royalty restored-第4部分

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　it　to　Somerset　Houseone　of　the　late　King's　palacesand　placed　it　on　a　couch　of　crimson　velvet　beneath　a　canopy　of　state。　　Upon　its　shoulders　they　hung　a　purple　mantle；　in　its　right　hand　they　placed　a　golden　sceptre；　and　by　its　side　they　laid　an　imperial　crown；　probably　the　same　which；　according　to　Welwood；　the　Protector　had　secretly　caused　to　be　made　and　conveyed　to　Whitehall　with　a　view　to　his　coronation。　The　walls　and　ceiling　of　the　room　in　which　the　effigy　lay　were　covered　by　sable　velvet；　the　passages　leading　to　it　crowded　with　soldiery。　　After　a　few　weeks　the　town　grew　tired　of　this　sight；　when　the　waxen　image　was　taken　to　another　apartment；　hung　with　rich　velvets　and　golden　tissue；　and　otherwise　adorned　to　symbolize　heaven；　when　it　was　placed　upon　a　throne；　clad　〃in　a　shirt　of　fine　Holland　lace；　doublet　and　breeches　of　Spanish　fashion　with　great　skirts；　silk　stockings；　shoe…strings　and　gaiters　suitable；　and　black　Spanish　leather　shoes。〃　　Over　this　attire　was　flung　a　cloak　of　purple　velvet；　and　on　his　head　was　placed　a　crown　with　many　precious　stones。　　The　room　was　then　lit；　as　Ludlow　narrates；　〃by　four　or　five　hundred　candles　set　in　flat　shining　candlesticks；　so　placed　round　near　the　roof　that　the　light　they　gave　seemed　like　the　rays　of　the　sun；　by　all　which　he　was　represented　to　be　now　in　a　state　of　glory。〃　　Lest；　indeed；　there　should　be　any　doubt　as　to　the　place　where　his　soul　abode；　Sterry；　the　Puritan　preacher；　imparted　the　information　to　all；　that　the　Protector　〃now　sat　with　Christ　at　the　right　hand　of　the　Father。〃

But　this　pomp　and　state　in　no　may　overawed　the　people；　who；　by　pelting　with　mire　Cromwell's　escutcheon　placed　above　the　great　gate　of　Somerset　House　gave　evidence　of　the　contempt　in　which　they　held　his　memory。　　After　a　lapse　of　over　two　months　from　the　day　of　his　death；　the　effigy　was　carried　to　Westminster　Abbey　with　more　than　regal　ceremony；　the　expenses　of　his　lying…in…state　and　of　his　funeral　procession　amounting；　as　stated　by　Walker　and　Noble；　to　upwards　of　L29；000。　　〃It　was　the　joyfullest　funeral　I　ever　saw；〃　writes　Evelyn；　〃for　there　were　none　that　cried　but　dogs；　which　the　soldiers　hooted　away　with　a　barbarous　noise；　drinking　and　taking　tobacco　as　they　went。〃

A　little　while　before　his　death　Cromwell　had　named　his　eldest　surviving　son；　Richard；　as　his　successor；　and　he　was　accordingly　declared　Protector；　with　the　apparent　consent　of　the　council；　soldiers；　and　citizens。　　Nor　did　the　declaration　cause　any　excitement；　〃There　is　not　a　dog　who　wags　his　tongue；　so　profound　is　the　calm　which　we　are　in；〃　writes　Thurlow　to　Oliver's　second　son；　Henry；　then　Lord　Lieutenant　of　Ireland。　　But　if　the　nation　in　its　dejection　made　no　signs　of　resistance；　neither　did　it　give　any　indications　of　satisfaction；　and　Richard　was　proclaimed　〃with　as　few　expressions　of　joy　as　had　ever　been　observed　on　a　like　occasion。〃　　For　a　brief　while　a　stupor　seemed　to　lull　the　factious　party　spirit　which　was　shortly　to　plunge　the　country　into　fresh　difficulties。　　The　Cromwellians　and　Republicans　foresaw　resistless　strife；　and　the　Royalists　quietly　and　hopefully　abided　results。

