in great friendship with his second son, Henry Cromwell, who, when deputy of Ireland, gained a general esteem. A.D. 1654-5. Another On the 17th of September 1656, another par- A.D. 1656. liament met, in which Sir Anthony was again parliament. chosen. After hearing a sermon at the Abbey church at Westminster, and the protector's speech in the Painted Chamber, the members repaired to the house of commons; where they found the lobby filled with soldiers, and an officer at the door, with a list in his hand, refusing entrance to all that had not a certificate of approbation." These are to certify, that is returned by indenture one of the knights to serve in this present parliament for the said county, and approved by his highness's 40. The conduct of this parliament is pregnant with proof that the enthusiasm in favour of liberty, which once pervaded the people, was now worn away by the long and exhausting series of civil wars. An act of undisguised tyranny, that would have armed the whole nation against Charles, was submitted to in silence. So completely was the spirit of the commons tamed, that, after some discussion, they resolved by one hundred and twenty-five against a minority of only twenty-nine, "That the persons returned from the several counties, cities, and boroughs, who have not been approved, be referred to make their application to the council for approbation; and that the house do proceed with the great affairs of the nation." Such was the liberty England enjoyed under Cromwell. A.D. 1656. Sir Anthony, with the other excluded members, (finding no redress from the house,) drew up a * protestation by way of appeal to God and the people," declaring the great dangers they were in from the slavery, rapines, oppressions, cruelties, murders, and confusions comprehended in the horrid act of the protector, who had now openly assumed a power to pack an assembly of his confidents, parasites, and confederates, and called them a parliament, that he might thence pretend that the people had consented to become his slaves, and to have their persons and estates at his discretion." This remonstrance, after they had subscribed their names, they printed and published.*1 * Whitlocke's Memoirs, fol. 640. 41 Mr. Brodie remarks: "It affords a noble proof of the spirit of Englishmen, that even this measure (that of referring the secluded members to the council) was only carried by a majority; and that sixty members instantly absented themselves, and joined those who had been excluded when they published a remonstrance against the present arbitrary government, and a protestation against the illegal assembly at Westminster.”—British Empire, vol. iv. p. 402. This passage is totally at variance with the authorities he quotes in support of it. The remonstrance came from the secluded members alone, and was not signed by even the whole of these, as appears from the Thurloe papers. Instead of the measure being carried by only a majority, it was carried by a majority of three to one. There appears A design to well king. make Crom The members who were admitted, being well A.D. 1656. modelled for Cromwell's designs, resolved in the first place to fix the crown on his head; but that was highly resented by the army, who had fought so long against the very name and office of a king, and especially by some of the superior officers, who perhaps had a view to succeed Cromwell in his power. He did not dare, therefore, to indulge his inclinations and accept the crown. Cromwell's junto afterwards framed another instrument of government, by the name of " the humble petition and advice of the knights, citizens, and burgesses assembled in the parliament of the commonwealth," whereby they confirmed to him the name and style of the Lord Protector of the A.D.1657. Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the dominions and territories thereunto to have been more indolence than indignation in the conduct of the other members, since, when a resolution was passed, that all persons who had been returned to serve in that parliament and had been or might be approved by the council, should give their attendance within seven days, the order was not disobeyed. I am afraid Mr. Brodie is unwilling to admit the extent of Cromwell's tyranny. But such an admission is far more worthy of the cause of freedom than any attempt at concealment. The justification of those who first took arms against Charles can receive no injury from truth, and no colouring can justify the fanatics who beheaded him. A.D. 1657. belonging, (into which office he was inaugurated with great solemnity the 26th day of June 1657); and he was also thereby empowered to declare and appoint who should succeed him in that office after his death. Bishop Burnet's mistakes corrected. It is apparent, from the exclusion of Sir Anthony from the parliament, and from the attempt that was immediately afterwards made by the remainder of the commons to place Cromwell upon the throne, that there can be no foundation for what Bishop Burnet says of Sir Anthony, "that he advised Cromwell to take the kingship." The excluded members were of course those who Cromwell thought would oppose this last flight of his ambition; and although the bishop says that Sir Anthony gave the advice with a design to destroy him, yet this does not make his story more probable, for, as this design must have been unknown to Cromwell, he would not surely have excluded the man who gave him the advice, and who, by his abilities and power of speaking, might have contributed greatly to the success of his project. It is very probable, likewise, that if Sir Anthony had made such a proposal to Cromwell, Cromwell would, in return, have made him one of his newly A.D. 1657. created house of peers; for, though many of them were men of low extraction, education, and capacities, yet, to give a dignity to the body, he added several of the old lords and gentlemen of the greatest fortunes and character. Now, as Sir Anthony was distinguished for both, Cromwell would not have omitted him; though, at the same time, it may reasonably be believed, from his conduct in other respects, that if Sir Anthony had been nominated, he would have disdained a seat amongst them. There appears as little foundation for another story of the bishop's; that Sir Anthony pretended that Cromwell offered to make him king. Cromwell was too fond of power, and too wise, to make a proposal of this nature in earnest to a man of spirit and understanding; and there is as little probability that he would make the proposal in jest to a person so conspicuous for his penetration. That Cromwell ever seriously made such an offer is beyond the bounds of probability, and it is scarcely less improbable, that a man of Sir Anthony's acknowledged sense should expose himself to ridicule by indulging in what every one must have discovered |