more than I doubt is generally apprehended ; yet as to that part of it which concerns the soldiery, your excellency's power and commiflion is sufficient already to reftrain and keep them in their due obedience: and blessed be God, you have done it hitherto, and I doubt not but by your wisdom you will be able ftill to do it. As to the members of parliament, I confefs the greatest difficulty lies there, your commiffion being from them, and they being acknowledged the supreme power of the nation, fubject to no controuls, nor allowing any appeal from them. Yet, I am sure, your excellency will not look upon them as generally deprav'd: too many of them are much to blame in those things you have mentioned, and many unfit things have passed among them; but I hope well of the major part of them, when great matters come to a decision." The lord-general reply'd, “ There is little hopes of a good settlement to be made by them, really there is not; but a great deal of fear, that they will dettroy again what the Lord hath done graciously for them and us. We all forget God, and God will forget us, and give us up to confusion ; and these men will help it on, if they be suffered to proceed in their ways ;. fome course must be thought on to curb and restrain them, or we shall be ruined by them.” Upon this Whitelock faid, « We ourselves have acknowledged them the supreme power, and taken our commissions and authority in the highest concernments from them; and how to restrain and curb them after this, it will be hard to find out a way for it.” The general then put this short question to Whitelock, " What if a man should take upon him to be king ?" Whitelock said, “ He thought that the remedy would be worse than the disease :” And the general asking him, " Why he thought so," he proceeded; “ As to your own person, the title of king would be of no advantage, because you have the full kingly power in you already, concerning the militia, as you are general; as to the nomination of civil of.. ficers M 5 ficers, those whom you think fittest are seldom refufed ; and altho' you have no negative vote in the palling of laws, yet what you dislike will not easily be carried ; and the taxes are already settled, and in your power to dispose the money raised. And as to foreign affairs, tho' the ceremonial application be made to the parliament, yet the expectation of good or bad success in it, is from your excellency; and particular follicitations of foreign ministers are made to you only, So that I apprehend indeed less envy, and danger, and pomp, but not less power and real opportunities of doing good in your being general, than would be if you had assumed the title of king." Cromwell replied, - I have heard some of your profession observe, that whoever is actually king by election, the acts done by him are as lawful and juftifiable, as if done by a king, who had the crown by inheritance ; and that by an act of parliament in king Henry the seventh's reign, it was safer for the people to act under a king, let his title be what it will, than under any other power. Whitelock agreed to the legality, but much doubted the expediency of it; and being asked, “ What danger he apprehended in taking this title,” he answered, “ The danger I think would be this: one of the main points of controversy betwixt us and our adversaries, is, Whether the government of this nation shall be established in monarchy, or in a free state or commonwealth ? And most of our friends have engaged with us, upon the hopes of having the government settled in a free state, and to effect that, have undergone all their hazards and difficulties they being persuaded (though I think much mistaken) that under the government of a common nwealth, they fhall enjoy more liberty and right, both as to their spiritual and civil concernments, than they shall under monarchy, the preffures and diflike whereof are .fo fresh in their memories and sufferings. Now if your excellency shall take upon you the title of king, this state of your cause will be thereby wholly deter mined, and monarchy eftablished in your person ; and the question will be no more, whether our government shall be by a monarch or by a free state, but, whether Cromwell or Stuart shall be our king and monarch. And that question, wherein before so great parties of the nation were engaged, and which was universal, will by this means become in effect a private controversy only; before it was national, what kind of government we should have; now it will become particular, who shall be our governor, whe. ther of the family of the Stuarts, or of the family of the Cromwells. Thus the state of our controversy being totally changed, all those who were for a commonwealth (and they are a very great and considerable party) having their hopes therein frustrated, will desert you ; your hands will be weakened, your intereft streightened, and your cause in apparent danger to be ruined.” The general here acknowledged that Whitelock spoke reason, and ask'd him, “ What other thing he could propound, that might obviate the present dangers and difficulties, wherein they were all involv’d.” Whitelock confess’d, it would be the greatest difficulty to find out such an expedient; but said, he had some things in his private thoughts upon this matter, which he fear'd were not fit or safe for him to communicate. But upon the general's pressing him to diffolve them, and promising there hould be no prejudice come to him by any private discourse betwixt them, and assuring him, he should never betray his friend, and that he should take kindly whatever he should offer ; Whitelock began thus : “ Give me leave then first to consider your excellency's condition. You are invironed with secret enemies. Upon your subduing the publick enemy, the officers of your army account themselves all victors, and to have had an equal share in the conquest with you. The success which God hath given us, hath not a little elated their minds, and many of them are busy, and of turbulent fpirits, and are not without their designs how they 1 they may dismount your excellency, and some of themselves get up into the faddle ; how they may bring you down, and set up themselves. They want not counsel and encouragement herein, it may be, from some members of the parliament, who may be jealous of your power and greatness, left you fhould grow .too high for them, and in time over-mafter them; and they will plot to bring you down first, or to clip your wings." The general upon this thanked Whitelock for fo fully considering his condition: “ It is, said he, a testimony of your love to me and care of me, and you have rightly confider'd it; and I may fay, without vanity, that in my condition yours is involv'd and all our friends, and those that plot my ruin will hardly bear your continuance in any condition worthy of you. Besides this, the cause itself may possibly receive fome disadvantage, by the strugglings and contentions among ourselves. But what, Sir, are your thoughts for prevention of those mischiefs that hang over our heads ?” Whitelock then proceeded : “ Pardon me, Sir, in the next place a little to consider the condition of the king of Scots. This prince being now by your valour, and the success which God hath given to the parliament, and to the army under your command, reduc'd to a very low condition, both he, and all about him, cannot but be very inclinable to hearken to any terms, whereby their loft hopes may be revived of his being restored to the crown, and they to their fortunes and native country. By a private treaty with him you may secure yourself, and your friends, and their fortunes ; you may make yourself and your posterity as great and permanent, to all human probability, as ever any subject was, and provide for your friends : you may put such limits to monarchical power, as will secure our spiritual and civil liberties, and you may fecure the cause in which we are all engaged; and this may be effettually done, by having the power of the militia continue in yourfelf, and whom whom you shall agree upon after you. I propound therefore for your excellency to send to the king of Scots, and have a private treaty with him for that purpose." The general hereupon told him, he thought he had much reason for what he propounded : But, said he, it is a matter of so high importance and difficulty, that it deserves more time of confideration and debate, than is at present allowed us : we shall therefore take a far. ther time to discourse of it. Whitelock says, “ With this the general broke off, and went to other company, and to into Whitehall, feeming by his countenance and carriage displeased with what I had said. Yet he never, objected it against me in any publick meeting afterwards : only his carriage towards me from that time was altered, and his advising with me not so frequent and intimate as before. No. IV. I N the instrument of government, subscribed the sixteenth of December 1653, by Cromwell when he was lord protector, it was declared that the members for the future be thus elected, to the end that the kingdom might be more equally represented. Bedford, county 5, town 1. comb 1. Cambridge, county 4, Ille of Ely 2, Cambridge, town 1, University 1. Chefter, county 4, city 1. Cornwall, county 8, Launcefon 1, Truro 1, Pen ryn 1, Eastlow and Westlow 1. Cumberland county 2, Carlisle I. Derby, |