HOW TO GET STRONG
the first he rightly conceived the condition of success; a soldiery of yeomen—fearing God; fearing nothing else—submitting themselves, for the sake of their cause, to a rigid discipline, as the only match for the impetuous chivalry of the Cavaliers; and his conception was embodied in the Ironsides. Marston crowns the first period of his career. It was won by the discipline of his men.… Naseby was won by him with his new model army. It made him the first man in England; though, since Marston, the adverse factions had been viewing his rising greatness with a jealous eye; and vainly plotting his overthrow.
"Then came the captivity and death of the King, with the interlude of Hamilton's Scotch invasion, and the victory of Preston, gained in Cromwell's fashion; which was not to manœuvre; but to train his men well; march straight to his enemy; and fight a decisive battle;—a fashion natural perhaps to one who had not studied the science of strategy; but at the same time merciful; since no brave men perished otherwise than in fight, the loss of life was comparatively small; the result immense. Cromwell is now the General of the Commonwealth; he conquers Ireland; he conquers Scotland; the 'crowning mercy' of Worcester puts supreme power within his grasp. After a pause, he makes himself Protector."
And never was Englishman safer than under this same Protector. "Under Cromwell's rule, swift retribution followed any indignity or injury to Englishmen, no matter by whom or where perpetrated; and religious persecutors on the Continent in terror stayed their bloody swords on the stern summons of the Lord Protector."
Great Englishmen are liable to have good bodies. Did you ever see one who had not? And this rare man was no exception. Indeed, he began to toughen his body early.
"Cromwell was more famous for his exercises in the fields than in the schools; being of the chief of the matchmakers and players at foot-ball, codggels, or any other boisterous sports."—Heath's Flagellum.
"Throughout his life Cromwell retained a strong taste for field-sports. His accident when driving the six horses
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