16. Cromwell and his aims: the Protectorates, Major-Generals and relations w/ the PN Flashcards
Instrument of Government
1653 - Britain first written constitution, established Cromwell as lord protector, head of state, parliament elected every 3 years for 5 months, council of state controlled finance and the armed forces (no more than 21 members), militia controlled jointly by protector and parliament.
Why was the role of Lord Protector established?
Prevent absolute parliamentary power by acting as a counterbalance with powers limited + defined. Council of state also restricted them with finance.
Cromwells aims as Protector
-Healing and settling the nation by est. a stable gov + uniting the PN
-Religious and social reformation by establishing a godly rule, society dominated by puritan ideas but focused on religious tolerance based ideas of ‘liberty of conscience’
Cromwells actions before parliament
Could pass ordinances while parliament was being elected (w/ opposition). Between 24th Dec 53 and 2nd Sept 54 (8 months), 83 ordinances passed e.g. Commission of ‘Triers’ est. to ensure applicants for church lviings were godly and virtuous men, mostly making the financial system more efficient. (also brought the 1st Dutch War to an end)
First protectorate parliament
-Lasted 4th Sept 54- 22nd Jan 55 - 5 months (lunar! - as short as possible - dissolved at the first opp)
-Parliament saw Lord Protector as an alternative monarch and attacked the role
-Main grievances over Cromwells ability to enact ordinances, control of the army and the need to cut army spending
-Cromwell wanted to issue the fundamentals of government
-Council+Crowmell introduced oath recognition of the first fundamental of government, joint rule by head of state and parliament
-100 MP’s (/460)refused to sign ‘Recognition’ (essentially an oath of allegiance) accepting the principle of government and were barred from sitting in Pment (mostly republicans)
-Cromwell contradictory between conservative settlement and godly reform alienated moderate MP’s, forcing him to rely on army
Biddles Case
1652 - Biddle was a teacher studying the bible who denied the holy trinity and divinity of Christ. Accused of Heresy by parliament - wanted him imprisoned. Seen as parliament enforcing right to control religion, which led Cromwell to dissolve them on 22nd Jan 55 - Biddle just using liberty of conscience - goes against his religious tolerance
Reasons for the first protectorate parliaments dissolution
-Attack on instrument of government - has too much army influence (written by Lambert), led by republicans (Haselrig)
-Wanting to control religion
-Failure to pay army
Religion + the church under the Protectorate (4)
1) Mar 54 - Committee of Triers - examines beliefs and quality of parish clergy - sought educated + capable ministers (metriocracy)
2) Aug 54 (5 months later) - Committee of Ejectors - effectively quality control of clergy - removing inadequate - based on quality as a minister not denominational preference
3) Sought a broad, flexible + tolerant church - all except the blasphemous or dangerous (e.g. Catholics + Quakers)
4) Reformation of the ungodly could make little progress without financial support + legal compulsion
Threat of Quakers
1) Lamberts troops reported as becoming more radical and taking up Quaker cause:
-These report feared many in London and Monck in Scotland
-Willing to take up armed revolution, making PN fear their positions
-Lambert seen as increasingly radical
2) Fast spreading radicals - lower middle class - educated, can read pamphlets etc. - explosion in numbers - 50,000 in 59
3) They rejected taking legal oaths (goes against OC - social + religious legislation necessary for the Godly reformation)
4) nonconformist - opposed central church + state authority (didn’t believe a need for clergy or hierarchy - God’s inner light is in everyone)
5) difficult to know what they’re planning/talking about - met in people’s houses
Naylor Case 1656
Quaker reenacted Christ’s coming into Jerusalem - accused of blasphemy, some called for death sentence - OC says he’s ‘foolish rather than wicked’ (prioritising ‘healing + settling’?) + challenged Pment’s right to inflict punishment - in the end only flogged, bored through the tongue + committed to prison (no liberty of conscience?)
