John Drinkwater

“ Cromwell:
Sir, this is a day when every man must speak the truth that is in him, or be silent in shame, and for ever. Mr. Hampden is my kinsman, as you know, one who has my best affection. His word has ever been a strength among us, and no man here but knows his valiance in the cause. ”

“ His desires are our freedom, His wrath our tyranny one over another. Be very merciful in all your ways, for mercy is His name. May His counsel be always with our little fellowship. If I should fail towards any man, let him speak. May we be as brothers always, one to another. And may we serve Him to serve whom alone is wisdom. In Jesus Christ's name, Amen. "All people that on earth do dwell." ”

“ They are mighty, well used in arms, fearless, and not easily to be turned aside. But we go to battle in the name of God. Let every man consider it. Each one of you is here and now called to service in that name, that hereafter in England a man may call his hearth his own. And now may the love of God inform you. In humble courage let us go forward, nourishing our strength, sure always in our cause. May God bless us, and teach us the true valiance, and may He spend us according to His will. ”

“ As you deal by me, and I by you, His eye sees us. Nothing good befalls us but it is by His will, no affliction is ours but His loving mercy will hear us. The Lord God walks at our hand. He is here now in our midst. ”

“ There is no sureness in a man for his purse or his body, or his conscience. The King,—not the head of the state, mark you, expressing the people's will in one authority,—but this man Charles Rex, may use all these as he will. ”

“ It is as though every man were picked.
Fairfax:
I said this to Westminster.
Ireton:
We carry too many callow soldiers against them. Example will be everything. General Cromwell and his chosen troops have that, and experience; none like them.
Pemberton:
Does the General himself know of our necessity, do you think, sir?
Fairfax:
There is no tracing him. He almost certainly does not know, or he would have insisted. There are rumours of him from the eastern counties, of some activities with his men, but no more.
Ireton:
And the hope of England here in grave peril. Westminster is disgraceful. ”

“ Give them one heart, and mutual love. Teach those who look too much upon Thy instrument to depend more upon Thyself. Pardon such as desire to trample upon the dust of a poor worm, for they are Thy people, too. ”

“ Do not flatter them. Let it be the truth. Say that men talk everywhere, more and more openly. Tell them that you heard John Hampden say that the King's Star Chamber was an abomination, that the King soiled his majesty in treating Mr. Prynne and Mr. Bastwick so. Say that you and your like are reviled by all honest men.
23 Ireton:
And you can say that it is no fear of earls or kings that spared you the whipping you would deserve if you were better than shadows.
Bridget:
Well said, Mr. Ireton.
(There is a demonstration of anger from the labourers, but Cromwell checks it.) ”

“ We cannot slight them.
78 Cromwell:
But, sir, you confuse things daily. If the army were no longer intact, it would be another matter. But now it is the army that must be satisfied—in the end there is the real authority. Remember, sir, that these men are not merely soldiers. They are the heart and the conscience of the nation in arms. By their arms thay have prevailed, how bloodily Your Majesty knows. They stand now to see that the settlement is not against that conscience that armed them.
Charles:
But we must consider ourselves. It would be folly to anger the House. ”

“ In the way of life out of which has come this menacing destruction upon us is much of beauty, much of nobility, and the light of man's mind. These things it will be for us in season to cherish and preserve. ”

“ Cromwell:
Poor, silly king. Oliver will be here directly. Shut the window, Henry.
(Ireton shuts the window. He, Elizabeth, and Bridget stand looking out. Mrs. Cromwell returns to her seat. All are very still, and there is a long pause. Then, unseen and unheard, Cromwell comes in, moving slowly, his coat and hat still on, his boots carrying snow. He looks at his people, all with their backs to him. He walks across the room, and stands behind his mother, looking into the fire.) ”

“ And authority this day is an abuse against us to the very pitch of wickedness. We are called to stand for the charter of all men's faith, for the charter which is liberty, which is God. Against us 56 are arrayed the ranks of privilege. ”

“ That we will destroy. It is there as I have said. We attack not faiths or opinions, but despotism. Let a man think as he will, but he shall command no other man to think it.
Ireton:
We will not persecute even our persecutors. But they shall stay their hands, now and for ever.
Cromwell:
This is just; merciful even. Will you work with us together, sir, to the salvation of our country?
Charles:
You are very patient.
Cromwell:
To great ends. Why do you deliberate, sir? What invention is needed? All is so plain. And many wish you disaster. If you refuse this, it may be hard to deny them. ”

“ Cromwell:
Yes.
(Bridget opens the door on to the stone hall, and the labourers stand at the door and beyond.)
Cromwell
(rising) :
My friends, I know not to what labour you will next be called, but we are upon dark and proving days, coming to memorable issues. The tyranny that has worked among us so grievously and long now strikes at our all. We must betake ourselves to defence, or this will be but a rotten realm, fair for no man to live in henceforth. Do not be mistaken. ”

“ This house is all commotion as it is.
Bridget:
I can't help it. There's so much going on everywhere. The King doesn't deal fairly by people, I'm sure. Men like father must say it.
Elizabeth:
Have you put the lavender in the rooms?
Bridget:
No. I'll take it now.
(She takes a tray from the window and goes out.)
Mrs. Cromwell:
I don't know what will happen. I sometimes think the world isn't worth quarrelling about at all. And yet I'm a silly old woman to talk like that. But 8 Oliver is a brave fellow—and John, all of them. I want them to be brave in peace—that's the way you think at eighty. ”

