Chap. III. The HIS T 0 RY of the PuRITANs; 4-39 other officers. The fword, the great feal, the p.urfe, and four maces, Oliver were carried before him by their proper officers. _ Pro~ellor. After a fermon preached by Dr. <fho. Goodwin, his highnefs repaired to the ~, painted chamber, and being feated in a chair of il:ate, raifed by fundry Hisfpeech. fieps, he made a fpeech to the members, in which he complained of the ~h,tl, P• levellers and fifth monarchy men, who were for fubverting the e!tablilhed 5 2 ' Jaws, and throwing all things back into confufion. He put them in mind of the difficulties in which the nation was involved at the time he affumed the government. " That it was at war with Portugal, Ho!- " land, and France; which together with the div~fion among ourfdves · · " (fays he), begat a confidence in the enemy that we could not hold out " long. In this heap of confution it was neceffary to apply fame remedy " that the nation might not fink ; and the remedy (fays he) is TH rs " GOVERNMENT, which is calculated for the intereil: of the people a– " lone, without regard to any other, let men fay what they will; I can " fpeak with comfort before a greater than yon all, as to my own inten– " tion. Since this government has been erected, men of the moll: known · " integrity and ability have been put into feats of juftice. The chancery · " has been reformed. It has pJ.lt a ftop to that heady way for every man ' •• that will to make himfelf a preacher, by fettling a way for approba– " tion of men of piety and fitnefs for the work. It bath taken care to ex– " punge men unfit for that work; and now at length, it has been inil:ru- · ." mental of calling a free parliament. ' " A peace is now made with Sweden, and with the danes ; a peace · « honourable to the nation, and fatisfactory to the merchants. A peace " is made with the dutch, and with Portugal; and fnch an one that ·the " people that trade thither have liberty of confcience, without being fub– ,, jeCl to the bloody inquifition." He then advifes them to concert mea– fines for the fupport of the prefent government, and defires them to be– lieve, that he fpoke to them not as one that intended to be a lord over them, but as one that was refolved to be a fellow-fervant with them for · the intereft of their country; and then having exhorted them to unanimi- . ty, he difmilfed them to their houfe to chu fe a fpeaker. Wil!iam Lentha! Efq; mafl:er of the rolls, and fpeaker of the long par- Promding 1 liament, was chofen without oppofition. The firft point the houfe en- of the houfe, . tered on was the irflrument qfgovernment, which occafioned many warm , , debates, and ~as like to have occafioned a fatal breach amongft them. To prevent this, the protector gave orders Sept. 12. that as the members . came to the houfe they lhould be direeteq to attend his highnefs in the : painted chamber, where he made the following remarkable fpeech, which , is deferving the reader's careful attention. " Gentlemen I am furprized P " d .n • d b · fi f 1 h · ,fl ";.. .c rotellor's at your con uu, m e atmg o ree y t e zn 1 ,rument q; government, 10r fpeech. " the fame power that has made you a parliament has appointed me PRo- Dugdale, " TECTOR,
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