Page:Life of Oliver Cromwell.pdf/23

 courtiers and generals flung themselves on the floor to recover it. Cromwell burst out a-laughing “Should any fool," said he, "put in his head at the door, he would fancy, from your posture, that you were seeking the Lord, and you are only seeking a cork screw!" This singular levity of disposition was the cause of other coarse scenes which frequently happened at his table.

This singular man, whose latter years were rendered miserable by, domestic misfortumes, and a constant dread of assassination-which induced him to wear, armour under his clothes-died on the 3d September, 1658, a day which he always thought favourable to him. He was interred in the sepulchre of England's monarchs with more than regal pomp. As the ceremonies before his interment were singularly magnificent, an account of them will not be found without interest:-

The corpse of Cromwell having been embalmed and wrapped up in a sheet of lead, was removed from Whitehall to Sommerset House. The room, where the spectators entered, was completely hung with black; a second and a third room, were decorated in a similar manner. These three apartments were completely furnished with splendid scutcheons of his arms surmounted by the imperial crown; and at the head of each cloth of state was fixed a large majestic scutcheon, painted and gilt upon taffety. The room, where the body lay, was hung with black velvet, the roof was ceiled with the same material, and a canopy was placed over an effigy of the deceased in wax. This figure was in a rich suit of uncut velvet, laced with rich gold and furred ermines; upon the kirtle was a royal robe of purple velvet, laced with rich strings and tassels of gold. In the right hand was the golden sceptre, representing government; in the left hand