The year 1654 was an important one in Disbrowe's career. His willingness to accept responsibility, and the vigour and efficiency with which he carried out his assignments, accounted in great part for his rise to prominence. But added to this was the fact that Cromwell could trust him. He had no fear that Disbrowe would attempt to undermine or supplant him.

Early in the year the Royalists, always strong in the west, were in active revolt and Disbrowe was ordered to move into the area with his regiment and suppress the revolt. The following instructions were given him by the Protector.

The Protector's Instructions to General Disbrowe: [1]

Whereas there is an ansurrection in the west by the cavaliers, who have armed themselves, and seized upon the judges of assize at Salisbury, and proceed on the commit other violences and outrages upon the people; you are therefore to repair with your regiment into the west, and to take unto your charge and conduct the troops of Col. Berry now in the west, the two troops of col. Twifleton's, whom we have ordered from Chichester to join with you, and also all other forces both horse and foot in the western countries. And you shall use your best endeavours to prosecute the said cavaliers in whatever parts of the nation they shall go; and to suppres them; and also to put the said counties into the best posture of defence you can. For which purpose the commissioners are herewith delivered unto you; and all the commanders and officers of the said forces are hereby required to observe such orders, as you shall give them, and to obey your commands, according to the discipline of war. And all justices of the peace, mayors, baliffs, and all other officers and ministers, are required to fill up every troop in your regiment to a hundred in each troop; and shall give the same orders to all other the troops aforesaid; and you are also to seize and secure all persons, which you shall judge dangerous to the peace of the nation, and to search their houses for arms and to seize their horses for the use of the state.

Given at Whitehall the 12th of March, 1654
To our right trusty and right well beloved
counsellor general Disbrowe,
Major General of The West.
Oliver Cromwell

The rebels led by Sir John Penruddock and Sir Joseph Wagstaffe had gathered three of four hundred men and raised the Royal Standard at Salisbury. They moved towards Cromwell collecting adherents as they went. But Disbrowe, moving swiftly, sent a troop in pursuit. It caught them at Moulton in Deveonshire, easily defeated them, and took many prisoners including Penruddock himself [2]. A few were quickly put on trial, condemned and executed. Others including Penruddock were imprisoned to await Cromwell's pleasure.

During the short campaign, Disbrowe forwarded dispatches in which he reported its progress either directly to Cromwell or through Thurloe who was secretary of the Council of State.

General Disbrowe to the Protector: [3]

May it Please Your Highness,
I came the last night to this place, and intended this day to be steering towards the Devizes; but upon some intelligence from Major Butler at Salisbury, I shall (God willing) goe to Almesbury, and hope to be there by two of the clocke, in order to conjunction with Major Butler and the two troops from Chichester, and after a few houres refreshment shall proceed, as I shall gett intelligence, which I have by all wayes layed out for, and as the Lord shall please to direct us. I understand that the high sheriffe of Wiltshire is gott from them, and reports them to be bounding (when he came away) for Evill, and thence for Bath and Wells. I doe not have any considerable accesse of force they have attained in all their progresse. I recommend your highnesse to the Lord's gracious protection and remaine
Your highnes's humble servant,
John Disbrowe
Newbury, March 15, 1654
I received your highnesse's letter this night; the one by the old messenger about eight a clock, and the other by captain Crefeet, between 4 and 5 this morning.

General Disbrow to the Protector: [4]

