Table of Contents

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

About the Author

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

Reviews

"'A splendid book. It illuminates the whole of the 1650s and Cromwell's complex relationship with the people and culture of the time. A tremendous achievement.' Professor John Morrill, Cambridge University"