of state, and to call a parliament.

This was

things are all easily spoken. But whoever will consider, that Cromwell in this affair was destitute of the plea of necessity and self-preservation; that he had received very great favours from, and had actually sworn to be true and faithful to the commonwealth; that he had approved of their actions, and zealously concurred with them in the most exceptionable of them; that he charges them not with the ill things done, but only some good things omitted, a charge to which every government on earth is, and always will be liable: I say, whoever considers these things, and withal calls to mind that they were about to pass an act for their own dissolution, and for the calling and settling of future and successive parliaments, even at the time Cromwell used this force, will, I am persuaded, not be over hasty in his justification. Of this, however, the considerate and unprejudiced reader must be the judge.

Mr. Harrington, after censuring the form of government of the commonwealth, " as an oligarchy," because it was a "council without a ballance," or as he before expresses it, "A parliament consisting of a single assembly elected by the people, and invested with the whole power of the government, without any covenants, conditions or orders whatsoever:" I say, after thus censuring the form of that government, proceeds to take notice of its dissolution by Cromwell in the following terms: "I come now to the army," says he, "of which the most victorious captain and incomparable patriot Olphaus Megaletor was now general : who being a much greater master of that art, whereof I have made a rough draught in these preliminaries, had so sad reflections upon the ways and proceedings of the parliament, as cast him upon books, and all other means of diversion, among which he happened upon this place of Machiavel: Thrice happy is that people which chances to have a man able to give them such a government at once,

surnamed the Little, or Praisegod Barebone's

as without alteration may secure them of their liberties; seeing it is certain, that Lacedemon, in observing the laws of Lycurgus, continued about eight hundred years without any dangerous tumult or corruption. My lord general (as · it is said of Themistocles, that he could not sleep for the glory obtained by Miltiades at the battle of Maratho) took so new and deep impression at these words of the much greater glory of Lycurgus, that being on this side assaulted with the emulation of his illustrious object, on the other with the misery of the nation, which seemed (as it were ruined by his victory) to cast herself at his feet, he was almost wholly deprived of his natural rest, until the debate he had within himself came to a firm resolution, that the greatest advantages of a commonwealth are, first, that the legislator should be one man and secondly, that the government should be made altogether, or at once. For the first, it is certain, saith Machiavel, that a commonwealth is seldom or never well turned or constituted, except it have been the work of one man: for which cause a wise legislator, and one whose mind is firmly set, not upon private but the publick interest, not upon his posterity but upon his country, may justly endeavour to get the sovereign power into his own hands; nor shall any man who is master of reason, blame such extraordinary means as in that case shall be necessary, the end proving no other, than the constitution of a well ordered commonwealth. The reason of this is de-.monstrable; for the ordinary means not failing, the commonwealth hath no need of a legislator; but the ordinary means failing, there is no recourse to be had but to such as are extraordinary." This was written, I suppose, to stimulate Cromwell's ambition, and excite him by the desire of real glory to establish a perfect commonwealth, and to "launch immediately forth into an empire of laws." But he had no such intention as this, and therefore cannot be

*Harrington's Commonwealth of Oceana, p. 49. fol. Lond. 1656.

parliament, the subject of ridicule, reproach

entitled to this vindication. To come to a conclusionWhatever crime the general was guilty of in this affair, it certainly was a proof of his superior ability. For, as Dr. Warburton observes, " "Cromwell seemeth to be distinguished in the most eminent manner, with regard to his abilities, from all other great and wicked men, who have overturned the liberties of their country. The times in which others succeeded in this attempt, were such as saw the spirit of liberty suppressed and stifled by a general luxury and venality; but Cromwell subdued his country, when this spirit was at its height, by a successful struggle against court-oppression; and while it was conducted and supported by a set of the greatest geniuses for government the world ever saw What an idea is here given of the capacity of this extraordinary man! What an eulogium on his masters whom he displaced, and ruled over!

