he met Sir Arthur Haslerigge and Mr. Scot coming out, whom he overheard to say, that they would secure Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper before to-morrow noon; that he was afraid they had been tampering with the general and were come to some agreement." Upon this intelligence, Sir Anthony went to Monk, told him frankly what he had heard, and pressed him to be equally unreserved. Monk, after much importunity and some dark discourse, owned what had passed between Sir Arthur Haslerigge, Mr. Scot, and himself; and that he had engaged to return to his lodgings at Whitehall the next morning to support their interest and obey the parliament's orders. He did not deny that they had promised to make him general of all their forces; but assured Sir Anthony that he would take upon himself to make them his friends, and would have a particular regard to his interest. This was about five o'clock in the afternoon; when Sir Anthony left him, desiring he might at night have a farther conference on that subject. Sir Anthony, before he went, gave Monk's wife an account of what had passed, advising her to send for her brother Clarges, as himself would for Colonel Cloberry and Colonel Knight. Being met, they united A. D. 1659-60. A. D. 1659-60. Secluded members restored. their efforts to persuade the general to restore the secluded members; to which, after some hours' debate, he consented, and gave Clarges and Sir Anthony a commission to summon them together at the Prince's Lodgings in Whitehall at nine o'clock the next morning, promising that they should be conducted to the parliament-house with honour and safety. A considerable number accordingly assembled at the appointed place. This was effected without the least notice being given to the other party: for when Sir Arthur Haslerigge came thither, expecting the general was returned as a friend, and found so many of the secluded members, with great resentment in his countenance he said to Sir Anthony, "This is your doing, but it shall cost blood." Sir Anthony replied, “Your own, if you please; but Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper will not be secured this morning." General Monk, coming forth at that instant into the great room, told Sir Arthur, who reminded him of his promise, that it was necessary for the public peace to restore those members, who had declared they intended no alteration of the government, and proposed nothing farther than to pave the way for a new parliament; and since there was no method of issuing summons but by writs in the name of the keepers of the liberty of England by authority of parliament, it could not be apprehended that any other government would be introduced. The secluded members being admitted, the parliament repealed all the orders by which they had been excluded; renewed and enlarged the general's commission; passed an act to dissolve themselves on the 17th day of March 1659-60, and to call another parliament to sit on the 25th day of April following. They likewise appointed a new council of state, consisting of thirty-one persons, viz. General Monk, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Colonel Popham, William Pierpoint, John Crew, Colonel Rossiter, Richard Knightly, Colonel Morley, Lord Fairfax, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Lord Chief Justice St. John, Sir John Temple, Lord Commissioner Widdrington, Sir John Evelyn, Sir William Waller, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir William Lewis, Colonel Edward Montague, Sir Edward Harley, Colonel Norton, Arthur Annesley, Denzil Holles, esqrs. Colonel George Thompson, John Trevor, Sir John Holland, Sir John Potts, Colonel Birch, Sir Harbottle Grimston, John Swinton, John Weaver, esqrs. and Serjeant Maynard. A. D. 1659-60. Act to dis solve the Long Par liament. A. D. 1659-60. Scheme to make tector. These were invested with power to act in all matters relating to the government, as well during the sitting as in the intervals of parliament. The parliament, about two days before the dissolution, ordered the following engagement, viz. “I do declare and promise that I will be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of England, as the same is now established without king or house of lords," to be taken off the file, and made void. Sir Arthur Haslerigge, Mr. Scot, and the chief Monk pro- of that party, concluded by this step that the parliament intended to restore the king. Therefore, after they had privately consulted with several officers of the army, they went to the general at Whitehall, and told him that many of his friends were much troubled at what the parliament had done, as it tended both to the ruin of himself and the public; since it was evident, by what had been voted the day before, that the restoration of the king was designed. They said, that they found a commonwealth was disagreeable to the disposition of the people, who were always bad judges of what was best for them; and therefore, since a government by a single person was necessary, there could not be one fitter than himself for that office; and that in this decision they had ground to believe the nation in general would concur. The next day they went to him again, taking with them Monsieur Bourdeaux, the French ambassador; who, after the others had used all their arts to persuade Monk to take the government,* gave him assurances that Cardinal Mazarine was desirous of his friendship, and would faithfully assist him. He represented to him what a glory it would be to dignify his family with the empire of three kingdoms; and assured him that in the attempt he might depend, not only on the cardinal's friendship and assistance, but on a safe retreat and honourable support in France in case he should fail of sucMonk's eyes were dazzled by the prospect, cess. and at last he consented. Great part of the night was spent in forming the scheme; and it was resolved to secure Sir Anthony, and several others, who were likely to be most active in opposing the design. The general's wife, who had overheard part of the discourse behind the hangings, sent her brother Lord Clarendon says, that Monk was offered all the au thority of Cromwell and the A. D. 1659-60. |