BEFORE THE RESTORATION.

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be doubted whether Richard could have triumphed over that chap.

coalition, even if he had inherited his father’s clear judgment-

and iron courage. It is certain that simplicity and meeknesslike his were not the qualities which the conjuncture required.

He fell ingloriously, and without a struggle. He was usedby the army as an instrument for the purpose of dissolving theParliament, and was then contemptuously thrown aside. Theofficers gratified their republican allies by declaring that theexpulsion of the Rump had been illegal, and by inviting thatassembly to resume its functions. The old Speaker and aquorum of the old members came together and were pro-claimed, amidst the scarcely stifled derision and execrationof the whole nation, the supreme power in the State. It wasat the same time expressly declared that there should be nofirst magistrate, and no House of Lords.

But this state of things could not last. On the day onwhich the Long Parliament revived, revived also its oldquarrel with the army. Again the Rump forgot that it owedits existence to the pleasure of the soldiers, and began totreat them as subjects. Again the doors of the House of Com- secondmons were closed by military violence; and a provisional of thegovernment, named by the officers, assumed the directionnanfenuof affairs.

Meanwhile the sense of great evils, and the strong ap-prehension of still greater evils close at hand, had at lengthproduced an alliance between the Cavaliers and the Pres-byterians. Some Presbyterians had, indeed, been disposedto such an alliance even before the death of Charles the First:but it was not till after the fall of Richard Cromwell that thewhole party became eager for the restoration of the royalhouse. There was no longer any reasonable hope that theold constitution could be reestablished under a new dynasty.

One choice only was left, the Stuarts or the army. Thebanished family had committed great faults; but it had dearly