But the Standard set up of the Fifth-Monarchy insurgents of Mile-End-Green had enabled him to return to the topic with reference specifically to the Barebones Parliament and the transition thence to the Protectorate.  That wild pamphlet, he had told his auditors, in Speech XII. (April 20), was by one who had been “a leading person” in the Barebones Parliament (Harrison or Squib?); and in Speech XIII. (April 21) he had dwelt on the fact again more at large, revealing a story, as he said, of his “own weakness and folly.”  The Barebones Parliament had been one of his own choosing; he had filled it with “men of our own judgment, who had fought in the wars, and were all of a piece upon that account.”  This he had done in his “simplicity,” expecting the best results.  But, as it had happened, there was a band of men in that Parliament driving even then for nothing but the principles of this wretched Fifth-Monarchy manifesto, the abolition of Church and Magistracy, and a trial of a fantastic government by the Law of Moses.  Major-General Harrison and Mr. Squib had been the leaders of this band, with the Anabaptist minister Mr. Feak as their confidant out of doors; and what they did from day to day in the Parliament had been concocted in private meetings in Mr. Squib’s house.  “This was so de facto: I know it to be true.”  Had he not done well in accepting the Protectorate at such a moment, and so saving the Commonwealth from the delirium of which they had just seen a new spurt at Mile-End-Green?[1]

[Footnote 1:  I have taken the account of the Standard Set Up from Godwin, IV. 375-378, not having seen it myself.  The passages in Cromwell’s speeches referring to it will be found in Carlyle, III, 260, and 276-277.]

After the Protector’s refusal of the Kingship the House proceeded to adjust the new constitution they had prepared in the Petition and Advice to that unavoidable fact.  Not much was necessary.  It was only necessary to re-shape the key-stone, by removing the word “King” from the first clause of the First Article and retaining the word “Protector”:  all the rest would hold good.  Accordingly, after some days of debate, it was finally agreed, May 22, that the former first clause of the First Article should be cancelled, and this substituted:  “That your Highness will be pleased, by and under the name and style of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging, to hold and exercise the office of Chief Magistrate of these Nations, and to govern according to this Petition and Advice in all things therein contained, and in all other things according to the Laws of these Nations, and not otherwise.”  The remaining clause of the First Article, empowering Cromwell to appoint his immediate successor, was left untouched, as well as all the subsequent Articles.  To the whole of the Petition and Advice, so arranged, Cromwell solemnly gave his assent in the Painted Chamber, May 25, addressing the House in a short speech, in which he expressed his thorough confidence in them in respect to those explanations or modifications of the document which they had promised in order to meet the objections he had taken the liberty of making.  He did not doubt there would be “a perfecting of those things."[1]