Life of Oliver Cromwell

Front matter

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Chapter I

Birtli of Cromwell — Childhood and Youth — Associations — • Huntingdon — Goes to Cambridge — Deaths — Goes to London — Marriage — Occupation Page 21

CHAPTER 11.

Fomiiug Tears of Life — Religious Awakening — Distress — Conversion — Deep Devotion — Religious Associates — Testimonials 24

CHAPTER IIL

Cromwell in Parliament — Maiden Speech — Result — " What are we to expect?" — His Course foreshadowed — Appearance 27

CHAPTER lY.

The Eleven Years' Interim — Public Distress — CromwelPs removal — Pursuits — Interior Life — Moses in Midian 30 o CONTENTS.

CHAPTER y.

A Letter — Humility — Eeligious Experience — Faith — Gratitude — A Critic — The Critic rebuked Page S3

CHAPTER VI.

King Charles — Assembles a Parliament — Cromwell a Member for Cambridge — Parliament dismissed— " Long Parliament "— Cromwell again a Member — His Personal Appearance—Dress — Carlyle's Comments — " Petition and Remonstrance " — Great Debate — Cromwell's Declaration 37

CHAPTER YH.

Dark Portents — Folly of the Kin^ — Demands upon Parliament — Unsuccessful — Great Excitement — King leaves London—Preparations for War — Cromwell awake — Himself and Sons enter the Army — Sad Partings — Magnitude of the Cause •, 44

CHAPTER Tin.

Lord Digby — " That Sloven " — Hampton's memorable Reply

— The Providential Man — Confused Views of him— The true View important 48

CHAPTER IX.

Royal Standard erected at Nottingham — King calls to Arms

— Parliamentary Army — Cromwell's Proposal — He hastens to Cambridge — Great Military Preparations — Cromwell's Military Position and Character — His rapid Rise as an Officer — Battle of Edgehill — Cromwell's Proposal to Hampden — Executes his Plan — Decisive Results — Clarendon — D'Aublgne ,',... 50 i

CHAPTER X.

Hampden killed in Battle — His excellent Character— Battle of Marston Moor — Great Slaughter — King defeated — " Ironsides"— Letter of Cromwell— His Account of the Eight- Sympathy with the Afflicted Page 56

CHAPTER Xi.

Cromwell as a Commander — Chateanhriand and Milton's Testimony — Cromwell's impatience with dilatory Officers — His Protest in Parliament — Speech in Committee of the Whole — Urges the most vigorous Efforts 60

CHAPTER XII.

" gelf-denying Ordinance " — Cromwell continues in the Army — Appointed Lieutenant-General — Battle of Naseby — Another great Victory — Cromwell's Keport to Parliament — Commendations of the Soldiers — The Battle decisive — King's Treachery revealed 65

CHAPTER XIIL

Capture of Bristol — Great Spoils — Another Report to Parliament— Cromwell attributes all Success to Divine Help — His Testimony to the Soldiers' Piety — His Views of Christian Union — A Curious Soldier — Comments 69

CHAPTER XIV.

Further Successes — Winchester captured — Cromwell's Magnanimity to the Enemy — Capture of Basing House — Hugh

Peters — Testimony of Cromwell — Close of first Civil War— Eoyalists defeated— King goes to the Scots — Cromwell returns to Parliament Page 73

CHAPTER XV.

Distressed State of England— King a Prisoner in tlie Isle of "Wiglit — Eoyalists — Presbyterians — London — Le velers — Divided Parliament— Approach of a Scotch Army — Eiots — Cromwell calls to Union — Falls Sick — Eeco vers — Letter to Eairfax 77

CHAPTER XYL

A "Protracted Meeting" at Windsor Castle — Prayer — Preaching — Self-searching — Reflection — Great Difficulty discovered — Bitter Weeping — Light — A most solemn Decision 81

CHAPTER XVIL

Heavings and Disquiet — Uprising in Wales and Kent — A Scotch Army approaching — London Plotting for the King — Parliament vacillates — Cromwell on the War-path — Dashes upon the Scots — Great Victory at Preston — Report to Parliament — Great Eejoicings — Scotch retreat North — Followed by Cromwell 86

CHAPTER XVIIL

Second Civil War ended — Parliament still vacillating — Sends a Commission to the King — Forty-day Conference — • King's double dealing — Cromwell's Discernment 91

CHAPTER XIX.

