Oliver Cromwell - A Play (Paperback)

The window of the room opens on to a smooth lawn, used for bowling, and a garden full of Powers. OLIVERS w ve, ELIZABET C H R OMWELL i, s sitting at the table, sewing. In a chair by the open wigtdow MRS. CROMWELL h, i s mother, is reading. She is about eighty years of age. Mrs. Cromwell Oliver troubles me, persuading everywhere. Restless like this. Elizabeth He says that the time is uneasy, and that we are part of it. Mrs. Cromwall heres a mans house. Its enough surely. Elizabeth 1 know. But Oliver must be doing. You know how when he took the magistracy he would listen to none of us. He knows best. Mrs. Cromwell What time is John coming Elizabeth By nightfall he said. Henry Ireton is coming with him. Mrs. Cvomwell John Hampden is like that, too. He excites the boy. Elizabeth Yes, but, mother, you will do nothing with Oliver by thinking of him as a boy. Mrs. Crowwell Of course hes a boy. Elizabeth Hes forty. Mrs. Cromwell Methuselah. Elizabeth What Mrs. Cromwell I said Methuselah. Elizabeth He says Johns the bravest man in England. Mrs. Cromwell Just because he wont pay a tax. How if everybody refused to pay taxes If you dont have taxes, I dont see how you are to have a government. Though I cant see that it governs anybody, except those that dont need it. Elizabeth Oliver says its a wrong tax, this ship money. Mrs. Cromwell Theres always something wrong. It keeps men busyt I suppose. Elizabeth But it was brave of John. Mrs. Cromwell I know, I know. But why must he come here to-night of all in the year Olivers like somebody out of the Bible about to-morrow as it is. This will make him worse. I wish John no harm, but-well, I hope hes got a bad horse. Elizabeth Olivers mind is made up aboutthe common, whatever happens. John will make no difference. Mrs. Cromwell You cant pretend hell make him more temperate. Elizabeth Its very wrong to take away the common from the people. I think Oliver is right. Mrs. Cromwell Of course hes right. But Im too old. Ive seen too many broken heads. Hell be no righter for a broken head. BRIDGET C ROMWELL a, g irl, comes in. She takes some eggs jronz her apron and Puts them on to a dish on a shelf. Byidget Why, grandmother, whose head is to be broken Mrs. Cromwell Your fathers is like to be. Bridget You mean to-morrow Elizabeth At the meeting, yes. Bridget But he must do it. Why, the people have fished and kept cattle there longer than anyone can remember. Who is an Earl of Bedford to take it away from them I know I would let my head be broken first...