Fundamentals of Government
-Government by head of state+parliament,
-regular elections,
-Liberty of conscience (Religious freedom)
-Militia controlled by all 3 institutions
Why was the rule of major generals introduced
-Overreaction to failure of parliament
-Failure of attack on Spanish colonies (Western Design)
-Royalist threat
Usefulness of rule of major generals
-Could be used to enforce a godly reformation (Failure of Spanish Indies made Cromwell believe gods believe slipping)
-Could enforce increased taxes on the royalists to pay the army (decimation tax in 55 took 10% of royalist income)
-Could stamp out royalist threats such as Penruddock’s rising in March 55
Establishment of the rule of Major generals
-England split into 11 areas by Lambert, with 11 Major Generals in each area
-Additional instructions signed from Oct 55 to June 66 stated to suppress all insurrection and lawless assemblies
-financed by Decimation Tax introduced Sept 55 - imposing a levy of 10% on property of known royalists (but to keep them onside - in Feb 55 reduced monthly assessment from £90k to £60)
Effectiveness of the major generals
-Depended largely on the major general themselves
-Edward Whalley made efforts to improve the lives of the peasants
-John Berry focused on reformation
-Mainly focused on securing the regime but some sought to impose their own beliefs
Issues with the rule of major generals
-Obvious signs of military rule
-Many of lower social class
-Religious radicalism
-Higher taxes
-Interference in local governments upset PN
Political Nations reaction to the rule of the major generals
-Many “Civilian Cromwellians” reacted negatively to military rule and pushed the protectorate to a more conservative stance
-Fear of increased role of soldiers, merchants and lesser gentry in government, many conservatives removed from government
-Taxation 3x higher than under James, nearly twice that under Charles due to failure of a financial settlement. Decimation tax failed but upset the 2,000 royalists it affected
-Fear of religious radical heightened by NMA’s protection of them and explosion of Quakers in the 50’s, feared a breakdown of order
End of the Major Generals
When a bill was introduced for the continuation of the Decimation Tax, Pment rejected it (due to dislike of MG + fear they could be next for tax on their land) - OC let it (ending the MG - they needed this) - pragmatic - realises he can’t achieve his aims without Pment - needs unity in the PN to move forward
Militia Bill 1657
-Would make the decimation tax permanent and strengthen the Major Generals position, but many MP’s refused
-Saw emergence of military and civilian divisions in protectorate
-MP’s unease led Cromwell to abandon Major General rule and stopped the militia bill and the decimation tax
Why was a second protectorate parliament called?
Wanted to begin healing the nation after securing it under the rule of major generals
Humble Petition and Advice 1657
- Appealed to both the Protector + Pment
-Alienated Lambert due to Cromwell considering the crown (for stability), leading to his resignation
-Refused the crown due to army’s opposition, which was seen as Gods instrument and opposition from army was an opposition from God
-Accepted on 25th May 57 after crown removed and would let Cromwell choose next protector
-Many republicans believed he was king in all but name - regal ceremony on 26th June - provided Cromwell with an annual income of £1,300,000 - short of what was needed
Offer of Crown to Cromwell
In 1657, Cromwell was aiming to settle the nation with a more traditional government, many civilian Cromwellians offered the crown through the Humble Petition and Advice. Would establish more control over Pment. He eventually refused to be crowned monarch.
Advantages of accepting the crown to Cromwell
-More recognised form of government
-Could establish a line of succession
-Could easily settle with parliament - goes back to the familiar
Disadvantages of accepting the crown to Cromwell
-Seen as a Usurper and would trigger a royalist reaction - undermines the idea of republic
-Opposition from NMA and republicans - Pride threatened to shoot him, Lambert threatened to retire
-Opposition from military Cromwellians
Cromwell’s death
3rd September 58, succeeded by Richard Cromwell (not nearly as great a pragmatist)
Groups with influence after cromwells death
-Civilian Cromwellians wanted a more traditional settlement and a reduction of NMA influence
-Army leaders such as Fleetwood wanted to continue the protectorate
-Soldiers and officers wanted the establishment of a parliamentary government
-Quakers, linked with Lambert, wanted to secure religious freedom
-Charles II wanted his crown
Division in the NMA after the death of Cromwell
-Divided between army leaders, George Monck, leader of the army, opposed the protectorate unlike Fleetwood
-Republican propaganda exploited the lower ranks of the army with promises of higher pay, which led to pressure to recall rump
-Council of officers removed moderates such as Civilians and replaced them with Lambert back in control
Defection of Monk
Defected in response to committee of safety and declared support for the Rump
Return of the Rump Dec 59
26th Dec 59 - Reinstated by 3 regiments disagreeing with Lambert after committee of safety collapsed on 17th Dec. Monck entered England on the 1st Jan and got to London on 3rd Feb who met with Fairfax. Both decided to reinstate the monarchy, which the rump refused.
Restoration of the monarchy
-Monck forced purged MP’s from 48 back to the Rump
-Parliament dissolved itself on the 16th March 1660 to allow free elections
-PN determined to reassert themselves in this new election and elections produced the convention parliament on the 25th April, far more conservative than anything in the 50’s and royalist
