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598 C II M W ELL limits of his residence there, we are equally destitute of information. On 22d August 1620 he was married at St Giles s Church, Cripplegate, to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir James Bourchier of Felsted, in Essex, a woman of very amiable and prudent character, whose gentle virtues sweet ened his domestic life to its close, amid all outward vicis situdes. 1 He now returned to Huntingdon, and assumed the management of his patrimonial estate ; and in the quiet routine of a farmer s life fulfilled for nearly ten years, without any incident chronicled in history, the ordinary duties of a country gentleman. We are left to imagine, so far as we can, the silent and unnoticed growth of a great soul, limited as yet in its outgoings to the cares of a farm, the thoughts that struggled and sank to rest in the still ness of home, the powerful religious convictions, the " splenetic fancies," the deep fits of melancholy, that ulti mately resulted in an open profession of Christianity, and a steady adherence thenceforward to that strict and earnest form of it which had received from its enemies the derisive name of Puritanism. The house of Oliver Cromwell became from this time a resort of " godly men ; " and in their prayers and preachings, their interests and their griev ances, he took a zealous and active part. On 17th March 1628 he took his seat in the House of Commons as mem ber for Huntingdon. The increasing influence of Puritan ism, reacting against the arbitrary and ceremonious tendencies of the king, was powerfully exhibited in the transactions of this brief but memorable Parliament. On llth Feburary 1629, a few weeks before the close of its second session, Cromwell made his first recorded speech, calling the attention of the House to the scandalous fact " that Dr Alablaster had preached flat popery at Paul s Cross," and even been encouraged therein by his diocesan ; while " Mainwaring, so justly censured by this House for his sermons, was by the same bishop s means preferred to a rich living." " If these," he said, " are the steps to church preferment, what are we to expect 1 " " It is amusing," remarks Mr Hume, " to observe the first words of this fanatical hypocrite, corresponding so exactly to his character." The correspondence is remarkable enough ; but those who have forme 1 a different estimate of Cromwell from that of the sceptical historian may find more than amusement in this first sound of " the imperial voice" which in after days " arrested the sails of the Libyan pirates and the persecuting fires of Rome." 2 About two years after this Cromwell sold his lands in Huntingdon, and stocked a grazing farm at St Ives, where Ue resided for five years. In 1636 he removed to Ely, where he had succeeded to the property of his uncle, Sir Thomas Steward. Events meantime were tending to a great crisis. His first cousin, John Hampden, had on the llth January in this year refused to pay his " ship-money ;" in the streets of London, in the midst of pale crowds, good men were being mutilated, branded, and pilloried; Scotland had risen in a flame against a forced episcopacy, and the 1 She died in the house of her son-in-law Claypole, October 8, 1672. The following letter from her husband, penned the day after the battle of Duubar, may be taken as a specimen of his private correspondence. "For my beloved wife,. Elizabeth Cromwell, at the Cockpit; these. Dunbar, 4th September 1650 : My Dearest, I have not leisure to write much. But I could chide thee that in many of thy letters thou writest to me, that I should not be unmindful of thee and thy little ones. Truly, if I love you not too well, I think 1 err not on the other hand much. Thou art dearer to me than any creature ; let that suffice. The Lord hath showed us an exceeding mercy ; who can tell how great it is ? My weak faith hath been marvellously upheld. I have been in my inward man marvellously supported ; though, I assure thee, I grow an old man, and feel infirmities of age stealing upon me. Would my corruptions did as fast decrease ! The particulars of our late success Harry Vane or Gilbert Pickering will impart to thee. My love to all dear friends. I rest thine, Oliver Cromwell." (Letters ind Speeches, iii. 67.) 8 AT vcaulay, Essay on Hallam s Constitutional History. patience of England was drawing near exhaustion. In April 1638 sentence was delivered against Hampden. The spirit of resistance rose with each new check. In his own district Cromwell had now some opportunity for its exercise, and that victoriously. The great work of draining the fens and completing the Bedford Level had proceeded successfully, till the interference of royal commissioners excited a general outcry of dissatisfaction. Cromwell took an active part in the opposition ; and his successful zeal in the business procured him the popular title of " Lord of the Fens." In April 1 640 a new Parliament met, in which he took his seat as member for Cambridge. In three weeks it was dissolved. Another was summoned for the 3d November, which became ever memorable in history as the "Long Parliament." Cromwell again sat for Cambridge. Of his share in its proceedings for about two years there is little record. That he was an active member there can be no question. One interesting glimpse we obtain from the graphic narrative of Sir Philip Warwick. It brings before us a Monday morning, early in November 1610, when the writer, then " a courtly young gentleman," came into the House, "well clad," and found a remarkable figure in possession of the House, " a gentleman whom I knew not, very ordinarily apparelled," his linen " plain and not very clean," his stature " of a good size, his sword stuck close to his side, his countenance swoln and reddish, his voice sharp and untunable, and his eloquence full of fervour." This personage was pleading, amid considerable attention, on behalf of a troublesome young man of the name of Lilburne, amanuensis to Mr Prynne, " who had disperst libels against the queen for her dancing and such like innocent and courtly sports." The impression made on the gay young courtier was anything but favourable. " I sincerely profess," he says, " it lessened much my reverence unto that great council, for this gentleman was very much hearkened unto." The inevitable rupture at length took place, and the king and Parliament made their appeal to the sword. On 12th January 1642 Charles left Whitehall to return no more till the day of his execution. Military preparations on both sides began ; and now, at the mature age of forty- three, Oliver Cromwell girded on his armour, and, with his eldest son Oliver 3 by his side, left his quiet home and farm to fight for England s liberty. With no knowledge of the art of war, but much of himself, of men, and of the Bible, this stout English squire had made up his mind in no hasty or factious spirit to draw the sword against his king, and venture his life for vhat he believed with his whole heart and soul to be the cause of "freedom and the truth in Christ." Out of his moderate fortune he subscribed 500 "for the service of the commonwealth;" 100 more he 3 We may here subjoin a brief notice of Cromwell s family, gathered from a note by Mr Carlyle. Oliver (born in 1623) entered as a cornet in the. same division of cavalry with his father, who seems to have regarded him with deep affection and hope. He was killed shortly before the battle of Marston Moor. The I rotector, on his death-bed, alludes to this Oliver s death : " It went to my heart like a dagger, indeed it did." Richard was born in 1626, and died in 1712, a man of mild and indolent character, unfit for any office requiring strong powers of mind. Henry, born in 1628, died in 1674. He entered the army at sixteen, and greatly distinguished himself by his courage, prudence, and resolution. He accompanied his father to Ireland in 1649, and in 1657 was appointed lord deputy there. He governed with great ability. " He is a governor," said Cromwell, "of whom I my self r^ight learn." Of the daughters, the eldest, Bridget, born 1624, died 1681, was married first to Ireton, afterwards to Fleetwood. Elizabeth, born 1629, died 1658, was married to Mr Claypole, who became Master of the Horse to the Protector. Mr Carlyle calls her "a graceful, brave, and amiable woman." Mary, born 1637, died 1712, was married to Lord Fauconberg. Dean Swift called her " handsome and like her father." Frances, born 1638, died 1721, was married first to Mr Rich, again to Sir John Eussel. Charles II. at one time entertained the idea of allying himself with Cromwell by

marrying her.