The passage below is quoted in George Speaights "History of the English Puppet Theatre." The source is a Tract entitled THE LORD HENRY CROMWELL'S SPEECH IN THE HOUSE (1659. Brit. Mus.) Mr. Speaight took the passage from the pamphlet but tells me he cannot now remember why he looked at the tract. I cannot believe that the passage is authentic. Professor Howell of Bowdoin College, Maine assures me that the passage exists but I find it difficult that Henry would have said it! CAn anyone give me their opinion?
- For though men say he had a copper nose..his name still lives. Me Thinks I hear 'em already crying thirty years hence at Bartholemew Fair.' Step in and see the life and death of brave Cromwell.' Methinks I see him in a velvet cragg about his shoulders and a little passte bard hat upon his head riding a tittup a tittup to his parliament house and a man with a bay leaf in his mouth crying in his behalf 'by the living God I will dissolve 'em' which makes the porters cry 'O Brave Englishman' The Devil carries him away in a tempest which makes the nurses squeak and the children cry.....But alas I cannot hope for such monuments for my fame; will every by face hang out at Temple Bar? Will every my picture be thought worthy to be cut in satin by school boys and be hanged up in alehouses to inspire ballad singers?
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