OLIVER CROMWELL – HERO OR VILLAIN? PART 7 Oliver called his third parliament in January 1658, but by then his health was failing. For all his unquestionable abilities on the battlefield his health had always been suspect. He was often unwell when a major decision had to be made, or before a battle, although sickness never caused him to miss one. This may have been psychosomatic, and he did exhibit some of the traits of what today we would call the manic depressive, with alternating bouts of extreme exhilaration followed by depression. He could be violent towards someone who would not accept his opinions and scathing towards those whom he felt fell short of the standards of military command or government that he demanded. He was particularly affected by the death of his favourite daughter, Elizabeth, who had married John Claypole, a Parliamentarian captain of horse, raised to the peerage by Oliver on his marriage. Elizabeth had often interceded with her father to ameliorate the plight of royalist prisoners, she had a sense of humour and was also somewhat of a snob. At a dinner for the major generals someone enquired where were their wives? Elizabeth replied that they were at home washing the dishes as they always used to do. She was only twenty-nine when she died on 6 August 1658, probably of cancer.
OLIVER CROMWELL - HERO OR VILLAIN? PART 7
OLIVER CROMWELL - HERO OR VILLAIN? PART 7
OLIVER CROMWELL - HERO OR VILLAIN? PART 7
OLIVER CROMWELL – HERO OR VILLAIN? PART 7 Oliver called his third parliament in January 1658, but by then his health was failing. For all his unquestionable abilities on the battlefield his health had always been suspect. He was often unwell when a major decision had to be made, or before a battle, although sickness never caused him to miss one. This may have been psychosomatic, and he did exhibit some of the traits of what today we would call the manic depressive, with alternating bouts of extreme exhilaration followed by depression. He could be violent towards someone who would not accept his opinions and scathing towards those whom he felt fell short of the standards of military command or government that he demanded. He was particularly affected by the death of his favourite daughter, Elizabeth, who had married John Claypole, a Parliamentarian captain of horse, raised to the peerage by Oliver on his marriage. Elizabeth had often interceded with her father to ameliorate the plight of royalist prisoners, she had a sense of humour and was also somewhat of a snob. At a dinner for the major generals someone enquired where were their wives? Elizabeth replied that they were at home washing the dishes as they always used to do. She was only twenty-nine when she died on 6 August 1658, probably of cancer.