Browning's England Part 15

He'll see the next, and the next after that; No end to Parliaments!

_Charles._ Well, it is done.

He talks it smoothly, doubtless. If, indeed, The Commons here....

_Queen._ Here! you will summon them Here? Would I were in France again to see A King!

_Charles._ But, Henriette....

_Queen._ Oh, the Scots see clear!

Why should they bear your rule?

_Charles._ But listen, sweet!

_Queen._ Let Wentworth listen--you confide in him!

_Charles._ I do not, love,--I do not so confide!

The Parliament shall never trouble us ... Nay, hear me! I have schemes, such schemes: we'll buy The leaders off: without that, Wentworth's counsel Had ne'er prevailed on me. Perhaps I call it To have excuse for breaking it for ever, And whose will then the blame be? See you not?

Come, dearest!--look, the little fairy, now, That cannot reach my shoulder! Dearest, come!

In the second act, the historical episode, which pervades the act is the a.s.sembling and the dissolution of the Short Parliament. Only the salient points of the political situation have been seized upon by Browning. As in the first act, the popular party in private conclave is introduced.

From the talk it is gathered that feeling runs high against Strafford, by whose advice the Parliament had been called, because of the exorbitant demands made upon it for money to support an army, this army to crush Scotland whose cause was so nearly like its own. The popular party or the Faction had supposed the Parliament would be a means for the redressing of its long list of grievances which had been acc.u.mulating during the years since the last Parliament had been held.

Instead of that the Commons was deliberately informed by Charles that there would be no discussions of its demands until it had granted the subsidies for which it had been asked. The play gives one a much more lively sense of the indignant feelings of the duped men than can possibly be gained by reading many more pages of history with its endless minor details. Upon this gathering, Pym suddenly enters again, and to the reproaches of him for his belief in Strafford, makes the reply that the Parliament has been dissolved, the King has cast Strafford off forever, and henceforth Strafford will be on their side,--a conclusion not warranted by history, and, of course, found out to be erroneous by Pym and his followers in the next scene. Again there is the dramatic need to emphasize the human side of life even in an essentially political play, by showing that Pym's friends.h.i.+p and loyalty to Wentworth were no uncertain elements in his character. The moment it could be proved beyond a doubt that Wentworth was in the eyes of Pym, England's enemy, that moment Pym knew it would become his painful duty to crush Wentworth utterly, therefore Pym had for his own conscience'

sake to make the uttermost trial of his faith.

The second scene, as in the first act, brings out the other side. It is in the main true to history though much condensed. History relates that after the Short Parliament was dissolved, "voices were raised at Whitehall in condemnation of Strafford." His policy of raising subsidies from the Parliament having failed, criticisms would, of course, be made upon his having pushed ahead a war without the proper means of sustaining it. Charles himself was also frightened by the manifestations of popular discontent and failed to uphold Wentworth in his policy.

Northumberland had been appointed commander-in-chief of the army, but besides having little heart for an enterprise so badly prepared for, he was ill in bed and could not take command of the army, so the King appointed Strafford in his place. A hint of Strafford as he appears in this scene may be taken from Clarendon who writes "The earl of Strafford was scarce recovered from a great sickness, yet was willing to undertake the charge out of pure indignation to see how few men were forward to serve the King with that vigor of mind they ought to do; but knowing well the malicious designs which were contrived against himself, he would rather serve as lieutenant-general under the earl of Northumberland, than that he should resign his commission: and so, with and under that qualification, he made all possible haste towards the north before he had strength enough for the journey." Browning makes the King tell Strafford in this interview that he has dissolved the Parliament. He represents Strafford as horrified by the news and driven in this extremity to suggest the desperate measure of debasing the coinage as a means of obtaining funds. Strafford actually counseled this, when all else failed, namely, the proposed loan from the city, and one from the Spanish government, but, according to history, he himself voted for the dissolution of Parliament, though the play is accurate in laying the necessity of the dissolution at the door of old Vane. It was truly his ill-judged vehemence, for, not able to brook the arguments of the Commons, "He rose," says Gardiner, "to state that the King would accept nothing less than the twelve subsidies which he had demanded in his message. Upon this the Committee broke up without coming to a resolution, postponing further consideration of the matter to the following day." The next morning the King who had called his councillors together early "announced his intention of proceeding to a dissolution.

