Oliver Cromwell’s Speech on the Dissolution of the Long Parliament
May 20th, 2009 | Posted by Paul |
20th April 1653 – 356 years ago today – Oliver Cromwell’s Speech on the Dissolution of the Long Parliament Given to the House of Commons:
It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonored 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 barter’d 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 defil’d this sacred place, and turn’d 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 redress’d, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!
Sound familiar? 
Couldn’t have put it better without resorting to bad language……lol
as true today as it was then
A statement 356 years old and as relevant today as it was then, the British have a long way to go become mature enough to realise there full Democracy.