Western Civilization_ Volume B_ 1300 to 1815 - Jackson J. Spielvogel [201]
Oliver Cromwell died in 1658. After floundering for eighteen months, the military establishment decided that arbitrary rule by the army was no longer feasible and reestablished the monarchy in the person of Charles II, the eldest son of Charles I (see Chart 15.1 below). The restoration of the Stuart monarchy ended England’s time of troubles, but it was not long before yet another constitutional crisis arose.
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Oliver Cromwell: Three Perspectives
Oliver Cromwell was a strong leader with firm religious convictions. The first selection below, taken from a letter written after the defeat of the king’s forces at Naseby in 1645, reveals Cromwell’s feelings about the reasons for his military victory. The next selection, also by Cromwell, is taken from his comments after his army’s massacre of Catholic forces at Drogheda in Catholic Ireland. The third selection is by Edmund Ludlow, a general on Cromwell’s side who broke with Cromwell after the latter had become Lord Protector. The final selection by Edward Hyde, the first earl of Clarendon, a supporter of King Charles I and later Charles II, presents a royalist view of Cromwell.
Oliver Cromwell on the Victory at Naseby
Sir, this is none other but the hand of God; and to Him alone belongs the glory, wherein none are to share with Him. The general [Fairfax] served you with all faithfulness and honor: and the best commendations I can give him is, that I dare say he attributes all to God, and would rather perish than assume to himself. Which is an honest and a thriving way, and yet as much for bravery may be given to him, in this action, as to a man.
Cromwell on the Massacre at Drogheda
The next day, the other two towers were summoned, in one of which was about six or seven score; but they refused to yield themselves, and we knowing that hunger must compel them, set only good guards to secure them from running away until their stomachs were come down. From one of the said towers, notwithstanding their condition, they killed and wounded some of our men. When they submitted, their officers were knocked on the head, and every tenth man of the soldiers killed, and the rest shipped for the Barbados. The soldiers in the other tower were all spared, as to their lives only, and shipped likewise for the Barbados.
I am persuaded that this is a righteous judgment of God upon these barbarous wretches, who have imbrued their hands in so much innocent blood; and that it will tend to prevent the effusion of blood for the future, which are the satisfactory grounds to such actions, which otherwise cannot but work remorse and regret.
Edmund Ludlow, Memoirs
Then I drew near to the council-table, where Cromwell charged me with dispersing treasonable books in Ireland, and with endeavoring to render the officers of the army disaffected, by discoursing to them concerning new models of Government. I acknowledged that I had caused some papers to be dispersed in Ireland, but denied that they justly could be called treasonable.…
“You do well,” said he, “to reflect on our fears.… I now require you to give assurance not to act against the Government.” I desired to be excused in that particular, reminding him of the reasons I had formerly given him for my refusal, adding, that I was in his power, and that he might use me as he thought fit. “Pray then,” said he, “what is it that you would have? May not every man be as good as he will? What can you desire more than you have?” “It were easy,” said I, “to tell what we would have.” “What is that, I pray?” said he. “That which we fought for,” said I, “that the nation might be governed by its own consent.” “I am,” said he, “as much for a government by consent as any man; but where shall we find that consent? Amongst the Prelatical, Presbyterian, Independent,