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 concern.)

Second Agent: May we speak with you alone?

Cromwell: These are all my friends.  I have nothing to say that I would not have them hear.

First Agent: It is discretion for your sake.

Cromwell: I do not desire your interest.  What have you to say?

Second Agent: It is said that you will oppose the proclamation to-morrow.

Cromwell: Assuredly.

Second Agent: The Earl of Bedford and those with him have not drained these commons for nothing.

Cromwell: Well?

Second Agent: They have earned the rights to be proclaimed to-morrow.

Cromwell: By whose will?

First Agent: By the King’s.

Cromwell: These rights of pasture belong to the people.  It is within no man’s powers to take them away.

Second Agent: The King decrees it.

Cromwell: I know not how that may be.  I know that these rights are the people’s, above any earl or king whatsoever.  The King is to defend our rights, not to destroy them.

First Agent: This is plain treason.

Cromwell: It is plain sense.

Second Agent: What will you do?

Cromwell: To-morrow you will proclaim these rights from the people to my lord of Bedford.  To-morrow I shall tell the people that I alone, if needs be, will oppose it.  I will fight it from court to court.  I will make these rights my rights—­as they are.  These people of Ely shall speak through me.  They shall pay me a groat a year for each head of cattle they graze, and they shall enjoy every foot of the land as long as I have a word or a pound left for resistance.

Second Agent: You are very arrogant, Mr. Cromwell.  There are lessons to be learnt.

Cromwell: Aye, there are lessons.  I do not speak to you, but to your master—­to the King himself if it comes to that.  You may tell him all that I have said.  We folk of Ely will use our own commons, and let the Earl of Bedford keep within his own palings.  There are lessons, say you.  This is Mr. John Hampden.  Will you speak to him of lessons?  Mr. Hampden’s ship money will be a King’s lesson, I tell you.

Hampden: You should tell your masters all that you see and hear.  Do not flatter them.  Let it be the truth.  Say that men talk everywhere, more and more openly.  Tell them that you heard John Hampden say that the King’s Star Chamber was an abomination, that the King soiled his majesty in treating Mr. Prynne and Mr. Bastwick so.  Say that you and your like are reviled by all honest men.