An Historical and Critical Account of the Life of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth England, Scotland and Ireland

Hiftorical and Critical AcCOUNT

OF THE

LIF
I FE

O F

OLIVER CROMWELL,

Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of
ENGLAND, SCOTLAND and IRELAND.

After the Manner of Mr. BAYLE.
Drawn from Original Writers and State Papers.

To which is added,

An APPENDIX of Original Papers,
Now first published.

By WILLIAM HARRIS.

Ne quid falfi dicere audeat, ne quid veri non audeat.

CICERO.

LONDON:

Printed for A. MILLAR in the Strand.

MDCCLXII.

THE

CONTENTS.

ROMWELL's birth and parentage. Allied to the best

families. Trade no difgrace to a gentleman, p. 1-3.

Of the learning of Cromwell, p. 4. Vicious in youth,
P. 5. Marries p. 6. Character of Mrs. Cromwell,
p. 6-8. Reports concerning the poverty of Cromwell,
P. 9. Reflections
Reflections on them, p. 10. Of the Religion of -

Cromwell, p. 11. An original letter of his to Mr.

Storie, p. 12. Of his enthufiafm, p. 13-23. Crom-

well courteous and affable, and inclined to buffoonery, p. 24.

Though on neceffary occafions he kept flate to the full,

p. 27. Of his want of eloquence, p. 34. Mr. Hume

cenfured, p. 35. Cromwell's Speech to the Swedish

ambaffador commended, p. 36. Cromwell no bigot,

p. 37. Mifchief of bigottry, ibid. Cromwell the

great Patron of religious liberty, p. 38-45. Falls in

with the Puritans, p. 45. Short ftate of the cafe be-

tween them and the Prelatifts, p. 46.

Character of Court-Prelates in the times of James and

Charles I. p. 47. Of the fevere measures taken in the

times of the latter of thefe Princes, p. 50. Cromwell

with others prepare to leave the kingdom, p. 55. Are

Stop'd by a proclamation, ibid. Reflections thereon, p. 56.

Of Cromwell's oppofition to the draining the Fenns,

p. 56. Of the parliament in 1641, p. 59. Justly ce-

lebrated for their noble deeds, p. 62-65. High cha-

racters of it by Mr. Sidney and Mr. Trenchard, p. 69.

·Account of the remonstrance of the fate of the kingdom,
p. 70-76. The Parliament puts itself in a flate of
defence Is adhered to by Cromwell, who raises a
troop of horse, and difciplines them in a most extraordi-
nary manner. Praise of Cromwell's army by Lord
Clarendon, p. 76-85. Of Cromwell's first actions
in the War, p. 85. Lord Holles's charge of cowardice
against him recited, p. 87. Hated and envied by very
powerful perfons. Account of a confultation to accufe him

of high treason, p. 90-93. Of the diffimulation of

Cromwell. Proofs of it. Its reconcileab enefs with en-

thufiafm, aud other principles held by him. Politicians

difpenfe with the rules of morality. Reflections thereon,

p. 94-106. Of the self-denying ordinance- Reafons

in which it was founded-Cromwell's Speech in its fa-

vour-Whitlock's against it-Reflections thereon,

p. 107-119. Cromwell by various votes exempted

from the Jelf-denying ordinance-Mistakes of Lord

Clarendon, p. 120-126. Of the bate of Nafeby-

Copies of original le ters relating to it-Fatal to Charles I.

P. 127-133. Rewards beflowed by the parliament on

Cromwell for his fervices-Complaints of offices and

preferments being shared among members of Parliament-

Reflections thereon, p. 134-138.

Character of Fairfax-Ambition of Cromwell-Major
Huntington's account of his principles and practices-
Vindicated by Milton, p. 139-155. The army, by
the inftigation of Cromwell, grow mutinous-Refuse to
difband-Caufe the parliament to erase out of their jour-
nals what was difpleafing to them, p. 156—166.

Cornet Joyce feizes the King at Holmby-His Majesty

refuses to return back-Relies on his fuppofed intereft in

the army. Mistakes of Clarendon and Perincheif,

p. 167-1-0.

Cromwell breaks off all thoughts of friendship with Charles

--Reafons of it-Reflections thereon, p. 171-180.

Cromwell defeats the Welch and Scots who appeared in

behalf of the King-His Majefty by the army is feized at

Newport, and carried to Hurft Caftle-The house of

commons purged-Petition of Colonel Pride's regiment to

Fairfax-Spirit of the English royalists--Cromwell

thanked by the parliament, p. 181-190.