rerogatives
of the crown; and displayed that masculine eloquence and undaunted
love of liberty, which, from his intimate acquaintance with the sublime
spirits of antiquity, he had greedily imbibed. When civil convulsions
proceeded to extremities, and it became requisite for him to choose his
side, he tempered the ardor of his zeal, and embraced the defence of
those limited powers which remained to monarchy, and which he deemed
necessary for the support of the English constitution. Still anxious,
however, for his country, he seems to have dreaded the too prosperous
success of his own party as much as of the enemy; and among his intimate
friends often after a deep silence and frequent sighs, he would with a
sad accent reiterate the word peace. In excuse for the too free exposing
of his person, which seemed unsuitable in a secretary of state, he
alleged, that it became him to be more active than other men in all
hazardous enterprises, lest his impatience for peace might bear the
imputation of cowardice or pusillanimity. From the commencement of the
war, his natural cheerfulness and vivacity became clouded; and even his
usual attention to dress, required by his birth and station gave way to
a negligence which was easily observable. On the morning of the battle
in which he fell, he had shown some care of adorning his person; and
gave for a reason, that the enemy should not find his body in any
slovenly, indecent situation. "I am weary," subjoined he, "of the times,
and foresee much misery to my country; but believe that I shall be out
of it ere night."[*] This excellent person was but thirty-four years of
age when a period was thus put to his life.

* Whitlocke, p. 70. Clarendon, vol. iii. p. 350, 351, etc.

The loss sustained on both sides in the battle of Newbury, and the
advanced season, obliged the armies to retire into winter quarters.

In the north, during this summer, the great interest and popularity of
the earl, now created marquis of Newcastle, had raised a considerable
force for the king; and great hopes of success were entertained from
that quarter. There appeared, however, in opposition to him, two men
on whom the event of the war finally depended, and who began about this
time to be remarked for their valor and military conduct. These were Sir
Thomas Fairfax, son of the lord of that name, and Oliver Cromwell. The
former gained a considerable advantage at Wakefield over a detachment
of royalists, and took