10. In the mean time, Cromwell, crowned with success, returned in triumph to London, where he was met by the speaker of the house, accompanied by the mayor of London, and the magistrates, in all their formalities. His first care was to take advantage of his late success by depressing the Scots, who had so lately withstood the work of the Gospel, as he called it. 11. An act was passed for abolishing royalty in Scotland, and annexing that kingdom, as a conquered province, to the English commonwealth. It was empowered, however, to send some members to the English parliament. Judges were appointed to distribute justice; and the people of that country, now freed from the tyranny of the ecclesiastics, were not much dissatisfied with their present government. The prudent conduct of Monk, who was left by Cromwell to complete their subjugation, served much to reconcile the minds of the people, harassed with dissensions, of which they never well understood the cause.

12. In this manner, the English parliament, by the means of Cromwell, spread their uncontested authority over all the British dominions. Ireland was totally subdued by Ireton and Ludlow. All the settlements in America, that had declared for the royal cause, were obliged to submit: Jersey, Guernsey, Scilly, and the

disguises, in every step was exposed to imminent dangers, and received daily proofs of uncorrupted fidelity. A little bark was at last founded at Brighthelmstone, (at that time a small fishing town in Sussex, but now a place of considerable magnitude and opulence,) where his majesty embarked, and safely arrived at Fescamp, in Normandy, October 22d.

The above engraving represents the house at Boscobel in the distance, and, in the front, the Royal Oak. The following inscription was engraved in bronze, and placed on the wall which was rebuilt in 1787.

Quercus amica Jovi.
Felicissimam hanc arborem, quam in
Asylum Potentissimi Regis Caroli II.
Deus Optimus Maximus, per quem
Reges regnant, hic crescere voluit,
Tam in perpetuam Rei tantæ Memoriam,
Quam in specimen firmæ in Reges Fidei,
Muro cinctam Posteris commendant
Basilius et Jana
Fitzherbert.

Quod Pietatis monumentum jam

Vetustate

Collapsum paternarum virtutum Hæredes,
Et aviti in Principes Fidei Emulatores,
In integrum restituerunt

Basilius et Eliza

Fitzherbert.

IIII cal, Junii An. Hum. Sal.
MDCCLXXXVII.

Free Translation.
Sacred to Jupiter is the Oak.
This most glorious tree, which,

For the asylum of the
Most powerful King Charles II.
God the Greatest and the Best,
Here caused to flourish,
Basil and Jane
Fitzherbert

Have surrounded with a wall,
That it may be

Sacred to posterity,

As a perpetual memorial
Of so great a King,
And a proof of their

Fidelity towards Monarchs:
Which Monument of Piety,
Now decayed through age,
Is rebuilt by

Basil and Elizabeth
Fitzherbert,

The Heirs of paternal virtue,
And the emulators of
Their ancestors in

Their fidelity
Towards Princes,
4th June, 1787.

Isle of Man, were brought easily under subjection. Thus mankind saw, with astonishment, a parliament composed of sixty or seventy obscure and illiterate members governing a great empire with unanimity and success. 13. Without any acknowledged subordination, except a council of state, consisting of thirty-eight, to whom all addresses were made, they levied armies, maintained fleets, and gave laws to the neighbouring powers of Europe. 14. The finances were managed with economy and exactness. Few private persons became rich by the plunder of the public: the revenues of the crown, the lands of the bishops, and a tax of a hundred and twenty thousand pounds each month, supplied the wants of the government, and gave vigour to all their proceedings.

Questions for Examination.

1. What was the nature of Cromwell's ambition?

2. What success attended him in Ireland?

3. What cruelty tarnished his victories?

4. Whom did the parliament appoint to the command of the army against Scotland?

5. What was Cromwell's success?

6. What resolution did prince Charles embrace?

7. What news did the prince receive at Worcester?

8. What was the result of his undertaking?

9. What were his sufferings? and how did he escape?
10. What was Cromwell's first care after his return?
11. What act was now passed respecting Scotland?
12-14. What was the state of the British empire at this time?

