Chap. II. The HIS T 0 R Y of the PuRITANS. their mafi:ers, in!tead of fubmitting, prefented another petition, in Common· which, having jufl:ified their behaviour, they boldly fl:rike at the parlia7~~1~1:· ment's continuance, and put them in mind how many years they had fat; ~ that they had engroffed all preferments and places of profit to themfelves and their friends; that it was a manifefi injury to the gentlemen of the nation, to be excluded the fervice of their country, and an invafion of the rights of the peopl'e, to deprive them of the right of fi-equent choofing new reprefentatives; they therefore in fill: upon their fettling a new coun.: cil of itate for the adminill:ration of public affairs; and upon their fixing a peremptory day for the choice of a new parliamen.t. This was a new and delicate crifis; thl: civil and military powers being Remark;, engaged againll: each other, and refolved to maintain their refpeCtive pretenfions: IfCronne;el! with the fword in his hand, had fecured the eleCtion of a free reprefentative of the people, and left the fettlement of the nation to them, all men would have honoured and bleffed him, fer the people were certainly weary of the parliament. But when the qjjicers had defi:royed this form of government, they were not agreed what to ell:abliih, whether a monarchy, or a new republic; the general being for a mixed monarchy, had no doubt, feme ambitious views to himfelf, and there- Debates c– fore called together fome feleet friends of feveral profeilions to advife on bout a 11cw the affJir, when Sir 'I'ho. Widdrincrton, lord chief J'ull:ice St. J-ohn, andfarm oftg•~. o vcrnmen . the refl: of the lawyers, declared for monarchy, as mofi: agreeable to the old conll:itution, and propofed the duke of G/oucejter for king; but the officers of the army then prefent declared for a republic. Cromwell himfelf, after much helitation, gave his opinion for fomething of a menarchial power, as mofi: agreeable to the genius of the englijh, if it might be ac– compliihed with fafety to their rights and privileges as eng!ifb men and chrifi:ians. Some time after Cromwel! defired Mr. Whitlock's opinion upon the pre- Cromwell's fent lituation of affairs: " My lord (fays he) 'tis time to confider of ambitious de· " our prefent danger, that we may not be broken in pieces by our particu-{S": 1 " Jar quarrels after we have gained an entire conquell: over the enemy." 52~,'t · r· Whitlock replied, " that all their danger was from the army, who were " men of emulation, and had now nothing to do." Cromwel! anfwered, " that the officers lhought themfelves not rewarded according to their de- " ferts; that the parliament had engro!fed all places of honour and trui1: " among themfelves; that they delayed the public bufinefs, and defigned " to perpetuate themfelves ; that the officers thought it impoilible to keep " them within the bounds of jufl:ice, law, or reafon, unlefs there was " fame authority or power to which they might be accountable." Whitlock faid, •: he believed the parliament were honefi: mtn, and defigned " the pubhc good, though fame particular perfons might be to blame, · H h h 7. « but
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=