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to him. He involuntarily recalled all this, and it filled him anew with superstitious faith in his mission.

A private door in the wall opened noiselessly, and the head of a man looked cautiously into the room. His face, furrowed by a thousand small wrinkles and lines, his keen, twinkling eyes, and the pliable attitude of the bowed frame, indicated a shrewd and adroit servant. It was the protector's confidant.

"Thurloe, come in," said Cromwell. "We are entirely alone. What do you bring to me?"

"Glad tidings-the confidential deputation of Parliament to offer you the crown, and receive your definite reply. I preceded them to prepare your highness for their arrival."'

"Thank you, thank you. But it is difficult for me to make up my mind. The matter is fraught with many difficulties."

"What! you hesitate to accept a crown?" "New misgivings have arisen in my soul. A man who spoke to me on the subject has just left me. I confess that his words have made a deep impression upon me, although he is a half-blind enthusiast."

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vague, and interlarded with reflections, reminiscences, predictions, and allusions.

"Gentlemen," he replied to the deputation, "I have passed the greater part of my life in fire (if I may so speak), and surrounded by commotions; but all that has happened since I have meddled with public affairs for the general good, if it could be gathered into a single heap, and placed before me in one view, would fail to strike me with the terror and respect for God's will which I undergo at the thought of this thing you now mention, and this title you offer me. But I have drawn confidence and tranquillity in every crisis of my past life from the conviction that the heaviest burdens I have borne have been imposed upon me by His hand without my own participation. Often have I felt that I should have given way under these weighty loads if it had not entered into the views, the plans, and the great bounty of the Lord to assist me in sustaining them. If, then, I should suffer myself to deliver you an answer on this matter, so suddenly and unexpectedly brought under my consideration, without feeling that this answer is suggested to my heart and lips by

"You refer to Milton, the secretary to the Him who has ever been my oracle and guide, Council of State?"

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I should therein exhibit to you a slender evidence of my wisdom. To accept or refuse your offer in one word, from desires or feelings of personal interest, would savor too much of the flesh and of human appetite. To elevate myself to this height by motives of ambition or vain-glory, would be to bring down a curse upon myself, upon my family, and upon the whole empire. Better would it be that I had never been born. Leave me, then, to seek counsel at my leisure of God, and my own conscience; and I hope neither the declamations of a light and thoughtless people, nor the selfish wishes of those who expect to become great in my greatness, may influence my decision, of which I shall communicate to you the result with as little delay as possible."

Three hours afterward, the parliamentary | new spirit—a spirit of zeal and piety; I taught committee returned to press for his answer. them to fear God. From that day forward It was in many respects confused and unintel- they were invariably victorious. To Him be ligible. all the glory!

"Royalty," he said, "is composed of two matters, the title of king and the functions of monarchy. These functions are so united by the very roots to an old form of legislation, that all our laws would fall to nothing did we not retain in their appliance a portion of the kingly power. But as to the title of king, this distinction implies not only a snpreme authority, but, I may venture to say, an authority partaking of the divine! I have assumed the place I now occupy to drive away the dangers which threatened my country, and to prevent their recurrence. I shall not quibble between the titles of king and protector, for I am prepared to continue in your service as either of these, or even as a simple constable, if you so will it, the lowest officer in the land; for, in truth, I have often said to myself that I am, in fact, nothing more than a constable, maintaining the order and peace of the parish. I am, therefore, of opinion that it is unnecessary for you to offer, and for me to accept, the title of king, seeing that any other will equally answer the purpose.

"Allow me," he added, "to lay open my heart here, aloud, and in your presence. At the moment when I was called to this great work, and preferred by God to so many others more worthy than myself, what was I? Nothing more than a simple captain of dragoons in a regiment of militia. My commanding officer was a dear friend, who possessed a noble nature, and whose memory I know you cherish as warmly as I do myself. This was Mr. Hampden. The first time I found myself under fire with him, I saw that our troops, newly levied, without discipline, and composed of men who loved not God, were beaten in every encounter. With the permission of Mr. Hampden, I introduced among them a

"It has ever been thus, it will ever continue to be thus, gentlemen, with the government. Zeal and piety will preserve us without a king. Understand me well; I would willingly become a victim for the salvation of all; but I do not think-no, truly, I do not believe that it is necessary this victim should bear the title of a king."

With this reply Cromwell dismissed the committee which had offered him a crown. When the members had left, his private secretary, Thurloe, asked him what his real opinion

was.

"A crown," said Cromwell, plucking his confidant's ear, is " a nice thing, but a clear conscience is still better. The Lord will settle it all to our best. Come, let us go to dinner; the long speech has given me a good appetite, even though it may have greatly puzzled the gentlemen of the committee.".

