(b) Burnet, vol. i. p. 751 I have no need to fay, without reafon.→→→ tation; to all men (h). A fine way of levelling the acts of heroes!-But let us hear Holles himself. However lieutenant general Cromwell had the impudence and boldness to affume much of the honor of it [the victory at Marston Moor, in July, 1644] to himself, or rather, Herod like, to fuffer others to magnify and 'adore him for it (for I can scarce believe he should be fo impudent to give it out himself, fo confcious as he must be of his own bafe cowardlinefs) thofe who did the principal fervice that day, were major general 6 Lefly, who commanded the Scots horfe, major general Crawford, who was major general to the Earl of Manchefler's brigade, and Sir Thomas Fairfax, who, under his father, commanded the northern brigade. But my friend Cromwell had neither part nor lott in the bufinefs: for I have feveral times heard it from Crawford's own mouth (and I think I fhall not be mistaken if I fay Cromwell himself has heard it from him; for he once faid it aloud in Westminster Hall, when Cromwell paffed by him, with a defign he might hear him) that when the whole army at Marston-Moor was in a fair poffibility to be utterly routed, and a great part of it running, he faw the body of horie of that brigade ftanding ftill, and to his feeming doubtful which way to charge backward or forward, when he came up to them in a great paffion, reviling them with the names of poltroons and cowards, and asked them if they would ftand ftill and fee the day loft? Whereupon Cromwell fhewed himfelf, and in a pitiful voice faid, Major general, what fball I do? He (begging pardon for what he faid, not knowing he was there, towards whom he knew his diftance as to his fuperior officer) told him, Sir, if you charge not, all is loft; Cromwell answered he was wounded, and was not able to charge (his great wound being a little burn in the neck by the accidental going off behind him of one ⚫ of tation; but at the fame time it was attended of his foldier's pistols) then Crawford defired him to go off the field, and fending one away with him (who very readily followed wholfome advice) led them on himself, which was not the duty of his place, and as little for Cromwell's honor, as it proved to be much for the advancement of his and parties pernicious defigns. This I have but by relation, yet I easily believe it upon the credit of the reporter, who was a man of honor, that was not afhamed or afraid to publifh it in all places. Befides I have heard a parallel ftory of his valour from another perfon [colonel Dalbier] not inferiour, neither in quality nor reputation, to major general Crawford, who told me, that when Bafing Houfe was formed, Cromwell, inftead of leading on his men, ftood a good diftance off, out of gun'fhot, behind a hedge. And fomething I can deliver of him upon my own knowledge, which makes paffage for the eafier belief of both these relations, and ⚫ affures me that that man is as errand a coward, as he is notoriously perfidious, ambitious, and hypocritical. This was his bafe keeping out of the field at Keinton battle; where he with his troop of horse came not in, impudently and ridiculously affirming, the day after, that he had been all that day feeking the army and place of fight, though his quarters were but at a village near hand, whence he could not find his way, nor be directed by his ear, when the ordnance was heard, as I have been credibly informed, 20 or 30 miles off; fo that certainly he is far from the man he is taken for (i). Mr. Walpole, referring to this paf- Memoirs, pe fage, fays from the extream good fenfe of his lordfhip's fpeeches and letters, one fhould not have ex- 8vo. Lond, pected that weak attempt to blaft Cromwell for a 1699. coward. How a judicatory in the temple of fame would laugh at fuch witneffes as major general Craw-logue of roy(k) Cataford and a colonel Dalbier! Cafar and Cromwell are al and noble not amenable to a commiffion of oyer and terminer (k).' › Authors, (i) Holles's p. 15, & feq. vol.ii.p. 32. (T) of very with the envy and hatred (T) of power (T) His fuccefs was attended with the envy and hatred of very powerful perfons.] The following paffages will enable the reader to understand this. Colonel Cromwell being made lieutenant general of the earl of Manchefter's army, gave great fatisfaction to the com'mons touching the bufinefs of Dennington caftle, and feemed (but cautiously enough) to lay more blame on the officers of the lord general's army, than upon any • other. And the point of priviledge was debated touching the lords tranfmitting of a charge from them, be'fore it was brought up to them. This reflected upon lieutenant general Cromwell, of whom the lord general now began to have fome jealoufies, and was advised to put to his ftrength to rid Cromwell out of the < way, and the means to be used to effect this, was fuppofed to be by the Scots commiffioners, who were not well pleafed with Cromwell upon fome words which he had fpoken (as they apprehended) derogatory to the honor