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OLIVER CROMWELL THROWING OUT THE
PARLIAMENT - 1653
Dismissal of the Rump Parliament
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Oliver Cromwell.
Go here for more about
Cromwell's Rump Parliament Ejection
speech.
It follows the full text transcript of
Oliver Cromwell's speech dissolving the Rump
Parliament, delivered at London, England - April 20, 1653.
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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 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 yourselves become the greatest
grievance.
Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse
this Augean stable, by putting a final period to
your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and
which by God's help, and the strength he has
given me, I am now come to do.
I command ye
therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to
depart immediately out of this place.
Go, get you out!
Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take
away that shining bauble there, and lock up the
doors.
In the name of God, go!
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