(a) The executive government was to consist of a Protector and a Council of State. The members of the Council were, in the first instance, named in the instrument, for life; but on the occurrence of a vacancy it was to be filled up by the Protector from a list of six persons nominated by the Parliament. The right of legislation was vested in Parliament; but the Protector might suspend the coming into operation of any Act for twenty days. Parliaments were to be held once in every third year; but they might not be dissolved till they had sat five months. The Protector was to be general by sea and land, but he was to decide questions of war and peace by the aid of his Council, and in case of war Parliament was to be immediately summoned. (b) "The capture of Jamaica marks the period when the lawless rule of the buccaneers (in the plantations) began to be exchanged for the rule of European governments" (Payne). (c) The House inquiring why the names of certain members were not returned, is answered that the Council have not refused to approve any who have appeared to them to be persons of integrity, fearing God, and of good conversation; and those who are not approved, his Highness hath given order to some persons to take care they do not come into the House. (d) The executive government was to consist of a Protector and a Council of State. The members of the Council and the chief officers were to be nominated cr removed with consent of Parliament. Parliament was to consist of two Houses, and meet at least once every three years. The Protector was to be general by sea and land. All Christian religions but Popery and Socinianism were to be tolerated. The Protector was allowed to name his successor. Had the army allowed Cromwell to receive the title of king, this would have in fact restored the old constitution in an amended form and with a new dynasty. 1653. 1654. 1655. 1656. 1657. twenty-one (a), is published, and Cromwell is inaugurated in Westminster Hall. March 20. A board of triers to examine the character of ministers April 12. England and Scotland are united by ordinance. Aug. 28. Commissioners are sent round to examine the character The Court of Chancery is reformed by ordinance. Sept. 3. The first Protectorate Parliament meets. [Four hun- Jan. 22. On the expiration of five lunar months Cromwell dissolves Parliament. March 10. Penruddock's rising at Salisbury. Penn and Venables fail to capture San Domingo, but take Jamaica from the Spaniards, May. Aug. Cromwell divides England into eleven military districts, Oct. Treaty with France against Spain, providing that Prince The readmission of the Jews into England is discussed by the Feb. War is declared against England by Spain. Sept. 17. The second Protectorate Parliament meets. Above Cromwell interferes on behalf of the Vaudois subjects of the March. An offensive and defensive alliance is made with France. May 8. After several conferences, Cromwell refuses to accept the title of king by the request of the army, but accepts the Petition and Advice, May 25. June 26. The new constitution is inaugurated in Westminster Lambert refuses the oath to Cromwell, and is deprived of his Writs are sent out to the newly-created House of Lords. 1658. 1659. 1660. 1661. Jan. 20. Parliament meets in its reorganized form. The Commons debate their relation to the other newly-made House, and are dissolved by Cromwell, Feb. 4. June. The English and French beat the Spaniards in the battle of the Dunes, and gain Dunkirk, which is surrendered to the English. Sept. 3. Cromwell dies, aged fifty-nine. Richard Cromwell is declared Protector by the Council. Jan. Parliament meets, but does little business, and provokes the army. April 22. Richard Cromwell, trusting to the promises of the army, dissolves the Parliament. May 7. The remains of the Long Parliament ("the Rump") are restored by the army. July. Richard (a) leaves Whitehall. Aug. Booth's rising in Cheshire is put down by Lambert. Oct. 12. Lambert and Desborough (Cromwell's brother-in-law) Oct. 13. Lambert marches to Westminster and turns out the Rump. Jan. 3. Fairfax meets Lambert's army on Marston Moor and per- return. May 25. Charles having issued at Breda certain promises (b), lands at Dover, and (May 29) enters London. CHARLES II., 1660-1685 (25 YEARS). Born 1630; Married, 1662, Katharine of Portugal. [Clarendon, leading minister.] An Act of Indemnity and Oblivion, excepting the regicides and five others, is passed. Military tenures and feudal dues are abolished, as well as the right of purveyance (c). Sept. The king's revenue is settled at £1,200,000 (to be made up Oct. The trial of the regicides begins. Ten suffer death. Dec. 29. The Convention Parliament is dissolved. Venner's plot is put down. (a) Act of Settlement.-(1) Adventurers who had received land in 1652, in consideration of money they had lent for the war, are confirmed in their lands. (2) Soldiers who had served the king before 1649 are to receive the value of five-eighths of their pay in land. (3) Soldiers of the Republic are confirmed in lands granted in 1652. (4) Innocent Papists who had not been even indirectly involved in the rebellion are to receive back their lands. Act of Explanation, 1665.-Adventurers and soldiers gave up one-third of their lands. (b) "They declared that there was no legislative power in either or both Houses without the king, and that the sole supreme command of the militia, and of all forces by sea and land, had ever been by the laws of England the undoubted right of the Crown; that neither House of Parliament could pretend to it, nor could lawfully levy any war, offensive or defensive, against his majesty" (Hallam, ii. p. 328). (c) Act of Uniformity.-The Act included five points, which were made compulsory on all holders of livings1. Ordination by a bishop. 2. Assent and consent to the Book of Common Prayer. 3. The oath of canonical obedience. 4. Renunciation of the Solemn League and Covenant. 5. A declaration that it was unlawful to bear arms against the sovereign under any pretext whatever. (d) The chief Nonconformist bodies besides the Roman Catholics were 1. The Presbyterians, who had had a majority in the 3. The Baptists, who though they had seven congrega- (e) The clergy now lose their right of self-taxation (see 1295, note), and the franchise for members of the House of Commons becomes the right of clergymen by an Act passed 1664. (f) Repeal of the Triennial Act of 1641.-Every clause of "the bill is completely repealed, yet, "with an inconsistency not unusual in our statutes," a provision is added that in future Parliaments shall not be intermitted more than three years at most. (g) "That supplies granted by Parliament are only to be expended for particular objects specified by itself became from this time an undisputed principle recognised by frequent and at length constant prac tice" (Hallam). COLONIAL. 1661 and 1665. The Acts of Settlement and Explanation are passed in the Irish Parliament (a). 1661. In Scotland the old form of government is restored, Episcopacy established, and the persecution of the Covenanters begun. Execution of Argyll. 1662. Mile Act (similar to the Five-Mile Act) is passed by the Scottish Parliament. 1663. Irish ships are excluded from the privi leges of English under the Navigation Act. 1664. Conquest of New Netherlands (granted to the Duke of York, and I called New York), in America, from the Dutch. 1665 and 1680. Cattle, sheep, swine, or beef, mutton, pork, or bacon, and butter, forbidden to be exported from Ireland to England. 1668. May 2. Louis being checked by the Triple Alliance, makes peace with Spain at Aix-la-Chapelle. |