Friday, January 23, 2009

Cromwell Dissolves the Long Parliament

It was suggested after I posted Wolsey's Farewell from Henry VIII that another, perhaps more appropriate, send-off was Oliver Cromwell's words dissolving the Long Parliament in 1653:

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!

In any event, Tuesday was a wonderful day not only for supporters of President Obama (i.e., 80% of the American People) but also for those of us (probably the same 80%) overwhelmingly gratified to see the back of GWB and his cronies.

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