Struggle for Constitiitional Government 247 talk of dissolving themselves. He most reluctantly de- cided that it was his duty to scatter them. The famous scene here described is taken from the journal kept by Sidney, whose son Algernon was one of the most dis- tinguished members of the " rump." Wednesday, 20th April. The Parliament sitting as usual, and being on debate upon the bill 1 with amendments, which it was thought would have been passed that day, the Lord General Cromwell came into the House, clad in plain black clothes, with gray stockings, and sat down, as he used to do, in an ordinary place. After a while he rose up, put off his hat, and spake ; at first and for a good while he spake to the commendation of the Parliament, for their pains and care of the public good ; but afterwards he changed his style, told them of their injustice, delays of justice, self-interest, and other faults. Then he said, " Per- haps you think this is not parliamentary language ; I con- fess it is not, neither are you to expect any such from me." Then he put on his hat, went out of his place, and walked up and down the stage or floor in the midst of the House, with his hat on his head, and chid them soundly, looking sometimes, and pointing particularly, upon some persons, as Sir R. Whitlock, one of the Commissioners for the Great Seal ; Sir Henry Vane, to whom he gave very sharp language, though he named them not, but by his gestures it was well known that he meant them. After this he said to Colonel Harrison (who was a mem- ber of the House), "Call them in." Then Harrison went out, and presently brought in Lieutenant-Colonel Wortley (who commanded the General's own regiment of foot), with five or six files of musketeers, about twenty or thirty with their muskets. Then the General, pointing to the Speaker in his chair, said to Harrison, "Fetch him down." Harri- son went to the Speaker and spoke to him to come down, but the Speaker sat still and said nothing. "Take him 321. How Cromwell broke up the rem- nants of the Long Parliament 1 To dissolve itself.
