pressions on all our breasts, that the
many afflictions of these sad times could never efface their indelible
characters." From innumerable instances, it appears how deep rooted,
in the minds of the English gentry of that age, was the principle of
loyalty to their sovereign; that noble and generous principle, inferior
only in excellence to the more enlarged and more enlightened affection
towards a legal constitution. But during those times of military
usurpation, these passions were the same.

The king continued several days in Windham's house; and all his friends
in Britain, and in every part of Europe, remained in the most anxious
suspense with regard to his fortunes: no one could conjecture whether
he were dead or alive; and the report of his death, being generally
believed, happily relaxed the vigilant search of his enemies. Trials
were made to procure a vessel for his escape; but he still met with
disappointments. Having left Windham's house, he was obliged again to
return to it. He passed through many other adventures; assumed different
disguises; in every step was exposed to imminent perils and received
daily proofs of uncorrupted fidelity and attachment. The sagacity of a
smith, who remarked that his horse's shoes had been made in the north,
not in the west, as he pretended, once detected him; and he narrowly
escaped. At Shoreham, in Sussex, a vessel was at last found, in which he
embarked. He had been known to so many, that if he had not set sail in
that critical moment, it had been impossible for him to escape. After
one and forty days' concealment, he arrived safely at Fescamp, in
Normandy. No less than forty men and women had at different times been
privy to his concealment and escape.[*]

The battle of Worcester, afforded Cromwell what he called his "crowning
mercy."[**] So elated was he, that he intended to have knighted in the
field two of his generals, Lambert and Fleetwood; but was dissuaded by
his friends from exerting this act of regal authority. His power and
ambition were too great to brook submission to the empty name of a
republic, which stood chiefly by his influence, and was supported by his
victories. How early he entertained thoughts of taking into his hand
the reins of government, is uncertain. We are only assured, that he
now discovered to his intimate friends these aspiring views; and
even expressed a desire of assuming the rank of king, which he had
contributed with such seeming zeal to a