Strafford, who arrived late, begged that the question might first be seriously discussed, and that the opinions of the Councillors, who were also members of the Lower House, might first be heard. Vane declared that there was no hope that the Commons 'would give one penny.' On this the votes were taken. Northumberland and Holland were alone in wis.h.i.+ng to avert a dissolution. Supported by the rest of the Council the King hurried to the House of Lords and dissolved Parliament."

Wholly imaginary is the episode in this scene where Pym and his followers break in upon the interview of Wentworth and the King. Just at the climax of Wentworth's sorrowful rage at the King's treatment of him, they come to claim Wentworth for their side.

That you would say I did advise the war; And if, through your own weakness, or what's worse, These Scots, with G.o.d to help them, drive me back, You will not step between the raging People And me, to say....

I knew it! from the first I knew it! Never was so cold a heart!

Remember that I said it--that I never Believed you for a moment!

--And, you loved me?

You thought your perfidy profoundly hid Because I could not share the whisperings With Vane, with Savile? What, the face was masked?

I had the heart to see, sir! Face of flesh, But heart of stone--of smooth cold frightful stone!

Ay, call them! Shall I call for you? The Scots Goaded to madness? Or the English--Pym-- Shall I call Pym, your subject? Oh, you think I'll leave them in the dark about it all?

They shall not know you? Hampden, Pym shall not?

_PYM, HAMPDEN, VANE, etc., enter._

[_Dropping on his knee._] Thus favored with your gracious countenance What shall a rebel League avail against Your servant, utterly and ever yours?

So, gentlemen, the King's not even left The privilege of bidding me farewell Who haste to save the People--that you style Your People--from the mercies of the Scots And France their friend?

[_To CHARLES._] Pym's grave grey eyes are fixed Upon you, sir!

Your pleasure, gentlemen?

_Hampden._ The King dissolved us--'tis the King we seek And not Lord Strafford.

_Strafford._ --Strafford, guilty too Of counselling the measure. [_To CHARLES._] (Hush ... you know-- You have forgotten--sir, I counselled it) A heinous matter, truly! But the King Will yet see cause to thank me for a course Which now, perchance ... (Sir, tell them so!)--he blames.

Well, choose some fitter time to make your charge: I shall be with the Scots, you understand?

Then yelp at me!

Meanwhile, your Majesty Binds me, by this fresh token of your trust....

[_Under the pretence of an earnest farewell, STRAFFORD conducts CHARLES to the door, in such a manner as to hide his agitation from the rest: as the King disappears, they turn as by one impulse to PYM, who has not changed his original posture of surprise._

_Hampden._ Leave we this arrogant strong wicked man!

_Vane and others._ Hence, Pym! Come out of this unworthy place To our old room again! He's gone.

[_STRAFFORD, just about to follow the KING, looks back._

_Pym._ Not gone!

[_To STRAFFORD._] Keep tryst! the old appointment's made anew: Forget not we shall meet again!

_Strafford._ So be it!

And if an army follows me?

_Vane._ His friends Will entertain your army!

_Pym._ I'll not say You have misreckoned, Strafford: time shows.

Perish Body and spirit! Fool to feign a doubt, Pretend the scrupulous and nice reserve Of one whose prowess shall achieve the feat!

What share have I in it? Do I affect To see no dismal sign above your head When G.o.d suspends his ruinous thunder there?

Strafford is doomed. Touch him no one of you!

[_PYM, HAMPDEN, etc., go out._

_Strafford._ Pym, we shall meet again!

In the final talk of this scene with Carlisle, the pathos of Strafford's position is wonderfully brought out--the man who loves his King so overmuch that no perfidy on the King's part can make his resolution to serve him waver for an instant.

_+Lady+ CARLISLE enters._

You here, child?

_Lady Carlisle._ Hush-- I know it all: hush, Strafford!

_Strafford._ Ah? you know?

Well. I shall make a sorry soldier, Lucy!

All knights begin their enterprise, we read, Under the best of auspices; 'tis morn, The Lady girds his sword upon the Youth (He's always very young)--the trumpets sound, Cups pledge him, and, why, the King blesses him-- You need not turn a page of the romance To learn the Dreadful Giant's fate. Indeed, We've the fair Lady here; but she apart,-- A poor man, rarely having handled lance, And rather old, weary, and far from sure His Squires are not the Giant's friends. All's one: Let us go forth!

_Lady Carlisle._ Go forth?

_Strafford._ What matters it?

We shall die gloriously--as the book says.

_Lady Carlisle._ To Scotland? Not to Scotland?

_Strafford._ Am I sick Like your good brother, brave Northumberland?