Although there was an underlying current of unrest in the land, the years 1656-57 were, in many ways, the best under the Protectorate. The system of the Major Generals appeared to be working well, and, through their efforts in organizing the militia, the government had been able to demobilize part of the regular army thus conserving its, ever insufficient, funds. The Royalists it seemed, had finally been subdued and for the first time in many years there was peace. In foreign affairs, in spite of the failure of the West Indies expedition, the influence of the Protectorate was powerful. Cromwell, after meeting with his Major Generals, decided that the time was favorable for an election, the Generals having assured him, that they could guarantee a majority in favour of the government. The election date was accordingly set for August 20, 1656, and the generals returned to their respective areas to make ready.

Disbrowe, when he returned to the west, soon came to realize that the election might not be an easy victory after all. His thoughts in this regard were conveyed to Cromwell and Thurloe from Lanchester on August 12th.

Major General Disbrowe To The Protector [1]:

May It Please Your Highness
This morninge your highness letter came to my hands at Lanceston, and I have bin very serious in the perusall of it, and must acknowledge, that I find much of the same spirit streaminge in the veins of this part of the earth; and am also satisfied, that there are designs on foote, in order to the subversion of what hath been done for the nations peace and safety; for the men may plott and contrive, yet it's councel of the Lord that shall stand. My Lord, I have spent some time with the honest people in all the counties I have yet come in; and tho they are like to meet with great opposition, yet they resolve in devine strength to be unanimously active in electing such as are of known integrity to the present government. Not withstanding all the endeavours of the old dissatisfied party, I shall make it my busines to encourage the hosest sober people, and strengthen their hands, as much as in me lyes; and leave the issue to the wise disposer. As for the elections, that hitherto have been made in corporations hereabout, I cannot apprehend any great danger. Att Bridgewater they have chosen myselfe; at Wells major Jenkins; at Bath Jo. Ash the younger; at Taunton general Blake and Tho. Gorge; at Barstaple sir John Coplestone; at Honiton major Serle; at Looe Mr. Butler.
I am
Your Highness most intire and humble servant,
John Disbrowe
Lanceston, 12 Aug. 1656

Major General Disbrowe To Secretary Thurloe [2]:

Sir,
I had yours with the former, for which I returne you my thanks. I perceive there are great contendings and struglings in all parts. I cannot saye we are free heare. Yet by the elections already made in corporations we may give some judgement, that the spirit of opposition to the present government bears not that away, that some men fancy; for att Bridgewater they have chosen myself, at Wells major Jenkins, at Bath John Ash the younger, att Thaunton generall Blake and Tho. Gorge, att Barnstaple sir John Coplestone, at Honiton major Searle. Sir I have consulted with the honest people of every county, as I came along, and with them agreed upon names, and have sett them at worke for the improvement of their interest to elect sober and good men. I must confess in every county I yet came in I heare of their making parties and undoubtedly their designs are to overthrow all. Therefore my busines is as much as in me lyes, to prevent and break all such contrivances which is and shall be the endeavour of sir,
Your real and cordial servant,
John Disbrowe
Lanceston, 12 Aug. 1656

While Disbrowe seems to have been aware of developing opposition, the election results were, it seems, a surprise for the government [3]. The harsh and arbitrary rule of the major generals had aroused much resentment and many voters had the courage to express their dissatisfaction at the polls. The result was the return of opposition candidates in many counties. This was not to the liking of the major generals and when Parliament met the Council of State declared its right to pass on the eligibility of the members elected and high handedly disqualified one hundred of them. However, except for one, all the Major Generals were reelected. Disbrowe was among the successful ones being reelected from Somersetshire which was part of the western area governed by him [4].

In September the new Parliament opened. The members were in a good mood because of their victory and quickly demonstrated their support of the Protectorate by passing an act annuling the title of the Stuarts to the throne and making it treasonable to plot against the government. The capture of eight Spanish treasure ships which brought badly needed funds into the treasury also did much to create a favourable climate for the administration in those early weeks of the new Parliament. But this peaceful interlude was short lived and it was not long before the opposition was attacking the system of government by Major Generals. Cromwell, though aware of their increasing unpopularity, defended them.

As early as the previous year there had been talk of making Cromwell King and a petition favouring it had been circulated. The leader of the movement was Lord Richard Broghill an ex Royalist. The Major Generals, led by Disbrowe, viewed this as a threat to their positions and that of the army, and strongly opposed it.

Ashley has told of an incident which occurred in the Speaker's chambers and in the smoking room of the House of Commons on November 21, 1656 [5]. Disbrowe was engaged in a discussion with Colonel John Bridge, an Irish member who supported the movement to make Cromwell King. In the course of their argument Disbrowe said, that while he would not be a party to making Cromwell King, he would be willing to allow him the right, as Protector, to name his own successor. This he felt would assure as smooth a succession as with a monarchy and, at the same time, would be acceptable to the republicans.

The question remained unsettled, but in the meantime, Cromwell, who in the beginning was not in favour of the proposal for a monarchy, was influenced to change his mind by two events.

James Naylor, an old soldier, who had first become a Quaker and then a religious fanatic, had obtained a following in the Bristol area. His adherents hailed him as a Messiah and he had ridden into Bristol on a horse claiming that, "Christ was in him". The Puritans in the House were incensed by the blasphemy and demanded that he be sentenced to death. Most of the Major Generals agreed but Disbrowe, being more tolerant in these matters, was against it [6]. In the end poor Naylor suffered severly being condemned to be branded, pilloried, whipped and imprisoned; but at least he was not executed.

