answer for his own actions, at his own peril;' and so Cromwel took
his leave. Some time after this Mr. L'Estrange was called, and Mr.
Strickland, with another gentleman, were his examiners; but the latter
pressed nothing against him. Mr. Strickland indeed insisted upon his
condemnation, and would have deprived him of the benefit of the Act of
Indemnity, telling him at last, 'that he had given no evidence of
the change of his mind, and consequently was not to be trusted.'
Mr. L'Estrange's final answer was to this effect, 'that it was his
interest to change his opinion, if he could, and that whenever he
found reason so to do, he would obey the sense of his own mind.' Some
few days after this he was discharged[B]. 'During the dependency of
this affair (says Mr. L'Estrange) I might well be seen at Whitehall,
but that I spake to Cromwel on any other business than this, that I
either sought, or pretended to, any privacy with him, or that I ever
spake to him after this time, I absolutely disown. Concerning the
story of the fiddle[C], this I suppose might be the rise of it: being
in St. James's Park, I heard an organ touched in a little low room
of one Mr. Henckson's; I went in, and found a private company of some
five or six persons. They desired me to take up a Viol, and bear a
part. I did so, and that part too, not much advance to the reputation
of my cunning. By and by, without the least colour of design,
or expectation, in comes Cromwel. He found us playing, and, as I
remember, so he left us.--As to bribing of his attendants, I disclaim
it. I never spake to Thurloe, but once in my life, and that was about
my discharge. Nor did I ever give bribe, little or great, in the
family.'

The above declaration Sir Roger was obliged to make, as some of his
enemies wanted to turn those circumstances of favour he received from
the Oliverian government to his disadvantage, and prevent his rising