OLIVER CROMWELL'S BIRTHDAY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 195, 28 July 1916, Page 1 (Supplement)

OLIVER CROMWELL'S BIRTHDAY.

April 25 was the birthday of Oliver Cromwell, who was born at Huntingdon, in 1599, the second son of Sir Henry Cromwell, of Hinchinbrook. He enter,ed Parliament in 1025, as representative for the town of Huntingdon. Iu 1634 the future Lord Protector was actually on the point of leaving England for America, along with the celebrated John Hampden, when the vessel in which they had embarked! was detained by orders from the Court. From the meeting of the Long Parliament, ill 16-10, which led almost immediately to the commencement of the civil wars Cromwell, who then sat m the House for the town of Cambridge, appears as one of the most conspicuous characters on the popular side, both in debate and in the field. Although he had reached his forty-second year before he ever drew a sword, from the battle of Marston Moor, in 1644, at .wfiicli he was present as Lieutenant-General of horse, to the battle of Worcester, in September 1651, his military genius displayed itself in England, Scotland, and Ireland, by a crowd,ed succession of the most brilliant achievements. In Aprd 1653 he openly seized upon the supreme Biwer in the State by entering the ouse of Commons with a party of soldiers, pulling the Speaker from the chair, ordering his nieif to take away "that bauble." as he called the mace, and locking the doors. On December 16, the same year, he was formally invested in Westminster Hall with the dignity and authority of Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland —in other words, with the sovereignty of the nation. His administration of the government was characterised by the same vigour and ability which had distinguished the previous part of his career; and he not only repressed whatever remained yf tho* late confusions, and restored a state of perfect internal tranquility, but, by the firm and lofty tone which he adopted towards foreign Powers, he elevated England to a height of influence and glorv which since the time of Elizabeth*, she had never approached. In other respects, however, Ins government was little better than a mere despotism—that is to say, everything was conducted sole'y according to hi* wib and pleasure; and li justice was genetall v' administered between mail and man, learning protected, manufactures and commerce encouraged, and public order ably mainta : neil, these blessings were duo rather to the good sense and indulgence of the Dictator, than to the supremacy of the law. On June 26, IGoG, lie "was publicly enthroned anew as head of the State, with still greater pomp and ceremony than on the toiiuer occasion—a Parliament which had 'von summoned that year having (alter the ejection of two hundred of the more refractory members) consented to con firm his authority, rwm tins period however, lr's reign was more disturbed alarms and conspiracies tnan it had been in the earlier portion ot it. Anxiety and disease together began to mako rapid inroad- upon his constitution, and he expired .September .5. luo>, in his sixtieth year.