discoveries of the Lord to him in his sickness, and hath some
certainty of being restored;" as Fleetwood, his son-in-law, wrote
on the 24th of August in this same year.

Accordingly, when one of the physicians came to him next morning,
the High Protector said, "Why do you look sad?" To which the man
of lore replied evasively, "So it becomes anyone who had the
weighty care of his life and health upon him." Then Cromwell to
this purpose spoke: "You think I shall die; I tell you I shall
not die this bout; I am sure on't. Don't think I am mad. I
speak the words of truth upon surer grounds than Galen or your
Hippocrates furnish you with. God Almighty himself hath given
that answer, not to my prayers alone, but also to the prayers of
those who entertain a stricter commerce and greater intimacy with
him. Ye may have skill in the nature of things, yet nature can
do more than all physicians put together, and God is far above
nature." The doctor besought him to rest, and left the room.
Outside he met one of his colleagues, to whom he gave it as his
opinion their patient had grown light-headed, and he repeated the
words which Cromwell had spoken. "Then," said his brother-
physician, "you are certainly a stranger in this house; don't you
know what was done last night? The chaplain and all their
friends being dispersed into several parts of the palace have
prayed to God for his health, and they all heard the voice of God
saying, 'He will recover,' and so they are all certain of it."

"Never, indeed, was there a greater stock of prayers going on for
any man," as Thurlow, his secretary, writes. So sure were those
around him that Providence must hearken to and grant the
fulfilment of such desires as they thought well to express, that,