47 He constituted a council of state, and summoned Barebone's parliament.] The parliament being dissolved by Cromwell, no visible power was in being, but the soldiery. This must have been an alarming consideration. To prevent the ill effects of it, a declaration was set forth in the general's name in the following words: "Whereas the parliament being dissolved, persons of approved fidelity and honesty, are (according to the late declaration of the 22d of April last) to be called from the several parts of this commonwealth to the supream authority; and although effectual proceedings are and have been had for perfecting these resolutions; yet some convenient time being required for the assembling of those persons, it hath been found necessary for preventing the said mischiefs and inconveniences which may arise in the mean-while to the publick affairs, that a councel of state be constituted, to take care of, and intend the peace, safety and present management of the

a Warburton's Notes on Pope's Essay on Man, in his Works, vol. III. p. 89. Lond. 8vo. 1751.

and censure, from men who knew little of its real

affairs of this commonwealth: which being settled accordingly, the same is hereby declared and published, to the end all persons may take notice thereof, and in their several places and stations demean themselves peaceably, giving obedience to the laws of the nation as heretofore: in the exercise and administration whereof, as endeavours shall be used that no oppression or wrong be done to the people, so a strict account will be required of all such as shall do any thing to endanger the publick peace and quiet upon any pretence whatsoever." This bears date April 30, 1653. In this high tone spoke Cromwell, who now, having all power in his hands, printed an order for the continuance of the assessment for the payment of the army and the navy for six months", after the rate of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds a month, and issued out warrants for several persons to appear at Whitehall, and receive from him the supreme power. In the journal of the house of commons, July 4th, 1653, we have the following account of the calling this assembly." Several letters having issued, under the hand and seal of the lord general, directed unto divers persons, in this form; Forasmuch as, upon the dissolution of the late parliament, it became necessary that the peace, safety, and good government of this commonwealth should be provided for; in order whereunto, divers persons, fearing God, and of approved fidelity and honesty, are by myself, with the advice of my council of officers, nominated; to whom the great charge and trust of so weighty affairs is to be committed; and having good assurance of the love to, and courage for God, and interest for his cause, and of the good people of this commonwealth: I, Oliver Cromwell, captain-general and commander in chief of all the armies and forces raised, and to be raised in this commonwealth, do hereby summon and require you (being one of the said persons nominated) personally to be and appear at the

a Mercurius Politicus, No. 151. p. 2410.

b Id. No. 157. p. 2506.

character, or cared not what they said about it.

council-chamber in Whitehall, within the city of Westminster, upon the fourth day of July next ensuing the date hereof, then and there to take upon you the said trust, unto which you are hereby called and appointed, to serve as a member for the county of : and hereof you are not to fail. Given under my hand and seal the sixth day of June, 1653.

O. CROMWELL.

"This day there was a great appearance of those persons (to whom the letters were directed) in the council-chamber at Whitehall; when the lord-general declared unto them the grounds and end of calling them; and delivered unto them an instrument, in writing, under his hand and seal; and afterwards left them." In the Mercurius Politicus there is an article from Whitehall of the same date, in which it is said, "That the gentlemen that were called to the supream authority, met, to the number of above one hundred and twenty, in the council-chamber, and being set round about the table, the lord-general standing by the window opposite to the middle of the table, and having as many of the army officers as the room could well contain, on his right hand and on his left; his lordship made a very grave, christian and reasonable speech, and exhortation to them; wherein he briefly recounted the many great and wondrous mercies of God towards this nation;-he set forth also the progress of affairs since the famous victory at Worcester, wherein that arch-enemy of this nation was wholly subdued. He likewise laid down the actings of the army thereupon, together with the grounds and necessity of their dissolving the parliament, which his excellency declared to be for the preservation of this cause, and the interest of all honest men who have been ingaged therein. Moreover he very amply held forth the clearness of the call given to the present members, to take upon them the supream authority; and did from the Scriptures exhort them to their duties, and encourage them therein; desiring that a tenderness might