SECTION II.

"An evil soul, producing Holy Writ,

Is like a villain with a smiling cheek;

A goodly apple rotten at the core."-SHAKSPEARE.

1. (A.D. 1652.) THE parliament, having thus reduced their native dominions to perfect obedience, next resolved to chastise the Dutch, who had given but very slight cause of complaint. It happened that one doctor Dorislaus, who was of the number of the late king's judges, being sent by the parliament as their envoy to Holland, was assassinated by one of the royal party, who had taken refuge there. 2. Some time after, also, Mr. St. John, appointed their ambassador to that court, was insulted by the friends of the prince of Orange. These were thought motives sufficient to induce the commonwealth of England to declare war against them. The parliament's chief dependence lay in the activity and courage of Blake, their admiral; who, though he had not embarked in naval command till late in

life, yet surpassed all that went before him in courage and dexterity. 3. On the other side, the Dutch opposed to him their famous admiral Van Tromp, to whom they have never since produced an equal. Many were the engagements between these celebrated admirals, and various was their success. Sea-fights, in general, seldom prove decisive; and the vanquished are soon seen to make head against the victor. Several dreadful encounters, therefore, rather served to show the excellence of the admirals, than to determine their superiority. 4. The Dutch, however, who felt many great disadvantages by the loss of their trade, and by the total suspension of their fisheries, were willing to treat for a peace; but the parliament gave them a very unfavourable answer. It was the policy of that body to keep their navy on foot as long as they could; rightly judging, that, while the force of the nation was exerting by sea, it would diminish the power of general Cromwell by land, which was become very formidable to them.

5. This great aspirer, however, quickly perceived their designs; and, from the first, saw that they dreaded his growing power, and wished its diminution. All his measures were conducted with a bold intrepidity that marked his character, and he now saw that it was not necessary to wear the mask of subordination any longer. Secure, therefore, in the attachment of the army, he resolved to make another daring effort; and persuaded the officers to present a petition for payment of arrears and redress of grievances, which he knew would be rejected by the commons with disdain. 6. The petition was soon drawn up and presented, in which the officers, after demanding their arrears, desired the parliament to consider how many years they had sat; and what professions they had formerly made of their intentions to new model the house, and establish freedom on the broadest basis.

7. The house was highly offended at the presumption of the army, although they had seen, but too lately, that their own power was wholly founded on that very presumption. They appointed a committee to prepare an act, ordaining that all persons who presented such petitions for the future should be deemed guilty of high treason. To this the officers made a very warm remonstrance, and the parliament as angry a reply; while the breach between them every moment grew wider. 8. This was what Cromwell had long wished, and had long foreseen. He was sitting in the council with his officers, when informed of the subject on which the house was deliberating; upon which he rose up, in the most seeming fury, and turning to Major Vernon, he cried out, that he was compelled to do a thing that made the very hairs of his head stand on end. 9. Then hastening to the house with three hundred soldiers, and with the marks of violent indignation on his countenance, he entered. Stamping with his foot, which was the signal for the soldiers to enter, the place was immediately filled with armed men. Then

'get

addressing himself to the members; "For shame," said he, " you gone. Give place to honester men; to those who will more faithfully discharge their trust. 10. You are no longer a parliament: I tell you, you are no longer a parliament: the Lord has done with you." Sir Harry Vane exclaiming

against this conduct : "Sir Harry," cried Cromwell with a loud voice, "O! sir Harry Vane, the Lord deliver me from sir Harry Vane." He then, in the coarsest and most violent manner, reproached many of the members, by name, with their vices. "It is you," continued he, "that have forced me upon this. 11. I have sought the Lord night and day, that he would rather slay me than put me upon this work."Then pointing to the mace Sir Harry Vane. away," cried he, "that bauble." After which, turning out all the members, and clearing the hall, he ordered the doors to be locked, and, putting the key in his pocket, returned to Whitehall.

