on the whole, resolved to stand by Richard, and by the constitution which placed supreme power in the hands of a single person. The triumph of Fleetwood and of the officers was, therefore, the triumph of the Republicans. The Congregationalists, and the larger party included under the general name of "Independents," also regarded the dissolution with satisfaction. In reply to a charge made against him some years later, Owen, the most powerful of the Congregationalist leaders, denied that he had any part either in setting Richard up or in pulling him down; but there can be no doubt that he was in constant communication with Fleetwood and his allies during the months immediately succeeding Richard's accession; and it is certain that his sympathies were with the men who were opposed to government by "a single person." He was not on very friendly terms with the Cromwell family. It was known that he had drawn up the army address against Oliver's taking the crown, and from that time he appears to have had less of Oliver's favour. When Richard was made Chancellor of the University of Oxford, a short time before Oliver's death, Owen was removed from the Vice-Chancellorship in favour of Dr. Conant, a Presbyterian.

The Congregationalist Churches had joined in congratulating Richard on his accession; and, indeed, Baxter says that in the county of Worcester they were the only people that meddled in the matter; but they regarded with uneasiness the increased power which Richard was certain to give to the Presbyterians, and they were likely to believe that to check Richard, or even to depose him, would be favourable to religious freedom. The Congregationalists shared Milton's dread of Presbyterian ascendency.

On the demand of the Republicans and the officers, those members of the Long Parliament who had continued to sit till April 20, 1653, were called to resume their places at Westminster.10 The constitutional theory underlying this

• Baxter, Life, i. (1), 145 [i. p. 101], says that Owen had a Church at Wallingford House. Orme shows that this is a mistake. Memoir of Owen (Works), i. 214–216.

7 Orme, ibid., 125; Ludlow, Memoirs (1771), 248.

8 Wood, Ath. Ox., ii. 739.

9 Baxter, Life, i. (1), 145, [i. 100].

10 Clarendon, History, vi. 118-119. 677-678.

Whitelock (May 6, 1659),

extraordinary proceeding is very simple, but very pedantic. The Long Parliament-or rather the members of it who had survived the purging process to which the House had been subjected-had been dismissed by violence. No legal authority had dismissed the House which had done such memorable things for the nation; an Act provided that it should not be dissolved without its own consent; the consent had never been given; and therefore, though it had been elected in 1640, eighteen years before, it was still the lawful Parliament of England. Owen had obtained a list from Ludlow, and laid it before the officers at Wallingford House, of about a hundred and sixty persons who had been members of the House between 1648 and 1653, and who were believed to be still alive." On Saturday, May 7, 1659, forty-two of them met, made a House, drew up a Declaration for the public, and appointed several Committees. On the next day, Sunday, May 8, they held special religious services, and Owen preached the sermon.

On May 21, just three weeks after it met, it voted for a free Commonwealth, without "a single Person," Kingship, or House of Peers.12 Four days later Richard signed his abdication.

That the Congregationalists were heartily favourable to the restoration of the Rump was shown by an offer made to the House early in August by the Congregational Churches to raise three regiments in support of its authority; the offer was accepted, but it does not appear that the regiments were actually raised.13

The House needed support. To secure its own power and to prevent the Council of Officers from directing the government of the kingdom, it claimed absolute control over the army. The officers resented the claim. The quarrel became fierce, and on October 12 the House cashiered Lambert, Desborough, Berry, and six others of the recalcitrant officers, and vested the government of the army in a commission of seven, which included Fleetwood, Ludlow, and Monk. The next day, Lambert posted several regiments round the House, and its meetings were suspended. The Rump was dismissed for a second time. A committee of twenty-three persons

11 Orme, Memoir of Owen (Works), i. 216; and Ludlow, Memoirs (1771), 272-273.

12 Whitelock, 679.

13 Idem (Aug. 9, 1659), 682.

appointed by the officers assumed the control of national affairs under the title of a Committee of Safety.14

The army in Edinburgh was not well pleased with the political authority which was being exercised by their comrades in London, and Monk declared that he would come to London and restore the Rump. A Council of State, which had been appointed by Parliament before the sudden and violent interruption of its sittings, sent him a Commission making him Commander-in-Chief of the armies of England, Scotland, and Ireland. John Owen wrote him a letter in the name of the Congregational Churches. The letter was carried to him by Caryl and Barker, two Congregational ministers, who, as representatives of the Churches, entreated him to use his power for the cause of liberty and godliness.15 Lambert attempted to stop his march southward, but failed.

