|
Prev
| Next
| Contents
CHAPTER XXIV
A SAFE PASS FOR KING'S MESSENGER
A journey to London seemed to us in those bygone days
as hazardous and dark an adventure as could be forced
on any man. I mean, of course, a poor man; for to a
great nobleman, with ever so many outriders,
attendants, and retainers, the risk was not so great,
unless the highwaymen knew of their coming beforehand,
and so combined against them. To a poor man, however,
the risk was not so much from those gentlemen of the
road as from the more ignoble footpads, and the
landlords of the lesser hostels, and the loose
unguarded soldiers, over and above the pitfalls and the
quagmires of the way; so that it was hard to settle, at
the first outgoing whether a man were wise to pray more
for his neck or for his head.
But nowadays it is very different. Not that
highway-men are scarce, in this the reign of our good
Queen Anne; for in truth they thrive as well as ever,
albeit they deserve it not, being less upright and
courteous--but that the roads are much improved, and
the growing use of stage-waggons (some of which will
travel as much as forty miles in a summer day) has
turned our ancient ideas of distance almost upside
down; and I doubt whether God be pleased with our
flying so fast away from Him. However, that is not my
business; nor does it lie in my mouth to speak very
strongly upon the subject, seeing how much I myself
have done towards making of roads upon Exmoor.
To return to my story (and, in truth, I lose that road
too often), it would have taken ten King's messengers
to get me away from Plover's Barrows without one
goodbye to Lorna, but for my sense of the trust and
reliance which His Majesty had reposed in me. And now
I felt most bitterly how the very arrangements which
seemed so wise, and indeed ingenious, may by the force
of events become our most fatal obstacles. For lo! I
was blocked entirely from going to see Lorna; whereas
we should have fixed it so that I as well might have
the power of signalling my necessity.
It was too late now to think of that; and so I made up
my mind at last to keep my honour on both sides, both
to the King and to the maiden, although I might lose
everything except a heavy heart for it. And indeed,
more hearts than mine were heavy; for when it came to
the tug of parting, my mother was like, and so was
Annie, to break down altogether. But I bade them be of
good cheer, and smiled in the briskest manner upon
them, and said that I should be back next week as one
of His Majesty's greatest captains, and told them not
to fear me then. Upon which they smiled at the idea of
ever being afraid of me, whatever dress I might have
on; and so I kissed my hand once more, and rode away
very bravely. But bless your heart, I could no more
have done so than flown all the way to London if Jeremy
Stickles had not been there.
And not to take too much credit to myself in this
matter, I must confess that when we were come to the
turn in the road where the moor begins, and whence you
see the last of the yard, and the ricks and the poultry
round them and can (by knowing the place) obtain a
glance of the kitchen window under the walnut-tree, it
went so hard with me just here that I even made
pretence of a stone in ancient Smiler's shoe, to
dismount, and to bend my head awhile. Then, knowing
that those I had left behind would be watching to see
the last of me, and might have false hopes of my coming
back, I mounted again with all possible courage, and
rode after Jeremy Stickles.
Jeremy, seeing how much I was down, did his best to
keep me up with jokes, and tales, and light discourse,
until, before we had ridden a league, I began to long
to see the things he was describing. The air, the
weather, and the thoughts of going to a wondrous place,
added to the fine company--at least so Jeremy said it
was--of a man who knew all London, made me feel that I
should be ungracious not to laugh a little. And being
very simple then I laughed no more a little, but
something quite considerable (though free from
consideration) at the strange things Master Stickles
told me, and his strange way of telling them. And so
we became very excellent friends, for he was much
pleased with my laughing.
Not wishing to thrust myself more forward than need be
in this narrative, I have scarcely thought it becoming
or right to speak of my own adornments. But now, what
with the brave clothes I had on, and the better ones
still that were packed up in the bag behind the saddle,
it is almost beyond me to forbear saying that I must
have looked very pleasing. And many a time I wished,
going along, that Lorna could only be here and there,
watching behind a furze-bush, looking at me, and
wondering how much my clothes had cost. For mother
would have no stint in the matter, but had assembled at
our house, immediately upon knowledge of what was to be
about London, every man known to be a good stitcher
upon our side of Exmoor. And for three days they had
worked their best, without stint of beer or cider,
according to the constitution of each. The result, so
they all declared, was such as to create admiration,
and defy competition in London. And to me it seemed
that they were quite right; though Jeremy Stickles
turned up his nose, and feigned to be deaf in the
business.
Now be that matter as you please--for the point is not
worth arguing--certain it is that my appearance was
better than it had been before. For being in the best
clothes, one tries to look and to act (so far as may
be) up to the quality of them. Not only for the fear
of soiling them, but that they enlarge a man's
perception of his value. And it strikes me that our
sins arise, partly from disdain of others, but mainly
from contempt of self, both working the despite of God.
But men of mind may not be measured by such paltry rule
as this.
By dinner-time we arrived at Porlock, and dined with my
old friend, Master Pooke, now growing rich and portly.
