that as a fundamental, not to be called in question.  “I say, Look up to God:  have peace among yourselves.  Know assuredly that, if I have an interest, I am by the voice of the People the Supreme Magistrate, and, it may be, do know somewhat that might satisfy my conscience, if I stood in doubt.  But it is a union, really it is a union, between you and me; and, both of us united in faith and love to Jesus Christ, and to His peculiar Interest in the world,-that must ground this work.  And in that, if I have any peculiar interest which is personal to myself, which is not subservient to the public end, it were not an extravagant thing for me to curse myself, because I know God will curse me if I have.”  After quoting the 85th Psalm, he dismissed them to choose their Speaker.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Speech V.; Carlyle, III. 159-196.]

Then, however, there was the second intervention.  It was in the lobby of the House.  Some persons, acting for the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery, stood there, with tickets certifying that such and such members had been duly returned and also “approved by his Highness’s Council"; the doors of the House were guarded by soldiers; and none but those for whom the tickets had been made out were allowed to enter.  About ninety-three found themselves thus excluded; among whom, were Hasilrig, Scott, Irby, Sir Harbottle Grimston, the Earl of Salisbury, Maynard, four of the six members for the city of London, and Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper.  The residue, who had received tickets, proceeded to constitute the House, and unanimously elected Sir Thomas Widdrington, Sergeant at Law and one of the Commissioners of the Treasury, for their Speaker.  Almost the only other business that day was to thank Dr. Owen for his sermon, and order it to be printed.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Commons Journals, Sept. 17, 1656; and Parl.  Hist.  III. 1484-1487.]

The next day there was read in the House a letter to the Speaker, signed by a number of the excluded, informing him of the fact and desiring to be admitted.  Through that and the two following sittings, an inquiry into the circumstances of the exclusion formed part of the proceedings.  The Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery, being required to attend, did at last present himself, and explained that he had but obeyed orders.  He had received a letter from Mr. Jessop, the Clerk of the Council, ordering him to deliver tickets only to such of the persons elected as should be certified to him as approved by the Council; and he had acted accordingly.  With some reluctance, he produced the letter; and the House then resolved to ask the Council for their reasons for excluding so many members.  These were given, on the 20th, by Fiennes for the Council.  They were to the effect that Article XXI. of the constituting Instrument of the Protectorate, called The Government of the Commonwealth (Vol.  IV. pp. 542-544), required the Clerk of the Commonwealth