Oliver Cromwell Part 3

_Ireton:_ Who is Mr. Herrick, ma'am?

_Mrs. Cromwell:_ He's a poet, young man. And he's for being quiet, and not bustling about everywhere. You ought to read him.

_Ireton:_ Do you know Mr. Herrick's work, Mr. Hampden?

_Hampden:_ I've nothing to say against that, though it's not very serious.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_ Don't be silly, Mr. Hampden--if you excuse me for saying so. Mr. Herrick is very serious indeed, only he isn't always telling us of it.

_Hampden:_ Yes: perhaps you're right, ma'am. I prefer George Herbert.

_Bridget:_ Yes, I like his book, too, Cousin John.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_ Well, it's no bad judgment to stand for Mr. Herbert. Only I won't have nonsense talked about Mr. Herrick.

_Elizabeth:_ Are you ready, Oliver? They are coming.

_Oliver:_ Yes.

(To HAMPDEN and IRETON.) Friends, you are welcome to this house.

(The labourers from the farm are gathering outside the window. The people in the room form towards them.)

_Cromwell:_ Brethren in G.o.d, at the end of another day's labour we are met to praise Him from whom are the means to labour and its rewards. As we go about these fields, He is with us. 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 G.o.d walks at our hand.

He is here now in our midst. 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 fellows.h.i.+p. 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 sing:)

All people that on earth do dwell, Sing to the Lord, with cheerful voice; Him serve with fear, his praise forth tell, Come ye before Him and rejoice.

The Lord, we know, is G.o.d indeed.

Without our aid He did us make; We are his folk, He doth us feed, And for his sheep He doth us take.

O enter then his gate with praise, Approach with joy his courts unto; Praise, laud, and bless his name always, For it is seemly so to do.

(As the men move away, one of them, SETH TANNER, comes forward.)

_Seth:_ As I came up from Long Close I stopped at the ale-house. Two fellows were there from the Earl of Bedford. Talking they were.

_Cromwell:_ What had they to say?

_Seth:_ It seems they know you are going to stand out for the people to-morrow.

_Cromwell:_ Well?

_Seth:_ Treason, they call it.

_Cromwell:_ Treason.

_Seth:_ Seeing that my Lord of Bedford has the King's authority, as it were.

_Cromwell:_ Thank you, Seth.

_Seth:_ They were coming here, they said. To warn you, and persuade you against it if it might be.

_Cromwell:_ Thank you, Seth.

_Seth_ (to HAMPDEN): If I might be so bold, sir?

_Hampden:_ What, my friend?

_Seth:_ That was a brave thing to do, sir, that about the s.h.i.+p money. We common folk know what it means. I'm sure we thank you with all our hearts.

_Hampden:_ I don't know about brave, but I know it is good to be thanked like that.

_Seth:_ Yes, sir. That's all. Good-even, sir; good-even, mistress.

(He is moving away as two of BEDFORD'S agents appear at the window, followed by the other labourers, who have returned with them.)

_First Agent:_ Is this Mr. Oliver Cromwell's?

_Cromwell:_ It is.

_Mrs. Cromwell:_ The door is along there, to the right.

_Cromwell:_ It's no matter, mother. What do you want?

_First Agent:_ To see Mr. Cromwell.

_Cromwell:_ You are speaking to him.

_Second Agent:_ May we come in?

_Cromwell:_ Why, yes.

(They do so. The labourers gather round the window again. They follow the coming argument with close personal concern.)

_Second Agent:_ May we speak with you alone?

_Cromwell:_ These are all my friends. I have nothing to say that I would not have them hear.

_First Agent:_ It is discretion for your sake.

_Cromwell:_ I do not desire your interest. What have you to say?

_Second Agent:_ It is said that you will oppose the proclamation to-morrow.

_Cromwell:_ a.s.suredly.

_Second Agent:_ The Earl of Bedford and those with him have not drained these commons for nothing.