XI 1655. 66 BOOK "committed;" and telling them "that all true born Englishmen were obliged to oppose this tyranny, " as he had done purely for their sakes, and that he had done it only for their sakes, and to preserve "them from being slaves, contrary to his own pro"fit and worldly interest:" he told them "how "much he had been in Cromwell's friendship: that "he might have received any benefit or preferment "from him, if he would have sat still, and seen his country enslaved; which because he would not "do, he was brought hither to have his life taken "from him by their judgment; which he appre"hended not:" he defended himself with that vigour, and charmed the jury so powerfully, that, against all the direction and charge the judges could give them, (who assured them, "that the words "and actions fully proved against the prisoner, "were high treason by the law; and that they were "bound, by all the obligation of conscience, to find "him guilty,”) after no long consultation between themselves, they returned with their verdict, “ that "he was not guilty:" nor could they be persuaded by the judges to change or recede from their verdict d: which infinitely enraged and perplexed Cromwell; who looked upon it as a greater defeat than the loss of a battle would have been. And though Lilburn was thus acquitted in the year 1653, yet Cromwell would never suffer him to be set at liberty, as by the law he ought to have been, but sent him from prison to prison, and kept him enclosed there till he himself died. These two instances of persons not otherwise considerable are thought per d verdict] judgment e Cromwell] the protector 66 acquitted in the year 1653, yet Cromwell] Not in MS. XIV. tinent to be inserted, as an evidence of the temper BOOK of the nation; and how far the spirits of that time were from paying a submission to that power, when nobody had the courage to lift up their hands against it. condition treaty with Whatever uneasiness and perplexity Cromwell The king's found in his condition at home, the king found no abroad. benefit from it abroad, or from the friendship or the indignation of other princes; they had all the same terrible apprehension of Cromwell's power as if he had been landed with an army in any of their dominions, and looked upon the king's condition as desperate, and not to be supported. The treaty be- Cromwell's tween France and England proceeded very fast; France. and every day produced fresh evidence of the good intelligence between Cromwell and the cardinal. The ships and prisoners which had been taken when they went to relieve Dunkirk, and by the taking whereof Dunkirk had been lost, were now restored, and set at liberty; and such mutual offices performed between them, as, with frequent evidences of aversion from the king and his interest, made it very manifest to his majesty, that his residence would not be suffered to continue longer in France, after the alliance should be published with Cromwell; which was not yet perfected, by the cardinal's blushing to consent to some propositions, without which the other's fast friendship was not to be obtained; and he was not willing that modesty should be conquered at once, though every body knew it would quickly be prostituted. There could be no doubt but that the king was heartily weary of being in a place where he was so ill treated; where he lived so uncomfortably, and BOOK from whence he foresaw that he should soon be XIV. driven. But as he had no money to enable him to 1655. The king remove, or to pay the debts he owed there, so he thinks of knew not to what place to repair, where he might find a civil reception. Holland was bound not to France; but admit him into their dominions, and by their ex retreating out of whither? was the question. ample had shewed other princes and states, what conditions they must submit to who would be allies to Cromwell. The king of Spain was at the same time contending with France for Cromwell's friendship, and thought he had some advantage with him by the residence his majesty had in France: so there could be no thought of repairing into Flanders, and that he could be admitted to stay there. The protestants, in most places, expressed much more inclination to his rebels than to him. The Roman catholics looked upon him as in so desperate a condition, that he would in a short time be necessitated to throw himself into their arms by changing his religion, without which they generally declared, "they would never give him the least assistance." In this distress, his majesty resumed the considerations he had formerly entered upon, of sending to the diet; which was summoned by the emperor to meet shortly at Ratisbon, to make choice of a king of the Romans. And Germany being then in peace, the emperor made little doubt of finding a concurrence in the choice of the king of Hungary his eldest son to be made king of the Romans, and thereby to be sure to succeed him in the empire. Our king had long designed to send the lord Wilmot on that errand, to try what the emperor, and most] all h they generally] they all XIV. princes of Germany, would do, in such a conjunc- BOOK ture, towards the uniting all other princes with themselves, in undertaking a quarrel they were all 1655. concerned in, to restore a prince so injured and oppressed by so odious a rebellion; and in the mean time, of which there appeared to be more hope, what contribution they would make towards his support; and likewise, upon this occasion, what fit place might be found, in the nearest parts of Germany, for the king to repair to; where he might attend his better destiny. It was most suitable to the occasion, and the necessity of the king's condition, that this affair should be despatched in as private a way as was possible, and with as little expense, it being impossible to send an ambassador in such an equipage, as, at such an illustrious convention of all the princes of the empire, was necessary. Wilmot pressed very much for that character, that he might the more easily accomplish his being made an earl; for which he had obtained the king's promise in a fit season. And he took great pains to persuade the king, "that this was a proper season, and very much for "the advancement of his service: but, that if he "had the title of an earl, which would be looked “upon as a high qualification, he would not assume "the character of ambassador, though he would carry such a commission with him, but make all "his negociations as a private envoy;" of which he promised the king wonderful effects, and pretended to have great assurance of money, and of making levies of men for any expedition. The king, rather to comply with the general expectation, and to do all that was in his power to do, than out of any XIV. BOOK hope of notable advantage from this agitation, was contented to make him earl of Rochester; and gave 1655. him all such commissions and credentials, as were The king mot earl of Rochester; him to the diet at Ratisbon. makes Wil- necessary for the employment; and sent him from Paris in the Christmas time, that he might be at and sends Ratisbon at the meeting of the diet, which was to be in the beginning of April following; means having been found to procure so much money as was necessary for that journey, out of the assignment that had been made to the king for his support: of which there was a great arrear due, and which the cardinal caused at this time to be supplied, because he looked upon this sending to Ratisbon as a preparatory for the king's own remove. The affairs of Scotland Though Scotland was vanquished, and subdued, at this time. to that degree, that there was no place nor person who made the least shew of opposing Cromwell; who, by the administration of Monk, made the yoke very grievous to the whole nation; yet the preachers kept their pulpit licence; and, more for the affront that was offered to presbytery, than the conscience of what was due to majesty, many of them presumed to pray for the king; and generally, though secretly, exasperated the minds of the people against the present government. The Highlanders, by the advantage of their situation, and the hardiness of that people, made frequent incursions in the night into the English quarters; and killed many of their soldiers, but stole more of their horses where there was most appearance of peace and subjection, if the soldiers straggled in the night, or went single in the day, they were usually knocked i and |