Historical and Political Notes on the Life of Oliver Cromwell

Meanwhile, if nothing else, he nonetheless obtained a government that was peaceful in some way, at least with victorious arms abroad, and at home (if you except the conspiracies and their most severe punishments, which were counted among the prosperous things). Although, I persuade myself that he also seriously plotted against the trade of Belgium until his very last breath, so that he might more earn the minds of his subjects. For with Dunkirk original: "Dünkirka", Mardyck, and Gravelines original: "Gravelinga" captured, most convenient ports of Flanders; what else could he hope for in compensation for such immense expenses? Other than that, with the port of Dover situated opposite, he could, in that narrow part of the sea, exclude the Belgians from the trade of the Herculean strait original: "freti Herculei" whenever it pleased him. In a similar strait between Calais original: "Caletensem" and the convenience of the Thames and the remaining ports, allied with the French, he could exclude them from the trade of either India; and finally, joined in the tightest connection with Sweden, he could conveniently exclude them from the advantages of the Baltic Sea. Therefore, let the sentinels of allied Belgium now be lynx-eyed, and let them oppose these harmful principles with timely remedies, unless they prefer to grieve justly one day, but too late.

These things which have been mentioned thus far were, without a doubt, plans not only for keeping the people in servitude, but also for expanding borders and snatching the dominion of the sea for himself.

But just as the pointers of the hour on a clock, however many wheels and weights drive them in their destined courses, fail with a lying demonstration through aberrant instruments, so if, from the infinite things that compose subtle minds, one condition withdraws itself, the whole is necessarily bound to fail. And to tell the truth, I believe Cromwell was taken from these crude and immature plans by the force of fate at an unhappy time, so that I not unjustly have doubts about the happy outcome of his premeditated plans, which caused him so much anxiety.

But I have strayed too far from the scope; I add this one thing. If the violent invasion of Julius Caesar and the just remedy for a discordant Republic is the rule of one man; if the most severe proscription and division of lands by Augustus, which was not without injustices even praised by those who did it; if the extermination of the Senate, the nobility, and almost virtue itself (which was a crime) by Tiberius, the denunciations, the accusations of the best men, and the most cruel vengeance for conspiracies for liberty are excusable; if the inhumanity of Claudius and Nero toward those whom they knew to be haters of their vices and their status lacks reproach; then I, too, shall humbly venerate your Cromwell. For he undertook the highest crimes with danger, and completed them with a reward.