Preface

Summary

This collection of articles began life as a symposium to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the foundation of the Cromwellian protectorate, held at the History of Parliament Trust in London in January 2004. The occasion brought together thirty of the leading scholars working on the period, under the watchful eye of the two elder statesmen in the field, Professor Ivan Roots and Professor Austin Woolrych (the latter, sadly, no longer with us). The day was as enjoyable as it was instructive, and is best summed up by a comment made by Professor Roots shortly afterwards:

I am convinced that Oliver looking down on us from up there – and surely he is up there! – was looking down on us benignly, wryly and perhaps a little amused at our temerity in thinking that we may at length pin him down. We won't, but how worthwhile the effort!

Whether Oliver Cromwell would entirely approve of the image of the protectorate, and of himself, presented in the resultant volume is open to question.

I would like to thank the director of the History of Parliament Trust, Dr Paul Seaward, for hosting the symposium and for his continued interest and encouragement in the publication of its proceedings. I am also grateful to the History of Parliament and the Royal Historical Society for supporting the symposium financially. The professionalism, patience and punctuality of the contributors has made the job of editing very easy indeed, and I am indebted to Peter Sowden and Clive Tolley, and all at Boydell and Brewer, for their assistance in knocking the book into shape.

The articles as they appear here are revised versions of the papers delivered in January 2004 with one exception. The excellent paper read by Professor Ann Hughes on religion was, alas, already promised to another collection, and as a result Professor Christopher Durston kindly agreed to take her place. Chris's death in August 2005 shocked all who knew him, and is a great loss to those interested in things Cromwellian. This volume is dedicated to him.