p. 273, 591. Also Stubbe, p. 91, 92.

** Thurloe, vol. i. p 393

By concert, these met early; and it was mentioned by some among them,
that the sitting of this parliament any longer would be of no service
to the nation. They hastened, therefore, to Cromwell, along with Rouse,
their speaker; and, by a formal deed or assignment, restored into his
hands that supreme authority which they had so lately received from him.
General Harrison and about twenty more remained in the house; and that
they might prevent the reign of the saints from coming to an untimely
end, they placed one Moyer in the chair, and began to draw up protests.
They were soon interrupted by Colonel White, with a party of soldiers.
He asked them what they did there. "We are seeking the Lord," said they.
"Then you may go elsewhere," replied he; "for to my certain knowledge,
he has not been here these many years."

The military being now, in appearance, as well as in reality the sole
power which prevailed in the nation, Cromwell though fit to indulge a
new fancy; for he seems not to have had any deliberate plan in all
these alterations. Lambert, his creature, who, under the appearance of
obsequiousness to him, indulged in unbounded ambition, proposed, in
a council of officers, to adopt another scheme of government, and
to temper the liberty of a commonwealth by the authority of a single
person, who should be known by the appellation of protector. Without
delay, he prepared what was called "the instrument of government,"
containing the plan of this new legislature; and as it was supposed to
be agreeable to the general, it was immediately voted by the council
of officers. Cromwell was declared protector; and with great solemnity
installed in that high office.

So little were these men endowed with the spirit of legislation, that
they confessed, or rather boasted, that they had employed only four
days in drawing this instrument, by which the whole government of three
kingdoms was pretended to be regulated and adjusted to all succeeding
generations. There appears no difficulty in believing them, when it
is considered how crude and undigested a system of civil polity they
endeavored to establish. The chief articles of the instrument are these:
A council was appointed, which was not to exceed twenty-one, nor be less
than thirteen persons. These were to enjoy their office during life or
good behavior; and in case of a vacancy, the remaining members named
t