Pray, let me your ears and I'll tell you our story. A drama of power, of battle and glory, for Parliament's tale is a tale to savor whatever your taste or political flavour. A thousand years past our kings wanted a ballot that others would look on in envious malice, competing to build the grandest of vote, but Westminster Hall was the most alarm-mode. The king gets too bossy, so here comes Magna Carta to reign in his powers and do things much smarter. Council meets in his chambers for intrigue and dramas, and Parliament's born with the king, Impa-Jamas. Two hundred years later, more voting arrives though it's four hundred more till it touches most lives. No poor people or women get electoral powers and the wait will be long till democracy flowers. Back to the palace, Westminster's ablaze, leaving poor Henry the eighth in a day's. The council remains, but the king soon are packing, so Parliament gets the first home it was lacking. Wales and England unite in a bold new beginning, common laws for both lands, the judiciary's grinning, but Guy Fork slows fuses on 5th of November and gives the whole country a night to remember. Now grim civil war sounds the monarchy's death now, and power is seized by bold Oliver Cromwell. For the outcomes the one that the king has most dreaded, and on a cold lonely morning, the poor bloke's beheaded. Charles II does better, he's soon back on the throne, and Scotland ensures that he won't feel alone. With Scottish MPs, Parliament's now overflowing, but a hundred more from Ireland to keep the numbers are growing. Reforms, now democracies looking more healthy, one in seven can vote if they're male grown and wealthy. The new is it with fires, again Parliament's burning. Westminster Hall saved, guessed the fire brigade's learning, a new building's built with lots of to-do lists, and Big Ben is added, which pleases the tourists. Yet something smells funny, and though Parliament's newer, they had to go sort out the stink from the sewer. Our women want votes, chain themselves to the railing, their passion is great, their resolve is unfailing, then the men go to war in the greatest of slaughters, leaving the land in the hands of their wives and their daughters. And in 1918, female suffrage arrives, and so in the wake of the war, a democracy thrives. It is isn't for long that we lay down our weapons, as once more the specter of world war was starting. Parliament's bombed 14 times in the air raids, and Commonwealth's send in repairs helping upgrades. Skip on to the 60s, equality, and flares, voting age 18 now that Parliament dares. The 80s were almost back to the present. Time to make Parliament look much more pleasant. It's been burnt down and rebuilt and crowded and smelly, but it's scrubbed up all nice when it gets on the telly. And so ends our tale of war, fire, and mystery. Why not go find out more about democracy's history?