Hither, th' oppressed shall henceforth resort,
Justice to crave and succour at your court,
And then your Highness, not for ours alone,
But for the world's Protector shall be known.
WALLER to the Protector
It was past midnight when Manasseh Ben Israel, accompanied by Robin
Hays, as his own servant, and disguised as we have seen him, arrived at
Hampton Court. The night was murky, and the numerous turrets of the
great monument of Wolsey's grandeur and ambition were seen but dimly
through the thickened air, although looked upon with feelings of no
ordinary interest by both Jew and servitor.
The carriage was stopped at the outer court by the sentries on guard,
and some little delay occurred, apparently to ascertain if the Rabbi
could be admitted at so late an hour.
Robin looked from the carriage-window and saw, what appeared to him,
scores of mailed and armed warriors reclining on the stone benches of a
spacious but low guard-room, while others crowded over a large fire,
which the chilliness of the night rendered, at least, desirable. The
glaring of the flames showed brightly on their polished armour, and
their firm immovable features looked of a piece with the iron itself.
Nothing could be more imposing, or afford a more correct idea of
Cromwell's perseverance and judgment, than his well-trained soldiery.
Obedience, inflexible obedience to their commander, seemed the leading,
almost the only principle upon which they acted: not that slavish
obedience which is the effect of fear, but the obedience which is the
result of confidence. "God and the Protector" was their faith, and they
knew no other. As the Jew gazed upon those invincible men, he shrouded
himself still more closely within his furred cloak, and shuddered.
Robin's eye, on the contrary, brightened, for he was born of England,
and proud of her greatness. Ah! Englishmen in those days had a right to
be proud.
There was another difference in the conduct of the Protector's troops
from those of every other time and every other nation: they had none of
the reckless wildness, none of the careless bravery which is supposed
necessarily to belong to the profession of arms. Their habits were
staid and sober; and if any Cavaliers did enter in among them, they were
forced to behave themselves according to the fashion of their
associates, which habit, in a little time, tamed their heedlessness into
propriety. There was no singing of profane songs in the guard-room, no
filthy jesting or foolish talking; no drinking; their very breathing
seemed subdued, and nothing frighted the tranquillity which rested on
the turrets at Hampton, and pervaded its courts, save the striking of
some iron heel on the ringing pavement, or the neighing of some gallant
steed in the not distant stables.