and the Journals, that when the appointment was offered to Cromwell, he hesitated, and requested that two officers from each corps might meet him at Whitehall, and seek the Lord in prayer. After a delay of two weeks, he condescended to submit his shoulders to the burden, because he had learned it was the will of Heaven.*

Although no man had greater confidence than Cromwell in his own talents and a good cause, yet he thought it unwise to hazard his reputation, without securing adequate means of success. He demanded from the Parliament twelve thousand horse and foot, selected by himself from those veterans whom he had taught to conquer every enemy; a plentiful supply of provisions and ammunition; and a military chest containing L.100,000 in ready money. He recei ved, in the name of outfit, L.3000; ten pounds a-day as General while he remained in England; and L.2000 per quarter in Ireland, besides his pay as lord-lieutenant.+

Being thus furnished with the carnal weapons which he required in the character of a soldier, he next applied for the spiritual armour which became him in the quality of a saint. For this purpose, on the day of his departure, he assembled his friends at Whitehall, where three ministers invoked a blessing on his banners, as about to fight the battle of the Lord against the blinded Roman Catholics of Ireland. These functionaries were succeeded by three officers,

Vol. xi. p. 31.

+ Council Book, July 12, No. 10.

Goff, Harrison, and Cromwell himself, who expounded the Scriptures "excellently well, and pertinently to the occasion." After these outpourings, the Lieutenant-General mounted his carriage drawn by six horses; he was accompanied by the great officers of state and of the army; his life-guard, consisting of eighty young men, all of quality, and several of them holding commissions as majors and colonels, surprised the spectators by their splendid uniforms and gallant bearing; and the streets of the metropolis resounded, as he drove towards Windsor, with the acclamations of the populace and the clangor of military music.*

The reader who connects this display of offi cial pomp, with the fact that Cromwell, even be fore the death of Charles, had taken possession of one of the " King's rich beds at Whitehall," will be satisfied that the spiritual humility which distinguished the future Protector, did not extend to the trivial matters which belonged to his outward estate.

Mr Morrice, the author of the Life of Lord Orrery, relates an anecdote of the LieutenantGeneral, which, as it belongs to the period at which we have now arrived, and illustrates the policy which Oliver delighted to pursue, seems worthy of a place in our narrative. His Lordship, we are told, after the murder of the King, gave up all Ireland for lost, and retired into England, to a small estate which he possessed in Somersetshire. Resolving, while there, to attempt something for the public good, he applied,

*Whitelocke, 413.

through the Earl of Warwick, for a passport to go beyond seas, that he might recruit his health at the waters of Spa in Germany. His real object was to obtain a commission from Charles the Second, collect what money and troops he could raise in foreign countries, and return to Ireland with the view of making a last effort to assist the royalists and recover his own estates.

He had already reached London in order to prosecute his scheme, when a gentleman belonging to Cromwell came to his lodgings, to let him know that the General, his master, intended to wait upon him, if he knew but the hour when he would be at leisure to receive him. Much surprised at this, since he had never had any acquaintance with Cromwell, nor ever exchan ged a word with him, his Lordship told the gentleman he presumed he was mistaken, and that he could not be the person to whom he was sent. The other answered, he was sent to Lord Broghil-at that time the title of Lord Orrery -and therefore if he was that lord, he was sent to him His Lordship finding, therefore, that there was no mistake, desired the messenger to present his humble service to the General, and to let him know that he would himself wait upon him, when informed of his convenience; upon which the gentleman departed. Lord Broghil, in the meantime, was mightily concerned what Oliver's business with him should be. While yet musing on the subject, Cromwell came to him; and, after mutual salutations, told him he had a great kindness and respect for his Lordship, and therefore he was come to acquaint him with something that did very nearly concern him,

and to give him his advice in the matter. He then proceeded to say that the Council of State were acquainted with his designs; and in fact immediately unfolded all his Lordship's secret projects. He assured him, at the same time, that he could even show copies of his letters respecting them; and added, that the Council had ordered him to be sent to the Tower upon his arrival in town, which would have been immediately executed had not he himself interposed in his behalf, and procured some time to confer with him, to see whether he might not be drawn off from his purpose. Upon this, being sufficiently assured that he was discovered, Broghil begged his Excellency's pardon, thanked him for his kindness, and desired to be advised what to do. Cromwell told him that neither he nor the Council were strangers to his Lordship's actions in the Irish war; and therefore the subduing of the rebels in that country being now left to his care, he had obtained leave to make an offer to him, that if he would serve in the wars against the Irish, he should have a general officer's command, and should have no oaths or engagements laid upon him, nor should be obliged to fight against any but the natives themselves. Amazed though he was at so generous a proposal, Broghil would nevertheless at first have excused himself, and desired some time to consider; but Cromwell told him he must resolve presently, because the Council, from whom he came, were determined to send his Lordship to the Tower as soon as ever he should return to them, in case this offer were not accepted. His Lordship prudently agreed to the

proposed terms-engaging, upon his word and honour, faithfully to assist his Excellency in subduing the Irish rebellion. Upon which, Cromwell briefly desired him to hasten down to Bristol, where troops should be immediately sent to him, and ships ordered to effect their transportation into Ireland; adding, that he himself would shortly follow, with the main body of the army.

It is well known that Lord Broghil fulfilled most honourably the promise given in the circumstances now described, and contributed not a little, by his important services, to complete the conquest of Ireland. Nor did he relinquish, in the meanwhile, his principles as a royalist, but was ready, when a favourable opportunity presented itself, to co-operate with his friends in England for the restoration of the monarchy in the person of Charles the Second.*

On the 15th of August, 1649, Cromwell reached Dublin, whence, after allowing his men two weeks to prepare for the fatigues of the approaching campaign, he proceeded to reduce Drogheda, or Tredagh, as it was then called, garrisoned by more than three thousand brave soldiers under Sir Arthur Ashton, an officer of great courage and experience. It was a rule with the Parliamentary General to spend as little time as possible in the formalities of a siege, but to storm every fortress which he invested, as soon as a practicable breach could be effected in its walls. He pursued the same

Morrice's Life of Lord Orrery, p. 9. Oliver Cromwell and his Times, p. 535.