HE was born at Huntington, of Honourable Parents, and anciently of the Name and Family of Williams's, Gentle­men of Note, in the County of Glamorgan in South­wales; which in the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, was changed into the Name of CROMWELL.

He had his Education in the University of Cambridge, whence he came to Lincolnes-Inn, where we find him not to have spent over much time in the studdy of the Laws; but for the bettering of his un­derstanding, rather employ'd his studies, in reading of men, then to [Page 4] dwell on the book, as being naturally more inclined, and affecting the practick part, then the theorick; though in the Liberal Sciences he was not to seek of a competent share of learning.

Doubtlesse he was a great proficient, both in the knowledge of men and books, and a great observer of the Generall affaires of the World, which appeared not openly, untill opportunity gave him the help, where, and how, to shew what he was, and would be, in the active part, and Military employment, wherein even from the first beginning, to the last of the late unnatural Warrs, on the very first un­sheathing of the Sword, he sided with the Parliament, and constant­ly stood firme and trusty in the upholding the established Religion, the Laws of the Land, and Libertyes of his Country, even to the very period of his dayes, and in a most devout profession, and defending of them altogether, with the priviledges of Parliament, of the breach of which, none was more tender, and fought more Valiantly for their preservation, without the least tergiversation or backsliding from that party to which he adheared.

At the very beginning of the Warr, he was no more then a Cap­taine of a Horse Troop, which out of a publique spirit, and zeal to the cause, he first raised at his own charge, and by degrees (not by leaps) he deservedly came to higher Commands, having soon at­tained to the reputation of a most expert, skilfull, vigilent, and indi­fatigable Souldier, even to the wonder & admiration of his assistants, and shortly after came to be (by the Parliaments prudent choice) Commander in chief, his then miraculous atchievements consider­ed, both in absolute finishing, and putting an end to the fury of the Warr in England, and stopping of that wide Orifice of blood, which ran throughout most parts of the Kingdom, during the full tearme of six yeares, his then expeditious reducing of Ireland, and South-Wales, with that which is of more remarke, the overthrow of Duke Ham­bletons Invading Army, the Kirk Armys at Dunbar, together with the reducing of all the Kingdom of Scotland, his there defeating of Charles Stuart's Army at Worcester; and all this done (as we say) in a trice; so that to attribute these wonderful Victoryes to blind For­tune, would be a derogation to Gods great providence, which we may safely believe guided him in all these enterprizes.

Neither must we omit, how then he setled the Natives of the 3 Kingdomes, with those of the Principality, in a firm Peace, con­trary to theexpectation of all men, so that, without flattery, it may be said of him, as it is of Caesar, that Venit, Vidit, & Vicit, that is, He came, he saw, and he conquered.

His next great work was, the Reformation of the Churches affairs, too much diseased and disjoynted by the admission thereinto of too many idoll, ignorant, and debauch't Ministers; but that which is more remarkable, is, that of establishing the Peace of the three Kingdomes, under such an Aristocraticall Government, that every man that will, may securely sleep under his own Vine, and enjoy their estates, without fear of farther blood-shed, rapine and plunder.

He married into the ancient and noble Family of the Bourchers, sometimes Earls of Essex, by whom he had two Sons, the Lord Ri­chard, lately made Protector, in his Father's room, and the Lord Henry, now Lord Deputy of Ireland, Persons, of great honor, hopes, and abilityes, and four Daughters, all Ladies of eminent vertues: The Lady Bridget, his eldest, first married to the Lord Ireton, lately, Lord Deputy of Ireland, and since his Decease, to the right noble Lord Charles Fleetwood: the Lady Elizabeth, his 2d Daughter, married to the Lord Claypole, lately deceased: the Lady Mary, his third Daughter, married to the right honourable the Lord Viscount Fau­conberg; the Lady Francis his fourth, and youngest, Daughter, mar­ried to the right honourable Robert Rich, Grand-child to the right honourable the Earl of Warwick, lately Lord Admirall of England, during most of the time of the War between the late King and Par­liament: And all these his Children, married and honourably dis­posed of in his life-time; so that we may truly say, that he lived, to be an Eye-witness of God's great Mercy & Blessings, powred on him­self and whole Family, even to admiration, if we look upon the di­sasters of other families, wherein we assidually see the Father, and the Children to be disjoyned by death, and left to the wide World, to seek their livelihoods, out of the cold Charity of Kindred, and such as take no care either for their Education, or Maintenance.

