?" was the instant
retort from some independent members, with the instant applause of
many in the House. Hasilrig saw his mistake, of which Thurloe did not
fail to take advantage. "The old Peers," said Thurloe, "are not
excluded by the _Petition and Advice_: divers are
called,--others may be"; and the occasion was taken to pass a
resolution expressly reserving for such of the old peers as had been
faithful the privilege of being summoned to the Other House, should
the issue of the debate be in favour of the existence of that
institution. The divisions on this incidental resolution were the
largest recorded in the Journals of the House--the previous question
for putting the resolution being carried by 203 to 184, and the
resolution itself by 195 to 188. Though the majority was but small,
the gain to the Court Party was precious, because on an unexpected
point. But the Republicans had done themselves no good by their style
in the main discussion, A miscellaneous assembly always resents the
ungenerous, and the sneers at the existing composition of the Other
House had seemed ungenerous. "They have gone through wet and dry, hot
and cold, fire and water; they are the best officers of the best army
in the world; their swords are made of what Hercules's club was made
of": such were the terms in which one speaker defended the military
veterans of the Other House; and they were received with cheers. Nor
did the next step of the Republicans improve their position. Having
observed what a considerable proportion of Thurloe's majorities
consisted of the members from Scotland and Ireland, Cromwellians
nearly to a man, they tried to sweep these from the House in
anticipation of future votes. First, they raised the question about
the Scottish members, contending that their presence in an English
Parliament was unconstitutional, that the _de facto_
incorporation of Scotland with the Commonwealth had never been
legally consummated, &c. On this subject, the House having first
negatived the proposal that the Scottish members should withdraw
during the debate, it was decided, March 21, by a majority of 211
(Thurloe one of the tellers) to 120 (Vane one of the tellers), "That
the members returned for Scotland shall continue to sit as members
during this present Parliament," A like vote, March 23, retained the
Irish members. The Republicans had again lost character by this piece
of tactics. Not only was it offensive to Scotland and Ireland; but