The real Alternative— The Army Officers — Eemonstrance — Its Doctrines — Kesnlt in Parliament — Army approaches London — "Pride's Purge" — Grave Consequences — Concurrence of Cromwell Page 94

CHAPTER XXr

King brought to London — Charges prepared against him — Cromwell hesitates— His Dilemma — The Protests against the King's Trial — "High Court of Justice " — King arraigned — Refusal to plead — Condemned to die — Death Warrant — Execution 99

CHAPTER XXI.

Shadows — Cromwell's Connection with the King's Death — Verdict of Posterity — Cromwell's Scruples — Ultimate Conviction — Character of Cromwell's Piety 105

CHAPTER XXII.

Council of State — Cromwell a Member — England declared a Commonwealth — Monarchy abolished — Richard Cromwell's Marriage — Letter to Richard's Father-in-law — News of a Victory in Ireland — Another Letter — A Letter to his Daughter-in-law — His Domestic Character 109

CHAPTER XXIII.

Cromwell starts for Ireland — Rides in State — Reaches Bristol — Embarks at Milford Haven — Arrives at Dublin — Grand Reception — His Speech — Great Applause 116

CHAPTER XXIV.

Ireland — Its unhappy Condition — Massacres of Protestants — Shocking Details — Picture by Carlyle — Nearly all Ireland united against Cromwell — He smites the Foe Page 119

CHAPTER XXY.

Cromwell's Army — Its religious Character — One of two Plans of Operation — The one adopted — Its prompt Execution — Fall of Drogheda — Details of the Siege — Wexford and Eoss reduced — Nearly the whole Country yields to the Conqueror 123

CHAPTER XXYI.

Ireland redeemed — Milton's Description of Cromwell's Soldiers — Letter to Mr. Mayor — Neal — Cromwell embarks for England — Great Reception at Bristol — At London 130

CHAPTER XXYIL

Scotland opposed to the Commonwealth — Pavorable to the Succession of Charles II. — He is invited to Scotland — His Character — Cromwell marches with an Army to Scotland — Has been appointed Generalissimo — Letter to Mr. Mayor. 135

CHAPTER XXYIIL

Cromwell encamps across the Border — Issues a Proclamation — Asserts Uprightness of Motive — No harm intended except against the Pretensions of Charles — Scots bent upon Ms Accession to the Throne — A large Army prepared to meet Cromwell — The Great Battle of Dunbar — Splendid Victory over the Scots — Cromwell's Eeport to Parliament Page 141

CHAPTER XXIX.

Cromwell marches to Edinburgh — Ministers of Edinburgh flee to the Castle — Cromwell invites them to occupy their Pulpits as usual — Their Eeply — He expostulates with them — His Views of the Ministry 146

CHAPTER XXX.

Cromwell further Instructs the Ministers 150

CHAPTER XXXI.

Edinburgh Castle summoned to surrender — Hume Castle — Mosstroopers — Sickness of Cromwell — Letter to his Wife — Letter to the President of the Council — Another Letter to his Wife— Letter to Mr. Mayor 153

CHAPTER XXXII

Battle and Victory of In verkeithing — Other Victories — King and Scotch suddenly enter England — Cromwell in hot Pursuit — Battle of Worcester — Great and decisive Victory — Cromwell's Report — The last Battle — Scotland — Bishop Burnet — • Other lAstorians 160

• CHAPTER XXXIII.

Cromwell to Eev. Jolin Cotton of New England — Death of Ms Son-in-law, Ireton — Letter of Cromwell to his Daughter Page 166

CHAPTER XXXIY.

