Chapter I: Preface

This _Life of Cromwell_ is in part based on an article contributed by the author to the _Dictionary of National Biography_ in 1888, but embodies the result of later researches, and of recently discovered documents such as the Clarke Papers. The battle plans have been specially drawn for this volume by Mr. B. V. Darbishire, and in two cases differ considerably from those generally accepted as correct. The scheme of this series does not permit a discussion of the reasons why these alterations have been made, but the evidence concerning the battles in question has been carefully examined, and any divergence from received accounts is intentional. The reader who wishes to see this subject discussed at length is referred to a study of the battle of Marston Moor printed in Volume XII. of the _Transactions of the Royal Historical Society_ (new series), and to a similar paper on Dunbar which will appear in Volume XIV.

The quotations from Cromwell’s letters or speeches are, where necessary, freely abridged.

C. H. F.

OXFORD, Feb. 6, 1900.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGE
EARLY LIFE, 1599–1629 1

CHAPTER II

THE PREPARATION FOR THE CIVIL WAR, 1629–1640 19

CHAPTER III

THE LONG PARLIAMENT, 1640–1642 47

CHAPTER IV

THE FIRST CAMPAIGN, 1642 69

CHAPTER V

CROMWELL IN THE EASTERN ASSOCIATION, 1643 86

CHAPTER VI

MARSTON MOOR, 1644 102

CHAPTER VII

NASEBY AND LANGPORT, 1645–1646 121

CHAPTER VIII

PRESBYTERIANS AND INDEPENDENTS, 1642–1647 142

CHAPTER IX

ARMY AND PARLIAMENT, 1647–1648 164

CHAPTER X

THE SECOND CIVIL WAR, 1648 193

CHAPTER XI

CROMWELL AND THE KING’S EXECUTION, 1648–1649 207

CHAPTER XII

THE REPUBLIC AND ITS ENEMIES, 1649 232

CHAPTER XIII

IRELAND, 1649–1650 255

CHAPTER XIV

CROMWELL AND SCOTLAND, 1650–1651 276

CHAPTER XV

THE END OF THE LONG PARLIAMENT, 1651–1653 300

CHAPTER XVI

THE FOUNDATION OF THE PROTECTORATE, 1653 326

CHAPTER XVII

CROMWELL’S DOMESTIC POLICY, 1654–1658 346

CHAPTER XVIII

CROMWELL’S FOREIGN POLICY, 1654–1658 370

CHAPTER XIX

CROMWELL’S COLONIAL POLICY 390

CHAPTER XX

CROMWELL AND HIS PARLIAMENTS 409

CHAPTER XXI

THE DEATH OF CROMWELL, 1658–1660 433

CHAPTER XXII

CROMWELL AND HIS FAMILY 453

CHAPTER XXIII