Oliver Cromwell

What were the Achievements of Cromwellian Government?

Became Lord Protector 16^th Dec. 1653
Devoted much effort to wooing the political nation by securing peace and stability and returning it to a semblance of constitutional normality
May have chosen title ‘Lord Protector’ as his title and ‘Commonwealth’ for the republic to obscure the revolutionary constitution changes he’d made
The Instrument of Government, was the constitution of the new Republic
It was a victory for the conservative wing of the army
John Lambert had a decisive role in its drafting
True to his Political Independent past Cromwell welcomed some of its major constitutional provisions eg its insistence on the important role of Parliaments
Control of the militia was to be shared by the Protector and parliaments
Parliament was to be elected every 3 years
Parliament to sit for at least 5 months
Local officials could send out writs to summon a new parliament if the central government failed to do so
The Protector had to rule with the Council of State especially in: finance; appointment of senior officers of state; control of the armed forces
Cromwell later complained that these limitations made him like “a child in its swaddling clothes...By the (Instrument of) Government I can do nothing but in ordination with the Council”
Although this is an exaggeration there is some truth in it
Councils of state during the Commonwealth had a more prominent constitutional role than royal privy councils before and after this time
Members chosen for the new council probably intended to reassure conservatives regarding the intentions of the new regime
8 of the 15 members were civilians
Only 3 were soldiers (Desborough, Fleetwood and Lambert)
Later nominations increased the proportion of civilians

The Oath of Engagement

Abolished by Protector and Council as one of its first acts
It had forced men to recognise the abolition of the monarchy and House of Lords
The ‘loyalism’ which had induced moderates to support the Rump was transferred to Cromwell
He sought to secure its mantle as a bulwark against radical change
One of Cromwell’s themes in his speeches to first Protectorate Parliament (3.9.1654) was the need for ‘healing and settling’
He said: “Remembering transactions too particularly (at least in the hearts of many of you) may set the wounds fresh a-bleeding”
So sequestrations were reduced
Cromwell frequently intervened personally to protect individual ex-Royalists from sequestration commissioners
Used to good effect a political ploy he’d used in 1649 depicting his regime as saviour of the country from dangerous threats such as Levellism
He declared his support for the established hierarchical social order: ‘a nobleman, a gentleman, and a yeoman (that is a good interest of the nation and a great one)’
This reassured gentlemen who feared social disorder and popular rebellion were increasing
Recent events from the execution of Charles I in 1649 to the radical proposals discussed in the Barebones Parliament were disturbing
The aftermath of one of the worst economic crises of 16^th & 17^th century had caused major social problems that threatened to lead to attacks on property
1646-1659 harvest failed in successive years which led to: high food prices; increasing poverty; food riots; prospect of popular rebellion
Anxiety of gentry increased by stories of Ranters and religious radicalism in early 1650s
So signals coming from London aimed to calm gentry
Also purge of Justices of the Peace by Barebones Parliament ended
Commissions of the peace still consisted far more than before the Civil War of men from outside the old country elites
Established gentry began to drift back to act as Justices of the Peace and assessment commissioners
The major Generals interlude 1655-6 slowed the process for a time
The Protectorate was moving towards a reunion of the nation and of the local communities of which it was made
New regime interfered as little as possible with the personnel of local government
Allowed local officials a large amount of freedom to administer
Only exception – during rule of Major-Generals
Normal administration and judicial processes of local government in those counties which have been studied continued with little interruption
Admin of the Poor Law biggest task of 17^th century England
Carried out more efficiently in 1650s than ever before
These laws were enforced in 1650s
Outdoor relief was granted
Pauper children were apprenticed and educated
Provisions made in work-houses, hospitals and almshouses for the aged and infirm
In other spheres local government in 1650s was no worse and in some cases better than other times in 17^th century eg road maintenance, criminal jurisdiction, control wages and prices
Cromwellian government satisfied the requirements of 17^th century governments included: whether monarchical or republican; regulation of the domestic economy; overseas trade; law and order; defence; international prestige
In some respects government in 1650s did this in as muddled and inconsistent way as before eg regulation of the economy
Interference in the economy was as misdirected and unsuccessful as had been that of earlier governments
In two respects the record of the Cromwellian government was superior to the Stuarts: less corrupt and the most obvious administrative wrangles were stopped; its handling of foreign affairs was admired even by its enemies

