_Charles:_
But we must consider ourselves. It would be folly to anger the House.
_Cromwell:_
The House can do nothing without us. And I have considered you, sir. I
have persuaded the army that the monarchy is the aptest form of
government for this country. It was difficult, but my belief has
prevailed. I have even won respect for Your Majesty's person. Do but
give us our guarantees, and you will mount a securer throne, I think,
than any king has yet held in England.
_Charles:_
But Parliament--
_Ireton:_
No, sir. Parliament's demands are not our demands. To give them what
they ask will be to lose all opinion in the army. That would be fatal.
_Cromwell:_
Parliament and the army are at one in asking for constitutional
safeguards. All are agreed on that. But after that we are in dispute,
irreconcileably. They want a Presbyterian despotism. This land, sir, has
had enough of despotism, and we will not exchange one despotism for
another. We, the army, demand liberty of opinion. We respect law, we
stand, above all, for order and right behaviour, for an observance of
the rights of others. But we demand that a man's thought shall be his
own, that his faith shall be directed by none. We stand for Bible
freedom.
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