Mr. Fagg, member for Sussex, stood up and asserted that he and another member, Colonel Grosvenor, had entered the House before the question was put, but that their votes had not been counted. Mr. Fagg's vote was allowed, and added to the Ayes, so that the first question was carried. But the main question was immediately afterwards negatived by ninety-three votes to eightyseven. It was therefore decided not to go into Grand Committee. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper was one of the tellers for the Ayes in the division on the main question.

On the day following this close division, Cromwell, dissatisfied with the small majority, dissolved the Parliament. This was Oliver Cromwell's last Parliament. Seven months after the dissolution, on the third of September, 1658, he died.

The Petition and Advice had empowered Cromwell to declare, during his lifetime, his successor in the Protectorship; and soon after this power was confirmed, he had nominated in writing his son-in-law Fleetwood. But differences afterwards arose between Cromwell and Fleetwood, and now, on his death-bed, Oliver verbally nominated his eldest son Richard his successor, in the presence of Fiennes, the first Commissioner of the Great Seal, Thurloe, and three other witnesses. The paper in which Fleetwood had been more formally appointed was at the same time searched for by Cromwell's desire, but could not be found. Fleetwood, however, afterwards waived all claims arising out of this document, if it should be found; and Richard took his father's place without dispute.

From the dissolution of the Parliament in February till Oliver Cromwell's death in September we have no information about Cooper; but we find him again a member of the Parliament soon called by Richard Cromwell, and there waging as fierce a war as he had waged under Oliver against the Petition and Advice and its House of Lords.

CHAPTER VI.

1658-1659.

Richard Cromwell proclaimed Protector-The military commanders jealous of his civilian advisers-A Parliament called for January 27, 1659-Members for England and Wales elected under old constitution -Scotch and Irish members according to Instrument of Government, but not to sit till approved-Cromwell's peers summoned by writs of old House of Lords-Cooper elected for Wiltshire and Poole-Sits for Wiltshire-Debates on bill for recognition of Richard Cromwell sProtector-Cooper's many speeches The "Other House"-Question of transacting with it-Cooper's long speech against timeCooper's taunts against one of Cromwell's peers for changes-His abuse of Cromwell-House of Commons agrees to transact with other House during this Parliament-Unsuccessful attempt to settle revenue on Richard Cromwell-Message to other House as to a day of humiliation-Discussions thereon-Quarrel between Richard Cromwell and the military chiefs-Resolutions of House of Commons against the army-Richard Cromwell orders dissolution of Council of Officers-Fleetwood and Desborough rally the army, and force Richard Cromwell to dissolve Parliament-Fall of Richard Cromwell.

THE Council assembled immediately after Cromwell's death, and unanimously resolved to recognise his deathbed nomination of his eldest son Richard as his successor. His brother-in-law Fleetwood, the LieutenantGeneral of the army, cordially concurred in this decision, declaring that, if the written instrument by which he had been nominated should hereafter be found, he would regard it as null. Desborough, the brother-in-law of Oliver, and the next in position to Fleetwood of the military commanders, while his

superior in energy and influence, also zealously supported in the Council Richard's succession. On the following day Richard Cromwell was proclaimed Protector in London, without the slightest sign of opposition. The support of Fleetwood and Desborough had carried that of the army. No opposition appeared in any part of the Commonwealth, in England, Scotland, or Ireland. Henry Cromwell, who governed as Deputy in Ireland, gave a willing support to his brother. Monk, the Commander-in-Chief in Scotland, declared his more important adhesion. Addresses of congratulation came in succession from all the counties and cities of the three countries, and from the army.1 The Royalists and Republicans, who had both hoped that the death of Cromwell would make an opening for their respective causes, saw with surprise the tranquil succession of Richard; and for a few months it seemed as if the feeble Richard, succeeding by a doubtful title to an usurped power, was to retain it free from the troubles. and difficulties which had ever vexed and thwarted the great mind of Oliver.

The support of the army had placed Richard where he was. From the army came the first sign of trouble; and the army ultimately displaced him. The military chiefs, who had zealously supported his succession to the Protectorship, thought that, as he was a civilian, he ought to relinquish the command-in-chief of the army, and wished him to transfer it to Fleetwood. The army generally approved this idea. Richard, counselled by

1 Phillips's Continuation of Sir R. Baker's Chronicle, pp. 635, 636, ed. 1684.

Thurloe, Fiennes, St. John, Pierpoint, and other civilians, and following also the advice of Monk, resisted the proposals of the officers, and determined to retain in his own hands the command of the army.1 Fleetwood, Desborough, and their friends, now became jealous of the influence of Richard's civilian counsellors, and complained that they themselves were treated with ingratitude. Richard hoped that by calling a Parliament, which the wants of his treasury rendered absolutely necessary, he should bring to his side a power which would hold in check the rising turbulence of the military chiefs.

Writs were issued for a Parliament to meet on the twenty-seventh of January, 1659. Some difficulties had presented themselves to the Council as regards the election of this Parliament. The last Parliament had not made a new scheme of representation, as the Humble Petition and Advice had enjoined. How then were the members of the House of Commons to be electedaccording to the scheme of the extinct Instrument of Government, or according to the old law of England? But under the old constitution, Scotland and Ireland were not united with England, and there was no law for the election of Scotch and Irish members to a common Parliament. The Council determined that the members for England and Wales should be elected according to the old law of the land, and that thirty members, the

1 Other leading advisers of Richard Cromwell were Dr. Wilkins, afterwards Bishop of Chester, Lord Broghill, afterwards Earl of Orrery, Colonel Philip Jones, and George Montagu, second son of the Earl of Manchester (Ludlow, ii. 632; Pepys's Diary, i. 104; Clarendon State Papers, iii. 421, 423).