Oliver Cromwell and the British Parliament

On April 20, 1653 when Oliver Cromwell entered the British Parliament with his soldiers and said to the members assembled there:

“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice. Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money. Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth? Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord’s temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?  Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yours! elves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. You have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately. Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!”

The soldiers then made the MPs get out of the Assembly Hall, and locked it up.

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)