Page:Life of Oliver Cromwell.pdf/15

 After this defeat, Charles II. put himself at the head of the remains of his army, and observing that the way was open to England, he directed his march towards that country, expecting to be reinforced by the royalists in that part of the kingdom. In this he was deceived.-When at Worcester, word was brought him that Cromwell was marching from Scotland with an army of 40,000 men. This news was scarcely artived when Cromwell was there He fell upon the town on all sides: the whole Scots army were either killed or taken prisoners; and the king himself, having given many proofs of personal valour, was obliged to fly. This battle Cromwell in his letter to parliament styled the "crowning victory." Soon after this Cromwell returned to London, where these splendid successes procured him a cordial reception, and invested him with a yet greater degree of political influence.

From this time, he assumed more loftiness of mamer, and betrayed less equivocal symptoms than usual of his designs and hopes. Before; however, he could expect to succeed, it was necessary to subvert the Parliament, but they becoming alarmed, and put on their guard, framed a bill to continue their sittings till the 5th Nov. 1654. Cromwell, on being informed of this started up in the council with an appearance of fury, cried out that he was compelled to do a thing that made the very hairs of his head stand on end. Then hastening to the house with 300 soldiers, and with marks of violent indignation on his countenance, he entered, took his place, and attended to the debates for some time. When the question was ready to be put, he started up, and began to load the parliament with reproaches for their robbery and oppression of the public. Then stamping with his foot, he gave the signal for the soldiers to enter; and addressing