LAMBERT (John), general of the parliament's forces in the civil wars of the last century, was of a good family, and for some time studied the law in one of the inns of court; but upon the breaking out of the rebellion, went into the parliament-army, where he soon rose to the rank of colonel, and by his conduct and valour performed many eminent services. But when Cromwell seemed inclined to assume the title of king, Lambert opposed it with great vigour, and even refused to take the oath required by the assembly and council.
Lambert, council to be faithful to the government; on which
Lambin. Cromwell deprived him of his commission, but granted
him a pension of 2000 l. a-year. This was an act
of prudence rather than of generosity; as he well knew,
that such genius as Lambert's, rendered desperate by
poverty, was capable of attempting any thing.
Lambert being now divested of all employment, re-
tired to Wimbledon-house; where turning florist, he
had the finest tulips and gilliflowers that could be got
for love or money. Yet amidst these amusements he
still nourished his ambition: for when Richard Crom-
well succeeded his father, he acted so effectually with
Fleetwood, Desborough, Vane, Berry, and others,
that the new protector was obliged to surrender his
authority; and the members of the long-parliament,
who had continued sitting till the 20th of April 1653,
when Oliver dismissed them, were restored to their
seats, and Lambert was immediately appointed one of
the council of state, and colonel of a regiment of horse
and another of foot. For this service the parlia-
ment presented him 1000 l. to buy a jewel; but he
distributed it among his officers. This being soon
known to the parliament, they concluded that he in-
tended to secure a party in the army. They therefore
courteously invited him to come to London; but re-
solved, as soon as he should arrive, to secure him from
doing any further harm. Lambert, apprehensive of
this, delayed his return, and even refused to resign his
commission when it was demanded of him and of eight
of the other leading officers; and, marching up to Lon-
don with his army, dislodged the parliament by force
in October 1659. He was then appointed, by a
council of the officers, major-general of the army, and
one of the new council for the management of public
affairs, and sent to command the forces in the north.
But general Monk marching from Scotland into Eng-
land to support the parliament, against which Lam-
bert had acted with such violence, the latter, being
deserted by his army, was obliged to submit to the
parliament, and by their order was committed prisoner
to the tower; whence escaping he soon appeared in
arms with four troops under his command, but was
defeated and taken prisoner by colonel Ingoldsby.
At the Restoration he was particularly excepted
out of the act of indemnity. Being brought to his
trial on the 4th of June 1662, for levying war against
the king, this daring general behaved with more sub-
mission than the meanest of his fellow-prisoners, and
was by his majesty's favour reprimanded at the bar, and
confined during his life in the island of Guernsey.