Chapter Chapter 8 · Of our Start for the Wars

All along the ridge of Portsdown Hill we had the lights of Portsmouth

and of the harbour ships twinkling beneath us on the left, while on

the right the Forest of Bere was ablaze with the signal fires which

proclaimed the landing of the invader. One great beacon throbbed upon

the summit of Butser, while beyond that, as far as eye could reach,

twinkling sparks of light showed how the tidings were being carried

north into Berkshire and eastward into Sussex. Of these fires, some were

composed of faggots piled into heaps, and others of tar barrels set upon

poles. We passed one of these last just opposite to Portchester, and the

watchers around it, hearing the tramp of our horses and the clank of

our arms, set up a loud huzza, thinking doubtless that we were King’s

officers bound for the West.

Master Decimus Saxon had flung to the winds the precise demeanour which

he had assumed in the presence of my father, and rattled away with many

a jest and scrap of rhyme or song as we galloped through the darkness.

‘Gadzooks!’ said he frankly, ‘it is good to be able to speak freely

without being expected to tag every sentence with a hallelujah or an

amen.’

‘You were ever the leader in those pious exercises,’ I remarked drily.

‘Aye, indeed. You have nicked it there! If a thing must be done, then

take a lead in it, whatever it may be. A plaguy good precept, which has

stood me in excellent stead before now. I cannot bear in mind whether I

told you how I was at one time taken prisoner by the Turks and conveyed

to Stamboul. There were a hundred of us or more, but the others either

perished under the bastinado, or are to this day chained to an oar in

the Imperial Ottoman galleys, where they are like to remain until they

die under the lash, or until some Venetian or Genoese bullet finds its

way into their wretched carcasses. I alone came off with my freedom.’

‘And pray, how did you make your escape?’ I asked.

‘By the use of the wit wherewith Providence hath endowed me,’ he

answered complacently; ‘for, seeing that their accursed religion is the

blind side of these infidels, I did set myself to work upon it. To this

end I observed the fashion in which our guard performed their morning

and evening exercises, and having transformed my doublet into a praying

cloth, I did imitate them, save only that I prayed at greater length and

with more fervour.’

‘What!’ I cried in horror. ‘You did pretend to be a Mussulman?’

‘Nay, there was no pretence. I became a Mussulman. That, however,

betwixt ourselves, as it might not stand me in very good stead with some

Reverend Aminadab Fount-of-Grace in the rebel camp, who is no admirer of

Mahmoud.’

I was so astounded at the impudence of this confession, coming from the

mouth of one who had been leading the exercises of a pious Christian

family, that I was fairly bereft of speech. Decimus Saxon whistled a few

bars of a sprightly tune, and then continued--

‘My perseverance in these exercises soon led to my being singled out

from among the other prisoners, until I so prevailed upon my gaolers

that the doors were opened for me, and I was allowed out on condition

of presenting myself at the prison gates once a day. What use, think ye,

did I make of my freedom?’

‘Nay, you are capable of anything,’ said I.

‘I set off forthwith to their chief mosque--that of St. Sophia. When the

doors opened and the muezzin called, I was ever the first to hurry into

devotions and the last to leave them. Did I see a Mussulman strike his

head upon the pavement, I would strike mine twice. Did I see him bend

and bow, I was ready to prostrate myself. In this way ere long the piety

of the converted Giaour became the talk of the city, and I was provided

with a hut in which to make my sacred meditations. Here I might have

done well, and indeed I had well-nigh made up my mind to set up as

a prophet and write an extra chapter to the Koran, when some foolish

trifle made the faithful suspicious of my honesty. It was but some

nonsense of a wench being found in my hut by some who came to consult

me upon a point of faith, but it was enough to set their heathen tongues

wagging; so I thought it wisest to give them the slip in a Levantine

coaster and leave the Koran uncompleted. It is perhaps as well, for it

would be a sore trial to have to give up Christian women and pork, for

their garlic-breathing houris and accursed kybobs of sheep’s flesh.’

We had passed through Fareham and Botley during this conversation, and

were now making our way down the Bishopstoke road. The soil changes

about here from chalk to sand, so that our horses’ hoofs did but make

a dull subdued rattle, which was no bar to our talk--or rather to my

companion’s, for I did little more than listen. In truth, my mind was so

full of anticipations of what was before us, and of thoughts of the

home behind, that I was in no humour for sprightly chatter. The sky was

somewhat clouded, but the moon glinted out between the rifts, showing

us the long road which wound away in front of us. On either side were

scattered houses with gardens sloping down toward the road. The heavy,

sickly scent of strawberries was in the air.

‘Hast ever slain a man in anger?’ asked Saxon, as we galloped along.

‘Never,’ I answered.

‘Ha! You will find that when you hear the clink of steel against steel,

and see your foeman’s eyes, you will straightway forget all rules,

maxims, and precepts of the fence which your father or others may have

taught you.’

