know there are many other honest men
of this same resolution.

_Ireton:_
The issue is set. We may have to spend all that we have.

_Cromwell:_
Our goods, our peace, our lives.

_Hampden:_
We must be diligent among the people.

_Cromwell:_
It is the Lord's will.

_Ireton:_
I can speak for many in Nottinghamshire.

_Cromwell:_
They will be needed.

_Hampden:_
I can spend one thousand pounds on arms.

_Cromwell:_
Arms. Yes. If it must be. But God may spare us.

(There is a sound of argument outside, and BRIDGET CROMWELL, persuading
an officer of the House to let her enter, comes in with AMOS TANNER.
They are both from a long journey.)

_Bridget_
(greeting her father and the others):
I went to your lodging and learnt that you were still here.

_Cromwell:_
But what is it, daughter?

_Bridget:_
Amos here--we had to come.

_Cromwell:_
Well?

_Amos:_
My boy--there, I can't tell.

_Bridget:_
Seth--you know he came to London last year.

_Cromwell:_
Yes.

_Bridget:_
It seems he was in a tavern here one evening, and they were talking
about ship money. Seth said it was a bad thing, and he spoke of our
Cousin Hampden.

_Amos:_
He remembered Mr. Hampden when he was at Ely, sir. He always took a
great opinion of Mr. Hampden, Seth did.

_Bridget:_
He said Cousin John was a great patriot because he wouldn't pay. The
King's spies were there. Seth was taken. He got a message sent down to
Amos. It was to be a Star Chamber matter.

_Amos:_
There wasn't a better lad in the shire, sir.

_Cromwell:_
What has been done?

_Bridget:_
We don't know. I brought Amos up at once to find you. I wanted to come
alone, but he wouldn't let me.

_Amos:_
I couldn't stay, sir. They'll not have hurt him surely?

_Bridget:_
What will they do? Is it too late? Can't it be stopped?

_Cromwell:_
Bassett.

(The officer comes.)

_Bassett:_
Yes, sir.

_Cromwell:_
Have you heard any Star Chamber news these last days?

_Bassett:_
Nothing out of the way, sir. A few croppings and brandings.

_Cromwell:_
Any names?

_Bassett:_
Jollyboy was one. That's an anyhow name for a man, now, isn't it? Lupton
there was, too. He was cropped, both ears--said a bishop was a man. That
was blasphemous. And a fellow about ship money. That was savage. Tanner
his name was.

_Amos:_
Yes--but not Seth--it wasn't Seth Tanner?

_Bassett:_
Tanner was all I heard.

_Amos:_
It wouldn't be Seth.

_Bridget:_
What did they