Oliver Cromwell

by Theodore Roosevelt

OLIVER CROMWELL BY THEODORE ROOSEVELT ILLUSTRATED CHARLES SCRIBNER S SONS NEW YORK 1906 OLIVER CROMWELL. From the portrait by Robert Walker at Hinchingbroolw, By permission of the Earl of Sandwich, Probably painted soon after the beginning of the Civil War, when Cromwell was ft amp gt rty amp lt th oe or - tour yw e Ckarks Smt amp gt wf amp gt Sm TROW oinecTorir AND BOOKniNDINQ C Cromwell, our chief of men, who through a cloud Not of war only, but detractions rude, Guided by faith, and matchless fortitude, To peace and truth, thy glorious way hast ploughed, And on the neck of crownSd fortune proud Hast reared God s trophies, and his work pursued, While Darwen stream, with blood of Scots quot imbrued, And Dunbar field, resounds thy praises loud, And Worcester s laureate wreath. Yet much remains To conquer still Peace hath her victories No less renowned than War new foes arise, Threatening to bind our souls with secular chains. Help us to save free conscience from the paw Of hireling wolves, whose gospel i their maw. MILTON. EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, ALBANY, June, 1900. CONTENTS PAGE I. THE TIMES AND THE MAN .... i II. THE LONG PARLIAMENT AND THE CIVIL WAR 51 III. THE SECOND CIVIL WAR AND THE DEATH OF THE KING 99 IV, THE IRISH AND SCOTCH WARS . .141 V. THE COMMONWEALTH AND PROTEC TORATE 177 VI. PERSONAL RULE 210 ILLUSTRATIONS Oliver Cromwell ...... Frontispiece Prom the portrait by Robert Walker at Hmching rooke. FACING PAGE Thomas Wentworth, Earl of StrafFord ... 8 from the miniature at Devonshire ffouse. Oliver Cromwell . . . ., .12 Prom a miniature by Gwyten Sir John Eliot ....... 16 From tk portrait ly Van Somer at Part Eliot. All Saints Church, Huntingdon .24 Cromwell s House at Ely ......28 Archbishop Laud . . . . . - 34 From the portrait at Lam iih JPatac, atnttd y Vandyke. West Tower, Ely Cathedral, from Monastery Close . 40 John Pym . . . . . . . 52 From the portrait y Cornelius Janssitt. Piince Rupert ....... 68 Prom the portrait ty Vandyke at Mnchmgtrooke. Fac-simile of Letter from Oliver Cromwell to Mr. Stone, written January II, 1635, said to be the earliest extant letter in Cromwell s Handwriting .,74 From the erfyiwt in th British ILLUSTRATIONS John Hampden .. So Ctfww Mm jwrtr i By K gri W tk r amp lt U JFM JKfot. Cromwell s Engagement with the Marquis of Newcastle Regiment of Whitecoats in the Battle of Marston Moor, ....... 88 The City Walls of York, with the Cathedral in the Di tnce 96 King Charles I. ....... loi Frvtn c r, t amp gt u. a at tkr Dresden C N ty t fy Sir V. Vr . General Sir Thomas Fair x, . 116 From th amp lt-jx. irt f - ait fij amp gt K rf Walker at Attt rf. John Milton, . . . .110 The Death Warrant of King Charles I. - Signed by Oliver Cromwell and other members of the court . i a 8 From tkt or gin Z fn th K pwy in Ai If mm f Zwftr r. Pride s Purge ..., 136 Interior of Westminster Hall Where Parliament ate and where King Charles I. was tried and sentenced 140 Magdalen Tower, Drogheda . . amp gt 54 St. Lawrence s Gate, Drogheda . ., 1 58 Cromwell Leading the Assault on Drogheda .164 The Battle-field of Dunbar . . 17 Seal of the Protectorate . ., . I an fafrvsria fn w r t iki MrftfaA ILLUSTRATIONS FACING PAGE Admiral Robert Blake 1 84 Prom the portrait at Wctdliam College Oxford. Cromwell Dissolving the Long Parliament . . .186 Oliver Cromwell . ., . . . .190 From tke fainting at A Ithorp y Rofort Walker. The Clock Tower, Hampton Court ....200 The Great Hall, Hampton Court In this room the state dinners were given under the Protectorate . .206 The Second Installation of Cromwell as Protector, in Westminster Hall, June 26, 1657 . .,210 Sir William Waller 216 From the portrait y Sir Peter Lely at Goodwood, Henry Cromwell Son of the Protector, and Governor of Ireland ........ 220 The Last Charge of the Ironsides . . . .226 Richard Cromwell . . . . . . 232 Exterior of Westminster Hall 236 Oliver Cromwell ....... 240 From ike oust oy

Genres: Biography, History

Hardcover

First published January 1, 1906

About the author

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., also known as T.R., and to the public (but never to friends and family) as Teddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States, and a leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement.

He fathered Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a daughter.

He became the youngest President in United States history at the age of 42. He served in many roles including Governor of New York, historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his role at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War).

Roosevelt is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona.

Reviews

[Jennifer Freitag · Rating 4 out of 5]

I will, perhaps, read this book again some day. I thoroughly enjoyed it; while I am, by my own admission, a very slow reader, I blazed through this book in three days. Roosevelt's take on Cromwell is even-handed, acknowledging the brilliance of a man limited by the thoughts of his time - thoughts which, unfortunately, impinged upon the man's own brilliance. Roosevelt does not try to sugar-coat Cromwell's failings or offer any cobbled-together justification for him, but the author and historian does put the events in the setting of their contemporary paradigm. But shortcomings aside, Cromwell was and still remains a man among men, a masterful spirit, whose impulsive yet sincere desire for the good of his nation deserves more respect than is yet given.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating overview of Cromwell's life and times by a great statesman of another era and country. TR sees Cromwell charitably as a forerunner of the puritans who initiated the American Revolution, while downplaying his genocidal radicalism as typical of his age. Roosevelt defends Cromwell as sincere in his piety yet worldly. He makes less effort to appreciate the sincerity and good faith of the Crown and others who sought to escape the religious fanaticism whose evils he readily admits. The defense of Cromwell is based far to heavily on incidental and slender associations with constitutional liberties, such as occasional expressions of religious tolerance for political allies and his friendship with Milton.

[Don · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compelling and engaging narrative. 5 stars for the narrative, 3.5 stars for the analysis - which is generally balanced but certainly a bit anachronistic and influenced by Whig historiography.

[Parker Samelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fair and insightful biography about one of the most consequential leaders of Britain written by one of the most legendary presidents of America.

[Otunba Tope · Rating 4 out of 5]

If all men in power will live the way Oliver did, what a wonderful world we will all be today!