'How hard it is,' Henry Cromwell wrote, on the arrival of the news of the illness of his father, to Secretary Thurloe, 'to reflect upon the consequences of his Highness' death, and yet cheerfully to kiss the rod! If wee may speak as men, if no settlement be made in his lifetime, can we be secure from the lusts of ambitious men? Nay, if he would declare his successor, where is that person of wisdom, courage, conduct, and, which is equivalent to all, reputation at home and abroad, which we see necessary to preserve our peace? Would not goode men feare one another and the worlde them? Would not the sons of Zeruiah bee to strong for us, and the wheell be turned upon us, even though the most wise and powerful single person could be chosen out? '[1]
All the pent-up passions and jealousies, which had been kept under restraint by the stern determination of the deceased Protector to maintain the framework of a regular government, were now let loose. The pure Parliamentarians or Commonwealth men, most of whom had been in retirement since the dispersion of the Long Parliament, came forth from their hiding-places, believing that the future lay with them, and that the hour of real liberty was at length at hand. A struggle at once commenced between them and the adherents of the dead Protector; and both eagerly courted the army, in which Sankey and his Anabaptist allies were powerfully represented. The Fifth Monarchy men believed that the second advent of Christ was not far distant, and justified themselves by visions and by the ominous signs of the times. The Royalists, with a keen eye for the quarrels of their adversaries, believed the return of Charles II. to be a more probable event; and whether belonging to the Cavalier or Presbyterian section of the party, determined to miss no opportunity of embarrassing the Government. 'Great endeavours being used by some, upon the death of Oliver Protector, for a change of Government,' Dr. Petty writes with reference to this period, 'it was thought convenient to begin the ruin of that family, with pulling out the smaller pins of that frame wee were in.' One of those 'pins' the Doctor
- ↑ H. Cromwell to Thurloe, September 3, 1658. Thurloe, vii. p. 376.
