The boldness of this speech roused a surpris- A.D. 1658. ing spirit in the house; a spirit which terrified Richard Cromwell, and alarmed the principal officers of the army, who met and formed a council at Wallingford House. The parliament passed several votes against the council, who then per neous effort, it well justifies what Burnet says of the earl," that he had a wonderful faculty in speaking to a popular assembly, and could mix both the facetious and serious way of arguing very agreeably;" and "that he never knew any man equal to him in the art of governing parties, and of making himself the head of them." It contains powerful argument, keen sarcasm, and happy ridicule: but whether it was spoken as it is reported, admits of much doubt; and whether it was either spoken or written by Sir Anthony was equally questionable. This speech is copied from the old Parliamentary History, vol. xxi. p. 297. It was originally published as a pamphlet, with the title of "A seasonable Speech made by a worthy member of Parliament in the House of Commons, concerning the other House, March 1659." This speech, by Anthony Wood, in his Athens Oxonienses, and by Horace Walpole, who has copied from him, is ascribed to Sir Anthony; but so far were the authors of the Parliamentary History from attributing this speech to any particular member, that they refuse to vouch its authenticity, declaring that, although it is evidently as old as it professes to be, it is too bold to have been either spoken or published at the time. The authorship of this famous oration was therefore very doubtful. Dr. Kippis, however, found among the papers from which this memoir was compiled, proof that Wood had justly attributed it to Sir Anthony; and although this decisive authority is not adduced here, he notices it in his article Cooper" in the Biographia Britannica. A.D. 1658. suaded Richard Cromwell to dissolve the house; Parliament an action that immediately destroyed his govern dissolved. Richard loses his power. Conduct of the Wallingford House party. ment, which before had seemed so firmly fixed that the king's condition had never appeared equally hopeless and desperate: for though a spirit had been raised among many of the members, the majority were for supporting the protector; and had carried the question, that they would confer with the other house as a part of the parliament. As soon as his proclamation for dissolving them was issued, from that minute nobody resorted to him; and thus the son* suffered himself to be stripped in one moment of all the greatness and power which the father had acquired in so many years, with wonderful courage, industry, and resolution. The government by a protector being broken, the general council of officers (called the Wallingford House party) assumed the administration ; but they found it easier to destroy than to establish a government. These officers were directed by Lieutenant-general Fleetwood, Colonel Desborough, and Major-general Lambert, but principally by the last; who, though he had no employment at that time in the army, was admitted into the council, and immediately after into his *Lord Clarendon. old commission. He had great reputation and A.D. 1658. interest in the army, which had induced Oliver Cromwell through jealousy to deprive him of his command. The officers not having settled their form of government, and having no foundation for their power but the sword, were perplexed with a variety of counsels; and, at the same time, were alarmed with the designs of the cavaliers and presbyterians at home, and the situation of affairs abroad, for France and Spain were negotiating a peace at the Pyrenees. At length they determined to restore the old parliament, though they were apprehensive that "an opportunity* would be given for more people to come together than would be for their benefit;" for all the surviving members of that parliament would pretend a par of 1653 re stored. title to sit there. In the declaration, therefore, Parliament which the officers published inviting the old liament to meet again, they not only limited the convention to such members who had continued to sit from January 1648-9 to the 20th of April 1653, (which was the day that Cromwell with the assistance of these very officers had forced them out of the house,) but they ordered a guard likewise to attend to keep out the other members. * Lord Clarendon. A.D. 1659. Council of state. The next day after the declaration, the speaker Lenthal, and about forty-three of the members, went in a body to the house, where they came to a resolution to assert, establish, and secure the property and the liberties of the people both as men and as Christians, and that without a single person, kingship, or house of peers; and to uphold a godly and faithful magistracy and ministry." Divers of the members who were formerly secluded by the violence of the army, as Mr. Annesley, (afterwards Earl of Anglesey,) Sir George Booth, (afterwards Lord Delamere,) Mr. Pryn, Mr. Montague, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Hungerford, and others, offered to take their places; but, though they got with some difficulty into the lobby, and insisted on their privilege, the officers denied them entrance into the house. 45 The parliament appointed a council of state, consisting of thirty-one persons; and, to give the public an opinion of their impartiality, they in the first place elected some who were not members of *Parliam. Hist. vol. xxi. p. 380. 45 Seven of those who were not members of the house were immediately chosen by resolution, and among these was Sir Anthony. The other three non-members and the twenty-one members were chosen by ballot the next day. parliament, as Sir Anthony,* Sir Horatio Town- A.D. 1659. shend, and some others; and then chose twentyone members to complete the number. Sir Antho ny creates Though Sir Anthony did not sit in the council, he found means to create and foment a di- division in vision amongst them; being sensible that they would not be proper instruments for settling the peace of the nation. The steps which he had taken to break the absolute governments, first of the protector, and afterwards of the army, were well known; and the reputation which he had thus acquired fixed the eyes of the public upon him. Those who were enemies to the Wallingford House party *Mr. Stringer says, that Sir Anthony did not sit in this council; and it appears by a pamphlet called "England's Confusion," printed in the year 46 He is there described as a gentleman too wise and honest to sit in such company;" while Sir Horatio Townshend is said to be "a gentleman of too good estate to be hazarded with such a crew." Some of the characters of the other members, as given in this pamphlet, are amusing. Desborough is called "a country clown without fear or wit;" Mr. Wallop, a silent Hampshire gentleman much in debt;" Fairfax, "an alloy for Lambert's brittle metal;" Bury," the worst of major-generals except Butler;" and Josiah Barners, "fool of the play." the council. |