31~ defence, whereupon Cromwell drew him aside, and askt him what he meant to contend so, to kcepe in that governor? (it was Overton .) The collonell told him, because he saw nothing proov'd against him worthy of being eiected. "But," sayd Cromwell, "we like " him not ." Then sayd the collonell, " Doe it upon that account, " and blemish not a man that is innocent, upon false accusations, " because you like him not." " But," sayd Cromwell, " wee would " have him o~t, because the. government is design'd for you, and " except you put him out you cannot have the place." At this the collonell was very angrie, and with greate indignation told him, if there was no way to bring him into their army but by casting out others unius tly, he would rather fall naked before his enemies, then so seeke to put himselfe into a posture of defence. Then returning to the table, he so eagerly undertooke the iniured governor's protection that he foyl'd his enemies, and the governor was confirm'd in his place. This so displeas'd Cromwell that, as before, so much more now, he saw that even his 'owne interest would not byasse him into any uniust faction, he secretly labour'd to frustrate the attempts of all others who, for the same reason that Cromwell labour'd to keepe him out, labour'd as much to bring him in. But now had the poyson of ambition so ulcerated Cromwell's heart, that the effects of it became more apparent then before, and while as yett Fairfax. stood an empty name, he was molding the army to his mind, weeding out the godly and uprigh t-hearted men, both officers and souldiers, and fi lling ,up their roomes with rascally turne-coate cavaliers, and pittifull sottish beasts of his owne alliance, and other such as would swallow all things, and make no question for conscience sake. Yet this he did not direc tly nor in tumult, but by such degrees that it was unperceiv'd by a ll that were not of very penetrating eies, and those that made the loudest outcries against him lifted up their voyces with such apparent envie and mallice that, in that mist, they rather hid then discovdd his ambitious
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