Oliver Cromwell Part 6

_Hampden:_ I beg you remember what business you are on. These are grave times, for stout wills, but temperate blood. I beg you, gentlemen.

_The Speaker:_ The question is, whether this Declaration shall be printed and distributed.

(Cries of "Yea" and "No.")

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

(Again there is tumult, during which the SPEAKER leaves his chair and the House; and the session breaks up, the members leaving in pa.s.sionate discussion. CROMWELL, HAMPDEN, and IRETON stand talking.)

_Cromwell_ (to HAMPDEN): It is the beginning.

_Hampden:_ It may mean terror in this land.

_Cromwell:_ It may. But the country must be delivered. I had thought to live in peace among my Ely acres. I sought none of this. But we must serve. If this Remonstrance had been rejected, I would have sold all I have and have never seen England more. And I know there are many other honest men of this same resolution.

_Ireton:_ The issue is set. We may have to spend all that we have.

_Cromwell:_ Our goods, our peace, our lives.

_Hampden:_ We must be diligent among the people.

_Cromwell:_ It is the Lord's will.

_Ireton:_ I can speak for many in Nottinghamshire.

_Cromwell:_ They will be needed.

_Hampden:_ I can spend one thousand pounds on arms.

_Cromwell:_ Arms. Yes. If it must be. But G.o.d may spare us.

(There is a sound of argument outside, and BRIDGET CROMWELL, persuading an officer of the House to let her enter, comes in with AMOS TANNER.

They are both from a long journey.)

_Bridget_ (greeting her father and the others): I went to your lodging and learnt that you were still here.

_Cromwell:_ But what is it, daughter?

_Bridget:_ Amos here--we had to come.

_Cromwell:_ Well?

_Amos:_ My boy--there, I can't tell.

_Bridget:_ Seth--you know he came to London last year.

_Cromwell:_ Yes.

_Bridget:_ It seems he was in a tavern here one evening, and they were talking about ship money. Seth said it was a bad thing, and he spoke of our Cousin Hampden.

_Amos:_ He remembered Mr. Hampden when he was at Ely, sir. He always took a great opinion of Mr. Hampden, Seth did.

_Bridget:_ He said Cousin John was a great patriot because he wouldn't pay. The King's spies were there. Seth was taken. He got a message sent down to Amos. It was to be a Star Chamber matter.

_Amos:_ There wasn't a better lad in the shire, sir.

_Cromwell:_ What has been done?

_Bridget:_ We don't know. I brought Amos up at once to find you. I wanted to come alone, but he wouldn't let me.

_Amos:_ I couldn't stay, sir. They'll not have hurt him surely?

_Bridget:_ What will they do? Is it too late? Can't it be stopped?

_Cromwell:_ Ba.s.sett.

(The officer comes.)

_Ba.s.sett:_ Yes, sir.

_Cromwell:_ Have you heard any Star Chamber news these last days?

_Ba.s.sett:_ Nothing out of the way, sir. A few croppings and brandings.

_Cromwell:_ Any names?

_Ba.s.sett:_ Jollyboy was one. That's an anyhow name for a man, now, isn't it? Lupton there was, too. He was cropped, both ears--said a bishop was a man. That was blasphemous. And a fellow about ship money. That was savage. Tanner his name was.

_Amos:_ Yes--but not Seth--it wasn't Seth Tanner?

_Ba.s.sett:_ Tanner was all I heard.

_Amos:_ It wouldn't be Seth.

_Bridget:_ What did they do to him?

_Ba.s.sett:_ It's not proper hearing for your sort. But they let him go.

_Cromwell:_ What was it? The girl has heart enough.

_Ba.s.sett:_ Both thumbs, both ears, the tongue, and a T on the forehead.

_Amos:_ It wasn't Seth, sir. It couldn't be Seth--not like that. He was the beauty of the four parishes.

_Ba.s.sett_ (to CROMWELL): Was he something to do with you, sir?

_Cromwell:_ There is a boy, Seth Tanner, we have a care for.

_Ba.s.sett:_ Because I made bold to take him in. He was dazed, as it were--didn't seem to know where to go.