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What was he like?
Prepared to tolerate Protestants, other religions and some moderate Catholics.
Made him a radical (more of a religious one).
A tolerant man in intolerant times.
Effects of military victory on Cromwell/Army
Victories at Dunbar September 1650, Worcester September 1651 had a radicalising effect.
Military threats to regime pacified.
Dissolved rump April 1653.
Barebones parliament July to December 1653: a mixture of moderate conservatives and religious radicals (irritated by most 5th monarchists).
Shutting down the rump
Dissolved April 1653 = reluctance to pursue ‘Godly reform’.
Rumpers = too conservative.
Failure of Barebones Parliament
Nominated assmebky foundered before appointed term = aggressive minority of 5th monarchists tried to steer towards over-radical reform of the law/millenarian rule of the saints.
12th December 1653 = mod majority walk out, resign power to Cromwell.
Cromwell: p = “a tale of my own weakness and folly”.
First Protectorate Parliament: Aims
Godly reformation (prepare England for the struggle against Satan and the Second Coming of Jesus, Cromwell has sympathies with millenarians), healing & settling, a constitutional settlement to work with parliament.
Instrument of Government
Executive power given to an elected Lord Protector and a Council of State (13-21 members).
Adopted on 15th December 1653, next day Cromwell made Lord Protector for life (not hereditary).
Cromwell required to call triennial Parliaments - a single house = 400 England, 30 Scot and 30 Irish.