Now, as to his Person, he was tall, well set, and well proportio­ned, throughout the whole Lineaments and Dimensions of his Bo­dy, and a most Active, Vigilan, Wary, and Circumspect Comman­der, in all his Martiall Employments, even to the wonder of the Times; and of an high extraordinary Head-peece, yet he dayned not to be counselled, even in most of his lesser Affairs.

As to his Intel'ectuals, Gifts, and Abilities, of his Mind, they were without compare, suited to that Great Work; whereunto (as we may safely beleive) Almighty God in his great providence, had pre-ordained Him to accomplish, in vindicating the Religion, Laws, and Liberties of his Country; wherein he acted the part both of an expert Souldier, a merciful General, a most zealous defender of Gods Truth, and freed the three Nations from blood, rapine, and Tyranny, settled and established them all in peace and quietnesse; which if it be rightly taken into consideration, manifestly shews, That He alone was by God appointed to this most Important work, and Herculian Labour; which we see him to have nobly performed, without vain­glory, ostentation, or boasting; but in a fair, quier, deliberate; [...]nd modest temper of mind, & toyl of body: for we find Him not subject to passion, lordlinesse, statelinesse, or presumption, (the common and inseparable flawes and faults of greatnesse) but of an even, grave, stayed, patient and affable comportment towards all men, and of all sorts, whether high or low, especially towards the distressed; yet of a very high, vast, and incomparable Judgment, without the least tincture of pride, rage or fury.

He was Uxorious, and exceeding loving towards Her, that had the Honour of His bed: and a most Tender and Indulgent Father, towards all those which God had sent Him, by the only dear Consort both of his youth, and old age: a happinesse and blessing seldome seen to accompany old and young to their graves: and to see their Issues honourably disposed of in his life-time; which is a vi­sible signe and argument, that God had bestowed this great blessing upon Him, and His.

He lived to be an eye-witnesse of the perferment of all his off­spring to honour and greatnesse, and to leave behind him such a pat­tern of piety, zeal to the publique interest, and such an abundant example of Charity, towards all men in distresse, as cannot be par­rallel'd [Page 7] in any we have known; And although we have no Mo­numents of Him left us in Stones, and Structures, yet have we in­finite Presidents of his bounty and liberality to poor maimed Soul­diers, & distressed people of either Sex, which are the Images of the Creator; on whom it is credibly reported, that out of his innared compassion, he bestowed not so little as 40000l. per annum, out of his own purse, and the allowance conferd on Him by the State for the honour of the Nations, and His Court: so that we find Him not any wayes noted of covetousnesse, yet frugal and sparing all His expences; so far as suted with Honour and His place.

He came to be PROTECTOR in a very seasonable time, for the honour and support of his Country, and at a time when as there was no Steers-man at the Helm; and 'tis a question, not easily to be resolved, whether then, there could be any One found fit to undergo a place of such Unweildinesse and Trust, other then Him­self, which he faithfully underwent, and discharged, with as much Honour, Integrity, and Applause, (even of his Enemies) as possibly could be expected.

He undertook this Unweildy and Burthensom Place, on the period of the Wars in all the three Kingdomes, Decemb. 16. 1653. and ended the troublesome course of his life (at the Age of above 60 years) on the third of September; on which Day, he obtained those two Ad­mirable Victories, at Dunbar and Worcester; which same Day, being formerly a day of Trouble to him; God was now graciously pleased to make it a Day of Rest, by ta­king him to Himself. He was magnified and beloved of all honest hearted men; and we believe as little hated of any, as we have read of, living in the splendour of Command and Greatnesse; having reduced the Three Kingdoms in a settled Peace, and Quietnesse, to the won­der of the World, and contrary to the general expecta­tion of the best Judgments.

The Lord RICHARD his eldest Son being the next day proclaimed LORD PROTECTOR of England, Scotland, and Ireland; A Person, on whom the Hopes of the Nations grow strong, That he (as he succeeds so Illustrious a Father) will not degenerate from the Virtues of such an unparallell'd Parent.

To speak more in his praise, would be a lessening to his Worth and Merits, and happily a means to draw envy on the Author, who hath written this little (much too scanty) for his great and miraculous Atchievements, his famous Victories, and everlasting praise; which in times to come will (doubtlesse) be augmented to a Vo­lume; which happily the Nation shall shortly see.

God in his great mercy so blesse and prosper his Hope­full Successour, that he may be a Religions Imitator of Him, who is at Rest; and that he may be to these Nations such a Patriot, as preceded him, in the Government. Which is cordially wish'd by him, who subscribes