Oliver Cromwell as a Hero or Villain

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The aim of this essay, is to answer the long-awaited question 'Was

Oliver Cromwell a hero or a villain? This question, is a hard one to

answer. James Heath once said "His name and memory stink." In

opposition, Samuel Pepys said "People look back and praise him." True?

Or Not? This essay will argue Edmond Ludlow's words," How glorious,

but then such betrayal!" Oliver Cromwell was neither a hero nor a

villain. The evidence and opinions gathered will state, how he went

from good to bad, and from bad to evil.

Oliver Cromwell, was a puritan gentleman from Huntingdon. He was born

on the 25th of April 1599, and brought up in a very wealthy family,

and a high social class. Cromwell, was an MP for Huntingdon, from

1628-1629. He had no fighting experience then, and was very worried

about the Roundhead army, at the battle of Edgehill. Cromwell then

went home to Huntingdon, and began to train his own army.

Cromwell was a magnificent soldier. He created a whole new army from

scratch, and he trained his army, in a special and unique way.

Cromwell would do anything to win his battles, and beat Prince Rupert

and if it meant making a whole new army, than so be it. To do this, he

picked his people of their ability, 'men of spirit', and not on their

status. He did this believing that this was right, as they were doing

Gods will. It also made the people happy, and so he continued doing

so. He also paid the men. He paid them 12D a day, so that encouraged

more men to stay. He was a strict commander, and his orders had to be

obeyed. Also, he always chose the right moment in a battle to attack.

Some local Roundheads, thought that Cromwell should have ...

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...er, but he just did what he felt he had to do. One thing

which I agree on, is that he could have gone about it a different way.

Also, I agree in one thing that he said, and also believed in. That

was that "The end justifies the Means." What he meant by that, was

that no matter what happens, something good always comes out at the

end, and it's the end outcome that really matters. The words that I

will leave you with, are the words of one Richard Baxter, a

parliamentarian. We are not sure whether we can trust these words or

not, as being a parliamentarian, he would have been a bit sympathetic

to Cromwell, but it's quite reasonable. "No man was better and worse

spoken of than he, he meant honestly, and was pious till power corrupted

him, he thinketh that the end being good and necessary, the necessary

means cannot be bad"

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