and is said to have expressed an unbecoming assurancet to Almighty God in prayer of his recovery, whether a man could fall from grace? which the doctor answering in the negative, the protector replied, then I am safe, for I am sure I was once in a state of grace. About twelve hours before he died he lay very quiet, when major Butler being in his chamber, says he heard him make his last prayer to this purpose: "Lord, I am a poor foolish creature; this people would fain have me live; they think it best for them, and that it will redound much to thy glory, and all the stir is about this. Others would fain have me die; Lord pardon them, and pardon thy foolish people, forgive their sius, and do not forsake them, but love and bless, and give them rest, and bring them to a consistency, and give me rest, for Jesus Christ's sake, to whom, with thee, and thy Holy Spirit, be all honor and glory, now and for ever, Amen.” The protector died, Sept. 3, 1658, about three in the afternoon, the day on which he had triumphed in the battles of Marston-Moor,§ Dunbar, and Worcester, when he had lived fifty-nine years, four months, and eight days: four years and eight months after he had been declared protector by the instrument of government; and one year and three months after his confirmation by the humble petition and advice. As he had lived most part of his life in a storm, his death was attended with one of the greatest hurricanes

†The language of Dr. Goodwin was thus extravagant: "Lord, we beg not for his recovery; for that thou hast already granted and assured us of; but for his speedy recovery." And when news was brought of his death, Mr. Peter Sterry stood up, and desired them not to be troubled. "For" said he, "this is good news: because if he was of great use to the people of God when he was amongst us, now he will be much more so, being ascended to heaven to sit at the right hand of Jesus Christ, there to intercede for us, and to be mindful of us on all occasions." Ludlow's Memoirs, 4to. p. 258, 9. Dr. Grey does not fail to notice these strange flights. And Sewel the historian's reflection on this last instance of the flattery, or phrensy. of these courtiers, was just. "O horrid flattery! Thus I call it, though he had been the greatest saint on earth; which he came much short of, though he was once endued with some eminent virtues." History of the Quakers, p. 189. Ed.

Baxter's Life, p. 98.

This, as Dr. Grey notices, is an error; the battle of Marston-Moor was fought on the 2d of July, 1644. Ed.

that had been known for many years.*

Some have said

that next night after his death, his body was wrapped up in lead and buried in Naseby-field, according to his desire. Others, more probably, that it was deposited privately in a vault in king Henry the seventh's chapel, sometime before the public funeral, which was performed Nov. 23, with all imaginable grandeur and military pomp,‡ from Somersethouse, where he had lain in state, to the Abbey-church in Westminster, where a fine mausoleum was erected for him, on which his effigies was placed, and exhibited to the view of all spectators for a time; but after the king's restoration, his coffin was taken out of the vault, and drawn upon a sledge to Tyburn, where he was hanged up till sun-set, and then buried under the gallows.

Thus died the mighty OLIVER CROMWELL, the greatest soldier and statesman of his age, after he had undergone excessive fatigues and labors in a long course of warlike actions, and escaped innumerable dangers from the plots and conspiracies of domestic enemies. Few historians have spoken of him with temper, though no other genius, it may be, could have held the reigns, or steered the commonwealth, through so many storms and hurricanes, as the factions of these times had raised in the nation. He was

* Dr. Grey tells us also, that on the day his coffin was taken up and hung at Tyburn, almost as remarkable a storm rose in the northern parts of the kingdom. Superstition and a hatred of Cromwell construed these circumstances as appearances of nature or the God of nature, by physical phoenomena, expressing an abhorrence of his character. But sound philosophy sees nothing but a singular coincidence of events happening together, but without any correspondence in their causes: and will reflect, how many storms disturb the elements, when no wieked tyrant dies in the political world! Ed.

The expences of Cromwell's funeral amounted to 60,000l. The body laid in a more private apartment, till the first of November; in imitation of the solemnities used upon the like occasion for Philip II. king of Spain, who was thus represented to be in purgatory for two months. It was then removed into the great hall of Somerset-House; the part where the bed stood was railed in, and the rails and ground within covered with crimson velvet. Four or five hundred candles set in flat shining candlesticks were so placed round near the roof of the hall, that the light they gave seemed like the rays of the sun: by all which he was represented to be in a state of glory. This folly and profusion so far provoked the people, that they threw dirt, in the night, on his escutcheon, placed over the great gate. Ludlow's Memoirs, 4tu. P. 260. Ed.

born at Huntingdon, April 25, 1599, and descended of the family of Williams, of Glamorgan in Wales, which assumed the name of Cromwell by marrying with a daughter of Cromwell earl of Essex, in the reign of king Henry VIII. The seat of the eldest branch of the family was called Hinchinbrook, now belonging to the earl of Sandwich, who were reputed to possess an estate of 30,0001. a year. oliver, who was descended of a younger branch, was educated in Cambridge, and from thence became a student of Lincoln's-Inn, being a wild and extravagant youth till about the thirty-fifth year of his age, when he quitted his irregular life, and became remarkably sober. In the year 1640, he was chosen representative in parliament for the town of Cambridge, and sat two years undistinguished in the house, as a mere country gentleman, appearing (says Sir Philip Warwick) in a plain cloth suit of clothes made by a country taylor, his linen not very clean, his band unfashionable, his hat without an hat band, and his sword close by his side; his countenance was swoln and reddish, his voice hoarse and untunable, but his elocution was full of fervor and warmth, and he was well heard in the house. His person somewhat exceeded the middle stature,* but was well proportioned, compact, and strong. He had a masculine countenance, a sparkling eye, a manly stern look,a vigorous constitution, and was an enemy to ease and excess; the motto upon his coat of arms was, pax quæritur bello.

