THE HISTORY OF ENGLAND UNDER THE HOUSE OF STUART, INCLUDING THE COMMONWEALTH. [A.D. 1603-1688.] PART II. COMMONWEALTH; CHARLES II.; JAMES II. UNDER THE SUPERINTENDENCE OF THE SOCIETY FOR THE DIFFUSION OF 473 COMMONWEALTH. CHAPTER I. Commonwealth established-Its defective authority, and difficulties-Severities against the Royalists-Execution of Hamilton, Capel, and Holland-Discontent in the Army-Conduct of John Lilburne-Cromwell's expedition to IrelandHis policy in that enterprise-Cruelty and rapidity of his conquests-Proceedings in Scotland-Landing of Charles the Second-Scotland invaded-The victory of Dunbar-Cromwell debates with the Scots on points of theology--Charles marches into England-The battle of Worcester. Feb. 6. Nor many days after the death of the king, the commons declared the monarchy and the house of lords abolished; and Commona council of state, consisting of forty persons, was ap- wealth estapointed to assume the government of the nation. A blished. new great seal was produced, and put in commission ; and an oath to be faithful to the parliament and people was substituted in the place of the oath of allegiance and supremacy. The name of the king's bench was changed to that of the upper bench. Six of the judges resigned their seats; but six consented to act on obtaining a declaration from the present legislature that no infringement should be made on the fundamental laws *. difficulties. Thus a commonwealth was established in the place of the ancient constitution. But this was not the act of the people of Its defective England, nor was it approved probably by more than one- authority, and fifth of their number. It was the act of some fifty members who occupied the place of the five hundred assembled as the commons of England in 1640. That the nation would long submit to be governed by such a body, was not to be expected; and to strengthen its authority, the house invited several of the expelled members to return, and issued writs to those places where their influence was most powerful, requiring new elections. By this means their number was raised to about one hundred and fifty. Not more than half this number were regular in their attendance; and the character of usurpation continued to be impressed upon the whole system. But the military chiefs by whom it had been called into existence, and on whose capacity and resources it depended, justified their conduct on the plea that the choice was between such a government, and the ascendancy of the pres *Parl. Hist. iii. 1281-1288. Journals of the Commons. Whitelocke, 371-374. Ludlow, i. 246, 247. |