Sometime after this, the funeral of O. Cromwell was solemnized with
very great pomp, not at all agreeable to that condition he was once in;
for the time was when he would have abhorred such an idolatrous honour
as was now paid to his image. On the day of this pompous funeral, which
was the 23d of November, it happened that Edward Burrough came riding
from Kingston into London, not knowing any thing of what was done
there. As he entered at Charing-cross, he beheld a great multitude of
people thronging exceedingly, the streets being filled as far as he
could see, and abundance gazing at the windows, and upon the balconies,
and house tops. There were also guards of horse and foot that stopped
his horse, and it was told him, that he might not pass that way. Yet
he did not know what was the matter; but at length he perceived that
Cromwell’s image, richly adorned, was to be carried that way towards
Westminster. The consideration of this, was like an arrow which
pierced his breast: and because of this idolatry, he felt such a fire
kindled in him, that he was, as it were, filled with the indignation
of the Lord, whose fury ran through him, to cry, Plagues, plagues, and
vengeance against the authors of this abomination. Nay, so ardent was
his zeal, that if he had been moved to it, and it had been possible
to have done it, he could, (not at all minding his own life,) have
ridden through the guards and multitude, to have sounded the judgments
of God against the idolaters. And considering that all this sinful
idolatry, was about the funeral of Oliver Cromwell: ‘Alas, for him,’
said Burrough with himself, ‘who was once a great instrument in the
hand of the Lord, to break down many idolatrous images! Did not the
Lord once stir up his heart against all such things? And did not once
his children, officers, soldiers and army, pull down all the images and
crosses, and all such like popish stuff, wherever they met with it?
What grievous and abominable work is this? Have they now made a costly
image of him? And are such as were once his soldiers now guarding it,
and watching over it, and his children and officers following it, and
multitude of the inhabitants of London wondering and gazing after an
image of him? This is sad, and great pity: what a change is this in so
short a time?’
This zealous testimony E. Burrough caused to be printed, whereby he
raised to himself a more lasting monument, than by the erecting of
a statue was made to his quondam friend O. Cromwell. Now since the
persecution of E. Burrough’s friends, notwithstanding that he had
written to Richard Cromwell, did not cease, and that all exhortations
and warnings were rejected, E. Burrough in the month December, wrote
the following lines to Richard and his council:
_‘To the Protector and his Council._
‘The Lord God will shortly make you know that we are his people;
though we be accounted as sheep for the slaughter, yet our king
of righteousness will break you to pieces, if you harden your
hearts, and repent not. And though that love will not draw thee,
neither the gentle leadings of our God have any place in you, yet
judgments shall awaken you, and his heavy hand of indignation
shall lie upon your consciences, and you will be scattered and
distracted to pieces.