were for Protestantism and for the liberty of his fellowcitizens.

It is from this moral point of view that we must study Cromwell; this was his ruling principle: and this alone explains his whole life.

Can we look upon the departure of the Huntingdon volunteer as an insignificant event?

There was a great work to be accomplished: no less than the settlement of England upon its double foundations of Protestantism and liberty; for on these depended her future destinies.

Where was the Man to be found great enough for so important a task?

One day, a member rose and addressed the House in an abrupt but warm tone. His appearance was anything but courtly, and his dress did not add to his importance. Lord Digby leant forward and with astonishment inquired of Hampden the name of the speaker. Hampden, who was a man of excellent abilities, and whom, said Baxter, "friends and enemies acknowledged to be the most emi"nent for prudence," answered with a smile : "That "sloven whom you see before you, hath no ornament in "his speech: that sloven, I say, if we should ever come "to a breach_with the King (which God forbid !)—in "such a case, I say, that sloven will be the greatest man "in England.'

The sloven was Oliver Cromwell. To those who, like his cousin Hampden, had enjoyed the intimacy of his private life, he had already revealed the strength of his will and the extent of his genius; and he was then beginning to manifest them both to the nation in his parliamentary life. Erelong, in his military and political career, he was to make himself known to the world as the greatest man of his age, and at the same time as a godly Christian.

CHAPTER III.

SCHISM BETWEEN THE KING AND THE PARLIAMENT.

Conquest of Liberty-Beginning of the War-Cromwell's Frankness -Letter to Barnard-Intervention in Favour of Hapton ParishDoubtful Advantages-Cromwell's Expedient-Fortune of War changes-Cromwell refuses to take part in Disorderly LivingDeath of Hampden-Cromwell's Courage-The two ParliamentsBattle of Marston Moor-A Letter and an Episode-Bluntness and Compassion-Anecdote-Cromwell's Military Character-Becomes the real Chief-Battle of Naseby-The King's Cabinet openedStorming 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.

THE time had come when one of the noblest victories ever gained by the human race was to be achieved. Constitutional liberty was about to be won for all future ages. This could not be attained without a terrible strugglewithout great sacrifices; for it is only by such means, alas! that society advances. The despotism about to be struck down was destined to furnish one distinguished victim. "Charles," says a royalist writer, "struggled "ineffectually against the force of things; the age had "outstripped him: it was not his nation only, but the "whole human race, that dragged him along; he desired "what was no longer possible. The liberty that had been won was first to be swallowed up in a military despotism "that deprived it of its anarchy; but what was taken from "the fathers was restored to the children, and remained as a final result to England."

66

On the 22d of August 1642, at six o'clock in the even

Les Quatre Stuards, by M. de Chateaubriand. Euvres complètes, vi.

D

ing, the king planted the royal standard at Nottingham, and formally called his subjects to arms; but the wind, which was very tempestuous, blew it down the very night it had been set up. At a short distance from the same place, the Earl of Essex was organizing the parliamentary army, in which Cromwell was immediately made a captain.

He inspected his troop without delay, and marked the commencement of his military career by that frankness which is one of the distinctive features of his character. He was unwilling to follow the tortuous and hypocritical path of the parliament-fight against the king and pretend at the same time that they were marching in his defence. It is Clarendon himself who gives us this information. "Soldiers," said he to his company, "I will not deceive 66 you, nor make you believe, as my commission has it, "that you are going to fight for the King and Parliament." Cromwell carried his frankness even to rudeness: and this, rather than duplicity, is the fault we detect in him. He was determined to fight against all whom he found opposed to him, whosoever they might be. He continued, according to Clarendon's account: "If the king were in front of 66 me, I would as soon shoot him as another; if your con"science will not allow you to do as much, go and serve "elsewhere." These latter words have been doubted; and in truth Clarendon, or rather those from whom he derived the report, may have easily exaggerated what Oliver actually said. But, even if we are to admit the correctness of the report, we may look upon it simply as an energetic manner of saying: "Do not be mistaken: 66 we are fighting against the king."

