1656.] ANECDOTE OF HIM. 399 ized him, where danger to the State was not to be apprehended. A committee of trade was also formed, to take into consideration the commerce of the country, and adopt means for its advancement. The opening of the next year (1656) was comparatively calm. Fiery republicans and hot-headed royalists could not remain entirely quiet; but the thorough police regulations, everywhere established, and the firm hand. with which the Protector held the reins of government, kept them still, if not reconciled. Blake and Montague, at Cadiz, cruising in search of the enemy-negotiations with Portugal, or rather threats, which had taken their place-arrangements for the marriage of his daughters, Frances and Mary (the former to Rich, the latter to Lord Fauconberg)*-cor * Some writers say Faulconbridge. "There is a curious story related of Frances, the youngest and most beautiful of Cromwell's daughters-the one whom the gossip of Europe had selected as the bride of Charles II. Jerry White, one of Oliver's chaplains, aspired to her hand. This being told Cromwell, he ordered them to be watched, and one day caught the poor chaplain in Fanny's apartment, on his knees before her. 'What is the meaning of this posture,' exclaimed Oliver. The chaplain with great presence of mind, replied, "May it please your highness, I have a long time courted that young gentlewoman there, my lady's woman, and cannot prevail; I was therefore humbly praying her ladyship to intercede for me.' Oliver, turning to the waiting-woman, said, ' What is the meaning of this? He is my friend, and I expect you should treat him as such.' She, desiring nothing more, replied with a low courtesy, 'If Mr. White intends me that honor, I should not oppose him.' Upon this Oliver said, 'Well, call Goodwin; this business shall be done presently, before I go out of the room.' Jerry could not retreat. Goodwin came, and they were instantly married; the bride at the same time receiving £500 from the Protector. respondence with Henry Cromwell, deputy of Irelandgreat efforts to secure the election of right members of parliament, which was to meet in September: these were the matters and objects which engrossed the mind of the Protector during the spring and summer. Meanwhile, the election was going on in various parts of the kingdom, characterized by the bitterest animosities. Cromwell needed supplies as well as Charles I., and also a parliament to vote them. But he resolved, at the same time, that it should not be so refractory as the latter had been; and he, therefore, arrested the most turbulent spirits, that were striving to have an opposition returned too strong for him. Vane, for his tract called the "Healing Question," was sent to the Isle of Wight; Bradshaw, Ludlow, Rich, and Col. Okey, were put under arrest; Harrison sent into Pendennis Castle, and a strong hand laid on the active royalists. He did not ask these men to swear allegiance to his government—he required them only to be peaceable, and not endeavor to raise disturbance. They refusing to give any such promise, he deemed it necessary for the public safety, to confine them for awhile. Still a large opposition was returned, and among them Scot, Haselrig, and Ashley Cooper, the latter of whom had been jilted by Cromwell's daughter. These and others the Protector and his council thought best to send home, which they did in a summary and rather extraordinary manner. They had the power to verify the returns of the elections; which they stretched to the power of exclusion of members. CHAPTER XIII. FROM THE SECOND PROTECTORATE PARLIAMENT TO THE DEATH OF CROMWELL, SEPT., 1656 to sept., 1658. Opening of Parliament-Members Rejected-Naylor and the Quakers -Victory of Blake and Montague-Sindercombe Conspiracy— Narrow Escape of Cromwell-Petition and Advice-Cromwell Offered the Crown-Conferences on the Subject-Finally Rejects It-Statements of His Enemies-Conspiracies-Marriage of His Two Daughters-Re-assembling of Parliament-Refuses to Acknowledge the New House Provided for in "Petitions and Advice"Cromwell's Speech-The Madness of Parliament Encourages Conspirators-Dissolved by Cromwell-His New Life Guard-Family afflictions-HIS LAST SICKNESS AND DEATH-His Character. THE new parliament assembled on the 17th of Sept., and, after service, received the opening message of the Protector. He spoke, as was his wont, extempore ; sometimes flashing up with excitement, and freeing his overwrought spirit in strong expressions, and then floundering heavily through a sea of thoughts. He first took up the Spanish war-spoke of its origin and justice-then referred to the plots laid to assassinate him-denounced the Levellers and Fifth Monarchy men -defended the appointment of major-generals, with openness and earnestness-pressed on parliament the propriety of toleration of all Christian sects-recom mended public appropriations for the support of the gospel ministry, and urged reform in law, especially the criminal law, which made almost every offence a capital one. He then alluded to the state of finances, saying, there was great need of money to carry on the war abroad, and protect the government at home, and concluded by quoting the 85th Psalm, beginning, "Lord, Thou hast been very favorable to thy land-Thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob, &c.," and tells them, if they will only "put their hearts" to the work, they need not be afraid "if Pope, Spaniard, devil, and all, set themselves against them;" but, can joyfully, triumphantly, "sing Luther's psalm, Eine feste Burg ist unser Gott'-God is our refuge and strength; a very present help in time of trouble-therefore, will we not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains thereof be carried into the sea *** The Lord of Hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge." The members then adjourned to the House, at the door of which they found soldiers ranked who refused admittance to all who had not received certificates from the council. Nearly a hundred, having refused to give their pledge to support the government, were denied certificates, and hence excluded from their seats. Loud outcries were made against this violation of the privilege of parliament-the hundred members appealed to the House, but were referred by it to the council, and finally were compelled to return to their constituents, content with having framed a masterly 1656.] CASE OF NAYLOR. 403 appeal to the people of England, in which it was evident they had all the law on their side, while Cromwell could plead only necessity. The parliament having chosen Widdrington Speaker, soon showed that the Protector had nothing to fear from their opposition. The war with Spain was upheldCharles Stuart and his family pronounced destitute of all claims to the throne, and £400,000 voted for the use of government. In the meantime, the case of Naylor, the mad Quaker, was taken up, and consumed three months in its discussion, much to the annoyance of Cromwell, who endeavored to prevent the ridiculous and severe punishment awarded him.* Other sects, such as the Muggletonians, Unitarians, &c., came in for their share of persecution; which added to his displeasure, for, in the first place, he wished more The Quakers had recently sprung into existence as a sect; George Fox, the father of it, commenced his itinerant preaching against all ordained ministers; declaring that the "inward light" was the only guide in religion, in 1650; and it was not till two years after, that the Quakers met in separate assemblies. From this time on, they began to increase, and, for refusing to obey the magistrates, who would coerce their religious liberty, and interrupting the worship of other denominations, they were soon honored with a good deal of persecution. This James Naylor, formerly one of Lambert's officers, was one of the most extravagant of the sect, and allowed himself to be accompanied into Bristol in a most extraordinary manner, and to receive the same honors as Jesus Christ did when he entered Jerusalem. For this, and similar blasphemies, he was condemned to the pillory, to have his tongue bored through with a hot iron, to be branded in the forehead, &c. Cromwell was opposed to these cruelties, and received even Fox himself with kindness, and told him, that if they could see each other oftener and discourse on spiritual things they would be nearer together. |