was not yet ripe. I determined to have an immediate explanation from Kerford, as I could not understand why he had sent it by Reginald; but the poor old man was taken suddenly ill, and after about seven hours' intense suffering, died, deeply regretted by the family, who were his only friends
'The dismal time rolled on. The fearful distractions of London increased rather than diminished day by day. Men were afraid to speak to each other, or breathe above a whisper. A terrible rumour was spread one day over the doomed city, which proved to be true—the Lord Protector was dead! Rapidly now, like meteors in the sky, flashes of conflicting and alarming intelligence flew from mouth to mouth. There was no order or Government. Henry Cromwell, it was said, had been assassinated in Dublin! Richard had absconded in a ship, carrying away the Great Seal, the mace, the crown jewels, and all the money in the Treasury! Fleetwood had hanged himself! Lambert and Monk had met each other in the north with large armies: a tremendous battle had been fought, and both Generals and thirty thousand men had been killed! In the midst of all this confusion and false news. Monk quietly marched his army into London, and took peaceable possession; and shortly after that event King Charles the Second ascended the throne of his unfortunate father
'The real events which nearly broke the heart of England, and followed each other in rapid succession, wore the same extravagance as those which were proved to be fictitious. Englishmen could scarcely believe that our enemies without, over whom they had been so often victorious, France, Holland and Denmark, still battered us incessantly with their hatred and their cannon. The Dutch fleets sailed up the Thames, and Sheerness was taken. English ships were burned by them at Chatham. Our enemy within, the
