one notes a great many naturalizings of foreigners resident in England, or of persons of English descent born abroad or otherwise requiring to be naturalized.  Theodore Haak and his family, Dr. Lewis Du Moulin, a number of Lawrences and Carews, and a daughter of the poet Waller, are among the scores included in such Naturalization Bills.  Through all this, hardly a week, of course, without an order to Dr. Owen, Dr. Thomas Goodwin, Caryl, Nye, Sterry, Manton, or some other leading divine, to preach a special sermon, with thanks after for his “great pains,” and generally a request that the sermon should be printed.  On the whole, Speaker Widdrington had no light post.  Indeed, in January 1656-7, the House, perceiving him to be very ill and weak, insisted on his taking leave of absence, and appointed Whitlocke as his substitute.  Whitlocke acted as pro-Speaker, he tells us, from January 27 to Feb. 18, with great acceptance and rapid despatch of business.  On the last of these days, however, Widdrington, though at the risk of his life, reappeared and resumed duty.  A fee of L5, it seems, was due to the Speaker from every person naturalized by bill, and all such fees would have gone to Whitlocke had Widdrington remained absent.  The loss to Whitlocke was made up handsomely by the House in a vote of L2000, besides repayment of L500 he had expended over his allowance in his Swedish embassy, and thanks for his many eminent services.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Commons Journals over period and for dates named; Whitlocke, IV. 280-286.]

About a fortnight after the Parliament had met (Oct. 2), there had come splendid news from Blake and Montague.  A Spanish fleet from the West Indies, with the ex-Viceroy of Peru and his family on board, and a vast treasure of silver, had been attacked in Cadiz bay by six English frigates under the command of Captain Stayner.  Two of the ships had been taken, two burnt and sunk (the ex-Viceroy, his wife, and eldest daughter, perishing most tragically in the flames), and there had been a great capture of silver.  The rejoicing in London was great, and it was renewed a month afterwards by the actual arrival of the silver from Portsmouth, a long train of waggon-loads through the open streets, on its way to the Mint, Admiral Montague himself had come with it.  He was in the House Nov. 4, welcomed with thanks and applauses to his place for a while among the legislators.[1]

[Footnote 1:  Commons Journals of dates given, and Godwin, IV, 300-303.]

Legislative work being back in the hands of a Parliament, the Protector and his Council had confined themselves meanwhile to matters of administration, war, and diplomacy.  Vane had been released from his imprisonment in the Isle of Wight by order of Council, Dec. 11, and permitted to return to Lincolnshire; and there had been other relaxations of the severities attending the opening of the Parliament.  There had been an order of Council (Oct. 2) for the release of imprisoned Quakers