they voted a
remonstrance. They there lamented, that the good old cause, as they
termed it, that is, the cause for which they had engaged against the
late king, was entirely neglected; and they proposed as a remedy, that
the whole military power should be intrusted to some person in whom
they might all confide. The city militia, influenced by two aldermen,
Tichburn and Ireton, expressed the same resolution of adhering to the
good old cause.

The protector was justly alarmed at those movements among the officers.
The persons in whom he chiefly confided, were all of them, excepting
Broghill, men of civil characters and professions; Fiennes, Thurloe,
Whitlocke, Wolseley, who could only assist him with their advice and
opinion. He possessed none of those arts which were proper to gain an
enthusiastic army. Murmurs being thrown out against some promotions
which he had made, "Would you have me," said he, "prefer none but the
godly? Here is Dick Ingoldsby," continued he, "who can neither pray nor
preach; yet will I trust him before ye all."[*] This imprudence gave
great offence to the pretended saints. The other qualities of the
protector were correspondent to these sentiments: he was of a gentle,
humane, and generous disposition. Some of his party offering to put
an end to those intrigues by the death of Lambert, he declared that he
would not purchase power or dominion by such sanguinary measures.

The parliament was no less alarmed at the military cabals. They voted
that there should be no meeting or general council of officers, except
with the protector's consent, or by his orders. This vote brought
affairs immediately to a rupture. The officers hastened to Richard, and
demanded of him the dissolution of the parliament. Desborow, a man of
a clownish and brutal nature, threatened him, if he should refuse
compliance. The protector wanted the resolution to deny, and possessed
little ability to resist. The parliament was dissolved; and by the same
act, the protector was by every one considered as effectually dethroned.
Soon after, he signed his demission in form.

Henry, the deputy of Ireland, was endowed with the same moderate
disposition as Richard; but as he possessed more vigor and capacity, it
was apprehended that he might make resistance. His popularity in Ireland
was great; and even his personal authority, notwithstanding his youth,
was considerable. Had his ambition been very eager, he had, no doubt,
been able to cr