The Protectorate-Incentives to assassinate the Protector-Royalist Plot concocted in FranceCromwell's deportment to the French Government-His Foreign Policy generally-First Parliament of the Protectorate-Cromwell's Speech on opening the Session-Parliament questions the Protector's authority-The Parliament House closed-Cromwell requires a Pledge from Members-Recusant Members excluded-Subsequent Temper of the Parliament-Cromwell dissolves the Parliament-Royalist Risings organised-Failure of Risings in the West and North-Resistance to Taxation-The Major-Generals-Severities against Papists and Episcopalians-Tolerance to Sects. * THE Lord Protector of the Commonwealth, who had been inaugurated on the 16th of December, 1653, had, some four months afterwards, entered upon the occupation of the royal palaces of Whitehall and of Hampton Court. Warwick, the Cavalier, who, in 1640, had looked upon a gentleman speaking in Parliament "very ordinarily apparelled," yet lived, as he records, to see this very gentleman, "having had a better tailor, and more converse among good company," appear at Whitehall "of a great and majestic deportment and comely presence." The same courtier says, speaking of a period when the dignity of Oliver was further confirmed, "And now he models his house, that it might have some resemblance unto a Court; and his liveries, and lacqueys, and yeomen of the guard are known whom they belong to by their habit." There was something more went to the making of the Protector Oliver than "a better tailor;" or than "liveries and lacqueys and yeomen of the guard;" something higher even than "more converse among good company." There had been fourteen years of such experience as belonged to no other man in his time. "I was by birth a gentleman; living neither in any considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been called to several employments in the nation." More than this: "My manner of life, which was to run up and down the nation, had given me to see and know the temper and spirits of all men." Thus he spoke to his first Parliament, with a dignified modesty. Out of his own courage, sagacity, and abiding sense +Ibid. p. 382. 'Memoirs," p. 248. |