Oliver’s army
Earlier this evening I agreed to blog about Oliver Cromwell, and hied myself to the Internet to learn all about him. Unfortunately I kept being distracted by the chatroom, with the result that I only read one sentence, though on the plus side I read it about fifteen times. It seems that Oliver Cromwell was born into a family which was for a time one of the wealthiest and most influential in the area. I now know that fact very well indeed. It’s quite possibly that I’m the world’s leading authority on that particular sentence. Unfortunately I don’t know anything else about the man, though I have a suspicion he owned more than one funny hat.
Hang on, let me try and learn a bit more…
Oh dear, it’s all very political. I’m constitutionally unable to retain information relating to politics. It seems he entered parliament in the 1640s, had some wars, and then, towards the end of his life, died; but beyond that I’m afraid I didn’t take in any of what I just read. I know there were bishops involved at one point, if that’s any use.
I have the same problem with politics as I have with the weather. A weatherman will pop up on the telly, and I’ll listen intently, curious to learn what meteorological happenings tomorrow will bring, and when he stops talking I realise that although I took in every word, I have absolutely no idea what he told me. What they should do, of course, is present weather bulletins as song and dance routines. That’d hold my attention.
I appear to have strayed from the subject of Mr Cromwell. Fascinating chap, old Ollie - he was born into a family which was for a time one of the wealthiest and most influential in the area, you know. What’s that? Which area? No idea. Somewhere in England, I imagine.
That’s the end of today’s history lesson. I hope you all learnt a lot, though to be honest it seems unlikely.
Comments
| Well the wealthy family does distinguish him nicely from the other famous Oliver, the one who said, “May I have some more,please?” as opposed to “May I have a parliamentary system of government?” That still doesn’t say where the army or the walls in Old Basing came in, but perhaps they were all part of an elaborate song and dance routine intended to help Oliver remember the weather reports. Comment by Qov — July 28, 2004 at 2:35 AM |
| He was a Norfolk lad. There are many places in the UK called “Oliver’s Battery” because the Big OC set up gun emplacements there. May I recommend “The Mark Steel Lecture” on Oliver Cromwell, from the “People with a Passion” series? I’m not sure if it’s on the Radio 4 “Listen Again” site, but it jolly well should be. Comment by Paul G0TLG — July 28, 2004 at 8:01 AM |
| Well, it doesn’t seem to be on the listen again site, but there’s a reference to it here, where it may or may not be available for file sharing: |
| You didnt mention Charlie 1 or Charlie 2. Or Puritanicalness. Poor show Comment by Lordhutton — July 28, 2004 at 11:43 AM |
| Nor did you mention the rather splendid Monty Python song about OC which sums up his life and adventures quite nicely. |
| Where did Oliver Cromwell keep his armies? Up his sleevies!!!! Sorry, it’s been that kind of day… Comment by Jenny — July 28, 2004 at 1:01 PM |
| “If you’re blue and you don’t know where to go to, go where fasion sits…put on the raincoats!” Comment by ConorD — July 28, 2004 at 5:06 PM |