Lieutenant general CROMWELL'S LAST WILL & TESTAMENT: WITH The Military Directions he gave his FIELD-OFFICERS a little before his Death.  
LONDON. Printed in the Year, 1648.   

Lieutenant general CROMWELL'S last Will and Testament.  
TO return a full Satisfaction to all Such as have wondered, why in all this time and torrent of agency & employment, wherein so subtle and serious a sconce as Lieutenant general Cromwell's might have been of such infinite concern; HE was never heard of either by Letter, or any other intervening Message. HE, who was an Eye-witnesse of his Death and burial, shall briefly relate in every Circumstance, both truly and punctually where and how He died: in what manner he intended to have his Estate disposed: whom he principally entrusted: with the express directions communicated to his Commanders and Field-Officers for the better management of their Military affairs before he died.  
Lieutenant general Oliver cronwell, being then at Chepstow where his Head-quarters lay, and finding himself every day weaker then other, upon his growing infirmity, aggravated by the Wound he had lately received, and despairing of all means of recovery; having the night before been tormented with grievous and those incessant Convulsions: The very next Morning early, he was pleased to call unto him Commissary Ireton, Colonel Horton, Col. Lewis, Captain jones, Capt. red, and Capt. Griffith, with others, in whose intimacy and secrecy he principally confided. These Gentlemen desirous to know his Commands, came towards his Bed; and drawing aside the Curtains: at the very first, fetching a deep sigh, he discovered unto them all, his incurable condition: and that his approaching end did not so much trouble him,( though Death were the greatest Summons of terror to all Flesh) as his leaving the World, before his intended designs arrived their wished period. He ingenuously acknowledged, that it was his absolute aim ever, by the assistance and encouragement of the L. SAY, to introduce an Anarchy, under the implicit style of Independency: yet he must confess withall, that there were some rising thoughts of personal sovereignty in him, which though he shrouded and smothered for the time, yet he hoped( had not Death abridged his hopes) to have advanced to their full height.  
How his continued success in the whole pursuit and carriage of his actions, had begot in him both love and fear. Neither did he fear much the emulation of the general: nor Opposition of any other, in his quest after honour. For he knew well, how the general, though he had priority in Command: yet so long as they managed the Military affairs of the Kingdom together; he would never take in hand to plough without his heifer: Being such an active Foe, as the Enemy might stand in more fear of his hand, then his head: and that his practise partak'd more of prowess then advice: So as, such Corrivals were not much to be feared, who would fight without fear, and without deliberation fight. For MANCHESTER, he held him a Man, neither to be much loved nor feared; should He once fail, he knew not who would support him.  
For his part, he held no Commander more securely guarded, then He who made choice of his own for his Guard. This he observed, and by enjoyment of his own allies so secured: as the confidence he reposed in those about him and entrusted by him, acquitted his thoughts of fear. He vowed that he never pursued task with more care nor assiduity, then in labouring to spin out time about that Treaty, intended betwixt the Parliament and His Majesty. His presence might turn the scale. This moved me( said he) to labour His remove from Hampton-Court, being, as I conceived, seated too near London: where affections were so variously disposed, as I knew not well whom to trust, excepting those City-Grandees, whose deep interests had made them Ours: so as, the very fear they had of suffering in their fortunes, obliged them to be our inseparable Favourites.  
Neither could the Isle of Wight, whereto His Majesty was designed, free me from all jealousies touching His escape; unless I had procured Him to be His Keeper, who was so nearly allied and really endeared to me, as I could be no less then confidently assured of his trust: that neither price could corrupt him, nor prayer persuade him, nor power overawe him to falsify that trust imposed on him. Yet to colour His remove with a pretensive semblance of favour; I caused it to be suggested, that my zeal to do Him service, and desire I had to study the safety and security of His Person, induced me to intimate by Letter to such as were nearest about Him; That a design was lately discovered, and to me privately imparted; that certain Persons of inferior and mercenary quality, in hope of reward, or occasional discontent, had jointly practised His Death. To prevent which hateful Design, I advised them to intimate so much to the King, to the end He might decline His danger, by a timely Escape: Which wholesome counsel begot in Some a constant opinion of my loyalty: and that, whatsoever I held touching this tenet of Independency, was no breach nor violation at all in the object of my loyalty. Which, whosoever should oppose, might be quickly evinced, by this apparent desire I had to procure His safety. But he deserves not the name of a Commander, who lays himself open to every censure; or discovers his aims to every credulous Intelligencer. beams dart out the clearest, when they break forth of Clouds: and glorious events the braveliest, when they issue from dark and enfolded thoughts. I w●ll not arrogate to myself, but I verily believe, I was second to none in this Lesson of State.  
