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of human Grammar, human Geography, Geometry, and other divine Knowledge, to the vacant human mind,—in those once sleepy Edifices, dark heretofore, or illuminated mainly by Dr. Cosins's Papistical waxlights or the like: and so continued, in spite of opposition, till the Blessed Restoration put a stop to it, and to some other things. In late years there is again some kind of Durham College giving Lessons,-I hope, with good success.

LETTER CLXX.

By that tempestuous sleety expedition in the beginning of February, my Lord General caught a dangerous illness, which hung about him, reappearing in three successive relapses, till June next; and greatly alarmed the Commonwealth and the Authorities. As this to Bradshaw, and various other Letters still indicate.

To the Right Honourable the Lord President of the Council of State: These.

MY LORD,

Edinburgh, 24th March, 1650. I do with all humble thankfulness acknowledge your high favour, and tender respect of me, expressed in your Letter, and the Express sent therewith to inquire after one so unworthy as myself.

Indeed, my Lord, your service needs not me: I am a poor creature; and have been a dry bone; and am still an unprofitable servant to my Master and you. I thought I should have died of this fit of sickness; but the Lord seemeth to dispose otherwise. But truly, my

Lord, I desire not to live, unless I may obtain mercy from the Lord to approve my heart and life to Him in more faithfulness and thankfulness, and 'to' those I serve in more profitableness and diligence. And I pray God, your Lordship, and all in public trust, may improve all those unparalleled experiences of the Lord's wonderful Workings in your sight, with singleness of heart to His glory, and the refreshment of His People; who are to Him as the apple of His eye; and upon whom your enemies, both former and latter, who have fallen before you, did split themselves.

This shall be the unfeigned prayer of,

My Lord,

Your most humble servant,

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

From Edinburgh, of date 18th March, by special Express we have this comfortable intelligence: The Lord General is ' now well recovered: he was in his dining-room today with 'his Officers, and was very cheerful and pleasant.' And the symptoms, we see, continue good and better on the 24th. 'So that there is not any fear, by the blessing of God, but our 'General will be enabled to take the field when the Provisions ' arrive.' 'Dr. Goddard' is attending him. Before the end of the month he is on foot again; sieging Blackness, sieging the Island of Inchgarvie, or giving Colonel Monk directions to that end.

Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 101). 1 Ibid. pp. 100, 1.

LETTER CLXXI.

THE following Letter brings its own commentary:

For my beloved Wife, Elizabeth Cromwell, at the
Cockpit: These.

MY DEAREST,

Edinburgh,' 12th April, 1651.

I praise the Lord I am increased in strength in my outward man: But that will not satisfy me except I get a heart to love and serve my heavenly Father better; and get more of the light of His countenance, which is better than life, and more power over my corruptions:-in these hopes I wait, and am not without expectation of a gracious return. Pray for me; truly I do daily for thee, and the dear Family and God Almighty bless you all with His spiritual blessings.

Mind poor Betty of the Lord's great mercy. Oh, I desire her not only to seek the Lord in her necessity, but in deed and in truth to turn to the Lord; and to keep close to Him; and to take heed of a departing heart, and of being cozened with worldly vanities and worldly company, which I doubt she is too subject to. I earnestly and frequently pray for her and for him. Truly they are dear to me, very dear; and I am in fear lest Satan should deceive them,-knowing how weak our hearts are, and how subtle the Adversary is, and what way the deceitfulness of our hearts and the vain world make for his temptations. The Lord give them

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truth of heart to Him. Let them seek Him in truth, and they shall find Him.

My love to the dear little ones; I pray for grace for them. I thank them for their Letters; let me have them often.

Beware of my Lord Herbert's resort to your house. If he do so, it may occasion scandal, as if I were bargaining with him. Indeed, be wise,—you know my meaning. Mind Sir Henry Vane of the business of my Estate. Mr. Floyd knows my whole mind in that

matter.

If Dick Cromwell and his Wife be with you, my dear love to them. I pray for them; they shall, God willing, hear from me. I love them very dearly.Truly I am not able as yet to write much. I am weary; and rest,

Thine,

OLIVER CROMWELL.*

'Betty' and 'he' are Elizabeth Claypole and her Husband; of whom, for the curious, there is a longwinded intricate account by Noble, but very little discoverable in it. They lived at Norborough, which is near Market Deeping, but in Northamptonshire; where, as already intimated, the Lady Protectress, Widow Elizabeth Cromwell, after the Restoration, found a retreat. "They had at least three sons and daughters.' Claypole became 'Master of the Horse' to Oliver; sat in Parliament; made an elegant appearance in the world :—but dwindled sadly after his widowership; his second marriage ending in separation,' in a third quasi-marriage, and other * Cole Mss. xxxiii. 37: a Copy; Copies are frequent.

ii. 375, &c.

confusions, poor man! But as yet the Lady Claypole lives; bright and brave. Truly they are dear to me, very dear.'

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'Dick Cromwell and his Wife' seem to be up in Town on a visit;-living much at their ease in the Cockpit, they. Brother Henry, in these same days, is out in the King's County' in Ireland; doing hard duty at 'Ballybawn,' and elsewhere,1-the distinguished Colonel Cromwell. And Deputy Ireton, with his labours, is wearing himself to death. In the same house, one works, another goes idle.

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"The Lord Herbert' is Henry Somerset, eldest son of the now Marquis of Worcester,—of the Lord Glamorgan whom we knew slightly at Ragland, in underhand Irish Treaties' and such like; whose Century of Inventions is still slightly known to here and there a reader of Old Books. This Lord Herbert,' it seems, became Duke of Beaufort after the Re'storation.' For obvious reasons, you are to beware of his ' resort to your house at present.' A kind of professed Protestant he, but come of rank Papists and Malignants; which may give rise to commentaries. One stupid Annotator on a certain Copy of this Letter says, 'His Lordship had an intrigue with Mrs. Claypole ;'-which is evidently downright stupor and falsehood, like so much else.

LETTER CLXXII.

UPON the Surrender of Edinburgh Castle, due provision had been made for conveyance of the Public Writs and Registers to what quarter the Scotch Authorities might direct; and 'Passes,' under the Lord General's hand, duly granted for that

1 Newspapers (in Cromwelliana, p. 102).

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