VIII

This is a form of cant to which those whom we regard as great men are a prey.  But this pride of race is not confined to the mighty men of valour.  The humble soldier and sailor, and poorest and richest of civilians, have the same inherent belief in British superiority.  They talk to the Great Giver of all power in the most patronizing way, and while they profess to believe in His ordinances they treat them as though He were their vassal and not their Lawgiver.  They call upon Him to break His own laws and help them to smite those whom they regard as enemies, never doubting the righteousness of their cause.  The enemy, on the other hand, believe that they have a monopoly of God, and avow that their cause is His, and being His, they grimly ask Him to settle the dispute by coming down on their side; but should they win the fight, the glory of it is seldom given to the Power whose assistance is implored, but ascribed to their own genius.

Cromwell is a singular and distinguished exception.  He always gave all the glory to God.  Take as an example the battle of Dunbar (though there are many instances of a similar character that could be quoted during the Civil War).  The battle-cry of the Parliament forces was “The Lord of Hosts,” and at the opportune moment the commander of the Parliament army shouted, “Now let God arise, and His enemies shall be scattered.”  The Ironsides made a fearless and irresistible rush at their foes, and almost immediately Cromwell saw the Covenanters in confusion; again he shouted, “They run!  I profess they run!” The quotation from the 68th Psalm was always an inspiration to these religious warriors.  Old Leslie, the Scotch Covenanting general, with the patience of stupidity, had been mumbling petitions for hours to the God of the Anointed to form an alliance with him to crush the unholy rebellion against King and Covenant.  “Thou knowest, O God, how just our cause is, and how unjust is that of those who are not Thy people.”  This moth-eaten crowd of canting hypocrites were no match for the forces who believed that they were backed by the Lord of Hosts, and they were completely routed.

Sir Jacob Astley, another Royalist, on one occasion during the Civil War breathed a simple prayer with uplifted eyes.  “O Lord,” said he, “Thou knowest how busy I must be this day.  If I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me.”  Then he gave the word of command to “March.”  He was nevertheless defeated at Stow, and seems to have been offended at the Deity for His forgetfulness, as he bitterly reproached his conquerors by telling them that they might go to play unless they fell out amongst themselves.