1647.] RENDEZVOUS OF THE ARMY. in 



they entered into resolutions for impeaching Hollis, 

 Stapleton, and nine other leading members of the 

 Presbyterian interest in the House of Commons. The 

 result of this curious meeting at Newmarket, as is well 

 known, was the army's taking possession of the city 

 of London, overwhelming the Parliament, and effectu- 

 ally seizing the reins of government. But no sooner 

 did Cromwell, as general of this extraordinary army, 

 become possessed of the supreme power, than he saw 

 his authority menaced by the very means which had 

 raised him to it. The council of agitators soon after 

 were prohibited to meet ; but the private soldiery re- 

 tained the ideas of independence which that establish- 

 ment had infused into them. This insubordination, 

 however, Cromwell soon suppressed. 



" A general rendezvous of the army ; at which it had no 

 doubt been originally designed that the king should be 

 present, took place in the vicinity of Newmarket i647. 

 on the fourth and fifth of June. The idea how- Charles I. 

 ever of bringing the king to the rendezvous was Newmarket, 

 afterwards laid aside ; and in consequence Charles was turned 

 away from his route, and his abode for a short time fixed at 

 Childersley. The principal transaction at the rendezvous, 

 was the production of a solem engagement, to be assented to 

 and subscribed by all the officers and soldiers, by which they 

 declared they would cheerefully & readily disband, when re- 

 quired by parliament, or else would, many of them, be willing, 

 if desired, to engage in further service either in England and 

 Ireland, having first such satisfaction given them in relation 

 to their grievances, heretofore presented, and such security that 

 they and other free-born people of England should not remain 



ground before the soldiers, and without a moment's pause subscribed the 

 engagement to stand by them." 



