midnight
A ruler who not only framed acts , but saw those acts enforced , whether they regarded a `` Declaration for a day of Publique Thanksgiving , '' or `` A Licence for transporting Fish in Foreign Bottoms , '' was not likely to be much after the taste of one who had the essence of lawgiving only within himself , and who perceived clearly enough that the royal but thoughtless Stuarts would be more easily managed -- more prone , if not from feeling , at all events from indolence , to overlook the peccadilloes of such as Dalton , than the unflinching Oliver , who felt that every evil he redressed was a fresh jewel in his sceptre . Nevertheless , as we have seen , the Buccaneer had decided on offering his services to the Commonwealth : he believed that Cromwell knew his talents and valued his courage ; but he also knew that the Protector piqued himself upon consistency , and that , consequently , there would be vast difficulties to overcome , as a price had more than once been set upon his head . We must , however , conduct our readers back into the fresh morning we have instanced as one of the favourites of spring . Leaving Robin to his preparations for the stranger 's breakfast , and premising that he had previously dismissed the midnight revellers on their respective errands , we will roam for a while amid the sheltered walks of Cecil Place . It was situated on the slope of the hill , leading to the old monastery of Minster . Although nothing now exists except the church , a few broken walls , and a modernised house , formed out of one of the principal entrances to what was once an extensive range of monastic buildings ; yet at the time of which we treat , the ruins of the nunnery , founded by Sexburga , the widow of Ercombert , King of Kent , extended down the rising ground , presenting many picturesque points of view from the small but highly-cultivated pleasure grounds of Cecil Place . Nothing could be more beautiful than the prospect from a rude terrace which had been the favourite walk of Lady Cecil .