LX. 1653. had furmounted mighty difficulties; yet was it CHAг. an injury, they faid, to the reft of the nation to be excluded from bearing any part in the fervice of their country. It was now full time for them to give place to others; and they therefore defired them, after fettling a council, who might execute the laws during the interval, to fummon a new parliament, and establish that free and equal government, which they had fo long promised to the people. THE parliament took this remonftrance in ill part, and made a fharp reply to the council of officers. The officers infifted on their advice; and by mutual altercation and oppofition the breach became ftill wider between the army and the commonwealth. Cromwel, finding matters ripe for his purpose, called a council of officers, in order to come to a determination with regard to the public fettlement. As he had here many friends, fo had he alfo fome opponents. Harrison having affured the council, that the general fought only to pave the way for the government of Jefus and his faints, major Streater brifkly replied, that Jefus ought then to come quickly: For if he delayed it till after Christmas, he would come too late; he would find his place Occupied. While the officers were in debate, colonel Ingold by informed Cromwel, that the parliament was fitting, and had come to a refolution not to diffolve themfelves, but to fill up the house by new elections; and was at that very time engaged in deliberations with regard to 20th April. LX. 1653. c II A P. this expedient. Cromwel in a rage immediately haftened to the houfe, and carried a body of 300 foldiers along with him. Some of them he placed at the door, fome in the lobby, fome on the stairs. He firft addreffed himself to his friend St. John, and told him, that he had come with a purpose of doing what grieved him to the very foul, and what he had earnestly with tears befought the Lord not to impose upon him: But there was a neceffity, in order to the glory of God and good of the nation. He fat down for fome time, and heard the debate. He beckoned Harrison, and told him, that he now judged the parliament ripe for a diffolution. «Sir, faid Harrison, "the work is very great and "dangerous: I defire you seriously to confider, "before you engage in it." "You fay well," replied the general; and thereupon fat ftill about a quarter of an hour. When the queftion was ready to be put, he faid again to Harrifon, "This is the time: I muft do it. And fuddenly ftarting up, he loaded the parliament with the vileft reproaches, for their tyranny, ambition, oppreffion, and robbery of the public. Then ftamping with his foot, which was a signal for the foldiers to enter, "For fhame," faid he to the parliament, "get you gone: give place to "honefter men; to those who will more faith"fully discharge their truft. You are no longer a parliament: 1 tell you, you are no longer a parliament. The Lord has done with you; "He has chofen other inftruments for carrying 1653. " on his work. Sir Harry Vane exclaiming cHAP IN this furious manner, which fo well denotes his genuine character, did Cromwel, without the leaft oppofition, or even murmur, annihilate that famous affembly, which had filled all Europe with the renown of its actions, and with astonishment at its crimes, and whofe commencement was not more ardently defired by the people than was its final diffolution. All parties now reaped fucceffively the melancholy pleasure of feeing the injuries, which they had fuffered, revenged on their enemies; and that too by the fame arts, which had been practifed against them. The king had, in fome inftances, ftretched. LX. 1653. CHA P. his prerogative beyond its juft bounds; and aided by the church, had well nigh put an end to all the liberties and privileges of the nation. The prefbyterians checked the progrefs of the court and clergy, and excited, by cant and hypocrify, the populace first to tumults, then to war, against the king, the peers, and all the royalifts. No fooner had they reached the pinnacle of grandeur, than the independents, under the appearance of ftill greater fanctity, inftigated the army against them, and reduced them to fubjection. The independents, amidst their empty dreams of liberty, or rather of dominion, were oppreffed by the rebellion of their own fervants, and found themfelves at once expofed to the infults of power and hatred of the people. By recent, as well as all ancient example, it was become evident, that illegal violence, with whatever pretences it may be covered, and whatever object it may purfue, muft inevitably end at last in the arbitrary and defpotic govern .ment of a fingle perfon. Barebone's parlia Infurrection of the royalifts -State of Europe War with Spain Jamaica conquered Success and death of admiral Blake Domeftic adminiftration of Cromwel Humble Petition and Advice Dunkirk taken And Sickness of the protector His death character. . LXI. 1653. Cromwel's birth and OLIVER CROMWEL, in whofe hands the c H A P. diffolution of the parliament had left the whole power, civil and military, of three kingdoms, was born at Huntingdon, the last year of the former century, of a good family; though he private life: himself, being the fon of a fecond brother, inherited but a fmall eftate from his father. In the course of his education he had been fent to the univerfity; but his genius was found little fitted for the calm and elegant occupations of learning; and he made small proficiencies in his ftudies. He even threw himself into a diffolute and diforderly courfe of life; and he confumed, in gaming, drinking, debauchery, and country - riots, the more early years of his youth, and diffipated part of his patrimony. All of a fudden, the spirit of reformation feized him; he married, affected a |