Uncle Oliver, besides the ruinously splendid entertainments, gave his hounds, horses and astonishing gifts at his departure. In return there were Knights created, Sir Oliver first of the batch, we may suppose; King James had decided that there should be no reflection for the want of Knights at least. Among the large batches manufactured next year was Thomas Steward of Ely, henceforth Sir Thomas, Mrs Robert Cromwell’s Brother, our Oliver’s Uncle. Hinchinbrook got great honour by this and other royal visits; but found it, by and by, a dear-bought honour.—
Oliver’s Biographers, or rather Carrion Heath his first Biographer whom the others have copied, introduce various tales into these early years of Oliver: of his being run away with by an ape along the leads of Hinchinbrook, and England being all but delivered from him, had the Fates so ordered it; of his seeing prophetic spectres; of his robbing orchards, and fighting tyrannously with boys; of his acting in School Plays; of his etc. etc—The whole of which, grounded on ‘Human Stupidity’ and Carrion Heath alone, begs us to give it Christian burial once for all. Oliver attended the Public School of Huntingdon, which was then conducted by a worthy Dr. Beard, of whose writing I possess a Book,[1] of whom we shall hear again: he learned, to appearance moderately well, what the sons of other gentlemen were taught in such places; went through the universal destinies which conduct all men from childhood to youth, in a way not particularised in any one point by an authentic record. Readers of lively imagina-
- ↑ The Theatre of God’s Judgments: by Thomas Beard, Doctor of Divinity, and Preacher of the Word of God in the Town of Huntingdon: Third Edition, increased by many new Examples (‘Examples’ of God’s Justice vindicating itself openly on Violators of God’s Law,—that is the purport of the Book): London, 1631.—A kindly ingenious little Book; still partly readable, almost lovable; some thin but real vein of perennial ingenuity and goodness recognisable in it. What one might call a Set of ‘Percy-Anecdotes’; but Anecdotes authentic, solemnly select, and with a purpose: ‘Percy-Anecdotes’ for a more earnest Century than ours! Dedicated to the Mayor and Burgesses of Huntingdon,—for sundry good reasons; among others, ‘because, Mr. Mayor, you were my scholar, and brought up in my house.’
