rumours of proposed risings and the suppression of actual risings, both before and after Cromwell's death, in which the apprentices of London were more or less implicated. What followed Cromwell's death belongs to the general history of the country. Lambert treated the Parliament with the greatest insolence and arrogance. Monk marched south, pretending to vindicate the rights of Parliament; the apprentices rose and rushed about the streets clamouring for a free Parliament; Colonel Heron with a company of soldiers fired upon them. The Aldermen exchanged explanations on the subject with the Committee of Safety. The Common Council petitioned Fleetwood for a Parliament as in 1642; the petition was returned. The City Remembrancer was sent to expostulate with Fleetwood, who finally promised a free Parliament. It is difficult to understand what else he could do; there was no second Cromwell; the City called out six regiments of its own militia, commanded by its officers nominated by the Common Council. If we inquire why a city which before the death of the King seemed Republican and Presbyterian through and through, should in ten years become in the same thorough manner Royalist and Episcopal; or, to put it more exactly, why the Republican majority became so unmistakably a Royalist majority, we shall find that many forces were at work in this direction. First of all, though the governing body was both Republican and Presbyterian, there were numbers of citizens who had preserved their loyalty to the Crown, and many more who, for divers reasons, hated the Puritan rule. We have seen the petition of the women and that of the apprentices; we have seen the rioting and discontent at the prohibition of the old sports and the closing of the play-houses. There were also other causes; the Londoners were ready to go forth and fight a battle, but not to carry on a long war; further, they distrusted the standing army which had taken the place of the trained bands. Again, trade was depressed; many ships were taken by Prince Rupert off the Nore and in the narrow seas, and the whole City was kept in perpetual controversies and quarrels over points of doctrine. With a decaying trade, a city divided against itself, religious quarrels without religious peace, the young folk longing for the restoration of the old sports, every tavern full of discontented men, every church a brawling place, what wonder if, after ten years and more, the City suddenly turned round and cried for the King and the Church to come back again. Yet the events which followed Cromwell's death and preceded the Restoration were very closely connected with the City of London. The domination of the City A LETTER Of His Excellencie The Lord General Monck, Right Honourable, I To the Speaker of the Parl. From Guild-Hall, London. N obedience to the Commands received from the Council last night, I marched with y your For ces into the City this morning, and have fecured all the perfons except two, ordered to be fecured, which two were not to be found: The Pofts and Chaines I have given order to be taken away, but have hitherto forborn the taking down of the Gates and Portcullifes, because it will in all likelihood exasperate the City and I have good ground of hopes from them, that they will Levy the Affefs; They defiring onely first to meet in Common-Council, which they intend to do to morrow morning. It seems probable to me, that they will yeild obedience to your Commands, and be brought to a friendly Complyance with you; for which reafon Ihave fufpended the execution of your Commands touching the Gates and Portcullifes, till I know your further pleasure therein, which I defire I may by this Bearer; I fhall onely defire, that (fo your Commands may be answered with due obedience fuch tenderness may be used towards them, as may gain their affections; They defired the Restauration of thofe Members of their Common-Council that are secured, which defires of theirs Ishall onely commend to your grave Confideration, to do therein as you fhall think most expedient, and, in attendance upon your further Commands, Remain Guildhall Feb 9. 1659. Your most Humble and Obedient George Monck. To the Right Honourable William Lenthal, Speaker to the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of England at Westminster. POSTSCRIPT I fhall become an humble fuiter to you, That You will be pleased to haften your Qualifications, that the Writs may be sent out; I can affure you it will tend much to the Peace of the Country, and farisfie many honeft Men. T Thursday Afternoon, January 9. 