25 May 1657
Humble Petition and Advice

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The second constitution of the Protectorate, the Humble Petition and Advice, is drawn up by the Commons. It offers Oliver Cromwell the crown and suggests setting up a second parliamentary chamber. This constitution carries more authority than the Instrument of Government (see 16 December 1653) because it is formulated by an elected Parliament. Cromwell, after much thought, rejects the crown and is confirmed as lord protector. He accepts the power to name his own successor.

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[Over] a period of weeks in 1657, [Cromwell] hesitated, refused, undertook to search his conscience and pray about it, became fraught with tension, smoked heavily and became ill, gave it to be understood that he intended to accept, started jesting about the crown as a 'feather in a man's cap'; then, at the last minute, on what would have been his accession day, withdrew as if his hand had been scalded.

From A Century of Troubles by Stevie Davies (Channel 4 Books)

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