15) Politicial divisions and experiments: republicanism and the Rump; millenarianism and the Nominated Assembly

When did the Rump struggle to maintain authority?

during interregnum

What was a key source of division between the army and the Rump?

the Dutch war

How did the army view the dutch republic?

-they were Protestant+ mainly merchant class- saw them as a natural ally- during Laudian persecution many English religious radicals saw it as a haven

What was the Rump’s Navigation Act, 1651?

-specified only English ships should bring goods to England and its colonies, and only English ships should bring fish to England

What act made the Dutch lose their economic advantages?

-the Rump’s navigation act, 1651

When was the full naval engagement between England and the Dutch that brought them to war?

May 1652

What problems did the Dutch war create?

-practical problems but also incited army resentment over money spent on the navy>army

-also the Rump’s use of the navy as a political counterweight to the army

-army disliked fighting against a protestant republic

What did the army grow increasingly frustrated with the Rump with?

their limited reform

What political views was the Rump made up of?

-republicans dominated

-many conservative+ disagreed with removal of the monarchy

What percent of the Rump were classed as revolutionaries?

15%

Reasons for the Rump’s conservatism?

-individuals- 22/41 MP’s of the council of state refused to swear an oath approving of the regicide and the abolition of Lords- Rump became more conservative after inviting back MP’s from Pride’s purge. MP’s often lawyers and merchants- resistant to reform

-economics- Rump gained power at worst economic crisis of 17th century- necessitated conservative approach. No funds for reform

-security- Irish+ Scottish Threat+ other EU powers- establishing regime more of a priority than reform

-fear of radical religious groups - MP’s scared of reform

-Dutch war: Rump’s war against the Dutch became focus of their attention and resources

Two key problems that caused the Rump’s failure?

1) Political Nation’s conservative demands for return to normality set against radical minority especially in the army who wanted further social, legal, economic reform- limited political revolution 1649

2) Relations between Parliament and the NMA- fragile. Whilst the authority in the land was parliament, it was obvious they could function only under the army’s protection who held real power

What contradictions were at the heart of the Rump?

-seen as too radical by the Political Nation, too moderate by the New Model Army

What made some regard the Rump’s regime as too conservative including the army?

-Rump’s attempt to appeal to the political nation post-revolution

What was the Hale Commission 1652?

-established to consider reform of the law

How much of the Hale commission put into action?

-none

Did the Presbyterian system established between 1644-48 stay in place? Did moves to abolish tithes gain support?

-yes

-moves to abolish tithes gained little support

What measures against religious nonconformity made the Rump even more religiously conservative in 1650?

the Blasphemy Act- prevented what they saw as increasing threat of radical religious ideas/ groups like the Ranters and Quakers

Despite the conservatism what reform did the Rump introduce?

-September 1650- ended compulsory attendance of the national Church

-1650 also decided all legal proceedings would be English, not Latin

-established acts for “propagation”/advancement of the gospel in Wales, Ireland and the North

-key measures for millenarian army leaders e.g Thomas Harrison- wanted less godly areas converted to their own views

What was the army’s main issue with the Rump?

-the Rump’s failure to introduce constitutional reform

Why did disappointment with the Rump grow within the army after their victories?

-army’s victories in Ireland and Scotland made them more convinced this moment needed to be seized to establish Godly rule

-but until the Irish and Scots were crushed the army couldn’t put pressure on the Rump

After Cromwell’s victory at Dunbar 1650, what did Cromwell write to the Rump?

-urged the Rump to reform

-rift between the Rump and the army so wide that Cromwell had to take the army’s side and reform despite conservative views

-then retreated from his policy of moderate opinion

What was Cromwell concerned about the Rump?

their lack of progress- valued army unity over parliamentary authority

In winter 1652-53 what was Cromwell’s role in parliament?

acted as a moderator between the army and the rump

When did Cromwell secure a date for the Rump to dissolve itself?

November 1653

Why did Cromwell forcibly dissolve the Rump in 1653?

