Truth speaks from prison and coffin! Late or soon, What I say now the peopled world will echo!

BRADSHAW. Enough, enough, sir!

[To the USHER.] Let him wait without. LILBURNE. Do what you will! But first a word of

warning!

If, when all pretext fails, as fail it will,

You make recourse to martial law to judge me,
Then, by the great and living God I swear,
Appoint what prison you will, Whitehall, St. James',

I'll burn it out to ashes! These officers

Aren't fit for honest men to trust their lives to!

CROMWELL. Now are you satisfied?

BRADSHAW.

[Exit.

A dangerous man!

VANE. There's truth in what he says; this liberty

Is all we seek; the saints in heaven are equal,
So should the saints on earth be; would they were!
CROMWELL. Yes, but they're not, they're not! To
hear him talk

All might be saints! Why, if it went by votes
Our heads would garnish Westminster to-morrow!
These men are worse than traitors; give them leave,
They'll ruin all! best silence them in time.

VANE. And so begins again the violent course

We rose to end. Once set that wheel in motion,
"Twill roll and roll till those who guide it, caught
Round with the whirling rim, are crushed themselves
Under their own machine. Some of us here

Partly approve this fellow; where he errs,
'Tis zeal misleads him. Is he impolitic?
He does not frame our measures.

Is he stubborn?

Let failure teach him wisdom. To shut him up
Argues the charges true that force must answer.

CROMWELL. Authority's a farce if men like this
Defy the Council. Break, or else be broken!
Such mean and blust'ring rogues to bring to ruin
The cause that's judged a king! I say, the Tower!
There let him wait his trial.

VANE.

I say, release him!

BRADSHAW. Your votes, then, gentlemen! Release

or no?

The General has it. Let him wait his trial.

ΧΙ

Cromwell

April 20, 1653

[The day of the violent dissolution of the "Rump" Parliament. A message was brought to Cromwell that its members were hastily forcing through a Bill whereby they would

themselves retain their seats in the new Parliament, and also form a Committee of Revision to determine the validity of the fresh elections. It is this message that is supposed to interrupt the following soliloquy.]