Historical and Political Notes on the Life of Oliver Cromwell

Who has an effective vote in the assemblies either to restrict or to check the Protectoral power? Has the sword of the Protector not finished off everyone under the pretext of the Royalist faction? They are truly worthy of pity who so strenuously dream of liberty and an Aristocracy, when not even a grain of majesty is left to them. And bring forth and consult even the Argus of politicians A reference to Argus Panoptes, the all-seeing giant, implying a master of political wisdom. as to whether he has ever seen an Aristocratic state bound by such laws, or whether a nation under such dominion has ever boasted of perfect liberty. But we see many times that a Monarchical state is indeed designated by laws, yet inhibited by the power of the Optimates so that in its administration it is truly Aristocratic. But the author contradicts this in §. 8. And even if he did not contradict it, histories testify that he was not only the most severe and strict executor of those things attributed to the laws, but also that he seized what was denied by the laws to the consummation of Majesty. Was the Parliament, having eluded its first attempt under the guise of law, not terrified—having gained three years, and having removed those whom he thought most obstructed his desire for ruling, through the most atrocious inquisitions as if they were guilty of treason or the Royalist faction—and having substituted in place of the dead a new summoned Parliament, which he held liable, either entangled by benefits or enormous crimes, or which poverty had rendered venal? Then, having become more confident, he began to surround the court, the forums, the temples, the entire city with grim arms, and if any were seized by care for the Republic, to drive them around as slaves of his lust and finally, if it seemed to his advantage, to remove them entirely from the middle. Was any Decree of the Senate promulgated which either constrained his power, or restrained his license to violate the laws, or whispered about liberty? Did he not extort the succession for his son against the express Protectorate? And finally, was any Parliament, convoked at the stated time, not dissolved by more than Royal force, dispersed, and coerced within the prisons of justified fear? Was not all consultation and remedy concerning the state of the kingdom in vain? Were not those things which you objected to the pious and just King, such as cruelty toward the Irish and the fact that he dissolved Parliament several times, among the most significant crimes? Who has laid bloody hands upon a miserable nation more than this Protector of yours? Who has more often dissipated the Conscript Fathers A traditional term for senators, here referring to the members of Parliament. and all consultation for the public safety with greater audacity...