For though we had plenty of victuals with us we were
not to begin upon them, until all chance of victualling
among our friends was left behind. And during that
first day we had no need to meddle with our store at
all; for as had been settled before we left home, we
lay that night at Dunster in the house of a worthy
tanner, first cousin to my mother, who received us very
cordially, and undertook to return old Smiler to his
stable at Plover's Barrows, after one day's rest.
Thence we hired to Bridgwater; and from Bridgwater on
to Bristowe, breaking the journey between the two. But
although the whole way was so new to me, and such a
perpetual source of conflict, that the remembrance
still abides with me, as if it were but yesterday, I
must not be so long in telling as it was in travelling,
or you will wish me farther; both because Lorna was
nothing there, and also because a man in our
neighbourhood had done the whole of it since my time,
and feigns to think nothing of it. However, one thing,
in common justice to a person who has been traduced, I
am bound to mention. And this is, that being two of
us, and myself of such magnitude, we never could have
made our journey without either fight or running, but
for the free pass which dear Annie, by some means (I
know not what), had procured from Master Faggus. And
when I let it be known, by some hap, that I was the own
cousin of Tom Faggus, and honoured with his society,
there was not a house upon the road but was proud to
entertain me, in spite of my fellow-traveller, bearing
the red badge of the King.
'I will keep this close, my son Jack,' he said, having
stripped it off with a carving-knife; 'your flag is the
best to fly. The man who starved me on the way down,
the same shall feed me fat going home.'
Therefore we pursued our way, in excellent condition,
having thriven upon the credit of that very popular
highwayman, and being surrounded with regrets that he
had left the profession, and sometimes begged to
intercede that he might help the road again. For all
the landlords on the road declared that now small ale
was drunk, nor much of spirits called for, because the
farmers need not prime to meet only common riders,
neither were these worth the while to get drunk with
afterwards. Master Stickles himself undertook, as an
officer of the King's Justices to plead this case with
Squire Faggus (as everybody called him now), and to
induce him, for the general good, to return to his
proper ministry.
It was a long and weary journey, although the roads are
wondrous good on the farther side of Bristowe, and
scarcely any man need be bogged, if he keeps his eyes
well open, save, perhaps, in Berkshire. In consequence
of the pass we had, and the vintner's knowledge of it,
we only met two public riders, one of whom made off
straightway when he saw my companion's pistols and the
stout carbine I bore; and the other came to a parley
with us, and proved most kind and affable, when he knew
himself in the presence of the cousin of Squire Faggus.
'God save you, gentlemen,' he cried, lifting his hat
politely; 'many and many a happy day I have worked this
road with him. Such times will never be again. But
commend me to his love and prayers. King my name is,
and King my nature. Say that, and none will harm
you.' And so he made off down the hill, being a perfect
gentleman, and a very good horse he was riding.
The night was falling very thick by the time we were
come to Tyburn, and here the King's officer decided
that it would be wise to halt, because the way was
unsafe by night across the fields to Charing village.
I for my part was nothing loth, and preferred to see
London by daylight.
And after all, it was not worth seeing, but a very
hideous and dirty place, not at all like Exmoor. Some
of the shops were very fine, and the signs above them
finer still, so that I was never weary of standing
still to look at them. But in doing this there was no
ease; for before one could begin almost to make out the
meaning of them, either some of the wayfarers would
bustle and scowl, and draw their swords, or the owner,
or his apprentice boys, would rush out and catch hold
of me, crying, 'Buy, buy, buy! What d'ye lack, what
d'ye lack? Buy, buy, buy!' At first I mistook the
meaning of this--for so we pronounce the word 'boy'
upon Exmoor--and I answered with some indignation,
'Sirrah, I am no boy now, but a man of one-and-twenty
years; and as for lacking, I lack naught from thee,
except what thou hast not--good manners.'
The only things that pleased me much, were the river
Thames, and the hall and church of Westminster, where
there are brave things to be seen, and braver still to
think about. But whenever I wandered in the streets,
what with the noise the people made, the number of the
coaches, the running of the footmen, the swaggering of
great courtiers, and the thrusting aside of everybody,
many and many a time I longed to be back among the
sheep again, for fear of losing temper. They were
welcome to the wall for me, as I took care to tell
them, for I could stand without the wall, which perhaps
was more than they could do. Though I said this with
the best intention, meaning no discourtesy, some of
them were vexed at it; and one young lord, being
flushed with drink, drew his sword and made at me. But
I struck it up with my holly stick, so that it flew on
the roof of a house, then I took him by the belt with
one hand, and laid him in the kennel. This caused some
little disturbance; but none of the rest saw fit to try
how the matter might be with them.
Now this being the year of our Lord 1683, more than
nine years and a half since the death of my father, and
the beginning of this history, all London was in a
great ferment about the dispute between the Court of
the King and the City. The King, or rather perhaps his
party (for they said that His Majesty cared for little
except to have plenty of money and spend it), was quite
resolved to be supreme in the appointment of the chief
officers of the corporation. But the citizens
maintained that (under their charter) this right lay
entirely with themselves; upon which a writ was issued
against them for forfeiture of their charter; and the
question was now being tried in the court of His
Majesty's bench.
