lick enemy of his country, with a view to remove him out of Essex's way ; Mr. Whitelock informed that minister, " that he looked

upon Cromwell to be a gentleman of quick and subtle parts, and who had a great interest in both houses of parliament, and that it would be needful to collect such particular passages concerning him, as might be sufficient to prove him an incendary, before they could expect the parliament fhould proceed against him.” And though some gentlemen present, in particular Mr. Hollis and Sir Philip Stapleton, attempted to mention such particular passages, and to maintain that Cromwell had not we foresee will be no small impediment to us in the gude design we have undertaken.

He not only is no friend to us, and the government of our church, but he is also no well-willer to his excellency, whom you and we have all cause to love and honour ; and if he be permitted to go on this way, it may, I fear, endanger the whole bufiness; therefore we are to advise of some course to be taken for prevention of this mischief.

You ken vary weele the accord betwixt the twa nations, and the union by the Solemn League and Covenant; and if any be an incendiary between the twa nations, how he is to be proceeded against. Now the matter is, wherein we desire your opinions, what you tak the meaning of the word incendiary to be; and whether the lieutenant-general be not sick an incendiary, as is meant thereby : and whilk way wud be best to tak to proceed againit him, if he proved fick an incendiary, that we may clepe his wings from soaring to the prejudice of our cause.

Now you may ken, that by our law in Scotland, we clepe him an incendiary wha kindleth coals of contention, and raiseth differences in the state, to the publick damage ; and he is tanquam publicus hoftis patrice, Whether your law be the same or not, you ken best, who are mickle learned therein, and therefore we desire your judgments in these points.

such

such interest in the parliament as was pretended, yet the whole process came to nothing, and the lieutenant general escaped.

While he was thus put to it to secure himself, who would have thought that he should have accused another, and even that very general to whom he was lieutenant Yet this was the case between him and Manchester, whom he charged * with betraying the parliamers, and speaking disrespectfully of their cause. And though the earl recriminated, and affirmed that Cromwell had once said to him, My lord, if you will stick firm to honest men, you will find an army at your command, that will give law to king and

parliament ;”.

* About four months after the fight at Marstonmoor happened the second battle of Newbury, where Cromwell is said to have endanger'd the king's perfon, had not the earl of Cleveland interpos’d, and bore off the pursuit. This battle was the occasion of an irreconcilable breach between him and the earl of Manchester Cromwell accus'd the earl of cowardly betraying the parliament, for that he might very easily have defeated the king's army, when he drew off his cannon, if he would have suffer'd him with his own brigade to have charged them in their retreat ; but that the earl obftinately oppos'd all advice and importunity, giving no other reason, than “ That if he did overthrow the king's army, the king would always have another to keep up the war ; but if his army should be overthrown at that nice juncture, they should be all rebels and traitors, and executed and forfeited by the law.” This last expression was heniously taken by the parliament, as if the earl believed the law was against them, after they had so often declar'd, that the law was on their side. The earl acknowledg'd, that he had in effect said, " That they would be treated as traitors if their army was defeated," when he dislik'd the lieutenant-general's advice, in exposing the army to an unseasonable hazarda Vide Life of Cromwell, p. 17.

parliament ;" yet Cromwell had visibly the advan. tage in this contest, and soon after succeeded Manchester in his post, who was laid aside by his maIters.

$. 2. It is not to be thought that a man who had raised himself in the army, could be in earnest about laying down his commission, when he appeared so vigorous about the self-denying ordinance. But Cromwell was certain of carrying his own point in the house, provided he could get his superiors, and those who were jealous of him, removed from the service. He ran little risk therefore in proffering to lay down his own commiflion, while he moved that an ordinance might be prepared, to make it unlawful for any member of either house to hold any office in the army, or any place in the state.” And when he hinted at the people's jealoafy, that while members of the parliament were in chief command, they found too much interest in continuing the war to fuffer them to be earnest in endeavouring to end it ; The gave a thorough blow to my lord Manchefter, whom he had before accused of labouring to protract the present confufion *.

Cromwell

* Cromwell's speech in the house in favour of this ordinance, was to the following purpose ; viz. " That there were many things upon which he never reflected before ; yet upon reconfideration, he could not but own that all was very true; and till there was a perfect reformation in those particulars recommended to them, nothing they took in hand would prosper'That the parliament had done wisely in the beginning of the war, to engage many of their members in the moft dangerous parts of it, that the nation might see they defign'd not to einbark others in perils, whilst themselves fat securely out of gun-fhot, but would march with them where the danger most threaten'd; and those · honourable persons, who had thus exposed themselves,

had

Cromwell pretended indeed, when the army was new modelled

upon

this motion, and all the old officers removed, to go among the rest and take his leave of Sir Thomas Fairfax the new general, who was then at Windsor: but how much soever he might seem to be surprized, there is no room to question but he knew of the committee's recommendation of him to Sir Thomas, as the most proper person for an enterprize then projected, that of interrupting the correspondence between

the

had merited fo much of their country, that their memories would be held in perpetual veneration : and whatever should be well done after them, would be imputed to their example. But now God had so blessed their army, that there had grown up with it many excellent officers, who were fitter for much greater charges than they now enjoy'd; therefore he desir'd them not to be terrified with an imagination, that they should want able men to fill the greatest vacancy; for besides that it was not good to put so much trust in any arm of flesh, as to think that such a cause as this de. pended upon any one man, fo he assur’d them, that they had officers in their army, who were fit to be generals in any enterprize in Christendom." He added, “ He thought nothing so necessary as to vindicate the parliament from partiality towards their own members; proffer'd to lay down his own commiffion in the army, and desir'd, that an ordinance might be prepared, to make it unlawful for any member of either house to hold

any office in the army, or any place in the state ;" and so concluded with an enlargement upon the vices and corruptions crept into the army, and freely told them, “ That till the whole army were new modell’d, and brought under stricter discipline, they must not expect any remarkable success in any undertaking." In conclusion, a committee was appointed to prepare an ordinance for the exclusion of all members from the foremention'd trusts ; which took up much time, and was long debated; but in the end pafs'd, and was call'd the self-denying ordinance.

the king and prince Rupert. This was only a prelude to what foon followed, when his personal service in the house was dispensed with, and his commission continued from time to time, till he was constituted lieu. tenant general of the horse, with the same full powers that Manchester had before enjoyed.

$. 3. But when the first civil war was over, Cromwell had yet a more difficult part to act. Dissentions broke out between the parliament, which was chiefly presbyterians, and the army, which inclined to independency. These differences were heightened by the citizens of London, who addressed the parliament against the independants, and complained particularly of the army, where many, they said, who were neither learned or ordained, took upon them to preach and expound the scripture. Cromwell, for a long time, had seemed to favour presbytery; but having got many of his friends into power, and finding the army on his fide, he now espoused the independant party. Hereupon the parliament grew particularly jealous of him, and were for taking measures to dismiss him, and his partizans from their military posts. Cromwell was no sess jealous of them, and being aware of what they designed, resolved to be even with them. Accordingly he took care to whisper suspicions of the parliament, and make a strong party for military power

There

* Ludlow tells us, that as he was walking with him one morning in Sir Robert Cotton's garden, he inveigh'd bitterly against the parliament, and said familiarly to him, “ If thy father were alive, he would let some of them hear what they deserve;" adding farther, .66 That it was a miserable thing to serve a parliament, to whom let a man be never fo faithful, if one pragmatical fellow amongst them rise up and afperfe him, he shall never wipe it off ; whereas, when one serves under a general, he may do as much service, and yet be free from all blame and envy.”,