131 place, to informe the parliament of Hoth'am's carriages, and the strong presumptions they had of his treachery, and the ill management of their forces. · This they two did, without the privity of any of the other gentlemen or commanders, some of which were little !esse suspected themselves, and others, as my lord Grey, through credulous good nature, too greale a favourer of I-Iotham. Themessenger was very dilligent in his charge, and return' cl assoone as it was possible with a committment of Hotham, who accordingly was then made prisoner in Nottingham-caslle, and Sr. John Meldrum was sent downe to be commander in chiefe of all those united forces. When they marcht away, a troope of my lord Grey's having the charge of guarding Hotham, towards London, suffer'd him to escape, and thereby putt the towne of Hull into a greate hazard; but that the father and sonne were there unexpectedly surpriz'd, sent up prisoners to London, and after some time executed. Those who knew the opinion Cromwell after had of Mr. Hutchinson, believ'd he registred this businesse in his mind as long as he liv'd, and made it his care to prevent him from being in any power or capacity to pursue him to the same punishment, when he deserv'd it; but from that time, growing into more intimate acquaintance with him, he allwayes us'd to profess t he most hearty affections to him, and the greatest delight in his plainnesse and open-heartednesse that was imaginable.' e Those who consider and represent Cromwell as a prodigy not only of treachery-,._ des ign, amb ition, and artifice.. but likewise of sagacity and foreknowledge, will deem' thi s a proof of his having thus early conceived hi s scheme of aggrandizement; but to. those who are better sat isfied with the probable than the marvellous it will seem toprove no such thing; they must well 1mow that if he had so soon any great viewsJ they must have been very distant and indistinct; they will find here only the first of a long series of instancesJ wherein will be seen the quick and clear discernmentJ the strong and well-poised judgmentJ the promptitude and firmness of decision, · whicb enabled him to se ize and convert to hi s advantage every opportunity that presented itself, and even the actions, thoughts, and inclinationsJ of other men; and they will
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