Twenty Years After · Chapter

Cromwell's Letter explained

What happens

Cardinal Mazarin receives a confidential letter from Oliver Cromwell, delivered by the enigmatic Mordaunt, in which Cromwell outlines the political situation in England and requests France's neutrality in the conflict against King Charles I. Mazarin, uneasy about the letter's implications and the arrival of Queen Henrietta Maria, agrees to send a reply but insists on secrecy. Mordaunt reveals his tragic personal history—his mother was assassinated, his fortune stolen, and his nobility stripped by King Charles I—fueling his hatred for the king and his service to Cromwell.

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This is the dramatic climax because it marks the psychological and political reversal of Madame de Longueville…

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Themes in this chapter

Power and Corruption
Mazarin's manipulation and secrecy in handling Cromwell's letter reflect the corrupting influence of political power.
Revenge and Justice
Mordaunt's personal vendetta against King Charles I and his family drives his actions, seeking retribution for his mother's murder and his lost inheritance.
Class and Ambition
Mordaunt's fall from nobility and his ambition to regain his status through service to Cromwell highlight class struggles.

Characters to notice

Mazarin
Receives Cromwell's letter and negotiates with Mordaunt; shows unease and cunning, seeking to maintain secrecy and avoid foreign entanglement.
Mordaunt
Delivers Cromwell's letter; reveals his tragic past and deep hatred for King Charles I; displays a cold, determined demeanor.
Cromwell
Author of the letter; not physically present but his political strategy and influence dominate the chapter.
Queen Henrietta
Mentioned as arriving at the Palais Royal, interrupting Mazarin's conversation with Mordaunt.
Bernouin
Mazarin's servant; announces Queen Henrietta's arrival and escorts Mordaunt out discreetly.
Charles Stuart
Referenced as the king whose tyranny the English are fighting; Mordaunt's enemy for robbing him of his fortune and nobility.

Key passages

“My lord, I ought to have a fortune of six millions, but it has been taken from me.”
Mordaunt claims he should have inherited a vast fortune but was robbed of it.
Reveals Mordaunt's sense of injustice and his motivation for revenge.
“Yes, my lord, I hate him!”
Mordaunt openly declares his hatred for King Charles I.
Emphasizes the depth of Mordaunt's personal vendetta.
“My letter is private and confidential, and for that reason I send it to you by a man who shares my most intimate counsels.”
Cromwell stresses the secrecy of his letter and trusts Mordaunt as his envoy.
Highlights the trust between Cromwell and Mordaunt and the sensitive nature of the communication.

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