TRIAL OF OLIVER CROMWELL

The Indictment
Oliver Cromwell was a traitor to England and the other British Isles and deserves to be executed (even posthumously) for his crimes against the country.

Roles
Attorneys (4-6)
Prosecution attorneys (3-4): P
“Team captains” of the prosecution. Will try to convince jurors that the evidence supports the indictment. Will create opening and closing statements and questions for witnesses.
Defense attorneys (3-4): D
“Team captains” of the defense. Will try to convince jurors that the evidence does not support the indictment. Will create opening and closing statements and questions for witnesses.

Defendant (1): Oliver Cromwell: D
Will testify at the trial. Will research and write a 1-2 page paper on this topic: “Oliver Cromwell was never a traitor to England or the British Isles, and was only serving the people.” Paper will be typed (no larger than 12-pt.) and double-spaced. Include a bibliography.

Witnesses (23)
Will testify at the trial. FOR TOMORROW you will need to have a BULLET POINT MINI-BIO on your person for the attorneys. THAT WILL BE WORTH POINTS! Next, you will prepare a 1-2 page TESTIMONY SHEET for your assigned witness (typed, no larger than 12-pt. font, double-spaced with sources correctly listed in a bibliography).

Witnesses for the Prosecution:
1. Spirit of James I
2. Spirit of Charles I
3. Woman at the trial of the “Martyr King”
4. Spirit of Archbishop Laud
5. Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford
6. Irish Civilian at the Battle of Wexford
7. Arthur Aston (Commander at the Siege at Drogheda)
8. James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde (Commander of the Royalist forces in Ireland)
9. Charles II (son of Charles I, future King)
10. Thomas Fairfax, 3rd Lord Fairfax of Cameron (New Model Army commander turned Royalist)
11. Dutch Lieutenant-Admiral Maarten Tromp (Dutch Commander in the Anglo-Dutch Wars)
12. Scottish Politician/Soldier during the English Civil War and Beyond
Witnesses for the Defense:
1. Richard Cromwell (his son)
2. Elizabeth Cromwell (his wife)
3. Commander of New Model Army
4. Soldier in the New Model Army
5. Admiral Robert Blake (Commander of Cromwell’s “Commonwealth Navy”)
6. Soldier in the Commonwealth Navy
7. Merchant who benefitted from the win in the Anglo-Dutch War
8. Thomas Harrison (Soldier and member of Cromwell’s Parliament in the Commonwealth)
9. John Bradshaw (Judge and President of the High Court of Justice that executed Charles I)
10. John Lambert (Wrote the “Instrument of Government” of Cromwell’s “Protectorate” government)
11. Puritan Civilian/Leader
NOTE:
All papers/witness sheets are due at the start of class on the first day of the trial. E-mail me if you know you will be absent on any day of the trial. If absence occurs, expect to be assigned a paper related to your role in the trial.

Procedures (There may be a max of 8 questions per witness depending on time)
The judge reads the indictment. The defendant enters his plea.
Opening statements by prosecution and defense attorneys (Each side: 1-2 min. only)
Direct examination: Prosecution calls witnesses, including defendant.
Defense cross-examines each witness.
Direct examination: Defense calls witnesses.
Prosecution cross-examines each witness.
Closing statements by prosecution and defense attorneys (Each side: 1-2 min.)

Some Advice for “The Court of History”

Attorneys
1. Work closely with your partner(s) and divide the workload fairly.
2. Remember that you are “team captains.” Work with all witnesses on your team to make sure that communication is clear and that the testimony is