The only appeal was to the
Protector. Since they were Puritans, they ordered public ale
houses to close as dusk, banned idlers, minstrels, and actors,
forbade exercising of horses on Sunday and the holding of markets
on Saturday as well as Sunday, censored the press, and proscribed
newspapers. Horse races, which meetings were used for seditious
purposes, were closed. Theaters were closed. Dancing was
discontinued. Organs and choirs in churches prohibited. Court
masks continued because they provided soothing music. After a
year, Cromwell withdrew the major-generals. From this time, men of
property hated the idea of a standing army.
In 1657, the officers of a new Parliament modified the
constitution and Cromwell approved it, to secure liberties of the
people as they never before had. Under the modified constitution,
there were again two houses. The Commons regained its old right of
exclusively deciding on the qualification of its members.
Parliamentary restrictions were imposed on the choice of members
of the Council, officers of state, and officers of the army. A
fixed revenue was voted to the Protector. No moneys were to be
raised except by consent of Parliament. Liberty of worship was
guaranteed to all except Papists, Prelatists, Socinians (who
denied the divinity of Jesus), for those who denied the
inspiration of the Scriptures. Liberty of conscience was secured
for all.
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