Chapter 15 - Political divisions and experiments: republicanism and the Rump; millenarianism and the Nominated Assembly

When was the First Dutch War?

1652-1654

What were the causes of the 1652 Dutch War?

• The Dutch losing their economic advantages when the Rump’s Navigation Act of 1651 was passed

• Escalating clashes at sea

What problems did the Dutch War create?

• Practical problems

• Stoked the army’s resentment over money being spent on the navy instead of the army

• Stoked resentment over the Rump’s use of the navy as a political counterweight to the army

• Army disliked fighting against another Protestant republic

Why did the army grow frustrated with the Rump?

Due to the Rump’s limited reform

How much of the Rump could be classed as revolutionaries?

15% - many of the MPs were relatively conservative and had not wanted to see the end of the monarchy —> sought to limit revolution

What were the reasons for the Rump’s conservatism?

• The conservatism of individual MPs: 22/41 MPs refused to swear an oath approving regicide and the abolition of the Lords and the monarchy. Further conservatism grew due to the decision to invite back MPs who had been expelled during Pride’s Purge + the fact that MPs were part of the social order and therefore resistant to change

• Economic factors: The Rump came to power at the time of the worst economic crisis of the seventeenth century, which necessitated a more conservative approach. There were not enough funds to initiate extensive reform.

• Security situation: The threat from Ireland and Scotland, as well as the animosity of other European states, meant that establishing the regime was more of a priority than reform.

• Fear of radical religious groups made the MPs fearful of religious reform

• The Dutch War: The Rump’s war against the Dutch became the focus of their attention and resourc

What were the problems that contributed to the failure of the Rump?

• The Political Nation’s conservative demands for a return to normality were set against a radical minority, especially in the army and the sects who wanted to see further social, legal, and economic reforms to follow what they saw as the limited political revolution of 1649.

• The relationship between Parliament and the New Model Army was fragile. While, theoretically, the authority in the land was Parliament, it was obvious that Parliament could function only under the protection of the army, which held real power.

What were the contradictory views of the Rump?

• the traditional Political Nation saw it as too radical

• the New Model army saw it as too moderate

What was the Hale Commission and was it successful?

The Hale Commission was established in 1652 to consider reform of the law. Nothing that was suggested by the Commission was put into action —> unsuccessful

When was the Presbyterian system set up?

1644-1648

What motion received little support?

The move to abolish tithes

What else made the army see the Rump as religiously conservative?

1650 measures against religious non-conformity; in particular, the Blasphemy Act of August 1650.

What religious reform did the Rump make in September 1650?

an end to compulsory attendance of national Church

What other reform was decided in 1650?

all legal proceedings would be in English rather than Latin

What else did the Rump introduce?

They established acts for ‘propagation’ (advancement) of the gospel in Wales, Ireland, and the North.

• key measures for Millenarian leaders (i.e. Thomas Harrison) who wanted what they viewed as less godly areas to be converted to their own views

What was the main issue with the Rump for the army?

The failure to introduce constitutional reform

What did Cromwell value over parliamentary authority?

Cromwell valued army unity over parliamentary authority.

What happened winter of 1652-53?

Cromwell acted as the moderator between the army and Parliament and securing a date for Parliament to dissolve itself in November 1653.

What happened April 1653?

• Cromwell discovered the Rump intended to set up its own committee to judge those who would be elected.

• He felt this would maintain the Rump’s power and prevent reform

• Therefore, he and Major-General Thomas Harrison forcibly dissolved the Rump

What were the 5 reasons for Cromwell removing the Rump?

• Cromwell’s own vision of a godly nation and political settlement

• Fear over what the Rump’s bill for a new representative included

• The Rump’s cutting of the army budget

• Parliamentary control of army commands

• Preventing the ungodly returning to political power

What did Cromwell seek after dissolving the Rump?

He sought another parliament as means of settlement due to his position as a political conservative and the fact he was not interested in becoming a military dictator

Who did Cromwell choose to turn to and what was the result?

• Cromwell felt he had to turn to those he trusted: the godly

• Fifth Monarchist Harrison seemed to have tried convincing Cromwell that this was the way forward

• However, ultimately, instead army officers selected 139 MPs nominated by separatist congregations across the country to form the next Parliament, the Nominated Assembly

What did the Fifth Monarchists want?

• A regime run exclusively by the ‘saints’ based on their interpretation of the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation.

• These books suggested to them that the thousand-year kingdom of saints was close - this belief derived from millenarianism

What did the Fifth Monarchists want?

Believed that they could hasten Christ’s kingdom on earth

Who supported the Fifth Monarchists?

• The army

• The context of the civil war and political revolution merely strengthened the belief that these were truly the end of days

What happened April 1648?

• The army prepared to face a second civil war and a Scottish invasion that Charles I had brought through his Engagement with the Scots.

• The army met in prayer at Windsor Castle where they, led by Fifth Monarchist Thomas Harrison, declared Charles I ‘that man of blood’.

Under what terms did the selected MPs form the Nominated Assembly in July 1653?

• to ‘divers persons fearing God and of approved integrity and honesty are, by myself, with the advice of my Council of Officers, nominated; to whom the great charge and trust of so weighty affairs is to be committed.’

• Cromwell’s hope that this was a moment for ‘the godly’ to be truly represented in an assembly further indicates his own millenarianism

When did the next Parliament/Assembly last from?

July-December 1653

What were the names that the July/December 1653 Parliament went by and what were the reasons for the names?

• Nominated Assembly: Members were nominated rather than elected. Cromwell referred to the body as an ‘assembly’ rather than a ‘parliament’.

• Little Parliament: There were only 144 members (139 select and joined by five others in July 1653). In the 1640 parliament there had been 507 MPs.

• Barebone’s Parliament: A term of abuse derived from the name of one of its members, Praise-God Barbon.

• The Parliament of Saints: A positive term from those who saw the members as godly.

What reform proposals did the Nominated Assembly look at?

• reform of the law on debt

• more humane treatment of the insane

• civil registration of births, deaths, and marriages

• tougher measures against thieves and highwaymen

How much of the Assembly was made up of Fifth Monarchists?

Roughly only 12 definite Fifth Monarchists

What did the Fifth Monarchists achieve?

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

• They were also able to signal their desire to get rid of tithes, which was not realised.

What happened July-October 1653?

Many JPs who had supported the Rump were removed, leaving fewer gentry in positions of local power than ever before.

What were the consequences of the actions of the Fifth Monarchists?

• Their measures alienated the moderates in and outside the Assembly, including Cromwell

Who did and didn’t support the Assembly?

• The army supported the Assembly but the suggestion by radicals to cut army pay alienated them

• The moderates had never really supported the Assembly and its failures confirmed to them the need for a different form of settlement.

What happened 12th December 1653?

Moderates from the Assembly met very early and outvoted the radicals to hand power back to Cromwell.

Who was the leader behind the military coup?

Lambert was the leader behind the military coup; he worked in alliance with moderates MPs.

What was the purpose of the coup?

To establish Cromwell as Lord Protector under the terms of the written constitution, the Instrument of Government, which Lambert wrote himself.

What was Lambert regarded as?

‘Cromwell’s Understudy’