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History: England 1625-1660 > SECTION E: Cromwell's Parliaments and Protectorate > Flashcards

SECTION E: Cromwell's Parliaments and Protectorate Flashcards

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1
Q

March 1649

A
  • 17th: The act abolishing monarchy is passed

- 19th: The act abolishing the House of Lords is passed

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2
Q

May 1649

A
  • 14-15th: A leveller rebellion is put down at Burford

- 19th: The act declaring England a Commonwealth is passed

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3
Q

August 1649

A

2nd: Battle of Rathmines takes place

From 15th August-28th May 1650, Cromwell is in Ireland

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4
Q

September 11th 1649

A
  • Drogheda falls
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5
Q

11th October 1649

A
  • Wexford falls
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6
Q

2nd January 1650

A
  • The Engagement Act is passed
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7
Q

10th May 1650

A
  • The Adultery Act is passed
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8
Q

June 1650

A
  • Charles II arrives in Scotland

- 28th: Cromwell is appointed Lord General in place of Fairfax

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9
Q

22nd July 1650 - August 1651

A
  • Cromwell leads the English army in Scotland
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10
Q

9th August 1650

A
  • Blasphemy Act is passed
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11
Q

September 1650

A

3rd: Battle of Dunbar takes place
27th: Toleration Act is passed

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12
Q

January 1651

A

1st: Charles II is crowned King by the Scots

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13
Q

July-August 1651

A
  • Charles II invades England
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14
Q

3rd September 1651

A
  • Battle of Worcester takes place
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15
Q

October 1651

A

15th: Following his defeat in the Battle of Worcester, Charles II flees to the continent
9th: Navigation Act is passed

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16
Q

January 1652

A

The Hale Commission on law reform is appointed

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17
Q

19th May 1652

A
  • First Anglo-Dutch war begins
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18
Q

20th April 1653

A
  • Charles dissolves the Rump Parliament
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19
Q

4th July 1653

A
  • Nominated Assembly convenes
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20
Q

12th December 1653

A
  • The Nominated Assembly returns power to Cromwell
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21
Q

Cromwell’s attitudes towards the Rump and ambitions in 1649

A
  • Wanted to respect the constitution, but also to achieve Godly reformation now that Parliament had been purged
  • Willingness for such reformation was not a criteria for remaining in the Rump, which would explain why they didn’t grant Cromwell reform when he requested it
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22
Q

Cromwell’s attitude to the execution of the King in 1649

A
  • What was done was done, and they must now work to reform the State
  • Sought to gain new support for the regime Ie through lord Saye and his son Nathaniel Fiennes
  • Encouraged those excluded back to the Rump conditional on the acceptance of it
  • Neutral towards Rump as he saw it as a temporary and for the next two years he would be concerned with campaigning
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23
Q

Cromwell’s four objectives in 1651

A

1) Wanted Rump to dissolve itself and hold new elections
2) Broad amnesty, greater cooperation from ex Royalists
3) Wanted union between the three kingdoms
4) Godly, judicial reformation

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24
Q

Reasons for Cromwell’s ensuing frustration with the Rump

A
  • Failed to extend the commissions for the propogation of the gospel from the dark corners of the land –> The whole country
  • Failed to explore alternative tithes for maintenance of the ministry
  • Failure to carry forward his propositions (in a letter from Dunbar) to review inequities in the legal process
  • Stagnation after the Hale Committee suggestions
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25
Q

What did the Army wish for in August of 1652, and how did Cromwell respond?

A
  • Nine hour meeting of army council on 2nd August 1652
  • -> Declaration of the army to the Lord General Cromwell for the dissolving of this present Parliament: Asked for dissolution and fresh elections, and that new Parliament reforms judical process, tithes corruption, reform of provisions for poor and war veterans/widows/disabled ect
  • —–> Cromwell agreed, but wanted the Rump to respond positively. Arranged 12 meetings of MPs and officers in following months but know progress made
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26
Q

Cromwell’s frustrations by 1653

A
  • Frustration at lack of Godly reformation
  • They were intended to be an interim Government, but had sat for too long doing nothing
  • Further prevarications:
    (i) Failed to address £31 000 monthly deficit on army wage bill
    (ii) Corruption: Rumpers privileged each other to best plots > army in the redistribution of Irish land
  • Army wanted immediate dissolution, Cromwell barely prevented this at army council meeting of 11th March 1653. Said it would be easier after peace made with Dutch, but on 15th March 1653 the Rump refused to open Negotiations!
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27
Q

Why did Cromwell dissolve the Rump?

