1825.] 
Bradshaw went to Jamaica previous to 
the Restoration, which introduced the 
“lazy, long, lascivious Reign” of the 
Second Charles, when almost every fact 
and important circumstance was per- 
verted, and the characters of the most 
eminent and worthy men of the previous 
period were grossly misrepresented, by 
corrupt writers in support of despotic 
power. Perhaps, Bradshaw foresaw a 
storm coming,—as many others did, 
who fled for refuge to various countries. 
To elude more effectually the eager 
pursuit of his inveterate enemies, Brad- 
shaw’s friends might, very properly, 
encourage the report that he died in 
London, and thus might get up a sham 
funeral,—as it is credibly related of his 
fellow-labourer in establishing the com- 
monwealth, John Milton, A mock- 
funeral was made for him after the 
Restoration, when the Reign of Terror 
began, and all the oaths which the pro- 
fligate Charles had so solemnly taken, 
were wantonly violated. The deception 
had the desired effect upon Milton’s 
enemies,—for they believed him to be 
dead: consequently, he was not included 
among the persons excepted in the Act 
of Oblivion. Dr. Symmons, the bio- 
grapher of Milton, says, “ That when 
the king heard of the cheat, he applauded 
his policy, in escaping the punishment 
of death by a seasonable shew of dying. 
When he could not murder, this face- 
tious monarch could still laugh.*”’ 
That very respectable author, Arch- 
deacon Blackburn, in his “ Memoirs of 
the Munificent Thomas Hollis,’ —(a 
splendid edition of which was published, 
some years ago, by Thomas Brand Hollis, 
a warm friend to freedom,—to whom, 
although no relation, Mr. Hollis left the 
bulk of his large fortune, and his name, 
with intention that he should expend a 
great portion of it in acts of benevolence, 
and in promoting that great cause of 
civil and religious liberty, which the 
* The occasional. levity and indecorums 
of these laughs constituted, in the estima- 
tion of some, the worst crimes of “the 
Merry Monarch.” It is said of a certain 
more recent “ ornament of the throne,” 
who had his idolators in his day, and whose 
memory has them still, that- Charles II. 
was the only one of all the Kings of Eng- 
land, against whom he ever expressed, or 
could bear to hear expressed, a word of 
disapprobation. But Charles had no re- 
spect for royal decencies—no kingly deco- 
rum: he had not even moral discretion 
enough to attend to the forms of his 
trade. —Epre. 
Montniy Mac. No. 409. 
Doubts regarding the Disinterment of Cromwell, &c. 
321 
testator himself had, in his lifetime, so 
liberally contributed to support,+)—has, 
in p. 789 of the Appendix, the following 
passage :— 
““BRADSHAW’S EPITAPH. 
The following Epitaph is often seen 
posted up in the houses of North America. 
It throws some light upon the principles of 
the people, and may, in some measure, 
aecount for the asperity of the war carried 
on against them. ‘The original is engrayen 
on a cannon, at the summit of a steep hill, 
near Martha Bray, in Jamaica. 
‘STRANGER, 
Ere thou pass, contemplate this cannon ! 
Nor regardless be told, 
That, near its base, lies the dust of 
JOHN BRADSHAW; 
Who, nobly superior to selfish regards, 
Despising alike the pageantry of courtly splendour, 
The blast of calumny, 
And the terror of Royal Vengeance, 
Presided in theillustrious band of Heroes and Patriots, 
Who fairly and openly adjudged 
CHARLES STUART, Tyrant of England, 
To a public and exemplary Death ! 
Thereby presenting to the amazed world, 
And transmitting down through applauding ages, 
The most glorious example of 
Unshaken Virtue, Love of Freedom, 
; And Impartial Justice, 
Ever exhibited on the blood-stained Theatre 
Of Human Actions. 
Oh! Reader! 
Pass not on till thou hast blessed his memory ! 
And never, never forget, 
That Rebellion to Tyrants 
Is OBEDIENCE to GOD.” 
With respect to Oliver Cromwell, the 
story is equally improbable, and more 
absurd. It has been observed, that, as 
the Ides of March were equally fortr- 
nate and fatal to Julius Cesar, so was 
the 3d of September to Cromwell—for 
on that day he won the two great victo- 
ries of Dunbar and Worcester, in 1650 
and 1651; and on the 3d of September 
1658, he died. It is true, there was a 
pompous funeral procession to West- 
minster Abbey;—but the author of 
“A Complete History of England” 
observes, in his notes, that it remains a 
question where his body was really 
buried. 
“Tt was, in appearance, in Westminster- 
abbey ; but it is most probable that it was 
buried in Naseby-field.—This account is 
{+ Whether that bequest was employed 
foy the laudable purpose which the donor 
designed, I shall not say. 
27T 
