The HISTORY of the PuRITANs: Vot H. Olivcr bers were €Xcluded. Upon which the protetlor, being out of all paPr~etlw. tience, went to the houfe and dilfolved them, after they had fat about ~fifteen days. ' ProteElor's The proteCt-or's fpeech upon this occafion \vill give the reader the bell:. !P.mt ~~ thif idea of the ftate of the nation : " I had comfortable expeCtations that ~tp~~li:~ " God would make the meeting ?f this parliament a bleiling for the im– mmt. Ra- " provement of mercy, truth, nghteoufnefs and peace. I was drawn Bin, P• 137· " into this office of PROTECTOR by your petition and advice, there is " not a man living that can fay I fought it, but after I was petitioned . " and advifed to take the government upon me, I expeCl:ed that the " fame men that made the frame, l!wuld make it good to me-I told " you at a conference, that I would not accept the government, unlefs " there might be fame perfons to interpofe between me and the houfe of " commons, and it was granted I fhould name another houfe, which I " did, of men of your own rank and quality, who will G1ake hands . « with you while you love the intereft of England and religion– " Again, I would not have accepted the government unlefs mutual oaths " were taken to make good what was agreed upon in the petition and " advice; and God knows, I took the oath upon the condition expref– " fed, and thought we bad now been upon a foundation and bottom, " otherwife we muft neceifarily have been in confufion. 1 do not fay "' what the meaning of the oath was to you, that were to go againft · "' my own principles, but God will judge between us; but if there had ~' been any intention in you of a fettlement, you would have fettled on " this bafis. " But there have been contrivances in the army againft this fettleo · " ment by your confent. I fpeak not this to the gentlemen, or lords " (pointing to his right hand) whatfoever _you will call them, of the " other houje, but to you; you advifed me to accept of this office, and " now you difpute the thing that was taken for granted, and are in clan– " gcr of running the nation back into more confu·fion within thefe fi.f– " teen days you ha.ve fat, than it has been in fince tbe rifing of the !ail: " feffi.on, from an immoderate defign of reftoring a commonwealth, , " that fome people might be the men that might rule all, and they are . " endeavouring to engage the army in the defign; which is hardly con– " fiflent with 'tbe oath you have taken to the prefent government. Has « · that man been true to the nation, whofocver he is, that has taken an " oath, thu.s to prevaricate? Thefe things are not according to truth, pre- . " tend what you will, but tend to play the king-of Scots game, which " I think my felf bound before God to do what! can to prevent. There. u are preparations of force to invade us; the king of Scots has an army " at the water-fide, ready to be fi1ipped .for Engfand. I have it from thofe
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