LIFE

OF

ALGERNON SIDNEY;

WITH

SKETCHES OF SOME OF HIS CONTEMPORARIES AND
EXTRACTS FROM HIS CORRESPONDENCE AND

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1851, by

CHARLES SCRIBNER,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the Southern District of New York.

C. W. BENEDICT, Stereotyper and Printer,

201 William st., N. Y.

ENOX LIBRAR

NEW YORK

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

Family of Sidney-His birth and early education-Travels with

his father on the Continent-Goes to France-Returns to Eng-

land in 1641-Commencement of the Civil War-Appointed to

the command of a Troop in Ireland-Serves in Ireland-Returns

to England in 1643-His political sentiments at this time-

Enters into the service of Parliament-Appointed a Colonel un-

der Manchester-Battle of Naseby-Sidney wounded, and sent to

London-Appointed Governor of Chichester-Retires from ac-

tive service-Progress of the Civil War-The Independents get

control of the army-Appointed Colonel under Fairfax-Elected

Member of Long Parliament-Goes with his brother to Ireland

Appointed Lieutenant-General and Governor of Dublin-Service

in Ireland-His return-Receives the thanks of Parliament-

Apointed Governer of Dover Castle-Reflections on his military

career.

CHAPTER II.

The Long Parliament-Its history-Difficulty attending the elec-

tion of new members-Sidney elected from Cardiff-Does not

take an active part in its deliberations-Events which led to the

trial of the King-Conference with the King at the Isle of Wight

-Treacherous conduct of Charles-"Pride's purge"-Proceedings

to bring the King to trial-Sidney nominated one of the commis-

sioners Declines to sit-His reasons- -His opinions of the King's

guilt-Reflections on the trial and execution of the King-Con-

duct of the judges- Sidney retires to Penshurst-Returns to Lon-

don after the King's death-Resumes his seat in Parliament, and

sustains the government-Establishment of the Commonwealth

-Installation of the new Council of State-Sidney opposes the

"test" oath in Parliament-Difficulty with Cromwell-Question

respecting the dissolution of Parliament-Sidney a member of

the committee to which it was referred-Labors of the commit-

tee-Subject referred to committee of the whole-Difficulty be-

tween Sidney and his officers-Resigns the command of Dover-

Visits Holland-Quarrels with the Earl of Oxford-Returns to

England and resumes his parliamentary duty-Appointed on va-

rious committees-His colleagues- Vigor of the Commonwealth

government-Sidney's account of it-Ambition of Cromwell-

His hostility to Sidney-Contest between the military and civil

power-The Republicans oppose Cromwell-Plan of the Repub-

PAGE

licans to dissolve Parliament and call a new one-Plan of Crom-

well-Vane's Bill-Is defended by Sidney-Crisis in public af-

fairs-Long Parliament dissolved by Cromwell-Sidney forced

out-Retires to Penshurst-Refuses to take any further part in

the government-Cromwell-Vane.

CHAPTER III.

Sidney's contemporaries: Bradshaw; Milton; Marten; Scot; Blake;

Fairfaz; St. John; Ireton-Sidney in retirement at Penshurst-

Again visits the Hague-John De Witt-His character as a

statesman-Meeting between him and Sidney -- Patriotism and

ability of De Witt-His death-Sidney returns from the Hague-

Retires again to Penshurst-His literary pursuits-His amuse-

ments-Continued hostility to Cromwell and his government-

Incurs the displeasure of his brother, Lord Lisle-Letter of Lord

Lisle to his father-Downfall of the protectoral government-Re-

assembling of the Long Parliament-Sidney again a member of

Parliament-In the executive council-Close of his legislative

career-Reflections on the counter Revolution.

PAGE

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44

Appointed on the embassy to Denmark and Sweden-Importance

and nature of the mission-Arrives at Copenhagen-Goes to

Stockholm-His conduct in the discharge of his duties as ambas-

sador-Embarrassment of Sidney at the Restoration-Letters

respecting it to his father-Progress and close of his negotiations

-Prepares to return from Sweden-Letters to his father-His

equivocal position with the government at home-Letters to his

father respecting it-Returns to Copenhagen-Goes to Hamburg

-Letter of Lord Leicester-Discouraging prospects of Sidney-

He abandons the idea of returning to England, and refuses to sub-

mit to the terms required of him at home-Letter of Sidney

from Hamburgh Letter from Augsburgh-He acknowledges

and justifies the offences charged against him-His views of the

act of indemnity-Cause of the hostility of the government✓

against Sidney-Letter of Sidney in respect to it-He submits

to voluntary exile-Conduct of the government in the execution

of the regicides-Scrope, Sir Arthur Hazelrig, and Lambert

-Partial statement of Hume respecting the execution of the

regicides-Reflections on the trial and execution of General

Harrison-Reasons of Sidney's refusal to return to England-His

letter to his father on that subject-His views of the govern-

ment at home, and his relation to it--Letter to a friend.

Sidney at Hamburgh-Interview with Queen Christina-Travels

through Europe-Arrives at Rome-His residence there and his

description of it-Various letters from Rome-Cardinal Pellavi-

cini-Sidney's pecuniary embarrassments in Italy-His despon-

dency of mind-Letters to his father-He removes to Frascati-

93

141.