*Sir John Reresby calls Cromwell, "one of the greatest and bravest men, had his cause been good, the world ever saw. His figure did not come up to his character; he was indeed a likely person, but not handsome, nor had he a very bold look with him. He was plain in his apparel, and rather negligent than not. Tears he had at will, and was doubtless the greatest dissembler on earth." Memoirs, p. 2. Since Mr. Neal wrote, various historians have reviewed the actions and character of Cromwell. Amongst whom the faithful and judicious Dr. Harris deserves particular mention. The candid and copious account of this extraordinary man, in the first edition of the "Biographia Britannica," has been enriched with new and curious matter by the learned and accurate pen, which has conducted the second edition. The history of the Cromwell family has been accurately investigated by Mr. Noble, in his "Memoirs of the Protectoral House of Cromwell:" not to mention other writers, who have elucidated this subject. To other particulars, with which Dr. Kippis has improved the artiele Cromwell, in the Biogr. Britan. is added an ample exhibition of the characters of him, drawn by foreigners and natives. Ed.

Upon the breaking out of the civil war he took arms for the parliament, and though he was forty-three years of age before he drew a sword, he soon became colonel of a regi ment of chosen men, who declared they fought not for gain, but for the cause of religion and liberty. He always went to prayer before battle, and returned solemn thanks for his success afterwards. He was careful to promote an exact discipline in the army, and would not have pardoned his own brother, (says my author*) if he had found him plun dering the country people. The army had not an officer who faced danger with greater intrepidity, or more eagerly sought occasions to distinguish his personal valor. He had a great presence of mind in the heat of action, and taught his soldiers to fight in a more desperate manner than usual, not allowing them to discharge their musquets, till they were so near the enemy as to be sure of doing execution. His reputation rose so fast, that he quickly became a major-general, then lieutenant-general under Fairfax, and at last supplanted him. His troops believed themselves invincible. under his conduct; he never lost a battle where he had the chief command. The victory of Marston-Moor was chiefly ascribed to his valor. The reduction of Ireland in less than a year made him the terror of his enemies; and the battles of Dunbar and Worcester completed his martial glory.

How far his usurping the protectorship of the three nations, without the previous consent of a free parliament, was the result of ambition or necessity, has been considered already; but if we view him as a statesman, he was an able politician, a steady resolute governor; and though he had more numerous and powerful enemies than any man of the age, he was never intimidated, having a peculiar art of keeping men quiet, and giving them by turns hopes of his favor. He had a wonderful knowledge of mankind, and an inimitable sagacity and penetration. If there was a man in England who excelled in any faculty or science, he would find him out, and reward him according to his merit. In nothing was his good understanding better discovered (says bishop Burnet) than in seeking out able and worthy men for all employments, which gave a general satisfaction. * Carrington's Life of Cromwell, p. 243. Welwood's Mem. p. 104. VOL. IV.

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By these methods, in the space of four or five years, he carried the reputation and glory of the English nation as high as it was capable of being raised. He was equally dreaded by France, Spain, and the United Provinces, who condescended to servile compliances, to obtain his friendship; Charles Gustavus, king of Sweden, thought himself honored by his alliance; and cardinal Mazarine said, that nothing but the king of France's having the small-pox could have hindered him from coming over to England, that he might have the honor of waiting on one of the great

est men..

The protector had an uncommon command of his passions, and knew how to behave in character upon all occasions; though in private life he would be jocose and merry with his inferiors; yet no prince was more jealous of his dignity on public occasions. His ambassadors in foreign courts had all the respects paid them that our kings ever had. All Europe trembled at his name! And though he could converse with no foreigners but in broken Latin, yet no man ever had better intelligence, nor understood the views and interests of the several courts of Europe better than himself. He had spies at Madrid and Paris, and was so happy as to fix upon persons who never failed him. Mr. Algernon Sydney, who was not inclined to think or speak well of kings, commended him to bishop Burnet, as one who had just notions of public liberty; and though he made some severe and cruel laws against the episcopal clergy, it was not for their religion, but because they were open and declared enemies to his person and government.

1

The protector was a protestant, but affected to go under no denomination or party: He had chaplains of all persuasions; and though he was by principle an independent, he esteemed all reformed churches as part of the catholie church; and without aiming to establish any tenets by force or violence, he witnessed, on all occasions, an extreme zeal for the protestant religion, and a just regard for liberty of conscience.

As to his moral character, his greatest enemies have not charged him with any public vices. Dr. Welwood admits, that he was not addicted to swearing, gluttony, drunkenness, gaming, avarice, or the love of women, but kept close