mons, and there was an appearance of above three hundred members. But we met not there until after evening sermon, which was preached in St. Margarett's, Westminster, by Mr. Marshall. About four or five of the clock, when the House grew pretty full, some discourse was moved (not concerning the lawfulness of our meeting on that day,) but how far it might be lawful (being met) to sit upon that day, by the word of God and some, through pretence of conscience, other some, through impatience, would presently have risen and adjourned; (as if the very adjournment had not been as sinful an accommodation, as any they could do,) but General Lambert coming into the House, and acquainting them, that his Highness the Lord Protector was in the Painted Chamber, and expected us there, to speak with us, it broke off those little discourses, and the House, (though some cried "sit still,") went to attend his Highness's pleasure. Where being come, and his Highness standing bare upon a state raised for that purpose, he only told us, that we were summoned to meet as the Parliament of the three nations, upon that day but, in regard of the day there was little of business that could be then done.* He therefore desired that the next day, being Monday, we would meet him, first, at a sermon in the Abbey Church, and after that, in the same Painted Chamber, where he would then communicate such things as he had in his thoughts to communicate to us, and so dismissed us. After which, we returned to the House, and without more doing, adjourned till the next morning.+ Monday 4. We met at the Abbey Church, the Lord Protector being attended with three maces, and the sword of state, which was carried by General Lambert. *"This being the Lord's day, which was not to be taken up in ceremonies." Journals. "Eight of the clock; Mr. Gewen standing in his place, and, by general consent of the House, pronouncing the adjournment." Journals. "Some hundreds of gentlemen and officers," says Whitlock, "went before, bare, with the life-guards, and next before the coach, his pages Mr. Thomas Goodwin,* a native of Lynn, preached the sermon. After sermon we met, according to former appointment, in the Painted Chamber, where the Lord Protector, in a full discourse,† set forth the condition of the nation, both in civil and ecclesiastical concernments, before this last change of the Government; what had been done and effected since, and what more may be desired to be done, in order to a firm and settled foundation of future establishment, which, he plainly intimated, could not be expected or hoped for, either from the Levellers, who would introduce a party in civils, nor from the Sectaries, who would cry down all order and government in spirituals;§ and concluded with some gracious expressions, which gave satisfaction and applause, in general. This being done, he gave a freedom to choose a Speaker.|| and lacqueys, richly clothed. On the one side of the coach went Strickland, one of the council, and captain of his guard, with the master of ceremonies, both on foot; on the other side went Howard, captain of the life-guards. In the coach with him was his son Henry, and Lambert. Both sat bare. After him came Claypole, master of the horse, with a gallant led horse, richly trapped. Next came the Commissioners of the Great Seal, and of the Treasury, and divers of the council in coaches, and the ordinary guards. “He alighting at the abbey door, the officers of the army and the gentlemen went first, next them, four maces. Then the Commissioners of the Seal, I carrying the purse. After, Lambert, carrying the sword, bare, the rest followed. His Highness was seated over against the pulpit, and the members of Parliament on both sides." Memorials, p. 582. See vol. iii. p. 1. ↑ "All being silent," says Whitlock, "his Highness made a large and subtle speech to them." Memorials, p. 582. "Bordeaux, the French Ambassador, to Count De Brienne. It was observed, that as often as he spoke of liberty and religion, the members did seem to rejoice, with acclamations of joy." See "Thurloe State Papers," ii. 588. Whom he thus grossly misrepresented: "Did not that levelling principle tend to the reducing all to an equality? What was the design but to make the tenant as liberal a fortune as the landlord." Parl. Hist. xx. 321. See infra, pp. 49, 383. notes $ §. Parl. Hist. xx. 322, 323. "His Highness made unto them a large narration of the grounds of their being called together, and the weightiness of their employment, Whereupon, we returned to the House, and set first upon that work. But Mr. Scobell, who had received a patent from the old Parliament, to be Clerk during his life, and the Serjeant at the Mace, being then both in the House, it was thought fit that they should first be ordered to withdraw the House, and not to come in upon any pretence of title, until they were chosen and commanded by the House. They being withdrawn accordingly, the House applied themselves to the choice of the Speaker. The first man named, was Mr. Lenthall, the same that had served the Parliament so long before, in the same employment.