great battle there, in which the army of Charles was defeated, and he was obliged to flee with only four or five attendants.

In attempting to escape, Charles met with many adventures. For some time he placed himself under the care of a farmer named Penderell, at Boscobel, near Staffordshire. On one occasion, to hide himself he mounted an oak, where he remained twentyfour hours. He saw several of Cromwell's soldiers pass by, and heard them say that they knew he was not far off. This tree was afterwards called The Royal Oak. At length, through the faithfulness of those who in aiding him to escape risked even their lives, a ship was found at Shoreham, in Sussex, in which he embarked for France.

About this time the Dutch in India having behaved cruelly to some English people there, Cromwell resolved to punish them. The English fleet was commanded

by Admiral Blake, that of the Dutch by Admiral Van Tromp, both of them brave officers. Many sea-fights took place, in which the Dutch, though they gained some victories, suffered so severely that at last they were obliged to sue for peace.

Cromwell now felt that with the aid of the army, which was devoted to him, he was strong enough to rule the kingdom without the Parliament. So one day he went to the House with a great many soldiers. After listening to the debates for a short time, he exclaimed, "Get you gone! give place to honester men." He then said to a soldier, pointing to the mace, “Remove that fool's bauble!" Having ordered the soldiers to clear the hall, he locked the door and put the key in his pocket.

Cromwell, after this, entrusted the government to a Council of officers, by whom he was appointed Lord Protector, which was

only another way of calling him king. In this capacity Cromwell showed great vigour and ability. He appointed the most clever men to be judges in the land, and the bravest officers to command his army and navy. At home the nation prospered; and in foreign countries the name of England was more feared than ever it had been before.

Cromwell had not much happiness in his latter days. He was in constant fear of his life. He wore armour under his clothes, and never slept above two or three nights in the same chamber.

He died on the 3d of September, 1658, in the fifty-ninth year of his age.

After the death of Cromwell, some of his friends wished that his eldest son Richard should become Protector. But Richard was a quiet man without ambition; he, therefore, after a short time, gave up the Protectorship and retired to a private station.

CHARLES THE SECOND.

1660-1685.

THE army raised by Cromwell to be the most powerful body in the kingdom, was at this time commanded by General Monk; who after having consulted with other persons of influence, proposed to Parliament that the exiled king should be restored. This was agreed to, and received by the nation with the utmost joy. It was on his thirtieth birthday, on the 29th of May, 1660,- that Charles II. entered London to ascend the throne of his fathers. Monk was created Duke of Albemarle, and the Earl of Clarendon was chosen prime minister.

Charles at first won all hearts by his politeness and good-humour; but he was indolent, careless, and selfish. He was called the " Merry Monarch," and spent