[Footnote 1:  Thurloe, i. 766; vii. 562, 604, 605, 609, 615, 616.  Clarend.  Pap. iii. 423, 424, 425, 428, 432, 434, 436.  There were forty-seven republicans; from one hundred to one hundred and forty counterfeit republicans and neuters, seventy-two lawyers, and above one hundred placemen.—­Ibid. 440.  They began with a day of fasting and humiliation within the house, and four ministers, with praying and preaching, occupied them from nine till six.—­Burton’s Diary and Journals, Feb. 4.]

Prayer.[1] In the lower house, the first subject which called forth the strength of the different parties was a bill which, under the pretence of recognizing Richard Cromwell for the rightful successor to his father, would have pledged the parliament to an acquiescence in the existing form of government.[a] The men of republican principles instantly took the alarm.  To Richard personally they made no objection; they respected his private character, and wished well to the prosperity of his family; but where, they asked, was the proof that the provisions of the “humble petition and advice” had been observed? where the deed of nomination by his father? where the witnesses to the signature?—­Then what was the “humble petition and advice” itself?  An instrument of no force in a matter of such high concernment, and passed by a very small majority in a house, out of which one hundred members lawfully chosen, had been unlawfully excluded.  Lastly, what right had the Commons to admit a negative voice, either in another house or in a single person?  Such a voice was destructive of the sovereignty of the people exercised by their representatives.  The people had sent them to parliament with power to make laws for the national welfare, but not to annihilate the first and most valuable right of their constituents.  Each day the debate grew more animated and personal; charges were made and recriminations followed:  the republicans enumerated the acts of misrule and oppression under the government of the late protector; the courtiers balanced the account with similar instances from the proceedings of their adversaries during the sway of the long parliament; the orators, amidst the

[Footnote 1:  Thurloe, 559, 609, 615.]

[Sidenote a:  A.D. 1659.  Feb. 1.]

multitude of subjects incidentally introduced, lost sight of the original question; and the speaker, after a debate of eight days, declared that he was bewildered in a labyrinth of confusion, out of which he could discover no issue.  Weariness at last induced the combatants to listen to a compromise,[a] that the recognition of Richard as protector should form part of a future bill, but that at the same time, his prerogative should be so limited as to secure the liberties of the people.  Each party expressed its satisfaction.  The republicans had still the field open for the advocacy of their favourite doctrines; the protectorists had advanced a step, and trusted that it would lead them to the acquisition of greater advantages.[1]