A
  • 19th April: Cromwell says they must pick a replacement gvt of 40, then abdicate
  • Next day, Cromwell hears they were discussing bill of their own
  • 20th, Scolds and dissolves them
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  • Believed criteria for sitting on new assembly would not be strict enough
  • Bill might advocate for perpetual Parliaments
  • Rump’s decision to delay own dissolution until 3 Nov 1653 was intolerable
  • If he wanted leading power here, he could have taken it. The fact he increasingly sought to avoid a leading role was testament to his lack of ambition
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28
Q

An overview of the challenges facing the Rump Parliament in 1649

A
  • Political and religious opposition in England, Scotland and Ireland
  • Hated and feared by monarchs on the continent
  • Seen as army’s creation, so lacked legitimate leadership

Actions:
Crushed leveller revolt
Defeated Irish
Defeated Scottish

End:

  • Did not pass radical reform
  • Did not dissolve itself
  • Army + Cromwell dissolve it on 20th April 1653
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29
Q

Establishing the republic in 1649

A
  • No blueprint for establishing the republic
  • Divided decision since those expelled in Pride’s purged were permitted, even encouraged, to return
  • As monarch was gone, monarch had to go, and therefore Lords had to go too
  • -> March 1649 17th/19th Acts abolishing Monarchy and Lords
  • In May, England declared a Commonwealth. Council of State replaces Privy Council and to have 41 elected annually by Rump Only 19 of 41 took Engagement swearing loyalty to Republic
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30
Q

The Engagement act

A
  • 2nd January 1650
  • First proposed by Henry Ireton for members of Council of State, later extended to all MPs
  • Vowed to be extended to all males in England after it emerged Charles II had allied with Scots, not achievable
  • Opposition from Presbyterian ministers who had sworn to follow Solemn League and Covenant. Those refusing to take it ejected in Nov 1650
  • Repealed in Jan 1654 by Oliver Cromwell
  • Gradually introduced but not rigorously enforced
  • Allowed Rump to identify firmest enemies of the Republic
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31
Q

Why was there initially opposition to the Rump from the Army

A
  • Large amounts of back pay
  • Rump began to pay arrears in 1650
  • April/May 1649, mutinies in London and Oxfordshire: Robert Lockyer shot in London, three shot in Burford
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32
Q

Leveller opposition to the Rump Parliament

A
  • Levellers felt betrayed by the Rumps intentions to stay in existence for some time
  • John Liburne returns to London to resume publishing radical content. February 1649, publishes “England’s new chains discovered”
  • Richard Overton later publishes “The hunting of the foxes”
  • -> Both imprisoned in the tower of London
  • —–> May 1649, Third version of the Agreement of the People is issued
  • Lilburne aquitted, others released once they agreed to take Oath of Engagement
  • Army purged of Levellers and leaders now tackled, greatly weakened their cause. Now outflanked by more left-wing groups like the True Levellers, Diggers and religious sects such as the Fifth Monarchists and Quakers, who were too fragmented to compromise the regime
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33
Q

Irish opposition to the Rump Parliament

A
  • Ireland in revolt since 1641
  • Anti-English forces controlled almost the entire country
  • Urgent to quell the Irish threat before Charles II could use it
  • August 1649, Cromwell and Ireton take 20 000 to Ireland
  • Irish Royalists defeated by forces loyal to the Rump at Rathmines on 2nd August, making Cromwell and Ireton’s task easier
  • Cromwell saw 3000 killed at Drogheda inc 1000 civillians 11 Sep
  • 2000 killed at Wexford 11 Oct
  • Cromwell saw his actions at righteous, arguing he acted within the law and bought the war to a quick end
  • Rebellion effectively extinguished by the end of the year
34
Q

Scottish opposition to the Rump Parliament

A
  • Scots were furious England had executed their King
  • Charles II landed in Scotland in June 1650
    and was crowned the following January
  • Charles agreed to establish a Presbyterian church if provided with an army to invade England
  • Cromwell leads force of 15 000 into Scotland and on Sep 2 he crushed the Scots at Dunbar. Outnumbered them 2:1, killing 3000 and losing only 20
    –> Scots try to invade England, and he defeats them at Worcester exactly one year on
  • Charles II flees to continent hiding in an oak tree
  • Rump could finally create union between Scotland and England
35
Q

