When Cromwell's new Parliament (S455) ventured to criticize his
course, he dissolved it (1654) quite as peremptorily as the late King
had done (S431). Soon afterwards, fear of a Royalist rebellion led
him to divide the country into eleven military districts (1655), each
governed by a major general, who ruled by martial law and with
despotic power. All Royalist families were heavily taxed to support
Cromwell's standing army, all Catholic priests wre banished, and no
books or papers could be published without permission of the
government.
Cromwell, however, though compelled to resort to severe measures to
secure peace, was, in spirit, no oppressor. On the contrary, he
proved himself the Protector not only of the realm but of the
Protestants of Europe. When they were threatened with persecution,
his influence saved them. He showed, too, that in an age of bigotry
he was no bigot. Puritan fanaticism, exasperated by the persecution
it had endured under James and Charles, often went to the utmost
extremes, even as "Hudibras"[1] said, to "killing of a cat on Monday
for catching of a rat on Sunday."
[1] "Hudibras": a burlesque poem by Samuel Butler (1663). It
satirized the leading persons and parties of the Commonwealth, but
especially the Puritans.
It treated the most innocent customs, if they were in any way
associated with Catholicism or Episcopacy, as serious offenses. It
closed all places of amusement; it condemned mirth as ungodly; it made
it a sin to dance round a Maypole, or to eat mince pie at Christmas.
Fox-hunting and horse-racing were forbidden, and bear-baiting
prohibited, "not because it gave pain to the bear, but because it gave
pleasure to the spectators."
In such an age, when a man could hardly claim to be religious unless
he wore sad-colored raiment, talked through his nose, and quoted
Scripture with great frequency, Cromwell showed exceptional moderation
and good sense.