Advice of his Councill in case of death or Breach of trust to substitute new Privy Counsellors A Competent Revenue to be setled for the maintenance of Ten thousand Horse and 15. thousand Foot and the Navy and not to be altered or lessened but by the Advice of the Council upon the disbanding of them the money to be brought to the Exchequer No new Levies nor Laws to be made without consent in Parliament All forfeited Lands unsold to belong to the Protector The Protectorate to be elective but the Royal Family to be excluded Oliver Cromwell to be the present Protector All places of trust and Office to be in the Protectors disposal if in Interval of Parliament to be approved and confirmed in Parliament The Rest for the purity and toleration of Religion out of which the Papist and Protestant were to be exempted and all Laws in favour of them to be abrogated All Sales of Parliament to be confirmed Articles of War to be made good And lastly the Protector and his Successor to be bound by Oath to observe these present Articles and to uphold the Peace and Welfare of the Nation which Oath was in 〈◊〉 verba I promise in the presence of God not to violate or infâ—inge the matters and things contained in the Instrument but to observe and cause the same to be observed and in all things to the best of my understanding govern the Nations according to the Laws Statutes and Customes to seek their peace and cause Justice Law to be equally administred The Feat needed no more security as good altogether as its Authority in this following Proclamation which was published throughout England Scotland and Ireland in these words Where as the late Parliament Dissolved themselves and resigning their Powers and Authorities the Government of the Common-wealth of England Scotland and Ireland in a Lord Protector and saccessive Triennial Parliaments is now established And whereas Oliver Cromwell Captain General of all the Forces of this Common wealth is declared Lord Protector of the said Nations and hath accepted thereof We have therefore thought it necessary as we hereby do to make Publication of the Premises and strictly to charge and command all and every Person or Persons of what quality and condition soever in any of the said three Nations to take notice hereof and to conform and submit themselves to the Government so established And all Sheriffs Mayor Bailiffs c. are required to publish this Proclamation to the end none may have cause to pretend ignorance in this behalf This Miscellany of the Laws and new projections suted a great many humours and different perswasions of the Phanaticks Independents Anabaptists and others being the second part of the Alchoran And because there is occasion for it we will discourse a little of the present State of Religion and what opinion Cromwel best aspected The Orthodox Protestants were wholly supprest and yet some Reverend persons as Dr. Vsher the Bishop of Armagh and Dr. Brownrig the Bishop of Exeter received some shews of respect and reverence from Him which he more manifestly boasted in the funeral Expences of the Learned Vsher and this to captate a Reputation of his Love to Scholars and the meek modest and vertuous Clergy The Presbyterian was rather tolerated then countenanced and yet such of them as would comply with his Court greatnesse were much in his eye and his favour for others of them he cared not pleasingly expressing himself how he had brought under the Pride and Arrogance of that Sect making those that would allow no liberty to others sue for it for themselves The Independents and Anabaptists he loved and preferred by turns and was most constant to them as the men that would and did support his Usurpation only he could by no means endure the Fifth Monarchy men though by their dotages he had raised himself to this height and therefore Feak and Rogers were by him committed to Prison in the Castle of Windsor where they continued a long while and not only so but he set Kiffin the Anabaptist whom he had taken out of design into his favour with his party together by the ears with Feaks to the raising of a Feud between them the Ballance of his Security in the Government The like he did betwixt the Presbyterian the Independent a subdivided Schisme from the Church of England as Feaks and Kiffins were from Independency whom when out of his zeal to the Unity of Christian Religion he seemed to bring together to compose and accommodate all Differences in the near probability of such expedients he would divide and more irreconciliably sever and alienate And this was all his practical Devotion But to return Great shooting of Guns at night and Volleys of Acclamations were given at the close of this mock solemnity by Cromwell's Janizaries while the Cavaliers were more joyfully disposed at the Hopes of the Kings Affairs but no body of any Account giving the Usurper a good word or miskiditche with his greatness