[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1652.  May 8.] [Sidenote b:  A.D. 1652.  Sept. 5.] [Sidenote c:  A.D. 1652.  Sept. 6.] [Sidenote d:  A.D. 1652.  Dec. 10.] [Sidenote e:  A.D. 1653.  Feb. 21.]

highness the protector.  But in what style was Louis to address the usurper by letter?  “Mon cousin” was offered and refused; “mon frere,” which Cromwell sought, was offensive to the pride of the monarch; and, as a temperament between the two, “monsieur le protecteur” was given and accepted.  Bordeaux proposed a treaty of amity, by which all letters-of-marque should be recalled, and the damages suffered by the merchants of the two nations be referred to foreign arbitrators.  To thwart the efforts of his rival, Don Alonzo, abandoning his former project, brought forward the proposal of a new commercial treaty between England and Spain.  Cromwell was in no haste to conclude with either.  He was aware that the war between them was the true cause of these applications; that he held the balance in his hand, and that it was in his power at any moment to incline it in favour of either of the two crowns.  His determination, indeed, had long been taken; but it was not his purpose to let it transpire; and when he was asked the object of the two great armaments preparing in the English ports, he refused to give any satisfactory explanation.[1]

In this state of the treaty, its further progress was for a while suspended by the meeting[a] of the protector’s first parliament.  He had summoned it for the 3rd of September, his fortunate day, as he perhaps believed himself, as he certainly wished it to be believed by others.  But the 3rd happened in that year to fall on a Sunday; and, that the Sabbath might not be profaned

[Footnote 1:  Thurloe, i. 760; ii. 61, 113, 228, 559, 587.  An obstacle was opposed to the progress of the treaty by the conduct of Le Baas, a dependant on Mazarin, and sent to aid Bordeaux with his advice.  After some time, it was discovered that this man (whether by order of the minister, or at the solicitation of the royalists, is uncertain) was intriguing with the malcontents.  Cromwell compelled him to return to France.—­Thurloe, ii. 309, 351, 412, 437.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1654.  Sept. 3.]

by the agitation of worldly business, he requested the members to meet him at sermon in Westminster Abbey on the following morning.[a] At ten the procession set out from Whitehall.  It was opened by two troops of life-guards; then rode some hundreds of gentlemen and officers, bareheaded, and in splendid apparel; immediately before the carriage walked the pages and lackeys of the protector in rich liveries, and on each side a captain of the guard; behind it came Claypole, master of the horse, leading a charger magnificently caparisoned, and Claypole was followed by the great officers of state and the members of the council.  The personal appearance of the protector formed a striking contrast with the parade of the procession.