Restoration
1658 | February 11 Dismissed 6 officers in the military for publicly criticising him
June 4 Victory at the Battle of the Dunes by Cromwell
September 3rd Richard Cromwell proclaimed Lord Protector
Richard Cromwell Served in parliamentarian army in Civil War Sat as an MP in both parliaments in the protectorate, no official office until 1657 when he became a member of the Council of State and of the new House of Lords
Advantages Generally welcomed by the gentry and merchant classes Received 196 addresses of welcome and loyalty from gentry, counters, town corporations Was acceptable to the traditional political nation because he was not associated with the regicide Has a pleasant manner, and a wide group of gentry friends including royalists
Challenges Limited experience in govement Tries to do his duty but have little desire for power Unable to survive Grandees: Fleetwoid, Desborough, or control junior officers Fail to control propaganda of old republican MPs Lack the links Cromwell had to both republican groups and army groups
Attitudes of senior officers Fhe senior officers stationed in London were determined to extend their political influence through Richard Monck: Cromwellians loyalist who command army in Scotland Monck gave Richard advise to cut down the size of the army immediately by putting 2 regiments in 1 Monck advises Richard to do a quick purge to remove officers disloyal to the Profectorate, and would reduce the crippling public debt è Richard did not have the courage to take his advice
Legacy of Cromwell Political challenges Regime is in deep financial crisis, so more and more dependent on loans form the City of London Gov continued to function effectively, even when there were no major new initiatives
Military challenges Cromwell’s relationship with the army never fully recovered after the Humble Petition
July 1657 Kambert forced to resign for refusing to take an oath of loyalist to Cromwell under the new constitution
October Richard appijnfed Fleetwood as General of the Army, but retained his on authority as Commander-in-Chief
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1659 | January 27 First meeting of Richard’ 3rd Protectorate Parliament 3rd Protectorate Parliament Freely elected At least 1/3 were Presbyterian and royalists Wants to bring NMA under their control: cut their size, wages to reduce tax, forbid NMA soldiers to meet in large groups Backed by Richard over military Accepted Richard’s authority Contact with Junior officers to discuss reduction of army and establishment of local militia Council made an unexplained decision to go back to the old pre-Instrument of goevemrn system of voting for elections to Richard’s Parliament
Course The Commonwealth’s men—led by Heseleige and Vane attacked the whole constitutional legality of the Protectorate Conservatives were determined to control the army Heselrige argue that if the Protectorate is abolished and the present parliament removed, the rump could be restored, stirring up junior officers
Senior officers began to fear a slips in the army between themselves as some junior officers see the senior officers as well paid comfortable men who had abandoned their principles, whereas the more radical juniors were short of pay and republican minded To avoid this split Fleetwood and Lambert decide to throw Richard out of office and dissolve the parliament that seemed to threaten their position
Possibility of return of rump Means that the rump will be prepared to listen to demands for reform which the more radical junior officers still hoped for
March NMA started meeting in secret, planning to bring back the Rump (with Presbyterians who agreed to come back in it)
April Conservatives were also planning a motion that would out control of the army completely in the hands of Eichard, Lords and Commons è Senior officers’ promotions and actions would therefore be completely controlled by civilians 2 Meetings of the General Council of Officers begin (army), after the Junior officers are permitted to establish it
6 Position of the officers to the Protector for payment for the payment of the army’s wage decreases Army council present petition to Richard to dissolve the parliament
18 Parliament, supported by Richard forbids meetings of army officers
21 Parliament’s discussions of measures to control the army prompts rendezvous of soldiers in and around London
22 Parliament forced to dissolve as Fleetwood advises Richard that he won’t have army loyalty if he doesn’t dissolve it
23 Meetings of the General Council of Officers decide to recall the Rump Richard retires into private life
May 7 Richard agrees to retire on receipent of a pension and payment of his debts Richard endured exile and poverty after 1660 50 members of the old Rump took their seats at Westminster
12 Rump appoints Fleetwood as commander in charge of the army and decrees that the Mos should confirm the appointments of all army officers
July 31 Booth’s Rising In Cheshire Started by Booth to call for a free Parliament Attempt to resort Charles 2
Sir Booth A Presbyterian who fought for the parliament in the first civil war
August 16 Booth’s army crushed by Lambert’s army at Northwich Lambert marched north and defeated Booth easily at Winnington Bridge Failure of Booth’s rising Despite unpopularity of rump the public have Booth little support: local militia fought with Lambert The nation doesn’t want another civil war to restore Charles 2 Many royalists refused to support Booth because he was Presbyterian rather than Anglican, and because of his former parliamentarian military career è Division in forces opposing the reupublic Effects of Booth’s rebellion Strengthen position of army against the rump as the army could claim that without them the rump would have been overthrown therefore the army is needed
Fleetwood and Lambert used this opportunity to call for extra regiments from Ireland, which were commanded by army politicians ike Colonel Stanley who is Fleetwood’s ally
