Cromwell’s sword from the Siege of Drogheda? With Keeper of Edged Weapons & Armour Henry Yallop

[@samharradence5689]

Thank you Henry Yallop Keeper of Edged Weapons and Armor from the Royal Armouries, which houses a collection of weapons and armor from throughout history.

[@QuintusAntonious]

WHACOWAAFTH should be an honorific suffix like OBE at this point.

[@kayagorzan]

@@QuintusAntoniousI like how WHACOWAAFTH sounds tbh

[@jcmaxie4758]

My family would be happy to have it back, thank you so much!

[@PomyPie]

More edged weapon content please

[@noth606]

You're pushing for more edgy content huh? 😁

[@kayagorzan]

@@noth606Perhaps he enjoys edging

[@loosegoose41]

I'm convinced personnel at the Armouries have the coolest job titles in the world.

[@davidsheilds7191]

As a Droghedian, much appreciated sir. His name still resonates locally to this day. Keep up the excellent work.

[@causewaykayak]

Droghedian eh? For real. Well Hi. I wondered what the demonym might be. So Thanks for that I believe Cromwell offered terms. These were rejected yes/no 😊 Familiar consequences flowed. Armies still do have that tendency to make a bloody example of uncooperative populations. Was the norm at that time. Hate freely and don't forget - but Cromwell did good for england, wales and I think Scotland - tho opinion there will be split. He certainly his best for the economy and got rid of the would be absolute monarch.

[@tisFrancesfault]

Drogehda in all likelyhood was not actually sacked. The only people who did suffer was the then Garrison.

[@joemurphy1189]

@@causewaykayakHe outlawed celebrating Christmas and after he died he’d painted such a lively picture of Puritanical Republicanism that the English promptly reinstated the monarchy. The man was a sour, joyless zealot and just because he was anti-monarchist doesn’t mean he left the world in a better state than when he was born into it.

[@causewaykayak]

​@@joemurphy1189 Thanks for that Joe. It's hard to get into the mindset of people from bygone ages - My best guess is he was a religious fundamentalist. We get a lot of them today too😂 We better be careful not to hi jack the worthy RA arms video for off topic history stuff but Thanks anyway.

[@joemurphy1189]

@@causewaykayakCompletely agree. It’s a phenomenal sword and those musket-strikes give it a cool narrative. I wonder does anyone make a replica of it? Anyway, good night, Causeway, pleasure talking to you 👍🏻

[@MrWansty]

hitting musket balls with your sword was the pre-curser to cricket

[@garethfergusson9538]

You kid... But.... I can totally see that 🤣🤣

[@williestyle35]

Except cricket already existed...

[@ashleywebster2659]

Did someone say.... JEDI! ? 😁

[@myparceltape1169]

Howzat ???

[@Antigonus.]

I hope Henry does more of these, his video style is great!

[@christallon184]

Most impressed at ur Drogheda pronunciation well done

[@limorapp]

Ha just left that comment! Unusual for an Englishman to get the delivery spot on!

[@cmck472]

You pronounced Drogheda correctly - well done that man!

[@TimStamper89]

What a fantastic piece of history. Amazing and wonderful to see it be well kept.

[@StevenWalkey]

Thank you for this video, very interesting.

[@dalemoss4684]

Saying Cromwell is divisive is an understatement. Beautiful piece of history; I believe it probably was his actual fighting sword.

[@samovarsa2640]

Well, regardless as to the divisiveness of the man, you'd certainly want the sword itself to be divisive.

[@capnmnemo]

In period coiffure, nice.

[@causewaykayak]

😂

[@allanburt5250]

Thanks for sharing with us Henry 👍

[@chikkinnuggits]

You have a very cool job. If I ever make it to that side of the Atlantic, your museum would be a top priority visit

[@hoppers13]

Wonderful research. Many thanks for this.

[@F1ghteR41]

Some might say that taking on this topic is akin to walking on the edge of a sword, but in the end, it was masterfully handled, even with some attention to period fashion on the part of Mr. Yallop. Well done, and please, keep up with such videos in these series, they ofter cover under-appreciated topics and as such are very welcome!

[@warlikeplate4407]

That was awesome. More of this please

[@thegreatfacthunt771]

Henry looks like he should be dueling with swords rather than talking about them. Excellent vid

[@limorapp]

As a Drogheda man, well done on the pronunciation of Drogheda ! Fascinating video thank you for sharing , and yes Cromwell is not well liked in Drogheda !