Ireland and Scotland — England — Eump Parliament unpopular — Urged to dissolve Itself — Refuses — Attempts a Bill to perpetuate Itself — The News reported to Cromwell — He forcibly dissolves the Parliament — Dismisses the Council of State 171

CHAPTER XXXY.

Cromwell issues an Explanation — He nominates a new Parliament — It assembles July 4, 1653 — Grave Inquiries — Cromwell's Views of the Situation — Fanatical Element — He claims Inspiration — Apology for his Extraordinary Conduct 175

CHAPTER XXXYI. ;

The "Little Parliament" — "Bare Bones" — Cromwell's Speech to the Parliament — Descants on various Topics — Title adopted by the Parliament — Council of State reappointed — • Result unsatisfactory and unsuccessful — Parliament resigned in five Months 178

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Establishment of the Protectorate — Cromwell Lord Protector — Inauguration — Imposing Ceremonies — Cromwell's personal Appearance at this Time 182

CHAPTER XXXYIIL

The Instrument of Government — Eemark — The new Government recognized by European Powers Page 185

CHAPTER XXXIX.

The new Parliament opened with great Pomp — The Protector's Speech — Important Suggestions 189

CHAPTER XL.

Parliament reveals a formidable Party opposed to the Government — Opposition Speeches — Parliament summoned to the "Painted Chamber" — Another Speech by Cromwell — ■ The Government must not be called in Question — A Pledge required of each Member — More than a hundred decline the Pledge, and return home 194

CHAPTER XLI.

Opposition of Parliament persisted in — The various Articles of the Instrument of Government canvassed — Religious Toleration discountenanced — No Communication with the Protector

— Parliament summoned again to the "Painted Chamber" — Protector's Speech — Parliament dissolved 198

CHAPTER XLII.

An Extract from Carlyle — Death of Cromwell's Mother

— " Good-night ! " 203

CHAPTER XLin.

Plots in Favor of Charles II. — Hostility to Cromwell — Wildman — Insiirrectionary attempts quelled — Foreign Ee lations Prosperous — The EnglisTi Fleets — Cromwell interferes for the persecuted Waldenses — Government of Major-Generals

— Eemarks of Carlyle Page 206

CHAPTER XLIV.

Another Parliament — A long Address — Enemies of the State specified — Eeligious Toleration 209

CHAPTER XLV.

Condition of Admission to Parliament — One Hundred excluded — Apology for this Movement — Eemarks of D'AuhignS

— An Order of the Parliament 214

CHAPTER XLYI.

Character of the Parliament — Supplies voted — Major- Generals suppressed — James Naylor — Carlyle's Sarcasm. 217

CHAPTER XLVII.

The Kingship — Proposed to Cromwell — Agitation of the Matter in Parliament — Disturbance — " Petition and Advice "

— Protracted Debate — Army OflScers opposed to the Kingship — Cromwell's response to them — The new Instrument matured in Parliament. 221

CHAPTER XLVIII.

"Petition and Advice" presented to the Protector — He is invited to the Kingship by the Parliament — Responds briefly --Asks for Time — Gives a further Answer — Not decisive —

CONTENTS. li

Parliament visits the Protector in a Body— Doubts and Scruples — Committee of Ninety-nine — A long Conversation I'age 224

CHAPTER XLIX.

Another Conversation touching the Kingship — Eeasoning of the Committee — The Protector's Answer — Adjournment 2^^

CHAPTER L.

A further Interview between the Committee and Protector — Still another Interview on the next Day — Another Meeting ten. Days afterward 235

CHAPTER LI.

May 8, 1657, the whole Parliament meets the Protector — He addresses them in a brief Speech — Decides the great Question, declining the Kingship - 238

CHAPTER LIL

Reflections apon Cromwell and his Decision — Extract . . 241

CHAPTER LIII.

A new Inauguration — Brilliant Picture of the Scene — Parliament prorogued to January 20 245

CHAPTER LIT.

