BAREBONE'S PARLIAMENT, in English history the name derisively given to the nominated parliament, summoned in the name of Cromwell after the expulsion of the Rump (April 20, 1653) . At the fall of the "long parliament" some had advocated government through a nominated assembly, others through a smaller council. Cromwell inclined to the former view, and early in May letters were despatched in the name of the general and the council of the army to the Congregational Churches inviting suggestions of fit persons to sit in the new assembly. Answers had been received by the end of the month, and from the names sub mitted, the council of the army selected the final choice of 140 for England, 5 for Scotland, and 6 for Ireland. On July 4 the delegates met, assuming by a resolution of July 6 the name of parliament. The nick-name which has since tempered its dignity is derived from the name of one of its obscurer members— one Praise-God Barebone, or Barbon (q.v.).
From the first the members took a solemn view of their respon sibilities, but their ardour for reform unhappily outran their ability for constructive thought. Sensible measures—such as the establishment of civil marriage before a justice of peace, the parochial registration of births, marriages and burials, and acts for the relief of creditors and the poor, and for the safe custody of lunatics—were countered by ill-advised attempts to abolish tithes, patronage, and the court of chancery, and, without any qualifica tions for the task, to codify the law. Cromwell was "more troubled now with the fool than with the knave." Reaction followed. The ideas afterwards embodied in "the Instrument of Government" had been first circulated at the time of the expulsion of the Rump. Revived privately in October, the plan was increasingly discussed in November. On Dec. 1, Cromwell rejected the draft containing the suggestion that he should take the title of king ; his supporters, however, were determined to force his hand. On Dec. 12 a section of the parliament accused their opponents of destroy ing the clergy, the law and the property of the subject, and by a surprise motion resolved upon the abdication of the parliament. The majority thereupon waited on Cromwell and laid their resig nation before him; while the recalcitrant minority was expelled from the house by the military. Next day Lambert produced "the Instrument of Government" (q.v.) which after two days' discus sion established the system of Government which lasted until the Humble Petition and Advice (q.v.) of May See H. A. Glass, The Barbone Parliament (1899) ; S. R. Gardiner, History of the Commonwealth and Protectorate, vol. ii. (19o3).