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Tuesday 3 September 2019

Oliver Cromwell: 'In the name of God, go!' speech dismissing Rump Parliament - 1653

20 April 1653, London, England
"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 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!"
History repeats itself. 
Eddie

17 comments:

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

Old Ollie certainly had a turn of phrase, didn't he? And it's nice to see there was no ambiguity in what he said! Despite his many critics, Oliver Cromwell was a Good Thing for Britain.

Natalia said...

I love history, thank for reminding us that☺

Tom said...

...sounds familiar.

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

Lesson learned!

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

awwww...I wish 'our guy' could dismiss Congress...sigh

Chris Lally said...

Times change. People don't.

DeniseinVA said...

I enjoyed reading this historical letter. Thanks Eddie and I do wish you all the very best in what's coming.

Jeanie said...

This is really interesting, Eddie. He sure says what he thinks, doesn't he?!

Christine said...

History does repeat itself I was going to say too.

Bill said...

It does sound familiar

Phil Slade said...

It all ended in years. I'm on the lookout for a pikestaff.

Francisco Manuel Carrajola Oliveira said...

Gostei deste artigo e aproveito para desejar a continuação de uma boa semana.

Andarilhar
Dedais de Francisco e Idalisa
O prazer dos livros

Teresa said...

Me recuerda mucho estas palabras. Saludos.

Jenn Jilks said...

That is just hilarious!

baili said...

it seemed i am watching an old historical drama on netflix dear Eddi!

i honestly don't know what prompted this post but my best wishes for your land and people always my friend!

Debbie said...

a very interesting letter!!

carol l mckenna said...

Yep ~ history repeats itself ~ 'when do we learn, finally.' ~ hmmmmm

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