CHAPTER VI.

LADY CLAYPOLE "KILLING NO MURDER." CROMWELL dined to-day with his favorite daughter, Lady Claypole, who exercised an extraordinary influence over her father. She was a lady of rare delicacy of feeling, endowed with accomplishments and understanding, faithful to her friends, magnanimous toward her enemies, and fondly attached to her father, of whom she always thought only with pride and solicitude. When Cromwell was exhausted by his public labors, and full of care and anxiety, he joyously sought relief and tranquillity in the society of a heart holding aloof from the ambitious struggles and violent deeds with which his life abounded. The very

contrast in their two characters added to their | true, it is only a book, a sort of political ro

mutual love, Lady Claypole was in secret an adherent of the proscribed Stuarts and the Episcopal Church, while her sister, the wife of Major-General Fleetwood, shared the republican principles of her husband. Thus the protector often met with resistance in the bosom of his own family, where were represented all the parties with which he had to struggle in public life. Many a supplicant applied to Lady Claypole, whose influence over her father was generally known.

The poet Harrington was now waiting in her room for a similar purpose. Cromwell had caused the manuscript of his "Oceana," which abounded with Utopian ideas, to be seized at the printing-office and conveyed to Whitehall. In vain were the efforts of the poet to recover his work. His last hope was the intercession of Lady Claypole. Her maid came in, accompanied by the little daughter of the lady, a sweet child three years old, with blond ringlets. Harrington took the little girl in his arms, and played with her until Lady Claypole came in.

"My lady," said the poet, putting down the child, "it is fortunate that you have come, for I was about to steal your sweet little daughter." "Steal my daughter, and why?" asked the mother, pressing her darling to her heart.

"She will certainly make more brilliant conquests one day, but I will confess to you, my lady, that revenge, and not love, prompted me to steal her."

"And what have I done to provoke your resentment?" she asked, wonderingly.

"Nothing, my lady. I only wished to retaliate upon you, as your father bas stolen from me a child of which I am as fond as you are of yours."

"Oh, my father is incapable of doing any thing of the kind. The protector is severe, but just."

"And yet he took my child from me. It is

mance, but its loss grieves me exceedingly." Lady Claypole smiled at the double entendre. "I will speak to my father about it; he shall restore your child to you."

"Accept my thanks beforehand. I shall dedicate the work to the protector, and present the first copy to you, my lady."

The poet withdrew, and Lady Claypole went to meet her father, who arrived a few moments afterward.

"My lord protector," said the amiable lady, after tenderly embracing him, "permit me to intercede in behalf of a poor child which you have stolen from its father. Do you know Harrington, the poet ?

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"I do, my daughter."

"I have promised him that you would give him back his manuscript."

Cromwell frowned, but his daughter stroked his forehead with her delicate hands, until it became smooth again.

"You are not afraid of a book, father?"

"I am not afraid either of the book or of the author, who would like to deprive me of my power and put his chimeras in my place; but no attack with a little paper-gun shall take from me what I have gained by the sword. I must assume the office of lord high constable to reestablish peace between the hostile parties; for they cannot agree on any form of government, and use their power only to ruin themselves. For your sake I will let him print the book, and even accept its dedication."

At dinner Cromwell, as usual when he was at his daughter's house, was in very good spirits, and to-day his gayety was so great as to excite her surprise.

"Something very agreeable must have happened to you to-day," she said, sympathetically.

"The Parliament to-day offered me the crown for the third time. I believe I shall have to accept it, even if it were only to procure for you the title of royal highness."

"My child, reassure yourself," he exclaimed, deeply moved. "I have not yet made up my mind. You will gradually accustom yourself to this idea."

Lady Claypole turned pale and heaved a | he left her peaceful company than he plunged deep sigh. Her uneasiness and paleness made anew into the whirlpool of intrigues and affairs, a profound impression on the protector. steadily keeping his goal in view. But he had to contend in his family not alone with the pious and tender objections of his daughter. His brother-in-law Desborough and his son-inlaw Fleetwood, an ardent republican, opposed his plan in the most determined manner. When he conversed with them in his usual playful manner on the subject, and repeated his favorite phrase that the royal title would be only a plume on his hat, and that he could not but wonder at men refusing to let children rejoice in their playthings, they remained grave and persisted in their convictions.

"Never!” replied his daughter, resolutely. "The crown on your head would only be a misfortune for our whole house. Like my poor grandmother, I should be unable to sleep calmly for a minute; for I should always see the assassin's dagger raised against you. Oh, father, listen to me quietly, and do not be angry with me. I am only a feeble woman, and am unable to appreciate your lofty plans; but, if you love me, if you feel only the slightest tenderness for me, then content yourself with the greatness which you have already achieved, and do not aspire to a title which, as you say yourself, has no greater value than the plume on your hat. I feel that your accession to the throne would cause my death."

