592 APPENDIX G The Session only lasted a fortnight, most of which was spent in unseemly bickerings between the two Houses. The Republican party in the Commons, headed by Sir Arthur Hesilrige, refused to recognize the "Other House ";(^) and on the 4th of February — in the graphic phrase of a Puritan pamphleteer — " the Protector came swearing. By the living God, and dissolved them/'C") The Protector intended to have summoned another Parliament, to meet in the autumn of this year, but the illness and death of his favourite daughter and his own failing health delayed matters, and on the 3rd of September Oliver Cromwell himself died. His son Richard was acknowledged as his successor, and steps were taken to call a new Parliament, which met on 27 Jan. 1658/9. In the meantime four members of the " Other House " had died, i.e. the Earls of Warwick and Mulgrave, (Sir) Thomas Pride, and Francis Rous. Their places were not filled up, and as Richard Cromwell was now Lord Protector the number of members on the roll was reduced to 57, of whom 42 took their seats. The Session lasted for nearly three months, during which period there were 64 sittings of the House, with an average attendance of about 27 members. Numerous Committees were appointed, Bills were introduced dealing with a variety of subjects,() and a considerable amount of formal business was transacted.C^) On the 8th of February Fleetwood wrote to Henry Cromwell, " We are very silent in our House, and little probability that we shall be owned"; but in spite of the most strenuous opposition on the part of the Republican leaders in the Commons a resolution was carried, 28 Mar. 1659, by 198 votes to 125, "to transact with the persons now sitting in the Other House, as a House of Parliament, during the and the rights of all the Nobylyty of England, dawbinge over the busines in this manner to theyre perpetual shame whoe shall yealde thearunto." [English Historical Review, vol. x, p. 106). (*) Fauconberg writes to Lockhart, 25 Jan. 1657/8: "I tell you that y* house of Commons appeare yet a little pettish, refusing on Saterday last upon a message sent them from the house of Lords to owne them for such . . . The Lord Lambert appeard this day in y' Lower house, as did S' Arthur Haslerigge notwithstanding his writt of Summons to the other, and without ever waiting on his highness to Excuse it. What these things will produce God Almighty only knows." [State Papers, France, vol. cxiv, no. 31). (•>) "This was the fourth parliament broken by him, in five years. Thus the two Houses fell, and perished together; their good father knocking his children on the head, and killing of them, because they were not towardly, but did wrangle one with another." [Second Narrative of the late Parliament). (') John Barwick writes to Sir Edward Hyde, 16 Feb. 1658/9: "Those they call Lords meet and adjourn, and consult about making a catechism, and make speeches against playes and the common prayer book. But all men's eyes are upon the Commons." C) An admirable summary of their proceedings is given by Mr. Headlam. See House of Lords MSS., vol. iv (New Series), pp. liv-lxii.
