Page:The lives of the poets of Great Britain and Ireland to the time of Dean Swift - Volume 4.djvu/307

Rh examine him, and the perſon from whom, in the judgment of his friends, he was to expect the leaſt favour. Mr. L’Eſtrange therefore to render him more propitious to his purpoſe, paid him the compliment of a viſit, telling him frankly that he was returned upon the invitation of the Act of Indemnity; and laying before him how much it concerned him, both in comfort and intereſt, to ſee his dying father. Mr. Strickland, in place of complying with Mr. L’Eſtrange’s propoſition, anſwered, that he would find himſelf miſtaken, and that his caſe was not included in that Act. Mr. L’Eſtrange’s reply to him was, ‘that he might have been ſafe among the Turks upon the ſame terms;’ and ſo he left him. From that time matters beginning to look worſe and worſe, he conſidered it, as his laſt expedient, to addreſs Cromwel himſelf. After ſeveral diſappointments, for want of opportunity, he ſpoke to him at laſt in the Cock-pit, and the ſum of his deſire was, either a ſpeedy examination, or that it might be deferred ’till he had ſeen his father. Cromwel remonſtrated againſt the reſtleſſneſs of his party, obſerved, ‘that rigour was not his inclination, but that he was but one man, and could do little by himſelf; and that Mr. L’Eſtrange’s party would do well to give ſome better teſtimony of their quiet, and peaceable intentions.’ Mr. L’Eſtrange told him, ‘that every man was to anſwer for his own actions, at his own peril;’ and ſo Cromwel took his leave. Some time after this Mr. L’Eſtrange was called, and Mr. Strickland, with another gentleman, were his examiners; but the latter preſſed nothing againſt him, Mr. Strickland indeed inſiſted upon his condemnation, and would have deprived him of the benefit of the Act of Indemnity, telling him at laſt, ‘that he had given no evidence of the change of his mind, and conſequently was not to be truſted.’ Mr. L’Eſtrange’s final anſwer was to this effect, ‘that it