save what was uttered in Fur by my Lord Mayor and the Complices in this Fact who tickled his ears with the Eccho of the Proclamation done with the usual Formalities These Triumphs so disgusted Harrison as also Col. Rich that he withdrew himself from the Gang and turned publique Preacher or Railer against his Comrade Oliver who was glad to be rid of such a busie and impertinent Assistant in the moduling of Government so Cromwell had now two Common-wealth-contradivided Factions against him the old and the new Parliaments and therefore it nearly concerned him to make much of the Anabaptist and Sectary which now succeeded Independency as the Religion maintained and favoured above all other and Kiffin a great Leader and Teacher was now in great request at the Court at White-hall and contrarily Sir Henry Vane jun. was look'd on askue as also Sir Arth. Hazilrig and Bradshaw and Scot and so the Fabel builders were confounded one amongst another The Council appointed by the Officers or taken rather by himself by whose advice he was to govern were 14. at first Lord Lambert Lord Viscount Lisle General Desbrow Sir Gilbert Pickring Major General Skippon Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper Walter Strickland Esq Sir Charles Wolsley Col. Philip Jones Francis Rous Esquire Richard Major Esquire John Lawrence Esquire Col. Edward Montague Col. William Sydenham I should have mentioned the Dutch War in its place which aggrandized him with the usual victorious successe but because he was never personally engaged in the Service but owed this Garland as he did the glory of Dunbar to the noble General Monk and wore but a second-hand Triumphal Robe I will not constellate Him with that Hero's Splendor and Brightness of Fame That which properly concerns Cromwell is rather the Dishonour of that War the Peace that ensued the Conclusion of it for the Stomach of that Nation had been so humbled by several great losses their Trade so spoyled and their Subjects so impoverish'd that
eight miles beyond Haddington the number of the slain vvere 40000. 9000 Prisoners many vvhereof vvere desperately wounded and 10000 Arms all their Ammunition Bag and Bagage Prisoners of Note were Sir James Lâ—sdale Lieutenant General of the Army the Lord Libberton imployed by the States to the King lately and died of his wounds presently after the fight at Dunbar Adjutant General â—ickerton Scout-master Campbel Sir William Douglass Lord Cranston and Colonel Gurden 12 Lieutenant Colonels 6 Majors 42 Captains 75 Lieutenants 17 Cornets 2 Quarter-masters 110 Ensigns Foot and Horse Colours 200. 27 Guns some Brass Iron and Leather with the loss of not above 300. English and one Major Rookisty who died after of his wounds there was likewise taken the Purse to the great Seal of Scotland which was presently sent up to London and the Colours with those taken before at Preston ordered forthwith to be hâ— up in Westminster-Hall The full Contents of all which was signified in a Letter from the General in his usual strain of devout zeal tending very much to strengthen the Independent against the Presbyterian at home and the advancement of a Common-wealth to the imitation of the rest of the World the latter part thereof for the severeâ— Aspect it had towards the Ministry in favour of Anabaptists with which the Army swarmed I have here inserted The Ministers of Scotland have hindred the passage of those things meaning his affection to the good people of Scotland to those to whom 〈◊〉 intended them and now we see that notionly the deceived people but some of the Ministers three or four are fallen in the fight This is the great hand of the Lord and worthy of the consideration of those who taking into their hands the instrument of a foolish Shepheard to wit medling with worldly policies and mixtures of earthly powers to set up that which they call the Kingdom of Christ which is neither it nor if it were it would such be found effectual to that end and neglect or trust not to the Word of God the sword of the Spirit which is alone able and powerful to that end and when trusted to will be found effectually able c. This is HUMBLY offered for their sakes who have lately turned too much aside that they might return again to Preach Jesus Christ c. and then no doubt they will deserve and find your protection and encouragement Which humble offer was to command a strict Inquisition upon them as those most probable to obstruct the new module of his future greatness The glory of this field though it were by his own party ascribed to his valour yet it laid a great blemish on his conduct and indeed the rescue of his honour is principally to be referred to Colonel Monck whose company he had obliged in this expedition being very understanding in the choice and as subtile in the shaking off his Friends and Familiars He had newly had a Regiment conferred on him made up of recruits and