Foreign Policy

In making peace with the Dutch in April 1654 Cromwell chose a French alliance not a Spanish one because of the current Franco-Dutch friendship
What is remarkable about Cromwell’s Foreign Policy is that it was as successful as it was
Few among his entourage had any expertise in international affairs
In such circumstances failures could be expected

The Western Design

An attempt to break into the Spanish Caribbean Empire was a fiasco
Its one success was the capture of Jamaica

Other Successes

English rule firmly established in Ireland and Scotland
Dutch peace lost Charles II his Dutch base and support
Series of commercial treaties with other European powers were important as indicators of England’s standing as for their content
Reorganised navy under Blake cleared pirates and Royalists from the seas
Spanish war popular as a patriotic war against England’s national and religious enemy
Second half 17^th century the 1650s were looked back on as a time when England’s standing in the world was very high

Reform

The regime fell short of the ideals Cromwell had championed earlier
The reforming ordinances issued before the first parliament were pale shadows of what many in the army hoped for
Even Cromwell’s ordinance to make access to chancery easier and cheaper – ‘a milk and water ordinance’ (radicals wanted to abolish it) - met with fierce opposition in first parliament
Priority problems too – vast financial and constitutional problems of the regime ‘s educational schemes like the proposed new University of Durham suffered
It’s a tribute to Cromwell’s sincere desire for reform that projects like this were considered – and as in the case of Durham college – sometimes completed

Religion

Cromwell’s most appealing and successful achievement was in organisation of religious life in England
During Protectorate minimum of state control over religion
In keeping with Cromwell’s strategy of appealing to pre-civil war rulers of the counties, most state control was by commissioners or ‘ejectors’ set up by ordinance of Aug 1654
Had power to expel ministers they rules unfit to hold office
Ordinance of March 1654 set up a general commission of ‘triers’ in London who were to approve the appointment of all ministers
Triers made no attempt to question right of present nominees to livings in their possession
Only other state intervention was by trustees set up by Ordinance (Sept 1654) to supplement the income of poorly endowed clergy from the income of ex-ecclesiastical estates
Cromwell and the council did not aim to establish the kind of religious toleration seen in 19^th and 20^th century Great Britain
But within this loose framework of state control a vast diversity of religious practices was tolerated
For first time in England the initiative which determined the form of worship in each parish came from below from individual ministers and congregations – not from above, from the Established Church and state
This meant there was little change
Congregations continued to worship with ministers ordained before 1640 as they had before Laud’s innovations
Biggest difference was substitution of Presbyterian ‘Directory of Worship’ for the ‘Book of Common Prayer’
Some parishes went further towards establishment of a Presbyterian system with lay elders and development of inter-parochial classical organisations
At the Restoration well over 100 independent ministers were ejected from the parochial livings into which they had been accepted by Cromwellian general commission of ‘triers’ in London
Other religious groups at both ends of spectrum though not given official seal of approval by the triers were allowed to worship
At radical end separatist Protestant churches of every conceivable variety flourished during Protectorate
Associations of similar churches formed eg General Baptists and Particular Baptists
Some worked for cooperation in an ecumenical spirit
Minority of high-church Episcopalians and Catholics given remarkable freedom from persecution as long as they didn’t threaten public order
For this reason sects such as Quakers Socinians and Ranters whose activities were often violent and anti-social were persecuted more than Catholic priests and Laudian clerics whose activities were confined to houses of their patrons
It is the tolerance of Cromwell that stands out: in his conversations with Fox the Quaker leader; his friendship with the Catholic Sir Kenelm Digby; readmission of the Jews etc.
The myth of the Puritan killjoy? – enough is known to dispel it – long weekends at Hampton Court; his patronage of secular music; dancing, writers and artists
His tolerance went too far for many contemporaries
He was always careful not to offend respectable contemporary opinion
His Church Settlement respected local interests and property rights
It had elements desired by moderate parliamentarians of 1640s – loose state control; retention of lay patronage and titles; toleration of Protestant sects that didn’t disrupt public order

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