That morning as he was at breakfast with Lambert and Harrison an abrupt end was put to his tranquillity and satisfaction.
News was brought that the Parliament had assembled early and were hurrying through Sir Harry Vane's bill.
The Lord-General sank at once into gloomy silence, while the other two soldiers heavily condemned the perfidy of the Parliament men.
"I will not believe it," said Cromwell at last. "Nay, I will not believe falsehood of Sir Harry Vane."
"But maybe," suggested Major-General Harrison, "his followers have got beyond Sir Harry and done this thing despite him."
"Nay," returned the Lord-General. "I believe it not."
"You are too slow to move!" cried Harrison, with some heat. "If it had not been for your hesitation there would have been no Parliament to defy the poor toilers in God's cause."
The Lord-General pushed his tankard away from him.
"You are one," he answered, "who will not wait the Lord's leisure, but would hurry into that which afterwards honest men must repent."
"You have waited the Lord's leisure too long," said Harrison. "Much delay is not good."