Boscobel to reach Pit Leason." Altogether the kingwho is assuredly no favourite with this present writer, who also much wonders at the Providence which saved him, if he may say it without irreverence, when so many better men fell as sacrifices to the passion, the caprice, or the indignation of the hour-may be more favourably viewed in his adventures through those old villages, ancient halls, and wayside inns, and in his dealings with the humble attendants who risked for him their lives in their obscure service, than in any other of the incidents and chapters of his discreditable career. PASSING CHAPTER XIV. CROMWELL THE USURPER. over much else, there is one circumstance and scene in the life of Cromwell which has ever been surrounded with difficulty, his great act of usurpation when he assumed the power. We suppose that scene is one of the most memorable of any; it is written upon our recollection from our early reading. The Long Parliament is associated with much that is most illustrious in the annals of those days; but we must remember that those achievements were associated with its very early annals. When Cromwell laid his hand so rudely on the symbols of power, Pym and Hampden were dead, and many besides, who, although less known, had given effect to its administrative character. The talk then held about the settlement of Government, the unending source of interminable talk, had degenerated into a mere republican jangle. Wild theories were woven through the foggy archways of dreamy brains. Say what we will of that Long Parliament, it had exercised lately little power in governing the nation; a noisy, garrulous, chattering, self-opinionated old Parliament. Henry Hallam, whose witness is so true that from his verdict there is seldom any appeal, has said, "It may be said, I think, with not greater severity than truth, that scarce two or three public acts of justice, humanity, or generosity, and very few of political wisdom and courage, are recorded of them, from their quarrel with the king to their expulsion by Cromwell." This is always necessary to be borne in mind. The memories of many readers are so confused in the supposition that the Long Parliament which Cromwell so rudely scattered was the same House which, in the earlier years of its history, had achieved for the country services so remarkable. Indeed, it was the same House, but how different. Its greatest spirits, as we have seen, were departed: Pym was dead, Hampden was dead. Cromwell, as he looked along its benches, would notice many a place vacated where once sat some strong friend of order and of freedom. It had so shrunken from honour that it had come to be called "the Rump," and reminds us of Sheridan's description of a ministry in his day, of which only one faithful member was left, "that all the honourable parts had vanished, and only left the sitting member behind." It is true there were great and honourable names, but these also were associated with the most wild and fantastic dreams and schemes. Then, if the reader should desire to approve the present writer's justice, let him turn to review the various questions which, while most urgent and weighty matters were pressing, this "Rump" devoted its time to discuss. |