obliterated by the hurry of business, Cromwell asked Goodwin, one of his preachers, if it were true that the elect could never fall or suffer final reprobation? "Nothing more certain," replied the preacher. "Then I am safe," said the protector, "for I am sure that I was once in a state of grace."

He died on the third of September, a day which he had always considered as propitious to him, in the fifty-ninth year of his age. A violent tempest, which immediately succeeded his death, served as a subject of discourse to the vulgar; and his partisans, as well as his enemies, endea voured, by forced inferences, to interpret this event as a confirmation of their particular prejudices.

The private conduct of Cromwell, as a son, a husband, a father, and a friend, merits praise rather than censure; and, upon the whole, his character was a compound of all the virtues and all the vices which spring from violent ambition and wild fanaticism.

Cromwell was surrounded with so many difficulties, that it was thought he could not much longer have extended his usurped administration; but when that powerful hand was removed, which conducted the government, every one expected a sudden dissolution of the baseless fabric. Richard, his son, possessed no talents for government, and only the virtues of private life; yet the council recognised his succession. His brother Henry, who governed Ireland with popularity, insured him the obedience of that kingdom; and Monk, who was much attached to the family of Cromwell, proclaimed the new protector in Scotland. Above ninety addresses from the counties and most considerable corporations congratulated Richard on his accession; and a parliament being called, all the commons at first, without hesitation, signed an engagement not to alter the present government.

A. D.

1659.

But there was another quarter from which greater dangers were justly apprehended. The most considerable officers of the army, with Fleetwood and Lambert at their head, were entering into cabals against Richard. The young protector, having neither resolution nor penetration, was prevailed on to give his consent for calling a general council of officers, who were no sooner assembled, than they voted a remonstrance, in which they lamented that the good old cause, as they termed it, was neglected; and

they proposed, as a remedy, that the whole military power should be intrusted to some person, in whom they might all confide. The protector was justly alarmed at these movements among the officers; and some of his partisans offered to put an end to these intrigues by the death of Lambert; but Richard declared that he would not purchase power by such sanguinary measures.

The parliament was no less alarmed at these military cabals, and passed a vote, that there should be no general council of officers, without the protector's consent. This brought matters to a crisis. The officers hastened to Richard, and demanded the dissolution of the parliament. The protector wanted the resolution to deny, and possessed little ability to resist this demand; and he soon after signed his own resignation in form. Henry, the deputy of Ireland, was endowed with the same moderate disposition as his brother; and though his popularity and influence in that country were very considerable, he quietly resigned his authority and returned to England.

Thus fell, at once, the protectorate house of Cromwell; but, by a rare fortune, it suffered no molestation. Richard continued to possess an estate, which he had burdened with a debt contracted for the interment of his father. After the restoration, though unmolested, he travelled for some years, and then returning to England, lived to an extreme old age. He was beloved for his social virtues, and happier in tranquillity and retirement than he could have been by the applause of empty fame and the gratifications of the most successful ambition.

The council of officers, in whom the supreme authority was now lodged, agreed to revive the long parliament. The members little exceeded seventy in number; but they took care to thwart the measures of the officers; and they appointed Fleetwood lieutenant-general only during the pleasure of the house.

The conduct of the parliament gave great disgust to the general-officers, who resolved to dissolve an assembly by which they were vehemently opposed. Accordingly, Lambert drew together some troops, and intercepting the members as they came to the house, sent them home under a military escort.

The officers now found themselves again in possession of

supreme power; but to save appearances, they elected twenty-three persons, called a committee of safety, which they pretended to invest with sovereign authority. Throughout the three kingdoms there prevailed nothing but melancholy fears of a bloody massacre to the nobility and gentry, and of perpetual servitude to the rest of the people.

But amidst these gloomy prospects, a means was preparing for the king to mount in peace the throne of his ancestors. General George Monk, to whose prudence and loyalty the restoration of the monarchy is chiefly to be ascribed, was the second son of an honourable family in Devonshire, but somewhat gone to decay. He had betaken himself, in early youth, to the profession of arms; and by his humane disposition he gained the good will of the soldiers, who usually called him honest George Monk. He was remarkable for his moderation; and, from the candour of his behaviour, he fell under suspicion of the royalists, and was suspended for a time. At the siege of Nantwich, he was taken prisoner by Fairfax, and sent to the Tower, where he endured, about two years, all the rigours of poverty and confinement; and it was not till after the royalists were totally subdued that he recovered his liberty.

