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Quotes of Oliver Cromwell
1599-1658
“i was by birth a gentleman, living neither in any
considerable height, nor yet in obscurity. I have been
called to several employments in the nation-to serve in
parliaments,-and ( because i would not be over tedious )
i did endevour to discharge the duty of an honest man in
those services, to god, and his people’s interest, and
of the commonwealth; having, when time was, a competent
acceptation in the hearts of men, and some evidence
thereof.”
Speech to the first
parliament of the protectorate, Sept, 1654.
“if the remonstrance had been rejected i would have sold
all i had the next morning and never have seen England
more, and i know there are many other modest men of the
same resolution.”
Oliver Cromwell on
parliament’s passing of the revolutionary grand
remonstrance, quoted in the earl of Clarendon, a history
of the rebellion.
The English civil war.
“i had rather have a plain russet-coated captain that
knows what he fights for, and loves what he knows, than
that which you call a gentleman and is nothing else.”
Letter from Cromwell to
Sir William Spring. Sept. 1643.
“truly England and the church of god hath had a great
favour from the lord, in this great victory given us.”
Oliver Cromwell on the
battle of Marston Moor. 1644.
“we study the glory of god, and the honour and
liberty of parliament, for which we unaminously fight,
without seeking our own interests....i profess i could
never satisfy myself on the justness of this war, but
from the authority of the parliament to maintain itself
in its rights; and in this cause i hope to prove myself
an honest man and single-hearted.”
Oliver Cromwell to
Colonal Valentine Walton. 5 or 6 September 1644.
“i could not riding out alone about my business, but
smile out to god in praises, in assurance of victory
because god would, by things that are not, bring to
naught things that are”.
Cromwell before the
battle of Naseby. 1645.
“we declared our intentions to preserve monarchy, and
they still are so, unless necessity enforce an
alteration. It’s granted the king has broken his trust,
yet you are fearful to declare you will make no further
addresses. .....look on the people you represent, and
break not your trust, and expose not the honest party of
your kingdom, who have bled for you, and suffer not
misery to fall upon them for want of courage and
resolution in you, else the honest people may take such
courses as nature dictates to them.”
Cromwell’s speech in the
commons during the debate which preceeded the “vote of
no addresses”, recorded in the diary of John Boys, MM
for Kent.
“since providence and necessity has cast them upon
it, he should pray god to bless their councels.”
Cromwell on the trial of
King Charles I. Dec. 1648.
“i tell you we will cut off his head with the crown upon
it .”
Cromwell to one of the
judges at the trial of King Charles I.1648.
“cruel necessity”.
Cromwell on the execution of King Charles I. Jan 1649.
Oxford dictionary of quotations.
“this is a righteous judgement of god upon these
barbarous wretches, who have imbrued their hands in so
much innocent blood....”
Oliver Cromwell after
the storming of Drogheda.1649.
“i need pity. I know what i feel. Great place and
business in the world is not worth looking after.”
On himself, letter to
Richard Mayor, July 1650.
“i beseech you in the bowels of christ think it possible
you may be mistaken.”
In a letter to the
general assembly of the Church of Scotland. 1650.
“i am neither heir nor executor to Charles Stuart.”
On himself, repudiating a royal debt, August 1651.
“the dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts.
It is for aught i know, a crowning mercy.”
Letter. 1651.
“take away that fool’s bauble, the mace”
Oliver Cromwell speech
dismissing the rump parliament. Apr. 1653.
“when i went there, i did not think to have done this.
But perceiving the spirit of god so strong upon me, i
would not consult flesh and blood.”
On himself, on his
forcible dissolution of parliament in April 1653, in
James Heath, flagellum.
“no one rises so high as he who knows not whither he
is going.”
Cromwell on personal
fortunes.
“you are as like the forming of god as ever people
were...you are at the edge of promises and prophecies.”
Cromwell addressing the
barebones parliament. July 1653
“you have been sat to long here for any good you have
been doing. Depart, i say, and let us have done with
you. In the name of god, go!.”
Addressing
parliament. April 1653.
“the people would be just as noisy if they were going
to see me hanged.”
Cromwell referring to a
cheering crowd.1654
“weeds and nettles, briars and thorns, have thriven
under your shadow, dissettlement and division,
discontentment and dissatisfaction, together with real
dangers to the whole.”
Cromwell’s speech
dissolving the 1st protectoral parliament.
“god has brought us where we are, to consider the
work we may do in the world, as well as at home.”
Cromwell to the army
council. 1654.
“there are some things in this establishment that are
fundamental....about which i shall deal plainly with
you...the government by a single person and a parliament
is a fundamental...and..though i may seem to plead for
myself,yet i do not:no, nor can any reasonable man say
it..i plead for this nation, and all the honest men
therin..”
Cromwell to the first
protectorate parliament, 12 September 1654.
“necessity hath no law.”
Speech to parliament,
Sept. 1654.
“in every government there must be somewhat
fundamental, somewhat like a magna charta, that should
be standing and unalterable...that parliaments should
not make themselves perpetual is a fundamental.”
Cromwell in a speech to
the first protectorate parliament, 12 September 1654.
“i desire not to keep my place in this government an
hour longer than i may preserve england in it’s just
rights, and may protect the people of god in such a just
liberty of their consciences....”
Cromwell to the first
protectorate parliament, 22 January 1655.
“(kingship) is not so interwoven in in the
laws...truly though the kingship be not a mere title but
a name of office that runs through the whole of the
law....as such a title hath been fixed, so it may be
unfixed...”
Cromwell to the
representatives of the second protectorate parliament,
13 April 1657.
“you drew me here to accept the place i now stand in.
There is ne’er a man within these walls that can say,
sir, you sought it, nay, not a man nor woman treading
upon english ground.”
Cromwell’s speech to
parliament, 4 February 1658.
“you have accounted yourselves happy on being
environed with a great ditch from all the world beside.”
In a letter, 1658.
“not what they want but what is good for them.”
Remark by Oliver Cromwell.
Ibid.
“mr lely, i desire you would use all your skill to
paint your picture truly like me, and not flatter me at
all; but remark all these roughness, pimples, warts, and
everything as you see me; otherwise i will never pay a
farthing for it.”
Cromwell on having his
portrait painted, in Horace Walpole, anecdotes of
painting.
The Oxford dictionary of quotations.
“my design is to make what haste i can to be gone.”
Cromwell’s last words;
in Cromwell, by John Morely.
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