71 
——s Recent Wiltshire Books, Pamphlets, and 
Articles, 
Oliver Cromwell, H.H. the Lord Protector, and the 
Royalist Insurrection against his Government 
of March, 1655. A Relation of the part taken therein by the 
Protector, of the way in which his subjects regarded him and the In- 
surrection, and of the causes and consequences thereof, by Sir Reginald 
F. D. Palgrave, K.C.B. London: Sampson Low, Marston, &Co. 1903. 
Cloth, 8 x 54, pp. xiii. 106. 
The object of this work, says the author, ‘‘ is to exhibit Oliver Cromwell 
as the fosterer of the insurrection against his Government which took 
place during March, 1655, an event of which the occupation of Salisbury 
for a few hours by a troop of Royalists formed the most conspicuous 
feature.” It is an amplification of a lecture delivered at the Blackmore 
Museum, reported in the Salisbury Journal of March 22nd, 1902, and 
noticed in this Magazine, vol. xxxii., p. 251, and also of articles in the 
Quarterly Review and The English Historical Review, July, Oct., 1888, 
and Jan., 1889, on “‘ Cromwell and the Insurrection of 1655.” The author 
begins by stating very shortly the facts as to the Grove and Penruddocke 
Rising, and the six or seven simultaneous and even more abortive 
attempts at risings which took place in other parts of England—and 
then proceeds to show that ‘‘ The Insurrection of March, 1655 was not 
an isolated occurrence; it formed the central link in the chain of events 
which ensued after that memorable Tuesday, 30th of January, 1649, 
King Charles’s death day, until the close of the Protectorate.” From 
the dispersion of the Long Parliament until the close of the Protectorate 
the army was practically the Government of England,and Cromwell speaks 
of himself as their “drudge.” They were absolutely supreme. On the 
other hand the Royalist leaders were led to believe that a considerable 
number of the officers were ready to declare themselves on their side, 
and they were, the author maintains—on the authority of Clarendon 
and Col. Cromwell—purposely encouraged in this belief, with the full 
knowledge of Cromwell himself. Moreover as circumstances had led 
just then to-the preponderance of the rasher and fighting section in the 
Royalist councils, they fell an easy prey to the deceitful overtures of the 
army officers, and the abortive insurrection took place. The Venetian 
Ambassador in 1655 wrote ‘‘ The Government often invented conspiracies 
to afford a pretext against the Royalists, and therefore to increase the 
Army and the Guards.” The rising justified the military rule of the 
eleven major-generals. 
The Standard; May 30th, 1903, has a long review of the book. It 

