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 fellowship. 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 God 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 ship 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 con