moment is precious; your enemies spend the time in acting which
we waste in consulting." "Talk no more of it," answered the
Protector. "I am thankful for your friendship, but violent
counsels suit not with me."

The climax was at hand; his fall was but a question of time. "A
wonderfull and suddaine change in ye face of ye publiq," writes
Evelyn, on the 25th of April, 1659. "Ye new Protector Richard
slighted; several pretenders and parties strove for the
Government; all anarchy and confusion. Lord have mercy on us!"

Before the month of May had expired, the House of Commons
commissioned two of its members to bid Richard Cromwell leave the
palace of Whitehall, and obtain his signature to a deed wherein
he acknowledged complete submission to Parliament. His brief
inglorious reign was therefore at an end. "As with other men,"
he wrote to the House of Commons, "I expect protection from the
present Government: I do hold myself obliged to demean myself
with all the peaceableness under it, and to procure, to the
utmost of my power, that all in whom I have any interest to do
the same." He retired into Hampshire, where he dwelt as a
private gentleman. His brother Henry resigned his position as
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and settled in Cambridgeshire. From
this time the name of Cromwell was no longer a power in the land.

During two years subsequent to the death of Oliver the government
of England underwent various changes, and the kingdom suffered
many disorders; until, being heartily sick of anarchy, the people
desired a king might once more reign over them. accordingly,
they turned their eyes towards the son of him whom "the boldest