Charles II. (even after this cruelty to his faithful servant) consented to go to Scotland and take the covenant, which promise he was compelled to fulfil, before he was suffered to land. An army was now ready to invade England, but Cromwell forestalled it by entering Scotland by the eastern shore of the Firth of Forth. The English reached Edinburgh unopposed; but the country through which they passed had been laid waste, so that they were obliged to be fed on the march from their ships, which followed them along the coast. The Scots resolved to harass the enemy without coming to an engagement, trusting to their climate to fight for them if they could manage to detain the English in the field till winter. They nearly succeeded; for the army of Cromwell was sorely tried by hard duty, scarcity of provisions, and bad weather. The soldiers grew sickly, their number daily diminished, and they were compelled to retreat to Dunbar to obtain supplies from their fleet. Return to England seemed imperative; but general Leslie and the army of the covenanters had taken post between Dunbar and Berwick, and possessed themselves of all the passes.

The position of the English seemed desperate. Contrary winds had prevented the arrival of the ships with provisions at Dunbar, and Cromwell's twelve thousand anen-he had lost (sick and dead) four thousand-had scarcely a mouthful of food, while Leslie, well provided, girt them round with twenty-seven thousand men.

The madness of the Presbyterian preachers saved Cromwell. They had driven the young prince Charles from the camp, lest he should make the soldiers "malignants." They now pretended to revelations from God; declared that the English were given into their hands; and forced their general, against all his remonstrances, to descend into the plain and attack the enemy.

Cromwell as he perceived them descending the hills, cried joyously, "The Lord hath delivered them into my hand!" But still the battle did not join till the next day, when the Scots were utterly defeated, with the tremendous loss of four thousand slain, and ten thousand prisoners. Cromwell marched next to Edinburgh, which opened its gates to him, as did Glasgow, and the whole of the south of Scotland submitted to the English general.

Charles, not discouraged, however, collected another army, and took up a strong position at Stirling. Cromwell then crossed the Forth and sat down before Perth, in order to prevent the highlanders from sending men or provisions to the king. But the young prince took a bold resolution, and marched straight into England, expecting that the English royalists would join him. But he was disappointed; his movements had been too sudden and unexpected, and only a few cavaliers joined his army, while the Scots fell from him in great numbers, terrified at the danger of the enterprise. Charles arrived, however, safely, at Worcester; but Cromwell, who had instantly left Scotland in pursuit of him, arrived there shortly afterwards with a force greatly superior to the king's, and a battle was fought between the parliament and the Scots royal forces. The royalists, after a gallant contest, were defeated, and slain in great numbers. Charles, escaping with difficulty, had to fly for his life. It is said he showed great courage in the engagement; certainly he displayed both presence of mind and ingenuity in his escape; yet, had it not been for the devoted loyalty and incorruptible fidelity of his followers, he must have been taken by the pursuers. After a variety of romantic adventures, he reached Shoreham, in Sussex (disguised as a servant) about the middle of October, and crossed over to France in a collier.

On his return to England Cromwell was met near London by the speaker, the whole parliament, and an immense concourse of people, with congratulations and applause. The royal palace of Hampton Court was assigned to him, and, soon after, an estate in land worth £4000 a year was voted to him.

He had left Ireton to settle Ireland, and Monk in Scotland; and both countries were soon reduced to submission. Jersey, Guernsey, and Scilly were also brought under the sway of the parliament. The last to surrender was the Isle of Man, defended by the countess of Derby, who had the honour of being the last loyalist in the three kingdoms who submitted to the parliament. War with the Dutch in 1652 and 1653, was the next event. The contest was a severe one; but England was victorious in it, and Blake won his great victories over Van Tromp.

