Amidst the general rejoicings the sons of the great Protector passed
ignominiously and unheeded from the scene. Never had a great edifice of
power, raised by consummate strength of will, and proud ambition, toppled
so easily to the ground. Richard--that "child of fortune" as Clarendon
calls him--and his brother Henry, the Lieutenant of Ireland, were puppets
in the hands of each successive faction. They had readily yielded any
phantom of power they possessed into the hands of the army officers, and
when the Restoration took place they did not receive even the compliment
of notice, as items to be counted in the sweeping change. Amidst the
national joy, the poor wretch upon whom there had descended an inheritance
that he was not fit to bear, "found it necessary to transport himself into
France, more for fear of his debts than of the King, who thought it not
necessary to inquire after a man so long forgotten." [Footnote:
_Rebellion_, xvi. 374.] Clarendon points the dramatic contrast of
this contemptible exit by introducing a story of a later day. In his
subsequent wanderings abroad, Richard Cromwell visited Pezenas, in
Languedoc, where the Prince of Conti was Governor, and according to usage
he waited upon the Prince, but had the caution to make the visit under
another name. The Prince "received him with great civility and grace,
according to his natural custom, and, after a few words, began to
discourse of the affairs of England and asked many questions concerning
the King." He proceeded to discuss the late Protector. "Well," said the
Prince, "Oliver, though he was a traitor and a villain, was a brave
fellow, had great parts, great courage, and was worthy to command; but
that Richard, that coxcomb, _coquin, poltron_, was surely the basest
fellow alive. What is become of that fool? How was it possible he could be
such a sot?" His visitor did his best to lay the blame of the miscarriage
on the betrayal of Richard by his advisers. But, fearing to be known, he
speedily withdrew, and next day left the town. To such abasement had the
name of Cromwell fallen; and with this strange episode it disappears from