LON 
ter for-thofe who were obnoxious tc-eitber of the parties; 
and, at other times, thofe who had taken refuge there 
were obliged to leave it. Many of the members of the 
two houics of parliament, intimidated by the violence of 
the prefbyterians, retired from London, and fought pro- 
te&i'on from the army. Every movement of Fairfax’s 
army added new fears, or new hopes, to the citizens, who, 
divided unfortunately among themfelves, were either for 
or againft his entering the metropolis. However, as loon 
as he arrived, London withdrew the militia, and delivered 
up the fortifications, without Waiting for any attack, and 
therefore without refiftance. The lord-mayor and aider- 
men met the genera! at Hyde-park, and congratulated him 
on his arrival; and he was faluted in the fame manner by 
the common-council, who waited for him at Charing- 
crofs. Thus the army pofleffed themfelves of the city 
and parliament. It is not improper here to remark, that, 
in all popular commotions, the army plays always the 
chief part in the drama, and the general eventually be¬ 
comes the hero of the piece. Thefe proceedings were 
very iimilar to what happened at Rome in the time of 
the emperors,'and in France a few years ago; for, had 
not the prefent ruler of that country been a favourite with 
the army, he would never have been received at Paris, at 
his return from Egypt, with the acclamations of the people. 
Soon after the arrival of the army, a loan of fifty thou- 
fand pounds was demanded from the city, for their fer- 
vices; which not being complied with, the parliament 
palTed a vote for demolilhing the fortifications round Lon¬ 
don, Weftminlter, and Southwark. 
In this (late of affairs, with a divided capital, an info- 
lent army, and an impriloned fovereign, it cannot be mat¬ 
ter of furprife, that confufion and licentioufnefs should 
characterize the people. Riots and confpiracies were al- 
moft daily occurrences ; nor does the hiftory of the times 
offer any topics of a more agreeable nature. At length, 
the army bore down all oppofition ; the meafur.es which 
were in agitation between the parliament and the city, to 
reftore tranquillity and re-inftate the king, were fruftrated 
by the army, who took poffefiion of London and Weft- 
minfter on the 4th of December, 164S ; demanded forty 
thoufand pounds of the citizens; and, when that fum 
was not procured fo fpeedily as they expected, the general 
feat two regiments of foot to take up their quarters in the 
city, and to fecure the treafures in Goldfmiths’, Weavers’, 
and Haberdafhers*, balls; from the latter of which they car¬ 
ried off twenty thoufand pounds. 
The remainder of this political tragedy, which ended 
in the death of the king, is fufficiently detailed in the ar¬ 
ticle England. 
During the protedlorate of Oliver Cromwell, the city 
of London, intent upon trade, does not appear to have 
been fhaken by any fort of commotion ; a loan of one 
hundred and twenty thoufand pounds <vas confented to, 
which fum the citizens advanced ; and thus, the parlia¬ 
ment and city being once more on good terms, the former 
gave Richmond Park to the citizens, and a thoufand pounds 
in money for the ufe of the poor. The lord-mayor and 
aldermen, with the recorder, in their fcarlet gowns, the 
mayor carrying the city-fword, attended the ceremony of 
Cromwell’s inftallation at Weftminfter; and a few days 
after he was entertained by the corporation at Grocers’ 
Hall, with all the formalities ufed at the reception of a 
crowned head; for which mark of refpeft_and tacit alle¬ 
giance, he returned his warm thanks to the citizens, and 
knighted the lord-mayor. 
In 1655, an ordinance was paffed by the protedfor, to 
limit the number of hackney-coaches to two hundred, 
and to place them under the care and government of the 
lord-mayor and court of aldermen. He alfo gave them a 
licenfe to import four thoufand chaldrons of coals, an¬ 
nually, for the ufe of the poor, duty free. 
Three years after, Cromwell died ; his fon fucceeded 
him ; but the protection of the city could not prolong; 
Vol. XIII. No. 8$°' 
DON. ey 
his protectorate; and a general cry for a free parliament, 
originating in London, fpread itfelf through the kingdom. 
The citizens of London took a great lhare in accom- 
plifning the reiteration of the royal family to the king¬ 
dom and throne. They chofe Monk major-general of 
their forces, and by his advice difarmed all who were fuf- 
peCted of favouring the rump-parliament; and kept a. 
itrong guard for tile peace and quiet of the city, till the 
meeting of a free parliament, which was now refolved 
upon, in order to reftore the monarchy, the royal family, 
and the church. 
The new parliament being affembled, and all things 
ripe for the reftoration, Charles fent letters to them and 
to general Monk. The parliament immediately appointed 
a committee to prepare an anfwer, which was forwarded 
the next day, inviting him to return and take poffelfion 
of his crown and dominions. With the letters to the 
parliament, the king fent one to thC lord-mayor, aldermen, 
and common-council, of the city, exprellive of his fatif- 
faefion with their conduct and good intention to affift in 
the work of his reftoration, and prom iff tig to manifelt his 
particular regard for the city, not only by renewing their 
charter, and confirming all their ancient privileges, hut 
alfo by adding to them, and granting any new favours 
which might advance the trade, wealth, and honour, of his 
native city. 
The citizens were fo elated on the receipt of this letter, 
that they presented the meffengers with three hundred 
pounds; and deputed fourteen of the common-council to 
proceed immediately to Holland, with a prefent of ten 
thoufand pounds to his majeity, and to adore him of their 
fidelity and molt cheerful iubmifiion, and that they placed 
all their future hopes of profperity and happinefs in the 
affurance of his royal grace and protection, for the de- 
ferving of which their lives and fortunes ftiould be al¬ 
ways at his difpofal. 
Four days after this, the common-council made an or¬ 
der, that Richmond Park, lately given to the city by 
Cromwell, ftiould be prefented to his majeity on his return 
to England, with alfurances that they had kept it with no 
other view than to prelerve it for the royal intereft. 
The day following his majefty was proclaimed, king at 
the ufual places in London, with the greateft folemnity, 
in the prefence of the lord-mayor, aldermen, recorder, and 
ftierift's, amidft the univerfal and joyful acclamations of 
the citizens. 
His majefty landed at Dover on the afith of May, 1660 ; 
and, on the 20th, he made his public entry into London, 
where he was received with every teftimony of joy. The 
ftreets were lined with the trained-bands, and the city- 
companies in their liveries; the hotlfes were adorned with 
the richeft fiiks and tapeftries; and a valt concourfe of 
fpedfators crowded upon fcaffolds, and in windows and 
balconies ; while the lower orders were equally eager to 
exprefs their latisfafHon by tumultuous acclamations and 
loud huzzas. In (hort, every thing was conducled with 
the greateft appearance of unanimity and contentment. 
In the year 1663, his majefty, in return for feveral tokens 
of loyalty fhown by the citizens to his perfon and go¬ 
vernment, and for their effectual aid in reftoring him to 
his throne, granted them a charter, in which, after re¬ 
citing all the charters obtained from his predeceflbrs, he 
ratifies and confirms them in the mod ample manner. 
This year is alfo diftinguiftied by the inftitution of the 
Royal Society; that name being conferred by the king 
on a fociety of learned men, in London, who affembled 
weekly for the improvement of natural knowledge. 
In the following year the citizens advanced the king a 
loan of one hundred thoufand pounds. This, however, 
not being fufficient, they fliortly after advanced the like 
fum; this ready concurrence was fo well received by the 
parliament, when it affembled, that a vote of thanks was 
fent to the common-council by a deputation from both 
bottles* 
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