20 MAY 1899, Page 13

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."] Sin,—In connection with Cromwell

and his treatment of the Quakers, it may be interesting to remember that the Friends found a protector in his antagonist, Prince Ruper,he eon- trast is striking enough between that daring so er and ad- venturer and the peaceful people he championed.Afary Fell, writing in 1664 to her mother, that same Margaret Fell to whom reference has been made, told of the Prince's intercession for the imprisoned Quakers: "Prince Rupert hath always been very loving to FriendsZirears later, Rupert's sister, the Princess Elizabeth, wr to Robert Barclay regarding forty prisoners in Scotland whose release she hoped to obtain, and ultimately did obtain, by her brother's aid. The Prince's sufferings for his own faith may have taught him sympathy,—he was also known as the generous helper of the Bohemiafi Protestant exiles./Or perhaps his soldierly sense of justice resented the oppression by the State of those whosec ntml doctrine forbade any dangerous resistance to the State. At all events, the fact teems worth recalling, since it conce ns one whose name is but seldom linked with peaceful memories.-1 am, Sir, ‘tc., Dons GICEENWELL MCCEYESNEY, Uplands, Walthamstow, Essex, May 16a.