The time had now arrived when Oliver Cromwell found he could dare to act on his secret resolves; he was the more induced to take this decisive course by perceiving that the republicans in the house of commons had become jealous of him and of the army. They were now boasting of the fleet, and setting its value and glories in opposition to the army. They insisted on reducing the land forces, and ordered some regiments to serve on board the fleet in quality of marines. Cromwell summoned a council of officers, and persuaded them to vote a remonstrance to the parliament. After complaining of the arrears due to the army, they desired the parliament to reflect how many years it had sat, and suggested that, after so much danger and fatigue, it was time they should be relieved from the burden of affairs. They confessed that the commons had achieved great things, but it was an injury, they said, to the rest of the nation, to be excluded from bearing any part in the service and government of their country. It was now full time for them to give place to others; they therefore desired them, after settling a council who might execute the laws during the interval, to summon a new parliament, and establish the free and equal government they had so long promised to the people. The house, on receiving this petition, was highly offended. at the presumption of the army. They appointed a committee to prepare an act ordaining that all persons who presented such petitions for the future should be declared guilty of high treason. Meantime, on the 19th of April, there was a great meeting at Cromwell's lodgings in Whitehall of parliament men and officers, who were summoned to debate on "the circumstances in which they found themselves.” On the morrow another and smaller meeting was gathered there again, to determine "whether forty persons, of parliament men and officers, should be nominated by the parliament, and empowered to manage the affairs of the commonwealth till a new parliament should meet, and so the present parliament be dissolved." While they were debating this question, colonel Ingoldsby brought in the news that the commons had come to a resolution not to dissolve themselves, but to fill up the house by new elections. Just previously, Harrison had assured the council that the general sought only to pave the way for the government of Jesus and his saints. Major Streater replied that the general then must make haste, for, if he delayed till after Christmas, the place would be occupied. On hearing Ingoldsby's tidings, however, Cromwell made no more delay. He rose with seeming fury, and, turning to major Vernon, said that "he was obliged to do a thing, which made the very hair of his head stand on end." He then hastened to the house, attended by Lambert with three hundred soldiers, whom he left at the doors and in the lobby. He took his seat in the commons, and listened in silence to the discussion; but, when the speaker put the motion, he began a speech, telling the members that they were deniers of justice, openly profane men, who intended their own aggrandisement; who were planning at that very moment to bring in the Presbyterians. Sir Harry Vane remonstrated, and told him this was not parliamentary language. "I know it," cried Cromwell. Then he rushed from his seat, walked up and down the house, and reproached the members personally, pointing to those of whom he spoke. Vane and Henry Martin remonstrated. "I'll put an end to your prating," shouted Cromwell. "You are no parliament. Get you gone-give way to

honester men. The Lord has done with you. He has chosen other instruments for carrying on his work." And, stamping with his foot heavily on the floor, his musketeers rushed in. Pointing to the speaker, he bade Harrison, "Fetch him down"; but the speaker sat still and silent. Harrison then pulled his robe, and Lenthal yielded to force. Algernon Sidney-then a young member-sat near the speaker. "Put him out," cried Cromwell to Harrison. Harrison ordered Sidney to go. He refused, and sat still, till Cromwell again ordered him to be put out; when Harrison and Worsley laid their hands on his shoulders to force him. Sidney then rose, and went towards the door. Cromwell proceeded to the table where the mace lay, and pointing to it cried, "Take away that bauble." As the members withdrew he insulted them with the coarsest accusations; then, when the hall was cleared, he ordered the doors to be locked, and, putting the key in his pocket, returned to his lodgings. Thus did this singular man put an end to the famous Long Parliament, and the rebellion ended, as such convulsions usually do, in the arbitrary and despotic rule of a military dictator.

Oliver Cromwell was a man of good family, and inherited a small estate. He became known early as an enthusiastic Puritan and Independent. He was chosen member of parliament for Cambridge in the Long Parliament, but was not noticed in it as a popular speaker; in fact, he was for a time entirely overlooked. Only his kinsman, Hampden, perceived the depth of his genius, and foretold that, if a civil war should ensue, he would rise to the highest power. When the civil war did actually break out, this prophecy began to be fulfilled. This country gentlemanthen forty-three years of age-proved to be a first-rate soldier and general, and his real or assumed fanaticism gave him extraordinary influence over his enthusiastic troops, with whom he preached, prayed, and fought, giving them the sage advice to say their prayers, and keep their powder dry."

