It was that the wrangle of jealousies and personal interests round the new Protector had taken shape in a distinct division of his adherents and supporters into two parties.

First there was what may be called the _Court Party_ or _Dynastic Party,_ represented by Falconbridge himself, and by Admiral Montague, Fiennes, Philip Jones, Thurloe, and others in the Council, with Howard, Whitlocke, and Ingoldsby, out of the Council, and with the assured backing of Henry Cromwell, Broghill, and Lockhart, if not also of Monk.

What they desired was to make Richard's Protectorate an avowed continuation of his father's, with the same forms, the same powers, and the permanence of the _Petition and Advice_ as the instrument of the Protectoral Constitution in every particular.

In opposition to this party was the _Army Party,_ or _Wallingford-House Party,_ led by Fleetwood and Desborough, with a following of others in the Council and of the Army-officers almost in mass.

While maintaining the Protectorate in name, they were for such modifications of the Protectoral Constitution as might consist with the fact that the chief magistrate was now no longer Oliver, but the feeble and unmilitary Richard.