A.D. 1657. belonging, (into which office he was inaugurated

Bishop Burnet's mistakes corrected.

with great solemnity the 26th day of June 1657); and he was also thereby empowered to declare and appoint who should succeed him in that office after his death.

It is apparent, from the exclusion of Sir Anthony from the parliament, and from the attempt that was immediately afterwards made by the remainder of the commons to place Cromwell upon the throne, that there can be no foundation for what Bishop Burnet says of Sir Anthony, "that he advised Cromwell to take the kingship." The excluded members were of course those who Cromwell thought would oppose this last flight of his ambition; and although the bishop says that Sir Anthony gave the advice with a design to destroy him, yet this does not make his story more probable, for, as this design must have been unknown to Cromwell, he would not surely have excluded the man who gave him the advice, and who, by his abilities and power of speaking, might have contributed greatly to the success of his project.

It is very probable, likewise, that if Sir Anthony had made such a proposal to Cromwell, Cromwell

would, in return, have made him one of his newly A.D. 1657. created house of peers; for, though many of them were men of low extraction, education, and capacities, yet, to give a dignity to the body, he added several of the old lords and gentlemen of the greatest fortunes and character. Now, as Sir Anthony was distinguished for both, Cromwellwould not have omitted him; though, at the same time, it may reasonably be believed, from his conduct in other respects, that if Sir Anthony had been nominated, he would have disdained a seat amongst them.

There appears as little foundation for another story of the bishop's; that Sir Anthony pretended that Cromwell offered to make him king. Cromwell was too fond of power, and too wise, to make a proposal of this nature in earnest to a man of spirit and understanding; and there is as little probability that he would make the proposal in jest to a person so conspicuous for his penetration. That Cromwell ever seriously made such an offer is beyond the bounds of probability, and it is scarcely less improbable, that a man of Sir Anthony's acknowledged sense should expose himself to ridicule by indulging in what every one must have discovered

A.D. 1657. to be an absurd boast.42

A.D. 1658.

Cromwell's

character.

For this assertion the

bishop does not quote any authority; and it is surprising that neither Mr. Locke nor Mr. Stringer (who have both left some account of Lord Shaftesbury) should have taken the least notice of so extraordinary a circumstance, especially if what the bishop says of him be true, viz. “that he had such an extravagant vanity in setting himself out, as made him very disagreeable:" which observation, likewise, does not seem consistent with the other parts of his character.

On the 3rd of September 1658, Oliver Cromwell death and died, and soon after him died that power which his vigour alone had supported. He had an active courage, an extensive mind, and an unbounded ambition. He was sagacious in forming, artful in conducting, and steady in executing his schemes. To a profound dissimulation, he added an extraordinary knowledge of mankind. He was zealous

42 It does appear that Burnet has drawn the character of Shaftesbury somewhat unfairly." The bishop for some time enjoyed his intimacy; and the earl, who was ambitious of shining in conversation, often made remarks which were rather brilliant than judicious. From these light sallies of an unguarded moment Burnet seems to have sketched those darker features which predominate in his portrait of his former friend.

for the honour of England abroad, where he raised A.D. 1658. it to a great height; but an enemy to her liberties

at home, where he entirely depressed them. He sought out and employed men of abilities, as the sinews of his government. Having acquired this by art and by the sword, he maintained it by the same means, and broke through the laws wherever they interfered with his will. To his power all his views were directed, all his principles were sacrificed, all his passions were subservient; and to this were the three kingdoms, at length, entirely subjected.

Richard Cromwell succeeds his father.

Sir Anthony's views.

CHAPTER VI.

The conduct of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper in public affairs from the death of Oliver Cromwell to the Restoration; and a particular account of the concern which he had in bringing about that event.

A.D. 1658. OLIVER CROMWELL left the protectorship to his son Richard, who, being destitute of his father's abilities, could not long support it. The consequence of this was, that the government fell into great confusions, and in a short time underwent a variety of changes. In the midst of these, every man who was a wellwisher to the royal family conceived hopes of the Restoration; and Sir Anthony, always watchful for advantages, and ever active to improve them, was in many consultations with those who had the greatest power and interest to bring it about: and, as he had always kept this in his view, it will appear that he was the principal person by whom it was effected. He thought that to divide the counsels of the government in being would be the surest method of destroying it, and of opening the door to a