War-manifesto with title A Standard set up; seized also a Warflag with Lion Couchant painted on it, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and this motto, "Who shall rouse him up?" O Reader, these are not fictions, these were once altogether solid facts in this brick London of ours; ancient resolute individuals, busy with wine-cooperage and otherwise, had entertained them as very practicable things!-But in two days time, these ancient individuals and they are all lodged in the Tower; Harrison, hardly connected with the thing, except as a well-wisher, he and others are likewise made secure and the Fifth-Monarchy is put under lock and key.* Nobody was tried for it: Cooper Venner died on the scaffold, for a similar attempt under Charles Second, some two years hence. The Committee of Ninety-nine can now proceed with its 'satisfaction to his Highness;' his Highness is now at leisure for them again.

This Committee did proceed with its satisfactions; had various Conferences with his Highness,-which unfortunately are not lost; which survive for us, in Somers Tracts and the old Pamphlets, under the Title of Monarchy Asserted; in a condition, especially his Highness's part of them, enough to drive any Editor to despair! The old Pamphleteer, as we remarked, was intent only on the learned law-arguments in favor of Kingship; and as to what his Highness said, seems to have taken it very easy; printing what vocables he found on his Note-paper, with or without meaning as it might chance. Whom new unchecked Printers and Imaginary-Editors following, and making the matter ever worse, have produced at last in our late time such a Coagulum of Jargon as was never seen before in the world! Let us not speak of it; let us endeavor to get through it,—through this also, now since we have arrived at it, and are not yet permitted to burn it! Out of this sad monument of Human Stupor too the imprisoned Soul of a Hero must be extricated. Souls of Heroes, -they have been imprisoned, enchanted into growing Trees, into glass Phials, into leaden Caskets sealed with Solomon's signet, and sunk in the deep sea;-but to this of Somers Tracts there wants yet a parallel! Have not we English a talent of musical

* Narrative in Thurloe, vi., 184-8.

utterance? Here are men consummating the most epic of acts, Choosing their King; and it is with such melodious elegancies that they do it; it is in such soft-flowing hexameters as the following that the Muse gives record of it!

My reader must be patient; thankful for mere Dulness, thankful that it is not madness over and above. Let us all be patient; walk gently, swiftly, lest we awaken the sleeping Nightmares! We suppress, we abridge, we elucidate; struggle to make legible his Highness's words,—dull but not insane. Notes where not indispensable are not given. The curious reader can, in all questionable places, refer to the Printed Coagulum of Jargon itself, and see whether we have read aright.

:

SPEECH IX.

PROPERLY an aggregate of many short Speeches, and passages of talk his Highness's part in this First Conference with the Committee of Ninety-nine. His Highness's part in it; the rest, covering many pages, is, so far as possible, strictly suppressed. One of the dullest conferences ever held, on an epic subject, in this world. Occupied, great part of it, on mere preliminaries, and beatings about the bush; throws light, even in its most elucidated state, upon almost nothing. Oliver is here-simply what we have known him elsewhere. Which so soon as Mankind once understand to be the fact, but unhappily not till then,—the aid of fire can be called in, as we suggested.

Fancy, however, that the large Committee of Ninety-nine has got itself introduced into some Council-room, or other fit locality in Whitehall, on Saturday, 11th April, 1657, about nine in the morning;' has made its salutations to his Highness, and we hope been invited to take seats ;—and all men are very uncertain how to act. Who shall begin? His Highness wishes much they would begin; and in a delicate way urges and again urges them to do so; and, not till after great labor and repeated failures, succeeds. Fancy that old scene; the ancient honorable Gentle. men waiting there to do their epic feat: the ponderous respectable

Talent for Silence, obliged to break up and become a kind of Ut terance in this thick-skinned manner :—really rather strange to witness, as dull as it is!

The Dialogue has gone on for a passage or two, but the Reporter considers it mere preliminary flourishing, and has not taken it down. Here is his first Note,-in the abridged lucidified state:*

LORD WHITLOCKE.

"Understands that the Committee is here only to receive what his Highness has to offer; such the letter and purport of our Instructions; which I now read. [Reads it.] Your Highness mentions the Government that now is,' seems to hint thereby The Government being well now, why change it? If that be your Highness's general objection, the Committee will give you satisfaction."

THE LORD PROTECTOR. Sir, I think both parties of us meet here with a very good heart to come to some issue in this great business; and truly that is what I have all the reason in the world to move me to. And I am exceeding ready to be ordered by you as to the manner of proceeding. Only I confess, according to the thoughts I have, in preparing my thoughts for so great a work, I have formed this notion to myself:-That the Parliament having already done me the honor of Two Conferences; and now sent you again, their kind intention to me evidently is no other than this, That I should receive satisfaction. They might have been positive in the thing; might have declared their Address itself to be enough, and insisted upon Yes or No to that. But I perceive that it is really and sincerely the satisfaction of my doubts that they aim at; and there is one clause in the Paper itself, 'quoted by my Lord Whitlocke,' which doth a little warrant that: "To offer such rea sons for his satisfaction," &c. Now, Sir, it's certain the occasion of all this 'Conference' is the Answer I already made; that's the occasion of your having to come hither again. And truly, Sir, I doubt whether by your plan-If you will draw out my reasons from me, I will offer them to you: but on my own part, I doubt, if you should proceed that ther

tee.