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No resentment was felt by any one at the treatment the Long Parliament received at his hands. Royalists, Presbyterians, and the nation generally, were rejoiced to see that arrogant power abolished; and the people, harassed by faction, taxed, and made to obey the most severe rules in private life, were glad to submit, instead, to a man of admirable talents and capacity. The republicans were, however, infuriated. Amongst the most exasperated Harrison and his saints were ultimately found. Sidney, though no enthusiast, Martin, Challoner, colonel Hutchinson, were all henceforward bitter enemies to the successful general.

From the moment of the dissolution of the Long Parliament Cromwell was supreme. He caused another parliament to be elected at once, summoning it simply on his own authority. There were some men of family in it, but the chief members were of the lowest, meanest, and most fanatical of the people. One of them was a canting leather-seller, called Praise God Barebones, after whom it obtained the name of Barebones Parliament. At the end of five months this contemptible assembly, which was the jest of the people, dissolved itself.

The "lord general Cromwell" then held a council of officers, and it was resolved to have a commonwealth IN A SINGLE PERSON !-which person should be the general, henceforward to be known as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland. Cromwell then chose a council from his officers, and assigned to each a thousand pounds a year. He also had the troops paid a month in advance, and, having thus satisfied the army, began his reign with activity and resolution.

Never was England more honoured abroad than while this usurper held her sceptre. The Dutch war was brought to a successful and glorious completion. He compelled the Hollanders to pay eighty-five thousand pounds, to abandon the royal cause, and to restore the dominions they had taken from the East India Company. France, under Mazarin, courted him. With Spain he waged a war, by which

Jamaica became ours. In England, meantime, in concert with the banished king, a conspiracy against the protector's power was entered into, and a general day of rising appointed. Information of this design was at once conveyed to Cromwell. Thurloe, his secretary, had spies everywhere, and Manning, who had access to the exiled king's family, kept up a regular correspondence with him. Many of the royalists were seized, and thrown into prison; others, terrified at the fate of their friends, did not go to the appointed spot. In one place only the conspiracy broke out. Penruddock, Groves, Jones, and other gentlemen of the west, entered Salisbury with two hundred horse (11th of March) at the time the judges were holding the assizes. These they made prisoners, and proclaimed the king. But no one joined them; and, after wandering about for some time, they were dispersed by the protector's troopers. The leaders were executed; the soldiers were sold for slaves, and sent to Barbadoes. Cromwell resolved not to keep any terms henceforward with the royalists. He issued an edict, with the consent of his council, for exacting the tenth penny from the whole party, in order, as he pretended, to make them pay the expenses to which their disobedience exposed the nation. All royalists were obliged to redeem themselves anew by great sums of money, and many of them were thus reduced to extreme poverty.

In order to raise this decimation, as it was called, the protector divided the whole kingdom into twelve military jurisdictions, appointing twelve major-generals to preside over them. These men had power (assisted by commissioners) to subject whoever they pleased to decimation, to levy all the taxes imposed by the protector and his council, and to imprison suspected persons. There was no appeal from them but to the protector himself and his council. Under colour of these powers the major-generals exercised authority as if absolute masters of the life and property of every subject. Cromwell had also reduced Scotland to total subjection, placing the civil administration in a council consisting mostly of Englishmen. A long line of forts and garrisons was maintained throughout the kingdom, and an army of ten thousand men kept everything quiet. His administration in Ireland was severe and violent, nay, even barbarous, for he took five millions of acres of land from the popish natives or the adherents of the king, and either sold the land to adventurers, or gave it to English soldiers who had arrears due to them. Every effort was made by the protector to obtain the royal title as well as the royal power, and, to pave the way for this advancement, he resolved finally to sacrifice the major-generals, who had become odious to the people. Their power was speedily annihilated, and a motion was made by Cromwell's friends in the next parliament to bestow on him the dignity of king. It is possible that Cromwell might have succeeded (but for the army) in establishing another royal dynasty, but he had trained the soldiers so long to hate and dread the name of king that it was now impossible to reconcile them to it; and he dreaded a mutiny if he assumed it. He rejected, therefore, the offer of the crown. However, he was once more, and with regal ceremony, declared protector. He had a perpetual income assigned him of a million a year for the pay of the fleet and army, three hundred thousand for the civil service, and power to name another house of peers. He was inaugurated in the most solemn manner at Westminster Hall on this second assumption of the protectorship; but he abandoned the power of framing laws during the intervals of parliament, and agreed that no members should henceforth be excluded but by the consent of the house.

