ABSTRACT
On April 20, 1653, Cromwell had dissolved the Rump Parliament, whereupon the Council of the Army, which he dominated, summoned a Parliament, or more accurately a convention of important representatives of the republican party, which was known as the “Little” or “Barebone’s” Parliament. The Council of the Army then devised and proclaimed an “Instrument of Government”, by virtue of which Cromwell was appointed Lord Protector with almost regal powers, save that he was merely to exercise a short veto of postponement upon Parliament. In the consultations between Cromwell’s staff and the agitators in the autumn of the same year, at Putney, Sexby was the doughty champion of the more advanced section. On October 17th Father Talbot reported to Ormond that the King had instructed him to go to Sexby to persuade him to listen to reason, and that he was authorized to make great offers to Sexby personally.
