The Later Protectorate 1656-8:
Cromwell summoned a new P a year earlier than the Instrument required because he needed to raise
money.
Greater efforts were made to shape the composition of the House than the previous time. The new P
met in September 1656 and 100 members were declared ineligible and prevented from taking their
seats (this made the first months of session relatively quiet).
The rest of the P was ready for business and were willing to provide money for the Spanish war.
However, friction soon developed between Protector/P:
o EG 1; the House’s prosecution of James Nayler for blasphemy. Cromwell thought that P had
exceeded its powers and their punishment was too harsh.
o EG 2; John Desborough (main spokesman for Major-Generals) introduced a bill to renew the
decimation tax for the maintenance of the militia in the counties. Upkeep of Major-Generals
depended on this tax and to vote against the bill was to vote against the regime. P voted
against.
The defeat of Desborough’s militia bill caused the end of the Major-Generals as a system of gov. Cromwell was
angry by the fact that:
MG system was more lapsed over time rather
MG advised him to call P in the first place. than abandoned. Cromwell did nothing to
MP’s opposed the bill. save this.
Cromwell was supported by:
Army leaders (eg; MG) who saw him as their rep – the guarantor of national security and strong gov.
Ever since the civil wars, they’d been suspicious of all P’s who they saw as self-seeking rather than
guardians of liberty and the constitution.
New Cromwellians such as General Monck (Cromwell’s commander in Scotland). It was largely
composed of civilian politicians and leading lawyers. They were traditionalists (preferred the virtues
of the old constitution/social order) but they were flexible enough in their beliefs to accept a
Protectorate that would be reshaped to incorporate social/political values that they prized. They
thought that the more Cromwell could distance himself from the military, the closer the Protectorate
would move towards being an acceptable system of gov.
The new Cromwellians formalised their views in the Humble Petition and Advice. This was an alternative for
the Instrument of Gov and was offered to Cromwell in March 1657:
Become king – was meant to limit Cromwell’s authority than extend it. They envisaged a
constitutional monarchy where P would be an equal/permanent partner rather than the previous
absolutist Stuart monarchy.
Be granted adequate finance.
Rule with a restored Privy Council (just like a king would do).
Govern w/regular P’s that would include an upper house (equivalent to Lords which had been
abolished).
Since the offer of a new constitution had come from P, it would have the validity/legality that the Instrument
(creation of Army Council) lacked. Rumours circulated that he’d been seriously considering becoming king
which led to a series of petitions and urges from army officers advising him to reject the offer. In the end,
Cromwell didn’t accept the title of king.
May 1657, he accepted a modified Humble Petition where:
He remained Lord Protector – for some, this was kingship in another name and that he was just in fact
seeking to extend his power.
He could name his successor.
He could appoint the members of the ‘Other’ (upper) House.
Cromwell summoned a new P a year earlier than the Instrument required because he needed to raise
money.
Greater efforts were made to shape the composition of the House than the previous time. The new P
met in September 1656 and 100 members were declared ineligible and prevented from taking their
seats (this made the first months of session relatively quiet).
The rest of the P was ready for business and were willing to provide money for the Spanish war.
However, friction soon developed between Protector/P:
o EG 1; the House’s prosecution of James Nayler for blasphemy. Cromwell thought that P had
exceeded its powers and their punishment was too harsh.
o EG 2; John Desborough (main spokesman for Major-Generals) introduced a bill to renew the
decimation tax for the maintenance of the militia in the counties. Upkeep of Major-Generals
depended on this tax and to vote against the bill was to vote against the regime. P voted
against.
The defeat of Desborough’s militia bill caused the end of the Major-Generals as a system of gov. Cromwell was
angry by the fact that:
MG system was more lapsed over time rather
MG advised him to call P in the first place. than abandoned. Cromwell did nothing to
MP’s opposed the bill. save this.
Cromwell was supported by:
Army leaders (eg; MG) who saw him as their rep – the guarantor of national security and strong gov.
Ever since the civil wars, they’d been suspicious of all P’s who they saw as self-seeking rather than
guardians of liberty and the constitution.
New Cromwellians such as General Monck (Cromwell’s commander in Scotland). It was largely
composed of civilian politicians and leading lawyers. They were traditionalists (preferred the virtues
of the old constitution/social order) but they were flexible enough in their beliefs to accept a
Protectorate that would be reshaped to incorporate social/political values that they prized. They
thought that the more Cromwell could distance himself from the military, the closer the Protectorate
would move towards being an acceptable system of gov.
The new Cromwellians formalised their views in the Humble Petition and Advice. This was an alternative for
the Instrument of Gov and was offered to Cromwell in March 1657:
Become king – was meant to limit Cromwell’s authority than extend it. They envisaged a
constitutional monarchy where P would be an equal/permanent partner rather than the previous
absolutist Stuart monarchy.
Be granted adequate finance.
Rule with a restored Privy Council (just like a king would do).
Govern w/regular P’s that would include an upper house (equivalent to Lords which had been
abolished).
Since the offer of a new constitution had come from P, it would have the validity/legality that the Instrument
(creation of Army Council) lacked. Rumours circulated that he’d been seriously considering becoming king
which led to a series of petitions and urges from army officers advising him to reject the offer. In the end,
Cromwell didn’t accept the title of king.
May 1657, he accepted a modified Humble Petition where:
He remained Lord Protector – for some, this was kingship in another name and that he was just in fact
seeking to extend his power.
He could name his successor.
He could appoint the members of the ‘Other’ (upper) House.