* Something was said to excuse him, by reason of his former services, and something objected, as if he had served so long, that he had been outworn. But, in fine, in regard of his great experience and knowledge of the order of that House, and dexterity in the guidance of it, he was unanimously called to the Chair, and two members were desired to attend him to it. That being done, the House made choice of their Clerk and Serjeant, which were the same that were ordered before to withdraw, and an admonition given to the Clerk for his former presumption, to intrude into that place before he was chosen,† the House generally disallowing of all patent officers in that House. The mace was also ordered to be brought in by the Serjeant, as a necessary concomitant. The next thing done was to appoint a fast, which was ordered accordingly, at the Church, the place of public worship, some being of a different judgment.‡ That being settled,§ and an Act read, (according to ancient Order, whereby the House stood possessed,) which Act was against the election of officers taking place upon the Sabbath and then desired them to repair to their House, and exercise their own liberty in choosing their Speaker, that they might lose no time from their great business." Journals. See Parl. Hist. xx. 318-333. * See vol. ii. p. 29, note. + See his excuse and submission. See vol. iii. pp. 12, 13. See vol. iii. p. 4, note §. Journals. vii. 365. § See Whitlock, p. 583. day, and against fairs and markets kept, or published upon that day, the House adjourned until the next day, at eight of the clock. Tuesday 5. The House met, and first called over all their members, and then the defaulters, of which there were not above threescore, of such as were returned. After that, they fell, according to order, to make their Committees; the first of which, was that of Privileges, which being made, and their names read, some occasion was taken by some members to tell us that, until that time, they had not so much as heard the name of my Lord Protector within those walls, and intimating, as if there had been some reflections upon the Government, which, although it were an occasion not so well taken, nor so seasonable at that time, yet, being a matter conceived necessary in order to a right understanding at first, especially in that which they conceived to be a foundation, and not to be denied; they therefore, (from Court, especially, and from the soldiery and lawyers,) pressed hard, that the Government, or Instrument of Government, might be speedily taken into consideration, and some return made to my Lord Protector, of thankfulness for his late speech. The debate concerning those things held until three of the clock, the other part affirming the motion was out of order, in regard by the ancient orders, Committees, especially their general Committees of Privileges, which concern the being, and of religion, grievances, and courts of justice, which concern the well-being of the Parliament, ought, in the first place, to have been settled. And, in truth, it was thought a little too precipitate, in regard it was in the infancy of the Parliament, before the House was full, or the members come up, to propose a thing of that weight, which, probably, was the greatest which could fall before us in judgment. And, besides, it was to anticipate the fast, and in a manner to mock God, that having appointed that solemnity on purpose to seek God's direction and council in these weighty affairs of the nation, which should come before us, especially in the establishment of them upon sure foundations, we should first lay the main foundation without him, and then ask his counsel. Notwithstanding it was voted in the affirmative, both that the question should be put for putting of the question; and that the Government should be the first business should be taken into consideration the next morning.* The same day, in the afternoon, I attended the Committee of Privileges, of which myself was one,† where, according to former orders, double returns and indentures were first called upon, and the indentures ordered to be brought in by the Clerk of the Chancery, the next day, and some petitions were read. Wednesday 6. The House being met, and the order for taking the Government into consideration being first read, it was moved by some, that there was something that lay in the way which might hinder the freedom of that debate, namely, an Ordinance, so called, made by the Lord Protector and his council, whereby it was made High Treason for any man to speak against the present Government.§ Which occasioned many discourses concerning the freedom of speech in Parliament, it being alleged, that that was the first-born privilege of Parliament, and the very heart-strings of it. In fine, it was so allowed on all sides, and that no law or power from without could impeach any member, for any syllable spoke within those walls, and that those precedents of Queen Elizabeth's, King James's, and the late King's times, were all illegal, and not to be drawn into a law. See Journals. + See ibid. "Ordered" to "be forthwith printed and published, January 19, 1653-4." § "If any person or persons shall maliciously or advisedly, either by writing, printing, openly declaring, preaching, teaching, or otherwise, publish that the Lord Protector, and the people in Parliament assembled, are not the supreme authority of this Commonwealth, or that the exercise of the chief magistracy, and administration of the Government, over the said countries and dominions, and the people thereof, is not in the Lord Protector, assisted with a council: Then every such offence shall be taken and adjudged to be High Treason." Ordinances, &c. "Printed by William Du Gard and Henry Hills, Printers to his Highness the Lord Protector." 1653, pp. 60, 61. See Parl. Hist. (1763,) xx. 269, 270. |