Domestic Policy by the Rump: Acts passed in the Spring and Summer of 1650

A
  • Act for the Propagation of the Gospel in Wales, Ireland and parts of England
  • Act for Better Observation of the Lord’s Da, Days of Thanksgiving and Humiliation -
  • Act Suppressing the Detestable Sins of Incest, Adultery and Fornication
  • Act against the Detestable Sins of Profane Swearing and Cursing
  • Act against Atheistical, Blasphemous and Execrable Opinions, Derogatory to the Honour and Destructive to Human Society
  • Toleration Act September 1650: Church attendance not compulsory, so long as you attend some service each week
36
Q

Fiscal Policy by the Rump

A
  • War efforts in three Kingdoms, and against the Dutch from 1652, required significant expenditure
  • Dec 1652: Rump raises monthly expenditure from £90 000 to £120 000. Annually equivalent to 24 pre-war Parliamentary subsidies
  • -> Resentment of lack of peacetime dividend (distribution of money)
  • –> Resentment of regime in general
37
Q

Growing opposition to the Rump by the Army in 1650

A
  • Domestic Policy did not satisfy the Army
  • Domestic Policy was not ‘Godly’ reform they craved, but merely to placate more radical sects like the Ranters and Quakers
  • None of the recommendations of the Hale Committee were implicated, despite it meeting three times a week until July 1653
  • Acts passed were falling: from 125 in 1649 to only 51 in 1652
38
Q

Foreign Policy by the Rump

A

Dutch War in 1652: Rump wanted union of United Provinces (protestant) and the Republic, Dutch refuse—> Navigation Act prevents non-English ships from entering ports unless they were carrying goods from their own country (targets Dutch who were multi-national traders) –> Dutch refuse to honour English flag …war continued after Rump’s dissolution with England having the upper hand with two victories at Portland and the Gabbard in 1653

39
Q

Dissolution of the Rump

A
  • 20 April, Cromwell and 30 soldiers scold and dissolve MPs
  • MPs most likely, Historians have inferred, discussing new representative. But Cromwell’s concern at how long it would take and the criteria they would choose for sitting in it so Royalists and Presbyterians would return
  • Cromwell could be Tyrant, or liberator by preventing those who only sought to further their own power. Cromwell offered this argument so may not be reliable(?)

Cromwell acting because of…

1) Dissatisfaction
2) Stagnation in the Rump
3) Army Pressure

40
Q

The Nominated Assembly

A
  • Cromwell declines to install new military dictatorship. Dissolution was “a sword taken out of a mad man’s hand till he recover his senses”
  • Nominated assembly had elements from…
    A) John Lambert, army led council of state before an elected Parliament was chosen
    B) Major-General Harrison, Godly assembly of 70 based on Sanhedrin (Supreme Council of Jerusalem)
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    —> Cromwell creates:
  • Council of State, of ten men
  • Seven military, three civilian (army dominated)
  • Nominated assembly of 140 chosen by army, Godly, included Irish and Scottish assembly
  • Contained relatively few religious radicals
  • 4/5ths Gentry. “A shift of power in the gentry rather than away from the Gentry” (Smith)
41
Q

Cromwell’s ambitions for the Nominated Assembly

A
  • Met 4th July 1653, Cromwell called them the “threshold”
  • Once Godly reforms had been implemented and acceptance of religious toleration achieved, it would dissolve itself and a new Parliament would be elected
42
Q

Domestic Policy by Barebones (Nominated Assembly)

A
  • Civil Marriage ceremonies by JP, not cleric
  • Compulsory registration of births, marriages and deaths
  • relief of impoverished creditors and debtors
  • protection for lunatics and their estates
  • sterner measures against thieves and highwaymen
  • 30+ laws by end of 1653
43
Q

Conflict between the Radicals and Moderates in the Barebones Parliament (Nominated Assembly)

A
  • Radicals wanted to abolish national church and implement only those laws found in scripture
  • 10th Dec 1653: Radicals overturn report in favour of retaining tithes, alarming moderates because of
    (i) self interest (many benefited from tithes)
    (ii) dangers of social upheaval
  • -> 12th Dec 1653: Radicals in prayer meeting, so moderates vote to return Cromwell to power
  • Failure was also failure of Godly reform, a defining moment for Cromwell
44
Q

Barebones: Lilburne and Cromwell (Nominated assembly)

A
  • Lilburne found to be plotting in exile with Royalists to fight Cromwell
  • Moved to Dover against his exile
  • -> Arrested –> Newgate prison –> Tower of London
  • Mild treatment to match public mood
45
Q

Law reform in Barebones (Nominated Assembly)

A
  • Committee modelled on Hale Commission pass two new laws, including Civil Rights
46
Q

The search for stability: Why was there no settlement between 1649 and 1650?