other imperfect companies and did now at the Generals request draw and design the fight and embattle the Army and seconded that deliberate speculation with forwardest of action for which indeed most of the Officers were very praise worthy After the fight Cromwell used some catching courtesies to the wounded Soldiers and the feebler sort of Prisoners but the poor Highlanders and such like paid dear for that partial kindness shewed their Countrymen as many as with difficulty lived being sold for slaves On the 14. of September General Cromwel marched out of Edenburgh with 7. days provision for the Scots had not left any manner of subsistance betwixt that and Sterling and on the 15. reached beyond Linlithgow but through bad weather was constrained to retreat thâ—ther that night for shelter the 16. to Falkiâ—k within a Mile of Sterling from whence fresh Letters of the old strain were sent into that City but the Trumpeter was not suffered to enter whereupon order was given for a storm but upon better thoughts of the danger forborn so that on the 19. of September they returned to Linlithgow whither came General Dean to him from Shipboard being newly arrived at Leith in the Speaker Frigot and fortified the Town being the road way betwixt Edenburgh and Sterling and a sufficient Garrison was left to maintain it and so on the 22. the English returned to Edenburgh where Coll. Whally had offered the Ministers fled to the Castle leave 〈◊〉 come out and preach in their several Parishes but they refused Another Cajole to the Kirk Cromwell encamping and traversing hereabouts with his Army but not being able to effect any thing against the main Army of the Kings that lay on Sterling-side resolved to be doing with a Patty that then lay in the West of Scotland under the Command of the Colonels Ker and Straughan with whom Cromwell had maintained an open intercourse and had proffered them a Cessation driving at this to take them off and subdivide the Nation in several parties and the effect of his Papers taxing the Scots with the admission of the King upon the old Malignant score did operate as he projected for thereupon out-comes a Declaration or Remonstrance from these Western fellows full of saucy and treasonable language which accordingly was voted both by the Commissioners of the Kirk and the Committee of Estates to be scandalous and seditious Sir James Stuart and Sir John Cheisly and one Mr. Leviston who seemed to countenance it were strictly watched and Straughan taken and made Prisoner in Dunbarton and after in Cathnes-castle whence he escaped and came over to the English at Edenburgh but 't was more the sacred hunger of Gold then zeal for Religion made him first betray his King and his Country after and we shall see all Cromwell's Proselytes of that Nation both Dundasse Warrestâ—n and Giffan to love nothing so much as the Mammon of Presbytery Straughan thus removed Major General Lambert was sent to prevail with Ker either by blows or words the latter being thought as feisible as the former and accordingly on the last of November having difficultly found and passed a Ford over Hambleton-river Car got notice of it and resolutely fell into the Major Generals quarters at a Town of that name but the Horse being in a readiness to receive him he lost a 100. men had his right hand almost cut off and was taken Prisoner and the rest of his party being 5. Regiments of Horse 2. whereof were the Earl of Cassells and Lord Kirconbrights pursued as far as Ayre where Commissary General Whalley was now left to command in chief in those Western parts Cromwell had marched with his Army this way as far as Glasgow in October but understanding or dreading the enemy would come and relieve Edinburgh-Castle with Provisions and another Governour being in Treaty with the present for a summe of money he forthwith retired having there took and garrisoned two Houses while Coll. Whalley took in Dalkeith and another
Impiety and zeal to Christ or his Worship for he had lately struck a Bargain with the Jews that deny him but the Ministers who were to dispute with Ben Israel their Agent dissenting from his covetous project He only gulled them of their earnest mony By this mixture of subtlety with Cruelty and Rapine of all sorts he had so establish'd himself and his formidable greatness engaging in a forraign War with the French against the Spaniard in Flanders whither he sent Commissary General Reynolds with 6000 men who joyntly took in St. Venant Mardike in the close of the Summer 1647 the latter being put into English hands that the Royal party began truly to dread his mischievous power the effects whereof were felt also in very remote parts of the World in the Polish and Danish War by his partaking with and assisting to the King of Sweden when he pretended a Mediation between them having dispatcht Mr. Rolt of his Bedchamber and Colonel Jephson to Carolus Gustavus