Barebone's Parliament

Barebone's Parliament is a name given derisively to Oliver Cromwell's Little Parliament, which met on July 4, 1653. It was called so after one Praise-God Barebone, a member of it. "If not the remarkablest Assembly, yet the Assembly for the remarkablest purpose," says Carlyle, "that ever met in the modern world; the business being no less than introducing of the Christian religion into real practice in the social affairs of this nation.... In this it failed, could not but fail, with what we call the Devil and all his angels against it, and the Little Parliament had to go its ways again," 12th of December in the same year.

Nearby pages
Barefaced, Barefoot, Barefoot doctor, Barege, Bareges