sumeth. Mummy is become merchandise, Mizraim cures wounds, and Pharaoh is sold for balsams.

XIII. LORD CLARENDON.

EDWARD HYDE, Lord Clarendon, was born at Dinton in Wilts, in 1608. He was descended of an ancient and highly respectable family, which had already given to England several eminent lawyers. After a short residence at Oxford, he devoted himself to the same profession, and was entered in the Middle Temple, where he enjoyed the friendship of many of the most eminent men of the day, Lord Falkland, Ben Jonson, Sir Kenelm Digby, Selden, Hales, and Chillingworth. His rank, influence, and ability procured for him a seat in Parliament, and he speedily acquired a respectable standing in the House. In the Long Parliament, he was from the first one of the most conspicuous members, and one of that party who desired a redress of grievances and a moderate reform, without any violent alteration of the constitution; and when matters proceeded to an extreme which threatened an appeal to the sword, he sided openly with the King. During the war he was in constant attendance upon Charles, and most of the able papers issued by the King during the continuance of hostilities were from the pen of Clarendon. On the utter prostration of the royalists in England, he escaped to France, where Charles II. appointed him Lord Chancellor, and committed to him the management of his affairs. After the Restoration, he was created Earl of Clarendon, and for some time was the chief adviser of the thoughtless monarch. But his stern integrity at length became intolerable to the dissolute Charles and his unprincipled favourites, while at the same time he had become unpopular by his attempt to strengthen the royal prerogative; and thus deserted by all parties, and threatened with an impeachment, he fled to the Continent, where he died at Rouen in 1674. His chief work is his History of the Rebellion," written to defend, as far as possible, the proceedings of Charles I. Its style, from superabundance of matter, is heavy and lumbering, generally dignified, but never elegant or lively. The narrative is overlaid with details, and is consequently unimpressive; but in power of delineating character he has not been surpassed by any English writer. His accuracy has been of late much questioned, but it must be remembered that he writes professedly as a royalist, and he therefore naturally dwells but slightly on the faults of his party, and puts the best face upon their proceedings. His incorruptible integrity altogether forbids the supposition that he would willingly falsify his narrative; and if, in the great accumulation of details which his voluminous history comprises, inaccuracies and contradictions are found, many of these must be at once ascribed to the carelessness or insincerity of his informants; and as to others, it may be doubted whether the influence of hostile politics, and the spirit of the verbal criticism of the present day, which is so apt to elevate trifles into importance, have not unduly magnified the defects of one who, after every deduction has been made, must be admitted to be one of our greatest historians.

66

CHARACTER OF HAMPDEN.

153

1. CHARACTER OF HAMPDEN.- HISTORY OF THE REBELLION," P. 396. OXFORD EDITION, 1843.)

Hampden was a gentleman of a good family in Buckinghamshire, and born to a fair fortune, and of a most civil and affable deportment. In his entrance into the world, he indulged to himself all the licence in sports, and exercises, and company, which was used by men of the most jolly conversation. Afterwards, he retired to a more reserved and melancholy society, yet preserving his own natural cheerfulness and vivacity, and, above all, a flowing courtesy to all men; though they who conversed nearly with him found him growing into a dislike of the ecclesiastical government of the church, yet most believed it rather a dislike of some churchmen,' and of some introducements of theirs, which he apprehended might disturb the public peace. He was rather of reputation in his own country, than of public discourse or fame in the kingdom, before the business of ship-money; but then he grew the argument of all tongues, every man inquiring who and what he was that durst, at his own charge, support the liberty and property of the kingdom, and rescue his country, as he thought, from being made a prey to the court. His carriage throughout this agitation was with that rare temper and modesty that they who watched him narrowly to find some advantage against his person, to make him less resolute in his cause, were compelled to give him a just testimony. And the judgment that was given against him infinitely more advanced him than the service for which it was given. When this parliament2 began (being returned knight of the shire for the county where he lived), the eyes of all men were fixed on him as their country's father, and the pilot that must steer the vessel through the tempests and rocks which threatened it. And I am persuaded his power and interest at that time was greater to do good or hurt than any man's in the kingdom, or than any man in his rank hath had in any time; for his reputation of honesty was universal, and his affections seemed so publicly guided that no corrupt or private ends could bias them.

