English Civil War

Parliament and Cromwell

Cromwell dissolves the Long Parliament

During these years, Cromwell found Parliament to be a contrary and difficult body, and he was as unhappy as Charles had been with it. But he also found himself every bit as dependent on it as Charles had been, for he too needed money for the wars.

He had already asked Parliament to disband and it had refused. In April 1653, Parliament proposed to expand its membership and to sit permanently.

Cromwell entered the House during the debate. He listened for a while, then rose to his feet and shouted:

"Come, come! I will put an end to your prating. You are no Parliament. I say you are no Parliament. I will put an end to your sitting."

Before the stunned MPs could recover, Cromwell had called his troops into the House and cleared it. Oliver Cromwell had seized power.

History of Western Civilization

E.L. Skip Knox
Boise State University

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