And I can remember the way in which English and French agitators encouraged each other. There was a broadside put out at the time of the Spithead mutiny in 1797 that went something like "For some time now, the English and French have taken turns cutting of the head of kings. The French did it last." Very few people manage to be totally and completely evil. I don't think Cromwell was one of them. As Shambles has pointed out, he never managed to have total and absolute power, or he would not have had to try to convince people against their will. "I beseech ye. . ." As an American, one of the Good Things he did without intending to was to distract the English from controlling every aspect of life in the colonies until they had a tradition of some "democracy" to go on. . . and that seed grew into a mighty tree by the 1770s. (this is the argument made in The Cousins' Wars) If I were Irish, I would probably feel very strongly about what he did to the Irish, starting with Drogheda! Even W.S. Churchill is unable to conceal his dislike for the man. (my starting point for almost all English history) Anyway. . .