1659. His Letter from General George Monck from Guild-Hall, London, of the 9th of February, 1659, was read. Refolved, Upon the Question by the Parliament, That the Anfwer to this Letter be, to fend General Monck the Refolve of the Parliament, That the Gates of the City of London, and the Portcullifes thereof be forthwith deftroyed. And that he be ordered to put the faid Vote in Execution accordingly, and that M. Scot and M. Pury do go to General Monck and acquaint him with these Votes. Tho. St. Nicholas, Clerk to the Parliament. Thursday, February 9. 1659. of London, and the Portcullifes thereof be forthwith destroyed, and that the Commillioners for the Army do take Order that the fame be done accordingly Tho. St.Nicholas, Clerk to the Parliament. LONDON, Printed by John Macock in the Year 1659. A REDUCED FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL BROADSIDE Republican majority became so unmistakably a Royalist majority, we shall find that many forces were at work in this direction. First of all, though the governing body was both Republican and Presbyterian, there were numbers of citizens who had preserved their loyalty to the Crown, and many more who, for divers reasons, hated the Puritan rule. We have seen the petition of the women and that of the apprentices; we have seen the rioting and discontent at the prohibition of the old sports and the closing of the play-houses. There were also other causes; the Londoners were ready to go forth and fight a battle, but not to carry on a long war; further, they distrusted the standing army which had taken the place of the trained bands. Again, trade was depressed; many ships were taken by Prince Rupert off the Nore and in the narrow seas, and the whole City was kept in perpetual controversies and quarrels over points of doctrine. With a decaying trade, a city divided against itself, religious quarrels without religious peace, the young folk longing for the restoration of the old sports, every tavern full of discontented men, every church a brawling place, what wonder if, after ten years and more, the City suddenly turned round and cried for the King and the Church to come back again. Yet the events which followed Cromwell's death and preceded the Restoration were very closely connected with the City of London. The domination of the City A LETTER Of His Excellencie The Lord General Monck, Right Honourable, I To the Speaker of the Parl. From Guild-Hall, London. N obedience to the Commands received from the Council last night, I marched with your Forces into the City this morning, and have fecured all the perfons except two, ordered to be fecured, which two were not to be found: The Pofts and Chaines I have given order to be taken away, but have hitherto forborn the taking down of the Gates and Portcullifes, because it will in all likelihood exasperate the City and I have good ground of hopes from them, that they will Levy the Affefs; They defiring onely first to meet in Common-Council, which they intend to do to morrow morning. It feems probable to me, that they will yeild obedience to your Commands, and be brought to a friendly Complyance with you; for which reafon I have fufpended the execution of your Cominands touching the Gates and Portcullifes, till I know your further pleasure therein, which I defire I may by this Bearer; I shall onely defire, that (fo your Commands may be answered with due obedience fuch tenderness may be used towards them, as may gain their affections; They defired the Reftauration of thofe Members of their Common-Council that are secured, which defires of theirs Ifhall onely commend to your grave Confideration, to do therein as you shall think most expedient, and, in attendance upon your further Commands, Remain Guildhall Feb 9. 1659. To the Right Honourable William Lenthal, Speaker to the Parliament of the Common-Wealth of Eng-. land at Westminster. POSTSCRIPT Your moft Humble and Obedient George Monck. I shall become an humble fuiter to you, That You will be pleased to haften your Qualifications, that the Writs may be sent out; I can affure you it will tend much to the Peace of the Country, and fatisfie many honeft Men. Thursday Afternoon, January 9. 1659. His Letter from General George Monck from Guild-Hall, London, of the 9th of February, 1659, TH was read. Refolved, Upon the Question by the Parliament, That the Answer to this Letter be, to fend General Monck the Refolve of the Parliament, That the Gates of the City of London, and the Portcullifes thereof be forthwith destroyed, And that he be ordered to put the faid Vote in Execution accordingly, and that M. Scot and M. Pury do go to General Monck and acquaint him with these Votes. Tho. St. Nicholas, Clerk to the Parliament. Thursday, February 9. 1659. the Ouction and the Portcullifes thereof be forthwith destroyed, and that the Commillioners for the Army do take Order that the fame be done accordingly Tho. St.Nicholas,Clerk to the Parliament. LONDON, Printed by John Macock in the Year 1659. A REDUCED FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL BROADSIDE |