th-century historian Samuel Oliver also suspected that Bonithon might have had Parliamentarian sympathies.
The decision is believed to be due to post-war fatigue, the presence of a large number of Parliamentary troops, and the lenient surrender terms available. Additionally, 19th-century historian Samuel Oliver suggested that Bonithon may have had sympathies with the Parliamentarians.