"Take

12. The persons selected for his next parliament were the lowest, meanest, and the most ignorant among the citizens, and the very dregs of the fanatics. He was well apprised, that, during the administration of such a group of characters he alone must govern, or that they must soon throw up the reins of government, which they were unqualified to guide. Accordingly, their practice justified his sagacity. One of them particularly, who was called Praise God Barebone, a canting leather-seller, gave his name to this old assembly, and it was called Barebone's parliament.

13. The very vulgar now began to exclaim against so foolish a legislature; and they themselves seemed not insensible of the ridicule which every day was thrown out against them. Accordingly, by concert, they met earlier than the rest of their fraternity, and observing to each other that this parliament had sat long enough, they hastened to Cromwell, with Rouse their speaker, at their head, and into his hands they resigned the authority with which he had invested them.

Questions for Examination.

1. What circumstances produced a war with the Dutch?

2. On what admiral did the English place their chief dependence? 3. To whom was Blake opposed?

4. What was the result of the war?

5. What petition did Cromwell persuade the officers to present?

7. In what manner did the parliament receive the petition?

7-11. Relate the particulars of this dispute, and its result.

12. Of whom was the next parliament composed? and what was it called? 19. To whom did they resign their authority?

SECTION III.

"Established violence, and lawless might,

Avowed and hallowed by the name of right."-Rowe's LUCAN.

8. Neth'erlands, or Low Countries, s. a large country of Europe, anciently called Gallia Belgica.

9. Mediterra'nean, . the name of the sea between Asia, Africa, and Europe.

10. Leghorn', s. a sea port town of Italy, in the Duchy of Tuscany.

Algiers', s. a strong town, and capital of the same name in Barbary.

11. Tu'nis, s. a large city of Barbary, in Africa.

12. Cana'ries, s. a group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean.

13. Hispaniola, 3. an island in the West Indies.

Jamaica, s. an island in the West Indies, discovered by Columbus, in 1494.

15. Enthu'siasm, s. heat of imagination.

1. (A.D. 1653.) CROMWELL accepted their resignation with pleasure but being told that some of the members were refractory, he sent Colonel White to clear the house of such as ventured to remain there. They had placed one Moyer in the chair by the time that the colonel had arrived; and being asked by the colonel what they did there, Moyer replied very gravely, that they were seeking the Lord. "Then may you go elsewhere," cried White; "for to my certain knowledge, the Lord has not been here these many years."

2. This shadow of a parliament being dissolved, the officers, by their own authority, declared Cromwell protector of the commnonwealth of England. He was to be addressed by the title of Highness; and his power was proclaimed in London, and other parts of the kingdom. Thus an obscure and vulgar man, at the age of fiftythree, rose to unbounded power first by following small events in his favour, and at length by directing great ones.

:

3. Cromwell chose his council from among his officers, who had been the companions of his dangers and his victories, to each of whom he assigned a pension of one thousand pounds a year. He took care to have his troops, upon whose fidelity he depended for support, paid a month in advance; the magazines were also well provided, and the public treasure managed with frugality and care; while his activity, vigilance, and resolution were such, that he discovered every conspiracy against his person, and every plot for an insurrection before they took effect.

4. His management of foreign affairs, though his schemes were by no means political, yet well corresponded with his character, and for a while were attended with success. The Dutch, having been humbled by repeated defeats, and totally abridged of their commercial concerns, were obliged at last to sue for peace, which he gave them upon terms rather too favourable. 5. He insisted upon their paying deference to the British flag; he compelled them to abandon the interest of the king, and to pay eighty-five thousand pounds, as an indemnification for former expenses; and to restore the English East India Company a part of those dominions, of which they had been dispossessed by the Dutch during the former reign, in that distant part of the world.