Cromwell, between the intervals of the next and present parliament, proceeded to create a house of lords. None of the ancient peers, though summoned by writ, would deign to accept a seat in it, as their companions, they found, were to be persons of the meanest station who had been in the army. To have been one of "Oliver's lords" was then, and for years afterwards, a title of contempt.

The next parliament proved a refractory one, and a majority declared against the protector; but he was not one to allow them time to mature a combination between themselves and the malcontents in the army. With great expressions of displeasure, he dissolved the houses, and thus escaped the threatened danger.

These distractions at home did not, however, affect his vigorous policy abroad. There success everywhere crowned the arms and policy of England. The protector made the name of his country feared and respected all over the continent, and even stayed a persecution of the Waldenses in Piedmont by his authoritative interference. But in his home he was miserable. He had no friend. His children were all royalists at heart except his eldest daughter, Mrs. Fleetwood, who had adopted her husband's opinions and was a vehement republican. On her deathbed, his dearest child, Mrs. Claypole, had addressed to him awful words of warning and reproof, urging him to compunction for the heinous crime of the king's murder. From that day he never knew peace or rest.

His government was detested by all parties, whom he had in turn betrayed and deceived. He lived in hourly dread of assassination, and, after reading a pamphlet written by a colonel Titus, who had once been his follower, entitled "Killing no Murder," which advocated his assassination, he was never seen to smile again. "Society," says Goldsmith, "terrified him, as there he might meet an enemy; solitude was terrible, as he was then unguarded by any friend."

A tertian ague ended this life of horror and anxiety. He died the 3rd of September, the day he had always considered the most fortunate of his life, at the age of 59, having governed England for the space of seven years. A terrific storm raged over the island at the very hour that Cromwell gave up his guilty soul.

The following portrait of Cromwell, drawn by the hand of his admirer Carlyle, is too graphic to be omitted :

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"A rather likely figure, I think, stands some five feet ten or more; a man of strong solid stature, and dignified, now partly military, carriage. The expression of him, valour and devout intelligence-energy and delicacy on a basis of simplicity. Fifty-four years old gone April last; ruddy fair complexion, bronzed by toil and age; light brown hair and moustache, all getting streaked with gray. A figure of sufficient impressiveness-not lovely to the man-milliner species, nor pretending to be so. Massive stature, big massive head of somewhat leonine aspect, evident workshop and storehouse of a vast treasury of natural parts. Wart above the right eyebrow; nose of considerable blunt aquiline proportions; strict yet copious lips, full of all tremulous sensibilities, and also, if need were, of all fierceness and rigours ; deep loving eyes, call them grave, call them stern, looking from under those craggy brows as if in life-long sorrow, and yet not thinking it sorrow, thinking it only labour and endeavour-on the whole a right noble lion-face and hero-face, and, to me, royal enough."

BIRTH AND TRAINING OF OLIVER CROMWELL.

HUME.

Oliver Cromwell, in whose hands the dissolution of the parliament had left the whole power, civil and military, of the three kingdoms, was born at Huntingdon, the last year of the former century, of a good family, though he himself, being the son of a second brother, inherited but a small estate from his father. In the course

of his education he had been sent to the university, but his genius was little fitted for the calm and elegant occupations of learning, and he made small proficiency in