"Englishmen such as thee are greatly wanted now," added Mr. Pym after a little.
Mr. Cromwell suddenly flashed into a smile which had a certain steady happiness in it, as if he had gained contentment from his momentary absorption or reverie.
"There are many better than I!" he answered. "Poor reeds, Mr. Pym, but by binding us together thou mayst make a stout birch for thy purpose!"
He turned and took his hat and mantle from a peg on the wall.
"I will come out with thee," he said, "and see how things go in London."
As the two gentlemen went together down the narrow stairs, Pym, in a few words, gave his companion the outlines of the next momentous measure he intended to bring forward at this juncture, when the public frenzy at the Irish rebellion and the atrocious circumstances of it would be occupying Parliament as well as people.
"I shall ask that military appointments may be under parliamentary control, Mr. Cromwell, and that His Majesty take only such advisers as the nation can approve; also that my Lord of Essex be given the command of the train bands—under the authority of Parliament, not the King."
"Well dost thou seize the moment!" returned the other, in a tone of admiration. "Turning even these events of horror into profit for liberty, methinks thou hast the King so stript of all pretences that he will scarce be able to find any rag of Popery to cover his bareness."
"Take care," said John Pym, gently laying his hand on his friend's cuff, "that thou dost not underestimate those forces opposed to thee."