BAREBONES PARLIAMENT, A name in derision applied to Cromwell's 'Assembly of Nominees,' from one of its members• the leather merchant, Praise-God Barebones. This Parlia ment was composed of 140 members selected by the General-in-Chief and the Council of the Army from lists of nominees submitted by the Congregational churches in each county. it met on July 4, 1653; and Cromwell, in a long speech, impressed upon its members their responsibility as godly men. It was expected. apparently, to perform the functions of a kind of constituent convention, preparing the way for the election of a regular Parliament, into whose hands it was to resign its authority. Much ridicule has been cast upon it'for its al leged unpractical character. Its attempt to abol ish tithes and the Court of Chancery, without providing proper substitutes. has been especially criticised. As a matter of fact, it was a very re spectable body, containing many able men. Sev eral very wise measures were enacted. Among
these was an ordinance providing for the civil marriage celebration before justices of the peace, and for civil marriage registration by elected parish registers. Its provisions were in harmony with the contemporary laws of the New England C'olonies, and anticipated the essential principles of the present English system by nearly 200 years. But the Assembly attempted constitu tional legislation which Cromwell regarded as beyond its province; and so, on December 12, 1653, the majority of its members placeo their resignation in his hands. Consult: Carlyle, Cromi•ell's Letters and Speeches, Vol. II. (New York, 1874) ; Green, History of England, Vol. III. (New York, 1879) ; Inde•wick, The Inter regnum (London, 1891) ; Gardiner, Constitution al Documents (Oxford, 1889) ; and especially id., History of thc Commonwealth and Pro tectorate, Vol. II. (London, New York, and 1;oin bay, 1897),