THE

HISTORY

OF THE

REBELLION, &c.

BOOK XIV.

JOB XX. 19, 22.

Because he hath oppressed and hath forsaken the poor; because he hath violently taken away an house which he built not:

In the fulness of his sufficiency he shall be in straits; every hand of the wicked shall come upon him.

JOB Xxvii. 15.

Those that remain of him shall be buried in death, and his widows shall not weep. a

XIV.

HAD not Godb reserved the deliverance and re- BOOK storation of the king to himself, and resolved to ac-. complish it when there appeared least hope of it, 1653. and least worldly means to bring it to pass; there happened at this time another very great alteration in England, that, together with the continuance of the war with Holland, and affronts every day offered

a JOB XX. 19, 22. Becauseshall not weep.] Not in MS.

not

b Had not God] If God had

VOL. VII.

B

XIV.

1653.

BOOK to France, might very reasonably have administered great hopes to the king of a speedy change of government there c. 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 there] Not in MS. danabaptists,] 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, f 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

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 expostulate 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 defray all the charges of the war, and of the govern

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e terms.] conditions.

f and other sectaries,] Not in MS.

their own

1653.

BOOK "ment." The sharp answers the parliament gave XIV. 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

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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

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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."

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

The par

liament de

of their sitting.

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.

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