By 1520, Cromwell was firmly established in London mercantile and legal circles. In 1523, he obtained a seat in the House of Commons as a Burgess, though the constituency he represented has not been identified. After Parliament had been dissolved, Cromwell wrote a letter to a friend, jesting about the session's lack of productivity:I amongst other have indured a parlyament which contenwid by the space of xvii hole wekes wher we communyd of warre pease Stryffe contencyon debatte murmure grudge Riches poverte penurye trowth falshode Justyce equyte dicayte opprescyon Magnanymyte actyvyte foce [force attempraunce Treason murder Felonye consyli... [conciliation and also how a commune welth myght be ediffyed and acontenewid within our Realme. Howbeyt in conclusyon we have d[one as our predecessors have been wont to doo that ys to say, as well we myght and lefte wher we begann.