[@glynh5480]

Great video, thanks Henry

[@alanmcmillan6969]

This is an amazing sword, from the Civil war period. A colllectors dream. If it can be proven to belong Cromwell, it makes it a very historical peice.

[@chrisball3778]

One of the lesser known aspects of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms is that there were actually a number of naval actions during the conflict, particularly in the period after the second English Civil War, when some of the defeated Royalists resorted to piracy. Cromwell was only able to invade Ireland because the Parliamentarian navy under Robert Blake blockaded the Royalist fleet at Kinsale. Would it be possible that the sword has naval-inspired decorations because it was originally a gift from a naval officer, or a war trophy?

[@jackbeecher8718]

Drogheda (or Droichead Átha in Irish) meaning bridge at the ford

[@Msadler0034]

OMG Henry Yallop, we might be distant cousins, Yallop from Norfolk? Although I´m interested in history of firearms, was member of the HBSA based at the Imperial War Museum, competed at the Trafalgar and Imperial meets, (90s) have medals and badges from NPA and NSRA. Living in Spain, doing fencing, epee and historic sabre, currently preparing for Spanish Nationals at the end of the month (veteran Epee). Best wishes and well done for being Keeper of Edged Weapons and Armor of the Royal Armouries. Hopefully my next visit will be with my historic fencing instructor in tow.

[@henryyallop1291]

Brilliant! I grew up in Norwich and my Yallop side are from the West Norfolk (specifically Wereham) area

[@Msadler0034]

@@henryyallop1291 Wow!! There was a massive Yallop community at Poringland, Norfolk, my last Yallop ancestor Hannah Yallop was born in Brooke, Norfolk mid 18th century, (6th great grandmother), her paternal parent and ancestors came from Poringland. I have to say, I see some familial facial traits there :) BTW my middle name is Henry LOL!!! Currently living in Granada, links with the University of Granada. Next year I´ll see if I could arrange a visit to the Royal Armouries with my historical fencing instructor/s and a couple of fencers, one an up and coming instructor, the other...number 1 Andalucia epee, working together for him to achieve Olympic level placement. Love to chat with Jonathan as well. I´m sure he knows Peter Bysshe, I think he´s current HBSA president. Back in the day, (1990s) Peter won a hell of a lot of competitions, I came 2nd to him once at 1995 Trafalgar Meet, "Mad Minute" with a borrowed .303 Enfield Martini!!!! Best wishes Henry, and well done with the video, from the comments below, you are acquiring a fan base.....keep going!!!!

[@henryyallop1291]

@@Msadler0034 let me know when you're coming :)

[@Msadler0034]

@@henryyallop1291 Will do🤺🤺🤺

[@dreamjackson5483]

It is amazing what gets held onto down through the years. One thing can go through multiple owners and multiple countries. Another item might just sit in a room for 300 years. Both very interesting paths

[@gergokerekes4550]

ok, another curator to add to the list of impeccable hairdo and beards. is it a required thing for these positions? I feel like it is.

[@Goit_Goit]

I'd love for there to be a crossover vid with Henry Yallop keeper of edged weapons at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history and Jonathan Ferguson, the keeper of firearms and artillery at the Royal Armouries Museum in the UK, which houses a collection of thousands of iconic weapons from throughout history.

[@supremeghost7950]

A very good video.

[@johndanielharold3633]

A total of 618,000 Irish died out of a pre-Cromwell population of 1,500,000. 41 %. In England and Wales it was 3.7%. In Scotland 6%.

[@koningA]

Would like to know bit more, please consider adding things like "this groove is called x, and it is here to Y". I love a good sword but I know very little.

[@bevla341]

Thank you Henry for this. You do resemble one of the many James Paul McCartney doubles back in the day.

[@ikopi56]

I was just wondering, how likely is it that this particular sword was used by Cromwell as an in-battle acquisition? It would seem to be quite credible to me that finding my own sword nonfunctional for some reason I would discard it and pick up one from the battlefield whose wielder no longer needed it.

[@RyanPeck-yt9ww]

"Battlefield Pick-ups" while possible are, in reality, quite rare. It's mainly a Hollywood thing

[@zoiders]

Cromwell was a cavalry leader for starters. A very well trained one who revolutionised cavalry warfare tactics. So no its not a "battlefield pickup".

