Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 3.pdf/127

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CROMWELL

AT THE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT
UNDER THE PROTECTORATE^[1]

(1654)

Born in 1599, died in 1658; elected to Parliament in 1628; made Captain of Parliamentary Horse in 1642; organized his Ironsides in 1643; made Lieutenant-General in 1645; signed the death warrant of Charles I. in 1649; in control of the government in 1649; went to Ireland in 1650; Commander-in-Chief in 1650; won the Battle of Dunbar in 1650, of Worcester in 1651; expelled the Rump Parliament in 1653; made Lord Protector in 1653.

Gentlemen:—You are met here on the greatest occasion that, I believe, England ever saw; having upon your shoulders the interests of three great nations with the territories belonging to them; and truly, I believe I may say without any hyperbole, you have upon your shoulders the interest of all the Christian people in the world. And the expectation is that I should let you know, as far as I have cognizance of it, the occasion of your assembling together at this time.

↑ Delivered on September 4,1654, Cromwell having been installed as Lord Protector on December 16th of the previous year. Meanwhile, with Parliament in abeyance, the creative period in Cromwell's government had been begun, but the duration of his policy, foreign as well as domestic, depended on its acceptance by the nation as represented in the new Parliament.

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[1] Delivered on September 4,1654, Cromwell having been installed as Lord Protector on December 16th of the previous year. Meanwhile, with Parliament in abeyance, the creative period in Cromwell's government had been begun, but the duration of his policy, foreign as well as domestic, depended on its acceptance by the nation as represented in the new Parliament.

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