LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
CROMWELL AND RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.
[To THZ EDITOR OF THZ " SPECTATOR:1 Sin,—May I add a few words in support of your (and surely the more general) view of Cromwell's attitude in religious matters, as against the contention of Mr. Clarke. This gentleman considers, it seems, that to allege that Cromwell was the champion of religious liberty, does not square with historical facts. In support of his view he quotes an ex- pression of the Protector excepting Papists from " liberty of conscience." Now, not only are there remarks of Cromwell's —you, Sir, mentioned two in a foot-note to Mr. Clarke's letter—which show that his attitude towards the Catholics was decidedly tolerant, but this tolerance was the more remarkable when one remembers the "psychological climate" (to use Mr. Balfour's term) of the time. Since Elizabethan times Popery had been closely connected with civil disaffection, and Prelacy had been brought into great discredit by the the austerities of Laud. The Presbyterians had been anxious to substitu.te their own despotism for Anglican despotism, and the broad . based Church that Cromwell attempted to establish was a striking contrast to both these. Mr. Gardiner quotes the following sentence from one of Crom- well's letters :—" Take heed of being too sharp, or too easily sharpened by others against those to whom you can object little but that they square not with you on every opinion concerning matters of religion." This certainly appears to have been the guiding principle of his life.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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