BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

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be suppressed by tbe constant use of tbe sword. He there- CFI | AP -

fore wished to restore, in all essentials, that ancient con--

stitution which the majority of the people had always loved,and for which they now pined. The course afterwards takenby Monk was not open to Cromwell. The memory of oneterrible day separated the great regicide for ever from theHouse of Stuart. What remained was that he should mountthe ancient English throne, and reign according to the ancientEnglish polity. If he could effect this, he might hope that thewounds of the lacerated State would heal fast. Great num-bers of honest and quiet men would speedily rally round him.

Those Royalists whose attachment was rather to institutionsthan to persons, to the kingly office than to King Charlesthe First or King Charles the Second, would soon kiss thehand of King Oliver. The peers, who now remained sullenlyat their country houses, and refused to take any part inpublic affairs, would, when summoned to their House by thewrit of a King in possession, gladly resume their ancientfunctions. Northumberland and Bedford, Manchester andPembroke, would be proud to bear the crown and the spurs,the sceptre and the globe before the restorer of aristocracy.

A sentiment of loyalty would gradually bind the people tothe new dynasty; and, on the decease of the founder of thatdynasty, the royal dignity might descend with general ac-quiescence to his posterity.

The ablest Royalists were of opinion that these viewswere correct, and that, if Cromwell had been permitted tofollow his own judgment, the exiled line would never havebeen restored. But his plan was directly opposed to thefeelings of the only class which he dared not offend. Thename of King was hateful to the soldiers. Some of themwere indeed unwilling to see the administration in the handsof any single person. The great majority, however, weredisposed to support their general, as elective first magistrate

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