A 1641, there was for these a carefully graduated scale of punishments-banishment, death,—but only after exact inquiry and proof. Those in arms at certain dates against the Parliament, but not in the massacre, these were not to forfeit their estates, but lands, to a third of their value, in Connaught were to be assigned to them. Others not well affected to Parliament were to forfeit one-third of their estates, and to remain quiet at their peril. The Catholic aristocracy, we see, were to be punished for their guilty bloodsheddings, but the "ploughmen, husbandmen, and artificers of the meaner sort were to be exempted from all question." Clarendon admitted that Ireland. flourished under this arrangement to a surprising extent; and Thomas Carlyle well says, "This curse of Cromwell, so called, is the only gospel of veracity I can yet discover to have been ever fairly afoot there." Cromwell returned to London in the month of May, 1650, as a soldier who had gained more laurels and done more wonders in nine months than any age or history could parallel, and sailed home, as it were, in triumph. At Bristol he was twice saluted by the great guns, and welcomed back with many other demonstrations of joy. On Hounslow Heath he was met by General Fairfax, many members of Parliament, and officers of the army, and multitudes of the common people. Coming to Hyde Park, he was received by the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the City of London; the great guns were fired off, and Colonel Barkstead's regiment, which was drawn up for that purpose, gave him several volleys with their small arms. Thus in a triumphant manner he entered London, amidst a crowd of attendants, and was received with the highest acclamations. And after resuming his place in Parliament, the Speaker, in an eloquent speech, returned him the thanks of the House for his great and faithful services in Ireland; after which, the Lord-Lieutenant gave them a particular account of the state and condition of that kingdom. It was while he rode thus in state through London, that Oliver replied to some sycophantic person, who had observed, "What a crowd comes out to see your lordship's triumph!" "Yes; but if it were to see me hanged, how many more would there be!" Here is a clear-headed, practical man. But it was a busy life; his three years LordLieutenancy had evidently been remitted; for other and urgent matters demanded such a bâton as he alone could wield; and when he had struck down the rebellion, the Parliament recalled him, and he arrived in London, May 31st, 1650. On the 29th of June, within a single month of his arrival at home, he set forth on his great military expedition to Scotland. The Parliament had wished Lord Fairfax to take command, and set things right there; but, although Fairfax was an Independent, his wife was a Presbyterian, and she would not allow her husband to go. We believe that it was very well that it was so. |