and Mr. now Sir Philip Meadows to Frederick King of Denmark to the diverting the German Emperour to the care of his own Dominions and by that means depriving the Spaniard of his aid and consequently frustrating all His Majesties designs of recovering his rights to these Kingdoms I must omit his Successes by Blake at Porta Ferina and Sancta Cruz for which the English valour was famous as also Sir Richard Stayners taking and Spoyling 7. Galleys from the West Indies laden with Plate which were substantial Tropnies and made his power dreadful And therefore now he thought it time to shew his Son Richard to the World whom to â—avoid the Suspicion of designing the Soveraignty to be Hereditary in his Family and to amuse Lambert who would not brook other Successor then himself His Kival if not Superiour now in the affection of the Army He had kept in the Country in Hampshire where he had married the Daughter of one Major of Southampton with a very plentiful fortune the support and maintenance of him now among the Conveâ—e of the Centry Royaâ—sts to insinuate into their affections and good liking by some kind of Offices and Civilities he procured from â—ourt and by his own debonair and affable Dispositions The first publiâ—ue Honour done him was the Chancellorship of Oxford in which he was â—emnly invested after his Father had purposely resigned it at Whitchall next he was â—worn a Pirvy Councellor and made a Colon I in the Army to have an interest in all parties and parts of the body politique and not long after in the next Parliament after their recesse the first Lord of the other House and now styled the most noble Lord Richard and rife discourses there were of Richard the Fourth but it proved no more then the story of Queen Dick. His Son Harry Cromwell lately married to Sir William Russells Daughter he likewise sent in the â—lity of Lord Lieutemant to succeed his Son Law Fleetwood in Ireland only Scotland could not be taken from General Monk and disposed in the hanâ—s of his more consident Relations Flectwood or Desborough being designed for that Government â—s Daughters likewise were all married Elizabeth his Darling before his late Greatnesle to a private Gentleman one Mr. Cleypoâ—e of Warwickshire his Daughter Mary to the Lord Viâ—count Falconbridge the noble Family of the Bellasis and his younger Daughter Frances to Mr. â—obert Rich eldest on to Robert Lord Rich and â—randson to Robert Earl of Warwick all three whereof dyed within one year after this unfortunate and unglorious Match So that he thought he had established his House but the Foundation being laid in Sand tempered with Blood the next gust and boy sterous Wind blew it like Chaffe and seattered and dispersed it to nothing From this haughty confidence he was invited to call another Parliament and to assume from thence the long awaited result of his Ambition the Crown Imperial of England All other things moreover did â—eâ—m to comspire to the same purpose except the Levelling Fifth Monarchy party and Lambert for the Presbyterian and other Sectâ—ries vvho had their hands full of Sacrilegious and Treasonable Penny-vvorths of Ecclesiâ—stical and Crovvn and Delinquents Lands vvere most eagerly desirous of a settlement of the Government by Law that might secure and confirm their purchases the more indifferent Royallists preferred any Legal no manner how or what Authority rather then be continually tisked and oppressed by the outragious unlimited violence of the Major Generals whom Cromwel had on purpose set up as he did the little or foolish Parliament to make another Title he gaped at more acceptable to the people As to the Fifth Monarchy men he had neerly pried into that danger and seized and took the chief of that party among whom was Venner the Wine-Cooper being engaged somewhat after in a Plot in a house in Shorditch where some Arms were taken and and an Ensign with a Lyon couchant of the Tribe of judah painted in it having this Motto Who shall raise him up And hereupon Harrison Carew Rich Vice-Admiral Lawson Courtney Portman Day and the like were imprisoned in remote places as Col. Overton Major Holms and others of the same party had been seized in Scotland and disbanded by Gen. Monck according to Cromwell's Order and sent up Prisoners to the Tower of London As to the Levellers he had lately discovered their practices and combinations against him and had likewise clapt up the chief of them one Major Wildman in order to his Tryal being taken at Marleborough inditing and drawing Declarations against him so that they were at a stand and a loss which â—ay to proceed to the unsetling and overthrow of his Tyrannical power procured by so many tricks and cheats put upon them by him so that afterwards when they began private Subscriptions to Petitions and Addresses to the Parliament against the Kingship he peremptorily upon their peril forbid them to intermeddle