The origins of the Rump and subsequent assemblies

A
  • Rump and subsequent assemblies were created by force by the army, narrow support base from the onset
  • Fathered out of hatred, not love. Republic was the result of conspiracy to murder, not aspirations of a commonwealth. Only 15% were revolutionary (Seel)
  • Hirst sees Engagement as a mistake, calling people to assert their loyalty to the regime rather than just passively comply with it
  • Disruption by the Levellers, and in Scotland and Ireland and, resultantly, England
  • Religious radicals in Barebones
  • Rump stagnation: legislature passed decreased, they sat on the suggestions of the Hale Committee. 152 acts in 1649 > 51 in 1652
  • Dutch War > Higher taxation > Resentment
  • Cromwell: Founded these assemblies and then dissolved them. Remarked in army council meeting in July 1647 that it was a “stain” on us (the army) to have made the Long Parliament compromise by force, yet forcibly dissolved the Rump in April 1652. Invited those from Pride’s Purge back and did not make Godliness a necessary characteristic to sit in the Rump
47
Q

The search for stability: Why was there no settlement between 1649 and 1650?

Poor policy choices

A
  • Hirst sees Engagement as a mistake, calling people to assert their loyalty to the regime rather than just passively comply with it
  • Religious radicals in Barebones, and Cromwell not being more selective about who was allowed to sit in the assemblies (not necessarily Godly, people from Pride’s Purge 1648 allowed to return)
  • Rump stagnation: legislature passed decreased, they sat on the suggestions of the Hale Committee. 152 acts in 1649 > 51 in 1652
48
Q

The search for stability: Why was there no settlement between 1649 and 1650?

External events and the three kingdom problem

A
  • Disruption by the Levellers, and in Scotland and Ireland and, resultantly, England
  • Religious radicals in Barebones
  • Dutch War > Higher taxation > Resentment
49
Q

The search for stability: Why was there no settlement between 1649 and 1650?

Role of Cromwell

A
  • Cromwell: Founded these assemblies and then dissolved them. Remarked in army council meeting in July 1647 that it was a “stain” on us (the army) to have made the Long Parliament compromise by force, yet forcibly dissolved the Rump in April 1652. Invited those from Pride’s Purge back and did not make Godliness a necessary characteristic to sit in the Rump
50
Q

Failure of Barebones, 12th December 1653 (Nominated Assembly)

A
  • Radicals wanted to abolish national church and implement only those laws found in scripture
  • 10th Dec 1653: Radicals overturn report in favour of retaining tithes, alarming moderates because of
    (i) self interest (many benefited from tithes)
    (ii) dangers of social upheaval
  • -> 12th Dec 1653: Radicals in prayer meeting, so moderates vote to return Cromwell to power
  • Failure was also failure of Godly reform, a defining moment for Cromwell
51
Q

The Instrument of Government

A
  • John Lambert worked on a new constitution from October 1653
  • Would make 1654-8 the first, and last, time England would be governed under a written constitution
  • Commonwealth governed by one person (Lord Protectorate) and a parliament
  • Triennial Parliamentary elections
  • Royalists denied franchise in first four elections
  • anyone with Land worth s power, but he could veto non-constitutional legislation
  • Councillors appointed by both Parliament and Protector
  • NON HEREDITARY. Successor elected by Council of State
52
Q

Gentles on Cromwell as a good leader

A

“Oliver had a genuine aversion to tyranny, and yearned to rule in a Parliamentary way. He had not sought supreme office and genuinely believed that it had been thrust upon him by providence and necessity in confusion and disorder” - Gentles (2011)

