after a severe reprimand, told him, that if he had complained to him of his sailors he would have punished them, but he would have all the world know, that an Englishman was only to be punished by an Englishman, and so dismissed him, being satisfied with having struck terror into the priest, and had him at his mercy. When OLIVER read this passage of Blake's letter in council, he said, he hoped to make the name of an Englishman as great as ever that of a Roman had been. The admiral preserved an exact discipline in the fleet, and taught his men to despise castles on shore, as well as ships at sea.§ Valor seldom missed its reward with him, nor cowardice its punishment. He had a noble public spirit, for after all his services for his country, and opportunities of acquiring immense riches from the Spaniards, he died not five hundred pounds richer than his father left him. His body was brought by water to Greenwich, and deposited in a most magnificent manner, in a vault made on purpose in King Henry seventh's chapel, at the public expence; but at the restoration his body was taken out of the grave, and flung with others into a common pit; and his brother, being a dissenter, suffered so many hardships for religion in King Charles the seeond's reign, that he was obliged to sell the little estate the admiral left him, and transport himself and children to Carolina.

Burnet, vol. i. p. 113, 14.

§ It is remarkable, that Blake did not take the command of the fleet till he was above fifty years of age. His want of experience," says Mr. Granger, seems to have been of great advantage to him; he fullowed the light of his own genius only, and was presently seen to have all the courage, the conduct, and precipitaucy of a good sea-officer." Ed.

Bishop Kennet, whom Dr. Grey quotes here, being ashamed, it is probable, of the base contempt with which the body of Blake was treated, says, "it was taken up and buried in the church-yard." But Wood plainly says, that his body with others, by his majesty's express command sent to the dean of Westminster, was taken up and buried in a pit in St. Margaret's church-yard. The other bodies treated thus ignominiously were admiral Dean's, a brave man, who lost his life in the service of his country; Col. Humphrey Mackworth's; sir W. Constable's; Col. Boscawen's, a Cornish gentleman of a family distinguished by its constant attachment to liberty; and many others too long to be here mentioned. Such," observes Dr. Harris, "was the politeness and humanity introduced by the restoration!" Life of Cromwell, p. 400. Wood's Atheu. Oxon. vol. i. p. 825. 26. Ed.

By the second article of the humble advice, which appoints all future parliaments to consist of two houses, the form of the present government began to change in favor of the ancient constitution. The protector, pursuant to the powers given him, made several promotions of knights, and lords, and in the month of December issued out writs, by advice of his council, to divers lords and gentlemen, to sit as members of the other house, at the next session of parliament, Jan. 20. His intention was to have this house considered as a house of peers, though he declined giving it that name till a more favorable conjuncture. Some declined the honor, and chose to sit in the lower house, but between fifty and sixty appeared, among whom were seven or eight of the ancient peers, divers knights and gentlemen of good families, and some few chief officers of the army. They met in the house of lords, whither his highness came at the time of their meeting, and according to ancient custom, sent the usher of the black rod to bring up the commons, to whom he made a short speech from the throne, beginning with the usual form, My lords, and you the knights, citizens, and burgesses, &c. and then as our kings used to do, he referred them to the lord commissioner Fiennes, who tired them with a long and perplexed harangue before they entered upon business.

This hasty resolution of the protector and his council had like to have subverted the infant government, for many of the protector's best friends being called out of the lower house to the upper, the balance of power among the commons was changed; whereas, if he had deferred the settling of the upper house till the present parliament had been dissolved, they would have gone through their business without interruption; but the lower house was now in a flame, some being disappointed of their expectations, and others envied for their advancement, insomuch that as soon as they returned to their house, they called for the third article of the humble advice, which says, that no members legally chosen, shall be excluded from performing their duty, but by consent of the house of which they are members; and then to strengthen their party, they order

Dr. Grey gives a catalogue of the names of the persons whom the writ summoned; with degrading anecdotes of some of them. Ed.

ed all those who had been excluded last sessions, because they would not recognize the new government to return to their places; which was no sooner done, than they began to call in question the authority and jurisdiction of the other house, though themselves had advised it, and though there was almost as good reason for their being an upper, as for the other being a lower house; but these gentlemen were determined to erect an absolute commonwealth, on the ruins of the present family. Many degrading speeches were made in the lower house against the persons who had been thus promoted, who were no less resolute in defending their honors and characters; so that there was no prospect of an agreement, till the protector himself appeared, and having sent for them to Whitehall, spoke with such an accent in favor of the other house, that they returned and acknowledged it; but then they went on to re-examine the validity of the whole instrument of government, as being made when many members were excluded. Upon which the protector, being out of all patience, went to the house and dissolved them, after they had sat about fifteen days.

