Chapter 4

_After dawn on July 14, 1645, the day of Naseby._

_GENERAL FAIRFAX, with IRETON--now colonel--and two other officers, is holding a council of war in his tent. He is working with a map. During the proceedings sentries pass to and fro._

_Fairfax:_ Between Mill Hill, and Sulby 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 officers and soldiers of this whole army, his own personal worth and ability for employment, his great care, diligence, courage, and faithfulness in the services you have already employed him in, with the constant presence and blessing of God that have accompanied him, make us look upon it as the duty we owe to you and the public, to make it our suit."

_Pemberton:_ It is shameful of them.

_Ireton:_ It is. But that hope is gone. Do I take the left, sir?

_Fairfax:_ You must choose. The horse entirely are your command now.

_Ireton:_ Whalley on the right, and you, Pemberton.

_Fairfax:_ What's the hour?

_Staines:_ Six o'clock, sir.

_Fairfax:_ They have had three hours. Let the army sleep till ten if it may be.

_Staines:_ Yes, sir.

_Ireton:_ Are you satisfied about those footmen on the left, sir?

_Fairfax:_ No, not satisfied. But we cannot better it.

_Pemberton:_ Rupert is almost certain to see the weakness there.

_Fairfax:_ Yes, but there it is. Skippon must cover it as he can. We have spoken of it very exactly.

_Ireton:_ If either wing of our horse breaks, it means certain disaster there, even though Skippon could hold in the centre.

_Fairfax:_ That's Cromwell again. And all to satisfy the pride of a few useless members that his self-denying ordinance keeps out of command.

_Staines:_ Do you think it's that, sir?

_Fairfax:_ What else? They are more jealous that he should come to no more honour than that we should succeed. And after all that has been given.

_Ireton:_ The blood.

_Pemberton:_ It is abominable.

_Fairfax:_ But there--we must not distress ourselves. We have our own loyalty. Keep in touch with Skippon, Staines. If you can push their right foot up towards Sibbertoft there, spare nothing in the doing. Have you all slept, gentlemen?

_Ireton and the others:_ Yes, sir.

_Fairfax:_ Since we lack General Cromwell, more depends on you, Ireton, than on any man, perhaps. You will not be wanting, I know.

_Ireton:_ In endeavour at least--and we can die.

(A scout comes in.)

_Fairfax:_ Yes?

_The Scout:_ Something moves across from the east, sir. It is very faint. It may be haze, or it may be dust.

_Fairfax:_ Watch. Come again at once.

(The scout goes. FAIRFAX and the others go to the tent opening, and look out.)

_Fairfax:_ Yes--there. It is moving, isn't it?

_Ireton:_ I think not.

_Staines:_ Surely.

_Pemberton:_ Could it be?

_Fairfax:_ No. We should have heard.

_Ireton:_ And yet it seems to be moving.

_Fairfax:_ Gentlemen, we must keep counsel with ourselves. This is to waste. Nerves must be unclouded to-day.

(He returns to his seat, the others with him.)

_Fairfax:_ Finally, if we on the right have to fall back on Mill Hill, bring your horse down on to the Kilmarsh Road, Pemberton, if it be any way possible.

_Pemberton:_ Yes--there's a ford there, at the fork if we are upstream.

_Ireton:_ I'll speak to Whalley, too.

_Fairfax:_ If at last there should be a general retreat, it is to the west of Naseby, remember.

_Ireton:_ Yes. To the west. That there should be that even in the mind!

_Fairfax:_ In that case, the baggage is my concern.

(Outside is heard a low murmur of excitement.)

_Fairfax:_ Staines, will you tell Conway that five hundred of his best men must dispute the Naseby road to the east. And let Mitchell command under him.

_Staines:_ Yes, sir.

(The noise outside grows.)

_Pemberton:_ What is it?

_Fairfax:_ See.

(PEMBERTON goes to the tent opening and looks out.)

_Pemberton:_ Our men are watching something. It is something moving. Horsemen--it must be.

(The excitement grows and grows. IRETON joins PEMBERTON.)

_Ireton:_ There is something.

_Fairfax:_ Gentlemen, let us promise ourselves nothing.

(IRETON and PEMBERTON move into the tent at FAIRFAX'S word. As they do so the voices outside break out into a great shout--"_Ironsides--Ironsides--Ironsides is coming to lead us!_" The scout comes in, glowing.)

_Fairfax_ (rising): Yes?

_The Scout:_ General Cromwell is riding into the field with his Ironsides, sir, some six hundred strong.

_Fairfax:_ Thank God!

(CROMWELL comes into the tent, fully armed, hot and dusty from the road. The shouting dies away, but outside there is a sound as of new life until the end of the scene. SETH, OLIVER'S servant, stands at the tent opening.)

_Fairfax:_ You are welcome; none can say how much.

_Cromwell:_ A near thing, sir. I only heard from Westminster yesterday at noon.

_Fairfax:_ They told us nothing.

_Cromwell:_ There are many poor creatures at Westminster, sir. Many of them, I doubt not, would have willingly had me kept uninformed of this. But we are in time, and that's all. Henry. Good-morning, gentlemen. How goes it?

_Fairfax_ (taking his seat, CROMWELL and the others also at the table): The battle is set. Our foot there, Skippon and myself. Colonel Ireton and Whalley are with the horse. They are at your service.

_Cromwell_ (at the map): Rupert will be there. Langdale, if I mistake not, will be there. That road--is it good?

_Pemberton:_ Poor below Mill Hill, sir.

_Cromwell:_ Then that is the point; it may be decisive there. You take the left, Henry.

_Ireton:_ Yes, sir.

_Cromwell:_ Let Whalley be on my left here--give him fifteen hundred. I have six hundred. I'll take the right with them myself, Are you on the left, sir?

_Fairfax:_ Yes, and the second line.

_Cromwell:_ Good--can I have two of the best regiments down here behind me?

_Fairfax:_ Yes. Staines, let Spilsby see to that.

_Cromwell:_ Spilsby is good.

_Staines:_ If I might say it, would you choose him for that, sir? It is a great responsibility, and he has been indiscreet. I thought not to use him to-day.

_Cromwell:_ Indiscreet?

_Staines:_ In his utterances, sir. His belief is in some question.

_Cromwell:_ Surely you are not well advised to turn off one so faithful to the cause, and so able to serve you as this man is. He is indiscreet, you say. It may be so in some things; we all have human infirmities. Sir, the state, in choosing men to serve it, takes no notice of their opinions. If men be willing faithfully to serve it, that satisfies. Let it be Spilsby.

_Staines:_ Yes, sir.

_Cromwell:_ Is the army well rested, sir?

_Fairfax:_ They are resting now. Till ten o'clock. We moved up at three.

_Cromwell:_ Three hours for my men. It is enough. The order to advance at eleven?

_Fairfax:_ At eleven.

_Cromwell:_ Is the word for the day chosen?

_Fairfax:_ Not yet.

_Cromwell:_ Let it be, "God our strength." Gentlemen.

(They all rise, and, bareheaded, together they repeat, "God our strength.")

THE SCENE CLOSES