* Somers Tracts, vi., 352.

†Two Conferences with the whole Parliament, and one with a CommitWe read two of his Highness's Answers (Speeches,-March 31, April 3); the other (Second Conference with the Parliament, April 8) is happily lost.

way, it would a little put me out of the method of my own thoughts. And it being mutual satisfaction that is endeavored, if you will do me the favor-["To go by my method," his Highness means; to offer me YOUR Reasons, and DRAW me out, rather than oblige me to COME out"] -I shall take it as a favor if it please you! I will leave you together to consider your own thoughts of it. [Motioning to go.]

LORD WHITLOCKE. "This Committee, being sent to wait upon your Highness, I do suppose cannot undertake to give the Parlia ment's reasons for what the Parliament hath done. But any gentleman here may give for your Highness's satisfaction his own particular apprehension of them. And if you will be pleased to go in the way you have propounded, and on any point require a satisfaction from the Committee, I suppose we shall be ready to do the best we can to give you satisfaction." [Bar Practice! Is no yet what his Highness wants.]

THE LORD PROTECTOR. If this be so, then I suppose nothing can be said by you but what the Parliament hath dictated to you?-However I think it is clearly expressed that the Parliament intends satisfaction Then it is as clear that there must be reasons and arguments which have light and conviction in them, in order to satisfaction! I speak for myself in this; I hope you will not take it otherwise.* I say it doth appear to me you have the liberty of giving your own reasons. If I should write down any of them, I could not call that "the reason of Parliament." [Whitlocke, in a heavy mánner, smiles respectful assent.] But in Parliamentary and other such conclusions the efficient "reason" is diffused over the general body, and every man hath his particular share of it; yet when they have determined such and such a thing, certainly it was reason that led them up into it. And if you shall be pleased to make me partaker of some of that "reason"-!—I do very respectfully represent to you that I have a general dissatisfaction at the thing [Glancing at the Engrossed Vellum: but meaning the Kingship]; and do desire to be informed of the grounds that lead you, whom I presume to be all satisfied with it and with every part of it. And if you will be pleased, if you so think fit,-I will not urge it farther upon you, to proceed in that way, it will be a favor to me. Otherwise, I deal plainly with you, it doth put me out of the method of my own conceptions: and in that case I shall beg that we may have an hour's deliberation, and meet again in the afternoon.

* As if meant to dictate to you, or tutor you in your duties.

LORD CHIEF-JUSTICE GLYN,-one of the old expelled Eleven, whom we saw in great straits in 1647; a busy man from the beginning, and now again busy; begs to say in brief: "The Parlia ment has sent us to give all the satisfaction which it is in our un derstandings to give. Certainly we will try to proceed according to what method your Highness finds best for that end. The Paper or Vellum Instrument, however, is general, consisting of many heads: and we can give but general satisfaction."

THE LORD PROTECTOR. If you will please to give me leave [Clearing his throat to get under way.] I do agree, truly, the thing is a general; for it either falls under the notice of Settlement, which is a general consisting of many particulars; or if you call it by the name it bears in the Paper, "Petition and Advice," that again is a general; it is advice, desires and advice. What in it I have objected to is as yet, to say truth, but one thing. Only, the last time I had the honor to meet the Parliament,* I did offer to them that they might put me in the way of getting satisfaction as to particulars, any or all particulars.' Now, no question I might easily offer something particular for debate, if I thought that would answer the end. [What curious pickeering, flourishing, and fencing backwards and forwards, before the parties will come to close action. As in other affairs of courtship.] For truly I know my end and yours is the same: To bring things to an issue one way or the other, that we may know where we are, that we may attain the general end, which is Settlement. [Safe ground here, your Highness!] The end is in us both! And I durst contend with any one person in the I world that it is not more in his heart than in mine!

I would go

into some particulars [Especially one particular, the Kingship.] to ask a question, to ask a reason of the alteration made;' which might well enough let you into the business,—that it might. Yet, I say, it doth not answer me. [I had counted on being drawn out, not on COMING out: 1 understood I was the young lady, and you the wooer!] I confess I did not so strictly examine the terms of your Order from the Parliament, 'which my Lord Whitlocke cites;' whether I even read it or no I cannot tell.—[Pause.]—If you will have it that way, I shall, as well as 1 can, make such an objection as may occasion some answer, and so let us into the business;'-though perhaps I shall object weakly enough! I shall very freely submit to you.

* Wednesday last, 8 April, all record of which is happily lost.

† A favorite reduplication with his Highness; that it is!