to be his
Highness's Successor? The Successor is named in a sealed Paper already
drawn-up, above a year ago, at Hampton Court; now lying in such and such
a place. The Paper was sent for, searched for; it could never be found.
Richard's is the name understood to have been written in that Paper: not
a good name; but in fact one does not know. In ten years' time, had ten
years more been granted, Richard might have become a fitter man; might
have been cancelled, if palpably unfit. Or perhaps it was Fleetwood's
name,--and the Paper, by certain parties, was stolen? None knows. On the
Thursday night following, "and not till then," his Highness is
understood to have formally named "Richard",--or perhaps it might only
be some heavy-laden "Yes, yes!" spoken, out of the thick death-slumbers,
in answer to Thurloe's _question_ "Richard?" The thing is a little
uncertain. It was, once more, a matter of much moment;--giving color
probably to all the subsequent Centuries of England, this answer!--...

Thursday night the Writer of our old Pamphlet [Harvey] was himself in
attendance on his Highness; and has preserved a trait or two; with which
let us hasten to conclude. Tomorrow is September Third, always kept as a
Thanksgiving day, since the Victories of Dunbar and Worcester. The
wearied one, "that very night before the Lord took him to his
everlasting rest," was heard thus, with oppressed voice, speaking:

"'Truly God is good; indeed He is; He will not'----Then his speech
failed him, but as I apprehended, it was, 'He will not leave me.' This
saying, 'God is good,' he frequently used all along; and would speak it
with much cheerfulness, and fervor of spirit, in the midst of his
pains.--Again he said: 'I would be willing to live to be farther
serviceable to God and His People: but my work is done. Yet God will be
with His People.'

"He was very restless most part of the night, speaking often to himself.
And there being something to drink offered him, he was desired To take
the same, and endeavor to sleep.--Unto which he answered: 'It is not my
design to drink or sleep; but my design is, to make what haste I can to
be gone.'--

"Afterwards, towards morning, he used divers holy expressions, implying
much inward consolation and peace; among the rest he spake some
exceeding self-debasing words, _annihilating_ and judging himself. And
truly it was observed, that a public spirit to God's Cause did breathe
in him,--as in his lifetime, so now