162 Records of the Rising in the West, A.B. 1655. 



went, for a three years' residence in 1620. During this period 

 he kept his terms at Lincoln's Inn. Afterwards he studied law, 

 and was called to the Bar, 1628. We seem to hear his silver fluent 

 tongue ever rising or falling as occasion demanded, amidst the 

 Parliamentary struggles ; and can understand that his luck, au- 

 dacity, and discreet view of politics and politicians, would soon 

 give him command. He became M.P. for Westminster, in 1640. 

 Against the unhappy Lord Strafford he was violently active. In 

 1643 he was appointed Recorder of London. After the war in 

 December, 1648, he fell a victim to the Pride purge, but it turned out 

 one of the trump cards of his life, for he escaped the King's trial. 

 He was now pressed to resign his Recordership to Steele, but de- 

 clined. Afterwards he changed his mind and did so. Cromwell, 

 on coming to power, made him his Serjeant, having a very high 

 opinion of him. He served as Commissioner on the Oxford circuit 

 in the spring of this year, and was soon called to assist in the 

 deliberations prior to the present trials, and placed on the Com- 

 mission. His subsequent career was distinguished. On Rolle 

 retiring from the Chief Justiceship, he won that post, which he had 

 long played for, and retained it for some years. After the Res- 

 toration, though he could not hope for this, yet he won favour, still 

 taking a leading part, and being amongst the first batch of Serjeants- 

 at-Law, created by Charles II. He died in 1666. His son was 

 made a baronet. 



William Steele, Recorder of London, a barrister pressing close on 

 Glynn in the great race of life, was of good Cheshire family. He 

 entered Gray's Inn, June 13th, 1631, and passing through the legal 

 curriculum, was called to the bar, June 23rd, 1637. Ten years later 

 we find him admired for the energy and zeal, with which he pro- 

 secuted poor Captain Burley, who attempted to rescue the king. The 

 Parliament forthwith named him Recorder of London, but as there 

 was no vacancy at the time, it was a mere earnest of their friendship. 

 However, the Attorney- Generalship soon fell to him; and accordingly 

 the high, but doubtful honour of prosecuting the king. A fortuitous 

 illness prevented his attendance at that trial. After this he be- 

 came Recorder of London, August 25, 1649, having in the April 



