out by Cromwell, after having, by deeds part of the said sum of eight thousand seven hundred per annum, be charged upon the packet-office (according to the fore-recited vote of this committee), be abated; and the said office thereof discharged for the future: "That the first monthly payment of the said yearly sum of eight thousand seven hundred pounds, to be charged on the said packet-office, according to the precedent votes, amounting to the sum of seven hundred twenty-five pounds, to be paid unto the said Richard Cromwell, upon the 6th of June last, 1659, for one month, commencing the 6th day of May last, and ending the said 6th day of June; and the said monthly payments to continue payable upon every sixth day of every month for the future, according to the purport of the said former votes: "That as the jointures and annuities in the said schedule mentioned shall abate, by the decease of any of the respective persons to whom the same are respectively payable, whereby the income of the real estate of the said Richard Cromwell shall be increased, the said yearly charge of eight thousand seven hundred pounds, to be settled upon the said office for his subsistence, be proportionably abated. "Resolved, That the debt stated, and undertaken to be paid, by the parliament, for Richard Cromwell, eldest son of the late lord general Cromwell, be twenty nine thousand six hundred and forty pounds. "Ordered, That the said debt be satisfied by sale of the plate, hangings, goods, and furniture in Whitehall and Hampton Court, belonging to the state, which may conveniently be spared: and that the same be forthwith sold, for payment thereof, accordingly. of peace and war, carried the glory of the "Ordered, That Mr. Ralegh [son and heir of Sir Walter], colonel Dove, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Scot, Mr, Dormer, be added to the committee, to examine what goods in Whitehall, Hampton Court, &c. belonged to the state and that the said committee have further power to examine upon oath; and also to examine what goods there were bought with the states money. "Ordered, That it be referred to the said committee, to bring in an act for sale of the said plate, hangings, goods, and furniture, in Whitehall, and Hampton Court, for payment of the said debt of twenty-nine thousand six hundred and forty pounds accordingly. "Resolved, That the said Richard Cromwell shall be, and is hereby, acquitted, and absolutely discharged, from payment of the said debt of twenty nine thousand six hundred and forty pounds, and every part thereof, and of and from all actions, suits, and demands, for or by reason thereof, by the creditors; and that the state will satisfy the persons to whom the same is due. "Ordered, That it be referred to the aforesaid committee, to take a true survey of the mannors and lands of the eldest son of the late lord general Cromwell; and to examine the true value thereof; and report the same, together with the act for sale of the plate and goods appointed to be sold, on Thursday morning next and that the said committee have power to send for persons, papers, and records: and that colonel White, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Say, and colonel Rich, be added to that committee "." a Journal. English name to the greatest height, by The late protector, however, by reason of the afterchanges, was nothing the better for these resolutions. Richard, by reason of his quiet resignation, and submission to the parliament, has been treated as a man "without spirit to discern what was best for him;” as "extreamly pusillanimous:" in fine, as "a fool and a sot:" by such men as lord Clarendon, and his copyists. -But, in the name of common sense, what was there weak or foolish in laying down a burthen too heavy for the shoulders? What in preferring the peace and welfare of men, to blood and confusion, the necessary consequences of retaining the government? Or what, in a word, in resigning the power to such, as, by experience, had been found fully equal to it, and intent on promoting the common welfare? Ambition, glory, fame, sound well in the ears of the vulgar; and men, excited by them, have seldom failed to figure in the eyes of the world; but the man who can divest himself of empire for the sake of his fellow men, must, in the eye of reason, be entitled to a much higher renown, than the purpled hero, who leads them on to slaughter, though provinces or kingdoms are gained to him thereby. "Ambition, cease: the idle contest end : (If life be all) why desolation lour, MASON. Dr. Calamy tells us, "that when a friend of his signified, in a way of free discourse, to Mr. Howe (who a Clarendon, vol. VI. p. 659, 683. the invitation of Fleetwood and the general had been chaplain to Oliver and Richard, and was a man of sense and learning), that he had heard Richard reflected on as a weak man; he [Howe], with some warmth, made this return: How could he be a weak man, when upon the remonstrance that was brought from the army by his brother Fleetwood, he stood it out all night against his whole council, and continued the debate till four o'clock in the morning, having none but Thurloe to abet him; maintaining that the dissolving that parliament, would be both his ruin and theirs! Upon some farther discourse on the same subject, Mr. Howe told my friend, that Fleetwood undertook with great solemnity, that if Richard would but comply with the proposal that was made him, the army should not do him the least damage. And he added, that when Fleetwood was afterwards put in mind of this, all the answer he return'd was, that he thought he had had more interest in the army than he found he had. And Mr. Howe farther added, that accidentally meeting with major general Berry, who was in these times so active and busy, sometime after the restoration, when he was but in very mean circumstances, he very freely told him, with tears running down his cheeks, that if Richard had but at that time hanged up him, and nine or ten more, the nation might have been happy -Mr. Maidstone describes" Richard as a worthy person indeed, of an obliging nature and religious disposition, giving great respect to the best of persons, both ministers and others; and having to his lady a prudent, godly, practical Christian. His entrance," says he, "into the government, was with a " a Life of Howe, p. 25. 8vo. Lond. 1724. officers, now again took place, and was general satisfaction; having acceptation with all sorts of people, and addresses from them importing so much. It was an amazing consideration to me (who, out of the experience I had of the spirits of the people, did fear confusion would be famous Oliver's successor) to see my fears so confuted; though, alas! the sin of England soon shewed, that they were not vain fears. For in a short time, some actings in the army appeared tending to divest the protector of the power of it. This bred some jealousy and unkindness betwixt him and the officers of it; but it was allayed, and things looked fayre again. About this time writs were sent out to summons a parliament, which accordingly sat down in March following. The power of the protector, and that of the other house, was instantly controverted in the house of commons, which house consisted of a tripartite interest, viz. the protector's, the commonwealth's (as it was so called by some, though groundlessly enough), and Charles the king of Scots; each party striving to carry an end their own design, syding one while with one, another while with another obstructed settlement, and acted nothing but what tended to leave religion and sobriety naked of protection. The vigilant army observed this, and disposed themselves to prevent this growing evil: in order to it, keep general councils, publish remonstrances, and make addresses. The parliament, fearing the co-ordinacy (at least) of a military power with the civil, forbid the meetings of the army. The army resent this so ill, as by a violent impression they prevail with the protector to dissolve the parliament. This he did animo tam reluctanti, that he could not conceal his repentance of it, but it breake eut upon all occasions. The army observing it, re |