Cromwell’s swift rise to power Now sitting firmly in his cavalry saddle in the war against the King and the Church of England, Cromwell was soon reimbursed by Parliament of all his expenses in building up his personal army. Before entering officially into the Civil War, in May, 1641, Cromwell signed a Commons’ vow, ‘To maintain and defend as far as Lawfully I may, with my life, power, and estate, the True Reformed Protestant Religion, expressed in the Doctrines of the Church of England, against all Popery and Popish innovations’. It does appear that Cromwell, who was a harsh critic of the Anglican system, was merely accommodating himself with this statement for the sake of his career. It could mean that he was merely… Full Article
Posts Tagged Levellers
The difficulty of finding an apt title The most difficult task facing a recorder of Cromwell’s life is finding an apt title for his subject. Whatever positive attribute one finds in Cromwell’s character, and one finds far more than in other great leaders of nations, there are as many shadows and shades present which threaten to subvert them. Cromwell could be all things to different men either at the same or different times. Thus, whatever title one chooses for Cromwell, it will be unacceptable to many. As John Buchan, son of the Manse, said of Cromwell, ‘Paradox is in the fibre of his character and career’. After much thought, I have entitled my record ‘Rebel, Republican and Reformer’. However, though… Full Article
