Cromwell is called by the Preacher Burroughs “the archangel who did battle with the devil.”

Cromwell’s Lucky Day.  The 3rd September was considered by Oliver Cromwell to be his red-letter day.  On the 3rd September, 1650, he won the battle of Dunbar; on 3rd September, 1651, he won the battle of Worcester; and on 3rd September, 1658, he died.  It is not, however, true that he was born on 3rd September, as many affirm, for his birthday was 25th April, 1599.

Cromwell’s Dead Body Insulted.  Cromwell’s dead body was, by the sanction, if not by the express order of Charles II., taken from its grave, exposed on a gibbet, and finally buried under the gallows.

[Illustration] Similarly, the tomb of Am’asis, king of Egypt, was broken open by Camby’ses; the body was then scourged and insulted in various ways, and finally burnt, which was abhorrent to the Egyptians, who used every possible method to preserve dead bodies in their integrity.

The dead body of Admiral Coligny [Co.leen.ye] was similarly insulted by Charles IX., Catherine de Medicis, and all the court of France, who spattered blood and dirt on the half-burnt blackened mass.  The king had the bad taste to say over it: 

  Fragrance sweeter than a rose
  Rises from our slaughtered foes.

It will be remembered that Coligny was the guest of Charles, his only crime being that he was a Huguenot.

CROOK-FINGERED JACK, one of Macheath’s gang of thieves.  In eighteen months’ service he brought to the general stock four fine gold watches and seven silver ones, sixteen snuff-boxes (five of which were gold), six dozen handkerchiefs, four silver-hilted swords, six shirts, three periwigs, and a “piece” of broadcloth.  Pea’chum calls him “a mighty cleanhanded fellow,” and adds: 

“Considering these are only the fruits of his leisure hours, I don’t know a prettier fellow, for no man alive hath a more engaging presence of mind upon the road.”—­Gay, The Beggar’s Opera.  I. 1 (1727).

CROP (George), an honest, hearty farmer, who has married a second wife, named Dorothy, between whom there are endless quarrels.  Two especially are noteworthy.  Crop tells his wife he hopes that better times are coming, and when the law-suit is over “we will have roast pork for dinner every Sunday.”  The wife replies, “It shall be lamb.”  “But I say it shall be pork.”  “I hate pork, I’ll have lamb.”  “Pork, I tell you.”  “I say lamb.”  “It shan’t be lamb, I will have pork.”  The other quarrel arises from Crop’s having left the door open, which he asks his wife civilly to shut.  She refuses, he commands; she turns obstinate, he turns angry; at length they agree that the person who first speaks shall shut the door.  Dorothy speaks first, and Crop gains the victory.—­P.  Hoare, No Song, no Supper (1754-1834).