CHAPTER VI.

FROM CROMWELL'S JUNCTION WITH THE REPUBLICANS TO HIS FINAL CONCURRENCE WITH THE KING'S TRIAL.

Cromwell's Irresolution to proceed against the Life of Charles -Procures Meetings of the Religious and Political Leaders -His singular Conduct at the Latter-His Character of Charles, given in the House-Insurrections of the Royal Party-Cromwell sent into Wales-New Invasion of the Scots-The Presbyterians' Intolerance in their Treaty with Charles-The King's Final Division from that Sect-Cromwell Marches to meet the Scots-Huntington's Conspiracy against him-The Victory at Preston-Cromwell Pursues his route to Edinburgh-Honors paid him in that CityThe Soldiers again seize the King, and insist upon his Trial-Enter London, and Displace many of the Members -Cromwell's Return from Scotland---Consideration of his asserted Ignorance of the late Proceedings in LondonMeetings with Whitelock and others-His Final Concurrence with the purposed Trial of the King-Reflections on his Conduct.

BUT, whether led by any portion of that native tenderness of disposition, which, notwithstanding the nearly universal disbelief in its existence, he certainly did sometimes suffer to break the stern severity of his usual public conduct, and to which he permitted un

restrained play in private and domestic lifeor whether his late frequent intercourse with Charles, by softening down the harsh resolves of the warrior into pity for the condition of a fallen and imprisoned King, had rendered him more susceptible of those native amiabilities of character, that shone through all the faults and weaknesses of the monarch-Cromwell, though he at length willingly concurred in the destruction of the kingly power, was still irresolute to join in a deliberate design against the life of its rightful possessor. Still, common probability pointed to such a tragic conclusion of the Trial, which was now purposed, of a sovereign by his subjects; yet, still the wish would linger in his bosom to prevent it. Confused, perplexed, by his meditations upon the impending fate of the monarch-upon the destinies awaiting the Parliament, the opposed religious and political factions, his own particular party, and himself— he, possibly, saw difficulties surrounding his every future step, with but little prospect of elevating himself above his present military post. Prompted, therefore, by all his conflicting feelings, as the once acknowledged subject of a King, who had avowed a future intention against his life, but whose own life he had the magnanimity even yet to wish to preserve; by all his ardours as a religious professor, anxious for the welfare of an enlightened and liberally

disposed sect; by the still lurking ambition of the military partizan; by his patriotism, as a member of the commonwealth, upon whose conduct the nation's interests might so essentially depend; and, more than all perhaps, guided by his ardent desire to pierce the views of the different parties, to read the very souls of their chiefs ;-the Lieutenant-general, about this time, procured assemblies to be held, first of the religious, and next of the political leaders; with sincere wishes, very probably, directed to his expressed object, their reconciliation for the public good; but with as strong ones, doubtless, to his own developement of their secret aims.

At the former of these meetings, Ludlow says, he found it a work too difficult for him, to compose the differences between the two ecclesiastical sects; one of whom (the Independent) would endure no superior, the other (the Presbyterian) no equal. At the latter, which he styles a Conference between the Grandees. of the House and Army and the Commonwealth's-men,' he tells us that the Grandees, of whom Lieutenant-general Cromwell was the head, kept themselves in the clouds, and would not declare their judgments either for a monarchical, aristocratical, or democratical government; maintaining that either of them might be good in themselves, or for them, according

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as Providence should direct them-the Commonwealth's-men declared that monarchy was neither good in itself, nor for them-Cromwell professed himself unresolved :' &c. In conclusion, the Lieutenant-general most oddly broke up the conference, having learned what he could of the principles and inclinations of those present,' by-taking up a cushion, and throwing it at Ludlow's head!-and then ran down the stairs but I,' says Ludlow, overtook him with another, which made him hasten down faster than he desired.' The acutest metaphysician might vainly seek to trace any association between the thoughts that prompted to this action, and those likely to be suggested by debates on a subject, the most important which could fall under the discussion of human creatures.'* But thus much may be plausibly inferred-that the man, who could in this manner dissolve a meeting he had himself procured, of the greatest and wisest in a nation, must feel some irrepressible consciousness of the superiority of his own mind, even to all those that with so much pains had just been bared before him; or else that some incidental word had suddenly relieved his spirits from the weight by which they had been lately overborne; or that his fancy was as suddenly irradiated by some col

* Hume.

loquial flash, for one gay delirious moment that up the vista to his future greatness.*

lit

The King, being kept in close confinement in Carisbrooke Castle, and become hopeless of finding an instrument to his restoration in the Army, now endeavoured to set on foot a new treaty with the Parliament. But that body, at length entirely delivered over to the military authority, replied by requiring preliminaries to negotiation, which, however desirable, to

* It was truly said by one of his contemporaries, that "Oliver loved an innocent jest." And with this subject may be connected his physician Bates's mention of the farcical tricks he would sometimes play off upon his soldiers. Often, he tells us, would he make feasts for the inferior officers, and while they were intent upon their meal, and before they had near satisfied their hunger, cause the drums to beat, as a signal for the private men to fall on and snatch away the half-eaten dishes. At other times, he would incite the bluff and sturdy veterans to throw hot coals into their comrades' boots, or set them to flinging cushions (which therefore appears to have been a favourite sport with him) at each others' heads. Then,' continues Bates, when the officers had sufficiently laughed, and tired themselves, with these preludes, he would wheedle them to open their hearts freely; and, by that means, he sometimes drew secrets from the unwary, which afterwards they might wish to have been enwrapped in everlasting darkness; whilst he, though ever thus on the alert to discover the opinions of others, never failed effectually to conceal his own.' -Cowley also asserts, that he would fling cushions, or divert himself at snow-balls, even with his menial servants.