compatriots, whom ye have barbarously defac" and mangled, yet alive, for no other mo66 tive than their undaunted zeal." Ver 215, 216.] At Oliver's death was a moff Crous tempeft, fuch as had not been known in memory of man, or hardly ever recorded to ve on in this nation. It is obferved, in a trac ruled, No Feel to the old Fool, L'Efrange's "That Oliver, after a long courfe play p. 39. #tre fon, murder, facrilege, perjury, rapine, "&. fmke his accuried life in agony and 6 fary, and without any mark of true repen tance." Though most of our hiftorians mention the hurricane at his death, yet few take notice of the ftorm in the northern counties, that day the House of Peers ordered the digging up his carcat, with other regicides The author of the Parly between the Ghost of the late Protector and the King of Sweden in Hell, 1660, p. 19. merrily obferves, "That he wa, even fo turbulent and fediti ous there, that he was chain'd, by way of punish"ment, in the general pffing-place next the "court-door, with a ftritt charge that nobody "that made water thereabouts fhould pifs any "where but agalait hic body.” Ver. 220.] The news of Oliver's death being brought to those who were met to pray for him, Mr. Peter Sterry stood up, and defire them not to be troubled," For (aid he) this is good 66 news, becaufe if he was of ufe to the people "of God when he was amongst us, he will be "much more fo now, being afcenced into hea"ven, at the right hand of Jefus Chrift, there to "intercede for us, and to be mindful of us upon "all occafions." Dr. South make mention of an Independent divine, ( Sermons, Vol. 1. termon ii. p. 1oz.) who, when Oliver was fick, of which fick nefs he died, declared, "That God "revealed to him that he fhould recover, and live "thirty years longer; for that God had raised him up for a work which could not be done "in lefs time: but Oliver's death being publish"ed two days after, the faid divine publicly, "in his prayers, expoftulated with God the de"feat of his prophecy in these words, "Thou haft "lied unto us; yea, thou hast lied unto us." So familiar were thofe wretches with God Almighty, that Dr. Echard obferves of one of them, "That he pretended to have got fuch an interest "in Chrift, and fuch an exact knowledge of af- ; "fairs above, that he could tell the people that "he had just before received an exprefs from "Jefus upon fuch a bufinefs, and that the ink "was scarce dry upon the paper." Ver. 224] After the Reitoration Oliver's body was dug up, and his head fet up at the farther end of Westminster-hall; near which place there is an house of entertainment, which is commonly known by the name of Heaven. Who, in a falfe erroneous dream, Next him his fon and heir apparent 22 Ver. 231, 252.] Oliver's eldeft fon, Richard, was by him, before his death, declared his fucceffor; and, by order of the Privy Council, proclaimed Lord Protector, and received the compliments of congratulation and condolence, at the fame time, from the Lord Mayor and Court d Aldermen; and addrefles were prefented to tam from all parts of the nation, promifing to ftand by him with their lives and fortunes. He fur moned a parliament to meet at Weftminbet which recognized him Lord Protector; yet, not withstanding, Fleetwood, Delborough, and the partizans, managed affairs fo, that he wasola ed to refign. What opinion the world had of him we lear from Lord Clarendon's account of his viût ag to the Prince of Conti at Pezenas; who receive him civilly, as he did all ftrangers, and partie larly the English; and, after a few words knowing who he was) the Prince began to courfe of the affairs of England, and afked mat queftions concerning the king, and whether men were quiet, and fubmitted obediently to b which the other aniwered according to the trut "Well, faid the Prince, Oliver, though he w a traitor and a villain, was a brave fellow, great parts, great courage, and was wortia "command: but for that Richard, that cxc coquin, poltroon, he was furely the bafcft "low alive. What is become of that fool? H " is it poffible he could be fuch a fet? He fwered, "That he was betrayed by thele moft trusted, and had been most obliged to "father." So being weary of his vifit, he qui took his leave, and next morning left the to out of fear that the Prince might know that was the very fool and coxcomb he had mentua ed so kindly; and two days after the Prince come to know who he was that he had teste fo well. Clarendon's Hiftory of the Rebellin, Vei III. p. 519. See a curious anecdote of Rich Cromwell in Dr. Maty's Memoirs of Lord Cha terfield. Ver. 237.] A fneer upon the Committee Safety, amongst whom was Sir Henry Vane, wh (as Lord Clarendon obferves) “was a perfol enthusiast, and without doubt did believe 66 275 Some for the Rump; and fome, more crafty, Some for the Gospel, and maffacres To fee an empire all of kings, 240 Of fpiritual Affidavit-makers, Deliver'd from th' Egyptian awe Of juftice, government and law, And free t' erect what spiritual cantons Should be reveal'd, or gofpel Hans-towns, Of John of Leyden's old outgoings, Who, for a weather-cock hung up Upon their mother church's top, And now fulfill'd by their fucceffors, For, when they came to fhape the model, 245 250 That fwore to any human regence 280 285 But found their Light and Gifts more wide While every individual Brother Strove hand to fift against another, And ftill the maddeft, and most crackt, 260 As men moft fit t' hold-forth the Word, 295 Were found the bufieft to tranfa&t; Are found t' have contrary effects; many heads t' obftru&t intrigues, 265 Ver. 269, 270. Others tamper'd-For Fleetwood, Defborough, and Lambert.] Fleetwood was a lieutenant-general; he married Ireton's widow, Oliver Cromwell's fecond daughter; was made Lord 250 Lieutenant of Ireland by Cromwell, Major-general of divers counties, one of Oliver's upper houfe: his falary fuppofed to be 6600l. a year.