[@dandy193]

The earliest documented use of the Union Flag as a battle standard was at the Battle of the Dunes (1658) during the Franco-Spanish War. English forces, fighting as part of an alliance with France under Oliver Cromwell's Protectorate, reportedly carried the Union Flag in this engagement. This marked one of the first significant instances of the flag being used in a martial context to represent the unified crowns.

[@Admiralofthedeeps]

I don't know if there is a more hated historical figure in Irish history than Cromwell. We still hate him to this day, haha. For a man who spent only a short time in Ireland, he left terrible scars that contributed greatly to the emnity between the Irish and the English.

[@theprimordialvoid]

Even people in Australia hate Cromwell😂

[@BingoFrogstrangler]

Wgaf

[@Admiralofthedeeps]

@@BingoFrogstrangler Tá súil agam go báthadh tú i do phúca féin.

[@barneymagee3285]

That’s because you believe the propaganda of the priests , even modern Irish authors highlight this.

[@Admiralofthedeeps]

@barneymagee3285 highlight what?

[@rgriffinRETIRED_SHEEPDOG]

Does it seem likely to the trained eye that the damage to the blade was indeed caused in battle? Great video. Thanks

[@Drench3]

The people have spoken do more blades!

[@manchagojohnsonmanchago6367]

As i understand these swords get their name from the hilt due to it looking similar to funeral swords which were small swords with steel hilts that were blackened

[@richardbullen6515]

Would help to see the sword with a white background with better lighting as the dark parts of the sword is lost in the dark background.

[@Valleys56xx]

Very interesting sword, that thing. Semi-sort-of basket hilt so calalry-ish. Single sided so slashing cavalry... Single edged and handed so cavalry... nice quality, inlaid pommel so officer, nice thing.

[@Paul-ie1xp]

Cromwell's worst defeat was at the Siege of Clonmel, which wasn't even really a siege, Black Hugh O'Donnel just wanted to fight a battle in a city.. Cromwell left Ireland shortly after.

[@andrewflindall9048]

How was it a defeat? Didn't Cromwell offer terms that were accepted by the potentially-unvictorious garrison, terms which were honoured more by the English than the Irish?

[@Paul-ie1xp]

@@andrewflindall9048 3000 of his 10,000 troops were dead. The garrison had withdrawn (another siege in Limerick would kill more commonwealth troops but by disease rather than in battle). Cromwell didn't murder the entire population of the town or sell them into indenture as was his previous practice.So I'd call it a pretty shocking defeat.

[@DANTHETUBEMAN]

Nice hand gard you should be able to still count to five after a Sward fight 🤠

[@Feck-de-stans]

im thinking its a trophy and its former owner didn’t have a good time of it wow that stirs me heart could be from the siege 😢

[@jurassicjam2156]

Living in Huntingdon there's a lot of Oliver Cromwell. This is cool.

[@causewaykayak]

Lucky Huntingdonshire. My lot came from the Fens. Since Hereward home of the protectors of liberty. Cromwell a hero there too. I hear its now fashionable in the USA to destroy statues to historic figures. Same seems to. be happening here. The gradual erosion of national confidence. Please vote accordingly next election.

[@causewaykayak]

From the Fens. Home of Hereward the protector of his people. Cromwell a star here!! Naysayers stay away.

[@martinsmith9054]

An interesting period sword but I doubt it's Cromwell's. Did the family that provided it produce any private correspondence or documents proving the link to both Cromwell and Drogheda? I doubt it.

[@skepticalbadger]

Henry clearly doubts it too.

[@speakupriseup4549]

Hit by musket balls and chipped by blade strikes....no matter the owner, he was in the thick of it

[@andyleighton6969]

Which tends to suggest it wasn't Cromwell, essentially C in C Ireland, it would be like Wellington leading a bayonet charge at Waterloo, abandoning all higher level control.

[@speakupriseup4549]

@andyleighton6969 agreed, it seems extremely unlikely it was his

[@SynapseDriven]

His sword had better luck after his death than his body did, may his fundamentalist soul rest in the piety and peace that he seldom afforded others.

[@algi1]

How do musket balls hit the sword but not kill the wielder? Is it just huge luck? Or is it normal to get pelted by musket shots and brush them off?

