enfis, 8vo. P. 182.

courfe of the war he gave full proof of his bravery and good conduct: at Marfion-Moor he turned the fortune of the day, and thereby

below (as himself confeffed) to gather what strength he could to ftop all paffages that no plate might be fent: but his defigns being fruftrated, and his opinion as of an active fubtile man, thereby fomewhat 'fhaken and endangered, he hath ever fince bent himfelf to work what revenge and mifchief he could < against us. In purfuit whereof, before that month was expired, down he comes again in a terrible manner with what forces he could draw together, and • furrounds divers colleges, while we were at our de<votion in our several chappels, taking away prisoners, (Querela feveral doctors of divinity, heads of colleges, Cantabrigiand these he carries with him to London in triumph (d).' This ftory is repeated by the editor of Dr. Barwick's Lond. 1685. life, but by the extract from the journals, in the foregoing note, it appears that his defign of ftopping the plate intended for the King was not fruftrated, and therefore the former part of the ftory must be without foundation. May writes, that the first action Crom• well undertook was to fecure the town of Cambridge for the parliament, about the middle of January. • Universities of all places were moft apt to adhere to the King's party, efteeming parliaments, and efpecially this, the greateft depreffors of that ecclefiaftical dignity, in hope of which they are there nurtured: • Upon which reason they were packing up a large quantity of the plate that belonged to all the colleges, to fend it away to the King, which would have made a ⚫ confiderable fum. This was foreseen by Cromwell; who by a commiffion from the parliament, and lord general Effex, had raised a troop of horfe, and came (e) Hiftory down into that country, with authority to raise more forces as occafion ferved; he came to Cambridge foon ⚫ enough to feize upon that plate (e).'-What the quanFolio. Lond. tity of plate in the whole was, which was packed up $647.

of the Par

liament, b.

iii. p. 79.

for

by obtained great honour to himself, and advantage to his masters. His courage notwithstanding has been called in question (s):

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P. 24. 8vo.

for the King, appears not: but the particular pieces fent from St. John's college for the purpose, amounted (f) Barto two thousand fixty five ounces and three fourths (f). wick's Life, So that probably the whole was a good booty. But Lond. 1724. Cromwell feldom did things by halves. • Whilst I was ' about Huntington, vifiting old Sir Oliver Cromwell, his uncle and godfather, at his houfe at Ramfey, he told me this ftory of his fuccefsful nephew and godfon; that he vifited him with a good ftrong party of ' horse, and that he had asked him his bleffing, and 'that the few hours he was there, he would not keep on his hat in his prefence; but at the fame time, he

not only disarmed, but plundered him: for he took (g) WarC away all his plate (g).' This was in character: the wick, p. uncle was treated with proper refpect; the cavalier 251. prevented from doing mifchief! Cromwell well undertood his duty.

(s) His courage however has been called in question.] It has been observed that there is no opinion fo abfurd as not to have been embraced by fome men. The imputation of cowardice to Cromwell would not eafily have been thought on, by thofe who had feen or heard of his exploits. But prejudice works wonders, and in a trice levels or exalts characters in the eyes of even wise and understanding men. Lord Holles was undoubtedly of this number; but being oppofed and oppreffed by Cromwell and his party, he could fee nothing to admire, but every thing to blame in him. He engaged in a ' particular oppofition to Cromwell, fays Burnet, in the time of the war: they hated one another equally. "Holles feemed to carry this too far, for he would not allow Cromwell to have been either wife or brave; but often applied Solomon's obfervation to him, that the battle was not to the ftrong, nor favour to the man of understanding, but that time and chance happened

I have no need to fay, without reafon.His fuccefs procured him friends and reputation;