He was of that rare affability and temper in debate, and of that seeming humility and submission of judgment, as if he brought no opinion with him, but a desire of information and instruction; yet he had so subtle a way of interrogating, and, under the notion of doubts, insinuating his objections, that he left his opinions with those from whom he pretended to learn and receive them. And even with them who were able to preserve themselves from his infusions, and discerned those opinions to be fixed in him, with which they could not comply, he always left the character of an ingenious3 and conscientious person. He was indeed a very wise man, and of great parts, and possessed with the most absolute spirit of popularity, that is, the most absolute faculties to govern the people, of any man I ever knew. For the first year of the parliament, he seemed rather 2 The Long Parliament. 3 i. e., ingenuous.

e. g., Laud.

to moderate and soften the violent and distempered humours than to inflame them. But wise and dispassioned men plainly discerned that that moderation proceeded from prudence and observation that the season was not ripe, rather than that he approved of the moderation; and that he begat many opinions and notions, the education whereof he committed to other men; so far disguising his own designs that he seemed seldom to wish more than was concluded: and in many gross conclusions, which would hereafter contribute to designs not yet set on foot, when he found them sufficiently backed by majority of voices, he would withdraw himself before the question, that he might seem not to consent to so much visible unreasonableness; which produced as great a doubt in some as it did approbation in others of his integrity. What combination soever had been originally with the Scots for the invasion of England, and what farther was entered into afterwards in favour of them, and to advance any alteration in parliament, no man doubts was at least with the privity of this gentleman.

After he was among those members accused by the king of high treason he was much altered; his nature and carriage seeming much fiercer than it did before. And, without question, when he first drew his sword he threw away the scabbard; for he passionately opposed the overture made by the king for a treaty from Nottingham, and as eminently, any expedients that might have produced any accommodations in this that was at Oxford; and was principally relied on to prevent any infusions which might be made into the Earl of Essex towards peace, or to render them ineffectual if they were made; and was indeed much more relied on by that party than the general himself. In the first entrance into the troubles he undertook the command of a regiment of foot, and performed the duty of a colonel, on all occasions, most punctually. He was very temperate in diet, and a supreme governor over all his passions and affections, and had thereby a great power over other men's. He was of an industry and vigilance not to be tired out or wearied by the most laborious; and of parts not to be imposed upon by the most subtle or sharp; and of a personal courage equal to his best parts so that he was an enemy not to be wished wherever he might have been made a friend; and as much to be apprehended where he was so, as any man could deserve to be. And therefore his death was no less congratulated on the one party than it was condoled in the other. In a word, what was said of Cinna might well be applied to him: "He had a head to contrive, and a tongue to persuade, and a hand to execute any mischief.” His death, therefore, seemed to be a great deliverance to the nation.

2. BATTLE OF DUNBAR.—(“ HISTORY,” P. 751.)

In July Cromwell entered Scotland, and marched without any opposition till he came within less than a day's journey of Edinburgh; where he found the Scottish army encamped upon a very

