Presbyterian party was doing in the house; and A.D. 1647. made such use of it to them, that they, who were before in the power of the parliament, now united together under Cromwell, who immediately led them away to London, giving out menaces against Holles and his party as they marched, who, with Stapleton and some others, were forced to fly; and thereby the Independent party becoming the stronger, they, as they called it, purged the house, and turned out all the Presbyterian party. Cromwell some time after, meeting Sir Anthony, told him, 'I am beholden to you for your kindness to me; for you, I hear, were for letting me go without punishment; but your friend, God be thanked! was not wise enough to take your advice.'" If this advice of Sir Anthony's had been followed, it might probably have contributed to the settling of the nation, and have prevented the fatal catastrophe of the king's death. For immediately upon Cromwell's going to the army, Cornet Joyce went with a party of horse, took the king away by force from the commissioners appointed by the parliament to attend him, and carried him to the army; which was done without the knowledge of Fairfax (as he acquainted the parliament), The king the army. carried to A.D. 1647. and plainly by the direction and artifice of Crom Insolent proceedings well. Cromwell, while with the army, neglected no of the army. means to inflame them; and they, when they had the king in their power, became more violent in their conduct. A resolution had been taken in the house of commons to disband them, which might perhaps have been effected if Cromwell had been sent into Ireland. To prevent this, the army sent a petition to the parliament, couched in high terms, against their disbanding; and, to support their petition, they marched directly to St. Albans in their way towards London. In order to remove those who were most capable of obstructing them, and to intimidate others who might not be well disposed towards them, some officers were appointed to present to the commons, in the name and behalf of the army, an impeachment against Mr. Holles and ten other members, who were the spirit and support of the Presbyterian party in the house. These gentlemen immediately withdrew, and several of them retired into foreign countries. A.D. 1648. tried and The parliament being thus under the command of the army, and consequently under the influence of Cromwell, soon proceeded to the trial and execution of the king; who, during his confine- A.D. 1648. ment and at his death, behaved with great mag nanimity. Commands After this, Cromwell was appointed by the par- A.D. 1649. liament commander-in-chief of the forces in Ire- conferred upon Cromland, a promotion which was highly pleasing to well. him; and his success there was great, and equal to his conduct. In the year 1650, on Fairfax's re- A.D. 1650. signing his commission, he was made general of all the forces in England and Ireland. Second's Scotland. In the month of June, King Charles the Second Charles the arrived in Scotland, where he had been proclaim- arrival in ed by the parliament of that kingdom. He applied himself chiefly to the Marquis of Argyle, who had the greatest influence and credit. To gain his esteem he put on an appearance of devotion, and by his advice he for some time regulated his conduct. He gave a promise under his hand and seal to make him a duke, a knight of the garter, and one of his bed-chamber; as likewise to be influenced by his counsels; and that, when restored to his just rights, he would pay to the marquis forty thousand pounds,* which was *The marquis, soon after the Restoration, was tried, condemned, and executed, for VOL. I. having acted with Cromwell M A.D. 1650. due to him. Great part of this money had been lent to the king, and the rest expended in his service. It was principally by the marquis's assistance, (after Cromwell's victory at Dunbar, September the 3rd, 1650,) that the army was raised with which the king marched to Worcester, where he met with a total defeat. His com pliances there. A.D. 1651. Sir Antho Whilst the king was in Scotland, to ingratiate himself with the kirk, he complied with all their fanatical proposals; and even took the covenant, which was rudely pressed upon him. This gave such jealousy to the high church party in England, that they forgot their principle of the divine right of sovereigns, and offered, by Dr. Morley, their interest to the Duke of York to place him on the throne of England in the room of his brother. The king's compliance with the covenanters was, however, only for a short time; and when he left Scotland he quitted presbytery, and conceived a greater aversion to the professors of it from the severity of the discipline to which he had been compelled to submit. The parliament, after the battle at Worcester, ny secured having some jealousy of Sir Anthony, (who had openly declared his dislike to their proceedings as a delinquent. and violent measures,) secured him as a delin- A.D. 1651. quent; and he continued some time under their displeasure, till they found themselves in danger of being dispossessed of their power and government by the general. Things being in this situation, in order to gain his friendship, (as it was known that there was a misunderstanding between Cromwell and him, who saw early that the designs of Cromwell were to raise the power of the army, and himself by their means,) on the 17th of March 1652, it was resolved by the house that A.D. 1652. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper should be pardoned of all delinquency. arbitrary conduct. Soon after this, Cromwell, being flushed with Cromwell's success, gave a loose to his ambition. In the most arbitrary manner, and in the most insolent terms, he suspended the very being of the parliament, and assumed to himself the administration of government. When he had obtained this, he knew he must be supported in it by men of spirit and abilities; and he endeavoured to secure in his service and interest such as were distinguished for them. Among others, he applied himself to Sir Endeavours Anthony, and in so open a manner, that it was reported he would make him lord chancellor; but Sir Anthony was steady against all his arts and to gain over Sir Anthony. |
