POLITICAL HISTORY 



informed of a person more fit for banishment.'*" Pemberton was ac- 

 cordingly lodged in Bedford Gaol, along with Mr. Paine Clarke, who 

 was ' almost as scandalous in point of filthiness as the other, and hath 

 spoken most scandalous words of the Protector.'"^ The Major-General 

 was dissatisfied too with the attitude of the Corporation of Bedford, and 

 in March 1656 the mayor and four members of the council resigned on a 

 hint from him, rather than face a charge of delinquency."' When a new 

 Parliament was summoned in autumn, Butler, with the other major-generals, 

 took an active part in managing the elections, and was himself returned as 

 one of the members for Bedfordshire."* 



In April 1657, a number of Bedfordshire men were arrested for signing 

 and circulating a ' Humble and Serious Testimony ' against the proposal to 

 confer the royal title on Cromwell. Over 1 00 persons were involved, including 

 Colonel Okey, Thomas Gibbs, Edward Cator, and the two Estons, father and 

 son."^ Okey was one of the regicides, and had already got into trouble by 

 protesting against the new constitution, November, 1654,"* but was pardoned, 

 and retired to Bedfordshire, where he bought the lease of Leighton Buzzard, 

 Ampthill, and Brogborough Park.'" He was returned for the county along 

 with Richard Wagstaff"' in Richard Cromwell's Parliament, which met on 

 27 January 1658—9, while the town was represented by Samuel Browne and 

 Thomas Margets.'" Richard's accession as Protector was quietly received ; 

 William Bedford, writing to Thurloe 12 October 1658, finds 'the county 

 generally very well satisfied in his late highness's disposall, and noe regrett 

 towards the old family. The cavaleeres with us [are] very quiet, and much 

 dasht at his highnesses peaceable entrance,' while the quarter sessions had 

 agreed to present an address to Richard.'*" 



The Presbyterian and Royalist reaction, however, was soon in full play, 

 and to the Convention Parliament the county sent Robert Lord Bruce '" and 

 Samuel Browne, and the borough Sir Samuel Luke and Humphrey Winch. '^^ 

 In the Parliament of 1661 there was a disputed return for the borough, Luke 

 and Richard Taylor being returned on one indenture, and Serjeant Keeling 

 and Taylor on two others, and the seat was given to Keeling.'*' Luke lived 

 till 1670, but took no more part in public affairs. He is supposed to have 

 been the original of ' Hudibras,' but it is needless to say that Butler's satire 

 gives no true idea of his character."* 



'"Thurloe, op. cit.iv, 218. "Mbid. 633. '"Mbid. 632. 



"* Harl. Misc. iii, 455 ; Clarke Papers (Camd. Soc), iii, 8511. The other county members were Harvey, 

 Bedford, Richard Wagstaff, and Richard Edwards, while the borough member was Thomas Margets. Cobbett, 

 Pari. Hist, iii, 1479, wrongly supposes the 'Boteler' or Butler to have been Sir W. Boteler, who died 

 Aug. 1656 ; F. A. Blaydes (Page-Turner), Gen. Bedf. 54. 



'" Thurloe, op. cit. vi, 228-30. '" Diet. Nat. Biog. 



'" Cal. S.P. Dom. 1 660-1, p. 248 ; Lysons, Mag. Brit, i, 39, 127. '" Ret. of Memb. of Pari. 



"' Cobbett, Pari. Hist, iii, 1530. This Parliament was elected on the ancient franchise, Oliver's reforms 

 being abolished. Sam. Browne, of Arlesey, was a cousin of Oliver St. John, and had been a justice of the 

 King's Bench, but had resigned because of the king's execution, and returned to his practice at the Bar. He 

 was reappointed after the Restoration ; see Foss, Judges. Thomas Margets, gent, held a messuage m St. 

 Peter's Par. Bedford, at a ' Hagable ' rent, in 1 68 1 ; Rec. of Corp. 1 1 2. 



^ Thurloe, op. cit. vii, 438. 



''' The Earl of Elgin was an English baron, and Robert, his eldest son, took his father's Scottish barony 

 of Kinloss as a courtesy title, so that both father and son appear in Parliament as Lord Bruce. 



'«' Ret. of Memb. of Pari. 



'^ Common^ Joum. viii, 250^. Keeling of Southill was a strong Royalist, and was made a judge in 1663 

 and Lord Chief Justice in 1665 ; see Foss, Judges. Richard Taylor's son was the last male representative of 

 the Taylors of Clapham. '" Diet. Nat. Biog. 



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