with their Consultations and so awed and dashed them that they never offered any more afterwards to hold up so much as a Finger against him Lambert was the only impediment and we shall see him neatly and quietly removed and discarded like the rest of his former Confidents This Olivarian Parliament brought together by these means was not lesse awed in its Election by the Major Generals they themselves and all their friends being returned for Members while the Gentry and other Honest men being confined or under some qualification or other could not or dared not appear particularly Col. Berkstead and Kiffin the Anabaptist by Voyces of Redcotes got themselves returned Knights of the Shire for Middlesex with Sir William Roberts and Mr. Chute 4 as the Instrument directed then in the Admission to the House where a Recognition of his Highness and the Government by a single person with a Guard of Soldiers was ready placed and unless each Member swallowed the one he might not pass the other by which means almost 200. were at the
above our own thoughts and desires so we shall and do in that of this great work which is behind put our selves wholly upon the Lord for a blessing professing we look not to stand one day without his support much less to bring to pass one of the things mentioned and desired without his assistance And therefore do solemnly desire and expect That all men as they would not provoke the Lord to their own destruction would wait for such issue as he should bring forth and to follow their businesse with peaceable spirits wherein we promise them protection by his assistance And for those who profess their fear and love to the Name of God that seeing in a great measure for their sakes and for righteousnesse sake we have taken our lives in our hands to do these things they would be instant with the Lord day and night on our behalfs that we may obtain grace from him And seeing we have made so often mention of his Name that we may not do the least dishonour thereunto which indeed would be our confusion and a stain to the whole profession of godliness We beseech them also to live in all humility meekness righteousness and love one towards another and towards all men that so they may put to silence the ignorance of the foolish who falsly accuse them and to know that the late great and glorious dispensations wherein the Lord hath so wonderfully appeared in bringing forth these things by the travel and blood of his Children ought so to oblige them so to walk in the Wisdome and love of Christ as may cause others to honour their holy Profession because they see Christ to be in them of a Truth We do further purpose before it be long more particularly to shew the Grounds of our Proceedings and the Reasons of this late great Action and Change which in this We have but hinted at And we do lastly declare That all Judges Sheriffs Justices of Peace Mayors Bailiffs Committees and all other Civil Officers and Publique Ministers whatsoever within the Common-wealth or any parts thereof do proceed in their respective Places and Offices and all persons whatsoever are to give Obedience to them as fully as when the Parliament was sitting Signed in the Name and by the Appointment of his Excellency the Lord General and his Councel of Officers William Malyn Secret Whitehall the 22. of April 1663. To ingratiate now vvith the Presbyterian vvho yet kept up their form of Church Worship and were the most of one publique persvvasion all disturbances in Churches were prohibited the Phanatick licenciousnesse of the Army vvhich svvarmed with Anabaptists Quakers and Ranters and vvere novv mad to be seizing all the remaining Revenue of Church Lands in Glebe Tythe or Impropriations And to this purpose Addresses vvere eagerly carried on such hopes being underhand given them to strengthen the hands of this Dictator in carrying on the vvork of Sion He vvas also complemented by the French Ambassadour Bourdeaux vvho had made applications to the Parliament but vvas doubtfull of effecting his Errand vvith those highest and Mightiest States vvho vvere grovvn formidable not only to the Dutch but to his Master who willingly courted them to prevent their closing vvith his Rebells of Bourdeaux onely Oliver as vve have seen valued them no more then Scoundrels or Rake Shames nor vvould give ear to any more Enemies of Monarchy Being thus by force possest of the Supreme povver after he had held it some fevv dayes to shew the absur'd and ridiculous State Caprichio's of the Councel of Officers vvho as yet managed the Civil Authority he transmitted it to a new Councel of State made up of the supremest of them and some former Juncto men vvho by Proclamation commanded all Officers to execute their Trusts as formerly and required the same obedience to commute with which they abated the Tax from 120000. to 90000. per mensem It was now remarqued that many great Fires