Cromwell was not merely a captain: his vigilant eye was everywhere. He knew how to baffle conspiracies, and give sound advice to men whose sentiments differed from his own. Mr Robert Barnard, a gentleman of his acquaintance, but a bad Protestant, was favourable to the royalists, and associated with those who frequented suspicious meetings. Oliver wrote to him, on the 23d of January 1643, a letter of advice, in which we find another * Clarendon, Hist. Rebellion, book x.

proof of his frankness :-" Subtlety may deceive you; "integrity never will. With my heart I shall desire that 'your judgment may alter, and your practice. I come "only to hinder men from increasing the rent,—from 66 doing hurt; but not to hurt any man: nor shall I you; "I hope you will give me no cause. If you do, I must "be pardoned what my relation to the public calls for."* This language is full of firmness, and at the same time of true charity.

He particularly busied himself with the protection of those who were suffering for their faith. In the county of Norfolk, the parishioners of Hapton were much oppressed by an individual named Browne, for their attachment to the Gospel. On their behalf Cromwell wrote to Mr Thomas Knyvett of Ashwellthorpe, in the following terms: "Lon“don, 27th July 1646.........I am bold to ask your favour "on behalf of your honest poor neighbours of Hapton, who, as I am informed, are in some trouble, and are 'likely to be put to more, by one Robert Browne your tenant, who, not well pleased with the way of these men, "seeks their disquiet all he may.

แ

Truly nothing moves me to desire this more than the pity I bear them in respect of their honesties, and the trouble I hear they are likely to suffer for their consciences. And however the world interprets it, I am "not ashamed to solicit for such as are anywhere under pressure of this kind; doing even as I would be done by..........Sir, it will not repent you to protect these poor men of Hapton from injury and oppression." +

It was in this manner that he manifested his brotherly charity," that charity, which," according to Milton, "is "the strongest of all affections, whereby the faithful, as "members of Christ's body, mutually love and assist each other." Oliver had heard the injunction, Relieve the oppressed (Isaiah i. 17; Jeremiah xxii. 3); open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to Letters and Speeches, Carlyle, i. 158.

Gentleman's Magazine, 1787. Carlyle's Cromwell, i. 269.

Charitas fraterna seu Christiana est omnium maxima; qua fideles, ut membra Christi, inter se diligunt atque adjuvant. J. Miltonis Doctrina Christiana, edidit. R. Sumner, p. 483.

destruction (Proverbs xxxi. 8), and earnestly fulfilled God's commandments.

On the 23d of October 1642, the battle of Edgehill was fought, the indecisive result of which filled London with alarm. It was perhaps on this occasion that Cromwell lost his eldest son: we shall see hereafter what were the father's feelings under this bereavement.

The winter passed away quietly: in spring the war broke out again, with still doubtful success. The legitimate resistance of the parliament could only be justified and maintained by prompt and decisive victories. Cromwell immediately saw the main cause of weakness in the parliamentary army, and found a remedy for it. He knew that to conquer a strong moral force, there is required another and one still more powerful. Accordingly he began at the beginning. "How can we be otherwise than beaten?" said he to Hampden. "Your troops are most of "them old decayed serving-men, and tapsters, and such "kind of fellows; and theirs are gentlemen's sons, younger (6 sons, and persons of quality. But I will remedy that. "I will raise men who will have the fear of God before "their eyes, and who will bring some conscience to what they do; and I promise you they shall not be beaten." With this design he went through the eastern counties, calling upon the young freeholders, with whose piety he was acquainted, to take up arms in the cause of God. Fourteen squadrons of zealous Protestants were soon raised. It was this new element that decided the destinies of the war and of England. From that hour the course of events was changed.

It was not long before Cromwell's moral and religious character manifested itself in the army, and especially so soon as he was surrounded with persons animated by the same faith. Clarendon informs us that his conduct was in harmony with his principles. "His strict and unsociable humour"-it is by such terms that men are often pleased unjustly to designate that christian spirit to which they are strangers" his strict and unsociable humour would "not allow him to keep company with the other officers in "their jollities and excesses, which," adds Clarendon,