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CHAP.

I.

The Pro-tectorateof OliverCrom-well.

HISTORY OP ENGLAND,

of a commonwealth, against all factions which might resist• his authority: but they would not consent that he shouldassume the regal title, or that the dignity, which was the justreward of his personal merit, should be declared hereditaryin his family. All that was left to him was, to give to thenew republic a constitution as like the constitution of the oldmonarchy as the army would bear. That his elevation topower might not seem to be his own mere act, he convokeda council, composed partly of persons on whose support hecould depend, and partly of persons whose opposition hemight safely defy. This assembly, which he called a Par-liament, and which the populace nicknamed, from one ofthe most conspicuous members, Barebone’s Parliament, afterexposing itself during a short time to the public contempt,surrendered back to the General the powers which it hadreceived from him, and left him at liberty to frame a plan ofgovernment.

His plan bore, from the first, a considerable resemblanceto the old English constitution; but, in a few years, hethought it safe to proceed further, and to restore almostevery part of the ancient system under new names and forms.The title of King was not revived; but the kingly preroga-tives were intrusted to a Lord High Protector. The sovereignwas called not His Majesty, but His Highness. He was notcrowned and anointed in Westminster Abbey, but was so-lemnly enthroned, girt with a sword of state, clad in a robeof purple, and presented with a rich Bible, in WestminsterHall. His office was not declared hereditary: but he waspermitted to name his successor; and none could doubt thathe would name his son.

A House of Commons was a necessary part of the newpolity. In constituting this body, the Protector showed awisdom and a public spirit which were not duly appreciated