ushered in this Incendiaries Usurpation This Council of State did next give birth to that Monster of the little Parliament which like an abortive Cub was cast by Cromwell and fonâ—ly and vainly lickâ—d by Harrison both which had most different ends on this Convention in the one a Temporal in the other a Spiritual Pride and Covetousness though not altogether purified from the Deceits of the World worked in this mysterious knack of a new and unheard of Legislative Authority who by the Name of men of Integrity and Fidelity to the Cause of God were by a bare summons from Oliver called to the Settlement of the State that was to be Stirrups or Foot-steps to the Throne whereon Cromwell should tread they being abject and mean people being such as were named by the Officers that is by Cromwell's Agents to this Councill and of most destructive Principles to all Community and Society either as Men or Christians It is observable that Cromwell who utterly rejected the Rump-expedient to his instances of a new Representative of filling up the House by foisting in Elections of their own to which their Authority standing they could unquestionably awe the Country made not nice of it for himself According to their Summons on the 4. of July the Members of approved fidelity c. met at the Council Chamber in Whitchal to whom Cromwell in a zealous speech much to the purpose of his Declaration and the occasion of the present Meeting stuft with various citations of Scripture I am loath to nauseate the Reader with any more of his Harangues at large to his but far from the purpose devolved the supreme Trust which they translated into more common English adjourning themselves after a short consultation to Westminster and giving themselves the Title and Authority of the Parliament of England voting Mr. Francis Rouse for their Speaker but with a Collateral Vote that he should continue in the Chair no longer then for a Month They were persons for the most part of such mean and ignote extractions that so far were they from being taken notice of by their Shires each of whom but two or three represented that they were scarce known in the very Towns they were born or afterwards inhabited till the Excise then Committees for Sequestration and the War in the respective Counties made them infamously known The rest were of his Partisans in the Parliament and High Court of Justice On the 12. of Decemb. as it had been directed by the Counsel of State the Parliament being Sate some of the Members stood up one after another and made a motion for a Dissolution thereof for that it would not be for the good of the Nations to continue it longer this Court Ayre almost blasted the men of Fidelity and Committee Blades who had scarce warmed their Fingers ends in the Government and were newly settling themselves and their friends in a thriving way as they had done in their Offices they had passed before and thereupon they began one after another to make
30. also by the Instrument Elected for Scotland and as many for Ireland all or most of whom were English Commanders on the 3. of Sept. they met and adjourned from the House to the Abbey where Mr. Marshall preached and so to the Painted-Chamber where they had a message from the Protector to invite them to a Sermon the next day again when Doctor Goodwin Preached and the Protector came in great State in his Coach Cleypole the Master of Horse and Strickland the Captain of his Guard barcheaded on both sides at his entrance into the Church Lambert carried the Sword before him and Whitlock the Purse the Sermon done to the Painted-chamber again and there in a Speech he set forth these Heads That some few years ago none would have thought of such a Dore of Hope that he knew there were yet many Humours and Interests and that Humours were above Interest that the condition of England was like Israel in the Wilderneâ—s of which the Sermon was that this was a Healing day there was neither Nobleman nor Gentleman nor Yeoman before known by any cistinction we had not any that bote Rule nor Authority but a great Contempt of Magistracy and Christ's Ordinances that the Fifth Monarchy was highly cryed up by persons who would assume the Government but that desired thing wanted greater manifestation then appeared for such men to change the Authority by and this directed at the late Parliament He desired this Honourable Assembly to remedy all these Disorders shewed that the wars with Portugal French and Dutch do and did eat up the Assessements that swarms of Jesuits were crept in to make divisions which were grown so wide that nothing but his Government could remedy them and let men say what they will he could speak it with comfort before a greater then any of them Then he shewed what he had done during his Government First his endevour of reforming the Laws having joyned all Parties to assist in that great work next his filling the Benches with