majesty the last, I told you at full length what I fully understood, of the designs of your rebel fubjects in both kingdoms; which I had occafion to know, as much as any one whatsoever, being at that time, as they thought, entirely in their interest. Your majesty may remember how much you faid you were convinced I was in the right in my opinion of them. I am sure there is nothing fallen out fince, to make your majesty change your judgment in all those things I laid before your majesty at that time. The more your majesty grants, the more will be asked ; and I have too much reason to know, that they will not rest satisfied with less than making yoar majesty a king of straw. I hope the news I have received about a treaty may be a mistake; and the rather, that the letter wherewith the queen was pleafed to honour me, dated the 30th of December, mentions no fuch thing. Yet I know not what to make of the intelligence I received, fince it comes from Sir Robert Spotswood, who writes it with great regret; and it's no wonder, confidering that no man living is a more trae subject, than he. Forgive me, facred sovereign, to tell your majesty, that in my poor opinion, it is unworthy of a king to treat with rebel fubjects, while they have the fword in their hands. And tho God forbid I should itint your majesty's mercy, yet I must declare the horror that I am in, when I think of a treaty, while your majesty and they are in a field with two armies ; unless they disband, and fubmit themselves entirely to your majesty's goodness and pardon. As to the Atate of affairs in this kingdom, the bearer will fully inform your majesty in every particular. And give me leave, with all humility, to asfure your majelty, that thru' God's blessing, I am in the fairest way to reduce this kingdom to your majesty's obedience. And if the measures I have concerted with your other loyal fubjects fail me not, which they hardly can, I doubt not but before the end of this fammer I shall be able to come to your majesty's affiftance with a brave army; which, backed with the justice of your majesty's caufe, will make the rebels in

England, England, as well as in Scotland, feel the just rewards of rebellion. Only give me leave, after I have reduced this country to your majesty's obedience, and conquered from Dan to Beertheba, to say to your majesty then, as David's general did to his master, “ Come thou thyself, left this country be called by my name;" for, in all my actions, I am only at your majesty's honour and intereft, as becomes one that is to his last breath,

L

No. II. The fubstance of Cromwell's first conference with the

members and officers concerning settling the nation, Whitelock's memoirs, p. 516, ENTHALL the speaker began thus: “ My lord,

this company were very ready to attend your excellency; and the business you are pleased to propound to us, is very necessary to be considered. God hath given marvellous success to our forces under your command, and if we do not improve these mercies to fome settlement, such as may be to God's honour, and the good of this commonwealth, we fall be very much blame-worthy,

Harrison,

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Harrison. I think that which my lord general hath propounded, is to advise us to a settlement both of our civil and spiritual liberties, and so that the mercies which the Lord hath given in to us, may not be cast away; how this may be done is the great question.

Whitelock. It is a great queition indeed, and not suddenly to be resolved; yet it were pity that a meeting of so many able worthy persons as I see here, should be fruitlefs. I should humbly offer in the firit place, whether it be not requisite to be understood, in what

way this settlement is desired, whether of an ab. solute republick, or with any mixture of monarchy:

General Cromwell. My lord commissioner Whitelock hath put us upon the right point; and indeed it is my meaning, that we should consider, whether a republick, or a mix'd monarchical government will be best to be settled ; and if any thing monarchical, then in whom that power shall be placed.

Sir Tho. Widdrington. I think a mix'd monarchical government will be most suitable to the laws and people of this nation ; and if any monarchical, I fuppose we shall hold it moft juft to place that power in one of the sons of the late king,

Fleetwood. I think that the question, Whether an absolute republick, or a mix'd monarchy, be beft to be fettled in this nation, will not be very easy to be determined.

Lord-chief-justice St. John. It will be found that the government of this nation, without something of monarchical power, will be very difficult to be foset. tled, as not to shake the foundation of our laws, and the liberties of the people.

Lenthall. It will breed a strange confusion to settle a government of this nation, without something of monarchy,

Desborough. I beseech you, my lord, why may not this, as well as other nations, be govern d in the way of a republick.

Whitelock. The laws of England are so inter. woven with the power and practice of monarchy,

that to settle a government without something of mo; narchy in it, would make so great an alteration in the proceedings of our law, that you have scarce time to rectify, nor can we well foresee the inconveniencies which will arise thereby.

Whalley. I do not well understand matters of law; but it seems to me the best way, not to have any thing of monarchical power in the settlement of our government. And if we should resolve upon any, whom have we to pitch upon ? The king's eldest son hath been in arms against us, and his second son likewife is our enemy:

Sir Thomas Widdrington. But the late king's third fon, the duke of Gloucester, is still among us, and too young to have been in arms against us, or infected with the principles of our enemies.

Whitelock. There may be a day given for the king's eldest son, or for the duke of York his brother, to come in to the parliament; and upon such terms as shall be thought fit, and agreeable both to our civil and spiritual liberties, a settlement may be made with them.

General Cromwell. That will be a business of more than ordinary difficulty : but really, I think, if it may be done with safety, and preservation of our rights, both as Englishmen and as christians, that a settlement with something of monarchical power in it would be very effectual. PARXXXXXere Pere KRRIR

No. III. A remarkable conference between general Cromwell

and Whitelock on the same subject. Whitelock, p. 548. b. & feq.

HE lord-general Cromwell meeting with com

millioner Whitelock one evening in the park, faluted him with more than ordinary courtesy, and

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desired to have some private discourse with him. Whitelock waited on him accordingly, and after some previous discourse, the lord-general proceeded thus : * Your lord'hip hath observed most truly the inclinations of the officers of the army to particular factions, and to 'murmurings, that they are not rewarded according to their deserts ; and others, who have ventured least, have gained moft, and they have neither profit nor preferment, nor place in government, which others hold, who have undergone no hardships nor hazards for the commonwealth ; and herein they have too much of truth ; yet their infolence is very great, and their influence on the private soldiers works them to the like discontents and murmurings.

Then as for the members of parliament, the army begins to have a strange distalte againit them, and I wish their pride, and ambition, and self-seeking, in, groffing all places of honour and profit to themselves and their friends, and their daily breaking forth into new and violent parties and factions; their delays of baîness, and designs to perpetuate themselves, and to continue the power in their own hands; their med. lling in private matters between party and party, con. trary to the inftitution of parliaments, and their injaHtice and partiality in those matters, and the fcanda. lous lives of fome of the chief of them; these things, my lord, do give too much ground for people to open their mouths against them, and to dislike them. Nor can they be kept within the bounds of justice, and law or reason, they themselves being the supreme power of the nation, liable to no account to any, nor to be controuled or regulated by any other power, there being none fuperior, or co-ordinate with them. So that unlefs there be fome authority and power fo fall -and fo high, as to reftrain and keep things in better order, and that may be a check to these exorbitancies, it will be impoffible in humane reason to prevent our ruin."

Whitelock answered: “I confefs the danger we are .. by these extravagancies and inordinate powers, is