After dismissing the Rump Parliament, Cromwell picked 140 ‘God fearing men’ as an assembly of saints’ to take its place. This was the Barebones Parliament, but it was no more successful than the Rump Parliament. After five months it gave up its power to Cromwell. On 16December 1653 he was made Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland. A document called the Instrument of Government said he was to rule with the advice and agreement of a newly elected parliament. He was to assisted by Council. When Cromwell died, the Council would elect his successor.
By now, Parliament had already abolished the House of Lords and the office of King. The Country was no republic. Some people such as Edmund Ludlow were extreme republicans. They did not believe in Kings or dictators. They looked on Cromwell as a traitor for taking the office of Lord Protector.
The Reluctant dictator.
Crowell had no more luck with the new Parliament elected in 1654. This too, was dissolved in 1655. An MPs called Guibon Goddard said he went by boat to Westminster but was told ‘the Parliament doors were locked up and guarded with soldiers’ Cromwell told the MPs he would only let them sit again if they signed a document.
The new Parliament elected in 1656 was also filled with Republicans opposed to Cromwell as Lord Protector. Once again Cromwell got rid of the MPs who opposed him. In the end parliament offered him the Crown, but Cromwell refused it. He dissolved Parliament instead and ruled without its help until his death on 3 December 1658
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Oliver Cromwell and the Interregnum
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November 20, 2021
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