[@sir_vix]

I can't speak to the accuracy of my hypothesis but I suppose that he may have been waving it above his head, exhorting the troops from amongst the formation, when it was hit. Hence the musket strikes on the upper parts of the blade...

[@Vonstab]

Because round musket balls have a shape that ia very inefficient in terms of ballistics they loose energy fairy rapidly and that means that their effective/leathal range is a lot shorter than the actual range a musket shot will travel. A spent ball striking a sword would lose all of its remaining energy doing so and would pose no actual danger. On top of poor ballistics you have such issues as 17th Century muskets often being loaded without wadding in the heat of battle which meant that they lost much of their potential energy when fired due to gases leaking past the ball. The black powder itself could also be of poor quality which would reduce performance and lethality as well. So in the worst possible circumstances muskets that were often effective out to 100-120 meters could see their effective range drop to 20-30 meters.

[@hart-of-gold]

Because if you're holding that type of sword and fighting with an English style. The blade isn't usually between the user and a person in front of them. It's off the line to guard against cuts or held to allow quick counter cuts.

[@jwgolf5442]

What are you talking about? That’s like saying. Why did musket balls hit that cloth flag but not kill the weirder? It’s because it’s not physically attached to their fucking body?

[@algi1]

@@jwgolf5442 I'm sorry, do you think your body is safe from bullets when items in your hand get hit by multiple bullets? Don't you think the enemy would be aiming for your body? I'll be honest if a bullet hit anything in my hand, I'd be jumping into cover, but that's just me. Maybe all the bullets will just home in on items on my body and not hit me.

[@polymathart]

To this day I wonder why Matt Easton doesn’t work at the RA himself.

[@skepticalbadger]

Likely the same reason he left field archaeology - because he wanted a decent salary and job security?

[@restitvtororbis5330]

​@@skepticalbadgerif I remember correctly, he's primarily a dealer in antique arms and armor (as in he purchases and sells them at auction because he better understands their value). I could be wrong about that because Its been a while since I've watched the videos where he actually explains what he does beyond show off cool weapons, but I'm fairly certain him being a dealer is the reason he gets so many cool weapons to begin with. I say all that because he definitely doesn't have a 'salary' being that he is in both the auction dealing and KZbin business, neither of which can be described as 'salary work'. Neither can I argue that they are more stable than the income a RA expert gets. Even if Matt Easton gets more income overall, I doubt it's as stable.

[@F1ghteR41]

@@restitvtororbis5330 He used to have a salaried government job back in the day, as he mentioned in some of his videos, possibly to do with law enforcement, judging by some of his remarks, and left it several years ago to pursue other things, KZbin among them. He also mentioned once upon a time that he was in a bit of pickle after graduating, as there weren't all that many jobs on offer, and he quickly found out that field archaeology wasn't for him. This might have something to do with why he didn't pursue a career in any of the major musea.

[@tmzilla]

I'd do anything for the london borough of hounslow. Hounslow for the Hounslowians!

[@keelanmurphy9941]

-Oliver Cromwell, leading Hounslowian troops during the Sack of Hillingdon.

[@alundavies1016]

@@keelanmurphy9941”Hillingdon sucks” Oliver Cromwell

[@glenriches4779]

I want to know where ge hid the black Princes sword.

[@stoatystoat174]

"War criminal Oliver Cromwell’s Massacre of Drogheda in 1649" is an Irish take on this event I my humble opinion you should have taken a minute to explain why the event linked to the blade was controversial and give a better view of Cromwell 06:38 "put to death the military Garrison and civilians too" as the almost only reference in a ten and half minute video and doesn't capture the scale of horrors. if you don't know any of the history you might be thinking "and civilians too" means a couple dozen men who were helping the military. Where as I am wandering if the blade was used leading-from-the-front in the mass slaughter of the unarmed prisoners

[@barneymagee3285]

No evidence that civilians were killed , only the garrison , and of course priests , whom Cromwell detested because of their authoritarian control over the Irish people , tho the bloodcurdling tales are still taught in catholic schools to pliable children.

[@RockoBam1]

Scale of the horrors? 700 to 800 civilians can't really be considered that big a scale mate. Nearly everyone killed were English Royalists that didn't surrender when asked. The rules of war at the time were very different to now, and showing no quarter to those who refused to surrender and led to the deaths of their friends were never treated well during war. That wasn't the only massacre of the civil war, there were others in England too. It didn't help that some of the defenders had already been beaten in England and swore not to take up arms again against the Roundheads, which was seen as treachery.

