Cromwell Page #3

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of the earl of Strafford...

...upon a charge of high treason

against the people of this nation.

Silence! Order!

The motion has been proposed.

Let it be put now to the question.

- Is the motion agreed?

- No!

In favour of the motion?

Aye! Aye! Aye!

The ayes have it.

I think my Lord Strafford's condition...

...will soon be far happier than mine.

Do you see, madam?

Do you see now what

you've made me do?

Gentlemen, His Majesty.

Pray be seated.

Your coming is nothing if not timely.

My Lord Strafford's head

has but barely fallen.

Gentlemen, it is for you to speak.

Your Majesty, you see here the leaders

of all parties of the House.

And though we be divided on many

issues, we are of one accord.

In that we place above all else,

our allegiance and loyalty...

...to our most gracious sovereign.

For which reason we

are deeply anxious...

...for a settlement of our differences.

I share your sentiment, Sir Edward.

The issue be this, my lord.

Parliament is persuaded that without

the right to govern this nation...

...by the will of the people

and with God's guidance...

...we be not a Parliament at all.

And that unless some constitutional

reformation be brought about...

...we would as well go back to our

homes and our farms as pursue this...

...mockery of a government

one more day.

In short, Mr. Pym, you're asking me...

...to relinquish my sovereign

power over Parliament.

It does amount to that,

Your Majesty.

I swear that I hold

this England and its laws...

...dearer to my heart than any here.

But gentlemen, if you were to reduce

me to a figurehead, a puppet king...

...manipulated by Parliament,

how then would I serve my country?

What manner of king would I be?

I am persuaded, Your Majesty...

...that England must move forward to a

more enlightened form of government...

...based upon a true

representation of a free people.

Such an institution

is known as democracy, sir.

- Democracy, Mr...?

- Cromwell, sir.

Democracy, Mr. Cromwell,

was a Greek drollery...

...based on the foolish notion that

there are extraordinary possibilities...

...in very ordinary people.

It is the ordinary people who would

most readily lay down their lives...

...in defence of your realm.

It is simply that being ordinary...

...they would prefer

to be asked and not told.

You know, as I do, that the Scots rebels

are invading this land and not an...

...English sword is raised against them.

I beg you, therefore, let us bury...

...our differences in defence

of both our church and kingdom.

The Scots invade our land and

all is urgency and alarm.

In the past 12 months our Irish

colonists have been slaughtered...

...our churches desecrated,

our clergy persecuted.

The Crown has been reluctant...

...to defend our church and kingdom

over there, sir.

By my guard, I would as soon take

up arms against Rome...

...than against the Scots.

Would you have me declare war...

...on the entire

Catholic world, Mr. Cromwell?

It is your duty

to defend our church, sir.

We are speaking now

of a matter of international policy.

Is Your Majesty sure that it's not a

matter of domestic expediency?

I would remind you that

you are addressing your king.

Mr. Cromwell, you are impertinent.

Such issues are beyond

good manners, sir.

Catholicism is more than a religion,

it is a political power.

Therefore, I am led to believe there

will be no peace in Ireland...

...until the Catholic Church is crushed.

Your Majesty.

These gentlemen are

from the Parliament.

Your Majesty, Parliament has

drawn up this document...

...in which are set out

our main grievances.

It is our belief that the

demands made here...

...are only those that

are just and lawful...

...and in the best interests

of both crown and kingdom.

I shall examine these proposals

most carefully, Mr. Pym.

Gentlemen.

It is not too late, my lord.

You have the power still.

And with God's help,

the strength to use that power.

Oh, my dearest Charles.

I married you as a king and as a man.

I beseech you,

do not disappoint me in either aspect.

"This House has time and again...

...expressed its wholehearted loyalty

to the Crown.

Yet...

...doth Parliament await in vain

for a gesture..."

The king is coming to arrest you,

John Hampden, Henry Ireton...

...Sir Arthur Haselrig and Oliver

Cromwell for high treason.

I suggest you leave.

"...that if the issues that divide

the king from his country...

...be not soon resolved, then these

issues may soon divide the nation."

The king is coming with a warrant

for our arrest.

- What?

- We must leave at once.

Oliver, your name is on it.

Come!

My lords! My lords!

Gentlemen! The king comes.

He comes with 100 men-at-arms.

The doors! The doors! Bolt the doors!

- Stand aside, gentlemen, if you please.

- Halt!

Open in the name of the king!

Mr. Speaker.

Gentlemen, you must pardon

this infringement of your privilege...

...but I will not detain you long.

Mr. Speaker, I must make bold

with your chair.

I have here a warrant for the arrest

of five members of this House.

John Pym, Henry Ireton,

John Hampden...

...Oliver Cromwell

and Sir Arthur Haselrig...

...upon a charge of treason.

I see that the birds have flown.

Mr. Speaker,

where are these gentlemen?

May it please Your Majesty...

...I have neither eyes to see

nor tongue to speak...

...except as this House gives me leave.

Well, sir, I have eyes.

I see that one of them is here.

Captain.

Take him!

Any action against a member

of this House is a breach of privilege.

I move this House declares

as public enemies...

...any who lay hands upon its members.

And I further move...

I move that action against this House...

...be considered

a crime against the people.

And treason against this nation.

So be it.

Mr. Speaker, you will inform

the members of this House...

...that their presence

is no longer required by the nation.

This Parliament is, by my authority,

terminated. Dissolved.

Your Majesty!

Are you aware that by your action

in this House...

...you may have pushed this nation

to the brink of civil war?

Now do we see...

...in what contempt this king

holds this House and this nation.

It be either your king

or your Parliament.

Honourable members,

the decision is yours.

But I beseech you,

in the name of God, think well on it.

Fairfax.

Gentlemen.

I move that this House

demand the control of the militia.

And that this country be put

in an immediate posture of defence.

Mr. Speaker.

My lords.

Honourable members. This nation

is now in a state of civil war.

And let us pray that God in his mercy

will give us strength...

...in this terrible

and most unhappy hour.

Morning, William.

- Give you good day.

- Why the coffin?

If it be God's will I die,

I would have a decent Christian burial.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that,

William. I need you at the farm.

- Hello, Father.

- Morning.

- Where's your sword, Richard?

- I have no sword.

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