September 22/23 Derby Petition Petition to Parliament form Labert’s junior officers (drafted by Derby) The petition urges godly reform, condemned by the Parliament Encouraged by Fleetwood
October Failure of the Rump Public debt Unpopularity Lurking threat of army politician è Same as all previous governments è Heselrige and his colleagues were incapable in dealing with their problems as they represent a very small group of gentry republicans that they can’t get support from the rest of the political nation è They did nothing to deal with problems of public finances è Once back in power, Heselrige dropped his friendship with the radical junior officers, and have no intention of bringing in the reforms they hoped for è Heselrige also treated senior officers with contempt and didn’t give the improrssion he would consider their demands for control over promotions and didn’t understand the power of the army
5 Petition to Parliament from army officers in protest for the condemnation
12 Expulsion from the army by Parliament of Lambert, Desborough, other officers supporting the protest The army is placed under a commission that included civilian republicans
13 The army forcibly ends meeting of the Rump and establishes a Committee of Safety Committee of Safety Monck declares support for the Rump
Monck Professional soldier who served in the civil wars Fought for the king in the early 1st civil war, but then served the parliament in Ireland until Cromwell arrived in 1649 By 1951 he was the commander in chief of the army in Scotland p Has royalist connections Deliberately prevent preconditions from being imposed on Charles 2 to ensure a smooth transition Unlike Fleetwood and Lambert, he had a secure power base because his army, paid by Scottish taxes and completely loyal to him would follow his orgders
26 Committee of Safety starts their meetings
November Realising that England was on the verge of anarchy, Monck wrote to Fleetwood and Lambert urging them to restore civilian authority Fleetwood wrote back to Monck to try to justify the coup of October, to which Monck responds that unless civilian government—that is the rump was restored, he would march south
Lambert failed in an attempt to raise forces to move north to face the threats of Monck
Why drift to restoration è Public debt over 2m pounds è Public refused to accept the Committee of Safety as having any legal basis—it had no support in the country è Public went on tax strike to refuse to pay taxes to an illegal regime è Army demoralised as it was unpaid, living at free quarters è Soldiers and junior officers increasingly resentful of senior fivers and the louvalitu of the army to Fleetwood and Lambert began to erode rapidly è Leveller pamphlets began to circulate again è Radical religious groups seen as a threat—especially the Quakers which the Protetcorate protected è Propertied class terrified of complete breakdown in law and orcder
Apprentice riots in the city resulted in deaths when Cokondl Henson ordered his troops to open fire, while garrisons at Portsmouth and Hull together with the fleet refused to obey its orders
December Anti-army riots start in London Monck moved his army to the border with England the Navy declared for the Rump Breakdown of NMA Disillusion among Lambert’s troops as Monck manages to distribute skilful propaganda among Lambert’s troops while preventing any of Lambert’s propaganda reaching his
Mid month The army in NMA which is unpaid is dissolved
26 Fleetwood recalled the Rump, as the Portsmouth garrison declared for the rump so they had no choice but to do it
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1660 | January 1 Monck’s army marched into England to support the restored rump and end the threat of army politicians, his journey was full of demonstrations and petitions in favour of free elections è By now the public had no time for the discredited rump either è Public opinion was united in a way almost never before in getting rid of the Rump and rerun to the old ways è The rumours learnt not nigh and refuse to set a date for new elections and imprisoned those who sent them petitions
February 3 Monck arrived in London in a wave of popularity
6 Monck told rump in a speech that he had received all those petitions for a free Parliament, hinting for the rump to dissolve itself and allow new elections
Rump had no intention of exposing themselves to public opinion in this way, so Monck’s speech was unpopular with them
Heselrige attempted to destroy Monck’s popularity by ordering him to occupy London to break tax sticks
9-11 Monck ordered to take action against anti-Rump demonstrations in London Monck held discussions with groups opposed to the rump, most importantly he talked to excluded members from the Pride’s Purge
21 Excluded members return to parliament allowed by Monck if they set a date for the dissolution of parliament and new free elections 100 Excluded members escorted to Commons, outnumbering the 50 or so rumpers so easily pass a vote for dissolution and a new election Many Presbyterians welcomed back, Presbyterians wanted Charles to be restored with restrictions In Surrey there were protests against Presbyterians that wanted restoration
March Lambert imprisoned in Tower of London 16 Dissolution of Parliament Supporters of limitations on restoration lost their initiative in the Conevntion because of poor performance on polls, and internal divisions
How popular opinion further swings towards restoration è Prime mover was Monck who skilfully concealed intentions and took public opinion è Royalists slow to see significance of Monck and Monck was careful in not contacting them, gave nothing away in conversations è Royalists agents have no discussions with Monck until Sir Geeenville contacted him in 17 March è Monck planned slowly and carefully, learning form the desperate uprisings
