_The Scout:_ General Cromwell is riding into the field with his Ironsides, sir, some six hundred strong. _Fairfax:_ Thank God! (CROMWELL comes into the tent, fully armed, hot and dusty from the road. The shouting dies away, but outside there is a sound as of new life until the end of the scene. SETH, OLIVER'S servant, stands at the tent opening.) _Fairfax:_ You are welcome; none can say how much. _Cromwell:_ A near thing, sir. I only heard from Westminster yesterday at noon. _Fairfax:_ They told us nothing. _Cromwell:_ There are many poor creatures at Westminster, sir. Many of them, I doubt not, would have willingly had me kept uninformed of this. But we are in time, and that's all. Henry. Good-morning, gentlemen. How goes it? _Fairfax_ (taking his seat, CROMWELL and the others also at the table): The battle is set. Our foot there, Skippon and myself. Colonel Ireton and Whalley are with the horse. They are at your service. _Cromwell_ (at the map): Rupert will be there. Langdale, if I mistake not, will be there. That road--is it good? _Pemberton:_ Poor below Mill Hill, sir. _Cromwell:_ Then that is the point; it may be decisive there. You take the left, Henry. _Ireton:_ Yes, sir. _Cromwell:_ Let Whalley be on my left here--give him fifteen hundred. I have six hundred. I'll take the right with them myself, Are you on the left, sir? _Fairfax:_ Yes, and the second line. _Cromwell:_ Good--can I have two of the best regiments down here behind me? _Fairfax:_ Yes. Staines, let Spilsby see to that. _Cromwell:_ Spilsby is good. _Staines:_ If I might say it, would you choose him for that, sir? It is a great responsibility, and he has been indiscreet. I thought not to use him to-day. _Cromwell:_ Indiscreet? _Staines:_ In his utterances, sir. His belief is in some question. _Cromwell:_ Surely you are not well advised to turn off one so faithful to the cause, and so able to serve you as this man is. He is indiscreet, you say. It may be so in some things; we all have human infirmities. Sir, the state, in choosing men to serve it, takes no notice of their opinions. If men be willing faithfully to serve it, that satisfies. Let it be Spilsby. _Staines:_ Yes, sir. _Cromwell:_ Is the army well rested, sir? _Fairfax:_ They are resting now. Till ten o'clock. We moved up at three. _Cromwell:_ Three hours for my men. It is enough. The order to advance at eleven? _Fairfax:_ At eleven. _Cromwell:_ Is the word for the day chosen? _Fairfax:_ Not yet. _Cromwell:_ Let it be, "God our strength." Gentlemen. (They all rise, and, bareheaded, together they repeat, "God our strength.") THE SCENE CLOSES SCENE V _The same tent. Night--with torches and candles. An aide stands at the tent opening. The sentries pass to and fro. It is after the action. IRETON, severely wounded, is on a couch, surgeons attending him. CROMWELL, himself battered and with a slight head wound, stands by the couch._