Do not trust the cheering, for those persons would shout as much if you or I were going to be hanged.

The remark warns against mistaking public applause for genuine loyalty or moral approval. Cromwell (if accurately attributed) is urging a sober view of popular enthusiasm: crowds can be fickle, easily redirected, and as ready to celebrate a downfall as a triumph. The image of cheering at a hanging underscores how spectacle—not justice or merit—can drive mass reaction. As a piece of political counsel, it implies that a leader should ground decisions in principle and reliable counsel rather than in momentary acclaim, because the same public that elevates a figure can quickly turn on them when circumstances change.