« shake the foundation of our Laws, and the Liberties of the " people.”

"SPEAKER. "It will breed a ftrange confufion to fettle a Go"vernment of this nation, without fomething of Monarchy."

• Col. DESBOROUGH. "I beseech you, my Lord, why may "not this, as well as other nations, be governed in the way of "a Republic?"

'WHITLOCKE. "The Laws of England are fo interwoven "with the power and practice of Monarchy, that to fettle a "Government without fomething of Monarchy in it, would "make so great an alteration in the proceedings of our law, "that you have scarce time to rectify; nor can we well foresee "the inconveniences which will arise thereby."

• Cal. WHALEY. "I do not well understand matters of Law, "but it seems to me to be the best way not to have any thing of "Monarchical power in the fettlement of our Government: " and if we should resolve upon any, whom have we to pitch "upon? The late King's eldeft fon hath been in arms against 66 us, and his second fon likewise is our enemy."

'Sir T. WIDDRINGTON. "But the late King's third fon, "the Duke of Gloucefter, is ftill among us, and too young to "have been in arms against us, or infected with the principles "of our enemies.”

WHITLOCKE. "There may be a day given for the King's ❝eldest son, or for the Duke of York his brother, to come in "to the Parliament; and, upon fuch terms as fhall be thought "fit and agreeable both to our civil and spiritual Liberties, a "fettlement may be made with them.”

• CROMWELL. "That will be a business of more than ordinary difficulty; but really I think, if it may be done with "fafety, and the preservation of our Rights, both as English"men and as Chriftians, that a fettlement, with somewhat of "Monarchical power in it, would be very effectual."

Our Memorialift adds, "That there was much discourse, "by divers Gentlemen then present, but too large to be infert"ed: That, generally, the Soldiers were against any thing of "Monarchy, tho' every one of them was a Monarch in his "own regiment or company: That the Lawyers were for a "mixed Monarchical Government; and many were for the "Duke of Gloucefter to be made King; but Cromwell still "put off that debate, and came to fome other point: And that "in conclufion, after a long debate, the company parted with❝out coming to any refult at all; only Cromwell discovered,

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by this meeting, the inclinations of the perfons that fpake, "which he fifhed for, and made ufe of what he then difcern'd."

We find that Cromwell thus artfully founded the affections of the leading men among the Parliament and the Army. But he afterwards came nearer to the point of his ambition, in a confabulation with Lord Commiffioner Whitlocke.

Cromwell having difcourfed much of the unfettled ftate of the kingdom, of the little hopes there was from the Parliament, and of the fear that they would deftroy what was done, the following dialogue enfued.

WHITLOCKE. "We ourselves have acknowleged them the fupreme power, and taken our commiffions and authority in "the highest concernments from them; and how to refrain "and curb them after this, it will be hard to find out a way " for it."

• CROMWELL. "What if a man should take upon him to be "King?"

WHITLOCKE. "I think that remedy would be worse than "the difeafe."

WHITLOCKE. "As to your own perfon, the title of King "would be of no advantage, because you have the full kingly "power in you already, concerning the Militia, as you are Ge"neral. As to the nomination of civil Officers, thofe whom << you think fitteft are feldom refused; and altho?' you have no "negative vote in the paffing of laws, yet what you diflike will "not easily be carried; and the taxes are already fettled, and in "your power to difpofe the money raifed. And as to foreign "affairs, though the ceremonial application be made to the "Parliament, yet the expectation of good or bad fuccefs in it is "from your Excellency; and particular folicitations of foreign "Minifters are made to you only: fo that I apprehend, indeed, "lefs envy and danger, and pomp, but not lefs power, and real " opportunities of doing good in your being General, than "would be if you had affumed the title of King."

"CROMWELL. "I have heard fome of your profeffion observe, "That he who is actually King, whether by election or by de"fcent, yet being once King, all acts done by him as King are "as lawful and juftifiable as by any King who hath the Crown

by inheritance from his forefathers: And that by an Act of "Parliament in Henry the feventh's time, it is fafer for thofe "who act under a King, be his title what it will, than for those "who act under any other power. And furely the power of a

"King is fo great and high, and fo univerfally underftood and "reverenced by the people of this nation, that the title of it "might not only indemnify, in a great measure, those that act

under it, but likewife be of great ufe and advantage in fuch "times as thefe, to curb the infolences of thofe whom the pre"fent powers cannot controul, or at least are the persons them"felves who are thus infolent."

WHITLOCKE. "I agree in the general what you are pleafed "to observe as to this title of King; but whether for your Ex"cellency to take this title upon you, as things now are, will "be for the good and advantage either of yourself and friends, "or of the Commonwealth, I do very much doubt; notwith"standing that Act of Parliament, 11 Henry VII. which will "be little regarded, or obferved to us by our enemies, if they "should come to get the upper hand of us."

• CROMWELL. "What do you apprehend would be the "danger of taking this title?"

