“It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt for 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…

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?…

Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; ye were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress’d, and are yourselves gone…

In the name of God, go!”

~Oliver Cromwell 1653