A.D. 1644. A new set of men had obtained influence in the house of commons, and their views seemed to be not so much a restoration or improvement of the constitution, as a total change of it. The former leading members of the parliament, such as the Earls of Essex, Bedford, and Manchester, among the lords; Hampden, Pym, Holles, and others, in the house of commons, had very sincere intentions and extensive views for the public good. They had begun the opposition on account of the grievances that were introduced and supported by the court, and they had prosecuted a redress of these with great steadiness. When the civil war broke out, many of them maintained by the sword those rights and liberties which they had avowed and supported in parliament. Some of the principal members of the commons, particularly Hampden and Pym, died in the beginning of the war; others, who grew weary of the service, retired into their several counties. In their room a new party had been growing up; these were the Independents, who had all the fire of enthusiasm, who were more determined in their measures, and therefore more constant in their attendance. they were bent on pushing things to an extremity between the king and the parliament, they re

As

denying

1644-5.

solved to lay aside the Earls of Essex, Bedford, A.D. 1644. and others, who had the command of the army, and were desirous of an accommodation. For this purpose they contrived what was called the self- Selfdenying ordinance, by which no member of either ordinance. house of parliament could, during the war, enjoy or execute any office or command, civil or military. This was strongly opposed by Mr. Holles, Sir A. D. Philip Stapleton, and others of the Presbyterian party; and as strenuously supported by Sir Henry Vane, Oliver Cromwell, and the rest of the Independents. Cromwell, who was both a member of the house of commons and lieutenant-general of the army, was the principal contriver of it; and had at that time formed a scheme for raising himself, which he afterwards carried on with wonderful success, and to a greater extent than he had probably at first designed. In pursuance of this ordinance, the Earls of Essex, Denbigh, and Manchester, Sir William Waller, Sir Philip Stapleton, and others, resigned their commissions; and Sir Thomas Fairfax, a man of great bravery and conduct, of rigid honour in his principles, but of too easy a temper, was made general of all the parliament's forces. Cromwell went down into the west just before the former officers sur

A.D. 1645. rendered their commissions, and so influenced Fairfax, that he wrote to the parliament, representing the necessity of continuing Cromwell in his commands; to which, by several ordinances from time to time, they assented. Cromwell, in the name of Fairfax, new modelled the army; which, by putting in officers who were known only to himself, he entirely governed. This army carried on the war against the king with greater vigour and with superior success, until he was at last so much reduced, his forces being routed in almost every engagement, and the chief of his garrisons having surrendered, that he made his escape privately from Oxford, and threw himself into the hands of the Scotch army at Newark. A.D. 1646. The Scotch were then in possession of Newcastle, Carlisle, and other English garrisons; but they The Scotch agreed to deliver up these, and likewise the king,

deliver up

the king.

to the parliament, upon the payment of a considerable sum of money. The parliament, soon after the agreement, sent commissioners to the Scotch army to receive the king; who was conducted, under a safe guard, to Holmby House in Conduct of Northamptonshire. After this, the English army, having no enemies to encounter, and being elated with success, began to grow mutinous; forgetting

the army.

their masters, who raised them, and the principles A.D. 1646. for which they had fought so long. Absolutely

designs.

under the influence of Cromwell, they became subservient to all his ambitious designs; and assumed the boldness to petition against, and censure, not only the measures of the parliament, but even any individual members whom he pointed out to their dislike. They established a council of officers to superintend the affairs of the army; which officers were some of Cromwell's principal confidents and agents. This step made his inten- Cromwell's tions very evident, and alarmed those members of the house of commons who had the welfare of their country still in view, and courage to pursue it. Among these, Mr. Holles was one of the most eminent; he foresaw the coming danger, and determined to resist it while it might yet be withstood. He formed a resolution to attack Cromwell publicly in the house of commons. This design he communicated to his friend Sir Anthony, who attempted in vain to dissuade him from his purpose. His profound knowledge of the state of affairs, and the relative strength of parties, appears from the following account of this transaction, as given by Mr. Locke.*

Locke's Memoirs relating to Lord Shaftesbury.

A.D. 1647.

Sir Anthony's

regard to Cromwell.

From the time of the reconciliation of Sir An

thony and Mr. Holles, they had been very hearty advice with friends. "It happened one morning that Sir Anthony calling upon Mr. Holles, as he often did, he found him in a great heat against Cromwell, who then had the command of the army, and a great interest in it. The provocation may be read at large in the pamphlets of that time, for which Mr. Holles was resolved,* he said, to bring him to punishment. Sir Anthony dissuaded him, all he could, from any such attempt, showing him the danger of it; and told him it would be sufficient to remove him out of the way, by sending him with a command into Ireland. This, Cromwell, as things stood, would be glad to accept; but this would not satisfy Mr. Holles. When he came to the house, the matter was brought into debate; and it was moved that Cromwell, and those guilty with him, should be punished. Cromwell, who was in the house, no sooner heard of it but he stole out, took horse, and rode immediately to the army, which, as I remember, was at Triploe Heath. There he acquainted them what the

*Lord Clarendon takes notice of this design against Cromwell, but says that Cromwell hearing of it, made his

escape to the army the next morning, without going to the house.