Nor　had　they　long　to　wait。　　In　the　new　Parliament　assembled　in　January；　1659；　the　Republicans　showed　themselves　numerous　and　bold　beyond　measure；　and　hesitated　to　recognise　Richard　Cromwell　as　successor　to　the　Protectorate。　　However；　on　the　14th　of　the　following　month　the　Cromwellians　gained　the　upper　hand；　when　Richard　was　confirmed　in　his　title　of　〃Lord　Protector；　and　First　Magistrate　of　England；　Scotland；　and　Ireland；　with　all　the　territories　depending　thereon。〃　　Further　discussion　quickly　followed。　　〃One　party　thinks　the　Protectorate　cannot　last；　the　other　that　the　Republican　cannot　raise　itself　again；　the　indifferent　hope　that　both　will　be　right。　　It　is　easy　to　foretell　the　upshot；〃　writes　Hyde。　　The　disunion　spread　rapidly　and　widely；　not　only　was　the　Parliament　divided　against　itself；　but　so　likewise　was　the　army；　and　the　new　Protector　had　neither　the　courage　nor　the　ability　to　put　down　strife　with　a　strong　hand。　Richard　Cromwell　was　a　man　of　peaceful　disposition；　gentle　manners　and　unambitious　mind；　whom　fate　had　forced　into　a　position　for　which　he　was　in　no　way　fitted。　　By　one　of　those　strange　contradictions　which　nature　sometimes　produces；　he　differed　in　all　things　from　his　father；　for　not　only　was　he　pleasure…loving；　joyous；　and　humane；　but　he　was；　moreover；　a　Royalist　at　heart；　and　continued　in　friendship　with　the　Cavaliers　up　to　the　period　of　his　proclamation　as　Protector。　　It　has　been　stated　that；　falling　on　his　knees；　he　entreated　his　father　to　spare　the　life　of　Charles　I。；　it　is　certain　he　remained　inactive　whilst　the　civil　wars　devastated　the　land；　and　there　is　evidence　to　show　that；　during　the　seven　months　and　twenty…eight　days　of　his　Protectorship；　he　shrank　from　the　perpetration　of　cruelty　and　crime。　　Accordingly；　when　those　who　had　at　first　supported　his　authority　eventually　conspired　against　him；　he　refrained　from　using　his　power　to　crush　them。　　At　this　his　friends　were　wrath。　〃It　is　time　to　look　about　you；〃　said　Lord　Howard；　speaking　with　the　bluntness　of　a　friend。　　〃Empire　and　command　are　not　now　the　question。　　Your　person；　your　life　are　in　peril。　　You　are　the　son　of　Cromwell；　show　yourself　worthy　to　be　his　son。　　This　business　requires　a　bold　stroke；　and　must　be　supported　by　a　good　head。　　Do　not　suffer　yourself　to　be　daunted。　　I　will　rid　you　of　your　enemies：　　do　you　stand　by　me；　and　only　back　my　zeal　for　your　honour　with　your　name；　my　head　shall　answer　for　the　consequences。〃

Colonel　Ingoldsby　seconded　the　advice　Lord　Howard　gave；　but　Richard　Cromwell　hearkened　to　neither。　　〃I　have　never　done　anybody　any　harm；　and　never　will；〃　said　he。　　〃will　not　have　a　drop　of　blood　spilt　for　the　preservation　of　my　greatness；　which　is　a　burden　to　me。〃　　At　this　Lord　Howard　was　indignant。　　〃Do　you　think；〃　he　asked；　〃this　moderation　of　yours　will　repair　the　wrong　your　family　has　committed　by　its　elevation？　　Everybody　knows　that　by　violence　your　father　procured　the　death　of　the　late　king；　and　kept　his　sons　in　banishment：　　mercy　in　the　present　state　of　affairs　is　unreasonable。　　Lay　aside　this　pussillanimity；　every　moment　is　precious；　your　enemies　spend　the　time　in　acting　which　we　waste　in　consulting。〃　　〃Talk　no　more　of　it；〃　answered　the　Protector。　　〃I　am　thankful　for　your　friendship；　but　violent　counsels　suit　not　with　me。〃

The　climax　was　at　hand；　his　fall　was　but　a　question　of　time。　　〃A　wonderfull　and　suddaine　change　in　ye　face　of　ye　publiq；〃　writes　Evelyn；　on　the　25th　of　April；　1659。　　〃Ye　new　Protector　Richard　slighted；　several　pretenders　and　parties　strove　for　the　Government；　all　anarchy　and　confusion。　　Lord　have　mercy　on　us！〃