Monk, however distressed, had alway refused the most inviting offers from the parliament; but Cromwell, sensible of his merit, prevailed on him to engage in the wars against the Irish, who were considered as rebels both by the king and parliament. He afterwards fought in Scotland, and on the reduction of that kingdom, was left with the supreme command. In that capacity, he gave satisfaction both to the people and the soldiery; and foreseeing that the good will of the army might eventually be of great service to him, he cultivated their friendship with assiduity and success.

Hearing that Lambert was advancing northward, Monk sent commissioners to treat with the committee of safety; but his chief aim was to gain time, and relax the preparations of his enemies. In the mean time, the nation had fallen into anarchy. While Lambert's forces were assembling at Newcastle, Hazelrig and Morley took possession of Portsmouth for the parliament; and admiral Lawson, entering the river Thames, declared on the same side. The city of London established a kind of separate government

within itself; and Fleetwood was unable to support the baseless fabric, which was every where falling to pieces.

Monk, who had passed the Tweed, though informed of the restoration of parliament, continued to advance at the head of about six thousand men. In all the counties through which he passed, the gentry flocked to him with addresses, requesting that he would assist in restoring the nation to peace and tranquillity; but he affected not to favour them.

A. D.

Monk and his army soon reached the metropolis The common-council of London having refused to 1600.

submit to an assessment, and declared that till a free parliament imposed taxes they would make no payment, Monk was ordered to march into the city, and seize twelve persons the most obnoxious to the parliament. With this order he immediately complied, and apprehended as many as he could of the proscribed persons; but soon reflecting that by this action he had broke through the cautious ambiguity which he had hitherto maintained, and rendered himself the tool of a parliament whose tyranny had long been odious to the nation, he wrote a letter to the house, requiring them, in the name of the citizens, soldiers, and whole commonwealth, to issue writs within a week for the filling of their assembly, and to fix the time for their own dissolution and the meeting of a new parliament. He then marched with his army into the city, and requesting the mayor to summon a common council, he apologized for his late conduct, and desired that they might mutually plight their faith for a strict union between the city and army, in every measure which might conduce to the settlement of the commonwealth.

It would be impossible to describe the joy which this intelligence conveyed; and the funeral of the parliament was celebrated by the populace with marks of hatred and derision. The secluded members were invited by the general to enter the house, and appeared to be the majority. Votes were passed favourable to the views of Monk; and writs were issued for the immediate assembling of a new parliament.

When the parliament met, sir Harbottle Grimstone, a gentleman well affected to the king's service, was chosen speaker; and the general having sounded the inclinations of the assembly, gave directions to the president of the

council to inform them, that one sir John Granville, a ser vant of the king, was now at the door with a letter to the com mons. This intelligence excited the loudest acclamations; Granville was called in; and, without one dissenting voice, a committee was appointed to prepare an answer.

The king's declaration, which was immediately published, offered a general amnesty, with the exception only of such persons as should be made by parliament; it promised liberty of conscience; and assured the soldiers of all their arrears, with a continuance of the same pay.

The lords, perceiving the spirit by which the kingdom, as well as the commons, was animated, hastened to reinstate themselves in their ancient authority; and the two houses attended, while the king was proclaimed with great solem nity in Palace-yard, at Whitehall, and at Temple-bar. A committee of lords and commons was despatched to invite his majesty to return, and take possession of the throne; and the king, embarking at Scheveling, landed at Dover, where he was met by Monk, whom he cordially embraced. On the 29th of May, which was also his birthday, Charles entered London, amidst the most joyful congratulations.

1660.

CHAP. XVI.

The Reign of Charles II.

WHEN Charles II. ascended the throne, he was thirty years of age. He possessed a vigorous constitution, A. D. a fine shape, a manly figure, and a graceful air; and though his features were harsh, yet his counte nance was lively and engaging. No prince ever received a crown with the more cordial attachment of his subjects; and the ease and affability of his manners were well calculated to confirm this popularity.

In the choice of his ministers, the king gave great satis faction to the nation. Sir Edward Hyde, created earl of Clarendon, was chancellor and prime-minister; the duke of Ormond, steward of the household; the earl of Southampton, high-treasurer; and sir Edward Nicholas, secre tary of state. Admiral Montague, who had carried a fleet