Hall, there. Broad Moor--yes. You measure
their numbers at ten thousand, Staines?

_Staines:_
Not more than ten, nor less than eight.

_Fairfax:_
Four thousand or so of them horse?

_Staines:_
It is thought so.

_Fairfax:_
Yes, yes. We are eleven thousand, eh, Pemberton?

_Pemberton:_
Eleven thousand and perhaps three hundred.

_Fairfax:_
Naseby will be three quarters--no, half a mile behind us.

_Ireton:_
The right of the field is boggy, and pitted by rabbits. The action is
like to move to the left.

_Fairfax:_
Yes. There's a high hedge above there below Sulby. It would be useful to
us then.

_Staines:_
It has been marked, and dug almost to the waterside.

_Fairfax:_
Good. Skippon and myself with the infantry there and there. Then the
cavalry--you have one wing, Ireton, or you must command all, since
General Cromwell is not come.

_Pemberton:_
Is there any word of him?

_Fairfax:_
None.

_Staines:_
They do not consider us at Westminster.

_Ireton:_
It is disastrous of them to hesitate so. They do not understand.

_Fairfax:_
No. I have told them that to-day is to be made the fiercest trial of
all, but they do not listen.

_Pemberton:_
Where is General Cromwell?

_Fairfax:_
None knows. These months he has been up and down the land, exhorting,
stirring up opinion, watching the discipline of our new armies, lending
his personal authority in bringing men's minds to the cause. But to-day
we need him here. He should have been sent. We need him.

_Ireton:_
Urgently. Charles and Rupert are staking all on this.

_Staines:_
They were never in better tune. It is as though every man were picked.

_Fairfax:_
I said this to Westminster.

_Ireton:_
We carry too many callow soldiers against them. Example will be
everything. General Cromwell and his chosen troops have that, and
experience; none like them.

_Pemberton:_
Does the General himself know of our necessity, do you think, sir?

_Fairfax:_
There is no tracing him. He almost certainly does not know, or he would
have insisted. There are rumours of him from the eastern counties, of
some activities with his men, but no more.

_Ireton:_
And the hope of England here in grave peril. Westminster is disgraceful.

_Staines:_
Your appeal was plain, sir--weighty enough?

_Fairfax_
(taking a paper from the table):
You may hear for yourself.
(Reading the end of a letter copy.)
"The general esteem and affection which he hath with the offi