34 • The Fifth Monarchists Channels 2022 thirteen members (including Cromwell himself).37 Thus, while the exact specifications set forth by Rogers were not completely followed, the system established was favorable for the Fifth Monarchists. Thus, the movement was well on its way to achieving its goals, at least politically. Gone was the wretched “beast” Charles I, and the Fifth Monarchists could exploit the vacancy. In addition, they were on good terms with General Cromwell, and they also had numerous members in high ranking positions, allowing them to have greater influence than their small numbers would suggest. Their ideas were, at the very least, respected by Cromwell, and they held some sway in the creation of the new government. The prospects looked bright, at least at that time, for the Fifth Monarchists. Relationship With Cromwell Broken Despite what initially seemed to be God’s blessing on their efforts, they soon reached a crisis that would see them ousted from power and put at odds with the bulk of the English people, including Cromwell. This would stem from their radical political aims that would alienate the rest of the Parliament and see the beginning of Cromwell’s outright dictatorship. The Fifth Monarchists found themselves in a predicament. They certainly had 37 Rogers, John, and Rogers, Edward, pg. 52 38 Rogers, John, and Rogers, Edward, pg. 62 39 Rogers, John, and Rogers, Edward, pgs. 79-80 40 Rogers, John, and Rogers, Edward, pg. 82 strong convictions as to what this new government in England should look like, as well as how society should be run under the administration of Christ’s saints. However, they were also at odds with moderate Parliamentarians and other groups who had their own agendas. Thus, they came into conflict, and the results would be severe for the Fifth Monarchy Men. In 1653, John Rogers wrote two controversial works that outlined the political ideas of the Fifth Monarchists. The first, Beth-shemesh, aggressively attacked Presbyterianism, which Rogers abhorred due to its rigid church government which he found too similar to Catholicism (Rogers and most Fifth Monarchists were Independents).38 The second, Sagrir, attacked the taking of tithes by the church of England as being too “popish” and tools of “anti-christ,”39 as well as the lawyers in English society, whom he associated with the “beast and false prophets.”40 The immediate goals of the Fifth Monarchists were clear. They would root out the Presbyterian influences in England, remove the tithe requirements supporting the English church, and take the power away from the lawyers. In the long-term, they had even larger goals that would have revolutionized English society. These ideas were expounded more greatly by other ministers of the movement, such as William Aspinwall.
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