Vocabulary

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

Video

 

 
 
 
 

Transcript

Member of Parliament one: No member of this House should be permitted to profit from his office.

MPs: Yeah, yeah!

Member of Parliament one: If this House must do its duty to the nation, it would terminate its sitting and let a new parliament be elected.

MPs: Yeah, yeah! No!

Sir Thomas Fairfax, MP: Gentlemen, I move that this House be given the power to remain in office a further three years — without re-election.

MPs: Yeah, yeah! No! No! No.

Member of Parliament two: In my opinion, a committee of inquiry should be set up to investigate the financial involvement of some members.

MPs: Nah, nah! No. No. Rubbish. Sit down.

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Oliver Cromwell: Mr Speaker. May I have your permission to address this assembly?

Speaker of the House: By all means, sir.

Oliver Cromwell: My lord. Honorable members. I’ve always desired, upon my life, a free parliament, sitting by the authority of the good people of this nation. A parliament open and visible, to be seen by all men.

It’s been six years since I handed it over to you this great responsibility in the hope that you would make good and wholesome laws which the people of this nation expects.

I must confess to some abatement for my hopes.

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So what has happened in my absence?

Instead of uniting the good people of this nation, with righteousness and peace, which would have been a glorious and Christian thing to have done, what do I find?

Anarchy. Corruption. Division. And dissatisfaction.

I say, the enemies of this nation have flourished under your protection. You were from the beginning, a provisional government not truly representative of the people. For had the people elected you, as this house done once, to people it purport to represent?

No, it has not!

And after six years of misgovernment, what do we find? That Thomas Fairfax moves a bill to give this house a further lease of this worthless and dishonorable life.

Gentlemen, an immovable parliament is as obnoxious than an immovable king.

Drunkards, thespian, villains. Whoremasters. Godless self-seeking and vicious.

You are no more capable of conducting the affairs of this nation than you are of running a brothel.

You are SCUM, sir! And a truly elected scum at that!

This is no parliament. I shall put an end to your sitting.

I hereby declare this parliament DISSOLVED!

Colonel Harrelson!

Earl of Manchester, MP: Rubbish!

Oliver Cromwell: Remove them!

Captain of Soldiers: Come on. Get them out!

Member of Parliament: DICTATORSHIP! DICTATOR! Dictator!

Soldier: Come, sir!

Speaker of the House: I refuse to quit this chair!

Soldier: By your leave, sir!

Oliver Cromwell: Away with this barbel!

Sir Thomas Fairfax: I seem to recall that we cut off a king’s head for such as this.
Oliver Cromwell: You are a traitor, sir. It is the likes of you who have turned my hand to this.

I have sought the law of guidance on this night and day on this matter. It is not idly done.

But this nation will be justly governed.

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I will give this nation back its self-respect. We will walk in this world with our heads held high. I will liberate man’s souls from the darkness of ignorance. I will build schools and universities for all.

This will become the Golden Age of learning!

I will bring the law within the reach of the common man. There will be work and bread for all.

This nation will prosper, because it is a godly nation. And because we walk hand-in-hand with the Lord!

I swear by the name of the living God that I will see this nation properly governed, if I have to do it myself.

Dear God, give me the strength to do it.

Oh, Lord!

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Questions

King and Queen. In the beginning, were the Members of Parliament joking, laughing and telling stories?

Princess and Prince. A member of parliament proposed that the English government should help poor people and build more schools and hospitals. True or false?

Royal Family. Did all the MPs completely agree or disagree about various laws and issues?

Parliament, Houses of Parliament.Was Cromwell proud and happy with the new parliament?

House of Commons. Cromwell just sat and listened. Is this correct or incorrect? Did he just stand up and begin speaking?

Member Of Parliament. How did he describe the Members of Parliament? Did he say they were selfless, dedicated, honest, just and served and presented ordinary English people?

Speaker. The Members of Parliament told Cromwell to get out, and he left the House. Is this correct or incorrect?

House of Lords. Did Cromwell say he was going to be the next king of England? Did he say he wanted to live in a castle or palace, have a beautiful queen and be rich?
 
 
 
Conservative Party, Labour Party, Liberal Party. Is your country a republic or a (constitutional) monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, empire, autocracy, oligarchy, dictatorship, welfare state?

Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle. Is the government perfectly smooth and stable, are there debates, arguments and controversies, or chaos and instability?

Prime Minister. Does your government have problems? Are there problems with politicians and government officials and authorities?

Cabinet. Briefly describe the history, changes and evolution of your government.

Lord and Lady. What might happen in the future?

Nobility, Nobleman, Noblewoman. What could or should people and governments do? How can the government or system be improved?