but every application
for redress was neglected both by the council and the parliament.

The majority of the parliament, by means of these arts and violences,
was now at last either friendly to the protector, or resolved, by their
compliance, to adjust, if possible, this military government to their
laws and liberties. They voted a renunciation of all title in Charles
Stuart, or any of his family; and this was the first act, dignified with
the appearance of national consent, which had ever had that tendency.
Colonel Jephson, in order to sound the inclinations of the house,
ventured to move, that the parliament should bestow the crown on
Cromwell; and no surprise or reluctance was discovered on the occasion.
When Cromwell afterwards asked Jephson what induced him to make such
a motion, "As long," said Jephson, "as I have the honor to sit in
parliament, I must follow the dictates of my own conscience, whatever
offence I may be so unfortunate as to give you." "Get thee gone," said
Cromwell, giving him a gentle blow on the shoulder; "get thee gone, for
a mad fellow as thou art."

In order to pave the way to this advancement, for which he so ardently
longed, Cromwell resolved to sacrifice his major-generals, whom he
knew to be extremely odious to the nation That measure was also become
necessary for his own security. All government, purely military,
fluctuates perpetually between a despotic monarchy and a despotic
aristocracy, according as the authority of the chief commander
prevails, or that of the officers next him in rank and dignity. The
major-generals, being possessed of so much distinct jurisdiction, began
to establish a separate title to power, and had rendered themselves
formidable to the protector himself; and for this inconvenience, though
he had not foreseen it, he well knew, before it was too late, to provide
a proper remedy. Claypole, his son-in-law, who possessed his confidence,
abandoned them to the pleasure of the house; and though the name was
still retained, it was agreed to abridge, or rather entirely annihilate,
the power of the major-generals.

At length, a motion in form was made by Alderman Pack, one of the city
members, for investing the protector with the dignity of king. This
motion at first excited great disorder, and divided the whole house
into parties. The chief opposition came from the usual adherents of the
protector, the major-generals, and such officers as depended on them.
Lambert a man