“ Cromwell:
I did not suppose it. But already I am beset by warnings. I dismiss them, giving my word in this for your integrity, as it were.
Charles:
Minds are strained in these days, It is shameless of them to say this.
77 Ireton:
It means so much, you see, sir. Intrigues with Scotland—there are none, we are assured, but if there were it would almost inevitably bring civil war again. The mere shadow of that in men's minds is enough, indeed, to overthrow them. No man can consider the possibility of that without desolation. ”

“ The Earl of Bedford and 21 those with him have not drained these commons for nothing.
Cromwell:
Well?
Second Agent:
They have earned the rights to be proclaimed to-morrow.
Cromwell:
By whose will?
First Agent:
By the King's.
Cromwell:
These rights of pasture belong to the people. It is within no man's powers to take them away.
Second Agent:
The King decrees it.
Cromwell:
I know not how that may be. I know that these rights are the people's, above any earl or king whatsoever. The King is to defend our rights, not to destroy them. ”

“ Cromwell:
The House can do nothing without us. And I have considered you, sir. I have persuaded the army that the monarchy is the aptest form of government for this country. It was difficult, but my belief has prevailed. I have even won respect for Your Majesty's person. Do but give us our guarantees, and you will mount a securer throne, I think, than any king has yet held in England.
Charles:
But Parliament—
Ireton:
No, sir. Parliament's demands are 79 not our demands. To give them what they ask will be to lose all opinion in the army. That would be fatal. ”

“ Charles:
But not this time, Neal, believe me. Their House and their army are at odds. 73 I've seen to that. It has gained time, and perplexed their resolution. And now Scotland will strike again, and this time mortally. Yes, the end will be with us, mark me.
Ned:
May Your Majesty reckon truly.
Charles:
Is Cromwell coming to-night?
Ned:
He said not.
Charles:
Strangely, the fellow grows on me. But he's a fool, Neal. Brave, but a fool. He sees nothing. Indeed, he's too dull. Ireton too—they are heavy stuff. Clods. Poor country. She needs us again truly. ”

“ The House divides, the Yeas, including 34 Cromwell, Hampden, and Ireton, leaving the House, the Noes remaining seated. The tellers for the Noes, with their staffs, count their numbers in the House, while the tellers for the Yeas at the door count theirs as they reënter. The pent-up excitement grows as the Yeas resume their seats and the telling draws to a close. ”

“ Cromwell:
Parliament and the army are at one in asking for constitutional safeguards. All are agreed on that. But after that we are in dispute, irreconcileably. They want a Presbyterian despotism. This land, sir, has had enough of despotism, and we will not exchange one despotism for another. ”

“ Honest men served you faithfully in this action. Sir, they 70 are trusty; I beseech you, in the name of God, not to discourage them. I wish this action may beget thankfulness and humility in all that are concerned in it. He that ventures his life for the liberty of his country, I wish he trust God for the liberty of his conscience, and you for the liberty he fights for. In this he rests, who is your most humble servant....
From the camp at Naseby field, in Northamptonshire. ”

“ That the grievances set out in this Remonstrance now before you are just is clear. The matter has been debated by us these eight hours, and none has been able to deny the wrongs which are here set forth. It is not well with our state, and correction is needed. Mr. Ireton has very clearly shown us how this is. But we must be wary. The King is the King, a necessary part, as it must seem to us, of the government of this country.
(There are murmurs for and against this; assent in the majority.) To pass this Remonstrance can be no other than to pass a vote of no confidence in that King. ”

“ That gentleman pleads that this Remonstrance is a vote of want of confidence in the King, such as none of us would willingly pass. Mr. Hampden replies that it is no such vote. I say to you that it is such a vote, and that I would pass it 31 with all my heart. Sir, this country, the spirit of man in this country, has suffered grievances too great to be borne. By whom are they laid upon us? I say it is by the King. Is a man's estate secure to himself? Does not the King pass upon it levies for his own designs? You know that it is so. Is there not ship money? ”

“ Pemberton:
Our men are watching something. It is something moving. Horsemen—it must be.
(The excitement grows and grows. Ireton joins Pemberton.)
Ireton:
There is something.
Fairfax:
Gentlemen, let us promise ourselves nothing.
(Ireton and Pemberton move into the tent at Fairfax's word. As they do so the voices outside break out into a great shout—"Ironsides—Ironsides—Ironsides is coming to lead us!" The scout comes in, glowing.)
Fairfax
(rising) :
Yes?
The Scout:
General Cromwell is riding into the field with his Ironsides, sir, some six hundred strong. ”

“ Mrs. Cromwell:
And now, I am tired. Bless you, Oliver, my son. The Lord cause His face to shine upon you, and comfort you in all your adversities, and enable you to do great things for the glory of your most high God, and to be a relief unto His people. My dear son. I leave my heart with you. A good night.
(They both kiss her.)
Mrs. Cromwell:
Is Amos Tanner here?
Bridget:
Yes, grandmother.
Mrs. Cromwell:
Ask him to sing to me. Very quietly. The song he sang that night at Ely—you remember—when John and Henry were there.
(Bridget goes out.)
95 Mrs. Cromwell:
You have been a good son. ”