Many times.

s army, in a better cause

have said right gallantly. I saw him the onset, last in the retreat.

cice let me pay the king.

Raised he

Ler 'gainst his people? Didst thou see

1 standard in the field?

My lord,

ll in the centre of their host,

upon the heavy air.

The arms

nd?

Aye, the very lion shield

ved at Crecy and at Agincourt
ant. None may better know than I,
pleased the Ruler of the Field,

ghty King of Battles, that my arm
Own the standard bearer and restored
ish lion to the lion hearts

nd.

Please you, sir, retire. Now summon

(Cromwell resumes his seat.)

Call not another. What I have done ly,

ce of day and of the nation, that
repenting, nothing derogating
e king's high prerogative, as boldly
I avow-to you to all men.
not as judges. Ye have power,
es or land robbers, o'er the wretch
ed within their den, a power to mock
tim with a form of trial, to dress
rder in a mask of law. As judges
e not.

Enough that you confess

son

KING. Stop! Sir, I appeal to them Whence you derive your power.

BRAD. The people? King,
Thou seest them here in us.
KING. Oh that my voice

Could reach my loyal people! That the winds
Could waft the echoes of this groined roof,
So that each corner of the land might hear
Their rightful monarch's cry. Then should ye

hear

From the universal nation, town and plain,
Forest and village, the stern awful shout
Of just deliverance, mighty and prolonged,
Deafening the earth and piercing heaven, and
smiting

Each guilty conscience with such fear as waits
On the great Judgment Day The wish is vain-
Ah! vainer than a dream! I and my people
Are over-mastered. Yet, sir, I demand

A conference with their masters.

The king would speak with them.
BRAD. We have no power

To stay the trial.

Tell the Commons

Dow. Nay, good my lord; perchance

The king would yield such reason as might move The Commons to renew the treaty. Best

Confer with them.

CROM. (to Downes). Art mad?

Dow. 'Tis ye are mad,

That urge with a remorseless haste this work

Of savage butchery onwards. I was mad

That joined ye.

CROM. This is sudden.

Dow. He's our king.

CROM. Our king! Have we not faced him on

the field

A thousand times! Our king!

Why I have seen thyself

Hewing through mailed battalia till thy sword
And thy good arm were dyed in gore to reach
Yon man. Didst mean to save him? [Aloud]
Why do ye pause?

COOK. My high

And honouring task to plead at this great bar
For lawful liberty

Were needless now and vain. The haughty prisoner
Denies your jurisdiction. I call on ye

For instant judgment.

BRAD. All ye who deem

Charles Stuart guilty, rise!

KING. Now speak your doom, and quickly.
BRAD. Death.

Thou art adjudged to die. Sirs, do ye

Accord in this just sentence ?

(The Judges all stand up.)

KING. I am ready.

To a grey head, aching with royal cares,

The block is a kindly pillow.

Yet once more-

BRAD. Silence. The sentence is pronounced;

the time

Is past. Conduct him from the court.

KING.

Not hear me !

Me, your anointed king! Look ye what justice A meaner man may hope for.

CROM. Why refuse

His death-speech to a prisoner ?

What weight hangs on his soul?

fear not.

Whoso knoweth

Speak on and

KING. Fear! Let the guilty fear.

As I lift up

This sword, miscalled of Justice, my clear voice Hoarsens nor falters not.

As, thinking on the axe, I

Keen edge across my hand,

See, I can smile
draw the bright
Fear! Would ye ask
I tell ye none,

What weight is on my soul?

Save that I yielded once to your decree

And slew my faithfullest. Oh, Strafford ! Strafford ! This is retribution!

BRAD. Better weep

Thy sins than one just holy act.

KING. For ye

My subject-judges, I could weep: for thee,
Beloved and lovely country. Thou wilt groan
Under the tyrant many till some bold

And crafty soldier (looking at Cromwell) shall

come

And climb the vacant throne, and fix him there
A more than king. Cromwell, if such thou know'st,
Tell him the rack would prove an easier couch
Than he shall find that throne; tell him the crown
On an usurper's brow will scorch and burn
As though the diamonded and ermined round
Were framed of glowing steel.

CROM. Hath His dread wrath

Smitten thee with frenzy ?

KING. Tell him, for thou knowest him,
That doubt and discord like fell harpies wait
Around the Usurper's board by night. By day,
Beneath the palace roof, fear shall appal
And danger threaten, and all natural loves
Wither and die, till on his dying bed,

Old 'fore his time, the wretched traitor lies
Heart-broken. Then-for well thou know'st him,
Cromwell,

Bid him to think on me, and how I fell

Hewn in my strength and prime, like a proud oak,

The tallest of the forest, that but shivers

Oh! thou shalt envy,

His glorious tops and dies.
In thy long agony, my fall, that shakes
A kingdom but not me.

CROм. He is possessed!

KING. Why so? Ye are warned. prison, sirs!

On to my

ON A QUIET CONSCIENCE

ATTRIBUTED TO CHARLES I

CLOSE thine eyes and sleep secure ;
Thy soul is safe, thy body pure.
He that guards thee, He that keeps,
Never slumbers, never sleeps.
A quiet conscience in the breast
Has only peace, has only rest:
The music and the mirth of kings
Are out of tune unless she sings.
Then close thy eyes and sleep secure.

THE COMMONWEALTH
(1649-1660)

THE EXECUTION OF MONTROSE (1650)

BY WILLIAM E. AYTOUN

COME hither, Evan Cameron !
Come, stand beside my knee-
I hear the river roaring down
Towards the wintry sea.

There's shouting on the mountain-side

There's war within the blast

Old faces look upon me,

Old forms go trooping past :

I hear the pibroch wailing

Amidst the din of fight,

And my dim spirit wakes again
Upon the verge of night.