The Waverley novels, by Sir Walter Scott, complete in 12 vol., printed from the latest English ed., embracing the author's last corrections, prefaces & notes.

WOODSTOCK. 69
opposition, his father and he had anxiously concurred, nor had the arguments,
nor even the half-expressed threats of Cromwell, induced them to flinch
from that course, far less to permit their names to be introduced into the
commission nominated to sit in judgment on that memorable occasion.
This hesitation had occasioned some temporary coldness between the
General and the Everards, father and son. But as the latter remained in
the army, and bore arms under Cromwell both in Scotland, and finally at
Worcester, his services very frequently called forth the approbation of his
commander. After the fight of Worcester, in particular, he was among the
number of those officers on whom Oliver, rather considering the actual and
practical extent of his own power, than the name under which he exercised
it, was with difficulty withheld from imposing the dignity of KnightsBannerets at his own will and pleasure. It therefore seemed, that all recollection of former disagreement was obliterated, and that the Everards had
regained their former stronghold in the General's affections. There were,
indeed, several who doubted this, and who endeavoured to bring over this
distinguished young officer to some other of the parties which divided the
infant Commonwealth. But to these proposals he turned a deaf ear. Enough
of blood, he said, had been spilled-it was time that the nation should have
repose under a firmly-established government, of strength sufficient to protect
property, and of lenity enough to encourage the return of tranquillity. This,
he thought, could only be accomplished by means of Cromwell, and the
greater part of England was of the same opinion. It is true, that, in thus
submitting to the domination of a successful soldier, those who did so, forgot
the principles upon which they had drawn the sword against the late King.
But in revolutions, stern and high principles are often obliged to give way
to the current of existing circumstances; and in many a case, where wars
have been waged for points of metaphysical right, they have been at last
gladly terminated, upon the mere hope of obtaining general tranquillity, as,
after many a long siege, a garrison is often glad to submit on mere security
for life and limb.
Colonel Everard, therefore, felt that the support which he afforded Cromwell, was only under the idea, that, amid a choice of evils, the least was
likely to ensue from a man of the General's wisdom and valour being placed
at the head of the state; and he was sensible, that Oliver himself was likely
to consider his attachment as lukewarm and imperfect, and measure his
gratitude for it upon the same limited scale.
In the meanwhile, however, circumstances compelled him to make trial
of the General's fiiendship. The sequestration of Woodstock, and the
warrant to the Commissioners to dispose of it as national property, had been
long granted, but the interest of the elder Everard had for weeks and months
deferred its execution. The hour was now approaching when the blow
could be no longer parried, especially as Sir Henry Lee, on his side, resisted
every proposal of submitting himself to the existing government, and was
therefore, now that his hour of grace was passed, enrolled in the list of
stubborn and irreclaimable malignants, with whom the Council of State
was determined no longer to keep terms. The only mode of protecting the
old knight and his daughter, was to interest, if possible, the General himself
in the matter; and revolving all the circumstances connected with'their
intercourse, Colonel Everard felt that a request, which would so immediately
interfere with the interests of Desborough, the brother-in-law of Cromwell,
and one of the present Commissioners, was putting to a very severe trial
the friendship of the latter. Yet no alternative remained.
With this view, and agreeably to a request from Cromwell, who at parting
had been very urgent to have his written opinion upon public affairs, Colonel Everard passed the earlier part of the night in arranging his ideas upon
the state of the Commonwealth, in a plan which he thought likely to be
acceptable to Cromwell, as it exhorted him, under the aid of Providence, to