THE NOMINATED ASSEMBLY 1653
Because Cromwell dissolved the Rump/Council of State, the Commonwealth was left under direct military rule.
On behalf of the Army Council, Cromwell announced that a new assembly was to be established by
NOMINATION no election. His officers drew a list of reliable people (they had to be ‘fearing God’) in the
localities and Cromwell summoned 140 of them. Cromwell’s Assembly had several names:
P of the Saints
Nominated Assembly
Little P
Barebone’s P – this title came from the attempt by royalists/republicans (someone who believes in
the country being run by the people, not a King) to ridicule the assembly
The assembly represented Cromwell’s attempt to achieve stable rule in England by entrusting gov powers to
the godly.
116 members – ranked as gentry (substantial landowners)
119 members – JPs in their local communities
40 members – attended university
40 members – trained as lawyers
24 members – members of the Rump
67 members – would be elected to later P’s
Just like the Rump, the Assembly wasn’t meant to be permanent. The fixed date for its dissolution was
November 1654. It first gathered in July 1653 and appointed a new Council of State holding 31 members. This
contained a number of officers (including Cromwell) but most were civilians. Cromwell disliked this as he
thought they wouldn’t reach his expectations.
By selecting men of ‘approved integrity’, the Army Council had hoped that the Assembly would be easy to
manage but there was a sizeable minority of members who refused to be overawed by the military. Most of
these were Fifth Monarchists and extreme sectarians. They wanted to sweep away all man-made laws (as a
preparation of Christ’s return) which was a show of rejection to social order and the rights of property. Despite
being a minority, their extremism overshadowed proceedings.
Moderates + conservatives grew bored of the sectarians and concluded that the only way to stop this was to
dissolve the Assembly (lasted 5 months). The moderates met in a secret session excluding the extremists and
voted to end the P. They had developed many proposals such as:
Reform of the law on debt
Humane treatment on the insane
Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages
Protection for travellers on the highways
They had also angered Cromwell by proposing an end to the monthly assessment (paid for the army’s upkeep)
so it’s arguable that he had already lost faith in them. In addition, an alternative constitution (Instrument of
Gov) had already been prepared.
Because Cromwell dissolved the Rump/Council of State, the Commonwealth was left under direct military rule.
On behalf of the Army Council, Cromwell announced that a new assembly was to be established by
NOMINATION no election. His officers drew a list of reliable people (they had to be ‘fearing God’) in the
localities and Cromwell summoned 140 of them. Cromwell’s Assembly had several names:
P of the Saints
Nominated Assembly
Little P
Barebone’s P – this title came from the attempt by royalists/republicans (someone who believes in
the country being run by the people, not a King) to ridicule the assembly
The assembly represented Cromwell’s attempt to achieve stable rule in England by entrusting gov powers to
the godly.
116 members – ranked as gentry (substantial landowners)
119 members – JPs in their local communities
40 members – attended university
40 members – trained as lawyers
24 members – members of the Rump
67 members – would be elected to later P’s
Just like the Rump, the Assembly wasn’t meant to be permanent. The fixed date for its dissolution was
November 1654. It first gathered in July 1653 and appointed a new Council of State holding 31 members. This
contained a number of officers (including Cromwell) but most were civilians. Cromwell disliked this as he
thought they wouldn’t reach his expectations.
By selecting men of ‘approved integrity’, the Army Council had hoped that the Assembly would be easy to
manage but there was a sizeable minority of members who refused to be overawed by the military. Most of
these were Fifth Monarchists and extreme sectarians. They wanted to sweep away all man-made laws (as a
preparation of Christ’s return) which was a show of rejection to social order and the rights of property. Despite
being a minority, their extremism overshadowed proceedings.
Moderates + conservatives grew bored of the sectarians and concluded that the only way to stop this was to
dissolve the Assembly (lasted 5 months). The moderates met in a secret session excluding the extremists and
voted to end the P. They had developed many proposals such as:
Reform of the law on debt
Humane treatment on the insane
Civil registration of births, deaths and marriages
Protection for travellers on the highways
They had also angered Cromwell by proposing an end to the monthly assessment (paid for the army’s upkeep)
so it’s arguable that he had already lost faith in them. In addition, an alternative constitution (Instrument of
Gov) had already been prepared.
