This matter being thus stated, the commissioners of the great seal, and the lord mayor and aldermen of London, were required, on the 16th of December, to attend Cromwell, and his council, in Westminster-hall. Being come thither, the instrument of government was read, whereby Cromwell was declared Protector, he standing all this while bare-headed, and major-general Lambert kneeling, presented him with a sword in the scabbard, representing the civil sword: which Cromwell accepting, put off his own, to intimate thereby, that he would no longer rule by the military sword. The said instrument being writ on parchment, contained, ‘That the Protector was to call a Parliament every three years; that their first meeting should be on the 13th of September next ensuing: that he should not be permitted to dissolve a parliament, before it had set five months; that the bills presented to him for his consent, if he did not confirm them within twenty days, should have the force of laws; that he was to have a council, who were not to exceed the number of twenty-one, and not to be under thirteen; that forthwith after his death, the council was to choose another Protector; that no Protector after him, should be capable of being chief general of the army; and that it should be in the power of the Protector to make war and peace.’ Whilst this instrument was reading, Cromwell held his hand on the bible, and afterwards took the oath, that he would perform all that was contained therein. This being done, he covered himself, all the others remaining uncovered. Then the commissioners delivered the seals to him, and the lord mayor of London the sword; all which he restored again, with an exhortation to use them well. Afterward general Lambert carried the sword before him to his coach, in which he went to Whitehall, where he was proclaimed Protector, which was done also in the city of London. Now he was attended like a prince, and created knights, as kings used to do. Thus Cromwell, by a singular, and very strange turn of mundane affairs, saw himself placed in the palace, from whence he and his adherents had cast out King Charles the First. THE THIRD BOOK. 1654-1655. 1654.