53
Q

Rule by Protector and Council pre-the first Protectoral Parliament

A
  • drafted 200 ordinances in nine months
  • apportioned seats for Scotland and Ireland
  • raised money for army
  • Cromwell took control of Royal estates
  • Charles Fleetwood made Lord Deputy of Ireland
  • Law reform of Chancery: more efficient, less corrupt
  • Commission of Triers to screen applicants for clergy appointments, and local commissions to investigate clergy
  • Duels, cockfighting and horse races prohibited
  • Religious toleration provided no opposition to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity. Even blind eye to Catholics and Witches
  • No civilian court martialled outside Ireland or put to death for most political offences unless planning to assasinate Protector
54
Q

Cromwell’s importance and power under the new Instrument of Government

A
  • “…seemed like an all powerful executive body, the Council, but in reality it was Cromwell who pulled the strings”
  • ‘the initiator and arbiter of policy’ (quoted)
  • Gentles
55
Q

The First Protectoral Parliament, September 1654- January 1655

A
  • First general elections in 14 years
  • Cromwell alarmed to hear that the new Parliament were considering amendments to the instrument of government, rather than drafting new legislation
  • -> Cromwell reminded them of the opposition to radicalism and power lust in the Rump and Barebones. They could not make themselves perpetual, challenge religious toleration, challenge the militia or challenge rule by a single person and a Parliament
  • Recognition must now be signed accepting this. 80 MPs refuse to sign and are barred from sitting
  • Oppositon from army (separate card)
56
Q

Opposition from the Army to Cromwell as Protector in first Parliament Sep 1654-Jan 1655

A
  • Three Colonels petition likely drafted by Leveller John Wildman, complains that Protector holds too much power, as any successor of Cromwell might use it to destroy Parliament.
  • Demanded Parliament in style of the Agreement of the People
  • Distributed in army
  • All three were arrested but none found guilty (Saunders and okey set free once they resigned their commissions,, Auldred cashiered and imprisoned for stirring up opposition in Irish troops)
57
Q

What caused Oliver Cromwell to dissolve the first Protectoral Parliament in Jan 1655?

A
  • Combination of threats to the instrument of gvt and army opposition
  • Summons MPs to whitehall and dismisses them, saying “weeds and nettles, briers and thorns, have thriven under your shadow”
58
Q

What were the four aspects of the Instrument of Government

A
  • Rule by one person and parliament
  • Militia control
  • Religious toleration
  • Parliament could not make itself permanent
59
Q

The Reign of the Major Generals, what provoked this?

A
  • Royalist conspiracies by the Sealed Knot
  • Penruddock’s Rising in the south of England in 1655
    , named after one of the leaders of the revolt, John Penruddock. The revolt was easily put down by forces loyal to the Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell, and for his part in the rebellion Penruddock was beheaded in May 1655.[1]
  • Threats to the Instrument of Government inside Protectorate gvt and from the Army’s opposition
60
Q

The Reign of the Major Generals,

A
  • Starts July/August 1655?
  • England divided into 12 ‘associations’
  • Major and Deputy Major General in charge of each one
  • ‘select milita’ of 6000 formed to respond to threats over wide area
  • Decimation tax: All Royalists worth >£100 a year charged 10% of income. Those who were greatest threat to the regime should pay for it
  • -> In doing this, opened way to division and abandoned aims of “healing and settlement”
  • All Royalists disarmed, 14 000 suspects and servants compelled to post bonds for good behaviour (money returned to Royalists if they are compliant)
  • Major Generals stood by Cromwell with Godly reformation:
  • tackled poverty, aided by improving harvests
  • in 10 months, ejected 130 minsters
  • Illegitimate birth rate fell to lowest level since records began (0.5%)
61
Q

Examples of Major Generals upholding promise of Godly reformation

A

(i) Sir John Barkstead arrested several hundred prostitutes
(ii) ^He and Cnl. Pride close down Bear Garden in Bankside
(iii) Stopped a shrove Tuesday cock fight in Stepney
(iv) Seized horses exercised on the Sabbath
(v) Issued orders to constables to prevent midsummer gatherings for wrestling ect

62
Q

Cromwell’s work in the reign of the Major Generals for the readmission of the Jews

A
  • Petition from Amsterdam Rabbi, Menasseh Ben Israel, for (i)protection of Jews already in England
    (ii) public synagogue
    (iii) Jewish cemetery
    (iv) right for Jews to trade out of England
  • Despite opposition from Council of State and London Merchants, who feared rivalry to their business, Jews readmitted in 1656
63
Q

How did the reign of the Major Generals end in 1656?

