Question 1
Using these four sources in their historical context, assess how far they support the view that Cromwell dissolved the Parliaments of the Commonwealth (1649–1653) because their main
concern was to preserve their own power.
Source A: A parliamentarian lawyer records his conversation with Cromwell concerning dissatisfaction with the Rump Parliament.
Cromwell said he wished the army’s dislike of the Members of Parliament was unfounded. But their pride, ambition, scandalous lives, delays of business and designs to keep themselves in power, gave too many reasons for his people to speak against them and dislike them. I expressed my hope that he would continue to control the army and that the Rump would become decisive, to which Cromwell replied that he had no hopes for a good settlement. The fear was that they would forget God, God would forget us and give us confusion. Some means would have to be found to restrain them or they would ruin us.
Bulstrode Whitelocke, diary, November 1652
Source B: A Rump MP, who broke with Cromwell after he established the Protectorate, recalls the dismissal of the Rump.
[Cromwell] sat still for about a quarter of an hour, and then, suddenly standing up, he made a speech, wherein he loaded the Parliament with the vilest reproaches, accusing them of an intention to perpetuate themselves in power. This he spoke with such passion and discomposure of mind, as if he had been distracted. [He] stepped into the midst of the House, where continuing his distracted language, he said ‘Come, come, I will put an end to your prattling’; then walking up and down the House like a madman, and kicking the ground, he cried out ‘You are no Parliament, I say you are no Parliament; I will put an end to your sitting; call them in’; whereupon two files of musketeers entered the House.
Edmund Ludlow, Memoirs, written before 1672
Source C: Cromwell explains the reasons for the dissolution of the Rump.
We [the army leaders] did, with all faithfulness and sincerity, beseech them [the Rump Parliament] that they would be mindful of their duty to God and men, in the discharge of the trust reposed in them. At last the parliament men began to take the Act of Representative to heart. But plainly that semblance of giving them a choice was only to recruit the House, the better to perpetuate themselves. Finding that this spirit was not according to God; and that the whole weight of this cause, which must needs be very dear unto us who had so ventured our lives for it and seeing plainly that there was not here any consideration to assert this cause and provide security for it, but only to cross the troublesome people of the army. Truly, I say, when we saw all this, having power in our hands we could not resolve to let such monstrous proceedings go on and so throw away all our liberties.
Cromwell, speech to Barebones’ Parliament, 4 July 1653
Source D: The Venetian ambassador reports on the dissolution of Barebones’ Parliament [The Nominated Assembly].
Parliament is dissolved. Most members were Anabaptists, who tried hard to benefit their own party by discrediting others, especially Presbyterians, in a number of acts. To make their party more powerful, these ignorant people tried to abolish the tithe, public preachers and everything of ancient splendour to England, including Oxford and Cambridge Universities, disgusting people and particularly Cromwell. Most people believe that there is now an end of parliaments, implying increasing dependence on the personal authority of Cromwell.
Lorenzo Paulucci, reports, 25 December 1653
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Answer
