Storming of Bristol-Glory to God!-Christian Union-Discipline -Piety-King surrenders to the Scots-The Directory-IretonCromwell's Letter to his Daughter Bridget-King given up to Parliament-Cromwell's Illness-Letter to Fairfax-Cromwell and his Soldiers--Unity of Man........

CHAPTER IV.

...Page 49

SCHISM BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENT AND THE ARMY.

The Two Parties, Presbyterians and Independents-Claims of the Army-Joyce-The King's Leaning towards the IndependentsArmy Manifesto-Religious Liberty-Eleven Members accusedErrors-Influence of Öppression-Unlawful Intervention of the Presbyterians-Opposition of the Army-Independent InfluenceCromwell favourably disposed towards the King-Charles's Blindness-Letter found in the Saddle-The Silk Garter and the Hempen Halter-Cromwell despairs of Charles -The King's Flight-He reaches the Isle of Wight-Cromwell suppresses the LevellersTreaty with the Scots-Charles's Reply to Parliament-The Pit and he that diggeth it

CHAPTER V.

DEATH OF THE KING.

.67

Parliament resolves to hold no further Communication with the King -Prayer-meeting at Windsor-Second Civil War-Royalist Insurrection-Scotch Invasion-Cromwell's Victories-Parliament again treats with the King-Charles's Treachery-Great AlternativeArmy remonstrates with Parliament-Cromwell justified by Facts -The Woodman and the Sower-Cromwell to Hammond-Truth and Error-The King at Hurst Castle-Parliament rejects the Remonstrance-Composition of the Army-The Army at London— Pride's Purge-Cromwell's Hesitation about the King-Cromwell's Religious Error-Prayers-Howe's Sermon before Cromwell-The Will of God-Death Warrant-The Execution censured-Revelation of the King's Treason-Principles of the Roman Church-Of Milton -Defence of the Right of Resistance-Charles's Children-Cromwell to his Daughter-in-law-Cromwell and Charles's Corpse-The European Powers..

CHAPTER VI.
IRELAND.

.78

The Irish Saint Bartholomew-Romish Cruelties-A Priest-Surgery or Slaughter-Cromwell's Appointment-His conciliatory Wisdom and Penetration-Lord Broghil-Sailing of the Army-Cromwell's Plan-Theocracy-Storming of Drogheda, Wexford, and RossPeace and Prosperity-Oliver's Kindness to his Enemies-His Charge to the Popish Prelates-Early Days of Richard's Marriage -Cause of Ireland's Sufferings..

.104

CHAPTER VII.

SCOTLAND.

Two Kings and two Loyalties-Charles II. in Scotland-Cromwell's Letter to the General Assembly and to the Scotch Commander-inchief-Battle of Dunbar-Cromwell's Strait-The PrisonerSeeking the Lord-The Praying Cornet-Glory to God-Despatch to Parliament-The Edinburgh Preachers in the Castle-Cromwell's Letter-All Christians ought to preach Christ-The Malignants-Cromwell's Illness-Two Letters-Cromwell concerning his Son Richard-Desire for Union-Worcester-Prosperity of Scotland-Cromwell's Military Career-Two Symbols .....Page 132

CHAPTER VIII.

THE PROTECTORATE.

The Commonwealth proclaimed-L'état, c'est moi-The Two French Invasions-Revival of English Liberty-Blake-Love and FearThe Rump Parliament-Dissolved by Cromwell-The Little Parliament-Speech-Cromwell's Integrity-Reforms-Cromwell's Longing for Peace-Whitelocke Ambassador to Sweden-Conversations with Queen Christina-The End-The Protectorate-Cromwell's Piety and Humility-Social Disposition - Constitution - New Parliament-Cromwell's Apology-Death of his Mother-Obstructions to Religious Liberty-Cromwell dissolves the ParliamentHis Plans.....

CHAPTER IX.

ORGANIZATION OF CHURCH AND STATE.

...159

Necessity of Organization-Ecclesiastical Commission-Errors-Impartiality-Baxter's Testimony-Cromwell's-The State-Discontents-Letter to Fleetwood-Bridget's Anxiety-Indulgence-Act of Oblivion-The Major-Generals-Address from the Corporation of Guildford-Cromwell's Aversion to Cruelty-Attempts at Assassination-Cromwell's Forbearance-His System in IrelandOfficial and Popular Protestantism-Puritan Mannerism-A better Christianity. ...185

CHAPTER X.

RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.

Milton to Cromwell-Cromwell's Part with regard to Religious Liberty-Opposition to Radicalism, Political and Religious-Established Religion and Liberty-Milton, a Champion of the Separation of Church and State-Cromwell's System of Religious LibertyThe Two Great Interests-The Protector's Catholicity-George Fox and Cromwell-Nayler-Cromwell and the Episcopalians-Roman

I now present to the English public. I therefore beg my readers to call to mind that my original design was merely to write an article for a Review.

The object of this work,......the rectification of the common opinion with regard to Cromwell's religious character, has obliged the Author to introduce many quotations from his Letters and Speeches. Mere assertion or argument without proof would have been useless. It is not we who ought, in this day, to justify the great Protector; he should justify himself; and fortunately authentic and authoritative testimony is not wanting for that purpose. This circumstance will explain the difference between the volume now submitted to the reader and the Author's other historical compositions. But he may also observe that the special nature of this work seemed occasionally to require him to introduce reflections, somewhat more extended perhaps than properly belong to history.

Should any of my friends be surprised at the choice of my subject, I would remind them that the epoch to which it relates is, perhaps, one of the most important in modern times, so far as concerns the new developments of nations; that Southey has said, "there is no portion of history in "which it so much behoves an Englishman to be thoroughly versed as in that of Cromwell's age;" and, above all, that "life would be nothing worth, if it were "not employed to tell and to maintain the truth," more especially a truth overlooked or forgotten.

Ubi plura nitent......non ego paucis
Offendar maculis.

I will make one observation more: although the Protector is the subject of this sketch, its main interest does not consist in him, but in Protestantism. Protestantism in

Cromwell's mind was far above his own person. No book can treat worthily of the great Oliver, if the Protestant interest does not hold the foremost place in it.

Protestantism is the great interest of Europe, of the world, -and, especially at this moment, the great interest of England. While revising this essay, I met with a learned and distinguished work by an anonymous author on German Protestantism. I was delighted to find that my ideas in many cases agreed with his, and I have, in several instances, profited by them. All the Protestant forces must now be aroused; and to that end, it is the duty of every evangelical writer to point them out. This task I have here feebly attempted, and I shall perhaps resume it at some future period, by publishing a few recollections of the journey I made in 1845 through Germany, England, and Scotland.*

The Theological Faculty of the University of Berlin having recently conferred upon me the degree of Doctor in Divinity,—a title which I had received some years ago from the College of Princetown, New Jersey, United States,-I think it my duty to conform with the German custom, and dedicate to that learned body the first Work published by me subsequently to that high honour. This will explain to my British readers the motives for the Dedication prefixed to the present volume.

GENEVA, May 1847.

J. H. MERLE D'AUBIGNÉ.

* NOTE BY THE PUBLISHERS. This work has now been published. See Advertisement at the end of this volume.