Before　the　month　of　May　had　expired；　the　House　of　Commons　commissioned　two　of　its　members　to　bid　Richard　Cromwell　leave　the　palace　of　Whitehall；　and　obtain　his　signature　to　a　deed　wherein　he　acknowledged　complete　submission　to　Parliament。　　His　brief　inglorious　reign　was　therefore　at　an　end。　　〃As　with　other　men；〃　he　wrote　to　the　House　of　Commons；　〃I　expect　protection　from　the　present　Government：　　I　do　hold　myself　obliged　to　demean　myself　with　all　the　peaceableness　under　it；　and　to　procure；　to　the　utmost　of　my　power；　that　all　in　whom　I　have　any　interest　to　do　the　same。〃　　He　retired　into　Hampshire；　where　he　dwelt　as　a　private　gentleman。　　His　brother　Henry　resigned　his　position　as　Lord　Lieutenant　of　Ireland　and　settled　in　Cambridgeshire。　　From　this　time　the　name　of　Cromwell　was　no　longer　a　power　in　the　land。

During　two　years　subsequent　to　the　death　of　Oliver　the　government　of　England　underwent　various　changes；　and　the　kingdom　suffered　many　disorders；　until；　being　heartily　sick　of　anarchy；　the　people　desired　a　king　might　once　more　reign　over　them。　　accordingly；　they　turned　their　eyes　towards　the　son　of　him　whom　〃the　boldest　villany　that　ever　any　nation　saw〃　had　sent　to　the　block。　　And　the　time　being　ripe；　Charles　Stuart；　then　an　exile　in　Breda；　despatched　Sir　John　Grenville　with　royal　letters　to　both　Houses　of　Parliament；　likewise　to　the　Lord　Mayor　of　London　and　members　of　the　Common　Council；　to　Monk；　commander　of　the　forces；　and　Montagu；　admiral　of　the　fleet。　　These　letters　were　received　with　so　universal　a　joy　and　applause；　that　Parliament　forthwith　ordained　Charles　Stuart　should　be　proclaimed　〃the　most　potent；　mighty；　and　undoubted　King　of　England；　Scotland　and　Ireland。〃　Moreover；　both　Houses　agreed　that　an　honourable　body　of　Commissioners；　all　men　of　great　quality　and　birth；　should　be　sent　to　the　king　with　letters；　humbly　begging　his　majesty　would　be　pleased　to　hasten　his　long…desired　return　into　England。　　And　because　they　knew　full　well　the　royal　exchequer　was　empty；　Parliament　ordered　these　noble　gentlemen　to　carry　with　them　a　present　of　fifty　thousand　pieces　of　gold　to　the　king；　together　with　ten　thousand　to　his　brother　of　York；　and　five　thousand　to　his　brother　of　Gloucester。　　Nor　was　the　City　of　London　backwards　in　sending　expressions　of　loyalty　and　tokens　of　homage　and　devotion；　to　evince　which　twenty　valiant　men　and　worthy　citizens　were　despatched　with　messages　of　goodwill　towards　him；　and　presents　in　gold　to　the　amount　of　twelve　thousand　pounds。

And　presently　Admiral　Montagu　arriving　with　his　fleet　upon　the　coast　of　Holland；　awaited　his　majesty　near　Scheveling；　and　all　things　being　in　readiness　the　king　with　his　royal　brothers　and　a　most　noble　train　set　sail　for　England。

It　came　to　pass　that　on　the　25th　day　of　May；　1660；　a　vast　concourse　of　nobility；　gentry；　and　citizens　had　assembled　at　Dover　to　meet　and　greet　their　sovereign　king；　Charles　II。；　on　his　landing。　　On　the　fair　morning　of　that　day　a　sound　of　cannon　thundering　from　the　castle　announced　that　the　fleet；　consisting　of　〃near　forty　sail　of　great　men…of…war；〃　which　conveyed　his　majesty　to　his　own；　was　in　sight；　whereon　an　innumerable　crowd　betook　its　joyful　way　to　the　shore。　　The　sun　was　most　gloriously　bright；　the　sky　cloudless；　the　sea　calm。　　Far　out　upon　the　blue　horizon　white…winged　ships　could　be　clearly　discerned。　　By　three　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　they　had　reached　the　harbour；　when　the　king；　embarking　in　a　galley　most　richly　adorned；　was　rowed　to　shore。　　Then　cannon　roared　once　more　from　the　castle；　and　were　answered　from　the　beach；　bells　rang　from　church　t