By W. IF, Ravenhill, Esq. 



confidence of Charles, the other the " look-out man " for the Lord 

 Prot odor — that the Risers in the West had not some solid ground 

 for believing that success would attend them. The Protector's 

 ieclaration,on the appointment of the Major- Generals, and the raising 

 a force of militia throughout the country, which was published in the 

 following October, 1 says they had engaged eight thousand men to rise 

 in the west, and a like number in the north, and more in other districts ; 

 their object beiug to divide the army, which was then quartered near 

 London, and draw it off to distant parts of the country. This 

 reads feasible enough. And though as to the particular action which 

 they eventually took at Salisbury, and the time, it might have been 

 better to have done otherwise, and wiser to have waited till the 

 country at large was more prepared ; yet on the other hand, delay 

 in such matters often brings ruin, and we may be sure that their 

 proceedings were hastened by Wagstaff. 



Their blood was one of the indirect causes of the Restoration ; 

 for the Rising brought out the Major- Generals, whose conduct 

 certainly helped the fulfilment of that event. 



Penruddock and Grove and their fellows deserve the high honor 

 which they have ever since received, of having suffered for doing, 

 what they believed to be their duty. 



And the world went on its way, and Dorrington of Gray's Inn, 

 wrote to Joshua Williamson, of Queen's College, Oxford, (Penrud- 

 dock's College), of music for the Act (June, 1655, Commemoration) 

 and ladies to come up for it, and silk stockings and other kindred 

 pleasantries. But we turn aside to look upon the graves of the 

 fallen ; and to think of the poor widows who struggled to support 

 the children of those who had died for " a worthy fame."" 

 " Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise 

 (That last infirmity of noble mind,) 

 To scorn delights, and live laborious days ; 



But the fair guerdon which we hope to find, 

 And think to burst out into sudden blaze, 



Comes the blind Fury with the abhorred shears 

 And slits the thin spun life — But not the praise. 



\_MiltorCs Lycidas."] 



1 A copy of this, which was printed by His Highness's printer, will be found 

 in the Parliamentary History, vol. xx., p. 434. It is too lengthy to re -produce 

 here. Thurloe's notes (given above) no doubt formed the rough draft for it. 

 VOL. XV. — NO. XLVIII. G 