-Defborough, a yeoman of 60 or 70 per annum; fome fay a plowman. Bennet, fpeaking to Defborongh fays, "When your Lordfhip was a plow Ver. 241, 242.] Dr. James Young obferves, "That two Jefuitical prognofticators, Lilly and Culpeper, were fo confident, anno 1652, of the total fubverfion of the law and gospel-ministry, "that in their fcurrilous prognoftications they predicted the downfall of both; and, in 1654, "they foretold that the law thould be pulled "down to the ground,-the Great Charter, and "all our liberties, deftroyed, as not fuiting with "Englishmen, in their bleffed times; that the "crab-tree of the law fhould be pulled up by the roots, and grow no more, there being no rea"fon now we fhould be governed by them." Ver. 267, 268.] Harry Martyn, in his fpeech, in the debate Whether a King or no King, faid, "That if they must have a King, they had "rather have had the last than any gentleman "in England. He found no fault in his perfon, "but office." Ver. 269.] Alluding to the Fifth Monarchymen, who had formed a plot to dethrone Cromwell and fet up King Jefus, 66 man, and wore high fhoon-Ha! how the Lord "raifeth fome men, and depreffeth others."-Defborough married Cromwell's fifter, caft away his fpade, and took up a sword, and was made a colonel; was inftrumental in raifing Cromwell to the protectorship; upon which he was made one of his council, a General at Sea, and Majorgeneral of divers counties of the weft; and was one of Oliver's upper houfe. His annual income was 32361, 135. and 4d. Ibid. Lambert.] Lambard, In the first edition 1678. Altered 1684. He was one of the Rump Generals, and a principal oppofer of General Monk in the Restoration of King Charles II. The writer of the Narrative of the late Parliament fo called, 1657, p. 9. obferves, "That Major-gene"ral Lambert, as one of Oliver's council, had "1000l. per annum, which with his other places, "in all amounted to 65121. 38. 4d." Ver. 272. Agitators.] In 1647, the Army made choice of a fet number of officers, which they called the General Council of Officers; and the common foldiers made choice of three or four of That Gifts and Difpenfations hinder'd, And turn'd to th' outward man the inward: 300 With which th' unfanétify'd bridegroom That us'd to break up ground, and dig); The Crofs in fhop-books, or Baptifing: The quacks of government (who fate 305 Confider'd timely how t' withdraw, 310 To cant and quack upon the nation; 320 325 330 each regiment, mostly corporals and ferjeants, who were called by the name of Agitators, and were to be a Houfe of Commons to the council of officers: thefe drew up a Declaration, that they would not be disbanded till their arrears were paid, and a full provifion made for liberty of confcience, Ver. 308. That us'd to.] That is to, edition 1678. That ufes te, editions 1684, 1689, 1694, 1700, 1704. Altered 1710, as it ftands here. Ver. 317, 318.] The mayor of Colchester banifhed one of that town for a malignant and a cavalier, in the year 1643, whofe name was Parfons; and gave this learned reafon for this exemplary piece of justice, that it was an ominous name. Ver. 323. This was the fpirit of the times. There was a propofal to carry twenty Rovalifts in front of Sir Thomas Fairfax's Army, to expofe them to the fire of the enemy; and one Gourdon moved, "That the Lady Capel, and her children, "and the Lady Norwich, might be fent to the "General with the fame directions, faying, their "hufbands would be careful of their fafety; and when divers oppofed fo barbarous a motion, "and alledged that Lady Capel was great with "child, near her time, Gourdon preffed it the more eagerly, as if he had taken the General for a man mid-wife." Nay, it was debated at 66 "Mong thefe there was a politician With more heads than a beaft in vifion, Upon the other were a spy, That, to trepan the one to think The other blind, both strove to blink; As bufy as a child at play. 335 2.40 343 翔 a council of war, to maffacre and put to "fword all the King's party: the queftion P was carried in the negative but by two vot "Their endeavour was, how to diminish "number of their oppofites, the Royalifts a "the Prefbyterians, by a matfacre; for w "purpofe many dark-lanterns were provided a winter, 1649; which coming to the com "rumour of the Town, put them in dange "the infamy and hatred that would overwhe "them; fo this was laid afide." A bill brought in, 1656, for decimating the Royal but thrown out. And this fpirit was but much encouraged by their clergy. Mr. Can in a Thanksgiving Sermon before the Comma April 23, 1644, P. 46. fays, "If Chrift wili up his kingdom upon the carcafes of the fa "it well becomes all elders to rejoice and g "thanks. Cut them down with the fas "justice, root them out, and confume them "with fire, that no root may fpring up aga a Of this fpirit was Mr. George Swathe, mic of Denham, in Suffolk, who, in a prayer, Ju-t 1641, or 1642, has the following remarkt words; "Lord, if no compofition will ent "controversy between the King and the Par "ment, but the King and his party will a "blood, let them drink of their own cup: "their blood be fpilled like water; let t "blood be facrificed to thee, O God, for the f "of our nation.” Ver. 351.] This was Sir Anthony-Ashley Co per, who complied with every change in the times. 