366 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



the floor of the chamber over it; which, the doctor says, by compu- 

 tation according to the centre of gravity, will prove that he lifted 

 up, with his teeth, about one hundred and sixty-eight pounds weight. 



Newcastle gave birth to Major-General Thomas Harrison, and to 

 the celebrated John Good win, two of the infamous but extraordinary 

 Cromwell's admirers ; the one aiding the Usurper's regicide pur- 

 poses with his sword, and the other with his pen. 



These Major-generals, as the Usurper called them, were, accord- 

 ing to some, only eleven* in number; according to othersf twelve ; 

 but Bates says,t the districts over which Cromwell appointed 

 the Major-Generals were fourteen. These officers were to keep a 

 strict and vigilant eye over the jarring parties of the Presbyte- 

 rians, the Independents, and cavaliers, as the loyalists were called; 

 but particularly to watch the proceedings, and curb the factious 

 spirit of the rigid republicans, whom Cromwell had the greatest 

 reason to dread and suspect. The Major-generals had almost ab- 

 solute power ; and they exercised it, as might naturally be expected 

 from the nature of their characters, and the upstart innovations of 

 their master, of whose turbulent spirit they largely partook. So 

 tyrannical did they at length become, that, to prevent worse 

 consequences to himself, Cromwell was compelled to reduce their 

 authority within much narrower bounds. Before this reduction of 

 their power, they could commit to prison all suspected persons ; 

 and they chose to suspect, whoever they disliked, (viz.) all mode- 

 rate, loyal, good, men : they moreover levied money, sequestered 

 those who refused to pay ; had power to enlist horse and foot upon 

 any occasion they might think proper to make, or any emergency 

 they might themselves create. From their decisions no appeal 

 lay, but to their regicide master himself. 



Of this honourable fraternity was HARRISON, the son of an at- 

 torney, of this town. Not having any relish for his profession, he 

 enlisted into the Parliament's army ; and, being a person of great 

 volubility of tongue, he soon insinuated himself into the favourable 

 opinion of the army, and became Cromwell's confidant. The Pro- 

 tector knew how to make use of such a person as Harrison ; and he 

 did not fail to avail himself of his canting dexterity, and perseve- 

 rance, in routing the Presbyterians, and bringing his legitimate, 

 though weak, Monarch to the block. These services, for a season, 



* Whitelock's Memorials of English Affairs, &c. p. 634. 



t Clarendon's History of the Rebellion, Vol. III. p. 458. 



t Vitae Selectorum, &c. 



