Oliver Cromwell | Page 7

now before the House is whether this Declaration shall pass.
(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 passed 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.)
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 passionate 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 God 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: Bassett.
(The officer comes.)
Bassett: Yes, sir.
Cromwell: Have you heard any Star Chamber news these last days?
Bassett: Nothing out of the way, sir. A few croppings and brandings.
Cromwell: Any names?
Bassett: 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?
Bassett: Tanner was all I heard.
Amos: It wouldn't be Seth.
Bridget: What did they do to him?
Bassett: It's not proper hearing for your sort. But they let him go.
Cromwell: What was it? The girl has heart enough.
Bassett: 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.
Bassett (to CROMWELL): Was he something to do with you, sir?
Cromwell: There is a boy, Seth Tanner, we have a