(April 21) he had dwelt on the fact again more at large, revealing a story, as he said, of his "own weakness and folly." The Barebones Parliament had been one of his own choosing; he had filled it with "men of our own judgment, who had fought in the wars, and were all of a piece upon that account." This he had done in his "simplicity," expecting the best results.

But, as it had happened, there was a band of men in that Parliament driving even then for nothing but the principles of this wretched Fifth-Monarchy manifesto, the abolition of Church and Magistracy, and a trial of a fantastic government by the Law of Moses.

Major-General Harrison and Mr.Squib had been the leaders of this band, with the Anabaptist minister Mr.Feak as their confidant out of doors; and what they did from day to day in the Parliament had been concocted in private meetings in Mr.Squib's house.

"This was so _de facto:_ I know it to be true." Had he not done well in accepting the Protectorate at such a moment, and so saving the Commonwealth from the delirium of which they had just seen a new spurt at Mile-End-Green ?[1] [Footnote 1: I have taken the account of the _Standard Set Up_ from Godwin, IV.

375-378, not having seen it myself.