Oliver Cromwell (1599–1658), British Parliamentarian general, Lord Protector of England. speech, Apr. 20, 1653, dismissing the "rump" of the Long Parliament. Memorials of the English Affairs, Bulstrode Whitelock (1732).
Cromwell later justified his action: "When I was there, I did not think to have done this. But perceiving the Spirit of God so strong upon me, I would not consult flesh and blood." The move was a popular one in the nation, inspiring the ditty: "Brave Oliver came to the House like a sprite, His fiery face struck the Speaker dumb; 'Begone,' said he, 'you have sat long enough, Do you think to sit here till Doomsday come?'" (quoted in G.M. Trevelyan's History of England (1927) bk. 4, ch. 4 Three centuries later, Cromwell's words were addressed by the Conservative poltician Leo Amery in a speech of May 7, 1940, to the government of Neville Chamberlain, who stepped down in favor of Winston Churchill's wartime coalition government three days later.