236      POLITICAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL HISTORY, 1658-60
their desire to make the protector a puppet in their hands, and
not before the junior officers—usually referred to as the com-
monwealths-men—had shown their republican sympathies.
When the parliamentary elections were completed, it was
found that the majority of the members were men of moderate
views, presbyterians rather than sectaries, and likely to support
the protectorate against the army. This group was commonly
spoken of as the New Courtiers. It contained a few men who
were already cavaliers, and many more, particularly new mem-
bers who were young men, who, while willing enough to sup-
port Richard if he resolutely followed in his father's footsteps,
would otherwise naturally favour the restoration of the Stuarts
in preference to undisguised military tyranny or anarchy. There
were also commonwealths-men or republicans, few in number
but formidable through the ability of their leaders, Hesilrige,
Scot, and Sir Henry (Harry) Vane.
At first, however, the enemies of the protectorate in parlia-
ment could only delay by strenuous opposition the measures of
the government. In spite of their utmost endeavours a bill to
recognize Richard's succession was passed by a substantial
majority. Similarly a resolution was voted that the commons
would transact business with *the persons now sitting in the
other house, as a house of parliament, during this present parlia-
ment; and that it is not hereby intended to exclude such peers
as have been faithful to the parliament, from their privilege of
being duly summoned to serve as members of that house'.1
These two votes, settling the two most essential and disputed
features of the protectoral government, might have seemed
decisive. But once again the destinies of the state were to be
controlled, not by parliamentary votes, but by military force.
Apparently the republican leaders in the house were reverting
to the tactics they had pursued a year before, when they had
tried to incite the army to act against the protector. They
revived the very petition whose presentation Cromwell had
forestalled by abruptly dismissing parliament in 1658. The
petition was artfully designed to attract all types of malcontents.
It appealed to republicans because it demanded the restoration
of a single-chamber government, unlimited in power by any
protector or written constitution. It appealed to the extreme
sectarians, such as the fifth-monarchy men, quakers, Unitarians,
1 Commons' Journals, viL 621.