advantageous ground; and he made his quarters as near as he could conveniently, and yet with disadvantages enough; for the country was so destroyed behind him, and the passes so guarded before, that he was compelled to send for all his provision for horse and foot from England by sea (and Cromwell being seized upon by a fever, which held him about six weeks, during which time the army lay still); insomuch as the army was reduced to great straits; and the Scots really believed that they had them all at their mercy, except such as would embark on board their ships. But as soon as Cromwell had recovered a little strength, his army began to remove, and seemed to provide for their march. Whether that march was to retire out of so barren a country for want of provisions (which, no doubt, were very scarce; and the season of the year would not permit them to depend upon all necessary supplies by sea, for it was now the month of September), or whether that motion was only to draw the Scots from the advantageous post of which they were possessed, is not yet understood. But it was confessed on all sides, that, if the Scots had remained within their trenches, and sent parties of horse to have followed the English army closely, they must have so disordered them, that they would have left their cannon and all their heavy carriage behind them, besides the danger the foot must have been in. But the Scots did not intend to part with them so easily; they doubted not but to have the spoil of the whole army. And, therefore, they no sooner discerned that the English were upon their march but they decamped, and followed with their whole body all the night following, and found themselves in the morning within a small distance of the enemy; for Cromwell was quickly advertised that the Scottish army was dislodged, and marched after him; and thereupon he made a stand, and put his men in good order. The Scots found they were not upon so clear a chase as they imagined, and placed themselves again upon such a side of a hill as they believed the English would not have the courage to attack them there.

But Cromwell knew them too well to fear them upon any ground, when there were no trenches or fortifications to keep him from them; and therefore he made haste to charge them on all sides, upon what advantage-ground soever they stood. Their horse did not sustain one charge; but fled, and were pursued with a great execution. The foot depended much upon their ministers, who preached, and prayed, and assured them of the victory, till the English were upon them; and some of their preachers were knocked on the head whilst they were promising the victory. Though there was so little resistance made, that Cromwell lost very few men by that day's service, yet the execution was very terrible upon the enemy; the whole body of the foot being, upon the matter, cut in pieces; no quarter was given till they were weary of killing; so that there were between five and six thousand dead upon the place; and very few, but they who escaped by the heels of their horse, were without terrible wounds, of which very many died shortly after.

especially such of their ministers who were not killed upon the place, as very many were, had very notable marks about the head and the face, that anybody might know that they were not hurt by chance, or in the crowd, but by very good will. All the cannon, ammunition, carriages, and baggage were entirely taken, and Cromwell, with his victorious army, marched directly to Edinburgh: where he found plenty of all things which he wanted, and good accommodation for the refreshing his army, which stood in need

of it.1

3. ADVENTURES OF CHARLES II. AFTER THE BATTLE OF WORCESTER.

When the darkness of the night was over, after the king had cast himself into that wood, he discerned another man who had gotten upon an oak in the same wood, near the place where the king had rested himself, and had slept soundly. The man upon the tree had first seen the king, and knew him and came down to him, and was known to the king, being a gentleman of the neighbour county of Staffordshire, who had served his late majesty during the war, and had now been one of the few who resorted to the king after his coming to Worcester. His name was Careless, who had had a command of foot, above the degree of a captain, under the Lord Loughborough. He persuaded the king, since it could not be safe for him to go out of the wood, and that as soon as it should be fully light, the wood itself would probably be visited by those of the country, who would be searching to find those whom they might make prisoners, that he would get up into that tree where he had been, where the boughs were so thick with leaves, that a man would not be discovered there without a narrower inquiry than people usually make in places which they do not suspect. The king thought it good counsel, and with the other's help climbed into the tree, and then helped his companion to ascend after him, where they sat all that day, and securely saw many who came purposely into the wood to look after them, and heard all their discourse, how they would use the king himself if they could take him.

The day being spent in the tree, it was not in the king's power to forget that he had lived two days with eating very little, and two nights with as little sleep, so that, when the night came, he was willing to make some provision for both; and he resolved, with the advice and assistance of his companion, to leave his blessed tree, and, when the night was dark, they walked through the wood into those enclosures which were farthest from any highway, and making a shift to get over hedges and ditches, after walking at least eight or nine miles, which were the more grievous to the king by the weight of his boots, for he could not put them off, when he cut off his hair, for want of shoes, before morning they came to a poor

1 This part of Clarendon's narrative, which differs from the usual account, rests on hearsay, and the blame of any inaccuracies must rest not with Clarendon, but with his informant.