May it Please Your Highnesse,
This evening I received intelligence, that the enemy was routed on wednesday night at Moulton in the county of Devon; several prisoners taken and carried to Exon geale; but several particulars are more fully sent to your highnesse than is yet come to my hands; and therefore I doe by these humbly acquaint you of my intentions as to further service, by dividing these troopes with me into several places, where they may lye convenient for the apprehending of those that are fled, viz. my owne troope to Memister, captain Scotton's at Bredport, major Blackmore's at Crookerhorne, captain Wallington's at South Petherton, and major Jenkin's at Somerton, and to keepe a guard at Lamport; major Butler's troopes, two to Salisbury and two to Marlborough; and the two troopes of col. Twifelton's to returne to Alton and Farnham all to attend your highnesse's further pleasure. I have written to the respective sheriffs of Wilts, Dorset, Somersett, Devon and Cornwall, to use persons, that may be thought to have had a hand in the insurrection; and have also written to the justices of the peace of those respective countys, to make diligent enquiry what persons have been absent from their habitations within the space of ten dayes last past, and upon examination to deale with them as to justice shall appertaine.
I purpose (God willing) forthwith to ride to Exon, there to spend two or three days in examining those prisoners taken, from whom something may be obtained for the advantage of the commonwealth. I am informed that Penruddock, Grove, Jones and Mumparsons, with about 40 of their men are at Exon in prison. It is thought that T. Wagstaffe is escaped. I beg your Highnes's pleasure and commands concerning myselfe and my troopes, and subscribe myselfe
Your Highnesse's humble servant,
John Disbrowe
Wincanton, March 17, 1654

Major General Disbrowe to the Protector: [5]

May it Please Your Highnesse,
According to your commands, inclosed is a list of the prisoners in the several countyes and the places, where for the present they are secured. I doe understand that many of them doe pretend to inocency, as the lord Paulett and one mr. Tent of Somersettshire, and the marquess of Harford in Wilts. The information I have had since my cominge into these parts concerning them is nothinge of new or late acting, though I am very confident they generally knew of the late rebellion. Their be many in every county as bade or worse in their affections to the cavilere party, that are not secured, for they are of a meaner quality, and I did conceive it not convenient to sease more than I know what to doe withall; for truly I am humbly of opinion, that haveing too many of them together, might give them an advantage of knowinge one another's minds more than now they can, beinge I am forced to keepe them for the most part in inns, not haveings any other places, where is any accommodation for them. But if it be judged needful, I can cause as many as your highnes please to be taken up more; But I humbly conceive, these allready secured will be sufficient to proceed with, and to make a patterne for all the reast. Indeed my lord, I have not found it so easy a worke as I thought it would have bine, to setted the militia in these parts to my satisfaction. I hope I shall now gitt through it. I have sent to major Sanders to attend your highnese for Devon, captain Gorges for Somersette, and captain Dury for Dorsett, major Ludlow for Wilts and intend captain Croft for Gloster; col. Bennet is allready at London, who will be for Cromwall. I shall not trouble you highnesse further now, only to subscribe myselfe
Your highnes's faythfull and humble servant,
John Disbrowe

Accompanying This Letter:
A list of the prisoners in the counties of Devon and Somerset, committed upon the late insurrection.
Exon, March 22, 1654.
In this list are 106 names of those confined at Exon and 28 names of those confined at Taunton. Among those at Exon are included:
John Penruddock of Compton, Chamberlain in Wilts. Esq.
Edward Penruddock of the same, gent.

As Disbrowe indicated, the facilities for securing the prisoners were not of the best, and consequently some managed to escape. The following letter addressed to him at Whitehall relates the interesting and grimly amusing method by which one cavalier escaped the gallows.

Mr. J. Carye and Mr. J. Barker to Major General Disbrowe: [6]

May It Please Your Honour,
To be certified, that upon notice given us, that mr. Hunt, condemned for treason, was escaped out of the prison at Ilchester, wednesday night, the 15th instant, we mett there this day early to examine the businesse. We finde, that Hunt had two sisters, Elizabeth and Margery, the evening in his chamber; he goes with Elizabeth in womens apparell out of the prison through the watch; the other sister Margery, lieth in Hunt's bedd that night, and the escape of the prisoner not knowne, till the next morninge, beinge thursday, whichday it seemeth he had been to be executed; the scaffold being up, and all ready for that purpose. It appears to us that Hunt had noe irons on, through the gaoler's neglect. It also appears to us by several testimonies, that the sheriffe had often tymes earnestly sent unto him to secure the prisoners with all safety; and upon the imprisonmente of the persons committed for treason, had issued under his seale of office a warrante for a strict watch upon the prison, day and night. The copies of the examination taken at present we thought good to send up to your honour; and we shall wayte your commands, and what you shall please further to have done in the business. In the mean tyme Hunt's two sisters, Elizabeth and Margery, are secured; and we shall humbly desire to know your further pleasure concerninge them and the gaoler; and soe we humbly take our leaves and rest
Your honour's most humble and faithfull servants
J. Carye
J. Barker
Huy and Crye were speedily abroad for stopinge of the prisoner.

