Current Literature
HENRY CROMWELL By Robert W. Ramsey
The Protector's second son, Henry, is remembered as a man of character who administered Ireland for four years (1655-59) and then retired into private life. His first serious biographer, Mr. Robert W. Ramsey, his made his Henry Cromwell (Longmans, 15s.), a useful book for the history of the Commonwealth and Protectorate by reprinting Henry's letters from the Thurloe papers and by adding many letters from Henry's correspondents, but Henry himself remains a somewhat shadowy figure. He was only thirty when his father died in 1658, and until then he was evidently a dutiful son desirous only to carry out the Protector's orders in his Irish government. After Oliver's death, Henry showed equal deference to his feeble brother Richard, the new Protector. But when Richard was deposed by the intriguing generals, Fleetwood, Desborough and the rest, Henry had evidently no ambitions of his own. He resigned the Lord-Lieutenancy and the command of the English troops in Ireland at the generals' request, and very much to their relief, and withdrew into private life. He may have felt that it would be futile to challenge the military junta, when the Royalists Were obviously gathering strength and the Parliamentary party was rent by personal and political differences. At any rate he did nothing, and Charles II, when he regained the throne, wisely left Henry alone in his quiet Cambridgeshire manor-house, near Wicken Fen. Henry's- business in Ireland was to drive the Irish " malignants." into Connaught and distribute their lands among the disbanded soldiers and others. On this pitiful task the book throws some light. Henry himself bought a considerable estate near Portumna, which he was allowed to sell to Lord Clanricarde after the Restoration.
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