, and conveyed
his will to the whole army. By his profound and artful conduct, he
had now attained a situation where he could cover his enterprises from
public view; and seeming either to obey the commands of his superior
officer, or yield to the movements of the soldiers, could secretly pave
the way for his future greatness. While the disorders of the army
were yet in their infancy, he kept at a distance, lest his counterfeit
aversion might throw a damp upon them, or his secret encouragement beget
suspicion in the parliament. As soon as they came to maturity, he openly
joined the troops; and, in the critical moment, struck that important
blow of seizing the king's person, and depriving the parliament of any
resource of an accommodation with him. Though one visor fell off another
still remained to cover his natural countenance.

Where delay was requisite, he could employ the most indefatigable
patience: where celerity was necessary, he flew to a decision. And by
thus uniting in his person the most opposite talents, he was enabled
to combine the most contrary interests in a subserviency to his secret
purposes.

The parliament, though at present defenceless, was possessed of many
resources; and time might easily enable them to resist that violence
with which they were threatened. Without further deliberation,
therefore, Cromwell advanced the army upon them, and arrived in a few
days at St. Albans.

Nothing could be more popular than this hostility which the army
commenced against the parliament. As much as that assembly was once
the idol of the nation, as much was it now become the object of general
hatred and aversion.

The self-denying ordinance had no longer been put in execution, than
till Essex, Manchester, Waller, and the other officers of that party,
had resigned their commission: immediately after, it was laid aside by
tacit consent; and the members, sharing all offices of power and profit
among them, proceeded with impunity in exercising acts of oppression on
the helpless nation. Though the necessity of their situation might serve
as an apology for many of their measures, the people, not accustomed to
such a species of government, were not disposed to make the requisite
allowances.

A small supply of one hundred thousand pounds a year could never be
obtained by former kings from the jealous humor of parliaments; and the
English, of all nations in Europe, were the least accustomed to taxes;
but this parliam