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THE PROTECTORATE.
the crown in May 1657, Thouch this offer was declined, a new
document, called the Humble Petition and Advice, was substituted for
the Zustrument of Cocernment as the basis of Cromwell’s rule. He then
had himself inaugurated as Protector in Westminster Hall with @
splendor almost equalling that of coronations, An attempt was made
to create a new House of Peers, Some sixty persons, including a few
of the old peers, were summoned. "This movement excited general
ridieule, "The House of Commons itself refnsed to recognize the
Associate legislators, Cromwell then dismissed his last Parliament in
A burst of rage,
4. Much discontent prevailed in England. At one time a Royalist
. insurrection would show itself ; at another, the Republi-
Military 3 .
distriets. Cs, smarting under the personal tyrauny of Cromwell,
would rise against a despot who presumed to dictate to
“the saints of the earth.” Cromwell determined tn keep things in his
öwn hand by dividing the country into eleven militarı distriets, each
under a major-general with absolute powers over life and property.
Thus prevented from open ımutiny, fierce zealots of both parties began
to think of assassination as the only means of accomplishing their
ends.
5. Cromwell aspired to make himself the champion of Protestantism
throughout the world. He therefore entered into alliances
a with Holland, Denmark, and Switzerland. By his influ-
Cromwell. ce with France, with which he allied himself as against
Spain, he obtained religious concessions for the people of
Savoy, He demanded freedom of trade and worship for English mer-
chants in South America, and supported the demand by despatching
thither a powerful fleet, His great admiral, Blake, took vengeance
on the pirates of Barbary in the interest of all Christian nations, and
especially of English commerce. An English army aided the French
in wresting Dunkirk from Spain, "The captured fortress was ceded to
England, In the West Indies, Admiral Penn failed to gain possession
of San Domingo, but he seized Jamaica, which has ever since remained
attached to the British Crown, Blake’s last exploit was to burn a
Spanish fleet in the Bay of Santa Cruz, Teneriffe. The great naval
hero died on the homeward voyage, shortly before the Protectar's own
death. "Che foreign credit of Enyland has seldom stood higher than
Juring the Proteetorate of Cromwell.
6. Oliver Cromwell died of ague on Septenber 3rd, 1658, the anniver-
sary of his two great vietories of Dunbar and Worcester,
Death of His last days had been elonded with melancholy. The
romwelı. . . ;
success of his foreign poliey could not compensate for the
mrrmurs and plots at home. The death of a favorite daughter was
added to his other sorrows. His cup was peisoned with suspicion and
distrust. Colonel "Titus, a bitter Royalist, wrote a iract entitled Killing
