England's greatest ruler. After his first appearance in
Charles' third parliament (1628), at the age of twenty-nine,
Cromwell returned to the obscurity of his Huntingdon home. Not
until he entered the Long Parliament (1640) did he really begin
his marvellous career.

However variously judged by his contemporaries and by later
generations, Cromwell's part in the world's affairs was of
unquestioned magnitude. The very greatness of his career, the
power and extent of his influence, and the combination of
various elements in his character have made adequate judgment
of him difficult, and general agreement concerning him wellnigh
impossible. But that he was, at all events, "the most typical
Englishman of his time" is now generally acknowledged.

In the three views here presented, Cromwell's character and
career and the Restoration are set forth from quite different
points of view. Carlyle shows us in Cromwell one of his most
admired heroes; Green gives us the modern historian's
dispassionate conclusions; while the contemporary narrative of
the old diarist, Pepys, preserves the personal observations of
a participator in the scenes which he describes. Charles II had
spent years in exile on the Continent. He was finally
proclaimed King of England at Westminster, May 8, 1660. Pepys
describes his convoy from Holland to Dover, and his reception
by the people who had invited him to return to his country and
his throne.

THOMAS CARLYLE

We have had many civil-wars in England; wars of Red and White Roses,
wars of Simon de Montfort; wars enough which are not very memorable. But
that war of the Puritans has a significance which belongs to no one of
the others. Trusting to your candor, which will suggest on the other
side what I have not room to say, I will call it a section once more of
that great universal war which alone makes-up the true History of the
World,--the war of Belief against Unbelief!

The struggle of men intent on the real essence of things, against men
intent on the semblances and forms of things. The Puritans, to many,
seem mere savage Iconoclasts, fierce destroyers of Forms; but it were
more just to call them haters of _untrue_ Forms. I hope we know how to
respect Laud and his King as well as them. Poor Laud seems to me to have
been weak and ill-starred, not dishonest; an unfortunate Pe