So successful was Disbrowe's work in the west that Cromwell proceeded to organize the entire country on a similar basis. England was divided, for this purpose, into twelve districts with a Major General in charge of each. The duties of the Major Generals were to reorganize the militia, collect the decimation taxes that had been levied on all former Royalists, to prevent plotting and unrest, to promote Godliness and virtue, and put down immorality and blasphemy. In short, these men were to be the supreme authority, representing Cromwell, in their respective areas.

Further honours now came to Disbrowe in recognition of his services. He was named to continue as Major General of the West [7]; Commissioner of Militia for the Isle of Ely [8] and Constable of St. Briavell's Castle [9]. About this time also he was elected to Parliament to represent Cambridgeshire, Cromwell's old riding [10].

The new Parliament met in September 1654 and proceeded to debate the provisions of the new constitution. The members were beligerent and argumentative and things did not go according to the wishes of the Council of Officers. Despite the fact that its members were virtually hand picked, Parliament displayed a strong inclination to assert its supremacy by seeking to reduce the powers of the Protector and Council of State including the former's right to veto legislation.

On November 10th, General John Disbrowe, by this time a man of confirmed military habit of mind, defended the Protector's right of veto with somewhat more vigour than tact. He argued [11]: "Parliament has no cause to be jealous, to trust the Lord Protector with the half, that not long since had had the whole, and might have kept it without any competition. He had power to have done it, and yet he had given us some part of it, and in truth, we have an opportunity to do what we will; but to amend the Government only where he in effect he would give us leave."

But in spite of difficulties in Parliament great progress was made. Cromwell was determined to reform many of the laws which he told Parliament were, "wicked and abominable". In the same vein he continued, "to hang a man for six and eightpence and I know not what,--- to hang for a trifle and acquit murder, is in the ministration of the law through ill framing of it. To see men lose their lives for petty matters is a thing God will reckon, and I wish it may not be laid on this nation a day longer than you have opportunity to give a remedy."

Many new laws of great benefit to the nation were passed; however some of his Puritan laws were highly restrictive. Such crimes as swearing, cockfighting and horse racing were severely punished. Needless to say they proved very unpopular with the majority of the population of what was once "merry England".

In foreign affairs things went extremely well for England. As we have seen, Disbrowe, Blake and others had been in constant touch with the Dutch envoys as early as January 1653. Within four months of Cromwell's appointment as Protector, a peace treaty was signed with the Dutch. This treaty was in effect, an acknowledgement by the Dutch of English supremacy at sea. By its terms England's position as the strongest naval power in Europe was confirmed and Cromwell was free to seek other foreign adventures.

The Council of State now began to consider whether they should form an alliance with France or with Spain. Since the former had given shelter to the Stuarts it was thought that an alliance with them might forestall troublemaking by them both in Scotland and England. On the other hand it was believed that, for the sake of a military pact, the Spanish would be willing to furnish a large sum of money. The upshot as stated by Thurloe [12]: "It was resolved to take the opportunities to maintain a good understanding with France, and to send a fleet and land forces in the West Indies, where it was taken for granted the peace was already broken by the Spaniards contrary to the former treaties; and not to meddle with anything in Europe until the Spaniards should begin, unless an American fleet should be met with, which was looked upon as a lawful prize."

Accordingly in August 1654 a committee was established charged with the responsibility of preparing a squadron of warships to carry an expeditionary force to the Spanish West Indies.

Notes on Chapter Eight:

[1] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 221

[2] - Ashley (2), p. 151; Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 308

[3] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 247

[4] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 263

[5] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 308

[6] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 453

[7] - Thurloe, Vol. III, pp. 221, 486

[8] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 233

[9] - D. N. B.

[10] - Gardiner, Vol. I, p. 9; D. N. B.

[11] - Ashley (2), p. 144

[12] - Thurloe, Vol. III, p. 199

Chapter Nine: The West Indies Expedition