Political settlement of restoration Many Presbyterians and old puritans wanted a conditional restoration with statuary limitations placed in the powers of the crown
Presbyterians: Earl of Manchester, Bedford, Anglesey, Commoners: Sir Gerard, Sir Grimston
More rigid Presbyterians aka Presbyterian Knot wanted to revive the terms of the Isle of Wight Treaty 1648 which Charles partially agreed to, and argued parliament should have control over the militia and right of appointment to all major offices of state
Others would have accepted milder measures such as a statue are confirmation of fundamental constitutional documents like Magna Carta and the Petition of Right
Some Presbyterians were such strong supporters of the king that they were opposed to imposing conditions on restoration, fearing it would delay bringing back Charles 2
There is little support for restoration conditions overall: London opposed to unreasonable terms of Presbyterians, advised the Council of State that the more considerable the king is the more able he would be to protect his people
At the Surrey election the general cry was ‘No Rumpers, No Presbyterians that will out bad conditions o the king’
Constitutional settlement All reforming legislation that were passed in the early months of long parliament were confirmed: ship money remained illegal, prerogative courts of Star Chamber and Hogh Commision were not revived, Crown’s feudal rights not revived such as warships and knighthood fines
1641 Triennial Act remained in place temporarily with wide consensus over the need of it especially supported by Hyde
Militia Acts of 1661 and 62 restored sole control of militia to the Crown in rejection of the Parliament’s militia ordinance of March 1642
No challenge to King’s right to choose his own ministers unlike what was made in Nineteen Propositions June 1642
Act excluding bishops from House of Lords which was passed with the Kings assent in Feb 1642 was undone
King is free to: è Determine both foreign and domestic policy è To appoint all officers of state, although obliged to consult with parliament, he has the power to veto legislation and of dispensing individuals from the provisions of Parliamentary statutes Financial challenges è Although in compensation for the loss of feudal dues the king was to be given the excise tax, the revenues of the restored monarchy intitiallg fell far short of those needed to meet the expenses of the givemrnt è Added burden of old debts, new foreign policy commitments lead to the crown becoming heavily dependent upon Parliament for extra grants of money during 1660s and 1670s, and situation improved a lot in 1680s
April 4 Declaration of Breda Supplied by intelligence from Clarendon and Monck Addresses everyone’s griveneces and solitons Last act before restoration to make clear Charles 2 have no intention of ruling as an absolutist and that there would be no bloodbath of former parliamentarians who fought his father è Without the restoration would be suicide Promise to keep Monck’s army together and pay them in support for restoration Shows Charles2’s tolerance, and to be unlike his father Convince the people he understands what the people have been through Keen to reassure parliament that they would be a partner Contents of Breda è Desire to heal wounds of nation è All subjected enjoy what by law is theirs by full and entire administration of justice throughout the land è Extend mercy where it is wanted and deserved è Ancient and fundamental rights to be passed under Great Seal of England to everyone è Deiscord, separation of different parties to be abolished è Free Parliament to advise the king è Liberty in religious differences which don’t disturb the peace of the kingdom è Grants and purchases of estates to b made to many officers, soldier and others, and to be determined by the Parliament è Army and officers put under command of General Monck, and with good pay and condition
Charles 2’s strengths in restoration è Very private person, high self control so rarely lost his temper è He had sympathy for Catholicism: worldly man who found the Catholic doctrine of grace attractive è Wished to extend tolerance as widely as possible for political and self interest reasons è Happy to tolerate a range of religious opinions provided that they didn’t challenge his authority è Never impose personal beliefs on his subjects è Sought a comprehensive church è Flexible and pragmatic, regarded stability as a higher priority than the pursuit of rigid ideologies—consensus over conviction è Ready to govern with parliament
25 New parliament assembled known as the Convention Parliament because it’s not called by a king Convention parliament Decide the conditions to restore Charles 2 in Some Presbyterians wanted to ensure Charles accepted Presbyterianism but they failed to force this through Elections of the convention parliament Those who voted made republicans fare extremely badly, whilst those who were known to be sympathetic to the restoration of the monarchy were successful In City of London, the 4 most clearly royalist candidates were chosen without dispute Despite the Rump’s ordinance disqualifying those who fought in Charles 1’ sides from election unless they had manifest good affection with the Rump, 52 of such men returned
Some 158 of the Convention came from royalist families and 150 from Parliamentarian families
Presbyterians, independents and fanatics found it difficult to win or hold onto seats showing a shift of public opinion to royalist views May 1 Declaration of Breda presented to Parliament
5 Parliament voted government to be by king, Lords, and Commons
8 Charles 2 proclaimed king
25 Charles 2 landed at Dover to scene of great rejoicing
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1661 | Election of Cavelier Parliament Just under ½ of returned members were cavaliers (fought for king in first civil war), or their sons , or those in 1650s conspiracies
Vast majority who returned were those with clear royalist or episcopalian sympathies |