He
initially believed that people would do the right thing according
to their consciences, but was disillusioned and then became
autocratic. He came to rule as a military dictator. Payment of
taxes was enforced by distraint. After 1654, he issued about 100
proclamations covering public amusements, roads, finances, the
condition of prisons, the imprisonment of debtors, banning of
dueling and cockfighting, law reform, control of religion and
education, and reorganization of the army. The singing of ballads
was banned. The Court of Chancery was reformed by proclamation.
The established church was reformed and the power to interfere
with different faiths was denied to it. Each parish could choose
its form of service, whether Presbyterian, Congregational,
Baptist, or any other seen as fundamental by the Puritans. No one
was compelled to attend any particular church or to accept the
discipline of any particular minister. But the Book of Common
Prayer was forbidden. There was freedom of worship for
Presbyterians, Independents, Baptists, Quakers, Catholics, and
Jews (who had secretly migrated to England to avoid persecution on
the continent), but not Prelatists (those favoring government of
the church by bishops).
In 1655, Cromwell placed major generals in charge of eleven newly-
established provinces. As their Governors, they had authority to
levy troops, exact taxes imposed by the Protector, disarm
Royalists and Catholics, examine into the conduct of the clergy
and schoolmasters, arrest dangerous and suspicious persons, and
prevent unlawful assemblies, and to enforce the existing laws
against immorality and blasphemy.
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