royalty restored-第4章
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As desires of waking hours are answered in sleep； so in response to his nervous craving for life he had delusive assurances of health through the special bounty of Providence。 He was therefore presently able to announce he 〃had very great discoveries of the Lord to him in his sickness； and hath some certainty of being restored；〃 as Fleetwood； his son…in…law； wrote on the 24th of August in this same year。
Accordingly； when one of the physicians came to him next morning； the High Protector said； 〃Why do you look sad？〃 To which the man of lore replied evasively； 〃So it becomes anyone who had the weighty care of his life and health upon him。〃 Then Cromwell to this purpose spoke： 〃You think I shall die； I tell you I shall not die this bout； I am sure on't。 Don't think I am mad。 I speak the words of truth upon surer grounds than Galen or your Hippocrates furnish you with。 God Almighty himself hath given that answer； not to my prayers alone； but also to the prayers of those who entertain a stricter commerce and greater intimacy with him。 Ye may have skill in the nature of things； yet nature can do more than all physicians put together； and God is far above nature。〃 The doctor besought him to rest； and left the room。 Outside he met one of his colleagues； to whom he gave it as his opinion their patient had grown light…headed； and he repeated the words which Cromwell had spoken。 〃Then；〃 said his brother… physician； 〃you are certainly a stranger in this house； don't you know what was done last night？ The chaplain and all their friends being dispersed into several parts of the palace have prayed to God for his health； and they all heard the voice of God saying； 'He will recover；' and so they are all certain of it。〃
〃Never； indeed； was there a greater stock of prayers going on for any man；〃 as Thurlow； his secretary； writes。 So sure were those around him that Providence must hearken to and grant the fulfilment of such desires as they thought well to express； that； as Thomas Goodwin； one of Cromwell's chaplains； said； 〃We asked not for the Protector's life； for we were assured He had too great things for this man to do； to remove him yet； but we prayed for his speedy recovery； because his life and presence were so necessary to divers things then of great moment to be despatched。〃 When this Puritanical fanatic was presently disappointed； Bishop Burnet narrates 〃he had the impudence to say to God； 'Thou hast deceived us。'〃
Meanwhile the Protector lay writhing in pain and terror。 His mind was sorely troubled at remembrance of the last words spoken by his daughter Elizabeth； who had threatened judgments upon him because of his refusal to save the King； whilst his body was grievously racked with a tertian fever； and a foul humour which； beginning in his foot； worked its way steadily to his heart。 Moreover； some insight regarding his future seemed given to him in his last days； for he appeared； as Ludlow； his contemporary； states； 〃above all concerned for the reproaches he saw men would cast upon his name； in tramping upon his ashes when dead。〃
On the 30th of August his danger became evident even to himself； and all hope of life left him。 For hours after the certain approach of death became undeniably certain； he remained quiet and speechless； seemingly heedless of the exhortation and prayers of his chaplains； till suddenly turning to one of them； he whispered； 〃Tell me； is it possible to fall from grace？〃 The preacher had a soothing reply ready： 〃It is not；〃 he answered。 〃Then；〃 exclaimed this unhappy man； whose soul was red with the blood of thousands of his countrymen； 〃I am safe； for I know I was once in grace。〃 Anon he cries out； whilst tossing wildly on his bed； 〃Lord； although I am a miserable and a wretched creature； I am in covenant with Thee through grace； and I may and will come to Thee for Thy people。 Pardon such as desire to trample upon the dust of a poor worm。 And give us a good night if it be Thy pleasure。 Amen。〃
It was now the 2nd of September。 As the evening of that day approached he fell into a stupor； and those who watched him thought the end had come。
Within the darkened chamber in Whitehall all was silence and gloom； without all was tumult and fear。 Before the gates of the palace a turbulent crowd of soldiers and citizens had gathered in impatient anxiety。 Those he had raised to power； those whose fortunes depended on his life； were steeped in gloom； those whose principles he had outraged by his usurpation； those whose position he had crushed by his sway； rejoiced at heart。 Not only the capital； but the whole nation； was divided into factions which one strong hand alone had been able to control； and terror； begotten by dire remembrances of civil war and bloodshed； abode with all lovers of peace。
As evening closed in； the elements appeared in unison with the distracted condition of the kingdom。 Dark clouds； seeming of ominous import to men's minds； gathered in the heavens； to be presently torn asunder and hurried in wild flight by tempestuous winds across the troubled sky。 As night deepened； the gale steadily increased； until it raged in boundless fury above the whole island and the seas that rolled around its shores。 In town houses rocked on their foundations； turrets and steeples were flung from their places； in the country great trees were uprooted； corn…stacks levelled to the ground； and winter fruits destroyed； whilst at sea ships sank to rise no more。 This memorable storm lasted all night； and continued until three o'clock next afternoon； when Cromwell expired。
His body was immediately embalmed； but was of necessity interred in great haste。 Westminster Abbey； the last home of kings and princes； was selected as the fittest resting…place for the regicide。 Though it was impossible to honour his remains by stately ceremonials； his followers were not content to let the occasion of his death pass with…out commemoration。 They therefore had a waxen image of him made； which they resolved to surround with all the pomp and circumstances of royalty。 For this purpose they carried it to Somerset Houseone of the late King's palacesand placed it on a couch of crimson velvet beneath a canopy of state。 Upon its shoulders they hung a purple mantle； in its right hand they placed a golden sceptre； and by its side they laid an imperial crown； probably the same which； according to Welwood； the Protector had secretly caused to be made and conveyed to Whitehall with a view to his coronation。 The walls and ceiling of the room in which the effigy lay were covered by sable velvet； the passages leading to it crowded with soldiery。 After a few weeks the town grew tired of this sight； when the waxen image was taken to another apartment； hung with rich velvets and golden tissue； and otherwise adorned to symbolize heaven； when it was placed upon a throne； clad 〃in a shirt of fine Holland lace； doublet and breeches of Spanish fashion with great skirts； silk stockings； shoe…strings and gaiters suitable； and black Spanish leather shoes。〃 Over this attire was flung a cloak of purple velvet； and on his head was placed a crown with many precious stones。 The room was then lit； as Ludlow narrates； 〃by four or five hundred candles set in flat shining candlesticks； so placed round near the roof that the light they gave seemed like the rays of the sun； by all which he was represented to be now in a state of glory。〃 Lest； indeed； there should be any doubt as to the place where his soul abode； Sterry； the Puritan preacher； imparted the information to all； that the Protector 〃now sat with Christ at the right hand of the Father。〃
But this pomp and state in no may overawed the people； who； by pelting with mire Cromwell's escutcheon placed above the great gate of Somerset House gave evidence of the contempt in which they held his memory。 After a lapse of over two months from the day of his death； the effigy was carried to Westminster Abbey with more than regal ceremony； the expenses of his lying…in…state and of his funeral procession amounting； as stated by Walker and Noble； to upwards of L29；000。 〃It was the joyfullest funeral I ever saw；〃 writes Evelyn； 〃for there were none that cried but dogs； which the so
