ing, but was conftantly treated with every mark of efteem, even by the cavaliers of both kingdoms. What is remarkable in Oliver's children is, that most of them disapproved of the violent steps their father was taking, and were warm partizans for Charles the First, as well as for his fon, whose restoration they greatly approved of, and lived quietly under his government. Befides the foregoing children by his wife, Oliver is fuppofed to have had several illegitimate children; for though a great devotee, and affecting an outward fanctity of manners, he is known to have indulged himself, after he arrived at power, with the company of ladies, and that not in the most innocent. manner. INSTANCE INSTANCE THE SEVENTEENTH. RICHARD CROMWELL*, SON OF OLI V E R. The tottering bark with skilful care to guide, R ICHARD CROMWELL exhibits a no less fingular inftance of the mutability of fortune, than his father has done. By a moft unparalleled revolution, Oliver attained the fovereignty of these kingdoms: by a viciffitude nearly as extraordinary, did Richard, though he had peaceably fucceeded to the fame grand elevation, fall from the towering height, and left not to any of his name or kindred, a beam of that grandeur which had fhone round his father and himself. History of England, Noble's Anecdotes of the Cromwell family, &c. Richard, the third, but eldest surviving fon of the Protector Oliver, was born at Huntingdon, October 4th, 1626; and received his education, at least the latter part of it, at Felfted, in Effex; to which place he was fent, that he might be under the eye of his maternal grandfather, Sir James Bourchier, who refided there. In the year 1647, he was admitted to the fociety of Lincoln's-inn, having then nearly completed his twenty-first year. While he was here, he took very little pains to gain a knowledge of the law, but spent his time chiefly in the pursuit of pleasure; and it is remarkable, that when the nation was torn in pieces by faction and civil war, he lived inactively in the temple. What is still more obfervable is, that at the time his father was fighting the battles of the parliament, he was the companion of the most loyal cavaliers, and frequently drank health and fuccefs to the fovereign whom Oliver was endeavouring to dethrone. And when that unhappy monarch was condemned to die, he was fo ftruck with horror at the cruel and unprecedented fentence, that he threw himself upon his knees before his father, and pleaded the caufe of fallen majefty, with all the warmth warmth and energy of the most faithful fubject. But the dye had been some time cast; it was decreed that Charles fhould lose his life, and Oliver was inexorable to the tears and entreaties of his child. Soon after the fatal cataftrophe had taken place, he obtained, through the rising eminence of his family, a very eligible marriage with Dorothy, eldest daughter of Richard Major, of Hurley, in the county of Hants, efq. with whom he had a very confiderable fortune. Upon his marriage he retired to Hursley, where he refided, and became quite the country gentleman, enjoying all the rural fports. While here, he did not depart from his former loyal principles; he had the same attachment for the fon, as he had borne the unfortunate father; and used all his endeavours to ferve fuch of the loyalists as fell into inconveniences on that account. He was, likewife, ftill very inattentive to the public concerns, very uxorious, and not over frugal in his expences. In this happy retirement Richard lived for fome time; but upon his father's advanceCc 2 ment morning, though he had none near him to fupport his arguments and his firmness, except Secretary Thurlowe. Neither was he wanting in a proper fenfibility of the inconftancy of the nation, when he was obliged to leave Whitehall. As his fervants were removing the furniture, &c. he bid them be very careful of two old trunks which ftood in the wardrobe. A friend that was near, furprized at this extraordinary care, asked what they contained?" Nothing less," replied Richard," than the lives and fortunes of all the good people of England." The trunks were filled with addreffes which had been fent from every part of the kingdom, expreffing that the falvation of the nation depended on his fafety, and his acceptance of the fovereignty: nearly all of them proffer him their lives and fortunes, and several of them fubjoin, "all that is dear to us." During the last years of his life, no perfons were permitted to vifit him, but fuch as had ftrong recommendations from fome of his old acquaintance, as being of agreeable chearful conversation, and of ftrict honour. Upon the introduction of any new acquaintance whom they recommended, the following ceremony was |