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ing upon his ashes when dead。〃

On the 30th of August his danger became evident even to himself; and all hope of life left him。  For hours after the certain approach of death became undeniably certain; he remained quiet and speechless; seemingly heedless of the exhortation and prayers of his chaplains; till suddenly turning to one of them; he whispered; 〃Tell me; is it possible to fall from grace?〃  The preacher had a soothing reply ready:  〃It is not;〃 he answered。 〃Then;〃 exclaimed this unhappy man; whose soul was red with the blood of thousands of his countrymen; 〃I am safe; for I know I was once in grace。〃  Anon he cries out; whilst tossing wildly on his bed; 〃Lord; although I am a miserable and a wretched creature; I am in covenant with Thee through grace; and I may and will come to Thee for Thy people。  Pardon such as desire to trample upon the dust of a poor worm。  And give us a good night if it be Thy pleasure。  Amen。〃

It was now the 2nd of September。  As the evening of that day approached he fell into a stupor; and those who watched him thought the end had come。

Within the darkened chamber in Whitehall all was silence and gloom; without all was tumult and fear。  Before the gates of the palace a turbulent crowd of soldiers and citizens had gathered in impatient anxiety。  Those he had raised to power; those whose fortunes depended on his life; were steeped in gloom; those whose principles he had outraged by his usurpation; those whose position he had crushed by his sway; rejoiced at heart。  Not only the capital; but the whole nation; was divided into factions which one strong hand alone had been able to control; and terror; begotten by dire remembrances of civil war and bloodshed; abode with all lovers of peace。

As evening closed in; the elements appeared in unison with the distracted condition of the kingdom。  Dark clouds; seeming of ominous import to men's minds; gathered in the heavens; to be presently torn asunder and hurried in wild flight by tempestuous winds across the troubled sky。  As night deepened; the gale steadily increased; until it raged in boundless fury above the whole island and the seas that rolled around its shores。  In town houses rocked on their foundations; turrets and steeples were flung from their places; in the country great trees were uprooted; corn…stacks levelled to the ground; and winter fruits destroyed; whilst at sea ships sank to rise no more。  This memorable storm lasted all night; and continued until three o'clock next afternoon; when Cromwell expired。

His body was immediately embalmed; but was of necessity interred in great haste。  Westminster Abbey; the last home of kings and princes; was selected as the fittest resting…place for the regicide。  Though it was impossible to honour his remains by stately ceremonials; his followers were not content to let the occasion of his death pass with…out commemoration。  They therefore had a waxen image of him made; which they resolved to surround with all the pomp and circumstances of royalty。  For this purpose they carried it to Somerset Houseone of the late King's palacesand placed it on a couch of crimson velvet beneath a canopy of state。  Upon its shoulders they hung a purple mantle; in its right hand they placed a golden sceptre; and by its side they laid an imperial crown; probably the same which; according to Welwood; the Protector had secretly caused to be made and conveyed to Whitehall with a view to his coronation。 The walls and ceiling of the room in which the effigy lay were covered by sable velvet; the passages leading to it crowded with soldiery。  After a few weeks the town grew tired of this sight; when the waxen image was taken to another apartment; hung with rich velvets and golden tissue; and otherwise adorned to symbolize heaven; when it was placed upon a throne; clad 〃in a shirt of fine Holland lace; doublet and breeches of Spanish fashion with great skirts; silk stockings; shoe…strings and gaiters suitable; and black Spanish leather shoes。〃  Over this attire was flung a cloak of purple velvet; and on his head was placed a crown with many precious stones。  The room was then lit; as Ludlow narrates; 〃by four or five hundred candles set in flat shining candlesticks; so placed round near the roof that the light they gave seemed like the rays of the sun; by all which he was represented to be now in a state of glory。〃  Lest; indeed; there should be any doubt as to the place where his soul abode; Sterry; the Puritan preacher; imparted the information to all; that the Protector 〃now sat with Christ at the right hand of the Father。〃

