Oliver Cromwell Part 14

_Neal:_ I think not.

(CHARLES takes the letter, opens and reads it.)

_Charles:_ Good. The commissioners from Scotland are in London. They are prepared to hear from us.

_Neal:_ Andrews goes to London to-night. He is to be trusted.

_Charles:_ Everything begins to move for us again. To-morrow they will miss us here, eh, Neal? In a week we should be at Carisbrooke.

_Neal:_ Do not be too confident, sire. Things have miscarried before.

_Charles:_ But not this time, Neal, believe me. Their House and their army are at odds. 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. To check such mummers as these--all means are virtuous for that, Neal, eh?

_Neal:_ Your Majesty knows.

_Charles:_ Yes, we need no counsel. You are sure that Cromwell was not coming to-night.

_Neal:_ That was as he said, sire.

_Charles:_ Then let us consider. These Scots. What was it? Did you set it down?

_Neal:_ Yes, sire.

(He gets the paper that he put in the bureau, and gives it to CHARLES.)

_Charles_ (reading it): Yes. Write.

(NEAL does so on a large folio sheet.)

Clause I. For the reason that the Scots should invade England. Let the intrigues of Parliament with the army and its leaders--notably Oliver Cromwell--to the peril of the Church and the King, stand to the world in justification. Clause 2. The royal forces in England shall move when and as the Duke of Hamilton directs. Clause 3. The King shall guarantee Presbyterian control in England for three years from this date. But the King shall for himself be at liberty to use his own form of divine service. Clause 4. All opinion and practice of those who call themselves Independents are to be suppressed. To see that this is diligently done may be left to the King's pleasure.... Yes--once we are at Carisbrooke.... Copy that, Neal. I will sign it. Let it go by Andrews to-night.

_Neal:_ Yes, sire.

_Charles:_ Do it now.

(NEAL proceeds to do so. CHARLES moves across to a book-case between the table and the main door. As he stands there, there is a knock at the door.)

_Charles:_ Yes?

(The door is opened by CROMWELL, with whom is IRETON.)

_Charles:_ Mr. Cromwell. We did not expect you.

_Cromwell:_ No, sir. It is unexpected.

(As the two men come into the room, CHARLES covers NEAL from them as he can. The secretary has no time but to conceal his note by placing it under a case of folio papers on the table. As the others approach the table, he bows and retires. CHARLES sits, and motions the others to do the same. CROMWELL takes NEAL'S place.)

_Cromwell:_ We came, sir, to rea.s.sure ourselves.

_Charles:_ As to what?

_Cromwell:_ Your Majesty knows that, in treating with you as we have done these months past, we have been subject to suspicions.

_Charles:_ I imagined that it might be so. But your character and your reputation, Mr. Cromwell, can ignore these.

_Cromwell:_ It is suggested that we become courtiers, and susceptible as courtiers are. But that is nothing. Continually we are told that Your Majesty will outwit us.

_Charles:_ But that is too fantastic. Between men so open one with another. Our scruples--persuasion--yes, these may take time. We may not always easily understand each other there. But that there should be any question of duplicity between us--it is monstrous. We may disagree, stubbornly, Mr.

Cromwell, but we know each the other's thought.

_Cromwell:_ I believe it. You know nothing of these Scotch agents in London?

_Charles:_ Scotch?

_Ireton:_ They arrived yesterday.

_Charles:_ Who are they?

_Cromwell:_ You do not know, sir?

_Charles:_ I? Indeed, no.

_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.

_Ireton:_ It means so much, you see, sir. Intrigues with Scotland--there are none, we are a.s.sured, 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.

_Charles:_ No. That is unquestionable.

_Cromwell:_ And so I was minded to come, and be sure by word of mouth, so to speak.

Your Majesty knows how suspicions creep in absence, even of those whom we trust. And I have shown, sir, that I trust you.

_Charles:_ We are not insensitive.

_Ireton:_ It is of that trust, truly worn, sir, that we may all yet look for a happy settlement.

_Charles:_ It is my hope, devoutly.

_Cromwell:_ Parliament bends a little to my persuasion. If I could but induce Your Majesty to treat no longer directly with them, but to leave all to me.