Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 4).

Date:: 1830-33

Credit: Encyclopaedia Americana: a popular dictionary of arts, sciences, literature, history, politics and biography, brought down to the present time : including a copious collection of original articles in American biography : on the basis of the seventh edition of the German Conversations-Lexicon (Volume 4). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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a politic calculation of his own interest. He was more afraid of his old friends, the levellers, than of the royalists. At last, he succeeded in putting down the former by strong measures, and then, to the aston- ishment of his enemies, Avho wished for nothing more than his absence, he led his army to Ireland. Victory was now to raise him still higher in the favor of the people. He took Drogheda by storm (Sept., 1G49), where he gave orders that nothing should be* spared. This bit- terness, he said, will save much effu- sion of blood, through the goodness of God. Most of the cities opened their gates without resistance, and Cromwell, trusting to the terror of his name, though his army was greatly weakened by sick- ness, marched boldly into the interior,where cowardice and treacheiy every where j-ielded him a submissive welcome. Witli- in six months, the royalist party in Ireland was wholly crushed. Resigning tlie com- mand to Ircton, he now undertook, at the request of the parliament, a similiar ex- pedition against Scotland, where Charles Stuart, afterwards Charles II, had been proclaimed king. Cromwell had, at first, desired that Fairfax should take the com- mand of the army; but Fairfax had taken die covenants (see Covenant), and would not fight against the Scotch. Cromwell was therefore appointed commander-in- chief, and marched into Scodand. Being ignorant of tlie nature of the country, and of the situation of the Scotch forces, his supi)lies were cut oflf, his army became sickly, his retreat was intercepted, and he must have been forced to surrender at Dunbar, had the Scotch avoided a battle. When he saw them advance, he exclaimed, The Lord hath delivered them into our hands! The victoiy at Dunbar (Sept. 3, 1650) rid the fortunate general of his ene- mies the Presbyterians. He then marched into Edinlmrgh. Meanwhile king Charles had collected new forces; but Cromwell, by skilful marches near Stirling, cut him off from his points of support, when, contrary to his expectation, the king entered Eng- land, and threatened London itself Eveiy thin» was done to strengthen tlie army of Cromwell, who conducted like an active and resolute general, while, in the royal camp, irresolution and discord prevailed. Charles was totally defeated at Worces- ter, Sept. 3, 1651. This victorj', which CromAvell called the croivning mercy of God, gave the commonwealth party full power over three kingdoms. Cromwell already exerted a weighty influence on the su- preme dii-ection of public aflJairs. He succeeded in restoring the continental rela- tions of England, which had been almost entirely dissolved, and regulated them so as to jjromote the interests of commerce. The navigation act, from which may be dated the rise of the naval power of Eng- land, was framed upon his suggestion, and passed in 1651. At the same time, the general, who was honored by the city of London as the father of his country, was aiming at sole sovereignty. The only man whom he feared, Ireton, was dead. At a considtation with some members of par- liament, and the most disdnguished offi- cers, on the form of government to be established, he recommended a species of monarciiy, but was silent when some lawjeis in the convention proposed the }oung duke of Gloucester for king. Mean- time the long parliament, which was aiming to establish its own power, was growing more and more impoj)ular, in consequence of its undisguised tyranny, the war which it had provoked with the Dutch, and its treatment of the prisoners taken at Worcester, some of whom were put to death in prison, and others sold for slaves in the colonies. A frightful tem- pest, too, which occurred on the day of the execution of a London clergj'man by the name of Love, made a deep impres- sion on the peo]jle. And now Cromwell broke silence. He spoke openly to his friends of the ambition, the godlessness and injustice of the parliament. Encour- aged by their support, he at last hazarded a decisive step, and, with 300 soldiers, dis- persed that body, for the glory oi' God and the good of the nation. He then summoned a council of war, in which the officers finally chose a parliament of 128 jjei-sons, selected from the three kingdoms, which, from Praise-God Barebone, one of the principal characters in it, by trade a leather-seller, was nicknamed Praise-God Barebone's parliament. Cromwell himself opened the session with a speech, in which he said, that the day had come, on which the saints were to commence their reign upon earth. Fifteen months after, a new annual parliament was chosen ; but, after a session of five months, Cromwell I)revailed on this body, wlio were totally incapable of governing, to jjlace the charge of the commonwealth in his hands. The chief power now devolving again upon the council of officei*s (Dec. 12, 1653), they declared OUver Cromwell sole gov- ernor of the commonwealth, under the name of lord protector, with an assistant council of 21 men. The new protector behaved with dignity and firmness. With

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