‘I have learned little of the sort,’ said I. My father did but teach

me to strike an honest downright blow. This sword can shear through a

square inch of iron bar.’

‘Scanderbeg’s sword must have Scanderbeg’s arm,’ he remarked. ‘I

have observed that it is a fine piece of steel. One of the real old

text-compellers and psalm-expounders which the faithful drew in the days

of yore, when they would:

“Prove their religion orthodox,

By Apostolic blows and knocks.”

You have not fenced much, then?’

‘Scarce at all,’ said I.

‘It is as well. With an old and tried swordsman like myself, knowledge

of the use of his weapon is everything; but with a young Hotspur of your

temper, strength and energy go for much. I have oft remarked that those

who are most skilled at the shooting of the popinjay, the cleaving of

the Turk’s head, and other such sports, are ever laggards in the field.

Had the popinjay a crossbow as well, and an arrow on the string, or

had the Turk a fist as well as a head, our young gallant’s nerves would

scarce be as steady over the business. I make no doubt, Master Clarke,

that we shall make trusty comrades. What saith old Butler?

“Never did trusty squire with knight,

Or knight with squire ere jump more right.”

I have scarce dared to quote “Hudibras” for these weeks past, lest I

should set the Covenant fermenting in the old man’s veins.’

‘If we are indeed to be comrades,’ said I sternly, ‘you must learn to

speak with more reverence and less flippancy of my father, who would

assuredly never have harboured you had he heard the tale which you have

told me even now.’

‘Belike not,’ the adventurer answered, chuckling to himself. ‘It is a

long stride from a mosque to a conventicle. But be not so hot-headed,

my friend. You lack that repose of character which will come to you,

no doubt, in your more mature years. What, man! within five minutes of

seeing me you would have smitten me on the head with an oar, and ever

since you have been like a bandog at my heels, ready to hark if I do but

set my foot over what you regard as the straight line. Remember that you

go now among men who fight on small occasion of quarrel. A word awry may

mean a rapier thrust.’

‘Do you bear the same in mind,’ I answered hotly; ‘my temper is

peaceful, but covert threats and veiled menace I shall not abide.’

‘Odd’s mercy!’ he cried. ‘I see that you will start carving me anon, and

take me to Monmouth’s camp in sections. Nay, nay, we shall have fighting

enow without falling out among ourselves. What houses are those on the

left?’

‘The village of Swathling,’ I replied. ‘The lights of Bishopstoke lie to

the right, in the hollow.’

‘Then we are fifteen miles on our way, and methinks there is already

some faint flush of dawn in the east. Hullo, what have we here? Beds

must be scarce if folks sleep on the highways.’

A dark blur which I had remarked upon the roadway in front of us had

resolved itself as we approached into the figure of a man, stretched

at full length, with his face downwards, and his head resting upon his

crossed arms.

‘Some reveler, mayhap, from the village inn,’ I remarked.

‘There’s blood in the air,’ said Saxon, raising up his beak-like nose

like a vulture which scents carrion. ‘Methinks he sleeps the sleep which

knows no waking.’

He sprang down from his saddle, and turned the figure over upon his

back. The cold pale light of the early dawn shimmering upon his staring

eyes and colourless face showed that the old soldier’s instinct was

correct, and that he had indeed drawn his last breath.

‘Here’s a pretty piece of work,’ said Saxon, kneeling by the dead man’s

side and passing his hands over his pockets. ‘Footpads, doubtless. Not a

stiver in his pockets, nor as much as a sleeve-link to help pay for the

burial.’

‘How was he slain!’ I asked in horror, looking down at the poor vacant

face, the empty house from which the tenant had departed.

‘A stab from behind and a tap on the head from the butt of a pistol.

He cannot have been dead long, and yet every groat is gone. A man of

position, too, I should judge from his dress--broadcloth coat by the

feel, satin breeches, and silver buckles on his shoes. The rogues must

have had some plunder with him. Could we but run across them, Clarke, it

would be a great and grand thing.’

‘It would indeed,’ said I heartily. ‘What greater privilege than to

execute justice upon such cowardly murderers!’

‘Pooh! pooh!’ he cried. ‘Justice is a slippery dame, and hath a

two-edged sword in her hand. We may have enough of justice in our

character as rebels to give us a surfeit of it. I would fain overtake

these robbers that we may relieve them of their _spolia opima_, together

with any other wealth which they may have unlawfully amassed. My learned

friend the Fleming layeth it down that it is no robbery to rob a robber.

But where shall we conceal this body?’

‘Wherefore should we conceal it?’ I asked.

‘Why, man, unused to war or the precautions of a warrior, you must yet

see that should this body be found here, there will be a hue and cry

through the country, and that strangers like ourselves will be arrested

on suspicion. Should we clear ourselves, which is no very easy matter,

the justice will at least want to know whence we come and whither we

go, which may lead to inquiries that may bode us little good. I shall

therefore take the liberty, mine unknown and silent friend, of dragging

you into yon bushes, where for a day or two at least you are like to lie

unobserved, and so bring no harm upon honest men.’

