of it. He lost no time in going to the House, dressed in the usual sad colours of the Puritans-black clothes and gray worsted stockings. 1653 With him marched a small band of 'musketeers; for what purpose he scarcely knew, since he had not quite made up his mind what to do.

A. D.

3. Leaving them in the lobby, he went into the House, and for some time sat silently in his place. The debate went on; and he listened with grim, composed face, until the Speaker was about to put the matter to the vote. At that moment he turned to Harrison, a man who was anxious for a Republic, and said to him, "Now is the time. I must do it."

4. After Harrison had cautioned him, he sat down for a moment; and then rising, took off his hat, and began to speak. He grew so very violent after a while, that some one rebuked him, saying that he was using language not fit for the Parliament to hear. "I know it!" he cried, appearing to lose all control over his temper, and rushing out into the middle of the floor, with his hat pushed tightly down on his grayish hair.

5. As he walked up and down, speaking with the greatest violence, he presented a figure more remarkable for rugged energy than for beauty; for he had a swollen, reddish face, and the marks of toil and anxiety had left furrows in his cheeks.

6. Sir Harry Vane and others tried to put him down by loud speaking; but he could match them. all. "I'll put an end to your prating," he cried.

"You are no Parliament.

way to honester men."

Get you gone, and give

7. The stamping of his foot on the floor was the signal for the door to be opened suddenly; and in poured a number of soldiers with steel caps and doublets of buff leather, holding loaded fire-locks in their hands. "Fetch him down!" he cried twice,

pointing to the Speaker in the chair; and that venerable personage rose and retired, the hand of a soldier having laid hold of his robe to pull him

from his seat.

Then pointing to the mace which lay on the table of the House, he said, with much 'contempt in his tone, "Take away that bauble."

8. The members did not venture to offer resistance of any kind; but they walked out of the House as quickly as their dignity would allow them. As Vane passed by on his way out, he ventured to say, "This is not honest; yea, it is against morality and common honesty." To this Cromwell replied, using that style of language of which the Puritans were so fond, "Sir Harry Vane! Sir Harry Vane! the Lord deliver me from Sir Harry Vane!"

9. In a few minutes after this there was not a single member in the House. Cromwell gave orders that the door should be locked, and sent one of his colonels off with the mace to Whitehall. He went thither himself too with the key of the House, and told his officers how "the Spirit of God had come upon him," and "that he had not consulted flesh and blood" in the doing of this daring deed.

(FROM THE HEROIC STANZAS.")

1. His 'grandeur he derived from Heaven alone, For he was great ere Fortune made him so; And wars, like mists that rise against the sun,

Made him but greater seem, not greater grow.

2. No borrowed bays his temples did adorn,

But to our crown he did fresh jewels bring; Nor was his virtue 'poisoned, soon as born,

With the too early thoughts of being king.

3. He, private, marked the faults of others' sway,
And set as sea-marks for himself to shun;
Not like rash monarchs, who their youth betray
By acts their age, too late, would wish undone.

4. And yet dominion was not his 'design;

We owe that blessing not to him but Heaven, Which to fair acts unsought rewards did joinRewards that less to him than us were given.

5. Swift and resistless through the land he passed, Like that bold Greek1 who did the East subdue, And made to battles such heroic haste,

As if on wings of victory he flew.

6. Nor was he like those stars which only shine
When to pale mariners they storms 'portend;
He had his calmer 'influence, and his 'mien
Did love and majesty together blend.

7. Fame of the asserted sea,2 through Europe blown, Made France and Spain ambitious of his love; Each knew that side must conquer he would own, And for him fiercely as for empire strove.

8. Nor died he when his ebbing fame went less,
But when fresh laurels courted him to live;
He seemed but to prevent some new success,
As if above what triumphs Earth could give.

9. His latest victories still thickest came,

As near the centre motion does increase;3
Till he, pressed down by his own weighty name,
Did, like the Vestal, under spoils 'decease.

10. His ashes in a peaceful urn shall rest;

His name a great example stands to show
How strangely high endeavours may be blessed
Where piety and valour jointly go.

DRYDEN.

gran-deur, greatness; nobility of re-sist-less, not able to be with

1. Great was the joy throughout England when Charles the Second entered London.

The road was

strewn with flowers, and the bells rang mer

1660 rily for the Restoration of Monarchy.

A.D.

The

people, weary of the strict mode of life of the Puritans, were very glad to have the throne filled