as Thomas Goodwin, one of Cromwell's chaplains, said, "We asked
not for the Protector's life, for we were assured He had too
great things for this man to do, to remove him yet; but we prayed
for his speedy recovery, because his life and presence were so
necessary to divers things then of great moment to be
despatched." When this Puritanical fanatic was presently
disappointed, Bishop Burnet narrates "he had the impudence to say
to God, 'Thou hast deceived us.'"

Meanwhile the Protector lay writhing in pain and terror. His
mind was sorely troubled at remembrance of the last words spoken
by his daughter Elizabeth, who had threatened judgments upon him
because of his refusal to save the King; whilst his body was
grievously racked with a tertian fever, and a foul humour which,
beginning in his foot, worked its way steadily to his heart.
Moreover, some insight regarding his future seemed given to him
in his last days, for he appeared, as Ludlow, his contemporary,
states, "above all concerned for the reproaches he saw men would
cast upon his name, in tramping upon his ashes when dead."

On the 30th of August his danger became evident even to himself,
and all hope of life left him. For hours after the certain
approach of death became undeniably certain, he remained quiet
and speechless, seemingly heedless of the exhortation and prayers
of his chaplains, till suddenly turning to one of them, he
whispered, "Tell me, is it possible to fall from grace?" The
preacher had a soothing reply ready: "It is not," he answered.
"Then," exclaimed this unhappy man, whose soul was red with the
blood of thousands of his countrymen, "I am safe, for I know I
was once in grace." Anon he cries out, whilst tossing wildly on