to all men (h). A fine way of levelling the acts of heroes!-But let us hear Holles himself. • However lieutenant general Cromwell had the impudence and boldness to affume much of the honor of it [the victory at Marston Moor, in July, 1644] to himself, or rather, Herod like, to fuffer others to magnify and 'adore him for it (for I can scarce believe he should be fo impudent to give it out himself, fo confcious as he • must be of his own bafe cowardlinefs) those who did • the principal service that day, were major general Lefly, who commanded the Scots horfe, major general Crawford, who was major general to the Earl of Manchefter's brigade, and Sir Thomas Fairfax, who, under his father, commanded the northern brigade. But my ⚫ friend Cromwell had neither part nor lott in the bufinefs: for I have feveral times heard it from Crawford's own mouth (and I think I fhall not be mistaken if I fay Cromwell himself has heard it from him; for he once faid it aloud in Westminster Hall, when Grom⚫ well paffed by him, with a defign he might hear him) that when the whole army at Marston-Moor was in a fair poffibility to be utterly routed, and a great part of it running, he faw the body of horfe of that brigade standing still, and to his feeming doubtful which way to charge backward or forward, when he came up to them in a great paffion, reviling them with the names of poltroons and cowards, and afked them if they would ftand ftill and fee the day loft? Whereupon • Cromwell thewed himself, and in a pitiful voice faid, Major general, what shall I do? He (begging pardon for what he faid, not knowing he was there, towards < whom he knew his diftance as to his fuperior officer) told him, Sir, if you charge not, all is loft; Gromwell answered he was wounded, and was not able to charge (his great wound being a little burn in the neck by the accidental going off behind him of one

· of

tation; but at the fame time it was attended

• of his foldier's pistols) then Crawford defired him to go off the field, and fending one away with him (who very readily followed wholfome advice) led them on himself, which was not the duty of his place, and as little for Cromwell's honor, as it proved to be much ⚫ for the advancement of his and parties pernicious defigns. This I have but by relation, yet I eafily believe it upon the credit of the reporter, who was a man of honor, that was not afhamed or afraid to publifh it in all places. Befides I have heard a parallel • ftory of his valour from another perfon [colonel Dalbier] not inferiour, neither in quality nor reputation, to major general Crawford, who told me, that when Bafing Houfe was ftormed, Cromwell, instead of leading on his men, stood a good distance off, out of gun'fhot, behind a hedge. And fomething I can deliver of him upon my own knowledge, which makes paffage for the easier belief of both these relations, and affures me that that man is as errand a coward, as he is notoriously perfidious, ambitious, and hypocritical. This was his base keeping out of the field at Keinton battle; where he with his troop of horse came not in, impudently and ridiculously affirming, the day after, that he had been all that day feeking the army and place of fight, though his quarters were but at a village near hand, whence he could not find his C way, nor be directed by his ear, when the ordnance was heard, as I have been credibly informed, 20 or 30 miles off; fo that certainly he is far from the man he is taken for (i).' Mr. Walpole, referring to this paffage, fays from the extream good fenfe of his lord- 15, & feq. hip's fpeeches and letters, one fhould not have ex- 8vo. Lond. pected that weak attempt to blaft Cromwell for a coward. How a judicatory in the temple of fame (k) Catawould laugh at fuch witneffes as major general Craw- logue of royford and a colonel Dalbier! Cæfar and Cromwell are al and noble not amenable to a commiffion of oyer and terminer (k).' vol. ii. p. 32.

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(i) Holles's Memoirs, P

1699.

› Authors,

with the envy and hatred (T) of very

power

(T) His fuccefs was attended with the envy and hatred of very powerful perfons.] The following paffages will enable the reader to understand this. • Colonel Crom

well being made lieutenant general of the earl of • Manchester's army, gave great fatisfaction to the com'mons touching the bufinefs of Dennington castle, and feemed (but cautiously enough) to lay more blame on the officers of the lord general's army, than upon any other. And the point of priviledge was debated touching the lords tranfmitting of a charge from them, be'fore it was brought up to them. This reflected upon lieutenant general Cromwell, of whom the lord ge'neral now began to have fome jealoufies, and was advised to put to his ftrength to rid Cromwell out of the < way, and the means to be used to effect this, was < fuppofed to be by the Scots commiffioners, who were not well pleased with Cromwell upon fome words which he had fpoken (as they apprehended) derogatory 6 to the honor of their nation. One evening very late, • Maynard and I were fent for by the lord general to Effex-houfe, and there was no excufe to be admitted, C nor did we know beforehand the occafion of our being fent for: when we came to Effex-house, we were brought to the lord general, and with him were the Scots commiffioners, Mr. Hollis, Sir Philip Stapylton, Sir John Meyrick, and divers o hers of his fpecial ⚫ friends. After compliments, and that all were fet ' down in council, the lord general, in general terms having mentioned his having sent for them on important business, defired the lord chancellor of Scotland to enter into the detail, which he did in the following manner: Mafter Maynard and mafter Whitlock, I can affure you of the great opinion both my bre'thren and myself have of your worth and abilities, elfe we should not have defired this meeting with you, and fince it is his Excellency's pleafure that I fhould acquaint you with the matter upon whilke your coun

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