Oliver Cromwell Part 4

_Cromwell:_ Well?

_Second Agent:_ They have earned the rights to be proclaimed to-morrow.

_Cromwell:_ By whose will?

_First Agent:_ By the King's.

_Cromwell:_ These rights of pasture belong to the people. It is within no man's powers to take them away.

_Second Agent:_ The King decrees it.

_Cromwell:_ I know not how that may be. I know that these rights are the people's, above any earl or king whatsoever. The King is to defend our rights, not to destroy them.

_First Agent:_ This is plain treason.

_Cromwell:_ It is plain sense.

_Second Agent:_ What will you do?

_Cromwell:_ To-morrow you will proclaim these rights from the people to my lord of Bedford. To-morrow I shall tell the people that I alone, if needs be, will oppose it. I will fight it from court to court. I will make these rights my rights--as they are. These people of Ely shall speak through me. They shall pay me a groat a year for each head of cattle they graze, and they shall enjoy every foot of the land as long as I have a word or a pound left for resistance.

_Second Agent:_ You are very arrogant, Mr. Cromwell. There are lessons to be learnt.

_Cromwell:_ Aye, there are lessons. I do not speak to you, but to your master--to the King himself if it comes to that. You may tell him all that I have said. We folk of Ely will use our own commons, and let the Earl of Bedford keep within his own palings. There are lessons, say you. This is Mr. John Hampden. Will you speak to him of lessons? Mr. Hampden's s.h.i.+p money will be a King's lesson, I tell you.

_Hampden:_ You should tell your masters all that you see and hear. Do not flatter them. Let it be the truth. Say that men talk everywhere, more and more openly. Tell them that you heard John Hampden say that the King's Star Chamber was an abomination, that the King soiled his majesty in treating Mr. Prynne and Mr. Bastwick so. Say that you and your like are reviled by all honest men.

_Ireton:_ And you can say that it is no fear of earls or kings that spared you the whipping you would deserve if you were better than shadows.

_Bridget:_ Well said, Mr. Ireton.

(There is a demonstration of anger from the labourers, but CROMWELL checks it.)

_Mrs. Cromwell:_ Now, Henry Ireton, these gentlemen may be bears, but I won't have you make this room into a bear-pit.

_Cromwell:_ No, friends, these men say but what they are sent to say.

(To the agents.) I should not speak to you but in the hope that you will report it to those that should know. I am a plain burgess of this city. I farm a few lands and am known to none. But I have a faith that the people of this country are born to be, under G.o.d, a free people. That is the fundamental principle of this English life, If your masters, be they who they may, forget that, then, as you say, there will be lessons to be learnt. Here in Ely it is my part to see that my fellows do not lose their birthright. You shall not find us ignorant nor afraid. I would have no violence; let all be by persuasion and tolerance. But these just liberties must not be touched. Will you ask my Lord of Bedford to reconsider this?

_Second Agent:_ His Lords.h.i.+p will reconsider nothing. The proclamation is to-morrow.

_Cromwell:_ I have no more to say.

_First Agent:_ Be you wary, Mr. Cromwell. These arrogances have their penalties. The King's anger is not light.

_Cromwell:_ You threaten idly. My word is one spoken throughout the land. You can say so.

_Second Agent:_ Mr. Cromwell, we do not--

_Cromwell:_ My mind is fixed. I think I have made my intention clear. That is all.

You may go.

(There is again a movement against them as they go, followed by the labourers.)

_Cromwell:_ Seth.

_Seth:_ Yes, sir.

_Cromwell:_ Ask your father to stay, will you? We shall want a song after that.

_Seth:_ Yes, sir.

(He calls from the window.) Father. Master wants you to sing.

(AMOS TANNER comes back.)

_Cromwell:_ Thank you, Amos. Just a minute, will you? When will supper be, wife?

_Elizabeth:_ In half an hour.

_Cromwell:_ How would a turn at bowling be, John?

_Hampden:_ Done.

_Cromwell:_ Henry, you, too?

_Ireton:_ Yes; and, Mr. Cromwell--

_Cromwell:_ Yes.

_Ireton:_ I don't know how things are going. But I feel that great events are making and that you and Mr. Hampden here may have power to use men. If it should be so, I would be used. That is all.

_Cromwell:_ John's the man. I'm likely enough to stay the rest of my days in Ely.

_Ireton:_ I don't think so, sir.

_Cromwell:_ No? Well. A gla.s.s of sherry, John--or gin?

_Hampden:_ Sherry, Oliver.

(CROMWELL pours out the sherry.)

_Cromwell:_ Henry?

_Ireton:_ Thank you.

_Cromwell_ (giving gla.s.ses): Amos?

_Amos:_ I'd liefer have a pot of ale, master, if might be.