THE TOWN OF HARRISON. 373 



James I, for the recovery of the palatinate ; after this he was a colonel 

 ■of an English regiment in the service of the United States. Happening 

 to be in England whilst his sovereign, King Charles I, was a prisoner to 

 the Parliament army, and hearing his relation, Oliver, (afterwards lord 

 Protector,) say, ' I think the king the most injured prince in the world,' 

 and putting his hand to his sword, continued, 'but this shall right him;' 

 supposed that his zeal was real, and therefore expressed himself satisfied 

 that it was impossible for him to go those lengths which many others 

 wished to go. For these reasons, when that unfortunate, misguided 

 monarch was (after a pretended trial) condemned to die, and the Prince 

 of Orange taking vast pains to save him, or at least to stay the execu- 

 tion, sent over such relations of the leading men in the army, as he 

 thought could influence them, applied to this gen^eman, he very readily 

 undertook the task with the greatest expectation of succeeding in so de- 

 sirable a business ; wherefore taking credential letters from the States; 

 which letters, with the King's and Prince of Wale's signet, and both con- 

 firmed by the States, offering Oliver his own terms in case he would pre- 

 vent the fatal sentence from being carried into execution, he hastened 

 to England. He found his cousin Oliver, the Lieutenant-General at 

 home. 



It was with difficulty he gained admittance, as he kept his cham- 

 ber and ordered himself to be denied. Upon his introduction to Oliver, 

 after the usual compliments between relations, he began to mention the 

 the horrid crime intended to be committed ; and after a very free har- 

 rangue upon the atrocity, the indelible stain it would be to the nation, 

 and in what a light it was beheld upon the continent, added, ' that, of all 

 men living, he thought he would never have had any hand in it, who, in 

 his hearing, had protested so much to the King.' Oliver replied, it was 

 not him, but the army; and though he did once say such words, yet 

 mow times were altered, and Providence seemed to order things other- 

 wise, adding that he had prayed and fasted for the King, but no return 

 that way was yet made to him. Upon which the Colonel stepped a lit- 

 tle back and hastily shut the door, which made Oliver supposed he was 

 going to be assassinated; but the other, taking out his papers, said to 

 him, 'Cousin, this is no time to trifle with words, see here : — it is now in 

 your own power not only to make yourself, but your family, relations, 

 and posterity happy and honorable for ever; otherwise, as they have 

 changed their name before, from Williams to Cromwell, so now they 

 must be forced to change it again ; for this act will bring such an ignominy 

 upon the whole generation of them, that no time will be able to deface. 

 After a pause Oliver said, ' Cousin, I desire you will give me till night 



