3.5 Cromwell becoming Lord Protector

Question 1

The Protectorate

Answer 1

• Lambert removed the National Assembly and established the Protectorate which was introduced through his Instrument of Government.
• Britain’s first written constitution.
• Made clearer the relationship between the Head of State, the Council of State and Parliament.
• Was the context for Cromwell’s establishment as Protector.

Question 2

The Instrument of Government

Answer 2

Key features were:
- Protector: the Head of State
- Parliament elected every 3 years, to sit for a minimum of 5 months.
- Council of State: played a central role, especially in finance, appointments and control of armed forces.
- Militia: controlled by Protector and Parliament.

Question 3

Protector role

Answer 3

Role was constructed deliberately because of Lambert’s fears of the potentially unrestricted nature of parliamentary power. Parliament and Protector were to be balanced by a powerful Council of State.

Question 4

Political reality

Answer 4

Through the Instrument Lambert dealt with the reality that there would have to be minority rule and that the army had to become part of government and legislature through the council.

Question 5

Cromwell’s aims as Lord Protector

Answer 5

1. ‘Healing and settling’ the nation, which meant establishing a stable form of new government.
2. Religious and social reformation, which meant establishing godly rule, a society dominated by Puritan ideas.

Question 6

Protectorate ordinances

Answer 6

• Between 24 December 1653 and 2 September 1654, Cromwell and the Council brought in 83 ordinances.
• Most dealt with finance, making the tax-collecting system more efficient.
• Cromwell was the dominant force in governance.

Question 7

First Protectorate Parliament, September 1654-January 1655

Answer 7

Republicans attacked Cromwell’s position as Protector, seeing him as an alternative monarch and believing that Parliament should be the sole authority.

Question 8

Republican concerns:

Answer 8

1. Cromwell’s authority to enact ordinances when Parliament was not in session.
2. Control of the army being given to the Protector.
3. The need to reduce the armed forces.

Question 9

Cromwell’s response

Answer 9

His response was to state what he regarded as the ‘fundamentals’ of government:
1. Government by a single person and Parliament.
2. No perpetuation of parliaments by ensuring regular elections.
3. Liberty of conscience: religious tolerance or freedom to follow one’s own religious beliefs.
4. Militia jointly controlled by Protector, Council of State and Parliament.

Question 10

The Recognition

Answer 10

The opposition of republicans led Cromwell and the Council to introduce the Recognition, which required MPs to take an oath recognising government by a single person and Parliament. About 100 MPs refused it on principle and had to withdraw from Parliament.

Question 11

Godly reformation

Answer 11

Cromwell wanted the agreement of Parliament but the Political Nation would not support Cromwell’s other main aim of a godly reformation.

Question 12

Cromwell’s contradiction

Answer 12

Cromwell’s aims can be seen as contradictory. The goal of a godly reformation marked Cromwell off from the traditional conservative Political Nation. This reinforced his reliance on the army which hampered his search for settlement with the Political Nation.

Question 13

Biddle’s case, 1654

Answer 13

Accused of Blasphemy by MPs, Biddle was interrogated by a parliamentary committee and the Commons declared he should be imprisoned and his written work burned. Parliament was attempting to enforce what it saw as its right to control religion over the Protector and his Council.

Question 14

Second Protectorate Parliament, 1656

Answer 14

Called as a reaction to the rule of the Major-Generals. Cromwell shifted position again to looking for ‘healing and settling’ the nation, having never lost his desire to secure a parliamentary settlement.

Question 15

The Humble Petition and Advice, 1657

Answer 15

Revision of the Instrument. A new constitution designed to ‘heal and settle’ by establishing a more traditional government with Cromwell at its head as monarch and thereby move to reconcile the Political Nation to the regime. Offer of the crown to Cromwell through the Humble Petition and Advice.

Question 16

Advantages of kingship

Answer 16

1. More recognised form of government for gentry.
2. Could establish a line of succession.
3. Could achieve settlement with Parliament.

Question 17

Disadvantages of kingship

Answer 17

1. Cromwell seen as a usurper, so would provoke vigorous opposition from Royalists who supported the Stuarts.
2. Opposition from republicans.
3. Opposition from some of the New Model Army.
4. Opposition from the leading ‘military Cromwellians’.

Question 18

The army and opposition to kingship

Answer 18

They were against the idea of kingship not only because the chief political power would lie solely with the monarch but also for religious reasons.

Question 19

Reasons behind Cromwell’s rejection

Answer 19

1. The army seriously opposed the idea of kingship and had the potential to remove him.
2. For Cromwell the army was God’s instrument populated by the saints. Army opposition would signify to Cromwell that God had judged against kingship.

Question 20

Humble Petition 25 May 1657

Answer 20

• Cromwell accepted the petition after it was revised to remove kingship and to state that Cromwell would choose the next Protector.
• The petition did not bring about fundamental change to the nature of the Protectorate.

Question 21

Republicans

Answer 21

• Had naturally opposed the plan to make Cromwell king.
• Even though Cromwell refused the crown, republicans felt that the acceptance of the Petition meant Cromwell was ‘king in all but name’ even from the start of the Protectorate.