Cromwell, Oliver

(1599–1658)

   Lord protector of Britain 1653–8. As lord protector after the Puritan victory in the English Civil War, Cromwell was disposed to favour the re-entry of the Jews, who had been banned in 1290. He was not motivated only by religious tolerance, but considered that the Jews were likely to improve English trade at the expense of Holland. There were already a few groups of Marranos in England and Cromwell seems to have known some of them personally. He supported the proposal for re-admission submitted by MANASSEH BEN-ISRAEL.

   In 1655 the Council of State was divided on the question, and a conference was convened of twenty-eight men distinguished in public, economic and intellectual life. The main statement was made by Cromwell. It was found that no actual law existed forbidding the return of the Jews: EDWARD I’s expulsion had been by royal prerogative only. When the conference wished to impose harsh conditions on Jews who settled in the country, Cromwell dissolved it. It was expected that he would then re-admit the Jews on his own authority, but in fact he did nothing. The most serious opposition came from some of the clergy and the merchants. Cromwell poured scorn on the objections of the latter, demanding how such a miserable and wretched people as they said the Jews were could be any threat to English merchants.

   Cromwell passed to the Council of State a petition from the Marrano community in England, affirming his desire that they should approve it. The decision is not on record, but the lease of the first London synagogue was signed on 19 December 1656.

   Cromwell also demonstrated friendship for Manasseh ben-Israel by granting him a pension of Ј100 a year. The fact that there was no formal decree for readmitting the Jews proved to be an advantage, for Jewish life revived in England without restrictive conditions being imposed.