All over the country rose cries for a free Parliament, and the officers, who found that they could not rely on their own men, recalled the Rump on December 26. Now that the House was at Westminster again, it would have been glad to send Monk back to Scotland; but he continued to move towards London, and also continued to be very silent about his own ultimate views, though he was willing to take any number of oaths. He was in favour of a free Parliament; and he was ready to swear that he abjured Charles Stuart, that he would be faithful to the Commonwealth, would resist the appointment of “a single person" and the restoration of the House of Lords.

66

On February 6, 1659-60, Monk addressed the House of Commons, and said that he had received many addresses praying that the present Parliament might soon be dissolved and a new Parliament called, with freedom to make a national settlement. He told them that no Parliament admitted new

14 Whitelock (Oct. 26, 1659), 685.

15 Baker, Chronicle (continued by Phillips), 587-588, describes the commissioners as commissioners of the Independent Churches, mentioning Caryl. But Caryl and Barker, with Whaley and Goffe, were sent officially by the Committee of Safety, and carried letters from that body to Monk. Whitelock [Nov. 1, 1559], 686. That they should have taken a letter from Owen as well, suggests the importance of his political position. But Monk was supposed to be an Independent in religion. See Orme, Memoir of Owen (Works), i. 217–218; and Neal, iv. 216–218, for Monk's reply, addressed to Owen, Greenhill, and Hook, and by them to be communicated to the Churches.

members without taking some oath or engagement from them, but that in his judgment the fewer the oaths and engagements imposed the sooner a settlement would be attained, although he hoped that neither the Cavaliers nor the Fanatics would have a share as yet in the civil or military power.16

It was determined that the members of the new Parliament should take a solemn pledge to be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of England, and to the government thereof in the way of Commonwealth and Free State, without a King, Single Person, or House of Lords.17

The members who had been excluded in 1648 now began to return to their seats, but without taking the "engagement to be faithful to the Commonwealth, which was to be imposed only on the members of the new Parliament. They were Presbyterians, and their presence completely changed the character and constitution of the House. The change was made more decisive by the retirement of many of the members who had been active in the proceedings of the Rump but now saw that their power had gone. In a few weeks the Presbyterians were supreme. On March 2 the Westminster Assembly's Confession-with the exception of the chapters (30, 31) on Church Censures, and Synods and Councils, which were postponed-was adopted as the national Confession of Faith.18 Three days later, it was ordered "That the Solemn League and Covenant be printed and published, and set up and forthwith read in every church, and also read once a year according to former Order of Parliament, and that the said Solemn League and Covenant be also set up in this House." 19 This was followed by a Bill for reorganising the Church on the Presbyterian model. Owen was removed from the Deanery of Christ Church, Oxford, in favour of Reynolds, a distinguished Presbyterian. Owen and Goodwin had already been excluded from the pulpit of St. Mary's.20

The Rump Parliament had become the Parliament of "the secluded members." On March 13, the Engagement to be taken by the members of the next Parliament to be faithful to the Commonwealth without "a Single Person,"

18 Whitelock, 695. 18 Idem, 697.

20 Kennet, 76, 78, 81; Scotland, i. Introd., 10, 12.

17 Idem (Feb. 13, 1659-60), 696. 19 C. J. (March 5, 1659-60), vi. 862. and Woodrow, History of the Church of

King, or House of Lords, was repealed." The way was now clear for the restoration of the old constitution and the return of Charles. “The secluded members" had done their work, and on March 16 they dissolved. The new Parliament was to meet in April.

The affairs of the nation were now in the hands of a Council of State consisting of thirty-one persons, the majority of whom were favourable to the Presbyterian interest. Indeed, at this time the Presbyterian party was in possession of the whole power of the kingdom. In the army and navy a considerable number of the inferior officers were Independents and Baptists, but the military leaders of the Independents had been removed from the chief commands. Presbyterians were governors of all the garrison towns; they held the principal offices in the universities; and the authority of Parliament had just been given to the Solemn League and Covenant.

The Independents were alarmed. They feared that Monk was either plotting to secure supreme power for himself by a close alliance with the Presbyterians, or plotting to bring back Charles. In either case their religious freedom was in imminent danger. Owen and Philip Nye are said to have held frequent consultations with Whitelock and St. John about raising an Independent army.22 There was a rumour of a fresh offer from the Congregational Churches to raise troops and money-four regiments and £100,000. But it was too late. Monk commanded the army, and Monk was in correspondence with Charles. Presbyterians and Independents were to be overtaken by a common calamity.

21 Whitelock, 698.

22 Neal, iv. 220.