"Such a far-off promise is but words for children. I will better it. I will say to-morrow."
"I am with Mr. Whitelock," said one of the members; "at least with present showing."
"And I am of the same mind," added Hazelrig.
"Hazelrig, you are ever egging people of two minds to be of the worser."
"My Lord General, you put us all down. It were well, my lord, if you could believe there are some others of account beside yourself."
Cromwell looked keenly at the speaker but did not answer him.
Turning to Sir Harry Vane he said, "It is now near to midnight, and we have done no good, and I think we shall do none. Let us go to rest. To-morrow, we will talk the matter down to the bottom, and do what God wills."
"Or what the Lord General wills," said Harry Marten with a light laugh, rising as he spoke.
"I want not my own will," answered Cromwell with a sudden great emotion. "I have sought the Lord's will, night and day, on this question. I have indeed! But I do think we have fadged long enough with so great a subject, and the people want a settlement of it—they will have a settlement of it—and I tell you the plain truth, to-morrow there must be some decision. It cannot longer be delayed. There are those who will not suffer it. Truly, I believe this is the greatest occasion that has come to us. As the business stands—I like it not, and somewhat must be done to mend it. I must say this to you—impute it to what you please."
This speech beginning with a pious submission to God's will and ending with a dauntless assertion of his own determination, had a marked effect. The Parliamentary members agreed to let the bill for perpetuating themselves lie over until after another conference to be held the following day, and with this understanding, the members of the Council separated. Cromwell took the promise in good faith; and he said to Israel Swaffham as they went towards Whitehall, "I have at last brought Vane to terms. I do think we may draw up the Act for a new Parliament."