Cromwell (1970)

Richard Harris: Oliver Cromwell

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Quotes 

• King Charles : I do swear that hold this England and its laws dearer to my heart than any here. But gentlemen, if you would reduce me to a figurehead - a puppet king, manipulated by parliament - how then would I serve my country? What manner of king would I be?

  Oliver Cromwell : I am persuaded, Your Majesty, that England must move forward to a more enlightened form of government, based upon a true representation of a free people. Such an institution is known as... "democracy", sir.

  King Charles : Democracy, Mister...

  Oliver Cromwell : Cromwell, sir.

  King Charles : Democracy, Mister Cromwell, was a Greek drollery based on the foolish notion that there are extraordinary possibilities in very ordinary people.

  Oliver Cromwell : It is the ordinary people, my lord, who would most readily lay down their lives in defense of your realm. It is simply that "being ordinary", they would prefer to be asked - and not told.

• Oliver Cromwell : O Lord, Thou knowest how busy I must be this day. If I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me.

• Oliver Cromwell : It's an odd thing, Mr. Ireton. Every man who wages war believes God is on his side. I'll warrant God should often wonder who is on his.

• Oliver Cromwell : [addressing the pork-barrelling parliamentarians]  You are no more capable of managing the affairs of this nation than you are of running a brothel!

• King Charles : Mr. Cromwell, you are impertient.

  Oliver Cromwell : Such issues are beyond good manners, sir. Catholicism is more than a religion. It ia a political power. Therefore, I am led to believe there will be no peace in Ireland until the Catholic Church is crushed.

• Oliver Cromwell : [addressing his fellow troops before going into battle]  Therefore, put your trust in God - and keep your powder dry!

• Oliver Cromwell : This nation will prosper because it is a godly nation, and because we walk hand in hand with the Lord!

• Oliver Cromwell : In the name of God! Did we cut the head off this King only to steal his crown? This hollow golden ring, this worthless trinket? Give it to a whore for the price of her bed!

• Oliver Cromwell : [Addressing Parliament]  I do not believe that this is an evil king. But he is confused. And he cannot say no to his wife. Therefore if it please God I shall raise an army of men who are not confused. Stern men who say no to the tyranny of kings and wives. Men who make no confusion over the ordained place of man and woman, king and subject. And with these stern, God-fearing men, I shall ride. And we shall be called Ironsides because we are like iron, being hard both night and day. And the king shall find us unyielding, like a rod of iron, and shall give us satisfaction. Like our wives!

• Oliver Cromwell : [as Parliament troops gather, on the eve of the first battle of the war]  This is no place for you, Hugh, though you be welcome.

  Hugh Peters : I've consulted God on this matter. I asked him, "Lord, whose side are you on?" And he answered me, saying, "On the side of truth and justice." So here I am.

• Oliver Cromwell II : Do you think it could come to war, Father?

  Oliver Cromwell : Well, Oliver, when men run out of words, they reach for their swords. Let's hope we can keep them talking.

• Oliver Cromwell : The King is not England, and England is not the King.

• Oliver Cromwell : [having witnessed the end result of a peasant being beaten by royal guards for refusing to relinquish public pasture to an earl]  God damn this king!

• Oliver Cromwell : Gentlemen! An immovable Parliament is more obnoxious than an immovable King!

• Henry Ireton : There will be a war, Mister Cromwell. It will not be with Scotland.

  John Pym : Henry...

  Oliver Cromwell : With whom, Mister Ireton?

  John Pym : Henry, we have argued this matter many times...

  Henry Ireton : I'm convinced of it.

  Oliver Cromwell : [raising his voice]  A war against whom, Mister Ireton?

  Henry Ireton : Against the king, sir.

  Oliver Cromwell : [a cold silence falls over the room]  The king? You mean a civil war? In England?

  [chuckles] 

  Oliver Cromwell : You know not the ways of this nation, Mister Ireton. Such things do not happen here.

• Henry Ireton : Though Strafford's hand be upon this warrant, I see in this business not the hand of Strafford, but that of the King.

  Oliver Cromwell : It is not the function of this House to sit in judgment upon this King. The fault lies with those people from whom the King has sought counsel.

• Oliver Cromwell : Now do we see in what contempt this King holds this house and this nation.

• Oliver Cromwell : Your Majesty, it is my most solemn duty to place you under arrest.

  King Charles : By whose command, sir?

  Oliver Cromwell : By the command of Parliament, sir.

  King Charles : I know of no authority in England above that of the king.

  Oliver Cromwell : It is upon that issue that this war was fought.

• Oliver Cromwell : Any action against any member of this House is a breach of privilege, and I move that this House declare as public enemies any who lays hands upon its members. I further move! I further move that any such action against this House be considered a crime against the people and treason against this nation.

  King Charles : So be it. Mister Speaker, you will inform the members of this House that their service is no longer required by the nation. This parliament is, by my authority, terminated. Dissolved.

• Oliver Cromwell : Do you think I don't desire that? Go home to my farm and my family? Very well. Go again to this king. Offer to him once more our terms. Oh God knows he should be well acquainted with them by now. Tell him he may sit upon his throne, but that this country will be governed by parliament and parliament will be elected by the people. Now, Sir Thomas, if you can achieve this where we have failed this trial will end.

• Oliver Cromwell : John, how many times did we sit together in parliament in the old days, and how many resolutions did we pass, and how many times did the King overrule us? Oh, The King can have his war with Scotland. We will be in America.

• Oliver Cromwell : You are scum, sir, and truly unelected scum at that! This is no parliament. I shall put an end to your sitting. I hereby declare this parliament dissolved!

• Oliver Cromwell : Does The King think that God can be bought with gold, trinkets and gilded rubbish?