it had been confirm'd to me by Mr. Jeremy White, who liv'd at Whitehall at the very same time with Mr. Howe) that the notion of a particular faith in prayer, prevail'd much in Cromwell's court; and that it was a common opinion among them, that such as were in a special manner favour'd of God, when they offer'd up prayers and supplications to him for his mercies, either for themselves or others, often had such impressions made on their minds and spirits by a divine hand, as signify'd to them, not only in the general, that their prayers would be heard, and graciously answered, but that the particular mercies that were sought for, would be certainly bestowed; nay, and sometimes also intimated to them in what way and manner they would be afforded; and pointed out to them future events before hand, which in reality is the same as inspiration. Having heard of mischief done by the prevalence of this notion, I took the opportunity that offered, when there was nothing to hinder the atmost freedom, to enquire of Mr. Howe, what he had known about this matter, and what were his apprehensions concerning it? He told me the prevalence of the notion that I mentioned at Whitehall, at the time when he lived there, was too notorious to be called in question; and that not a little pains was taken to cultivate and support it; and that he once heard a sermon there, (from a person of note) the avow'd design of which was to maintain and defend it. He said he was so fully convinced of the ill tendency of such a principle, that after the hearing this sermon, he thought himself bound in conscience, when it came next to his turn to preach before Cromwell, to set himself industriously to oppose it, and to beat down that spiritual pride and confidence, which such fancied impulses and impressions were apt to produce and cherish. He told me, he observed that while he was in the pulpit, Cromwell heard him with great attention, but would sometimes knit his brows, and discover great uneasiness. When the ser mon was over, he told me a person of distinction came to him, and ask'd him if he knew what he had done? and signifyed it to him as his apprehension, that Cromwell

This, however, spoiled not his good nature, nor rendered him sour, morose, or severe.

would be so incens'd upon that discourse, that he would find it very difficult ever to make his peace with him, or secure his favour for the future. Mr. Howe replyed, that he had but discharged his conscience, and could leave the event with God. He told me he afterwards observed, Cromwell was cooler in his carriage to him than before; and sometimes he thought he would have spoken to him of the matter, but he never did, and rather chose to forbeara."

4. His discourse in his last sickness to his wife, plainly manifests the enthusiasm of his temper. Take it as related by his physician Bates. "Sed nec animo solum ægrotat; [he had been just speaking of his domestic vexations] febre siquidem brevi post latica & lentâ corripitur, quæ tandem spuriam in tertianam degeneravit. Provecto per septimanam morbo, absque ullis periculi indiciis, (utpote nunc istam mali speciem, nunc aliam præ se ferente;) ut ne prohiberet secundo die ab ambulando foràs. Post prandium autem accedentibus ad eum quinque quos habebat medicis, quidam ex tactu pulsum intermisisse pronunciat: quo audito ille subito consternatus ore pallet, sudatiunculas patitur, & ferè deliquium, jubétque se ad lectulum deportari; atque ibi cardiacis refocillatus, supremum condidit testamentum, sed de rebus privatis & domesticis. Manè summo, cùm unus è cæteris visitatum veniret, percontatur, quare vultus ei adeo tristis. Cùmque responderet, ità oportere, si cui vitæ ac salutis ejus pondus incumberet; Vos (inquit) medici me creditis intermoriturum: dein cæteris amotis (uxorem manu complectens) ita hunc affatur, Tibi pronuncio, non esse mihi hoc morbo moriendum; hujus enim certus sum. Et quia intentiori aspectantem oculo ad ista verba cerneret, Tu me (inquit) nè credas insanire; verba veritatis

