Cromwell Page #6

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that has yet befallen me.

My conclusion is...

...to desire you to seek subsistence

elsewhere, not in my kingdom.

Most gracious lord...

...I do not crave forgiveness,

for by all I hold most dear...

...I do solemnly swear

that I acted in good faith!

The matter is at an end.

I will hear no more.

My lord!

My lord, I beseech you.

In God's name, allow that I may die

with honour. Condemn me not to live.

Captain Lundsford.

Do not put upon these shoulders the

terrible shame of exile and dishonour.

I beg you, take my life,

most noble lord.

Good Uncle...

...for pity's sake!

His Highness is to be kept

under close guard...

...until such time as he is deported.

Very well, Your Majesty.

Father, Mother says I'm to go

with her tonight to France.

- Is that your wish, Father?

- Yes.

My duty is to stay here with you

and fight beside you.

Your place now is at

your mother's side, Charles.

You will help her raise money,

perhaps an army.

Should I meet death,

and you are safely in France...

...then England will still have,

in you, a lawful king.

You will go with your mother.

I love this land...

...and when this great responsibility

becomes yours...

...then I pray that with God's help...

...you will reign more happily

than I have done.

Now go, with God's speed

and your father's blessing.

Oh, Charles.

I love you.

Your Majesty, it is my most solemn

duty to place you under arrest.

- By whose command, sir?

- By the command of Parliament, sir.

I know of no authority in England

above that of the king.

It is upon that issue

that this war was fought.

- Whither am I to be taken?

- To London, sir.

- You must grant me a little time to...

- We leave for London at once.

- And my children, what of them?

- We will take care of your children.

His Majesty will have

all the time he requires.

As for your children, sir,

you may take them with you.

I thank you, sir.

Him serve with fear

His praise foretell

Come ye before him

And rejoice

The Lord ye know

Is God indeed

Without our aid

He did us mak e

We are his flock

General, John Pym is dead.

And for his sheep

He doth us tak e

- When did it happen?

- This morning.

- What is it?

- John Pym is dead.

Parliament is discussing

peace terms with the king.

Does the army have no say in this?

The army has been ordered to disband.

In God's name, did we fight this war...

...that the politicians should take over

behind our backs?!

If Parliament has decided

the army will disband...

...then the army will disband.

- I say we march on Parliament.

- The sword will not rule this land.

We fought to institute

a parliamentary system...

...and overthrow the very tyranny

which you now propose.

And who is talking to the king?

Parliament?

I doubt it. I warrant I know

who is doing all the talking.

I have these past three days been in

consultation with His Majesty the king.

And I am pleased to inform the House...

...that the king is now prepared

to discuss peace terms...

...provided that the army stand down.

I have given this House's assurance

that his wishes will be complied with.

Further, in recognition

of the very great debt...

...this House owes its commander,

General Cromwell...

...it is proposed to award him a pension

of 3000 pounds a year...

...together with certain estates

in the county of Cambridge.

It is further proposed that the sum

of 2000 pounds...

Such low treachery is not worthy

even of you, my Lord Manchester.

Am I to believe my ears?

Did this nation win a bloody civil war...

...in order the king

should dictate the terms of peace?

I have discussed the matter

at great length with His Majesty...

You have discussed it?

It is a matter for this House to discuss.

Hear, hear!

The king will not come to terms, sir,

until the army stand down.

Hear, hear.

And the army will not stand down

until the king comes to terms.

So if the king

will not talk to this House...

...then let the king talk to the army.

- Out of the question.

- The king would never agree.

Parliament is behind us, sir, and

on this occasion, we have the majority.

Sir Thomas Fairfax.

- He's bringing in the army!

- Order! Order!

Order, I say!

Order! Silence!

Order!

Silence!

Order!

I believe, my Lord Manchester,

that now I have the majority.

This is dictatorship.

It will mean a new civil war.

Order!

Honourable members...

...I swear before my God

that you give me no alternative.

When those liberties for which

this army and this nation...

...have fought so hard

are most solemnly guaranteed...

...then this army will stand down.

And upon that,

you have my most sacred promise.

- And who have we here?

- It is I, my lord.

You were supposed to have run,

not let me catch you.

I'm afraid I'm getting a little too old

for such games, my lord.

Cromwell is here to see you.

You must play on your own

now, children.

Your father has other games to play.

Prince Henry, you will be good enough

to give me back my hat.

Sir.

Gentlemen, His Majesty.

We came to present our terms, my lord.

If Your Majesty will be so kind

as to study these proposals.

- Has Parliament approved this treaty?

- Parliament no longer truly...

...represents the people of this nation,

Sir Edward.

And you, Mr. Cromwell...

...do you truly represent

the people of this nation?

I represent the army, sir...

...and the army is the heart

and conscience of the people.

So having failed to come

to terms with Parliament...

...you would now negotiate

with the king.

I am not bound

to negotiate with anyone.

With 50,000 men under my command...

...I could impose a government

on this nation overnight.

One is given to wondering,

Mr. Cromwell, why you do not do that.

I am convinced, my lord,

it be the duty of Parliament...

...to frame a constitutional government,

and not the army.

Then I do not see that

you have any need of me at all.

On the contrary, sir.

An England without a king

is unthinkable.

But withal, a king

that can command respect...

...a monarch who governs,

not from fear...

...but by the affection of a free people.

Such a king could reunite

this great nation of ours...

...and make the name of England

the noblest in all Christendom.

Should you adorn

that inheritance, my lord...

...all Englishmen would be proud

to call you king.

Mr. Cromwell, I do confess that

I did greatly misjudge you...

...for I did mark you

as an ambitious man.

To these ends, my lord,

I am ambitious.

Then you have my respect, sir.

Thank you, my lord.

- We shall return in the morning, sir.

- I shall require a little longer to study...

...this document. Perhaps a week.

As Your Majesty pleases.

I sincerely hope that our future

relations may be equally amiable, sir.

That is my hope also, my lord.

A cunning fellow.

- I believe him to be a sincere man.

- Indeed.

If these proposals be acceptable...

...there never was a crown

so nearly lost, so easily recovered.

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