But on neceffary occafions he kept ftate to - profefs'd himfelf unrefolved, and having learn'd what he could of the principles and inclinations of thofe prefent at the conference, took up a cushion and flung it at my head, and then ran down the (a) Ludftairs; but I overtook him with another, which low's Me'made him haften down fafter than he defired (a).' moirs, vol. i. p. 240. 8vo. This fact occurr'd to Mr. Hume, but he could not relate it as it was.-Hear his words. After debates, fays he, on this fubject [government] the most important which could fall under the difcuffion of human creatures, Ludlow tells us, that Cromwell, by way of frolic, throw a cufhion at his head; and when Ludlow took up another cushion, in order to return the 'compliment, the General ran down ftairs, and had Switzerland, 1698. (b) Hiftory of Great tial account cides, P. 24. 4to. (d) Id. p. 163. 6 6 almost broke his bones in the hurry (b).'-But to proceed. At the figning of the warrant for the King's execution, we are told that Cromwell with his pen 'mark'd Harry Marten in the face; and Marten did the like to him (c);' and alfo that whilst Hugh Peters was fhewing the lawfulness of the faid execuof the Regi-tion, and, in his way, exciting them to it from the 'pulpit, he laughed (d).' I will add but one passage Lond. 1660. more. Minores ductores congiariis frequentius devincire, nonnunquam in media cibatione, fame nondum pacata gregarios milites pulfatis tympanis intromittere ut femefas rapterent reliquias. Robuftos ac C vere militares nocivis & validis exercitiis tractare, veluti pruna' candente nonnunquam ocreis injecta, • vel culcitris hinc indè in capita vibratis. Semel autem præludiis hujufmodi probe laffos & rifu laxatos præfectos ad cordis apertionem provocavit; eoque • modo ab incautis elicuit arcana quædam, quæ perpetuis tenebris optabant poftmodùm involuta; dum ipfe, fententias omnium fcrutatus, celaret fuam (e).' i. e. He would often make feafts for the inferiour of6 ficers, and whilst they were feeding, before they had • fa (e) Bates's Elenchi, pars 2 da. P. 179. 6 I to the full (H); appear'd with the pomp and fatisfied their hunger, caufe the drums to beat and let in the private foldiers to fall on, and fnatch away the half-eaten difhes. The robuft and fturdy foldiers. he loved to divert with violent and hazardous exercifes; as by making them fometimes throw a burning coal into one anothers boots, or cushions at one anothers heads. When the officers had fufficiently laugh'd, and tired themfelves with thefe preludes, he would wheedle them to open their hearts freely; and by that means he drew fome fecrets from the unwary, which afterwards they wifhed might have been wrapp'd up in everlating darknefs; whilft he, in the mean time, pumping the opinion of all others, concealed his own.' Thus even diverfions were made fubfervient to his policy! (H) He kept flate to the full, and appear'd on proper occafions with pomp and magnificence.] Cromwell was one of those genius's who are oftimes buried in obfcurity, through want of occafion of being known. Thousands fpend their lives in retirement who are capable of greater things than most of those whofe names are tofs'd from every tongue, and voic'd for wife, fkilful, able, or valiant. In times of peace thefe men are little notic'd or known; but they are overlook'd among the herd, or treated with a coolness or difregard which damps their ambition, and eftablishes their virtue. But when civil commotions arife, when the ftruggle is for liberty or enflavement, then a free and active fpirit is rais'd which overfpreads the country; every man finds himself, on fuch occafions, his own malter, and that he may be, whatever he can make himself: he knows not how high he may rife, and is unaw'd by laws, which are then of no force: he finds his own weight, tries his own ftrength, and, if there is any hidden worth, or curbed mettle in him, certainly fhews and gives it vent. Accordingly we fee, and magnificence becoming the head of a rich · fee, that the genius's produc'd at thefe times, give great proof of reach and capacity, efpecially in politic managements and civil affairs in the largeft fense (ƒ).' Cromwell verified thefe obfervations. I will give Warwick's account at large as a proof of it, especially as it will afford pleasure to fuch of my readers as delight in anecdotes, as, I believe, moft do. The first time I ever took notice of him [Oliver] was in the very beginning of the parliament held in Nov. 1640, when I vainly thought myself a courtly young gentleman: (For we courtiers valued ourselves much upon our good cloaths.) I came into the house one morning ⚫ well clad, and perceived a gentleman speaking (whom I knew not) very ordinarily apparelled; for it was 6 a plain cloth fuit; which feemed to have been made by an ill country taylor; his linen was plain, and