On the contrary, from most indisputable authorities, we are assured, that he was courteous

eloquor, certioribus innixus quàm vobis Galenus aut Hippocrates vester suppeditat rationibus. Deus ipse hoc responsum precibus dedit non meis unius, verùm & eorum quibus arctius cum illo commercium & major familiaritas. Pergite alacres, excussâ penitùs à vultu tristitia, méque instar servuli tractate. Pollere vobis licet prudentia rerum; pluş tamen valet natura quàm medici simul omnes; Deus autem naturam longiori superat intervallo *."-i. e. "But all his distemper was not in his mind alone; for shortly after he was taken with a slow fever, that at length degenerated into a bastard tertian ague. For a week's time the disease so continued without any dangerous symptoms, (as appearing sometimes one, and sometimes another kind of distemper) that every other day he walked abroad: but after dinner his five physicians coming to wait upon him, one of them having felt his pulse, said that it intermitted: at which suddenly startled, he looked pale, fell into a cold sweat, almost fainted away, and orders himself to be carried to bed, where being refreshed with cordials, he made his will, but only about his private and domestic affairs. Next morning early, when one of his physicians came to visit him, he asked him why he look'd so sad? and when he made answer, that so it becomes any one, who had the weighty care of his life and health upon him: Ye physicians, said he, think I shall die. Then the company being removed, holding his wife by the hand, to this purpose he spoke to him, I tell you I shall not die of this disorder,-I am sure of it. And because he observed him to look more attentively upon him at these words, Don't think, said he, that I am mad; I speak the words of truth, upon surer grounds than your Galen or Hippocrates furnish you with. God Almighty himself hath given that answer, not to my

• Bates's Elenchi pars 2da, p. 215.

and obliging, affable and condescending, and

prayers alone, but also to the prayers of those who entertain a stricter commerce, and greater intimacy with him. Go on chearfully, banishing all sadness from your looks, and deal with me as you would with a serving-man. Ye may have skill in the nature of things, yet nature can do more than all physicians put together; and God is far more above nature."

Burnet confirms this account of the assurance of the divines concerning Cromwell's recovery. I will rest the evidence of the enthusiasm of Oliver here (though many more proofs can be brought of it) not doubting but it will appear strong and convincing; and account, in some degree, for those actions and expressions which we shall meet with in the following sheets: account in some degree, I say; for whoever thinks him wholly under the power of this principle, will be greatly mistaken. Cromwell ranks in this respect with Mahomet, and Aurengzebe, who were great masters of themselves, though, by nature, strongly tinctured with enthusiasm.

He was courteous and affable, and inclined to buffoonery.] Here are the authorities. Sir Philip Warwick does honour to this part of his character in the following paragraph. "In his conversation towards me he was ever friendly; tho' at the latter end of the day finding me ever incorrigible, and having some inducements to suspect me a tamperer, he was sufficiently rigid b." Whitlock, even under a sense of an injury done him by Cromwell, owns he was "goodnatured." His affability and condescension will appear also from the same writer. "As they [Cromwell and Ireton] went home from my house, their coach was stopped and they examined by the guards, to whom they told their names; but the captain of the guards would not believe them, and threatned to carry these two great

even strongly, at times, inclined to practise some little arts of buffoonery.

1

officers to the court of guard. Ireton grew a little angry, but Cromwell was chearful with the soldiers, gave them twenty shillings, and commended them and their captain for doing their duty." In another place he writes as follows: "The Protector often advis'd about this [The petition and advice] and other great businesses with the lord Broghill, Pierpoint, myself, Sir Charles Wolsely and Thurloe, and would be shut up three or four hours together in private discourse, and none were admitted to come in to him; he would sometimes be very chearful with us, and laying aside his greatness he would be exceeding familiar with us, and by way of diversion, would make verses with us, and every one must try his fancy; he commonly call'd for tobacco, pipes, and a candle, and would now and then take tobacco himself; then he would fall again to his serious and great business, and advise with us in those affairs; and this he did often with us, and our counsel was accepted and followed by him, in most of his greatest affairs." These passages, simply and artlessly told, strongly indicate the chearfulness and pleasantry of Cromwell, and shew how well qualified he was to conciliate the affection and regard of those whom he thought it worth his while to court.

Let us now proceed to the buffoonery which is mentioned in the text. "Mr. Waller lived mostly at Beaconsfield, where his mother dwelt in her widowhood, and often entertained Oliver Cromwell there, during his usurpation, he being related to her. But notwithstanding her relation to the usurper, and Colonel Hampden, she was a royalist in her principles; and when Oliver visited her at Beaconsfield, she would frankly tell him how his pretensions would end. The usurper us'd merrily to throw a napkin at her in return, and said he would not enter into further disputes with his

* Whitlock's Memorials, p. 384.

b. Id. p. 656.

C

See note 63,