This seemed to occupy all the attention of the judges,
and my case (which had appeared so urgent) was put off
from time to time, while the Court and the City
contended. And so hot was the conflict and hate
between them, that a sheriff had been fined by the King
in 100,000 pounds, and a former lord mayor had even
been sentenced to the pillory, because he would not
swear falsely. Hence the courtiers and the citizens
scarce could meet in the streets with patience, or
without railing and frequent blows.
Now although I heard so much of this matter, for
nothing else was talked of, and it seeming to me more
important even than the churchwardenship of Oare, I
could not for the life of me tell which side I should
take to. For all my sense of position, and of
confidence reposed in me, and of my father's opinions,
lay heavily in one scale, while all my reason and my
heart went down plump against injustice, and seemed to
win the other scale. Even so my father had been, at
the breaking out of the civil war, when he was less
than my age now, and even less skilled in politics; and
my mother told me after this, when she saw how I myself
was doubting, and vexed with myself for doing so, that
my father used to thank God often that he had not been
called upon to take one side or other, but might remain
obscure and quiet. And yet he always considered
himself to be a good, sound Royalist.
But now as I stayed there, only desirous to be heard
and to get away, and scarcely even guessing yet what
was wanted of me (for even Jeremy Stickles knew not, or
pretended not to know), things came to a dreadful pass
between the King and all the people who dared to have
an opinion. For about the middle of June, the judges
gave their sentence, that the City of London had
forfeited its charter, and that its franchise should be
taken into the hands of the King. Scarcely was this
judgment forth, and all men hotly talking of it, when a
far worse thing befell. News of some great conspiracy
was spread at every corner, and that a man in the
malting business had tried to take up the brewer's
work, and lop the King and the Duke of York. Everybody
was shocked at this, for the King himself was not
disliked so much as his advisers; but everybody was
more than shocked, grieved indeed to the heart with
pain, at hearing that Lord William Russell and Mr.
Algernon Sidney had been seized and sent to the Tower
of London, upon a charge of high treason.
Having no knowledge of these great men, nor of the
matter how far it was true, I had not very much to say
about either of them or it; but this silence was not
shared (although the ignorance may have been) by the
hundreds of people around me. Such a commotion was
astir, such universal sense of wrong, and stern resolve
to right it, that each man grasped his fellow's hand,
and led him into the vintner's. Even I, although at
that time given to excess in temperance, and afraid of
the name of cordials, was hard set (I do assure you)
not to be drunk at intervals without coarse
discourtesy.
However, that (as Betty Muxworthy used to say, when
argued down, and ready to take the mop for it) is
neither here nor there. I have naught to do with great
history and am sorry for those who have to write it;
because they are sure to have both friends and enemies
in it, and cannot act as they would towards them,
without damage to their own consciences.
But as great events draw little ones, and the rattle of
the churn decides the uncertainty of the flies, so this
movement of the town, and eloquence, and passion had
more than I guessed at the time, to do with my own
little fortunes. For in the first place it was fixed
(perhaps from down right contumely, because the
citizens loved him so) that Lord Russell should be
tried neither at Westminster nor at Lincoln's Inn, but
at the Court of Old Bailey, within the precincts of the
city. This kept me hanging on much longer; because
although the good nobleman was to be tried by the Court
of Common Pleas, yet the officers of King's Bench, to
whom I daily applied myself, were in counsel with their
fellows, and put me off from day to day.
Now I had heard of the law's delays, which the greatest
of all great poets (knowing much of the law himself, as
indeed of everything) has specially mentioned, when not
expected, among the many ills of life. But I never
thought at my years to have such bitter experience of
the evil; and it seemed to me that if the lawyers
failed to do their duty, they ought to pay people for
waiting upon them, instead of making them pay for it.
But here I was, now in the second month living at my
own charges in the house of a worthy fellmonger at the
sign of the Seal and Squirrel, abutting upon the Strand
road which leads from Temple Bar to Charing. Here I
did very well indeed, having a mattress of good
skin-dressings, and plenty to eat every day of my life,
but the butter was something to cry 'but' thrice at
(according to a conceit of our school days), and the
milk must have come from cows driven to water.
However, these evils were light compared with the heavy
bill sent up to me every Saturday afternoon; and
knowing how my mother had pinched to send me nobly to
London, and had told me to spare for nothing, but live
bravely with the best of them, the tears very nearly
came into my eyes, as I thought, while I ate, of so
robbing her.
At length, being quite at the end of my money, and
seeing no other help for it, I determined to listen to
clerks no more, but force my way up to the Justices,
and insist upon being heard by them, or discharged from
my recognisance. For so they had termed the bond or
deed which I had been forced to execute, in the
presence of a chief clerk or notary, the very day after
I came to London. And the purport of it was, that on
pain of a heavy fine or escheatment, I would hold
myself ready and present, to give evidence when called
upon. Having delivered me up to sign this, Jeremy
Stickles was quit of me, and went upon other business,
not but what he was kind and good to me, when his time
and pursuits allowed of it.
Prev
| Next
| Contents
|
