their sitting.* Thereupon Colonel Ingoldsby went back to Cromwell, and told him what the House was doing, who was so enraged thereat, (expecting that they should have meddled with no other business, but putting a period to their own sitting without more delay,) that he presently commanded some of the officers to fetch a party of soldiers, with whom he marched to the House, and led a file of musquetiers in with him; the rest he placed at the door of the House, and in the Lobby before it."+ Having sat down, and heard the debate for some time,' he "addressed his speech to the Chief Justice, St. John, telling him, that he was come to do that which grieved him to the very soul, and that he had earnestly, with tears, prayed to God against. Nay, that he had rather be torn in pieces than do it; but that there was a necessity laid upon him therein, in order to the glory of God, and the good of the Nation.' Whereunto St. John answered, that he knew not what he meant; but did pray that what it was which must be done, might have a happy issue for the general good."§ Then Cromwell, calling to Major General Harrison, who was on the other side of the House, to come to him, he told him, that he judged the Parliament ripe for a Dissolution, and this to be the time of doing it.' The Major Gene Ludlow says, that the House were then passing the Act for their own Dissolution. Mem. p. 173. Bate says, ral 'he ordered ten or twelve sol + Whitelocke, p. 529. diers to follow him, and stay for him at the door; he himself, accompanied only by Fleetwood, entering in,' p. 161. Dugdale also states, that he was accompanied by Fleetwood, his great confident.' Short View, p. 405; yet these authors must be inaccurate, as Fleetwood was then in Ireland. Ludlow, p. 173. Dugdale says, that he spoke to St. John, without moving his hat, or going to any seat.' Short View, p. 405; yet this cannot be the fact, if what Ludlow states concerning the discourse with Harrison be true. § Dug. Short View, p. 405. ral answered, as he since told me, Sir, the work is very great and dangerous, therefore I desire you seriously to consider of it before you engage in it.'-'You say well,' replied the General; and thereupon sat still for about a quarter of an hour; and then the question for passing the Bill being to be put, he said again to Major General Harrison, this is the time I must do it ;' and suddenly standing up,"*" turning towards the Speaker, toltl him,† 'you have sufficiently imposed upon the people, and provided for yourselves and relations; you have long cheated the country by your sitting here, under pretext of settling the Commonwealth, reforming the laws, and procuring the common good; whilst, in the mean time, you have only invaded the wealth of the State, screwed yourselves and relations into all places of honor and profit, to feed your own luxury and impiety." Which being said, he gave a stamp with his foot,'§ as a signal for the soldiers without;'|| and, "in a furious manner, bid the Speaker leave the chair,'¶ and said to the House," for shame, get ye gone; give place to honester men, and those that will more faithfully discharge their trust.*** He told them, that the Lord had done with them, and had chosen other instruments for the carrying on his work that were more worthy.'tt 66 "Some of the Members rose up to answer Cromwell's speech; but he would suffer none to speak but himself;" yet 66 one had the boldness to tell him, 'It ill suits your Excellencie's Justice, to brand us all promiscuously, and in general, without the proof of a crime." This was probably "Sir Peter Wentworth, who stood up to answer him, and said, this was the first time he ever had heard such unbecoming language given to the Parliament ; and that it was the more horrid in that it came from their servant, and Ee 3* 6 their their sitting.* Thereupon Colonel Ingoldsby went back to Cromwell, and told him what the House was doing, who was so enraged thereat, (expecting that they should have meddled with no other business, but putting a period to their own sitting without more delay,) that he presently commanded some of the officers to fetch a party of soldiers, with whom he marched to the House, and led a file of musquetiers in with him; the rest he placed at the door of the House, and in the Lobby before it."+ Having sat down, and heard the debate for some time,'t he "addressed his speech to the Chief Justice, St. John, telling him, that he was come to do that which grieved him to the very soul, and that he had earnestly, with tears, prayed to God against. Nay, that he had rather be torn in pieces than do it; but that there was a necessity laid upon him therein, in order to the glory of God, and the good of the Nation.' Whereunto St. John answered, that he knew not what he meant ; but did pray that what it was which must be done, might have a happy issue for the general good." Then Cromwell, "calling to Major General Harrison, who was on the other side of the House, to come to him, he told him, that he judged the Parliament ripe for a Dissolution, and this to be the time of doing it. The Major Gene *Ludlow says, that the House were then passing the Act for their own Dissolution. Mem. p. 173. ral + Whitelocke, p. 529. Bate says, 'he ordered ten or twelve soldiers to follow him, and stay for him at the door; he himself, accompanied only by Fleetwood, entering in,' p. 161. Dugdale also states, that he was accompanied by Fleetwood, his great confident.' Short View, p. 405; yet these authors must be inaccurate, as Fleetwood was then in Ireland. Ludlow, p. 173. Dugdale says, that he spoke to St. John, without moving his hat, or going to any seat.' Short V To 103; yet this cannot be the fact, if what Ludlow states conc with Harrison be true. their servant whom they had so highly trusted and obliged :' but as he was going on, the General stept into the midst of the House, where, continuing his distracted language, he said, ' Come, come, I will put an end to your prating: you are no Parliament; I say you are no Parliament: I will put an end to your sitting; call them in, call them in.' Whereupon the Serjeant attending the Parliament opened the doors, and Lieutenant Colonel Worsley, with two files of musquetiers, entered the House; which Sir Henry Vane observing from his place, said aloud, 'This is not honest; yea, it is against morality and common honesty.' Then Cromwell fell a railing at him, crying out with a loud voice, 'O Sir Henry Vane, Sir Henry Vane, the Lord deliver me from Sir Henry Vane;"* and taking him in wrath by his cloak, said, thou art a juggling fellow.' Then he told Allen, the goldsmith,* (and Alderman,) that he had enricht himself by cousening the State, for which he should be called to account,' and in a rage committed him to the custody of one of the musquetiers.'§ He next "commanded those of his guard, who at the signal of the stamp were entered the door, immediately to turn them out of the House ;" and as "they went out of the House, he pointed at Sir Harry Martin, and Tom Challoner, and said, 'Is it fit that such fellows as these should sit to govern? men of vicious lives; the one a noted whoremaster, the other a drunkard?' Nay, he boldly upbraided them all with selling the Cavaliers estates by bundles;' and said, they had kept no faith with them.”¶ "Having brought all into this disorder, Major General Harrison went to the Speaker as he sat in the chair, and told him, that, seeing things were reduced to this pass, it would not be convenient for him to remain there.' The Speaker answered, that he would not come down unless he were forced.' Sir,' said Harrison, I will lend you my hand;' and thereupon, putting his hand within his, the Speaker came down. Then Cromwell, applying himself to the Members of the House, who were in number between eighty and a hundred, said to them, It is you that have 4 |