Cromwells major-generals Godly government during the English Revolution [Paperback]

The first full-scale study of the rule of Cromwell's major-generals over England and Wales during 1655 and 1656. This is a period which had a dramatic impact upon contemporaries and has remained a powerful symbol of military rule down to the present day. Contains chapters on the three most important aspects of the major-generals' work: the collection of the decimation tax; the attempt to improve the security of the regime; and the struggle to build the 'Godly Nation'. Concludes with an investigation of the 1656 election and the major-generals subsequent unexpected fall from power. Fills a major gap in the historiography of Cromwellian England.

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

1. Introduction: Background and historiography

2. The system: Origins and construction

3. The men: Backgrounds, careers and beliefs

4. The helpers: The commissioners for securing the peace of the Commonwealth

5. Old local government and new local government

6. The decimation tax

7. Securing the peace of the Commonwealth

8. The struggle for the Godly Nation

9. The major-generals and the 1656 election

10. Defeat at Westminster and fall from power

11. Conclusion

Postscript: The major-generals' later careers

Bibliography:

Index

Maps and tables

Map 1: The major-generals' associations

Table 1: The major-generals' associations

Table 2: Numbers of parliamentary seats and exclusions in the major-generals' associations

Christopher Durston is Reader in History at St Mary's College, Twickenham