Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1825-01-12
Christian Observer.
:JHtsceIId1gD.
OLIVER CROMWELL.

OILIP En- CnOJu w ELL.
There is circumstance related of
Cromwell, which, in the refinement of
policy, as well as in malevolence, is
scarcely perhaps to be parallelled in his
tory. When Cardenas was ambassador
in England from the court of Spain,
though he was treated with marks of
uncommon attention by Cromwell, he
could never be prevailed upon to betray
any state secrets, or to enter into any
measures whatever in favor of the Pro-
tector's views; YET still the latter was 100
cunning for him, for while he Was max
ing great naval preparations for war
against Spain, he had the address TO
make its minister believe that the fleet
was destined for another purpose and
in this manner he amused him, till the
burning OF he gaIleons by Blake open
ed his eyes Cardenas resented this so
much, that when he was recalled. he
reversed every proposal of Cromwell's
at the court OF Madrid, SO that while he
renamed there IN office, the Protector
found he was not likely to carry any
point. He therefore determined on the
destruction of this minister, though it
was 20 easy matter to effect this, as his
credit was great not only with the king
his master, but with tho whole Spanish
court. Cromwell, however, conceived
a way viii h he thought would effectu-
0IlJ 9rrnOonIIeh hio ord t.
In execution he sent for the keep of
Newgate, and asked him many questions
concerning the qualifications of his dit
terent prisoners, and, among the rest,
wished to know, whether he had in Gus
tody any remarkable for house-break-
ing. The gao,er told him, there was
ieliow under sentence of death, that he
believed could get in or out of any
house IN the world, if his hands were at
liberty. The Protector ordered this
man 10 be brought privately to him but
the fellow was such miserable wo be-
gone wretch, that Cromwell stood as.
tonlshed a, the sight of him, and more
so ut the specimens of his art, which he
practIsed al the instance of the keeper,
on locks of the most curious contrly-
ance; these, though of different forms.
he readily opened, and said there was
never lock made that he would not
undertake TO open in the same manner.
The keeper was then ordered to with
draw, and the Protector, after some pri-
vate discourse with the thief, remanded
him to Newgate under the same guard
which brought him. But at the dead of
night he sent trusty person to New
gate, with warrant 10 the keeper for
the criminals release, and orders to
bring him again into his presence to re-
celve some instructions. When the fell
low came the second time, the Protec-
tor showed him the plan of garden and
pavilion, into which he was to make his
way by opening certain number of
locks, each of which had three keys
and then he asked him, if he thought he
could effect it, promising him not only IA
free pardon, but considerable reward
for his pains. The man said he could.
The Protector told him that he should
be conducted to the place where the
service was 10 be performed, and then
he would have lette- given him,
which he was 10 drop under table that
he would find in the middle of the pa
Wilton, as there represented in the plan.
This was all the fellow was intrustpd
with. and care was taken to provide
him with suitable apparel, and every
thing necessary for his journey, and the
service he was about TO perform so
that he no sooner received his ,nstruc-
tons, than he was hurried off immediate
ly, and put on board the vessel that was
to carry him to Spain. The person to
whose care he was intrusted bad his in
structions likewise but as the one did
not know where he was to be carried,
so the other was not acquainted with
the business of his companion, when he
had brought him to the appointed place,
and given him the letter, but was in
stantly to leave him to himself, and re-
pair TO Venice with another letter,
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