d the end of the Journal; on
some such account as this--Cromwell had promised him a sum of money; but
the ancestor got taken prisoner by pirate or privateer before he went to
claim the money; had to be redeemed by Oliver; and the redemption money
was subtracted from the whole sum promised by Oliver when payment-time
came. This proceeding seemed to both Squires, living and dead, shabby;
but one not belonging to the family may be permitted to think it all
fair.

On the whole, I suspect you would have used Ancestor Squire as you have
used many others who have helped you to materials of his kind; like a
sucked orange: you would have tossed him into the dirt carelessly, I
doubt; and then what would Squire minor have said? Yet he himself did
not like all his Ancestor had done; the _secret_ service, which our
Squire called '_spy-age_'; going to Holland with messages and despatches
which he was to deliver to some one who was to meet him on the quay, and
show him a gold ring; the man with the gold ring supposed to be the
Stadtholder! I tried to persuade our friend there was no great shame in
being an agent of this sort; but he said with a light rap on the table
that _he_ wouldn't do such a thing.

I have now told you something of what remains in my head after our
conference; but you must see the man. What gave us the idea of his being
old was his old-fashioned notions; he and his family have lived in
Peterboro' and such retired places these three hundred years; and amazing
as it may seem to us that any people should be ashamed that their
ancestors fought for Low Church, yet two hundred years are but as a day
in a Cathedral Close. Nothing gives one more the idea of the Sleeping
Palace than that. Esto perpetua! I mean, as long as I live at least.
When I expressed wonder to Squire that his wife's friends, or his
Peterboro' friends, should be so solicitous about the world's ever
knowing that their ancestors had received letters from Cromwell, he very
earnestly assured me that he knew some cases in which persons'
advancement in public life had been suddenly stopt by the Queen or her
ministers, when it got wind that they were related in any way to
Cromwell! I thought this a piece of dotage, as I do now; but I have
heard elsewhere of some one not being allowed to take the name of
Cromwell; I mean not very many years back; but more likely under a George
than under a Victoria.

I think Squire must be a little crazy on this sco