Page:Works of Thomas Carlyle - Volume 06.djvu/314

280 Mace,’ and many Members of both Houses, have withdrawn; and the Army, lately at Bedford, is on quick march towards London! Alarming pause. ‘About noon,’ however, the Remainders of the Two Houses, reinforced by the Eleven who reappear for the last time, proceed to elect new Speakers, ‘get the City Mace’; order, above all, that there be a vigorous enlistment of forces under General Massey, General Poyntz, and others. ‘St. James’s Fields’ were most busy all Saturday, all Monday; shops all shut; drums beating in all quarters; a most vigorous enlistment going on. Presbyterianism will die with harness on its back. Alas, news come that the Amny is at Colnebrook, advancing towards Hounslow; news come that they have rendezvoused at Hounslow, and received the Speakers and fugitive Lords and Commons with shouts. Tuesday 8d August 1647 was such a day as London and the Guildhall never saw before or since! Southwark declares that it will not fight; sends to Fairfax for Peace and a ‘sweet composure’; comes to the Guildhall in great crowds petitioning for Peace;—at which sight, General Poyntz, pressing through for orders about his enlistments, loses his last drop of human patience; ‘draws his sword’ on the whining multitudes, ‘slashes several persons, whereof some died.’ The game is nearly up. Look into the old Guildhall on that old Tuesday night; the palpitation, tremulous expectation; wooden Gog and Magog themselves almost sweating cold with terror:

‘General Massey sent out scouts to Brentford: but Ten men of the Army beat Thirty of his; and took a flag from a Party of the City. The City Militia and Common Council sat late; and a great number of people attended at Guildhall. When a scout came in and brought news, That the Army made a halt; or other good intelligence,—they cry, “One and all!” But if the scouts reported that the Army was advancing nearer them, then they would cry as loud, “Treat, treat, treat!” So they spent most part of the night. At last they resolved to send the General an humble