A
  • Major Generals realised their increasing unpopularity and their difficult raising tax revenue
  • -> Urged Cromwell to call new elections
64
Q

The Second Protectoral Parliament, Sep 1656- Feb 1658

A
  • Many hostile figures elected in opposition to the military rule
  • Cromwell forced to bar some of 400 from sitting, suggesting Major Generals had failed on their promise to deliver Cromwell a Godly Parliament
  • Cromwell was unapologetic for the reign of the Major Generals, agreeing that the legality of the Decimation Tax was questionable, but that if we always worked inside the law the nation would suffer for it until someone made the necessary action legal
  • Cromwell rejected move by John Disbrowe to continue the tax. Perhaps he feared if he integrated them too much they might challenge him
  • Civilian MPs by this point convinced that the only way to guarantee order was to make him a King
65
Q

Was the ‘Reformation of Manners’ a failure?

A
  • Cromwell believed so: 20th March 1654, “(widespread)…resistance, hatred and neglect of the Gospel”
  • Lowest rate of illegitimate birth (0.5%) in 1650 since records began. This is very compelling evidence to suggest otherwise
  • “It is Generally believed by historians that the campaign for the Reformation of Manners was a failure…[but] The Cromwellian reformation of manners may have changed more lives than we once thought.”
66
Q

Cromwell’s Foreign Policy: Plan to capture Hispaniola from Spain in Carribean

A
  • Naval war
  • Spain cuts ties with England, costing Protectorate £1000000 a year
  • Failed to capture Hispaniola, captures Jamaica instead
  • Cromwell sees this as a sign of God losing favour with him
  • -> National day of fasting and humiliation
67
Q

The Protectorate in Ireland

A
  • Charles Fleetwood appointed Lord Deputy in 1651
  • Occupying army was radical, conflicting with Old English Protestants there and the Presbyterian Scots in Ulster
  • Henry, Cromwell’s son, sent to investigate the friction between the army and the people.
    –> Conflict with Fleetwood, who returns home
  • Henry Cromwell governs from 1655-1658
  • Henry encourages healing between Old English Catholics, English Protestants and Protectorate
  • Native Irish lost out as common land used to create common bond between those parties and English
    -Anglican Church reinstated to appease old Protestants with committee to investigate ministers
  • Tithes resolved church poverty
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
    Remaining Problems:
  • Parliament passed Oath of Abjuration to make Irish Catholics renounce Pope’s authority there
  • Henry didn’t enforce this
  • Priests expelled, those caught were sent to West Indies
  • With occupation of Catholic land for Protestants, the Irish Catholics turned to Cromwell as the cause of their troubles
68
Q

The Protectorate in Scotland

A
  • Commission led by generals Lambert and Monck to govern Scotland in 1651
  • Monthly assessment of £13500 to pay for English occupation
  • Rebellion in Highlands in 1654 highlighted that English needed standing army there
  • Cromwell sought alternatively to quell rebellion by showing benefits of union with England
    Highland campaign followed by…
    (i) Ordinance of Pardon and Grace: Local chiefs given powers to chief settlement in their own areas
    (ii) Scottish Council gave civilians control, not just English
    (iii) Responsibility for law enforcement moved to magistrates
    (iv) No attempt to undermine the Presbyterian Scottish church
69
Q

Monarchical features of the Protectorate?

A
  • “What was in effect an elective monarchy…traditional kingship in all but name - Scott
  • purple clothes, not black - royal colour
  • carried golden sceptre
  • Protectorate became hereditary
  • Council of State like the Privy Council
70
Q

Sindecombe Plot- 08/01/1657

A
  • Edward Sexby, former army radical, hires Miles Sindecombe (a minor officer) as his hitman. They gain asccess to Whitehall chapel opposite Cromwell’s lodgings. Intended to set palace alight with incendiary devise but one conspirator told autorities of his guilt. Device disarmed
71
Q

How did the Sidecombe Plot 08/01/1657 spark a campaign for Cromwell to become a king?