not very clean; and I remember a fpeck or two of blood upon his little band, which was not much lar· ger than his collar; his hat was without a hatband : his ftature was of a good fize, his sword stuck close to his fide, his countenance fwoln and reddish, his voice fharp and untuneable, and his eloquence full of fervour; for the fubject matter would not bear • much of reafon; it being in behalf of a fervant of Mr. Prinne's, who had difperft libels against the Queen for her dancing, and fuch like innocent and courtly sports; and he aggravated the imprisonment of this man by the council table unto that height, that one would have believ'd, the very government itfelf had been in great danger by it. I fincerely profefs it leffened much my reverence unto that great council, for he was very much hearkped unto. And ⚫ yet I liv'd to fee this very gentleman, whom out of no ill will to him I thus defcribe, by multiplied good fucceffes, and by real (but ufurpt) power; (having had a better taylor, and more converfe among good " com rich and powerful people, and behav’d suita bly company) in my own eye, when for fix weeks together I was a prifoner in his ferjeant's hands, and daily • waited at Whitehall, appear of a great and majestick (g) Me• deportment and comely prefence (g).' moirs, p. Lord Clarendon, in the account lately published of his 247. own life, gives us a reprefentation of Oliver's behaviour in a committee, very little to his advantage. Here are his words: Mr. Hyde was often heard to mention one private committee, in which he was put accidentally into the chair, upon an inclosure which had been made of great waftes belonging to the Queen's manors, without the confent of the tenants, the benefit whereof had been given by the Queen to a fervant of near truft; who forthwith fold the lands inclosed to the Earl of Manchester, Lord Privy Seal; who, together ⚫ with his fon Mandevil, were now most concerned to maintain the inclosure; against which, as well the inhabitants of other manors, who claimed common in those wastes, as the Queen's tenants of the fame, made loud complaints, as a great oppreffion, carried upon them with a very high hand, and fupported by C power. The committee fat in the Queen's court; and Oliver Cromwell being one of them, appeared ⚫ much concerned to countenance the petitioners, who were numerous, together with their witneffes; the • Lord Mandevil being likewife prefent as a party, and by the direction of the committee, fitting co⚫vered. Cromwell (who had never before been heard to speak in the Houfe of Commons) ordered the witneffes and petitioners in the method of the proceeding; and feconded, and enlarged upon what they faid with great paffion; and the witneffes, and perfons concerned, who were a very rude kind of people, interrupted the council, and witneffes on the other fide, with great clamour when they faid any thing that did not please them; fo that Mr. Hyde (whose 6 (b) Life of Lord Clarendon, vol. i. p. 78. 1759. ably to the high rank in which he had plac'd himself. Elo (whofe office it was to oblige men of all forts to keep order) was compelled to use fome fharp reproofs, and fome threats, to reduce them to fuch a temper, `that the bufinefs might be quietly heard. Cromwell in great fury reproached the chairman for being partial, and that he discountenanced the witneffes by threatning them; the other appealed to the committee, who justified him, and declared that he behaved as he ought to do; which more inflamed him, who was already too much angry. When upon any mention of matter of fact, or the proceeding before, and at the inclosure, the Lord Mandevil defired to be heard, and with great modesty related what had been done, 6 or explained what had been faid, Mr. Cromwell did anfwer, and reply upon him, with fo much indecency, and rudeness, and in language, fo contrary, and offenfive, that every man would have thought, ⚫ that as their natures and their manners were as oppofite as it is poffible, fo their interest could never have ⚫ been the fame. In the end his whole carriage was fo tempeftuous, and his behaviour fo infolent, that the chairman found himfelf obliged to reprehend him; and to tell him, if he proceeded in the fame • manner, he would presently adjourn the committee, ⚫ and the next morning complain to the house of him, ⚫ which he never forgave; and took all occafions afterwards to pursue him with the utmoft malice and ❝ revenge, to his death (1⁄2).’ If one were to judge by this, Cromwell's manners 8vo. Oxford were as rude as his drefs uncourtly. But however, this fame writer in another place confeffes the alteration which was visible in him after he rofe to dignity and power. As he grew into place and authority, fays he, his parts feemed to be raised, as if he had con•cealed his faculties, till he had occafion to use them; • and |