But this pomp and state in no may overawed the people; who; by pelting with mire Cromwell's escutcheon placed above the great gate of Somerset House gave evidence of the contempt in which they held his memory。  After a lapse of over two months from the day of his death; the effigy was carried to Westminster Abbey with more than regal ceremony; the expenses of his lying…in…state and of his funeral procession amounting; as stated by Walker and Noble; to upwards of L29;000。  〃It was the joyfullest funeral I ever saw;〃 writes Evelyn; 〃for there were none that cried but dogs; which the soldiers hooted away with a barbarous noise; drinking and taking tobacco as they went。〃

A little while before his death Cromwell had named his eldest surviving son; Richard; as his successor; and he was accordingly declared Protector; with the apparent consent of the council; soldiers; and citizens。  Nor did the declaration cause any excitement; 〃There is not a dog who wags his tongue; so profound is the calm which we are in;〃 writes Thurlow to Oliver's second son; Henry; then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland。  But if the nation in its dejection made no signs of resistance; neither did it give any indications of satisfaction; and Richard was proclaimed 〃with as few expressions of joy as had ever been observed on a like occasion。〃  For a brief while a stupor seemed to lull the factious party spirit which was shortly to plunge the country into fresh difficulties。  The Cromwellians and Republicans foresaw resistless strife; and the Royalists quietly and hopefully abided results。

Nor had they long to wait。  In the new Parliament assembled in January; 1659; the Republicans showed themselves numerous and bold beyond measure; and hesitated to recognise Richard Cromwell as successor to the Protectorate。  However; on the 14th of the following month the Cromwellians gained the upper hand; when Richard was confirmed in his title of 〃Lord Protector; and First Magistrate of England; Scotland; and Ireland; with all the territories depending thereon。〃  Further discussion quickly followed。  〃One party thinks the Protectorate cannot last; the other that the Republican cannot raise itself again; the indifferent hope that both will be right。  It is easy to foretell the upshot;〃 writes Hyde。  The disunion spread rapidly and widely; not only was the Parliament divided against itself; but so likewise was the army; and the new Protector had neither the courage nor the ability to put down strife with a strong hand。 Richard Cromwell was a man of peaceful disposition; gentle manners and unambitious mind; whom fate had forced into a position for which he was in no way fitted。  By one of those strange contradictions which nature sometimes produces; he differed in all things from his father; for not only was he pleasure…loving; joyous; and humane; but he was; moreover; a Royalist at heart; and continued in friendship with the Cavaliers up to the period of his proclamation as Protector。  It has been stated that; falling on his knees; he entreated his father to spare the life of Charles I。; it is certain he remained inactive whilst the civil wars devastated the land; and there is evidence to show that; during the seven months and twenty…eight days of his Protectorship; he shrank from the perpetration of cruelty and crime。  Accordingly; when those who had at first supported his authority eventually conspired against him; he refrained from using his power to crush them。  At this his friends were wrath。 〃It is time to look about you;〃 said Lord Howard; speaking with the bluntness of a friend。  〃Empire and command are not now the question。  Your person; your life are in peril。  You are the son of Cromwell; show yourself worthy to be his son。  This business requires a bold stroke; and must be supported by a good head。  Do not suffer yourself to be daunted。  I will rid you of your enemies:  do you stand by me; and only back my zeal for your honour with your name; my head shall answer for the consequences。〃

Colonel Ingoldsby seconded the advice Lord Howard gave; but Richard Cromwell hearkened to neither。  〃I have never done anybody any harm; and never will;〃 said he。  〃will not have a drop of blood spilt for the preservation of my greatness; which is a burden to me。〃  At this Lord Howard was indignant。  〃Do you think;〃 he asked; 〃this moderation of yours will repair the wrong your family has committed by its elevation?  Everybody knows that by violence your father procured the death of the late king; and kept his sons in banishment:  mercy in the present state of affairs is unreasonable。  Lay aside this pussillanimity; every moment is precious; your enemies sp

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