Now to you, Gent: Commanders, who behold me here nearly arriving the Shore: you know well what overtures we have had, and what interchange of fortunes and events we have met with, since our first advance here in Wales. They are an hote & implacable kind of people. And what is strange, though teechy and spiteful, yet in their ways infinitely subtle; never further from being lost, then when they seem utterly defeated. For your honours sake, be circumspectly and wary; that you present them not with the least advantage. That blood of theirs which we have already  shed, and those Captives which we have despicably sold, have stamped in them impressive intendments of revenge: and their industry is not small in the pursuance of it. If you face the Enemy, and Picquiere with him till your approaching Forces advance, it will not be amiss: Many of those Common Soldiers which you have here with you, are with long and continued Service much wearied and wasted; so as a little intermission will be requisite to give them breathing and refreshment. But if you come to a set Battle, let me advice you, to try the issue of it, if your endeavours may possibly effect it, in a champion part of the Country; for the Mountains, by reason of their long acquaintance & habitation in them, may conduce much to their advantage.  
I must be short; for the weakness I feel, tells me you must not hear me long. conceal my Death with as much secrecy, as you may: the report of it, as I am their Commander, might discourage Ours, and embolden our Foes. Let my burial be as obscurely performed and as covertly carried as you may. solemn Obsequies be more properly observed in times of peace then war. These might prejudice you; they could do me no good. Present these my dying words, with my long-professed Service to the L. SAY. I wish all happy success to his prudent Counsels. And that his Honour would remember the private Discourse which we two had at our last being together in Sring Garden. I know well his Secretary to be both Discreet and Secret; yet I could wish that none might partake of those Secrets which he reserves in his blew Cabinet, but himself. He knows my meaning.  
I must not forget mayor general SKIPPON; Remember me to him: and wish him withall, to be mindful of that mutual Vow which we made one to the other." He must break his faith, if he be Caesars friend. It has been my opinion ever: wherein if I mistook, it was my mis-guided judgement that traced me to that error. That it suits not with the Constitution of the best Government to establish a Monarchy. This he held with me. Let not a Daies mis-fortune alter his opinion. HE knows what we resolved upon after our Victory at Nasebe He is too ripe in years, too wel-seasoned with discretion, for any overture to change his resolution. He knows what plots and designs have been long time in hatching: let him carefully nurse them at home: and courageously manage them abroad. he's in a City, where he may be both loved and feared: and where he may have these Principles received, which he himself maintains. Be it his work to negotiate there; for there Springs the Fountain-head. By obliging the Grandees, he may with more indifferency look upon the Commons.  
Lastly, for the disposal of my Estate amongst Such, who by the Law of Nature have an interest in me; if the wheel turn, it will be disposed of by Others for me: But if there be a continuance of this Government, which by means of that harmony betwixt the two Houses of Parliament and the City, may be long time preserved: I deliver to you Gent. here a codicil in trust: wherein is contained my WILL. This is all, save a friendly farewell to you all: with my soul to Him who is all in all.  

With which words he expired. His Corps were removed in the Silence of the Night towards his own House at Graffam Lodge; where it was with all privacy interred: though Some report, Gloucester; others( and not without Some probability) that at the instance of the Independent Party, it was conveyed to Westminster; and there privately but solemnly on the Night time butted.  
But let not this difference of Opinions touching the Place of his burial, beget in any One the least mis-beliefe touching this Principle: He has paid his Debt to Nature, but died in great arrears of allegiance to his Master.   O benigna cespes, patriae sospes, quae talem mereberis Hospitem! 
FINIS.