BOOK addressed himself most to the soldiers; told them,

1654.

66

XIV. "how unworthily they prostituted themselves to "serve the ambition of an unworthy tyrant;" and conjured them "to forsake him, and to serve the king; which, he was sure, they would at last do." And so having devoutly recommended the king, and the kingdom, and himself, to God in very pious prayers, he ended his life with as much Christian resolution, as can be expected from the most composed conscience.

Mr. Gerard beheaded

hill in the

afternoon

of the same

day.

The protector was prevailed with to shew more on Tower- respect to Mr. Gerard in causing him to be beheaded, who was brought the afternoon of the same day to a scaffold upon the Tower-hill. But they were so ill pleased with the behaviour of him who suffered in the morning, that they would not permit the other to speak to the people, but pressed him to discover all the secrets of the plot and conspiracy. He told them, "that if he had a hundred lives, he would "lose them all to do the king any service; and was "now willing to die upon that suspicion; but that "he was very innocent of what was charged against "him; that he had not entered into or consented to

The same day and

66

any plot or conspiracy, nor given any countenance "to any discourse to that purpose;" and offered again to speak to the people, and to magnify the king: upon which they would not suffer him to proceed; and thereupon, with great and undaunted courage, he laid down his head upon the block.

The same day was concluded with a very exemplace the plary piece of justice, and of a very different nature Portugal from the other two. The ambassador of Portugal

ambassa

ther be

dor's bro- had a very splendid equipage, and in his company his brother don Pantaleon Sa, a knight of Malta,

headed.

XIV.

and a man eminent in many great actions; who out BOOK of curiosity accompanied his brother in this embassy, that he might see England. This gentleman was of 1654. a haughty and imperious nature; and one day being in the new exchange, upon a sudden accident and mistake, had a quarrel with that Mr. Gerard, whom we now left without his head; who had then returned some negligence and contempt to the rhodomontadoes of the Portuguese, and had left him sensible of receiving some affront. Whereupon the don repaired thither again the next day, with many servants, better armed, and provided for any encounter, imagining he should there find his former adversary, who did not expect that visit. But the Portuguese not distinguishing persons, and finding many gentlemen walking there, and, amongst the rest, one he believed very like the other, he thought he was not to lose the occasion, and entered into a new quarrel; in which a gentleman utterly unacquainted with what had formerly passed, and walking there accidentally, was killed, and others hurt; upon which, the people rising from all the neighbour places, don Pantaleon thought fit to make his retreat to his brother's house; which he did, and caused the gates to be locked, and put all the servants in arms to defend the house against the people; which had pursued him, and flocked now together from all parts to apprehend those who had caused the disorder, and had killed a gentleman.

The ambassador knew nothing of the affair, but looked upon himself as affronted, and assaulted by a rude multitude; and took care to defend his house till the justice should allay the tumult. Cromwell was quickly advertised of the insolence, and sent an

*

4

BOOK officer with soldiers to demand and seize upon all XIV. the persons who had been engaged in the action : 1654. and so the ambassador came to be informed of the

truth of the story, with which he was exceedingly afflicted and astonished. The officer demanded the person of his brother, who was well known, and the rest of those who were present, to be delivered to him, without which he would break open the house, and find them wherever they were concealed. The ambassador demanded the privilege that was due to his house by the law of nations, and which he would defend against any violence with his own life, and the lives of all his family; but finding the officer resolute, and that he should be too weak in the encounter, he desired respite till he might send to the protector; which was granted to him. He complained of the injury that was done him, and desired an audience. Cromwell sent him word, "that a "gentleman had been murdered, and many others "hurt; and that justice must be satisfied; and "therefore required that all the persons engaged

66

might be delivered into the hands of his officer; "without which, if he should withdraw the soldiers, "and desist the requiring it, the people would pull "down the house, and execute justice themselves; "of which he would not answer for the effect. "When this was done, he should have an audience, "and all the satisfaction it was in his power to

give." The ambassador desired, "that his brother, "and the rest, might remain in his house, and he "would be responsible, and produce them before "the justice as the time should be assigned." But nothing would serve but the delivery of the persons, and the people increased their cry, "that they

XIV.

1654.

"would pull down the house." Whereupon the BOOK ambassador was compelled to deliver up his brother, and the rest of the persons; who were all sent prisoners to Newgate. The ambassador used all the instances he could for his brother, being willing to leave the rest to the mercy of the law; but could receive no other answer but "that justice must be "done;" and justice was done to the full; for they were all brought to their trial at the sessions at Newgate, and there so many of them condemned to be hanged as were found guilty. The rest of those who were condemned were executed at Tyburn ; and don Pantaleon himself was brought to the scaffold on Tower-hill, as soon as Mr. Gerard was executed; where he lost his head with less grace than his antagonist had done.

tion of the

his neigh

Though the protector had nothing now to do but The condiat home, Holland having accepted peace upon his protector in own terms, Portugal bought it at a full price, and respect of upon an humble submission, Denmark being con- bours. tented with such an alliance as he was pleased to make with them, and France and Spain contending, by their ambassadors, which should render themselves most acceptable to him; Scotland lying un-The state der a heavy yoke by the strict government of under him. Monk, who after the peace with the Dutch was sent back to govern that province, which was reduced under the government of the English laws, and their kirk, and kirkmen, entirely subdued to the obedience of the state with reference to assemblies, or synods; Ireland being confessedly subdued, Of Ireland. and no opposition made to the protector's com

k

of Scotland

k strict] severe VOL. VII.

' with] without

D

BOOK mands; so that commissions were sent to divide all

1654.

XIV. the lands which had belonged to the Irish, or to those English who had adhered to the king, amongst those adventurers who had supplied money for the war, and the soldiers and officers; who were in great arrears for their pay, and who received liberal assignations in lands; one whole province being reserved for the Irish to be confined to m; and all these divisions made under the government of his younger son, Harry Cromwell, whom he sent thither as his lieutenant of that kingdom; who lived in the full grandeur of the office: notwithstanding all this, England proved not yet so towardly as he Disputes expected. Vane, and the most considerable men of own party; the independent party, from the time he had turned

among his

Especially the levellers.

them out of the parliament, and so dissolved it, retired quietly to their houses in the country; poisoned the affections of their neighbours towards the government; and lost nothing of their credit with the people; yet carried themselves so warily, that they did nothing to disturb the peace of the nation, or to give Cromwell any advantage against them upon which to call them in question.

There were another less wary, because a more desperate party, which were the levellers; many whereof had been the most active agitators in the army, who had executed his orders and designs in incensing the army against the parliament, and had been at that time his sole confidents and bedfellows; who, from the time that he assumed the title of protector, which to them was as odious as that of king, professed a mortal hatred to his person; and

m for the Irish to be confined to] for a demesne for the protector