and boroughs of Scotland had, through their deputies, assented to the tender of the union.1

The declaration of the parliament for the union, and the election of twenty-one deputies to negotiate, and the abolition of kingly power, was read at the market crosses of Edinburgh and Dundee. The English soldiers shouted; but the people listened without any sign. The national pride was too deeply hurt by the defeat of their armies in the effort to maintain the Stuart line; the ministers feared the loss of the privileges of their church courts and the entrance of toleration for all forms of dissent, and they kept up an obstinate opposition to the new government. The commissioners did their best to form a party favourable to their project. They rescued the country from the confusion following the collapse of the former government, and from military rule. They established judicatories, and appointed sheriffs and magistrates and honest clerks. It was soon noticed by the commonality that the even-handed justice of these judges "exceidit the Scottis in mony things."

The negotiations for the union were long and complicated. The conferences were continued till the expulsion of the parliament, and the union was accomplished at the end of the year 1653, when it was arranged that Scotland should have 30 members in the English parliament.

1 Scotland and the Commonwealth, Introduction, p. xxiv. and pp. 31-269,

CHAPTER XIX

Mutiny in the Fleet. The Exploits of Blake. Vane's Administration of the Navy. The War with Holland. Vane presses a Bill for a new Election. Cromwell dissolves the Long Parliament. His Accusations against the Parliament.

THE fleet was more inclined to sympathise with the Presbyterians than with the Independents. In 1649 the sailors were much discontented with the supersession of William Batten for Colonel Thomas Rainsborow, an Independent who had commanded a man-of-war in 1643, and had gained honours as a soldier. The crews made no complaint about their pay or food, but towards the end of May they put the obnoxious admiral ashore. After a month's lingering, nine of the ships' crews were enticed by Batten to sail to Holland to offer their services to the Prince of Wales. Many of the sailors deserted. By November five ships had returned. The remaining four, recruited with royalist refugees under the command of Prince Rupert and his brother Maurice, sailed out to prey upon the merchantmen they fell in with. This made the parliament pay immediate attention to the state of the navy.

At the end of December, Colonel Robert Blake was made admiral, with a full commission to hunt down the revolted ships. Blake, the son of a wealthy

and boroughs of Scotland had, through their deputies, assented to the tender of the union.1

The declaration of the parliament for the union, and the election of twenty-one deputies to negotiate, and the abolition of kingly power, was read at the market crosses of Edinburgh and Dundee. The English soldiers shouted; but the people listened without any sign. The national pride was too deeply hurt by the defeat of their armies in the effort to maintain the Stuart line; the ministers feared the loss of the privileges of their church courts and the entrance of toleration for all forms of dissent, and they kept up an obstinate opposition to the new government. The commissioners did their best to form a party favourable to their project. They rescued the country from the confusion following the collapse of the former government, and from military rule. They established judicatories, and appointed sheriffs and magistrates and honest clerks. It was soon noticed by the commonality that the even-handed justice of these judges "exceidit the Scottis in mony things."

The negotiations for the union were long and complicated. The conferences were continued till the expulsion of the parliament, and the union was accomplished at the end of the year 1653, when it was arranged that Scotland should have 30 members in the English parliament.

1 Scotland and the Commonwealth, Introduction, p. xxiv. and pp. 31-269.

CHAPTER XIX

Mutiny in the Fleet. The Exploits of Blake. Vane's Administration of the Navy. The War with Holland. Vane presses a Bill for a new Election. Cromwell dissolves the Long Parliament. His Accusations against the Parliament.

THE fleet was more inclined to sympathise with the Presbyterians than with the Independents. In 1649 the sailors were much discontented with the supersession of William Batten for Colonel Thomas Rainsborow, an Independent who had commanded a man-of-war in 1643, and had gained honours as a soldier. The crews made no complaint about their pay or food, but towards the end of May they put the obnoxious admiral ashore. After a month's lingering, nine of the ships' crews were enticed by Batten to sail to Holland to offer their services to the Prince of Wales. Many of the sailors deserted. By November five ships had returned. The remaining four, recruited with royalist refugees under the command of Prince Rupert and his brother Maurice, sailed out to prey upon the merchantmen they fell in with. This made the parliament pay immediate attention to the state of the navy.

At the end of December, Colonel Robert Blake was made admiral, with a full commission to hunt down the revolted ships. Blake, the son of a wealthy

and boroughs of Scotland had, through their deputies, assented to the tender of the union.1

The declaration of the parliament for the union, and the election of twenty-one deputies to negotiate, and the abolition of kingly power, was read at the market crosses of Edinburgh and Dundee. The English soldiers shouted; but the people listened without any sign. The national pride was too deeply hurt by the defeat of their armies in the effort to maintain the Stuart line; the ministers feared the loss of the privileges of their church courts and the entrance of toleration for all forms of dissent, and they kept up an obstinate opposition to the new government. The commissioners did their best to form a party favourable to their project. They rescued the country from the confusion following the collapse of the former government, and from military rule. They established judicatories, and appointed sheriffs and magistrates and honest clerks. It was soon noticed by the commonality that the even-handed justice of these judges "exceidit the Scottis in mony things."

The negotiations for the union were long and complicated. The conferences were continued till the expulsion of the parliament, and the union was accomplished at the end of the year 1653, when it was arranged that Scotland should have 30 members in the English parliament.

1 Scotland and the Commonwealth, Introduction, p. xxiv. and pp. 31-269,