his own folly and blindness to providence sinfully, yet it
must be at my peril; the case may be that it is the
providence of God that doth lead men in darkness: I must
need say, that I have had a great deal of experience of
providence; and though it is no rule without or against the
word, yet it is a very good expositor of the word in many
cases." Conference at Whitehall. The great defect in
Oliver's speeches consists not in his want of elocution, but
in his want of ideas. The sagacity of his actions, and the
absurdity of his discourse, form the most prodigious
contrast that ever was known. The collection of all his
speeches, letters, sermons, (for he also wrote sermons,)
would make a great curiosity, and, with a few exceptions,
might justly pass for one of the most nonsensical books in
the world.

The opposition which Cromwell dreaded, was not that which came from
Lambert and his adherents, whom he now regarded as capital enemies, and
whom he was resolved, on the first occasion, to deprive of all power and
authority; it was that which he met with in his own family, and from men
who, by interest as well as inclination, were the most devoted to him.
Fleetwood had married his daughter; Desborow his sister; yet these
men, actuated by principle alone, could by no persuasion, artifice, or
entreaty be induced to consent that their friend and patron should be
invested with regal dignity. They told him, that if he accepted of
the crown, they would instantly throw up their commissions, and never
afterwards should have it in their power to serve him.[*]

* Thurloe, vol. vi. p. 261.

Colonel Pride procured a petition against the office of king, signed
by a majority of the officers who were in London and the neighborhood.
Several persons, it is said, had entered into an engagement to murder
the protector within a few hours after he should have accepted the offer
of the parliament. Some sudden mutiny in the army was justly dreaded.
And upon the whole, Cromwell, after the agony and perplexity of
long doubt, was at last obliged to refuse that crown which the
representatives of the nation, in the most solemn manner, had tendered
to him. Most historians are inclined to blame his choice; but he must
be allowed the best judge of his own situation. And in such complicated
subjects, the alteration of a very minute circumstance, unknown to the
spectator, wil