A Sword for Christ

The fifteen-year period between 1645 and 1660 was one of the most dynamic in British history, during which the republican Commonwealth and Cromwellian Protectorate attempted to create a new type of 'Godly' state after the execution of Charles I. Drawing on the latest research and established sources, as well as the works and diaries of contemporaries such as John Evelyn, Lucy Hutchinson and Samuel Pepys, A Sword for Christ offers a new and stimulating perspective on these extraordinary years. Key personalities such as Sir Thomas Fairfax, the Marquis of Argyll, Charles II and, of course, Oliver Cromwell himself - one of the most contentious figures in history - are re-appraised and brought vividly to life. In addition to exploring the religious and political debates which shaped the era and the military culture which defined it, the book also considers how society was profoundly affected by the upheaval caused by the civil wars; the relations between what was essentially an English republic and its Irish and Scottish neighbours; and the ethos of the New Model Army and the navy.

Jonathan Cobb studied History at Edinburgh University. He held a commission in the British army until 1988, after which he pursued a career in investment management. He was awarded the Ministry of Defence Bertrand Stewart Award in 1988 for a work on the strategic challenges posed by the USSR and China, and was awarded the Bloomberg/Daily Express International Fund of the Year Award in 1997. He lives and writes in East Lothian.