was always obferved: after having paffed an hour or two in converfation and drinking, Richard, ftarting up, took the candle, and the reft of the company (who all knew, except the last admitted man, what was going forward) took up the bottle and the glaffes, and followed the quondam Protector to a dirty garret, in which nothing was to be feen but a little round hair trunk. Mr. Cromwell, having drawn the trunk into the middle of the room, and being feated aftride it, then called for a bumper of wine, with which he drank profperity to Old England; all the company did the fame, and last of all the new member, who is defired by Richard to take care and fit light, for he had no less than the, lives and fortunes of all the good people of England under him. The trunk was then opened, and the original addreffes, before mentioned, fhewn to him with great mirth and laughter. This was his ufual method of initiating a new acquaintance.

The reflections thrown on him by the republicans, chiefly arofe from an unguarded expreffion of Richard's, which is faid to have contributed, in a great measure, to his being depofed. An inferior officer, who had publicly murmured at the advancement in the

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army of fome that had been cavaliers, was taken to Whitehall, to anfwer to the charge. The Protector, on hearing the complaint avowed, is faid to have exclaimed, in a deriding manner, "What! would you have me prefer none but the godly? Here is Dick Ingoldfby, who can neither pray nor preach, and yet I will truft him before all.” there are many proofs that the Protector was not an irreligious man, it may be fuppofed, that well knowing the cant and hypocrify of the times, he only meant, by the foregoing declaration, that he preferred one who had neither of thofe equivocal qualifications, to fuch as poffeffed them.

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Those who are not influenced by prejudice or party, fpeak more favourably of him: they fay, “that he was a very worthy person, of an engaging nature, and religious difpofition, fhewing great refpect to the best of persons, both minifters and others." During the latter part of his life, it is well known that he attended divine worship regularly every Sunday; and though he had not all that zeal for religion which was the fashion of the times, he had real piety.

He affected none of that aufterity and gloominess

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upon acquainting Fleetwood with his intention, he advised him to remain where he was, telling him, that the parliament had no intention of taking away his life; on the contrary, though they deprived him of the government, they would fettle upon him a revenue equal to his wifhes.

They accordingly, upon his agreeing to leave Whitehall, and difpofe of himself as his private occafions may require, promised to take upon themselves the payment of his own and his father's debts; to fecure him from all arrefts for the fpace of fix months; and to fettle upon him a comfortable and honourable fubfiftence.

This was become the more needful to the degraded Protector, as he now felt all the inconveniences attendant on the involved fituation of his affairs; for thofe to whom he was in debt for the pompous funeral of his father, were grown extremely clamorous. One of them had the boldnefs to iffue out a writ against him, and his palace was furrounded with all the bailiffs of Middlefex.

But Richard, who knew that the members of the Houfe hated him, placed very Cc 4 little

little .confidence in their promifes. And Fleetwood, who pretended a regard for the brother he had ruined, merely to intimidate the parliament, advifing him, upon his leaving Whitehall, to make Hampton-Court the place of his refidence, instead of retiring to Hurfley, he removed to that place. This step greatly alarmed the parliament, and was productive of confequences that might have been very advantageous to him, had not the restoration taken place; for they agreed to fettle a very ample revenue upon him and his heirs, which the return of Charles prevented him from long enjoying.

He remained inactive, not only during the fitting of the rump parliament, but likewise during the frequent troubles that followed. Some, who had lefs to fear from his than from Charles's restoration, wished to see him protector again. Nothing, however, of this kind was attempted in his favour; nor is there any reafon to believe that he entertained a thought of it himself.

As foon as the healing parliament met, he retired to Hursley, where he continued till the king's return was voted; when, knowing how obnoxious he must be to the exiled mo

narch,

narch, now coming home to poffefs that birthright which had fo long been withheld from him by Oliver and himself, he thought it prudent to retire to the Continent.

It is very fingular, that, at the restoration, his name was not mentioned in either of the houfes of parliament. Lord Clarendon fays, "that he fled more for fear of his debts, than of the king." That good-natured prince did not think it neceffary to enquire after a man who had been fo long forgotten.

Though Richard was not in any danger as to his life, yet he undoubtedly was of his liberty; for as he had received but little from his grant, and no more could be expected, he had not wherewithal to defray the confiderable fums he owed, on account of his father's pompous funeral, and what he had expended for the ftates. Befides, as great part of the property he was at that time poffeffed of, was of fuch a tenure that it would revert to the crown, or to fuch perfons as it had been unjustly taken from by the long parliament, and beftowed upon Oliver, he knew his creditors would not fhew the leaft lenity towards him; and had he been arrested. for any part of his numerous debts, he further

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