Cromwell did not
tolerate the ritual of the formerly established English church nor
allow any of its adherents to have any office under him. His was a
purely Puritan government. He did not sell offices. The Parliament
of Saints challenged many vested interests in property such as
sales of delinquents' and Papists' lands. It clashed severely over
the continuation of tithes to the church. It became disorderly
when some declared the Parliament dissolved and left. Others
remained in their seats. To avoid a Parliamentary crisis, Cromwell
had soldiers close the Parliament of Saints and lock its doors.
The people supported this action because they were dissatisfied
with the state of public affairs. The next Parliament that was
tried was elected on a new constitutional basis of men with 200
pounds, but these men voted to make Parliament sovereign without a
chief executive, thereby abolishing the protectorate. Cromwell was
distressed that this Parliament had also voted themselves to be
the sole determinors of atheism and blasphemy instead of advancing
liberty of religious conscience and religious toleration as
Cromwell had advocated. dissolved this Parliament, declaring that
it was not acting for the public good. A last Parliament was also
dissolved by Cromwell for tending to loosen the bonds of
government and thereby threatening the peace of the nation.
Cromwell had first ruled as a democratic leader who did not
believe in force, but preferred to persuade with reason.
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