CHAP. The vast increase of the public expenditure, which exceeded even the large produce of a very heavy taxation; oppression in the collection of the excise, and embezzlement of its proceeds; and the rapacious violence of the Major-Generals*, and particularly of Boteler, were also subjects of loud and just complaint. t While the conflict of parties was thus proceeding in the House of Commons, the Parliament incurred the hostility of the army. The meetings and petitions of the military excited the fears of Richard, and the jealousy of the Commons; and, in order to forestall any attack upon the independence of the House, and to secure submission by promptitude and vigour, the Commons, on the 18th of April, carried, by 163 to 87, a resolution, "That during the sitting of the Parliament, there than 70 persons, among whom were men of 76, divines, officers, and gentlemen, taken after the rising at Salisbury, and, after a year's imprisonment, carried to Barbadoes, and there sold as slaves for pounds weight of sugar a-piece, "according to their working faculties." It proceeds to describe them "grinding at the mills, attending at the furnaces, and "digging in that scorching island; having nothing to feed on but potato "roots, nor to drink but water, with such roots washed in it; being "bought and sold, still from one planter to another, or attached, as "horses or beasts, for the debts of their masters, being whipped at the "whipping posts (as rogues) for their master's pleasure, and sleeping "in styes, worse than hogs in England; and in many other ways made "miserable beyond expression or Christian imagination." "The Major-Generals," says the republican Ludlow, "carried "things with unheard of insolence in their several precincts, decimating "to extremity whom they pleased, and interrupting the proceedings at "law upon petitions of those who pretended themselves aggrieved; threatening such as would not yield a ready submission to their orders, with transportation to Jamaica, or some other plantations in the "West Indies; and suffering none to escape their persecutions, but "those who would betray their own party by discovering the persons "that had acted with them or for them." Ludlow, i. 559. 46 ↑ Burton, iv. 383. 395–400. 403-412. 435. "shall be no General Council or Meeting of the "officers of the army, without the direction, leave, "and authority of his Highness the Lord Pro"tector, and both Houses of Parliament;" and "that no person shall have, or continue, any com"mand, or trust, in any of the armies or navies of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or any of the "dominions or territories thereunto belonging, "who shall refuse to subscribe, that he will not "disturb nor interrupt the free meetings in Parlia"ment of any of the members of either House of Parliament, or the freedom in their debates and "counsels." Though these votes were much opposed in the Lord's House, where military influence was strong, the Commons, on the 21st, ventured to pass a declaration, that the command of the army was vested in the three estates, to be exercised by the Protector. This brought the struggle to a crisis. Desbrowe told Richard, that the Parliament must be dissolved, and that if he would not do it, the army Iwould do it for him. Richard called a council, and proposed a dissolution. Whitelock opposed the proposal; Broghill, Thurloe, and Fiennes supported it: Richard concurred with the latter, and the Parliament was dissolved by commission on the 22d of April. If Richard was not formally deposed, his power at least was virtually extinct. The Parliament was dissolved, through which he ruled; and a period ensued which was more truly a state of anarchy than any the country had yet endured. For a time, XVI. 1659. СНАР. XVI. 1659. there was no visible depository of supreme authority. The army was the predominant power; but, instead of being wielded by an efficient leader, it was nominally commanded by the vacillating Fleetwood. The leaders feared to attempt to govern unaided by some semblance of civil administration; and, looking round for such a resource, they invited the members of the Long Parliament to assume the forms of government under their protection. Forty-two members of that Parliament, among whom was Lenthall, the former Speaker, were collected on the 7th of May, and, under the name of a Parliament, took their seats, resuming their functions by an authority in behalf of which it can only be said, that it was at least as good as that by which they had been dispossessed. The members restored were those who had been forcibly expelled by Cromwell in 1653; but there were many others, who had been not less wrongfully excluded by Colonel Pride, in 1648; and, of these, fourteen, amongst whom were Sir George Booth, Prynne, and Annesley, went to the House to take their seats, but were stopped by soldiers in the lobby. On the 9th, Prynne, Annesley, and Hungerford gained admittance, but were subsequently excluded, and found guards stationed to prevent their re-admission. Prynne and his as sociates ascertained that the number of excluded members of the Long Parliament, still living, amounted to 213, of whom about 80 were then in London. The total number now allowed by the army to sit was 90; and of these only 70 availed XVI. 1659. themselves of the permission. Prynne published CHAP. these facts, and protested spiritedly against exclusion. The effect was favourable to the views of the Royalists. The Parliament was shown to be the tool of the army; respect for it was weakened throughout the country; and the vindication of the rights of the excluded members was a popular theme, which the Royalist might advantageously blend with the furtherance of his own designs. * Parl. Hist. xxi. 369–398. Commons' Journals. CHAP. XVII. HOPES OF THE ROYALISTS. HYDE'S PLAN OF OPERATIONS. TREACHERY. FECTS. SIR GEORGE BOOTH'S ENTERPRISE. HOPES OF NEGOTIATION WITH - COMMUNICATION ATTEMPTED WITH THE LATTER. -LAMBERT'S PROCEEDINGS. LAMBERT'S MONK ENTERS LONDON. PROFESSING TO SUPPORT THE PARLIAMENT. 1659-1660. CHAP. 1659. March. THE Royalists had many sources of hope. They had reason to believe that the leading men of the Presbyterian party, Lords Manchester, Denbigh, Willoughby, and Fairfax, Sir George Booth, Sir Willam Waller, Sir Ashley Cooper, Sir Horatio Townshend, Mr. Popham, and Mr. Howe, were all favourable to the King's cause.* They were even not without hope that Richard Cromwell might be disposed to resign his tottering power in Charles's favour; and Lord Fauconberg, his brother-in-law, was in communication with a Royalist on the expediency of opening a negotiation with Richard on this subject. † A little later, Rumbold, * Clar. State Papers, iii. 417. 423. 433, 434. 443, 444. 460. |