Cromwell's First Protecterate Parliament

• The Instrument Of Government was a written constitution by John Lambert
• The idea of the constitution was to impose healing and settling from the disastrous Civil War. The country had to go through a godly reformation so that it is ready for the coming of christ.
• Elections took place freely in the summer months and the redistribution of seats did result in an increase of independent country gentry members.
• 460 MPs were returned in September 1654
• These MPs included Presbyterians, republicans and some royalist sympathisers. Cromwell hoped they would endorse his ordinances and provide 'good and wholesome laws'.
• Instead, the MPs attacked the Instrument of Government. They challenged Cromwell's disolution of Rump as unlawful, his right as Protector to exercise civil and military authority, the army influence in the council, the cost and size of the NMA and the amount of religious tolerance shown.
• Thus, Cromwell suggested that Parliament change some of the details of the I of G but insisted on the 4 fundamentas.
• The 4 Fundamentals included: Government must be ran by a single person and Parliament, Parliament should not make themselves perpetual, there must be a liberty of conscience in religion and control over the army should be by the Lord Protector and Parliament.
• To contain the opposition Cromwell introduced an oath of loyalty which resulted in the expulsion of 100 MPs.
• This led Parliament to draw up a government bill to replace I of G and after 5 months Cromwell dissolved them without passing a single act in January 1655.
• The Triers and Ejectors Ordinance was the raising of preaching standards as it was going to test the quality of the clergy. If they were not good enough they would be ejected.