The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations Preface

Letter to Sir William Spring, September 1643, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and
Speeches’ (2nd ed., 1846)
I would rather have a plain russet-coated captain that knows what he fights for, and loves what
he knows, than that which you call ‘a gentleman’ and is nothing else.
Letter to Sir William Spring, September 1643, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and
Speeches’ (2nd ed., 1846)
I beseech you, in the bowels of Christ, think it possible you may be mistaken.
Letter to the General Assembly of the Kirk of Scotland, 3 August 1650, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver
Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches’ (1845)
The dimensions of this mercy are above my thoughts. It is, for aught I know, a crowning mercy.
Letter to William Lenthall, Speaker of the Parliament of England, 4 September 1651, in Thomas Carlyle
‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches’ (1845)
Take away that fool’s bauble, the mace.
At the dismissal of the Rump Parliament, 20 April 1653, in Bulstrode Whitelock ‘Memorials of the English
Affairs’ (1732 ed.) p. 529 (often quoted as ‘Take away these baubles’)
You have sat too long here for any good you have been doing. Depart, I say, and let us have
done with you. In the name of God, go!
Addressing the Rump Parliament, 20 April 1653, in Bulstrode Whitelock ‘Memorials’ (1682) p. 554 (quoted
by Leo Amery (q.v.), ‘Hansard’ 7 May 1940, col. 1150)
It’s a maxim not to be despised, ‘Though peace be made, yet it’s interest that keeps peace.’
Speech to Parliament, 4 September 1654, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches’ (1845)
Necessity hath no law. Feigned necessities, imaginary necessities...are the greatest cozenage
that men can put upon the Providence of God, and make pretences to break known rules by.
Speech to Parliament, 12 September 1654, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and
Speeches’ (1845)
Your poor army, those poor contemptible men, came up hither.
Speech to Parliament, 21 April 1657, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches’ (1845).
You have accounted yourselves happy on being environed with a great ditch from all the world
besides.
Speech to Parliament, 25 January 1658, in Thomas Carlyle ‘Oliver Cromwell’s Letters and Speeches’ (1845)
Mr Lely, I desire you would use all your skill to paint my picture truly like me, and not flatter
me at all; but remark all these roughnesses, pimples, warts, and everything as you see me;
otherwise I will never pay a farthing for it.
In Horace Walpole ‘Anecdotes of Painting in England’ vol. 3 (1763) ch. 1 (commonly quoted as ‘warts and
all’)
My design is to make what haste I can to be gone.
Last words, in John Morley ‘Oliver Cromwell’ (1900) bk. 5, ch. 10
3.204 Bing Crosby (Harry Lillis Crosby) 1903-77
An average guy who could carry a tune.
Suggestion for his own epitaph, in ‘Newsweek’ 24 October 1977 p. 102