icial posts. It had sole control of extra-ordinary supply and over its enactments so far as not inconsistent with the Instrument of Government. The object of the Instrument, which is undoubtedly the inspiration for the Constitution of the United States of America, was to afford a written fundamental law in the place of the conventions by which Monarchy operated. No solution was offered for the resolution of disputed interpretations of the text. Parliament was to be unicameral 40 . When Oliver Cromwell died in 1658, his son Richard, in the way of monarchy, succeeded as Lord Protector on his late father's nomination. However, he soon alienated the army and was ousted from office in 1659. By early 1660 it appeared to the army that they could neither govern with Parliament nor without it. A Convention Parliament was therefore summed as the body to bring the republic to a close. King Charles II, by a wise Royal Declaration of Breda, promised pardon to offenders, safeguards for property, satisfaction of arrears of remuneration to the army, and liberty of conscience 41 . The age of written constitutions was temporarily brought to a close. Yet in its place the monarchy which was restored was clearly established as one obliged to operate with an elected Parliament. That Parliament would henceforth be much more than an advisory body. It was an essential prerequisite to the making of the laws of the kingdom. The restoration of the monarchy in 1660 was "essentially a return to government by law" 42 . It was for this that the King's head had been severed. There would be no going back. The people and those who claimed to represent them, had demonstrated to all future monarchies and leaders their ultimate power. The remains of the regicides Cromwell, Bradshaw and Ireton, all of whom had been interred in Westminster Abbey were removed from their graves. Their corpses were displayed at the gallows of Tyburn. Later their heads were exposed at the top of ...
