Letters have been few enough so far; vestiges, traces of Cromwell’s doings in the eastern counties; a successful skirmish at Grantham, a “notable victory” at Gainsborough.  In August, Manchester takes command of the Association, with Cromwell for one of his colonels; in September, first battle of Newbury, and signing of the Solemn League and Covenant at Westminster.  Cromwell has written “I have a lovely company; you would respect them did you know them”—­his “Ironsides.”  In October, Colonel Cromwell does stoutly at Winceby fight; has his horse shot under him.  Lincolnshire is nearly cleared.

On March 20, 1643, there is a characteristic letter to General Crawford, concerning the dismissal of an officer, whom Cromwell would have restored.  “Ay, but the man is an Anabaptist.  Are you sure of that?  Admit he be, shall that render him incapable to serve the public?  Sir, the state, in choosing men to serve it, takes no notice of their opinions.  Take heed of being too sharp against those to whom you can object little but that they square not with you in every opinion concerning matters of religion.”

In July was fought, in Yorkshire, the battle of Marston Moor, the bloodiest of the whole war, which gave the whole north to the Parliamentary party.  Cromwell Writes to his brother-in-law, to tell him of his son’s death.  Of the battle, he says, “It had all the evidences of an absolute victory obtained by the Lord’s blessing upon the godly party.  We never charged but we routed the enemy.  God made them as stubble to our swords.”  Soon after he is indignant with Manchester for being “much slow in action,” especially after the second battle of Newbury.  Hence comes the self-denying ordinance, in December, and construction of New Model Army.

From which ordinance Cromwell is virtually dispensed, being appointed for repeated periods of forty days, and doing good work in Oxfordshire and elsewhere; clearly indispensable, till the Lord General Fairfax gets him appointed Lieutenant-general; and on his joining Fairfax, and commanding the cavalry, the king’s army is shattered at Naseby.  “We killed and took about 5,000,” writes Cromwell to Lenthall.  “Sir, this is none other but the hand of God.”

Thenceforward, this war is only completing of the victory.  After the storming of Bristol, Cromwell writes, “Presbyterians, Independents, all have here the same spirit of faith and prayer; they agree here, have no names of difference; pity it is it should be otherwise anywhere.”  No canting here!

Cromwell captures Winchester, and Baring House, and sundry other strongholds.  Finally, this first civil war is ended with the king’s surrender of himself to the Scots.

II.—­Regicide

Thereafter, infinite negotiations, public and private; the king hoping “so to draw, either the Presbyterians or the Independents, to side with me for extirpating one another that I shall be really king again.”  Ending with the Scots marching home, and the king being secluded in Holmby House.  We note during this time a letter to Bridget Cromwell, now the wife of General Ireton.