Tom Harwood: Cromwell's original words to the Rump Parliament might have been a bit much for David Davis to deliver in full, but a fascinating piece of history

Now David Davis invoked Leo Amery’s words to Neville Chamberlain precipitating his fall in 1940 - well those words were themselves quoting Oliver Cromwell's dismissal of the Rump Parliament in 1653.

Yes, 1653, we really do bring you the most up to date news here on The Briefing.

Well there's a twist, as the Cromwell museum pointed out yesterday, Leo Amery's words in 1940 are likely a paraphrasing of what Cromwell actually said.

Sadly what was said in Parliament was not formally transcribed until the 1800s, but whilst we don't have the exact words we do have a fairly good idea of what Cromwell probably said.

Of course he was dismissing a Parliament, not a person, so I have to say these are words Boris could have himself could have aptly said in the dying days of the last Parliament as it tore itself apart over Brexit.

So thanks to the Cromwell museum for this, here are those likely words Cromwell said in dismissing the Rump Parliament, 400 years ago.

It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice.

Ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government. Ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.

Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse. Gold is your God. Which of you have not bartered your conscience for bribes?

Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth? Ye sordid prostitutes, have you not defiled this sacred place, and turned the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices?

Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation. You were deputed here by the people to get grievances redressed, are yourselves become the greatest grievance. Your country therefore calls upon me to cleanse this Augean stable.

By putting a final period to your iniquitous proceedings in this House; and which by God's help, and the strength he has given me, I am now come to do. I command ye therefore, upon the peril of your lives, to depart immediately out of this place.

Go, get you out! Make haste! Ye venal slaves be gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!”

Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors. In the name of God, go!

Well that might have been a bit much for David Davis to deliver in full, but a fascinating piece of history nonetheless.