he
parliament; and thereby prepared the way for the greatness of the
present leaders, who at that time were of small account in the nation.

The secluded members having published a paper, containing a narrative
of the violence which had been exercised upon them, and a protestation,
that all acts were void, which from that time had been transacted in
the house of commons, the remaining members encountered it with a
declaration, in which they pronounced it false, scandalous, seditious,
and tending to the destruction of the visible and fundamental government
of the kingdom.

These sudden and violent revolutions held the whole nation in terror
and astonishment. Every man dreaded to be trampled under foot, in
the contention between those mighty powers which disputed for the
sovereignty of the state. Many began to withdraw their effects beyond
sea: foreigners scrupled to give any credit to a people so torn by
domestic faction, and oppressed by military usurpation: even the
internal commerce of the kingdom began to stagnate: and in order to
remedy these growing evils, the generals, in the name of the army,
published a declaration, in which they expressed their resolution of
supporting law and justice.[*]

The more to quiet the minds of men, the council of officers took into
consideration a scheme called "the agreement of the people;" being the
plan of a republic, to be substituted in the place of that government
which they so violently pulled in pieces. Many parts of this scheme for
correcting the inequalities of the representative, are plausible; had
the nation been disposed to receive it, or had the army intended to
impose it. Other parts are too perfect for human nature, and savor
strongly of that fanatical spirit so prevalent throughout the kingdom.

The height of all iniquity and fanatical extravagance yet remained--the
public trial and execution of their sovereign. To this period was every
measure precipitated by the zealous Independents. The parliamentary
leaders of that party had intended, that the army themselves should
execute that daring enterprise; and they deemed so irregular and lawless
a deed best fitted to such irregular and lawless instruments.[**] But
the generals were too wise to load themselves singly with the infamy
which, they knew, must attend an action so shocking to the general
sentiments of mankind. The parliament, they were resolved, should share
with them the reproach of a measure which was thou