was unsafe, as well as unpopular, to attack a

Rainsborough, who were members of the house of commons as well as principal officers of the army, keep the house, that the soldiers might be left to themselves to fire the more, run up to extreams, and put themselves into a posture to carry on their work of rebellion with a high and violent hand, which had been so handsomely done: for either they must have appeared in it, and joined with the soldiers, which had been too gross, or have stopped it in the beginning, crushed the serpent in the egg, which had been most easy, but was contrary to their design. So now they give the business time to foment, and the rebellion to grow to some head, that afterwards when they should come amongst them (for they could not but expect the parliament would send them down) they might seem to be carryed with the violence, and to give some way for preventing greater inconveniencies, and to keep them from extremities till the monster was formed, and got to that strength as to protect itself and them, when they might without danger declare for it, which they afterwards did. In the mean time disclaiming it, blaming the soldiers at that distance (as Cromwell did openly in the house, protesting, for his part, he would stick to the parliament) whilst underhand they sent them encouragements and directions; for nothing was done there, but by advice and countenance from London, where the whole business was so laid, the rebellion resolved upon, and the officers that were in town so deeply engaged, that when the full time was come for putting things in execution, my friend Cromwell, who had been sent down by the parliament to do good offices, was come up again without doing any, and he who had made those solemn protestations with some great imprecations on himself if he failed in his performance, did, notwithstanding, privily convey thence his goods (which many of the independants did likewise, leaving city and parliament as marked out for destruction) and then without leave of the house (after some members missing him and

man crowned with victories, and applauded

"When

fearing him gone, had moved to have him sent for; whereupon he being, as it seems, not yet gone; and having notice of it, came and shewed himself a little in the house) did steal away that evening, I may say run away post down to the army, and presently join in the subscription of a rebellious letter *." - Burnet relates the following anecdote on the authority of Sir Harbottle Grimston. the house of commons and the army were a quarelling, at a meeting of the officers it was proposed to purge the army better, that they might know whom to depend on. Cromwell upon that said, he was sure of the army; but there was another body that had more need of purging, naming the house of commons, and he thought the army only could do that. Two officers that were present brought an account of this to Grimston, who carried them with him to the lobby of the house of commons, they being resolved. to justify it to the house. There was another debate then on foot; but Grimston diverted it, and said he had a matter of priviledge of the highest sort to lay before them : it was about the being and freedom of the house. So he charged Cromwell with the design of putting a force on the house. He had his witnesses at the door, and desired they might be examined. They were brought to the bar, and justified all that they had said to him, and gave a full relation of all that had passed at their meetings. When they withdrew, Cromwell fell down on his knees, and made a solemn prayer to God, attesting his innocence, and his zeal for the service of the house: he submitted himself to the providence of God, who it seems thought fit to exercise him with calumny and slander, but he submitted his cause to him. This he did with great vehemence, and with many tears. After this strange and bold preamble, he made so long a speech, justifying both himself and the rest of the officers, except a few that seemed inclined to

* Molles's Memoirs, p. 48.

as a saint and an hero, by the soldiers and the

people.

:

return back to Egypt, that he wearied out the house, and wrought so much on his party, that what the witnesses had said was so little believed, that had it been moved, Grimston thought that both he and they would have been sent to the Tower. But whether their guilt made them modest, or that they had no mind to have the matter much talked of, they let it fall: and there was no strength in the other side to carry it further. To complete the scene, as soon as ever Cromwell got out of the house, he resolved to trust himself no more amongst them; but went to the army, and in a few days he brought them up, and forced a great many from the house." In a pamphlet entitled " A true narrative of the occasions and causes of the late lord general Cromwell's anger and indignation against lieutenant colonel George Joyce (sometimes cornet Joice) who secured the king at Holmby," reprinted in the eighth vol. of the Harleian Miscellany, we have several particulars, which shew how dextrously Cromwell managed his mask, and practised " one of the maxims which the devil, in a late visit upon • earth, left to his disciples, which is, when once you are got up, to kick the stool from under you." " After the king," says this writer, " was seized by Joice, notice was taken that Cromwell lifted up his hands in the parliament, and called God, angels, and men to witness that he knew nothing of Joyce's going for the king. Thereupon the said Joyce asked Cromwell what made him to speak such words? And whether he intended to do as the king had done before him, viz. swear and lye? And bid him mark what would be the end of such things; cautioning him to take heed and beware of such actions: but he slighted those warnings, and soon after flattered the said Joyce again with tears of repentance. The said Joyce protesting against the purging of the parliament, was threatned by

* Burnet, vol. I. p. 67.

Tom Jones.

VOL. III.

H

Though the parliament had in many places been successful, the war was like to continue:

Cromwell to be destroyed, and when he gave him reasons. against dissolving the parliament he was very angry.Being about to buy Finkley Park in Hampshire, and having generously offered to part with all or any part of it again to Richard Cromwell; Oliver took him in his arms, and told him that himself, and his son, and family, were more beholden to him than to all the world besides, and therefore bad him go on and prosper. Upon this Joyce went the next morning about it, and there being a full committee [the Park belonged to the crown] he was just upon the point of contracting for the said Park, when on a sudden in came Richard, his father then overtopping all in power, with three lawyers with him, and required them to proceed no further in it, in regard it was his own inheritance, and no park, as was supposed. Whereupon Joyce informed the committee of the whole discourse that had passed between the general, his son, and himself the night before; upon which he fell upon him in foul words; saying Sirrah, sirrah, hold your tongue, or I shall make you repent the time you were born; which the committee perceiving, desired them to withdraw; and since that time never durst meddle with the park any further. Whereupon, and his bearing testimony against Cromwell's being made Protector, endeavours were used to ruin him. And to that purpose his lieutenant (who before had accused him, but could make nothing of it) was sent for by Cromwell, and encouraged to prosecute him again, and contrary to the custom and course of the army, privately appointed officers, and such as he could trust in such an affair, to take the lieutenant's then deposition against Joyce: and they took his deposition, who swore falsly that he should hear him say, that he was sorry that Lockyer had not pistolled Cromwell; and thereupon sent him to prison without bail, and order was given that he should be kept close prisoner, which accordingly was done; and afterwards cashiered. The lieutenant who

:

this was occasioned partly by the strength of

had prosecuted, applying to Cromwell for preferment as he had been promised, was told that he had not dealt like a Christian with Joyce: he thereupon replying, he had done nothing but what he had been commanded by him, was thrust out of his chamber by Cromwell, and bad go as a knave as he was a."

I will add a relation or two from Ludlow, who knew the man, and has drawn his character, in some things, with great exactness. Speaking concerning Fairfax's declining to command the army against the Scots, who were about to invade England in behalf of the title of Charles II. he goes on in the following manner: " Upon this lieutenant general Cromwell pressed, that notwithstanding the unwillingness of the lord Fairfax to command upon this occasion, they would yet continue him to be general of the army; professing for himself, that he would rather chuse to serve under him in his post, than to command the greatest army in Europe. But the council of state not approving that advice, appointed a committee of some of themselves to confer farther with the general in order to his satisfaction. This committee was appointed upon the motion of the lieutenant general, who acted his part so to the life, that I really thought him in earnest; which obliged me to step to him as he was withdrawing with the rest of the committee out of the council chamber, and to desire him, that he would not in compliment and humility obstruct the service of the nation by his refusal; but the consequence made it sufficiently evident that he had no such intention. The committee having spent some time in debate with the lord Fairfax without any success, returned to the council of state, whereupon they ordered the report of this affair to be made to the parliament. Which being done, and some of the general's friends informing them, that though he had shewed some unwillingness to be em