A
  • Highlighted the dependence of the three Kingdoms on the life of one man for peace
  • Precipitated public campaign to make Cromwell accept the Crown. Masterminded by civilian courtiers inc Marchamont Nedham, the Protectorate’s chief publicist. Created fabricated stories of immanent Royalist invasion to distract army who would be the strongest opponents to the scheme
72
Q

Humble Petition and Advise, 23/02/1657

A
  • Sought to turn the Protectorate in to a Parliamentary monarchy
  • Revived right to veto Parliament’s legislation, control army, raise tax, declare and end wars, appoint judges and appoint officers of state - Prerogative
  • Expected to govern in partnership with two chamber Parliament, elected triennially
  • Parliament, not king, was supreme
73
Q

Why was Cromwell reluctant to accept the Humble Petition and Advise?

A
  • Proposed system would ‘clip his wings’
  • army and the Godly were starkly opposed to a move that defied providence: God has given a verdict through Charles I’s defeat and execution
  • Oliver could not find it in his duty ‘to God or to you [his people]’ - 03/04/1657
  • 8th May, declines Kingship for the last time
74
Q

Cromwell’s ‘investiture’ as Lord Protectorate

A
  • NOT a coronation
  • celebrated “not a divine ritual, but a newly recognised Commonwealth State”
  • Coronation is associated with Kingship
  • More ceremonial
75
Q

The ‘Other House’

A
  • Not ‘Lords’ as it would be under Monarchy
  • Second house
  • Appointed 63 members, but alarmingly 1/3 declined and only 2/7 of nobles accepted
  • Appointed strongest supporters from lower house, which drained power from there
76
Q

Republican opposition to Cromwell for not accepting the crown

A
  • John Lambert fired July 1657 for opposing new constitution
  • New constitution deprived council of power to exclude MPs, so troublesome republicans flocked in and attacked the Humble Petition and Advice. Republican Obstructionism - Gentles
77
Q

Dissolution of the Second Protectoral Parliament

A
  • Feb 4th 1658, spontaneous desire to dissolve house
  • Parliament seen to not be taking steps towards averting disaster in England
  • 4th time in less than 4 years Cromwell had dissolved a “maddeningly recalcitrant” Parliament (Gentles)
78
Q

Key quote from Gentles on the relationship between Cromwell and Parliament (Clue: seaside)

A

“Thanks to Oliver’s determination to impose his own vision upon an obdurate people, the ship of state once again sailed and found itself lurching onto the shoals of non-Parliamentary government”

79
Q

Why did Parliament offer Cromwell the crown in 1657?

A
  • Case of James Naylor highlighted that the Commons was unchecked without the House of Lords which came attached to a monarchy
  • Cromwell needed to find an alternative to military rule due to the unpopularity of the army and Major Generals
    23 Feb 1657, MP calls for reform to the Instrument of Government, saying after arbitrary proceedings “unacceptable to the nation” it was time to build the government on solid foundations
    –> 25th March, Parliament votes to offer Cromwell the kingship by 2:1 majority
  • Cromwell getting old and feeble, even some assassination attempts (Sindecombe plot), and rule not hereditary (CONFIRM?) therefore lack of assurance about what would happen when he died, and stability was sorely needed
80
Q

The case of James Nayler 1656

A
  • 1656: James Nayler reenacts Christ’s entry to Jerusalem by entering Bristol on a donkey.
  • Quaker under George Fox, who believed Christ to be present in every person, rejected need for ordained ministers and civil authorities. Disruptive and formidable,, dangerous sect
  • In absence of Lords, Commons decided to make an example of him.
  • Blasphemous, severe crime –>
    Whipped through Westminster, put in pillory, hole bored through tounge, branded B (Blasphemer), whipped again,and paraded backwards on horse, life imprisonment
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
  • Highlighted to Cromwell the dangers of a Government without the House of Lords
81
Q

Burford Mutiny, May 1649

A

Provocations:

  • Refusal to settle arrears
  • New Irish expidition
  • No new elections for Rump
  • ——->
  • Cnl. Scrope marching to Sailsbury on way to travel to Ireland
  • Officers, inspired by Levellers, mutiny
  • Attempt to pacify them by Burford fails

DEMANDS:

  • Restoration of Army Council of 1647
  • Grievances met before they travel to Ireland
  • ——>
  • Other regiments issued similar demands
  • Troops led by William Thompson in support of John Lilburne/Agreement of the People in Banbury
  • —–>
  • Cromwell moves in, surrounds them in Burford, Oxfordshire
  • Ringleaders shot in Burford churchyard, Fairfax pardons the rest

History: England 1625-1660 (7 decks)

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