The base and guilty bribes of guiltier men
Shall be thrown back, and Justice look as when
She loved the earth, and feared not to be sold
For that which worketh all things to it, gold.
BEN JONSON
"The course of justice must not be delayed, although it be the Sabbath,"
said the Protector; and, having hastily ascertained that his officer had
arrived at Cecil Place in time to prevent the intended marriage, he
immediately ordered that Colonel Jones and Sir Willmott Burrell should
be at once ushered into his presence. At the same time he despatched one
of his pages to command the attendance of Manasseh Ben Israel.
When the knight entered, he was received by Cromwell with his usual show
of courtesy. He appeared, however, with a downcast look, his hands
folded over his bosom, and his mind made up to the approaching contest
with one whom he well knew to be as profound and accomplished a
dissimulator as himself, when dissimulation was the weapon wherewith he
designed to fight.
Sir Willmott briefly apologised for his travel-worn and soiled
habiliments, and displayed a due portion of surprise and indignation at
being torn from his bride in the midst of the marriage ceremony. The Jew
trembled with agitation, and would have interrupted the Protector's more
slow, but not less sure, proceedings, had he not been prevented by a
timely check from Cromwell, who bent his brow towards him with a
peculiar and warning expression.
"It cannot be supposed, Sir Willmott," he observed, in a calm, and even
friendly tone, "but that I regret exceedingly being compelled to trouble
you in this manner, and at such a time. You will be made aware that I
have been called upon to perform a double duty; first, to my worthy and
excellent friend Manasseh Ben Israel, with the nature of whose
suspicions (it maketh a Christian soul shudder to think upon it) you are
already acquainted--and next, to the lady who was about to become your
wife. Her Highness has long and truly loved her; and she is, moreover,
somewhat related (although only after the Episcopalian fashion) to my
most beloved daughter. I was, therefore, bound to have especial care
concerning the maiden's bridal."
"The Lady Frances Cromwell could have informed your Highness that
Mistress Constantia was, of her own free will, a party to the ceremony."
"I do not dispute it. Now our business is to satisfy the mind of our
friend here, as to your alleged conduct towards his only child. It is a
noble matter in our laws, and one that we may well be proud of, that, by
God's blessing, every man is considered innocent until he be proven
guilty. The Lord forbid that I should lay aught of sin unto your
charge!--you, who have appeared at all times a sure and a safe prop unto
our Commonwealth. Doubtless you saw the lady--Zillah: say you not,
worthy Rabbi, that the maiden's name was Zillah?"