'WHITLOCKE. "The danger, I think would be this: One "of the main points of controverfy betwixt us and our adverfa"ries is, whether the Government of this nation fhall be estab"lished in Monarchy, or in a Free State or Commonwealth; and "moft of our friends have engaged with us upon the hopes of "having the Government fettled in a Free State, and to effect "that have undergone all their hazards and difficulties, they "being perfuaded, though I think much mistaken, that under "the Government of a Commonwealth they fhall enjoy more "Liberty and Right, both as to their spiritual and civil concern"ments, than they fhall under Monarchy; the preffures and "diflike whereof are fo fresh in their memories and fufferings.

"Now if your Excellency fhould take upon you the title of "King, this ftate of your caufe will be thereby wholly determined, and Monarchy established in your perfon; and the quef"tion will be no more whether our Government shall be by a "Monarch, or by a Free State, but whether Cromwell or Stu. art fhall be our King and Monarch.

"And that queftion, wherein before fo great Parties of the "nation were engaged, and which was univerfal, will by this "means become, in effect, a private controverfy only. Before "it was national, What kind of Government we should have, "now it will become particular, Who fhall be our Governor, "whether the family of the Stuarts, or of the family of the "Cromwells?

"Thus the ftate of our controverfy being totally changed, "all those who were for a Commonwealth (and they are a very

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"great and confiderable party) having their hopes therein fruf"trated, will defert you; your hands will be weakened, your "interest straitened, and your cause in apparent danger to be << ruined."

CROMWELL. "I confefs you fpeak reafon in this; but what "other thing can you propound that may obviate the present "dangers and difficulties wherein we are all engaged?”

WHITLOCKE. "It will be the greateft difficulty to find out "fuch an expedient. I have had many things in my private "thoughts upon this bufinefs, fome of which perhaps are not fit, or fafe, for me to communicate."

CROMWELL. "I pray, my Lord, what are they? You may "truft me with them; there fhall no prejudice come to you by any private difcourfe betwixt us; I fhall never betray my friend; you may be as free with me as with your own heart, "and fhall never fuffer by it."

WHITLOCKE. "I make no fcruple to put my life and fortune into your Excellency's hand; and fo I fhall if I impart these "fancies to you, which are weak, and perhaps may prove offenfive to your Excellency; therefore my best way will be to "fmother them."

• CROMWELL. "Nay, I prithee, my Lord Whitlocke, let " me know them; be they what they will they cannot be offenfive to me, but I fhall take it kindly from you: therefore, "I pray, do not conceal thofe thoughts of yours from your "faithful friend."

• WHITLOCKE. "Your Excellency honours me with a title "far above me; and fince you are pleased to command it, I "fhall difcover to you my thoughts herein; and humbly desire 66 you not to take in ill part what I shall say to you.

CROMWELL. "Indeed I fhall not; but I fhall take it, as I "faid, very kindly from you."

WHITLOCKE. "Give me leave then, firft, to confider your Excellency's condition. You are environed with fecret enemies: Upon your fubduing of the public Enemy, the Officers "of your army account themfelves all Victors, and to have had an equal fhare in the conqueft with you.

"The fuccefs which God hath given us hath not a little elat"ed their minds; and many of them are bufy and of turbulent fpirits, and are not without their defigns how they may difmount your Excellency, and fome of themfelves get up into

"the faddle; how they may bring you down, and fet up them"felves.

"They want not counfel and encouragement herein; it may "be from fome Members of the Parliament, who may be jea"lous of your power and greatnefs, left you fhould grow too "high for them, and in time over-mafter them; and they will "plot to bring you down firft, or to clip your wings."

• CROMWELL. "I thank you that you fo fully confider my "condition; it is a teftimony of your love to me, and care of "me, and you have rightly confidered it; and I may say with"out vanity, that in my condition yours is involved and all our "friends; and those that plot my ruin will hardly bear your "continuance in any condition worthy of you. Befides this, "the caule itfelf may poffibly receive fome difadvantage by the "ftrugglings and contentions among ourfelves. But what, Sir, are your thoughts for prevention of those mischiefs that hang "over our heads?"

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• WHITLOCKE. "Pardon me, Sir, in the next place, a little "to confider the condition of the King of Scots.

"This Prince being now by your valour, and the fuccefs "which God hath given to the Parliament, and to the army "under your command, reduced to a very low condition; both ❝he and all about him cannot but be very inclineable to heark"en to any terms, whereby their loft hopes may be revived of "his being restored to the Crown, and they to their fortunes ❝and native country.

"By a private treaty with him you may fecure yourfelf, and your friends, and their fortunes; you may make yourself and "your pofterity as great and permanent, to all human probabi"lity, as ever any fubject was, and provide for your friends. "You may put fuch limits to monarchical power, as will secure ❝ our spiritual and civil Liberties, and you may fecure the cause "in which we are all engaged; and this may be effectually "done, by having the power of the Militia continued in your"felf, and whom you fhall agree upon after you.

"I propound, therefore, for your Excellency to fend to the "King of Scots, and to have a private treaty with him for this "purpose; and I befeech you to pardon what I have faid upon "the occafion. It is out of my affection and fervice to your "Excellency, and to all honeft men; and I humbly pray you "not to have any jealousy thereupon of my approved faithful"nefs to your Excellency and to this Commonwealth."

• CROMWELL.