monarchy, and even of the
aristocracy, and projected an entire equality of rank and order, in a
republic, quite free and independent. In consequence of this scheme,
they were declared enemies to all proposals of peace, except on such
terms as they knew it was impossible to obtain; and they adhered to that
maxim, which is in the main prudent and political, that whoever draws
the sword against his sovereign, should throw away the scabbard. By
terrifying others with the fear of vengeance from the offended prince,
they had engaged greater numbers into the opposition against peace,
than had adopted their other principles with regard to government and
religion. And the great success which had already attended the arms of
the parliament, and the greater which was soon expected, confirmed them
still further in this obstinacy.

Sir Henry Vane, Oliver Cromwell, Nathaniel Fiennes, and Oliver St. John,
the solicitor-general, were regarded as the leaders of the Independents.
The earl of Essex, disgusted with a war of which he began to foresee
the pernicious consequences, adhered to the Presbyterians, and promoted
every reasonable plan of accommodation. The earl of Northumberland, fond
of his rank and dignity, regarded with horror a scheme which, if it took
place, would confound him and his family with the lowest in the kingdom.
The earls of Warwick and Denbigh, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir William
Waller, Hollis, Massey, Whitlocke, Maynard, Glyn, had embraced the
same sentiments. In the parliament, a considerable majority, and a much
greater in the nation, were attached to the Presbyterian party; and
it was only by cunning and deceit at first, and afterwards by military
violence, that the Independents could entertain any hopes of success.

The earl of Manchester, provoked at the impeachment which the king had
lodged against him, had long forwarded the war with alacrity; but being
a man of humanity and good principles, the view of public calamities,
and the prospect of a total subversion of government, began to moderate
his ardor, and inclined him to promote peace on any safe or honorable
terms. He was even suspected in the field not to have pushed to the
utmost against the king the advantages obtained by the arms of the
parliament; and Cromwell in the public debates revived the accusation,
that this nobleman had wilfully neglected at Dennington Castle a
favorable opportunity of finishing the war by a total defeat of the
royalists. "I