Barbone's Parliament

Barbone's Parliament, the 'Little Parliament' summoned by Oliver Cromwell, met 4th July 1653, and was so nicknamed from the name of one of its members, Praise-God Barbon or Barebone, a leather merchant. It consisted of 139 persons, 'faithful, fearing God, and hating covetousness,' but mostly of very destructive social principles. These began by abolishing the Court of Chancery, and were proceeding to abolish tithes, to the alarm of the more moderate members, and of Cromwell himself, who dissolved the parliament on 12th December of the same year.