e royalists. When principles are so absurd and so destructive of
human society, it may safely be averred, that the more sincere and the
more disinterested they are, they only become the more ridiculous and
the more odious.

Cromwell feared not to oppose eight thousand men to the numerous armies
of twenty thousand commanded by Hamilton and Langdale. He attacked the
latter by surprise near Preston, in Lancashire; and though the royalists
made a brave resistance, yet, not being succored in time by their
confederates, they were almost entirely cut in pieces. Hamilton was next
attacked, put to rout, and pursued to Utoxeter, where he surrendered
himself prisoner. Cromwell followed his advantage; and, marching into
Scotland with a considerable body joined Argyle, who was also in arms;
and having suppressed Laneric, Monro, and other moderate Presbyterians
he placed the power entirely in the hands of the violent party. The
ecclesiastical authority, exalted above the civil, exercised the
severest vengeance on all who had a share in Hamilton's engagement, as
it was called; nor could any of that party recover trust, or even live
in safety, but by doing solemn and public penance for taking arms, by
authority of parliament in defence of their lawful sovereign.

The chancellor, Loudon, who had at first countenanced Hamilton's
enterprise, being terrified with the menaces of the clergy, had some
time before gone over to the other party; and he now openly in the
church, though invested with the highest civil character in the kingdom,
did penance for his obedience to the parliament, which he termed a
"carnal self-seeking." He accompanied his penance with so many tears,
and such pathetical addresses to the people for their prayers in
this his uttermost sorrow and distress, that a universal weeping and
lamentation took place among the deluded audience.[*]

The loan of great sums of money, often to the ruin of families, was
exacted from all such as lay under any suspicion of favoring the king's
party, though their conduct had been ever so inoffensive. This was a
device fallen upon by the ruling party, in order, as they said, to reach
"heart malignants."[**] Never in this island was known a more severe
and arbitrary government, than was generally exercised by the patrons of
liberty in both kingdoms.

* Whitlocke, p. 360.

** Guthrey. Lucas and Sir George Lisle.

The siege of Colchester terminated in a manner no less unfortunat