The Current Status of Monarchism.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Of course he was not sympathetic to the mutineers, who decided to go rebel while on campaign in Ireland, despite the fact that Cromwell had allowed every division to elect representatives, effectively forming a democracy within the army in opposition to that at Westminster (which was occupied by the less radical landed interests).

Freeborn John was not a rebel, he resigned his commission when the Scots forced the Solemn League and Covenant on the English.

Cromwell kept him in prison, when he was like to die the warden released him so he could visit his wife. Cromwell ordered him returned to prison, he was already dead.

Your great hero persecuted a man who had once been his friend because because he disagreed with him politically.

And I'm glad the High Church was supressed, it was a political machine and had nothing to do with Christian religion. The disestablishement of the church was central to the idea of 'liberty of conscience', and Cromwell allowed Anglican services to take place, but without their previous status as the national church.

So it's freedom of Calvinism then, is it?

Had I been alive at that time I would not have had the money to flee, I would probably have had my head stoved in when I tried to stop them desicrating the cathedral by dividing it in half, or closing 7 of the 11 churches in the city. Measures taken by parliament and supported by the army.

The Book of Common Prayer, was banned

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Common_Prayer

You might want to take note of the quoted diary entry,

"Christmas Day 1657. I went to London with my wife to celebrate Christmas Day. . . Sermon ended, as [the minister] was giving us the holy sacrament, the chapel was surrounded with soldiers, and all the communicants and assembly surprised and kept prisoners by them, some in the house, others carried away... These wretched miscreants held their muskets against us as we came up to receive the sacred elements, as if they would have shot us at the altar."

So, I might have been shot as well.

And I'm glad he banned Christmas too, it is a pagan practice and as such well without the scope of liberty of conscience within the Christian religion. Don't get me wrong, I don't run around telling children Santa doesn't exist (though that would be hilarious), but the religious element of Christmas should be removed, no Christian should wish to honour Baal's birthday.

Yes, invoking pointless suffering in the name of his personal religion.

Erm... ever heard of the killing times?

Had they not tried to (sometimes violently) force their religion on others, including the King, things might have been different. That doesn't make it right, but it's worth remembering.

We restored the monarchy because, frankly, everyone hated the Republic.