[@DCS_World_Japan]

More edged weapons lectures from young Billy Connolly!

[@ceciljohnrhodes4987]

Our chief of men.

[@bigmikeisaman]

"Necessity hath no law"

[@HunterGargoyle]

its highly likely he owned a sword of that type, probably used it during the siege, can't be sure if that exact sword was his

[@andyleighton6969]

Commanders in Chief - which he was - tend not to get involved in the general unpleasantness and retain the long view. I'd be amazed if Cromwell drew his sword the whole time he was in Ireland.

[@tommeakin1732]

I'm a big fan of the "hard" information given, and I even learnt a few things, even though I'm a big sword lover. Most videos on "mortuary hilts" or even "British baskethilts" have a much lower density of hard information, and often don't bother to talk about terminology. Having said all that, I never like when teachers of history kind of tell us how to feel about history. It's something that really drives me nuts, but is alarmingly common - though it's often seen with more recent history than is covered in this video. You can tell all the facts, and leave the feelings to the listener. The most charitable readings on those that talk about feelings regarding history is that they're trying to win brownie points with folks who hold those feelings (often overwhelmingly majorities) and trying to distance themselves from those that don't hold those feelings - an even that doesn't make you come off very well

[@causewaykayak]

Well said. Far too much politicking here. SinnFein write the script ??

[@SerialChiller1000]

I've got no sound.

[@stevewapner9061]

Test it for DNA? Crazy idea.

[@Valkanna.Nublet]

I know that tastes change, but I think those screws sticking out like that look rather ugly and cheap, surely a quality sword of the type that someone of Cromwell's position would use would have a more fancy finish.

[@Daimon-X]

Edgy. "Qui gladio ferit, gladio perit"

[@LaurenceOConnor-fg4dk]

Cromwell will be remembered forever by the ingenious Irish as a murderer.

[@gerald5344]

Edgy content!

[@alexanderperry1844]

What happened at Drogehga complied with the norms of the time, which were governed by Deuteronomy.

[@solidsnake3014]

The divell'f bleyd...

[@womble321]

It could have course have just been the blade and it needed a new hilt.

[@SkullanGuns]

I'd need one three times bigger for me.😊

[@Feck-de-stans]

o look old ollies hat pin

[@georgerobartes2008]

NIts only controversial if you do not understand the rules of war in the 17thC in particular that of " Quarter " and that one realises that a sword is an inanimate object with no affiliations whatsoever. The sword , I believe, is likened to that shown in the 1649 portrait by Robert Walker.

[@PilgrimBangs]

Had to look up that siege of Drogehda and it was horrible what happened. So many died after given quarter, and that was a disgrace.

[@bkohatl]

The English Hitler's Genocide Sword.

[@MickByers]

bedfont not hounslow,running wolf mark lool it up.

[@skepticalbadger]

What are you talking about? Bedfont is IN Hounslow, and there's no (German) running wolf mark on this sword in any case.

[@RichardGoth]

Journal of the British Archaeological Association - Volume 2 - Page 89 (1847)

[@henryyallop1291]

That's brilliant - thanks so much @RichardGoth!!!!! I've now found the piece in question you reference and have saved and noted it. Claude Blair (who makes the 1881 claim) missed that one then :)

[@RichardGoth]

@@AdamOwenBrowning see below...LOL

[@RichardGoth]

@@henryyallop1291 #askalibrarian 🙂

[@causewaykayak]

Nice video presentation but my goodness a lot of politics in there. Many of us have respect for Cromwell whilst conceeding that his methods (however provoked!!) would not meet UN approval today. Nevertheless it would be nice to see more from the edged weapons collection. Personally I would like a brief account of the long hafted items like the Pike. They look so clumsy but I'm sure skilled hands made them effective. Maybe not any from the good town of Drogheda though. 🙏

[@craigkingdon4424]

Maybe talk to some Irish people someday. The hatred of Cromwell by us has transcended time itself and will forever be a part of Irish identity. The man was evil by almost every measure and decidedly earned his hated status.

[@heycidskyja4668]

@@craigkingdon4424 Strange, in England he is a national hero and champion of liberty against monarchical rule.

