Trial and conviction and execution

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of Duke Hamilton, Lord Capel, &c.— King Charles II. pro-

claimed king of Scotland, and afterwards crowned. Ap-

pointment of Council of state. - Declaration respecting

religion and settlement of the church. The Earl of Pem-

broke, &c. elected members of the House of Commons.

New coin. -Commonwealth government settled.-Cromwell

appointed Lord-lieutenant and Commander of the forces of

Ireland. Also to command the army against Scotland.

His victory at Dunbar.- Law records, &c. to be in English.

Cromwell's victory at Worcester. Ireton's death.

Union with Scotland. Cromwell appointed Commander-in-

chief of all the forces. Navigation act. Dissolution of

Long Parliament. Instrument of government delivered to

new Parliament. Trial and execution of the Portuguese

ambassador's brother. New Parliament terminated.

Cromwell appointed Lord Protector under new form of go-

vernment. - Peace with Holland and Denmark. Meeting

Capture of Jamaica.

Death and funeral of Archbishop Usher. Spanish war.

Petition and advice to Cromwell. Refuses the title of

King.

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of Parliament. Dissolution.

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CHAPTER VIII.

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·

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239

Cromwell's family descent illustrious, paternal and maternal.—

His birth-early life-education entry at Sydney Col-

lege. His scholarship. His marriage and children. —

Character of the Protectress vindicated. The purity of his

court. His discouragement of vice, and the amendment of

national manners.- His humanity and kindness to his enemies.

His liberal conduct towards the Duke of Gloucester.

His character by Mr. Maidston. His private character

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vindicated as a husband, a parent, a friend, and in all other

its relations and connections.

Page 304

CHAPTER IX.

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Cromwell's public character. Represents Cambridge in the

Parliament of 3d April, 1640, and in the succeeding Parlia-

ment of 3d November following, being the Long Parliament.

Is immediately put upon various committees. Lord

Clarendon's observations upon his supposed boisterous man-

ners considered. Considerations of some of the causes of

the contest between the King and his Parliament.

of the court's measures.

opposers

first

ances.

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-

-

-

The

- Complaints of griev-

The difficulty of reconciliation from the want of

mutual confidence. The Earl of Bristol's speech, recom-

mending accommodation. — Bill for vesting the power of the

militia in the Parliament. Ludlow's observations upon this

measure, and upon the King's attempt to seize the five mem-

bers. Upon his withdrawing to York - Upon his attempt

upon Hull Upon the Parliament's propositions sent to the

King, and his rejection of them-And his setting up his

standard at Nottingham.

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CHAPTER X

401

Rushworth's account of the origin and progress of the Selfde-

nying Ordinance. A refutation of Lord Clarendon's account

of the same transaction. - Whitelock's speech in opposition

to the ordinance. - Consequences of its passing. The ne-

cessity of the measure, and the suspension of the ordinance

in favour of Cromwell considered. Sir Thomas Fairfax's

account of this proceeding, and of the new-modelling the

army. - Lord Clarendon's observations upon, and in favour

of, the new-modelled army.

453

THE ACCESSION OF KING CHARLES THE FIRST. · - FIRST

KING Charles the First's reign commenced on the 27th of March, 1625, the day of his father's death, at the age of twenty-five years, being born at Dumferling in Scotland, in the year 1600, and baptised by a presbyterian minister of that country, according to Neal's History of the Puritans; who adds, that in his youth he was of a weakly constitution and stammering speech, and suspected to be of a perverse nature. When his father, says the same

B

writer, came to the English crown, he took him from his Scotch tutor, and placed him under those that gave him an early aversion to that kirk into which he had been baptised, and to those doctrines of Christianity for which he had the greatest

veneration.

Mrs. Hutchinson, in her life of her husband, Colonel Hutchinson, relating the accession of the King upon the death of his father, says the face of the court was much changed in the change of the King; for that King Charles was temperate, chaste, and serious, so that the fools and bawds, mimics and catamites of the former court grew out of fashion; and the nobility and courtiers, who did not quite abandon their debaucheries, had yet that reverence to the King to retire into corners to practise them. That men of learning and ingenuity in all arts were in esteem, and received encouragement from the King, who was a most excellent judge, and a great lover of paintings, carvings, gravings, and many other ingenuities, less offensive than the bawdry and profane abusive wit which was the only exercise of the other court. That he married a papist, a French lady, of a haughty spirit, and a great wit and beauty, to whom he became a most uxorious husband.

The only contemporary writers of the history of this reign of any note, are Lord Clarendon, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Rushworth, General Ludlow,