spelt ‘Agitators’; elected by the common men of the Army, to keep the ranks in unison with the Officers in the present crisis of their affairs. ‘This is their first distinct appearance in the eye of History; in which, during these months, they play a great part. Evidently the settlement with the Army will be a harder task than was supposed.
During these same months some languid negotiation with the King is going on; Scots Commissioners come up to help in treating with him; but as he will not hear of Covenant or Presbytery, there can no result follow. It was an ugly aggravation of the blot of ignominy which the Army smarts under,—the report raised against it. ‘That some of the Leaders had said, ‘If the King would come to them, they would put the crown on his head again.’—Cromwell, from his place in Parliament, earnestly watches these occurrences; waits what the great ‘birth of Providence’ in them may be;—‘carries himself with much wariness’; is more and more looked up to by the Independent Party, for his interest with the Soldiers. One day, noticing the ‘high carriages’ of Holles and Company, he whispers Edmund Ludlow who sat by him, ‘These men will never leave till the Army pull them out by the ears’![1] Holles and Company, who at present rule in Parliament, pass a New Militia Ordinance for London; put the Armed Force of London into hands more strictly Presbyterian.[2] There have been two London Petitions against the Army, and two London Petitions covertly in favour of it; the Managers of the latter, we observe, have been put in prison.
May 8th. A new and more promising Deputation, Cromwell at the the head of it. ‘Cromwell, Ireton, Fleetwood, Skippon,’ proceed again to Saffron Walden; investigate the claims and grievances of the Army:[3] engage, as they had authority to do, that real justice shall be done them; and in
