. Mediæval and modern history . r as he might, only re-ligious. God-fearing Little Parliament, assometimes called, consistedof one hundred and fifty-sixmembers, mainly religiouszealots, who spent much oftheir time in Scripture exe-gesis, prayer, and exhorta-tion. Among them was aLondon leather merchant,named Praise-God Barebone,who was especially given tothese exercises. The nameamused the people, and asthe exhorter was a fair repre-sentative of a considerablesection of the convention,they nicknamed it Bare-bones Parliament, by whichdesignation it has passedinto history. The Little Par
. Mediæval and modern history . r as he might, only re-ligious. God-fearing Little Parliament, assometimes called, consistedof one hundred and fifty-sixmembers, mainly religiouszealots, who spent much oftheir time in Scripture exe-gesis, prayer, and exhorta-tion. Among them was aLondon leather merchant,named Praise-God Barebone,who was especially given tothese exercises. The nameamused the people, and asthe exhorter was a fair repre-sentative of a considerablesection of the convention,they nicknamed it Bare-bones Parliament, by whichdesignation it has passedinto history. The Little Parliament sat only five months, and then, resign-ing all its authority into the hands of Cromwell, dissolved sort of constitution, called the Instrument of Government,was now drawn up by a council of army officers and approvedby Cromwell. This instrument, the first of written constitutions,provided for a Parliament consisting of a single House, a Councilof State, and an executive or president serving for life and bearing. Fig. 78. Oliver (Aftera portrait by Samuel Cooper) You have that in your countenance which I would fain call master. — Earl of Kent to King Lear in Shakespeares King Lcat- 386 THE STUARTS AND THE REVOLUTION [§434 the title of Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England,Scotland, and Ireland. Under this instrument Cromwell becameLord Protector for life. 434. The Protectorate (i653-i659). Cromwells power wasnow almost unlimited. He was virtually a dictator, for he hadthe power of the army behind him. The Protector summoned,winnowed, and dissolved Parliament at pleasure. He could gettogether no body of men who could or would work smoothly withhim. The Lord judge between me and you, were his words ofdismissal to his last unmanageable and obstinate Parliament. For five years Cromwell carried on the government practicallyalone. His rule was arbitrary but enlightened. He gave Englandthe strongest government she had had since the days of Wolsey
Size: 1287px × 1943px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubje, booksubjectmiddleages
