That is Tory revisionist history my friend. There is no way Puritan rule could have outdone the tyranny of the Charles and the fascist Anglican church of the time. Cromwell is judged by the Tory sentiment that is strong in Britain, but truly was a freedom lover. It is telling that the British love tyranny so much that they welcomed a Catholic pushing tyrant to come back and sit on their throne. Just couldn't get by without your “betters” telling you how to live your life? Steyn was British.
I am no fan of either Charles I or Cromwell.
Had I lived in 1640, I would have fought for Cromwell. His cause was just, however it is fact that puritan rule in the latter 1650’s became oppressive and freedom to do even the most innocuous act of life became oppressed. Like all ideas, they became corrupted.
As one famous semi-joking quote has said, the British didnt drive the Puritans to America because of bigotry, they drove them out because they couldnt damn well stand them anymore.