of their nation. One evening very late, Maynard and I were fent for by the lord general to Effex-houfe, and there was no excufe to be admitted, nor did we know beforehand the occafion of our being fent for: when we came to Effex-house, we were brought to the lord general, and with him were the Scots commiffioners, Mr. Hollis, Sir Philip Stapylton, Sir John Meyrick, and divers others of his fpecial 'friends. After compliments, and that all were fet down in council, the lord general, in general terms having mentioned his having fent for them on important bufinefs, defired the lord chancellor of Scotland to enter into the detail, which he did in the following manner: Mafter Maynard and mafter hitlock, I can affure you of the great opinion both my brethren and myfelf have of your worth and abilities, elfe we should not have defired this meeting with you, and fince it is his Excellency's pleafure that I fhould acquaint you with the matter upon whilke your coun • fel powerful perfons, whom he foon got the better fel is defired, I fhall obey his commands, and briefly recite the business to you. You ken vary weele that lieutenant general Cromwell is no friend of ours, and fince the advance of our army into England, he hath • used all underhand and cunning means to take off • from our honor and merit of this kingdom; an evil requital of all our hazards and fervices: but fo it is, ' and we are nevertheless fully satisfied of the affections ' and gratitude of the gude people of this nation in the general. It is thought requifite for us, and for the carrying on of the caufe of the tway kingdoms, that this ob• ftacle or remora may be removed out of the way, whom we forefee will otherwife be no fmall impediment to < us, and the gude defign we have undertaken. He not only is no friend to us, and the government of our church, but he is alfo no well-willer to his Ex⚫cellency, whom you and we all have cause to love and honour; and if he be permitted to go on in his ways, it may, I fear, endanger the whole business; therefore we are to advise of fome course to be taken for prevention of that mischief. You ken'very wele the accord 'twixt the twa kingdoms, and the union by the folemn league and covenant, and if any be an incendiary between the twa nations, how is he to be ' proceeded against: Now the matter is, wherein we defire your opinions, what you tak the meaning of this word incendiary to be, and whether lieutenant general Cromwell be not ficke an incendiary, as is meant thereby, and whilke way wud be beft to tak to proceed against him, if he be proved to be ficke an incendiary, and that will clepe his wings from foaring to the prejudice of our caufe. Now you may ken that by our law in Scotland we clepe him an incendiary whay kindleth coals of contention, and raiseth dif ferences in the flate to the publick damage, and he is tanquam publicus hoftis patrie; whether your law be the fame or not, you ken best who are mickle learned 6 therein, (Whitlock's Me morials, p. 116. better of, by craft, diffimulation, hypocrify, and the therein, and therefore with the favour of his Excellency we defire your judgments in thefe points (/).' Whitlock in anfwer hereunto obferved, that the fenfe of the word incendiary was the fame in both nations; but whether Cromwell was one depended on proofs; if proofs were wanting, he was none; if fuch were at hand, he might be proceeded against in parliament.' He moreover observed, that it became not persons of their honor and authority to appear in any bufinefs, efpecially of an accufation, but fuch as they faw could be clearly made out, and be brought to the effect intended. Cromwell's parts were then defcribed; his intereft in the houfe of commons, and even in the house of peers, and his abilities to manage his own defence to the best advantage. He advised therefore that the matter for the prefent might be dropt; that the proofs against him might be collected, and then they might confult and advife afresh. Maynard concurring in the fame opinion, the affair was at a fland, and nothing came of it: though Mr. Hollis, and Sir Philip Stapylton, and fome others, fpake fmartly to the bufinefs, and mentioned feme particular paffages, and words of Cromwell's tending to prove him to be an incendiary; and they did not apprehend his intereft in the house of commons to be () Id. p. fo much as was fuppofed; and they would willingly 117. have been upon the accufation of him (m).' This was at the latter end of the year 1644. Mr. Whitlock clofes his account of this remarkable converfation with the following words: I had fome caufe to believe, that at this debate, fome who were prefent, were falfe brethren, and informed Cromwell of all that paft among us, and after that Cromwell, though he took no notice of any particular paffages at that time, yet he feemed more kind to me and Mr. Maynard than he had been formerly, and carried on his defign more (m) Id. ibid. actively of making way for his own advancement (n).' This was the fate of Cromwell: envy followed his great |