Administration prosperous in the Interim — England's proud Position — Marriages of Lady Franoes Cromwell and Lady Mary Cromwell — Protector's Manner of Life Page 248

CHAPTER LV. '

Shadows Approaching — The reorganized Parliament — The new House of Peers — Bearing of the Commons toward the Peers — Wrangling touching the Title to be given to the House of Peers — Both Houses summoned to Whitehall — Addressed by the Protector 252

CHAPTER LYL

Protector's Appeal of no avail — Mischievous debatiags — Infatuation — Cromwell indignant — Prorogues the Parliament — Last Public Words 257

CHAPTER LVIL

Death of Prances Cromwell's Husband — Lady Clajrpole — Her distressing Sickness — The Protector's deep Sympathy with his dying Daughter — Her Death — The Father's overwhelming Sorrow — Scripture Consolation 261

CHAPTER LYIIL

Cromwell himself falls Sick — Case alarming — Great Prayer in his Behalf— Some of his last Words — Death — Extract from Carlyle 264

'illnnixMan^.

PAGE

Cbomwell Addeessim-q Parliament in Favor of Eeligiotts Liberty 2

Court of Charles I , 39

Place of the King's Execution, "Whitehall 103

House of Commons in Cromwell's Time 191

LIFE

OF

OLIVER CEOMWELL.

CHAPTEE I.

Birth of Cromwell — Childhood and Youth — Early Associations — Huntingdon — Goes to Cambridge — Deatjis — Goes to London — Marriage — Occupation.

Oliver Cromwell was born April 25, 1599. He was tlie fifth child of Robert and Elizabeth Cromwell ; and, both on his father's and mother's side, seems to have been of the rank of the substantial gentry of the time.*

Little is known of the childhood and youth of this boy, who was destined to act so prominent a part in the history of his country, and to exert so important an influence upon the interests of civil and religious liberty throughout the civilized world.f

* A class of people in England between the nobility and the common people.

•\ Many anecdotes are told of Cromwell's boyhood ; but they, for the most part, are deemed unauthentic.

He seems to have been an active and resolute cliild, and grew up in tlie bosom of an austere family, where the intrigues of the Jesuits and the popish tendencies of the Anglican Church on the one hand, and the rights and power of the word of God on the other, were the engrossing subjects of thought and conversation.

The boy OHver listened to these somber discussions, and breathed in this spirit ; and here were dropped into his juvenile mind the seeds which, in the lapse of half a century, were to grow into plants of gigantic dimensions, and wondrous strength, fragrance, and beauty.

Huntingdon, forty or fifty miles northerly of London, is pleasantly situated on the banks of the Ouse ; and here, in a stately, pleasant house, amid shady lawns and expanses, was the birthplace of Oliver Cromwell. It has been twice rebuilt within these two hundred and seventy years ; and is, at present, a solid yellow brick house with a walled court-yard, and occupied by some townsman of the wealthier sort. A little brook glides through the court-yard ; and the river, at a short distance, winds its quiet way eastward toward the fenlands, overlooked by the town. Westward is a variegated and picturesque country, bearing marks of careful and long-continued cultivation. Here, on the edge of the firm green land, and looking over into the black marshes with their alder and willow trees, did Oliver pass his young years.

At the age of seventeen he went to Cambridge University, and was entered at Sydney Sussex College. In the following year his father and maternal grandfather died, leaving his mother at once fatherless and a widow, with six daughters and an only son. This change of circumstances brought Oliver home again from college, to return no more ; but to supply, henceforth, as well as he might, his ■ father's place at Huntingdon. He now proceeded to London, and passed a year or two in law studies. In 1620, at the age of twenty-one, he married Miss Elizabeth Boucher, and returned to Huntingdon to assume the care of his mother and her family, and to manage the paternal estate, which was now his own. And here dwelt Oliver during the next ten years of his life, living in retirement, occupying himself with farming and the various social duties incident to his position in life.