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Orders re

lative to the Tower.

Sir Anthony, having taken these steps in rela- A.D. 1660. tion to the army and the navy, obtained an order from the council of state, * that it should be referred to himself, Mr. Holles, and five others, or any three of them, to "inform themselves what officers, civil or military, in the Tower of London were dangerous, and not fit to be continued in a place of so much importance:" and a few days afterwards, other orders were issued out, giving a power" to remove from thence all such persons as were not actually employed in the service of the state."

vours the

tion.

Sir Anthony, by thus remodelling the army and the navy, and securing the Tower, provided against any future relapse of General Monk. Monk saw this, and how ineffectual it would be Monk fafor him now to attempt to oppose or obstruct the restoraprogress of the restoration. When, therefore, he found the current of affairs turning so strong that way, he had sufficient sagacity to fall in with it, and preserve, at least, the appearance of steering the vessel. The honour of bringing about this event was naturally enough ascribed to him,

* The original order, signed John Rushworth, clerk of the

council, is among Lord Shaftes-
bury's papers.

A.D. 1660. merely from his command, which made him the

Farther

steps of the

principal object in view.

The council of state took all the necessary steps council of for preserving the public peace. They published

state.

Parliament.

a proclamation for preventing tumults and disorders. They formed an engagement to be subscribed by the officers of the army, whereby these were to acquiesce in whatsoever should be done by the succeeding parliament; and such officers as refused to sign were immediately displaced, to make room for others, who were more complying. They likewise caused the act to be put in execution for electing members for the new parliament; and the people, being weary of the oppressions arising from so many changes of government, chose such representatives as were thought to be well inclined toward the restoration. These measures being taken by the council of state, the king, watchful to improve so favourable a crisis, sent Sir John Grenville from Breda with a declaration to be delivered to the parliament at their meeting.

Convention The new parliament met upon the five-andtwentieth day of April 1660. The lords chose the Earl of Manchester, and the commons Sir Harbottle Grimston, for their speakers. On the

1st of May, Sir John Grenville delivered the de- A.D. 1660. claration, with a letter from the king to the house of lords, as likewise to the house of commons.

66

In these were ample assurances of “a general pardon to all such as would lay hold of it within forty days, except those who should be excepted by the parliament; and a liberty was promised to tender consciences, and that none should be questioned for difference of opinion in matters of religion which did not disturb the peace of the kingdom." The two houses, the same day, voted that the government ought to be in king, lords, and

commons.

A select committee, of which Sir Anthony was one, was appointed to draw up an answer to the king's letter; and this answer was ordered to be kept by the clerk with such privacy, that no copy thereof might be taken by any person till it had been communicated to the king. 55 In this answer were contained thanks to the king for his esteem of parliaments, and his character of them,

55 If by this it is intended to be conveyed that the committee drew up and sent the letter, it is incorrect, as it underwent considerable revision by the whole house. The superscription "To the King's Most Excellent Majesty," could only be placed by the express order of the house.

VOL. I.

R

A.D. 1660. "that they were so necessary for the government of the kingdom, that neither prince nor people could be in any tolerable degree happy without them." The commons vindicated the honour of the last parliament, and declared them innocent of King Charles the First's murder; which they said was the act of a few ambitious and bloody persons. They said, that, after such an universal shaking of the foundations of government, great care must be had to repair the breaches; and much circumspection and industry used to provide things necessary for the strengthening of those repairs, and preventing whatsoever might disturb or awaken them: and since the king's own judgment had prompted to him the necessity of making the kingdom happy, by the advancement of religion, the security of the laws, liberties, and estates of the people, and the removing all jealousies and animosities, they could not doubt of his effectual performance of those things. Two days afterwards, the following commissioners were chosen to be sent to Breda: viz. the Earls of Warwick, Oxford, and Middlesex, Lord Viscount Hereford, Lord Berkley, and Lord Brook, for the peers; Lord Fairfax, Lord Falkland, Lord Bruce, Lord Castleton, Lord Herbert, Lord Man

restored.

deville, Sir Horatio Townshend, Sir Anthony A.D. 1660. Ashley Cooper, Sir George Booth, Sir John Holland, Sir Henry Cholmly, and Denzil Holles, Esq., for the commons. These were ordered to The king present the humble invitation and supplication of the parliament, "That his majesty would be pleased to return, and take the government of the kingdom into his hands:" and on the 8th of May, the king was solemnly proclaimed, the speakers and members of both houses attending.

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