"No, no," cried Cromwell, in dismay; "you shall not, must not die. What would your old father do? Nothing would remain for him but to follow you immediately."

Tears moistened his cheeks, and the man to whom all England bowed, and who annihilated his enemies without mercy or compassion, trembled at the mere thought of such a loss. His paternal love drowned the voice of ambition, and those projects which the most influential and powerful men vainly sought to shake gave way, at least for the time, before the glance and the words of a feeble woman. But Cromwell was unable to give up every thing so abruptly. It is true, his feelings had overpowered him, but his understanding and his inflamed passions stirred up his ambition again. The prize beckoning to him was too tempting. So long as he was with his daughter, he forgot his ambitious schemes; in her presence he was nothing but a loving father; but no sooner had

"This matter," said Major-General Desborough, "is far more important than you seem willing to admit. Those who are urging you to take this step are not the enemies of Charles Stuart; and if you comply with their wishes, you will irretrievably ruin yourself and your friends."

"Both of you are too timid," replied Cromwell, laughing. "I cannot do any thing with you."

"If you assume the royal title, I shall consider your cause and your family as hopelessly lost; and although I shall never do any thing against you, I shall henceforth no longer do any thing for you."

They parted, angry and irritated. Cromwell, however, thought he might still overcome the resistance of his family; nor was he the man to drop so soon a resolution which he had once taken. Desborough, a prominent officer in the army, profited by his position, and caused his most distinguished comrades to sign a petition against the protector's assuming the royal title. This last step dashed the cup from Cromwell's lips; already so near the goal, he was hurled back from it, as he could maintain himself on the throne only by the assistance of the army. He therefore declined with an air of pious indifference the crown offered to him

by the Parliament. He remained, as hereto- | memory blows which you will no longer fore, Lord Protector of England. Nevertheless, feel." the numbers of his enemies and opponents were constantly on the increase. Innumerable conspiracies against his life were discovered by his numerous spies, among whom Billy Green acted again a prominent part.

Cromwell was as indignant as he was dumfounded at this pamphlet, and instructed all his spies to strain every nerve in order to ferret out its author and circulators. Billy Green was fortunate enough to catch and arrest a woman who was engaged in circulating the dangerous pamphlet. The prisoner was wait

deemed the matter so important as to declare that he would himself examine her. He was resolved to treat her with extreme rigor, and nothing short of death seemed to him a penalty adequate to such a crime. He was pacing his cabinet with a rapid step; his fore head was covered with threatening furrows, and his whole face was flushed with anger and determination.

"Bring in the woman," he said to the officer of the day.

The prisoner came in; she bore calmly and composedly the threatening glance of the protector, which caused the most courageous men to tremble.

A pamphlet, entitled "Killing No Murder," was mysteriously circulated in the streets of London; it went from hand to hand; it spreading in the anteroom of the protector, who everywhere like wildfire; it penetrated under various addresses into all houses, now concealed in a box, now in the shape of a letter. Women and children were engaged in circulating it. This pamphlet recommended the assassination of the protector, and commenced with an address to his highness, Oliver Cromwell. The unknown author wrote to him as follows: "I intend to procure for your highness that justice which no one as yet has been willing to let you have, and to show to the people how great an injury it would inflict upon itself and you if it should delay complying with my advice. To your highness belongs the honor of dying for the people, and the thought of the benefit which your death will confer on England cannot but comfort you in your last moments. Not until then, my lord, will you really have a right to the titles which you now arrogate to yourself; you will then really be the liberator of your people, and deliver it from a yoke hardly less oppressive than that from which Moses freed his people. Then you will really be the reformer that you now try to seem; for then religion will be reëstablished, liberty will be restored, and the Parliament will regain the rights for which it struggled so manfully. All this we hope to obtain by the speedy death of your highness. To bring about this blessing as soon as possible, I have written this pamphlet, and if it has the effect which I expect from it, your highness will soon be beyond the reach of human malice, and your enemies will only be able to level against your

"You have committed a capital crime," he said, stepping close up to her.

"I know it, and am not afraid of death," she replied with a proud smile.

"But before dying, you will give me the names of your accomplices. Who gave you this pamphlet ?"

"That is my secret, and no one will be able to wrest it from me."

"But suppose I should pardon you on this condition?"

"Life and liberty have no longer any value for me."

"You are young yet," replied Cromwell, struck by her firmness. "How comes it that life and liberty have no longer value for you?

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"Because sentence of death has been passed upon my husband, who is to be executed tomorrow."

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