great work which, it was expected, the Lord was to bring
forth among them. All fanatics, being consecrated by their own fond
imaginations, naturally hear an antipathy to the ecclesiastics, who
claim a peculiar sanctity, derived merely from their office and priestly
character. This parliament took into consideration the abolition of the
clerical function, as savoring of Popery; and the taking away of tithes,
which they called a relic of Judaism. Learning also and the universities
were deemed heathenish and unnecessary: the common law was denominated
a badge of the conquest and of Norman slavery; and they threatened the
lawyers with a total abrogation of their profession. Some steps were
even taken towards an abolition of the chancery,[*] the highest court
of judicature in the kingdom; and the Mosaical law was intended to be
established as the sole system of English jurisprudence.[**]

Of all the extraordinary schemes adopted by these legislators, they
had not leisure to finish any, except that which established the legal
solemnization of marriage by the civil magistrate alone, without the
interposition of the clergy. They found themselves exposed to the
derision of the public. Among the fanatics of the house, there was an
active member much noted for his long prayers, sermons, and harangues.
He was a leather-seller in London, his name Praise-God Barebone.
This ridiculous name, which seems to have been chosen by some poet or
allegorist to suit so ridiculous a personage struck the fancy of the
people; and they commonly affixed to this assembly the appellation of
Barebone's parliament.[***]

* Whitlocke, p. 543, 548.

* Conference held at Whitehall.

* It was usual for the pretended saints at that time to
change their names from Henry, Edward, Anthony, William,
which they regarded as heathenish, into others more
sanctified and godly: even the New Testament names, James,
Andrew, John, Peter, were not held in such regard as those
which were borrowed from the Old Testament, Hezekiah
Habakkuk, Joshua, Zerobabel. Sometimes a whole godly
sentence was adopted as a name. Here are the names of a jury
said to be enclosed in the county of Sussex about that
time:--

Accepted, Trevor of Norsham. Redeemed, Compton of Battle.
Faint not, Hewit of Heathfield. Make Peace, Heaton of Hare.
God Reward, Smart of Fivehurst. Standfast on High, Stringer
of Crowhu