OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF ENGLAND. FROM ITS COMMENCEMENT, TO THE RESTORATION OF CHARLES THE SECOND. BY WILLIAM GODWIN. TO ATTEND TO THE NEGLECTED, AND TO REMEMBER THE FORGOTTEN. VOLUME THE FOURTH. OLIVER, LORD PROTECTOR. BURKE. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN, NEW BURLINGTON STREET. ADVERTISEMENT. THE history of the reign of Cromwel is a difficult theme, and has not been treated by any writer who has endeavoured to develop its intricacies, and trace effects to their causes. He abruptly dissolved the parliaments of 1654 and 1656, contrary to the earnest remonstrances of Whitlocke. He is affirmed tyrannically to have dismissed from their offices three of the judges of the land; and he sent three eminent counsel to the Tower, merely, as it should seem, for doing justice to the cause of their client. He imposed taxes and made laws, solely by his own authority and that of his council. He arbitrarily deprived of their seats one hundred members of his last parliament, and instituted another house, or house of lords, composed, it is said, of the dregs of the people. All these appear to be the acts of a madman. Yet few have questioned the superlative ta |
