Chapter 15: The Rump; millenarianism and Nominated Assembly

• The Dutch War (1652-54)


  A source of division between the army and the Rump. 
• Why was the army against the Dutch War?

  • saw the Dutch Republic as a natural ally.
  • was a safe haven for English Protestants during the prosecution period under Laudian imposition
  • disliked fighting another Protestant nation.
• What was the Navigation Act of 1651?


  specified that only English ships should bring fish into England; caused the Dutch to lose their economic advantage. 
• May 1652: a full naval engagement sparked the war between England and the Dutch. 
• What were the consequences of the Dutch War?

  • Created practical problems
  • Stoked army resentment over money being spent on the navy instead of the army, as well as the Rump’s use of the navy as a political counterweight to the army
• Why did the army grow frustrated with the Rump?

  Their lack of reform raised frustrations.
• What amount of the Rump could be classes as revolutionaries?

  15%
• Reasons for the Rump's conservatism

  • The conservatism of individual MPs: majority were lawyers and merchants who were resistant to reform
  • Economic factors: worst economic crisis of the 17th century —> needed conservative approach.
  • Security situation: threats from Ireland and Scotland + animosity of European states meant establishing regime was prioritised
  • Fear of religious radical groups = fearful of religious reform
  • The Dutch War: became the focus of attention and resources
• What were the problems that caused the failure of the Rump?

  1. Political Nation’s conservative demands were set against a radical minority
  2. Relationship between Parliament and the New Model Army was fragile - technically Parliament in power, but had to rely on protection of army.
• • Hale Commission (1652): established to consider reform of the law.
• Why did the army view the Rump as too conservative?

  They appealed to the Political Nation

  • i.e. Blasphemy Act (August 1650): passed in order to prevent the threat of radical religious groups (Quakers and Ranters). 
• Reforms the Rump passed

  • September 1650: brought an end to compulsory attendance of the national Church
  • 1650: all legal proceedings in English instead of Latin
• What was the army's main issue with the Rump?

  The failure to introduce constitutional reform
• Why was Cromwell concerned with the Rump?

  He was concerned with the Rump’s lack of progress as he valued army unity over parliamentary authority. 
• • Winter 1652-53: Cromwell acted as the moderator between the army and the Rump.
  • November 1653: Cromwell secured a later date for Parliament to dissolve itself.
• • April 1653: Cromwell discovered the Rump intended to set up its own committee to judge those who would be elected.
  • saw this would, in effect, maintain the Rump’s power and prevent reform.
• When did Cromwell (forcibly) dissolve the Rump?

  April 1653, with Thomas Harrison
• What were Cromwell's reasons for dissolving the Rump?

  • cutting of army budget
  • parliamentary control of army commands
  • preventing the ungodly returning to political power
  • his vision of a godly nation and political settlement
  • fear over the Rump’s bill for a new representative
• Who did Cromwell turn to after dissolving the Rump?

  those he believed he could trust; the ‘godly’ (Fifth Monarchists). 
• What was the aim of the Fifth Monarchists?

  • wanted a regime run exclusively by the ‘saints’ based on their interpretation of the biblical books of Daniel and Revelation.
  • Believed the kingdom of saints was close; a belief that derived from millenarianism.
• How long did the Assembly last?

  July-Dec 1653
• Why was the Assembly called the Nominated Assembly?

  Members were nominated rather than elected and Cromwell referred to it as an ‘assembly’ rather than a ‘parliament’.
• Why was the Assembly called Little Parliament?

  Only 144 members (compared to 507 in the 1640 parliament). 
• Why was the Assembly called Barebone's Parliament?

  A term of abuse derived from the name of one of its members, Praise-God Barbon. 
• Why was the Assembly called the Parliament of Saints?

  A positive term from those who saw the members as godly. 
• What were the positives of the Nominated Assembly?

  • looked 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
  • none of these measures were too radical to frighten moderates.
• What reforms did religious radicals want passed?

  • The controversial votes to abolish Chancery and lay patronage of Church livings - passed
  • Abolishment of tithes - not passed
• July-Oct 1653: many JPs who had supported the Rump were removed, leaving fewer gentry in positions of local power than ever before
• What was the consequence of the actions of the religious radicals in the Nominated Assembly?

  Alienated the moderates in and outside the Assembly, including Cromwell
• What did Cromwell tell his 1657 parliament?

  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, the destruction of the ministers of this nation: in a word, the confusion of all things.”
• Why did the actions of the religious radicals alienate the moderates?

  Their suggestion to cut army pay, including not paying senior officers for a year, was provocative to a group that the Assembly was dependent on.
• 12th Dec 1653: moderates from the Assembly met and outvoted the radicals to hand power back to Cromwell. 
• Who was the key figure behind the 12th Dec 1653 coup?

  Lambert, the leading army officer after Cromwell. 
• The officers of the NMA in Scotland had told Lambert about their desires to remove the Assembly, not Cromwell. 
• Who played the most prominent role in the installation of Cromwell as protector?

  Lambert
• Lambert was regarded as ‘Cromwell’s Understudy’