1 He 'ad feen three governments run down, He made his intereft with the new one; For, as old finners have all points O' th' compafs in their bones and joints; Can by their pangs and aches find All turns and changes of the wind, 365 And, better than by Napier's bones, Feel in their own the age of moons; So guilty finners, in a state, Can by their crimes prognofticate, And in their confciences feel pain Some days before a shower of rain: He, therefore, wifely caft about All ways he could t' infure his throat, 370 405 410 By turning wriggle, like a fcrew : Int' highest truft, and out, for new; 380 In politics and state affairs; 415 He never fail'd to fave his tide, But got the start of every ftate, And, at a change, ne'er came too late; And hither came, t' obferve and fmoke What courfes other rifkers took, Could turn his word, and oath, and faith As many ways as in a lath; 375 And to the utmost do his best More Jew than Rabbi Achithophiel, And better gifted to rebel; 425 For when h' had taught his tribe to 'spouse The Caufe, aloft upon one house, 385 He fcorn'd to fet his own in order, 430 435 To mount his ladder (more) of ropes, The defperate feats he took in hand, For frauds and tricks, he spoil'd his game; And, when he chanc'd t' efcape, mistook, So right his judgment was cut fit, And both together most profound At deeds of darkness under ground; As th' earth is easiest undermin’d, By vermin impotent and blind. By all thefe arts, and many more Which way the world began to draw: 390 Nor force of argument could move, 395 And rather on a gibbet dangle, Than mifs his dear delight, to wrangle; 440 In which his parts were fo accomplisht, That, right or wrong, he ne'er was noupluft: But ftill his tongue ran on, the lefs 400 Of weight it bore, with greater eafe 445 Ver. 420.] Sir A. Afhley Cooper was of the niller's mind who was concerned in the Cornish bellion in the year 1558: he, apprehending that ir William Kingston, Provoft-marshal, and a igorous man upon that occafion, would order im to be hanged upon the next tree before he went off, told his fervant that he expected fome entlemen would come a-fifhing to the mill, and, they enquired for the miller, he ordered him o fay that he was the miller. Sir William came ccording to expectation, and inquiring for the ailler, the poor harmless fervant faid he was the iller. Upon which the Provoft ordered his ervants to feize him, and hang him upon the next ee; which terrified the poor fellow, and made im cry out, I am not the miller, but the miller's an. The Provoft told him, "That he would take him at his word: if (fays he) thou art the miller, thou art a bufy knave and rebel;-and And with its everlasting clack Set all men's ears upon the rack. No fooner could a hint appear, But up he started to picqueer, Ver. 421. This character exactly fuits John Lilburn, and no other, efpecially the 437, 438, 439, and 440th lines: for it was faid of him, when living, by Judge Jenkins, "That if the "world was emptied of all but himself, Lilburn "would quarrel with John, and John with Lil "burn:" which part of his character gave occafion for the following lines at his death; Is John departed, and is Lilburn gone? And made the ftouteft yield to mercy, And back'd their feeble want of fenfe For nothing but his intereft It was his choice, or chance, or curfe, Lefs troubled with the pangs of state Between a right and mongrel-church, That stickle which fhall make an end on 't; 470 As, when they ferve our turns, t'inflame! As when they were led on by us; 485 And brown-bills, levy'd in the City, Quoth he, There's nothing makes me doubt 495 Tumults, by which the mutinous Our laft outgoings brought about, More than to fee the characters Of real jealoufies and fears, Not feign'd, as once, but fadly horrid, 500 Betray themselves inftead of us; propenfion to loquacity would certainly have e erted itself on fo important an occafion; and h rhetoric and jargon would not have been le politic or entertaining than that of the two of Ver. 485, 486.] This cabal was held at White-tors here characterised. hall, at the very time that General Monk was dining with the city of London. I heartily with the Poet had introduced the worthy Sir Hudibras into this grand affembly; his prefence would have continued an uniformity in this Poem, and been very pleafing to the spectator. His natural Ver. 521.] Alluding to the impudence of the pretended faints, who frequently directed Ga Almighty what anfwers he should return to the pravers. Mr. Simeon Afh was called the G challenger. |