ABSTRACT
The government of civilized nations, especially of England, has often been the government of custom, opposed alike to brute force and to rational reform. The rule of Kings was dead, and Parliament failed to establish its new claim to obedience. The City Militia, freshly weeded of all Independents, was to hold the south of England; while the Scots and another English army were to advance from the north. The train of artillery at Oxford and the King at Holmby were to be brought up to London. Cromwell well understood that the true method of progress is to realize the best which can obtain general consent, rather than to establish the very best by force. Together with his son-in-law, Commissary-General Ireton, he undertook a hard double task, to restrain the army and to bring Charles to terms. Deserted by both King and army, Cromwell saw that his treaty was a failure, and concluded that it had been a sin.
