But he would not permit them to sit, and yet disown the authority by which they sat.  For this purpose he had prepared a recognition which he required them to sign.  Those who refused would be excluded the house; the rest would find admission, and might exercise their legislative power without control, for his negative remained in force no longer than twenty days.  Let them limit his authority if they pleased.  He would cheerfully submit, provided he thought it for the interest of the people.[1]

The members, on their return, found a guard of soldiers at the door of the house, and a parchment for signatures lying on a table in the lobby.  It contained the recognition of which the protector had spoken; a pledge that the subscribers would neither propose nor consent to alter the government, as it was settled in one person and a parliament.  It was immediately signed by Lenthall, the speaker; his example was followed by the court party; and in the course of a few

[Footnote 1:  Printed by G. Sawbridge, 1654.]

days almost three hundred names were subscribed.  The Stanch republicans refused; yet the sequel showed that their exclusion did not give to the court that ascendancy in the house which had been anticipated.[1]

About this time an extraordinary accident occurred.  Among the presents which Cromwell had received from foreign princes, were six Friesland coach-horses from the duke of Oldenburg.  One day,[a] after he had dined with Thurloe under the shade in the park, the fancy took him to try the mettle of the horses.  The secretary was compelled to enter the carriage; the protector, forgetful of his station, mounted the box.  The horses at first appeared obedient to the hand of the new coachman; but the too frequent application of the lash drove them into a gallop, and the protector was suddenly precipitated from his seat.  At first, he lay suspended by the pole with his leg entangled in the harness; and the explosion of a loaded pistol in one of his pockets added to the fright and the rapidity of the horses; but a fortunate jerk extricated his foot from his shoe, and he fell under the body of the carriage without meeting with injury from the wheels.  He was immediately taken up by his guards, who followed at full speed, and conveyed to Whitehall; Thurloe leaped from the door of the carriage, and escaped with a sprained ancle and some severe bruises.  Both were confined to their chambers for a long time;

[Footnote 1:  Thurloe, ii. 606.  Whitelock, 605.  Journals, Sept. 5-18.  Fleetwood, from Dublin, asks Thurloe, “How cam it to passe, that this last teste was not at the first sitting of the house?” (ii. 620).  See in Archaeol. xxiv. 39, a letter showing that several, who refused to subscribe at first through motives of conscience, did so later.  This was in consequence of a declaration that the recognition did not comprehend all the forty-two articles in “the instrument,” but only what concerned the government by a single person and successive parliaments.—­See Journals, Sept. 14.]