e

XIV.

1653.

any reasonable conditions of peace; which the Dutch BOOK appeared most solicitous to make upon any terms. But that which troubled him most, was the jealousy that his own party of independents, and other sectaries, had contracted against him: that party, that had advanced him to the height he was at, and made him superior to all opposition, even his beloved Vane, thought his power and authority to be too great for a commonwealth, and that he and his army had not dependence enough upon, or submission to, the parliament. So that he found those who had exalted him, now most solicitous to bring him lower; and he knew well enough what any diminution of his power and authority must quickly be attended with. He observed, that those his old friends very frankly united themselves with his and their old enemies, the presbyterians, for the prosecution of the war with Holland, and obstructing all the overtures towards peace; which must, in a short time, exhaust the stock, and consequently disturb any settlement in the kingdom.

erects an

cil of officers; who

with the

about their

In this perplexity he resorts to his old remedy, Cromwell his army; and again erects another council of offi- other councers, who, under the style, first, of petitions, and then of remonstrances, interposed in whatsoever had any relation to the army; used great impor-parliament tunity for "the arrears of their pay; that they arrears, and "might not be compelled to take free quarter upon dissolution. "their fellow subjects, who already paid so great "contributions and taxes; which they were well "assured, if well managed, would abundantly de

66

fray all the charges of the war, and of the govern

с

terms.] conditions. f and other sectaries,] Not in MS.

their own

XIV.

1653.

BOOK to France, might very reasonably have administered great hopes to the king of a speedy change of government there . From the time of the defeat at Worcester, and the reduction of Scotland and Ireland to perfect obedience, Cromwell did not find the parliament so supple to observe his orders, as he expected they would have been. The presbyterian party, which he had discountenanced all he could, and made his army of the independent party, were bold in contradicting him in the house, and crossing all his designs in the city, and exceedingly inveighed against the licence that was practised in religion, by the several factions of independents, anabaptists, and the several species of these; who contemned all magistrates, and the laws established. All these, how contradictory soever to one another, Cromwell cherished and protected, that he might not be overrun by the presbyterians; of whom the time was not yet come that he could make use: yet he seemed to shew much respect to some principal preachers of that party; and consulted much with them, how the distempers in religion might be composed.

d

Though he had been forward enough to enter upon the war of Holland, that so there might be no proposition made for the disbanding any part of his army, which otherwise could not be prevented, yet he found the expense of it was so great, that the nation could never bear that addition of burden to the other of land forces; which how apparent soever, he saw the parliament so fierce for the carrying on that war, that they would not hearken to

C

d there] Not in MS.

anabaptists,] MS. adds: quakers,

XIV.

1653.

any reasonable conditions of peace; which the Dutch BOOK appeared most solicitous to make upon any terms.e But that which troubled him most, was the jealousy that his own party of independents, and other sectaries, had contracted against him: that party, that had advanced him to the height he was at, and made him superior to all opposition, even his beloved Vane, thought his power and authority to be too great for a commonwealth, and that he and his army had not dependence enough upon, or submission to, the parliament. So that he found those who had exalted him, now most solicitous to bring him lower; and he knew well enough what any diminution of his power and authority must quickly be attended with. He observed, that those his old friends very frankly united themselves with his and their old enemies, the presbyterians, for the prosecution of the war with Holland, and obstructing all the overtures towards peace; which must, in a short time, exhaust the stock, and consequently disturb any settlement in the kingdom.

erects an

cil of offi

cers; who

In this perplexity he resorts to his old remedy, Cromwell his army; and again erects another council of offi- other councers, who, under the style, first, of petitions, and cers then of remonstrances, interposed in whatsoever expostulate had any relation to the army; used great impor- parliament tunity for "the arrears of their pay; that they arrears, and

66

with the

about their

their own

might not be compelled to take free quarter upon dissolution. "their fellow subjects, who already paid so great "contributions and taxes; which they were well "assured, if well managed, would abundantly de

66

fray all the charges of the war, and of the govern

terms.] conditions.

f and other sectaries,] Not in MS.

XIV.

1653.

66

BOOK "ment." The sharp answers the parliament gave to their addresses, and the reprehensions for their presumption in meddling with matters above them, gave the army new matter to reply to; and put them in mind of some former professions they had made, "that they would be glad to be eased of "the burden of their employment; and that there "might be successive parliaments to undergo the same trouble they had done." They therefore desired them," that they would remember how many "years they had sat; and though they had done "great things, yet it was a great injury to the rest "of the nation, to be utterly excluded from bearing "any part in the service of their country, by their engrossing the whole power into their hands; and thereupon besought them, that they would settle "a council for the administration of the govern"ment during the interval, and then dissolve them"selves, and summon a new parliament; which," they told them, "would be the most popular action they could perform."

The par

liament de

66

66

66

These addresses in the name of the army, being confidently delivered by some officers of it, and as confidently seconded by others who were members of the house, it was thought necessary, that they bate about should receive a solemn debate, to the end that the period when the parliament had declared its resolution and determination, all persons might be obliged to acquiesce therein, and so there would be an end put to all addresses of that kind.

of their sitting.

There were many members of the house, who, either from the justice and reason of the request, or seasonably to comply with the sense of the army, to which they foresaw they should be at last compelled

XIV.

of Moses

to submit, seemed to think it necessary, for abat- BOOK ing the great envy, which was confessedly against the parliament throughout the kingdom, that they 1653. should be dissolved, to the end the people might make a new election of such persons as they thought fit to trust with their liberty and property, and whatsoever was dearest to them. But Mr. Martyn Harry Martyn's told them," that he thought they might find the application "best advice from the scripture, what they were to of the story "do in this particular: that when Moses was found to this purupon the river, and brought to Pharaoh's daugh"ter, she took care that the mother might be found "out, to whose care he might be committed to be "nursed; which succeeded very happily." He said, "their commonwealth was yet an infant, of a weak growth, and a very tender constitution; and there"fore his opinion was, that nobody could be so fit "to nurse it, as the mother who brought it forth; and that they should not think of putting it under

66

66

any other hands, until it had obtained more years "and vigour." To which he added, "that they had "another infant too under their hands, the war with

66

Holland, which had thrived wonderfully under "their conduct; but he much doubted that it would “be quickly strangled, if it were taken out of their "care who had hitherto governed it."

pose.

liament

These reasons prevailed so far, that, whatsoever The parwas said to the contrary, it was determined, that determined, the parliament would not yet think of dissolving, would not nor would take it well, that any persons should yet think of dissolving. take the presumption any more to make overtures to them of that nature, which was not fit for private and particular persons to meddle with: and, to put a seasonable stop to any farther presumption of that