Cromwell had every thing his own way. In his wars, as I have already told yon, he had great success: but, when he proved himself to be such a tyrant, and was for carrying every measure according to his own will, and was content with nothing but absolute power, many of his old friends forsook him, and there were many plots and conspiracies set on foot to take away his life. He was tormented in his mind too, with the constant fear of being murdered. He wore steel armour under his clothes, and kept pistols in his pockets, and had a miserably gloomy and suspicious countenance. He always travelled in a great hurry, and never without a number of men to guard him. He seldom came back from any place by the same way that he went, and he was constantly changing his bed-chamber, that nobody might know where he slept; he was miserable when he was in company, for he thought every man was his enemy; and he was so full of fears too, that he hardly "knew how to be alone. His end, however, was approaching. He was seized with a tertian ague, which soon carried him off; and he died in the year 1658, in the 59th year of his age. He had been in possession of the government about ten years. He had appointed his son Richard Cromwell to succeed him; and Richard was accordingly proclaimed protector. He was not, however, in the least, fitted for such a station, and was soon willing to give it up. The people then began to wish for their rightful king; and, accordingly, Charles was sent for, from Holland, where he was then living, and he entered London on the 29th of May, which was his birth-day. This was in the year 1660. This is called the Restoration, and was principally brought about by general Monk, a brave soldier, who had long possessed great, power in the army, and who now turned it to a good purpose, by employing it in support of his rightful sovereign. You know that, on the 29th of May, we still celebrate the Restoration, and carry about oak branches, in remembrance of the king's escape in the oak tree. But I must tell you more about king Charles the Second in my next letter. Ever yours. QUESTIONS. After king Charles the First was beheaded, who exercised the kingly power in England? Was Oliver Cromwell called king? What was he called? What sort of man was he? Was he successful in his wars? What great admirals were there in Cromwell's time? What success had admiral Drake at sea? Who took the island of Jamaica? Where is Jamaica? Who was properly the king of England at that time? Were any attempts made to put the young king in possession of his throne? How did the Scotch succeed in this attempt? What great battle was fought in England between the young king and Cromwell? What became of the young king, Charles the Second, after the battle of Worcester? Can you relate any of the particulars of his escape to France? How did Cromwell treat the parliament? After Cromwell had dissolved the parliament, what sort of a new one did he make? Had Cromwell then all the power in his own hands? Was he then happy? How did he shew his fears? and how did he endeavour to guard his person from attack? Of what disease did he die? In what year? Who had the power after him? What sort of person was his son, Richard Cromwell ? Did he keep the government long in his possession? On what day of the month? In what way do we now call to mind the restoration of Charles the Second on the 29th of May ? LETTER XXV. MY DEAR BOY, By the good management of general Monk, Charles the Second was brought back to England, to take possession of the throne. The people had tried a new sort of government, but they found, by experience, that the best thing they could do was to go back to their old constitution again, and to give the crown to the rightful heir, the son of the king who had been so cruelly murdered. The young king accordingly landed at Dover, and he entered London on the 29th of May. This, as I have said, is called the Restoration. People of all ranks were pleased to have the kingly government restored again; and the second Charles was received with the greatest joy and delight. After all the troubles that this young prince had undergone, one might have supposed that he would have learned wisdom; but it was quite the contrary: he seemed to think of little else besides indulging his pleasures; and he encouraged all such sorts of people as were of loose and profligate characters like himself. In the time of Cromwell, there was a great profession of religion in the country, and you will perhaps think that this was the best thing that they could profess. And so it was; but profession, you know, is not practice. I do not mean to say that all the professors of religion, at that day, were hypocrites; for I believe that many of them were indeed sincere men, and true Christians: but many of them had the language of religion in their mouths, whilst their conduct shews us that they had not the right principles of it in their hearts. The good Christians were earnest in their desire to give up those sinful pleasures and vanities which are such hindrances to true |