Hehadhadthisinhismindsometime:whetherbecausehethoughtthattheEnglishpeople,beingmoreusedtothetitle,weremorelikelytoobeyit;orwhetherbecausehereallywishedtobeakinghimself,andtoleavethesuccessiontothattitleinhisfamily,isfarfromclear.Hewasalreadyashigh,inEnglandandinalltheworld,ashewouldeverbe,andIdoubtifhecaredforthemerename.However,apaper,calledthe\'HumblePetitionandAdvice,\'waspresentedtohimbytheHouseofCommons,prayinghimtotakeahightitleandtoappointhissuccessor.ThathewouldhavetakenthetitleofKingthereisnodoubt,butforthestrongoppositionofthearmy.Thisinducedhimtoforbear,andtoassentonlytotheotherpointsofthepetition.UponwhichoccasiontherewasanothergrandshowinWestminsterHall,whentheSpeakeroftheHouseofCommonsformallyinvestedhimwithapurplerobelinedwithermine,andpresentedhimwithasplendidlyboundBible,andputagoldensceptreinhishand.ThenexttimetheParliamentmet,hecalledaHouseofLordsofsixtymembers,asthepetitiongavehimpowertodo;butasthatParliamentdidnotpleasehimeither,andwouldnotproceedtothebusinessofthecountry,hejumpedintoacoachonemorning,tooksixGuardswithhim,andsentthemtotheright-about.IwishthishadbeenawarningtoParliamentstoavoidlongspeeches,anddomorework.
ItwasthemonthofAugust,onethousandsixhundredandfifty-
eight,whenOliverCromwell\'sfavouritedaughter,ELIZABETH
CLAYPOLEwhohadlatelylostheryoungestson,layveryill,andhismindwasgreatlytroubled,becausehelovedherdearly.
AnotherofhisdaughterswasmarriedtoLORDFALCONBERG,anothertothegrandsonoftheEarlofWarwick,andhehadmadehissonRICHARDoneoftheMembersoftheUpperHouse.Hewasverykindandlovingtothemall,beingagoodfatherandagoodhusband;buthelovedthisdaughterthebestofthefamily,andwentdowntoHamptonCourttoseeher,andcouldhardlybeinducedtostirfromhersickroomuntilshedied.Althoughhisreligionhadbeenofagloomykind,hisdispositionhadbeenalwayscheerful.Hehadbeenfondofmusicinhishome,andhadkeptopentableonceaweekforallofficersofthearmynotbelowtherankofcaptain,andhadalwayspreservedinhishouseaquiet,sensibledignity.Heencouragedmenofgeniusandlearning,andlovedtohavethemabouthim.MILTONwasoneofhisgreatfriends.Hewasgoodhumouredtoo,withthenobility,whosedressesandmannerswereverydifferentfromhis;andtoshowthemwhatgoodinformationhehad,hewouldsometimesjokinglytellthemwhentheywerehisguests,wheretheyhadlastdrunkthehealthofthe\'Kingoverthewater,\'