"When the Lord speaks, I obey," answered Cromwell, with some grimness; "and then my actions are as swift as any man's, yea, even as thine, Major-General Harrison. I have given some poor testimony to that effect."
"Meanwhile," put in Lambert, "the miserable remnant at Westminster are making their bill law—and where are we? Even made a mock of and slighted."
As he spoke another messenger arrived, and close on his heels a third, to say that the Parliament were in very deed pushing through Sir Harry Vane's bill.
Then Cromwell rose.
"'Up, Lord, and help me, O my God,'" he said, "'for Thou smitest all mine enemies upon the cheek-bone—Thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly!' Now is the time—yea, even now." He turned to Harrison. "Come with me to Westminster and let us testify to God."
He called for his hat; he wore his black coat and his grey worsted stockings and a plain neck-band.
As he was leaving Whitehall he ordered a guard of soldiers to accompany him, and marched down to Westminster with them behind him, as Charles had marched with his armed followers from the same Palace to the same Parliament eleven years before.
When they reached Westminster Hall he left the file of muskets in the outer room, and he and his two generals passed to their usual places in the Commons.
There were about sixty members present; at the silent entrance of the three soldiers all looked round and about them, and some shifted in their places and whispered to their neighbours. "I see Old Noll's red nose," said one as Cromwell entered; "we are like to have a tempest."