CHAPTER 22
The Parliament of Saints
-On April 20th, 1653 Cromwell stormed into parliament with 30 soldiers and forcibly dissolved the
Rump.
Reasons for the dissolution of the Rump
-The Rump proved to be a much more conservative political force that many of its early opponents
might have suspected, but it had its strengths…
The Navigation Act of 1651 had boosted national morale, even though it started the Anglo-Dutch
war it had removed a major Dutch monopoly and was popular as it brought England back onto the
continental stage as a major player and the English did well in the Anglo-Dutch war and would’ve
won it had Cromwell not ended it.
They managed to carefully handle local circumstances and prevent opposition from localities and
Royalist were typically treated gently with minimal purging from the county officials.
The Rump managed to maintain stability and order even in the face of economic distress, religious
radicalism, the threat of invasion from Ireland and actual invasion from Scotland.
The Rump managed to raise enough money to finance the army, mainly by selling church, crown,
and Royalist lands
-However, it also had some major weaknesses…
Taxes were incredibly high, even during tough economic times,
The attendance at the Rump was always low with only about 70 active MPs out of 210 and an
average attendance of 50-60.
The passage of new legislation dropped steadily as the Rump became more selfish and focused on
perpetuating their own power.
They never did call the elections they were meant to.
-The New Model Army also had grievances with the Rump for its failure to provide adequate
pensions for war widows: its apparent lack of respect for Cromwell and its effort to disband New
Model regiments.
The Nominated Assembly
-Cromwell had major power at this period and he formulated a plan with Fifth Monarchist Thomas
Harrison to gather the army council and selected 140 men from England, Scotland, Wales, and
Ireland, he summoned them to Westminster and the assembly met for the first time July 4th, 1653.
-The nominated assembly was never a parliament, but it quickly got the derogatory nickname
‘Barebones parliament’ after one of its members Praise-God Barebone who was a Fifth Monarchist.
This nickname supported the lazy stereotype that the assembly was an assortment of religious
zealots and lower-class men.
-The Godly preferred to call it the Parliament of Saints.
Who was in the nominated Assembly?
-The army council sought advice usually from separatist congregations on suitable “godly men” to
nominate. Figures like Clarendon however, rather believed “the major part of them inferior person,
known only for their gifts in praying and preaching”.
-However, although some were religious radicals the majority came from the normal backgrounds
of typical MPs with men such as Thomas Fairfax being nominated (he refused).
Nominated Assembly legislation
-In five short months the, Nominated Assembly managed to push through 26 ordinances, including
some significant legislation…
Measures aimed to promote godly reformation, such as reforming marriage law and reform of
debtors’ law.
The Parliament of Saints
-On April 20th, 1653 Cromwell stormed into parliament with 30 soldiers and forcibly dissolved the
Rump.
Reasons for the dissolution of the Rump
-The Rump proved to be a much more conservative political force that many of its early opponents
might have suspected, but it had its strengths…
The Navigation Act of 1651 had boosted national morale, even though it started the Anglo-Dutch
war it had removed a major Dutch monopoly and was popular as it brought England back onto the
continental stage as a major player and the English did well in the Anglo-Dutch war and would’ve
won it had Cromwell not ended it.
They managed to carefully handle local circumstances and prevent opposition from localities and
Royalist were typically treated gently with minimal purging from the county officials.
The Rump managed to maintain stability and order even in the face of economic distress, religious
radicalism, the threat of invasion from Ireland and actual invasion from Scotland.
The Rump managed to raise enough money to finance the army, mainly by selling church, crown,
and Royalist lands
-However, it also had some major weaknesses…
Taxes were incredibly high, even during tough economic times,
The attendance at the Rump was always low with only about 70 active MPs out of 210 and an
average attendance of 50-60.
The passage of new legislation dropped steadily as the Rump became more selfish and focused on
perpetuating their own power.
They never did call the elections they were meant to.
-The New Model Army also had grievances with the Rump for its failure to provide adequate
pensions for war widows: its apparent lack of respect for Cromwell and its effort to disband New
Model regiments.
The Nominated Assembly
-Cromwell had major power at this period and he formulated a plan with Fifth Monarchist Thomas
Harrison to gather the army council and selected 140 men from England, Scotland, Wales, and
Ireland, he summoned them to Westminster and the assembly met for the first time July 4th, 1653.
-The nominated assembly was never a parliament, but it quickly got the derogatory nickname
‘Barebones parliament’ after one of its members Praise-God Barebone who was a Fifth Monarchist.
This nickname supported the lazy stereotype that the assembly was an assortment of religious
zealots and lower-class men.
-The Godly preferred to call it the Parliament of Saints.
Who was in the nominated Assembly?
-The army council sought advice usually from separatist congregations on suitable “godly men” to
nominate. Figures like Clarendon however, rather believed “the major part of them inferior person,
known only for their gifts in praying and preaching”.
-However, although some were religious radicals the majority came from the normal backgrounds
of typical MPs with men such as Thomas Fairfax being nominated (he refused).
Nominated Assembly legislation
-In five short months the, Nominated Assembly managed to push through 26 ordinances, including
some significant legislation…
Measures aimed to promote godly reformation, such as reforming marriage law and reform of
debtors’ law.