The protector's speech upon this occasion will give the reader the best idea of the state of the nation: "I had comfortable expectations that God would make the meeting of this parliament a blessing for the improvement of mercy, truth, righteousness and peace. I was drawn into this office of protector by your petition and advice; there is not a man living that can say I sought it; but after I was petitioned and advised to take the government upon me, I expected that the same men that made the frame, should make it good to me.-I told you at a conference, that I would not accept the government, unless there might be some persons to interpose between me and the house of commons, and it was granted I should name another house, which 1 did, of men of your own rank and quality, who will shake hands with you while you love the interest of England and religion.-Again, I would not have accepted the government, unless mutual oaths were taken to make good what was agreed upon in the petition and advice; and, God knows, I took the oath upon the condition expressed, and thought we had now been upon a foundation VOL. IV.

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and bottom, otherwise we must necessarily have been in confusion. I do not say what the meaning of the oath was to you, that were to go against my own principles, but God will judge between us; but if there had been any intention in you of a settlement, you would have settled on this basis.

But there have been contrivances in the army against this settlement by your consent. I speak not this to the gentlemen, or lords, (pointing to his right hand) whatsoever you will call them, of the other house, but to you; you advised me to accept of this office, and now you dispute the thing that was taken for granted, and are in danger of running the nation back into more confusion within these fifteen days you have sat, than it has been in since the rising of the last session, from an immoderate design of restoring a commonwealth, that some people might be the men that might rule all, and they are endeavoring to engage the army in the design; which is hardly consistent with the oath you have taken to the present government. Has that man been true to the nation, whosoever he is, that has taken an oath, thus to prevaricate? These things are not according to truth, pretend what you will, but tend to play the king of Scots game, which I think myself bound before God to do what I can to prevent. There are preparations of force to invade us; the king of Scots has an army at the water-side, ready to be shipped for England. I have it from those who have been eye-witnesses of it; and while this is doing, there are endeavors of some not far from this place, to stir up the people of this town into tumulting, what if I had said rebellion, and I hope to make it appear to be no better, if God assist me. You have not only endeavored to pervert the army while you have been sitting, but some of you have been listing persons by commission from Charles Stuart to join with any insurrection that may be made; and what is like to be the end of this but blood and confusion! Now if this be the case, I think it high time to put an end to your sitting, and I do accordingly dissolve this parliament; and let God judge between me and you."ş

§ Rapin, vol. ii. p. 598, folio.

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The protector, being now convinced that the disturbances in parliament arose from the chief officers of the army, who clogged his affairs, in order to introduce a commonwealth government, resolved to clear his hands of them at once; Harrison and Ludlow were laid aside; Fleetwood was recalled from his government in Ireland; major-general Lambert was ordered to surrender his commission; and the rest were obliged to take an oath not to oppose the present government. By such methods he went on purging the army and navy; and if he had lived a little longer would have had none in power, but such as were thoroughly attached to his person and government. It was observed after this, that all things succeeded at home and abroad according to his wish; and that his power and greatness were better established than ever, though there were a few malecontents who were hardy enough to attempt some little disturbances; but the disasters that befel the protector's family soon after broke the firmness of his constitution, and hastened his end.

It was his highness's ambition, not only to set himself at the head, but to strengthen the whole body of the protestant interest, and unite its several members, so that it might maintain its ground against the church of Rome. Bishop Burnets informs us, that he had projected a sort of general council, to be set up in opposition to the congregation de Propaganda Fide at Rome; it was to consist of seven counsellors, and four secretaries for different provinces; the first was for France, Switzerland, and the Vallies; the second for the Palatinate, and the other calvinists; the third for Germany, for the North, and for Turkey; the fourth for the East and West Indies. The secretaries were to have five hundred pounds a year each, and to hold a correspondence every where, to acquaint themselves with the state of religion all over the world, that so all good designs for the welfare of the whole, and of the several parts, might by their means be protected and encouraged. They were to have a fund of ten thousand pounds a year, and to be further supplied as occasion should require. Chelsea college was to be fitted up for them. This was a noble project, (says the bishop) and must have been attended with

S Burnet, vol. i. p. 109, 12me.