ain assembled; consisting, as in the times
of monarchy, of two houses, the commons and the other house. Cromwell,
during the interval, had sent writs to his house of peers, which
consisted of sixty members. They were composed of five or six ancient
peers, of several gentlemen of fortune and distinction, and of some
officers who had risen from the meanest stations. None of the ancient
peers, however, though summoned by writ, would deign to accept of a seat
which they must share with such companions as were assigned them. The
protector endeavored at first to maintain the appearance of a legal
magistrate. He placed no guard at the door of either house; but soon
found how incompatible liberty is with military usurpations. By bringing
so great a number of his friends and adherents into the other house he
had lost the majority among the national representatives. In consequence
of a clause in the humble petition and advice the commons assumed
a power of readmitting those members whom the council had formerly
excluded. Sir Arthur Hazelrig and some others, whom Cromwell had
created lords, rather chose to take their seat with the commons. An
incontestable majority now declared themselves against the protector;
and they refused to acknowledge the jurisdiction of that other house
which he had established. Even the validity of the humble petition and
advice was questioned, as being voted by a parliament which lay under
force, and which was deprived by military violence of a considerable
number of its members. The protector, dreading combinations between
the parliament and the malecontents in the army, resolved to allow no
leisure for forming any conspiracy against him; and, with expressions of
great displeasure, he dissolved the parliament. When urged by Fleetwood
and others of his friends not to precipitate himself into this rash
measure, he swore by the living God that they should not sit a moment
longer.

These distractions at home were not able to take off the protector's
attention from foreign affairs; and in all his measures, he proceeded
with the same vigor and enterprise, as if secure of the duty and
attachment of the three kingdoms. His alliance with Sweden he still
supported; and he endeavored to assist that crown in its successful
enterprises for reducing all its neighbors to subjection, and rendering
itself absolute master of the Baltic. As soon as Spain declared war
against him, he concluded a peace and an alliance with