Cromwell was badly disturbed by the inhumane treatment given to old Ironside veteran Naylor and it remained on his conscience until he died. He reasoned that, had he been King, it would have been possible for him, by exercising the royal perogative of clemency, to have rescued Naylor from his harsh sentence.

The second event concerned the decimation tax which Disbrowe was determined, perhaps unwisely, to make a permanent levy on Royalists. It was supported by the Majors Generals and favoured by Cromwell as well, but Broghill and Claypole [7] were against it. Disbrowe attempted to push the measure through the House on Christmas day 1656, when the House was half empty, but word got out in time and sufficient members returned to their places to defeat the bill by 124 votes to 88 [8].

About a week after this, the Speaker of the House and a deputation of members, interviewed Cromwell and invited him to accept the throne. Cromwell asked for time in which to consider the offer. But finally on May 6th, he decided to accept. The repercussions to his decision were immediate.

The very same day May 6th, Disbrowe met with Cromwell in St. James Park [9] and told him that if he accepted the crown he, Disbrowe, would resign his offices in the government and oppose him in every way possible [9].

Disbrowe went home from this meeting convinced that Cromwell was determined to accept the crown. Equally determined to prevent it he sought his old friend Colonel Pride and they, with the assistance of Dr. John Owen, one of Cromwell's own chaplains, drew up a petition to Parliament and started collecting signatures from army officers. Getting word of this Cromwell tried to have the petition suppressed but he was too late. It had already been presented to the Commons and accepted for debate on May 8th. Cromwell, realizing that the issue had become too controversial, reversed his decision and sent a message to Parliament refusing the offer of the throne.

There was disappointment in Parliament but they accepted his decision and turned to the problem of a constitution. A new constitution, "The Humble Petition and Advice", had been drawn up on the assumption that Cromwell would accept the throne. Now that he had refused, they proceeded to adopt it anyway, merely substituting the title of Protector for that of King. On the 28th, of June 1657, he was, for the second time, installed as Protector.

Under the new constitution Cromwell had the right to name his successor and to appoint, subject to Parliamentary approval, seventy members to a new legislative body that was to take the place of the House of Lords. But as usual, the new arrangements were displeasing to many including some of his oldest associates.

Among those who were dissatisfied was John Lambert who refused to take the oath of loyalty to the Protector and consequently was dismissed from his government and military offices. His cavalry command was handed over to Major General Disbrowe who had supported the new arrangements [10]. At this time also, Cromwell appointed Disbrowe to the Privy Council and made him one of the new Lords who would sit in, "The Other House." [11] Also appointed to the Privy Council and Other House was Cromwell's designated successor, his oldest son, Richard Cromwell, who until now, had taken little or no part in public affairs.

Cromwell was hopeful that his way would be easier now that his rule was based on a legal constitution. A great victory had been won over the Spanish fleet, in April 1657 and now the country was at peace. He looked around him and found everything in good order. In his words: "How God hath redeemed us as we stand this day; Not from trouble and sorrow and anger only, but into a blessed and happy estate and condition, comprehensive of all interests. We have peace and rest out of ten years war, religious freedom after years of persecution." [12]

But it was not to last. When Cromwell appointed his strongest supporters to the Other House, it had the effect of strengthening the opposition in the Commons. To make matters worse, the two houses speedily fell to quarreling over their respective powers.

Parliament had convened at the beginning of January 1658. By the end of the month the Commons was refusing to recognize the legality of the Other House. When Cromwell heard that even the army was being undermined, he decided to end the rule of Parliament and take matters into his own hands. On February 4th, 1658, he went to Westminster where he hold the Commons: "I think it high time, that an end be put to your sitting and I do dissolve this Parliament. And let God be the judge between you and me." [13]

Had Cromwell been in good health he might have succeeded, with the help of his Major Generals, in ruling this turbulent England. There were still many who wanted him as King and he himself secretly favoured it; but Disbrowe, the convinced republican, was adamantly opposed to it, and with the support of Fleetwood, quickly put an end to this notion. As it was Cromwell, an aging, failing man at fifty nine, distracted by the death of his favourite daughter, lacked the energy at this stage, to cope with the problems of government.

Cromwell's health deteriorated rapidly and the victim of many ailments he died at Whitehall, in the midst of a great storm, on September 3rd, 1658. He was given a funeral of great pomp and ceremony and buried in Westminster Abbey. He was immediately succeeded in office by his son Richard Cromwell.

Notes:

1. - Thurloe, Vol. V, p 302.
2. - Thurloe, Vol. V, p 303.
3. - Firth (I) p 412.
4. - D.N.B. (quoted from Commons Journals Vol. VII, p. 428)
5. - Ashley (2), p 170.
6. - Ashley (2), p 171.
7. - John Claypole, the husband of Cromwell's daughter Elizabeth.
8. - Ashley (2), p 172.
9. - Ashley (2), p 176; Thurloe, Vol. VII, p 219; Ludlow, Vol. II, p 24-25; Clarendon, Vol. III, p 469
10. - Ashley (1) p 340
11. - Ashley (2), p 178; Ludlow, Vol. II, p 131-33.
12. - Firth (I), p 421.
13. - Firth (I), p 425.

Chapter Twelve: The End of The Commonwealth