Oliver Cromwell Part 13

(They all rise, and, bareheaded, together they repeat, "G.o.d our strength.")

THE SCENE CLOSES

SCENE V

_The same tent. Night--with torches and candles. An aide stands at the tent opening. The sentries pa.s.s to and fro. It is after the action.

IRETON, severely wounded, is on a couch, surgeons attending him.

CROMWELL, himself battered and with a slight head wound, stands by the couch._

_Cromwell:_ It is not mortal. You are sure of that?

_The Surgeon:_ He is hurt, grievously, but he will live now.

_Cromwell:_ The danger is gone?

_The Surgeon:_ Yes. But it will be slow.

_Ireton:_ Whalley--there--in G.o.d's name, man. Tell Spilsby to beat down under General Cromwell. There's not a minute to lose. Whalley--that's good--come--no man--left--left--now, once more. G.o.d is our strength.

_Cromwell:_ There, my son. Brave, brave. It is well.

_Ireton_ (himself): How is it--out there?

_Cromwell:_ They are scattered.

_Ireton:_ Scattered. Write to Bridget.

_Cromwell:_ Yes--it is done.

_Ireton:_ Read.

_Cromwell_ (reading a letter from the table): My dearest daughter,-- This in all haste. We have fought to-day at Naseby. The field at all points is ours. They are destroyed beyond mending. Henry is hurt, but he is well attended, and the surgeons have no fear. He shall be brought to you by the first means. He has great honour to-day for himself and for us all.

_Ireton:_ He loves you.

(CROMWELL adds a word to the letter. Then he leaves IRETON to the surgeons and speaks to SETH, who is at the table.)

_Cromwell:_ Seth, will you write, please.

(He dictates very quietly, not to disturb IRETON.)

To the Speaker of the Commons of England, at Westminster.

Sir,--This, of which the General advises you, is none other but the hand of G.o.d, and to Him alone belongs the glory, wherein none are to share with him. The General served you with all faithfulness and honour; and the best commendation I can give him is, that I dare say he attributes all to G.o.d, and would rather perish than a.s.sume to himself. Which is an honest and a thriving way; and yet as much for bravery may be given to him, in this action, as to a man. Honest men served you faithfully in this action. Sir, they are trusty; I beseech you, in the name of G.o.d, 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 G.o.d 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.

(He signs the letter. Outside in the night the Puritan troops are heard singing the One Hundred and Seventeenth Psalm:

"O praise the Lord, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the Lord endureth for ever.

Praise ye the Lord."

They listen. IRETON sleeps.)

_Cromwell:_ They sing well.

(He looks at a map; then, to the aide:) Go to General Peyton. Tell him to keep three troops of horse four miles down the Leicester road there. He is not to move them till daybreak. And ask Colonel Reade to let me have his figures as soon as he can.

_The Aide:_ Yes, sir.

(He goes.)

_Cromwell:_ Finish that other letter, will you?

(SETH writes again.)

I can say this of Naseby. When I saw the enemy draw up and march in gallant order towards us, and we, a company of poor ignorant men to seek how to order our battle,--the General having commanded me to order all the horse,--I could not, riding along about my business, but smile out to G.o.d in my praises, in a.s.surance of victory,

(the Psalm is heard again)

because G.o.d would, by things that are not, bring to naught the things that are. Of which I had great a.s.surance, and G.o.d did it.

(The singing still heard)

THE SCENE CLOSES

SCENE VI

_An evening in November, 1647. A room in Hampton Court, where CHARLES THE FIRST, now a prisoner with the army, is lodged._

_At a table, writing, is NEAL, the King's secretary. He finishes his doc.u.ment, and, going to a bureau, locks it away. He returns to the table, and, taking up an unopened envelope, examines it carefully. As he is doing so CHARLES enters from an inner room._

_Charles:_ From Hamilton?

_Neal:_ Yes, sire.

_Charles:_ Has it been opened?