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What kind of ruler was Oliver Cromwell?

Case study 1: Cromwell in his own words - Source 1

Transcript

An order from Cromwell to the officer in charge of the Tower of London, 1 December 1654

(W.C. Abbott (ed.), The writings and speeches of Oliver Cromwell, Vol. III, p.522. Published by Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1947)

To Our trusty and well beloved John Barkstead, Esq., Lieutenant of Our Tower of London

Oliver P.

Our will and pleasure is that you forthwith discharge and set at liberty the bodies of Theodore Naudin, John Jenkins, Roger Lee, Thomas Smith and Dutton now prisoners under your charge in Our Tower of London you taking good and sufficient security that the said several persons and every of them respectively shall appear before Our Council at Whitehall within six months after summons in that behalf, and that they or any of them shall not act anything against, or prejudicial to Us, or the Commonwealth, and for so doing this shall be your warrant.

Given at Whitehall the first day of December 1654.