was calculated to continue the present parliament by filling up the vacant seats, and then, by rotation, to allow new elections for so many places at a time.

In the afternoon, the council of state met; but Cromwell, accompanied with Lambert and Harrison, repaired thither, and told them that, if they met as private persons, they might sit unmolested; but that there was no place for them in an official capacity: That they could not be ignorant of what had occurred in the morning, and that their powers had determined with the parliament. Bradshaw answered him thus: "Sir, we have heard what you did in the morning, and before many hours all England will hear of it; but, Sir, you are mistaken to think that the parliament is dissolved; for no power under heaven can dissolve them but themselves." Sir Arthur Hazlerig, Mr. Love, and Mr. Scot, spoke to the same effect; but, as there was no contending with military violence, they departed.

The council of war had no sooner heard of this strange occurrence, than it met to take it under its most serious consideration; but Cromwell informed them that the business was done: and, still continuing the mask, he professed more selfdenial than ever, assuring Colonel Okey, and other upright officers, who desired satisfaction in a measure which they conceived to be fraught with public ruin, that he would do more good than could be expected of the parliament. This constrained

them to silence, but Okey, still dissatisfied, inquired, of Desborough what could be his meaning for thus dissolving the parliament with such scorn, when he had publicly opposed the petition of the army? Desborough replied, "that if ever he had drolled in his life, he had drolled them."

"Thus," says Whitelocke," it pleased God that this assembly, famous through the world for its undertakings, actions, and successes, having subdued all their enemies, were themselves overthrown and ruined by their servants; and those whom they had raised pulled down their masters." But as a great portion of the people were deceived, he is not correct in saying that " all honest and indifferent men were disgusted at this unworthy action ;" a great portion of the clergy rejoiced; most of the officers of the army were pleased; and the cavaliers, who, expecting that the dominion of an individual would ultimately lead to the re-establishment of the old dynasty, and its principles, and consequently of their own power, were elated with the event. The Dutch, too, who are said to have been busily intriguing to effect the object, now flattered themselves with the prospect of a speedy peace, since the public burdens, which had been cheerfully borne for the general good, would be productive of discontent when the people perceived that they served only to exalt a treacherous individual. The commissioners of the navy, however, though they detested the usurpation of Cromwell, determined to continue their office to humble

a foreign enemy; and to their judicious exertions are to be attributed the farther achievements of the British navy.

* Whitelocke, p. 550, et seq. Ludlow, vol. ii. p. 450, et seq. Clar. vol. vi. p. 457 et seq.; but Clarendon is not to be depended on. Thurloe's State Papers, vol. i. p. 236. 249. Cob. Parl. Hist. vol. iii. p. 1331, et seq. Old Parl. Hist. vol. xx. p, 128, et seq.

CHAP. XIII.

State of the Nation under Cromwell's Usurpation.--Barebone's Parliament.-Cromwell made Protestor.-Peace with Holland-Another Parliament.-Insurrection of the Royalists.-State of Europe, and war with Spain.— Cromwell's third Parliament.-Humble Petition and Advice.-Dissolution of Parliament.-State of the Nation. -Conquest of Jamaica.-Success and death of Blake.Capture of Dunkirk.-Sickness and Death of Crom

zwell.

THOUGH Cromwell usurped the sovereign power, he was not in a condition to become absolute. The immense diffusion of political knowledge, with the more equal distribution of property, had so deeply fixed the principles of freedom in the public mind, that he never could expect to eradicate them; and he was well aware that his army, without the support of a considerable portion of the community, would be soon inadequate to preserve his pre-eminence. It was by traducing the late parliament, as occupied only with contemplating the means to perpetuate their own power, and to

promote the individual interests of the members, and by his ardent professions of patriotism, and real or affected zeal for a general liberty of conscience, that he succeeded in blinding the public eye to his selfish views of aggrandizement, while he does not seem himself to have projected more than to establish himself on the throne, under limitations short of the theory of the old government, and sanctioned by new parliaments. By balancing parties, he retained power for five years; but, even during that period, he was exposed to endless plots, and obliged to delude the people, with, at least, the semblance of liberty, while, by the selection of eminent lawyers to fill the bench, he, (till the appointment of the major-general of the twelve districts marred his plans,) endeavoured to attach the great body of the population, by the strict dispensation of justice, and the most ample enjoyment of civil, though not of political liberty. To the royalists he held out the hope of enjoying under him, the exclusive privileges which they possessed under the late dynasty, and insinuated his dislike of measures pursued by the parliament, as tending to confound ranks the presbyterians he flattered with the prospect of securing them fully in their tithes, as well as in the ecclesiastical power: to the independents he inveighed against the parliament's slowness to reform abuses, civil and ecclesiastical, accusing them of carnal self-seeking, and undue attachment to the intolerant form of presbyteries. Many of the republicans he for some time deceived, by assurances that his only object was the es