-discovered they intended to set up their own committee to judge those elected- Cromwell felt this would maintain the Rump’s power preventing reform.

-with Major General Thomas Harrison- leading millenarian Fifth Monarchist he dissolved them

What were the main reasons Cromwell dissolved the Rump?

-his vision of a godly nation + political settlement

-fear over what the Rump’s bill for a new representative included

-preventing the ungodly returning to power

-parliamentary control of army commands

-rumps cutting army budget

Effect of Rumps dissolution 1653?

-left power in Cromwell’s hands- though wasn’t interested in military dictatorship

What did Cromwell want after the Rump’s dissolve?

-political conservative- sought settlement via another settlement

-question of what this kind of parliament this would be and how MPs would be selected

Who did Cromwell feel he could trust with a new parliament?

-the Godly- Fifth Monarchist Harrison persuaded Cromwell of this

How many MPs were part of the Nominated Assembly?

139

What did the Fifth Monarchists want for the Nominated Assembly?

-regime exclusively run by “saints” based on their interpretation of the Bible- specifically of Daniel and Revelation

-suggested thousand year kingdom of saints was close- derived from millenarianism

-believed action could make Christ’s kingdom come faster

Who did the Fifth Monarchists have the support of?

-the army- civil war and political revolution strengthened belief in end of days

When did the army meet in prayer at Windsor Castle?

-April 1648 as the army prepared to face a second civil war and a Scottish invasion brought by Charles Engagement with the Scots

-leading Fifth Monarchist, Major General Harrison declared Charles “that man of blood”

Who took over the Rumps Welsh commission?

Welsh Fifth Monarchists- Vavasor Powell and Morgan Llwyd- linked to Harrison.

What did Fifth Monarchists think of the Rump and godly rule?

regarded it as preventing godly rule- became a pressure group aimed at removing the Rump and establishing godly rule, with Harrison at the forefront

When was the nominated assembly formed?

July 1653

Other names for the Nominated Assembly?

-Little Parliament

-Barebone’s

-Parliament of Saints

Positive aspects of the nominated assembly?

many reform proposals:

-reformed debt law

-humane treatment of the insane

-civil registration of births, deaths and marriages

-tougher measures against thieves and highwaymen

-none too radical to frighten moderates, though some in the Assembly wanted to go further

How many Fifth Monarchists where there? What was their influence?

-about 12- but very well organised

-able to get through the Assembly controversial votes to abolish Chancery and lay patronage of Church livings

-signaled their desire to remove tithes- not realised

What happened between July- October 1653 in the Rump?

-many JPs who supported the Rump were removed, leaving fewer gentry in positions of local power

What did the beginning of the Rump do to moderates in an outside the Assembly?

-alienated moderates including Cromwell

What did Cromwell tell his parliament of 1657?

if he had allowed the Assembly to continue it would have resulted in the “subversion of your laws and of all the liberties of this nation ; in a word, the confusion of all things”

What suggestion by radicals was provocative to a group that the Assembly was dependent on?

-to cut army pay, including not paying off senior offices for a year

Had the moderated ever supported the Assembly?

-no- failures confirmed to them the need for a different form of settlement

When did moderates from the Assembly meet early and outvote radicals to hand power back to Cromwell?

-12/ December/ 1953

Who was the key figure behind the military coup?

Lambert- leading army officer after Cromwell- working in alliance with moderate MPs

Who also was in support of the removal of the Nominated Assembly, addressing this to Lambert?

-New Model Scotland

What did the coup aim to achieve?

to establish Cromwell as Lord Protector

What written constitution established Cromwell as Lord Protector?

the Instrument of Government written by Lambert- played most prominent role in installation of Cromwell

What was Lambert also called?

“Cromwell’s understudy”

Summary

-after the Rump Cromwell could have taken power himself

-he didn’t- shows his desire and conservative belief for a governed country

-his millenarianism saw him influenced by the more radical millenarian Thomas Harrison who had links wit