[@causewaykayak]

@craigkingdon4424 Thanks, perspectives differ. All sides in a war will have their own take. Agreement is not necessary. It's quite understandable that Irish people hate historical oppressors. Transmitting hatreds down the generations helps shape national consciousness. Every parent, every teacher becomes the people's remembrancer. Worth mentioning perhaps that the casual slaughter of medieval. and early modern campaigns was universal. Thirty Years war offers plenty of illuminating case studies. Cromwell and his opposite numbers were nothing exceptional. There is a revisionist trend in the UK which rejects the idea that Cromwell was a hero of some sort and protector of parliament vs the monarchist regime. His statue in front of the palace of Westminster is there for a reason. I don't think its the job of weapons conservators employed by a British national institution repetitively to give us their personal and oppositional politics. That takes nothing away from Ireland. The natural hatred is also a good thing.

[@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries]

@@causewaykayak And all Henry is doing here is representing those views. It's not revisionism - in fact I know he is no fan of revisionist history per se. It's hardly controversial to call Cromwell's actions at/post Drogheda "brutal". Whether you think that brutality can be justified in context and period is a different matter, and one that we would not pass judgement on.

[@causewaykayak]

​@@JonathanFergusonRoyalArmouries Good evening Jonathan. Thank you for your considered and valued reply. I thought I might get a wigging for going somewhat against the grain. May I be allowed my claim that an opinion on Cromwell's activities in Ireland was indeed given by your expert. These matters are still divisive in the north of Ireland and upsetting to Cromwell's sizeable fan base in England. Henry's remarks had to be a personal opinion and arguably unrelated to the piece he was presenting. Still a very interesting talk as it always is from your marvellous collection. Thank you for your forbearance in allowing me to state in part the dissenting case for this significant character in British history. 👍🏼

[@PhD777]

Not "Bri'ish" Civil War but, correctly, the English Civil War.

[@heycidskyja4668]

Why have you spelled it without the 't' and in quote marks?

[@skepticalbadger]

@@heycidskyja4668 It's a stupid American meme about the way some English people pronounce words.

[@skepticalbadger]

Nope. You're just flat out wrong. There are two English Civil Wars, and this sword is associated with a war in IRELAND. Which is not England. England, Scotland and Ireland all saw conflict during this period. 'English Civil War' is correct IF you're talking about one of those two wars.

[@lesliehart]

@@skepticalbadger and Wales, the Channel Islands and West Indies

[@heycidskyja4668]

@@lesliehart No. Wales was part of England at that time.

[@jimdonovan243]

Not contentious for me. It is history and all were brutal in those days. The victims are always the losers.

[@nickmail7604]

Cromwell was a proper Englishman

[@karl_thwub]

A couple of years after his death, the English dug up his rotten cadaver, hung it at Tyburn, displayed his head on a spike for about 15 years and then sold it off to be used as an ornament. Even they thought he was a jerk.

[@barneymagee3285]

@@karl_thwub the same type mincing round London with their Palestine flags.

[@karl_thwub]

@@barneymagee3285 😆😆😆😆 You know better than me.

[@gbickell]

Great sword. But I'll stick with 'English Civil War'

[@skepticalbadger]

There's more than one war going on involving other nations than England. If you're JUST talking about one of the two English Civil Wars, that's fine. If you're talking about the wider period of conflict, it's British Civil Wars or Wars of the Three Kingdoms.

[@rtk3543]

He means the English Civil war of course, There is nothing contentious about Cromwell except in the minds of people with a very narrow view of history.

[@skepticalbadger]

No, he means the British Civil Wars. Ireland being part of Britain at the time, and there being distinct wars in all three kingdoms during this period. There are English Civil Wars, the Bishop's Wars, etc etc. You can speak of the English Civil War only if you're talking about one of those wars. If you're talking about one of the other wars or the period itself, the other terms are more appropriate. It's a matter of factual accuracy, not imagined politics. As for there being nothing contentious about Cromwell - why, then, is there so much contention over him?

[@Noelzsazsa]

I don't believe Cromwell ever carried a Soward he just gave the orders

[@jwgolf5442]

Then you’d be very much mistaken. He was a cavalry leader at the start of the war and very much fought with a sword in hand to hand combat.

[@ray.shoesmith]

Are you sure _you're_ not Oliver Cromwell..? 🤔🤨