December 1653 and commentary
Thursday, December 1. Mr. Lawrence reported from the
Council of State, letters of safeguard, to the Prince Frederic,
Heir of Norway, Duke of Sletia, Holstein, &c. which were
now read in Latin and English, and agreed; and Mr. Speaker
ordered to sign the same, and that it be sealed with the seal
of the Parliament.
Ordered, that Sir William Roberts, and Mr. Squib, examine the person who stood at the door with a naked knife.
Friday 2. Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, that he had
received a letter from the Proconsul and Consuls of the city
of Dantzic. Read, and referred to the Council of State.
Monday 12. It being moved in the House this day, that
the sitting of this Parliament any longer, as now constituted,
will not be for the good of the Commonwealth, and that
therefore it was requisite to deliver up unto the Lord General Cromwell, the powers which they received from him; and
that motion being seconded by several other members, the
House rose.
And the Speaker, with many members of the House, departed out of the House to Whitehall, where they, being the
greater number of the members sitting in Parliament, did, by
a writing under their hands, resign unto his Excellency their
said powers; and Mr. Speaker, attended with the members,
did present the same unto his Excellency, accordingly. (fn. 1)
This surrender of the Parliament's authority, by whatever management it had been produced, the Lord General
accepted with becoming expressions of surprise and regret;
even at that time, probably, not ill understood. For this unexpected event, he was so fully prepared, that four days after,
a complete and comprehensive Instrument of Government, (fn. 2)
indebted, no doubt, to his skill and contrivance, was ready for
his acceptance. Amidst a grand ceremonial, the Lord General was inaugurated Lord Protector of England, Scotland,
and Ireland; and thus proclaimed, by sound of trumpet,
in the metropolis, and throughout England. (fn. 3)
Addresses to " the powers that be," were now abundant;
and the Corporation of London, ever ready to improve their
vicinity to a Court, flattered and feasted the Sovereign Protector; (fn. 4) as if again blessed with the presence of royalty.
A more powerful aid to his reputation, was the conclusion
of a peace which the Dutch had solicited. (fn. 5) This event,
which naturally tended to conciliate the people, while reviving
the energies of the merchant and the artizan, was recorded
by the medallists of Holland, (fn. 6) and celebrated by Oxford's
learned sons. (fn. 7)
The Protector had now ruled for several months, by a
Council, which emanated from his will, and was little more
than a register of his edicts. He next prepared to call a
Parliament, as directed by the Instrument; thus submitting
to the discussions of a representative assembly, the authority
and the administration of the new Government.