It has recently come to our attention that a “Reformation” website has placed an article called “The Life and Crimes of Oliver Cromwell.”  These Presbyterians have accused Oliver of being a Jesuit dupe, doing great harm to the Reformation in England, and many other things.  The author provides a citation that states Cromwell ate familiarly at his table with a Jesuit.  The reference came from a work called “Hisotry of the Jesuits in England” by Taunton.  He failed to tell his readers that Taunton was Father Taunton, a Catholic priest and author, who supposedly despised the Jesuits.

This article also features the oft repeated statement that Cromwell “sacrificed 3,000 people in the siege” of Drogheda.  This is a gross misrepresentation of what occurred at Drogheda, where the Parliamentary Army was repulsed at the first breach of the walls with some loss, and the second assault through the breach (opened by cannon fire) was led in person by Cromwell.  The armed enemy in the town had been given an opportunity to surrender, and had declined.  At that period, the rules of engagement considered the lives of all such armed men in a town that refused quarter to be forfeit.  Many were put to death in the general havoc; particularly a group that went up into a tower and refused to come down.  The tower was set on fire; one man, who jumped from a window at a great height broke his leg in the landing.  Cromwell ordered him to be left unmolested as it was God’s manifest will that the man live.  However, all identified friars, and Jesuits in the town were put to death.  From a Jesuit magazine, we cite the following notation of the fate of one Jesuit in Drogheda, along with the attendant writing.

Jesuit Family Album entry for John Bathe, S.J. Below.