the ablest Lawyers then his Regulation of the Court of Chancery then his Darling Ordinance for approbation of Ministers which hindred all that List from invading the Ministry by men of both perswasions Presbyterians and Independents c. And lastly his being Instrumental to call a Free Patliament which he valued and would keep it so above his Life Then he shewed the advantages of the Peace with the Dutch Dane and Swede and the Protestant Interest which he would have them improve and intend chiefly that they were now upon the edge of Canaan that he spoke not as their Lord but their fellow servant and then bid them go and chuse their Speaker Which they did without presenting of him his Name William Lenthal the old Chairman and next day fell upon the Instrument as they had Voted by parts as it lay and questioned the Power which Oliver understanding to put them out of that course which touched his Copy-hold after 9. days he came to the Painted Chamber and sending for them declared and asserted four Fundamentals in the instrument which they were not to meddle with or to alter 1 The Government by a single person and Parliament 2. The Imperpetuity of Parliaments or no continued succession 3. The Militia which was his only And 4. Liberty of Conscience telling them a Free Parliâ—ment was but a term of Reciprocation for that power which made him Protector made them a Parliament and therefore was very sorry they should go about to destroy the Settlement which to prevent and cease such Debates though he denyed any negative voice he was necessitated to appoint a Test or Recognition of the Government as it was established by every Member before they sate again This bogled at first 3. quarters of them especially the Commonwealth-men and those of the late Long Parliament so that of four hundred and odd there appeared but two hundred but were made up at last three hundred for the old ones would not be baulked so and fell afresh upon the same disputes and ran out the Articles resolving to put the whole judgement of the House upon them into one entire Bill and so present it but in truth to spin out time and work upon the Protectors occasions for mony which was proposed in the House and coldly and slowly considered Just at their sitting down the Protector published several Ordinances which being passed and bore date before were to pass as authentique as Acts by the Instrument one for paying the mony into the Treasury that was raised for the propagation of the Gospel in Wales another for making Soldiers free of all Corporations and to exercise any Trades Another to turn out all honest men under the notion of scandalous Preachers and Ministers Common-Prayer being their chiefest Imputation and a fourth to survey Kings Lands c. and for doubling upon Deans and Chapters which sales those many changes of power had much retarded and depretiated The more occult cause of the publication of these Ordinances was to let the Parliament understand that Oliver took his Instrument to be in a good case and sufficiently warranted already In this Convention Lambert laboured Tooth and Nail to have the Instrument confirmed for by that the Protectorate was left undetermined and Elective threatning them that if this Parliament would not they would call 4. or 5. Parliaments one after another till it was Enacted the same Art of menacing which Oliver used to the preceding Juncto but that not prevailing the Parliament dissolved by his Interest in the Army He procured Addresses both from Scotland and Ireland as well as here declaring their Resolution to stand by this Government in defence of the Protectors Life and Dignity against all Opposition which in this Stratocracy was to be as good a Security as Parliamentory Assent There were some Superiour Officers as Lieut. Col. Majors Captains who were yet for a Commonwealth who had private Meetings and contrived the seizing this Rebell and deliver him to the Justice of the Parliament but by Pride's Discovery who was made privy to this businesse they were prevented and their Commissions only taken away Cromwell not willing by severer punishments to make a noise that there was such a potent Faction in the Army Lambert was very officious in this matter as neither resenting the late affront put upon him by Cromwell when he advanced Fleetwood in his 〈◊〉 to the Supreme Command in Ireland though with a lesser Title then Lambert who made magnificent preparation for his investiture in the Lieâ—tenartship and would suffer no Diminution of that Honour nor senting his suture designs and cheats as to his promised Succession to the Soveraignty here But I must Retrospect a little having omitted some things of Concernment to persued the former discourse Cromwell now supplied the Benches of the Court at Westminster with the ablest of the Lawyers whom he had invited to the publique service and Mr. Maynard Twisden Nudigate Hugh Windham