Oliver Cromwell Part 5

_Cromwell:_ Yes, yes. Bridget, girl.

(BRIDGET goes.)

_Mrs. Cromwell:_ Oliver, boy, you were quite right--all that you said to those men, I mean. I don't approve, mind you, but you were quite right.

_Cromwell:_ Thank you, mother. I knew you would think so.

_Elizabeth:_ I wonder what will come of it. You never know, once you begin like this.

_Cromwell:_ You never know, wife.

_Hampden:_ There are lessons to be learnt.

_Cromwell:_ That's what they said.

(BRIDGET returns with a foaming pot of ale, which she gives to AMOS.)

_Cromwell_ (drinking): To freedom, John. That's good sherry. I respect not such ill reasoners as would keep all wine out of the country lest men should be drunk. Now, Amos. Come along, John, my touch was good last night. I shall beat you.

(He goes out on to the lawn beyond the window, with HAMPDEN and IRETON.

They are seen pa.s.sing to and fro, playing bowls.)

_Amos_ (singing:) When I shall in the churchyard lie, Poor scholar though I be, The wheat, the barley, and the rye Will better wear for me.

For truly have I ploughed and sown, And kept my acres clean; And written on my churchyard stone This character be seen:

"His flocks, his barns, his gear he made His daily diligence, Nor counted all his earnings paid In pockets full of pence."

(As he finishes, the bowlers stand listening at the window.)

THE SCENE CLOSES

SCENE II

_The Commons of England in session at St. Hepburn's Chapel, Westminster, on November 22, 1641. CROMWELL, HAMPDEN, IRETON among those sitting. We see the east end of the Chapel, with the SPEAKER. It is past midnight, and the house is lighted with candles. A member is speaking._

_The Member:_ 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; a.s.sent in the majority.)

To pa.s.s this Remonstrance can be no other than to pa.s.s a vote of no confidence in that King. Consider this. Saying so much, how shall you deny to overthrow the crown if need be? And who among you is willing to bear that burden?

(The murmurs grow to conflicting cries.)

I beseech you let us not commit ourselves thus. Nor do not think I am weak in zeal. There are evil counsellors with the King, and they would destroy us. Our liberties must be looked to. But there should be moderation in this act. We should choose some other way. We must defend ourselves, but we must not challenge the King's authority so.

(He sits down to a confusion of voices, and HAMPDEN rises.)

_Hampden:_ My friend, I think, is deceived. This Remonstrance is not against the King. It is from the people of this country against a policy. We desire no judgment--all we ask is redress. If we a.s.sert ourselves as in this instrument, we but put the King in the way of just government. I think the King hardly knows the measure of his wrongs against us, and I say it who have suffered.

(A murmur of a.s.sent.)

To speak clearly as is here done will, I think, be to mend his mind towards us. This Remonstrance has been drawn with all care. Not only is its intent free of blame towards the King's majesty and person, but it can, I hope, be read by no fair-minded man in the way that my friend fears. If I thought that, I should consider more closely my support of it. But I have considered with all patience, and it seems to me good.

(He sits, and again there is a rattle of argument. CROMWELL rises.)

_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 has been a long suffering, and his integrity but ripens. But I do not read this occasion as he does, nor, let me say, do I fear it as does our friend who spoke before. That gentleman pleads that this Remonstrance is a vote of want of confidence in the King, such as none of us would willingly pa.s.s. Mr. Hampden replies that it is no such vote. I say to you that it is such a vote, and that I would pa.s.s it 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 pa.s.s upon it levies for his own designs? You know that it is so. Is there not ship money? Mr. Hampden can tell you. Is not that the King's affair? Is there not a Star Chamber? Ask Mr. Prynne and those others.

These men disliked the King's church--a very dangerous church as it seems to me--and were bold to say so. And for that each was fined five thousand pounds, and had his ears cut off, and is now in prison for life. And does not the Star Chamber belong to the King? Who among you can deny it? And this land is bruised, I tell you, by such infamies.

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. I aim not to overthrow the monarchy. I know its use and fitness in the realm, as well as any. But this can endure no longer. The King is part of the state, but we have a King who has sought to put the state to his private use. The King should have his authority, but it is an authority subject to the laws of the people. This King denies it, and his judges flatter the heresy. You have but one question before you--there is in truth but one raised by this Remonstrance. Is England to be governed by the King or by elected representatives of the people? That is what we have now to decide, not for ourselves alone, but for our children in the generations to come. If the King will profit by a lesson, I with any man will be his loyal and loving subject. But at this moment a lesson must be given. Why else have you appointed my Lord of Ess.e.x from Parliament to take command of the armed forces of this country? Did you not fear that the King would use these also against you? You know you did. I say it again, this that is now to be put to you is a vote of want of confidence in the King. I would it were so more expressly.

(He sits to an angry tumult. HAMPDEN rises, and after a time secures order.)

_Hampden:_ Sir, this question could not be argued to an end if we sat here for a week. Already we have considered it more closely and longer, I think, than any that has ever been before this House. It is morning. Each man has spoken freely from his mind. I move that the question now be put.

_The Speaker:_ The question is, whether this question now be put.

(There are cries of "Yea," and "No.")

_The Speaker:_ I think the "Yeas" have it.

(This is followed by silence in the House.)

_The Speaker:_ Then the question now before the House is whether this Declaration shall pa.s.s.

(Again there are cries of "Yea" and "No" strongly emphatic on both sides.)

_The Speaker:_ I think the "Yeas" have it.

(There are loud and repeated cries of "No.")

_The Speaker:_ The House will divide. Tellers for the Yeas, Sir John Clotworthy, Mr.

Arthur Goodwyn. Tellers for the Noes, Sir Frederick Cornwallis and Mr.

Strangwayes. The Yeas to go forth.

(The House divides, the Yeas, including 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 reenter. The pent-up excitement grows as the Yeas resume their seats and the telling draws to a close. The tellers move up to the Speaker and give in their figures.)

_The Speaker:_ The Noes, 148. The Yeas, 159. The Yeas have it by eleven.

(The announcement is received with a loud turmoil of cheering, during which IRETON rises.)

_Ireton:_ Sir, I move that this measure, as pa.s.sed by this House, be printed and distributed throughout the land.

(The House breaks out into a wild disturbance. "Yea" shouting against "No," swords being drawn and members hustling each other. THE SPEAKER and HAMPDEN at length pacify them.)