writes James Heath, gentleman, in his "Chronicles," published in
1675. "Above all, he very carefully observed such whose mind or
aspect were featured with any chearful and debonair lineaments;
for such he boded were they that would despatch him; to that
purpose he always went secretly armed, both offensive and
defensive; and never stirred without a great guard. In his usual
journey between Whitehall and Hampton Court, by several roads, he
drove full speed in the summer time, making such a dust with his
life-guard, part before and part behinde, at a convenient
distance, for fear of choaking him with it, that one could hardly
see for a quarter of an hour together, and always came in some
private way or other." The same authority, in his "Life of
Cromwell," states of him, "It was his constant custom to shift
and change his lodging, to which he passed through twenty several
locks, and out of which he had four or five ways to avoid
pursuit." Welwood, in his "Memoirs," adds the Protector wore a
coat of mail beneath his dress, and carried a poniard under his
cloak.

Nor was this all. According to the "Chronicle of the late
Intestine War," Cromwell "would sometimes pretend to be merry,
and invite persons, of whom he had some suspicion, to his cups,
and then drill out of their open hearts such secrets as he wisht
for. He had freaks also to divert the vexations of his misgiving
thoughts, calling on by the beat of drum his footguards, like a
kennel of hounds to snatch away the scraps and reliques of his
table. He said every man's hand was against him, and that he ran
daily into further perplexities, out of which it was impossible
to extricate, or secure himself therein, without running into
further danger; so that he began to alter much in the tenour of