"And if England wants a king," he continued, "she can make one; she has good men enough to choose from." "Some say that Cromwell will make himself king." "Some people know no more of Cromwell than a mite knows of a cheesemonger. Nevertheless, Cromwell is the Captain of England. He has expressed her heart, he has done her will." "Yet he is not without faults," said Mrs. Swaffham. "I don’t see his faults, Martha. I see only him. Great men may have greater faults than little men can find room for; and Cromwell is beloved of God, and therefore not always explainable to men." "He has dared to do many things which even his own party do not approve." "Jane, they who care will dare, though it call flame upon them. And Cromwell loves to lead on the verge of the impossible, for it is then he can invoke the aid of the Omnipotent." "I thought the Scotch were a very good, religious people." "God made them to be good, but He knew they wouldn’t be; so He also made Oliver Cromwell." "Are you going further, Doctor?" asked Mrs. Swaffham. "No, Martha. I mean to stay here until the General’s messenger joins me. He sent a letter to London by the young Lord Cluny Neville, and he took the direct road there, so we parted very early in the day; but he calls here for me on his return, and we shall go back together, if so God wills, to Edinburgh. And now, Jane Swaffham, if thou be a discreet young woman, be careful of the young Lord Cluny Neville." "Why am I warned, Doctor?" "Because he is one of those men who take women captive with his beauty—a very gracious youth—a great lover of the General, and much loved by him." "I never heard you speak of Lord Cluny Neville before." "Because I did not know him before. He came into our camp at Musselburgh and offered Cromwell his sword. The two men looked at each other steadily for a full minute, and in that minute Cromwell loved the young man. He saw down into his heart, and trusted him. Later, he told me that he reminded him of his own son, Oliver, who, as you know, was killed in battle just before Naseby. He has set his heart on the youth, and shows him great favour. Some are jealous of the boy, and make a grumble that he is so much trusted." "How can they be so foolish? I wonder the General suffers them. Surely he can have some one to love near him," said Mrs. Swaffham. "Well, Martha, it was part of the Apostle’s wisdom to suffer fools gladly. My brother Oliver can do it; and there is nothing wiser or more difficult. I cannot do it. I would rough them! rough them! till they learnt their folly, and left it." "If this young Lord is taking a letter to Madame Cromwell, then why did not Israel write to me?" "Oh, the unreasonableness of women! Can a man write when he is in the saddle pursuing the enemy? Israel and Lambert left immediately with seven regiments for Edinburgh. He sent you words full of love and comfort; so did your sons; what would you have, woman?"