OLIVER
CROMWELL
A Play
By
John Drinkwater
BOSTON AND NEW YORK
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
TO
BERNARD SHAW
WITH HOMAGE TO THE
MASTER DRAMATIST OF HIS AGE
AND WITH THE GRATITUDE THAT IS HIS DUE
FROM EVERY YOUNGER WRITER FOR
THE ENGLISH THEATRE
Contents
Scene I
Ely, 1639
Ely, 1639
Scene II
The Commons, November 1641
The Commons, November 1641
Scene III
Ely, 1642
Ely, 1642
Scene IV
Naseby, after dawn, July 14, 1645
Naseby, after dawn, July 14, 1645
Scene V
Naseby, night, July 14, 1645
Naseby, night, July 14, 1645
Scene VI
Hampton Court, November 1647
Hampton Court, November 1647
Scene VII
London, January 30, 1649
London, January 30, 1649
Scene VIII
Whitehall, November 1654
Whitehall, November 1654
THE CHARACTERS ARE
| Mrs. Cromwell, Oliver'smother Elizabeth Cromwell, his wife Bridget Cromwell, his daughter John Hampden Henry Ireton Oliver Cromwell Seth Tanner Two Agents to the Earl of Bedford Amos Tanner A Member of Parliament The Speaker of the House of Commons Bassett, an officer of the House The Mayor of Ely General Fairfax Colonel Staines Colonel Pemberton A Scout A Surgeon An Aide Neal, Secretary to Charles Charles I Farm labourers—Members ofParliament |
3
Cromwell's house at Ely, about the year1639. An early summer evening. The window of the room opens on to asmooth lawn, used for bowling, and a garden full of flowers.
Oliver's wife, Elizabeth Cromwell, is sitting at the table, sewing.In a chair by the open window Mrs.Cromwell, his mother, is reading. She is eighty years ofage.
Mrs. Cromwell:
Oliver troubles me, persuading everywhere. Restless like this.
Elizabeth:
He says that the time is uneasy, and that we are part of it.
Mrs. Cromwell:
There's a man's house. It's enough surely.
Elizabeth:
I know. But Oliver must be doing. You know how when he took themagistracy he would listen to none of us. He knows best.
Mrs. Cromwell:
What time is John coming?
Elizabeth:
By nightfall he said.
...