Inter-regnum. October. Evelyn, who commanded the Life-Guards of 1659. the Parliament, marching forth with his Troop to do his Service, was met by Lambert at Scatland-Yard Gate, and Lambert commanded Evelyn to dismount, who thought it safest to obey: And though Lambert was on Foot, and none with him, yet Evelyn, at the Head of his Troop, difmounted at his Command, and his Troop also obeyed Lambert; who drew together fome other Forces, and placed them along in King's-Street, and near the Abbey Church and Yard; and when the Speaker came by. in his Coach they ftopp'd him, and caufed him to return back; and fo the House did not fit. The Council of State fat, where were both Parties of the oppofite Soldiers, Lambert, Defborough, and Hafilrigge, Marley, and others; and they had a long and smart Debate. Some of the Members had got into the Houfe, but the Speaker was kept from them, and moft Part of their Members. Those in the Houfe were sent to from the Council of State, and confulted with about an Accommodation; and, in the mean Time, the feveral Parties of the Soldiers kept their Stations, expecting Orders to fall on. But the Council of State fo managed the Bufinefs, and fo perfuaded with all Parties, that at the laft they came to an Accommodation to fave the Effufion of Blood, and the Parliament was not to fit; but the Council of Officers undertook to provide for the Preservation of the Peace, and to have a Form of Government to be drawn up for a new Parliament to be shortly fummoned, and fo to fettle all Things. This being agreed upon, (and it could not be obtained otherwife) the Council of State, in the Evening, fent their Orders, requiring all the Soldiers of each Party to draw off, and to depart to their feveral Quarters; which was obeyed by them.' Mr. Ludlow, again, is ftill more explicit in his Account of this bold and daring Attempt; the Execution whereof had like to have coft a great deal of Blood fhed 1659. October. fhed. He tells us, That though the late Votes Inter-reguum. in the House were carried with much Secrefy, the Door being kept faft lock'd, yet they came to the Ears of the Officers without; who, being furprized at the Refolution of Parliament, and convinced that the leaft Delay might prove dangerous, used all Diligence in drawing together their Party, and preparing themselves for their defigned Work. In the mean Time the Parliament ordered the Regiments of Col. Morley and Col. Mofs to march forthwith to Westminster for their Security, and fent for the rest of the Troops that were about the Town to draw down to them alfo with all convenient Speed. In pursuance of which Order Col. Okey endeavoured to bring down his Regiment of Horfe, but the greatest Part of them deserted him : For most of the old Officers whom Cromwell had, by his Example, corrupted with the horrid Vices of Ambition and Treachery, found it easy to delude the inferior Officers and private Soldiers, who had either utterly forgot their Trades, or were unwilling to return to an induftrious Life, into a Compliance with any Defign, in order to get a Living. Col. Lambert was the Perfon that made the firft Attempt against the Parliament's Guard; endeavouring, at the Head of a Party of Horfe, to break in upon that Part where Col. Morley was pofted with his Regiment: But the Colonel advancing, and affuring him that, if he perfifted, he would fire upon him, Lambert answer'd, I will then go the other Way; which he did, after he had given Orders to block up the Avenues by the Mill-Bank with Carts and other Impediments, to prevent the Guards of the Parliament from fallying out upon them by that Way. The Army had alfo placed a Party of theirs in King's-Street, and in the Church-Yard near the Abbey, fome of Col. Morley's Regiment having already poffeffed themfelves of the Old Palace-Yard. In this Posture they continued all Night. The next Morning that Guard of the Army which lay in the Church-Yard advanced, with one Major Grimes at the Head of them, towards thofe of 1659. October. Inter-regnum, of Col. Marley's Regiment, who were in the Palace Yard: Of which Motion the Colonel being inform'd, drew out those that he had with him, and haftened to their Relief. Both Parties being come within Piftol-fhot, and each of them ready to fire, those of the Army began to invite Col. Morley's Men to come over to them, defiring them to remember that they had hitherto fought together, and that it was unreasonable now to become Enemies. In like Manner Col. Morley's Party endeavour'd to perfuade thofe of the Army to join with them in the Defence of the Parliament, who they faid had been always fuccefsful in the Adminiftration of publie Affairs, and to whom the Officers of the Army had fo lately promised Obedience, when they received their laft Commiffions; who had always taken effectual Care for their conftant Pay, and who were the only Authority that could do fo for the future. The Chief Officers at length interpofing, it was agreed that both Parties fhould, for the prefent, retire to their former Stations. 'On the other Side, Col. Lambert being advanced near that Party which was commanded by Col. Mofs, demanded of them, If they would fuffer nine of their old Officers, who had fo often spent their Blood for them, and with them, to be difgraced and ruined with their Families? The Colonel anfwered, That though that should be the Cafe, yet it were much better that nine Families fhould be deftroyed, than the Civil Authority of the Nation trampled Underfoot, who defigned not the Ruin of any, but only to remove from their Commands nine Officers, who, by their feditious Carriage, had render'd themfelves unworthy of that Truft. But Col. Lambert's Oratory was more prevalent with the Perfon that commanded the Parliament's Guard of Horfe, who perceiving that divers of his Men had left him and revolted, by the treacherous Perfuafions of one Cathnefs, his Lieutenant, difmounted at the Head of his Troop, at the Command of Lambert. Some of Col. Mafs's Regiment went off also, each Party ufing their Rhetoric to bring over as many as they could. 1 *1659. October. could. On the other Part, fome came over to the Inter-regnum. The former Hiftorians feem to date the Refent-The Parliament ment of the Army against the Parliament to the ill being diffolved, Succefs of their laft Petition; but it certainly rose from a higher Source; that is, from the Parliament's the |