248 DRIVING, 



as the scene of his exploits was Hyde Park, a place which 

 has since become closely identified with the gatherings of the 

 now existing driving clubs. The Count of Oldenburg had 

 presented the Lord Protector with six German horses, four of 

 which Cromwell, regardless of the fact that they might never 

 have been put together before, somewhat rashly attempted to 

 drive himself. The accepted version of the story is that, being 

 annoyed at one of the horses, he made an ill-advised use of 

 the whip how history repeats itself ! startled his team, and 

 was eventually thrown from the box, falling on to the pole, 

 and thence to the ground, after being dragged for some 

 distance by his feet catching in the harness ; while additional 

 danger threatened the Lord Protector from the fact that his 

 sudden descent caused the accidental discharge of a pistol 

 he carried in his pocket. Such is the prose account of the 

 accident ; but Cleveland, the cavalier, commemorated the 

 affair in verse, in these words : 



Hark how the scoffing concourse hence derives 



The proverb, ' Needs must when the devil drives.' 



Yonder a whisper cries, ' 'Tis a plain case, 



He turned us out to put himself i' the place ; 



But, God-a-mercy, horses once for aye 



Stood to 't, and turn'd him out as well as me.' 



Another, not behind with his snacks, 



Cries out, ' Sir, faith, you were in the wrong box.' 



He did presume to rule because, forsooth, 



He's been a horse commander from his youth ; 



But he must know there's a difference in the reins 



Of horses fed with oats and fed with grains. 



I wonder at his frolic, for be sure 



Four hamper'd coach horses can fling a brewer ; 



But ' Pride will have a fall,' such the world's course is, 



He who can rule three realms can't guide four horses ; 



See him that trampled thousands in their gore, 



Dismounted by a party but of four. 



But we have done with 't, and we may call 



This driving Jehu, Phaeton in his fall. 



I would to God, for these three kingdoms' sake, 



His neck, and not the whip, had given the crack. 



