Saturday 24 March 2012

It's an old one, but it still rings true

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!

Oliver Cromwell; closing speech of the Long Parliament, 30 April 1653

6 comments:

A K Haart said...

I'd bring him back tomorrow - warts and all.

Leg-Iron said...

Are you taking the piss with that comment on my blog?, my short story is just that not a T.V series for fucks sake.

Trooper Thompson said...

Leg-Iron,

I didn't post that comment. Some cunt has taken my name in vain.

Trooper Thompson said...

Spoken like a true Irishman, anon.

Anonymous said...

Probably been asked before, but..can anyone recommend a good book on Cromwell/English Civil War? I'd like to know more than what you get in the "approved" version of history.

Trooper Thompson said...

I'd read 'Free Born John', about John Lilburne. That'll tell the story as good as any.