‘For God’s sake do not treat it so unkindly,’ I cried, springing down

from my horse and laying my hand upon my companion’s arm. ‘There is no

need to trail it in so unseemly a fashion. If it must be moved hence, I

shall carry it with all due reverence. ‘So saying, I picked the body up

in my arms, and bearing it to a wayside clump of yellow gorse bushes, I

laid it solemnly down and drew the branches over it to conceal it.

‘You have the thews of an ox and the heart of a woman, ‘muttered my

companion. ‘By the Mass, that old white-headed psalm-singer was right;

for if my memory serves me, he said words to that effect. A few handfuls

of dust will hide the stains. Now we may jog upon our way without any

fear of being called upon to answer for another man’s sins. Let me but

get my girth tightened and we may soon be out of danger’s way.’

‘I have had to do,’ said Saxon, as we rode onwards, ‘with many gentry

of this sort, with Albanian brigands, the banditti of Piedmont, the

Lanzknechte and Freiritter of the Rhine, Algerine picaroons, and other

such folk. Yet I cannot call to mind one who hath ever been able to

retire in his old age on a sufficient competence. It is but a precarious

trade, and must end sooner or later in a dance on nothing in a tight

cravat, with some kind friend tugging at your legs to ease you of any

breath that you might have left.’

‘Nor does that end all,’ I remarked.

‘No. There is Tophet behind and the flames of hell. So our good friends

the parsons tell us. Well, if a man is to make no money in this world,

be hanged at the end of it, and finally burn for ever, he hath assuredly

wandered on to a thorny track. If, on the other hand, one could always

lay one’s hands on a well-lined purse, as those rogues have done

to-night, one might be content to risk something in the world to come.’

‘But what can the well-filled purse do for them?’ said I. ‘What will

the few score pieces which these bloodthirsty wretches have filched from

this poor creature avail them when their own hour of death comes round?’

‘True,’ said Saxon dryly; ‘they may, however, prove useful in the

meantime. This you say is Bishopstoke. What are the lights over yonder?’

‘They come, I think, from Bishop’s Waltham,’ I answered.

‘We must press on, for I would fain be in Salisbury before it is broad

day. There we shall put our horses up until evening and have some rest,

for there is nothing gained by man or beast coming jaded to the wars.

All this day the western roads will be crowded with couriers, and mayhap

patrolled by cavalry as well, so that we cannot show our faces upon it

without a risk of being stopped and examined. Now if we lie by all day,

and push on at dusk, keeping off the main road and making our way across

Salisbury Plain and the Somersetshire downs, we shall be less likely to

come to harm.’

‘But what if Monmouth be engaged before we come up to him?’ I asked.

‘Then we shall have missed a chance of getting our throats cut. Why,

man, supposing that he has been routed and entirely dispersed, would

it not be a merry conceit for us to appear upon the scene as two loyal

yeomen, who had ridden all the way from Hampshire to strike in against

the King’s enemies? We might chance to get some reward in money or in

land for our zeal. Nay, frown not, for I was but jesting. Breathe our

horses by walking them up this hill. My jennet is as fresh as when we

started, but those great limbs of thine are telling upon the grey.’

The patch of light in the east had increased and broadened, and the sky

was mottled with little pink feathers of cloud. As we passed over

the low hills by Chandler’s Ford and Romsey we could see the smoke of

Southampton to the south-east, and the broad dark expanse of the New

Forest with the haze of morning hanging over it. A few horsemen passed

us, pricking along, too much engrossed in their own errand to inquire

ours. A couple of carts and a long string of pack-horses, laden

principally with bales of wool, came straggling along a byroad, and

the drivers waved their broad hats to us and wished us God-speed. At

Dunbridge the folk were just stirring, and paused in taking down the

cottage shutters to come to the garden railings and watch us pass. As we

entered Dean, the great red sun pushed its rosy rim over the edge of the

horizon, and the air was filled with the buzz of insects and the sweet

scent of the morning. We dismounted at this latter village, and had a

cup of ale while resting and watering the horses. The landlord could

tell us nothing about the insurgents, and indeed seemed to care very

little about the matter one way or the other. ‘As long as brandy pays a

duty of six shillings and eightpence a gallon, and freight and leakage

comes to half a crown, while I am expected to sell it at twelve

shillings, it matters little to me who is King of England. Give me a

king that will prevent the hop-blight and I am his man.’ Those were the

landlord’s politics, and I dare say a good many more were of his way of

thinking.

From Dean to Salisbury is all straight road with moor, morass, and

fenland on either side, broken only by the single hamlet of Aldersbury,

just over the Wiltshire border. Our horses, refreshed by the short rest,

stepped out gallantly, and the brisk motion, with the sunlight and the

beauty of the morning, combined to raise our spirits and cheer us after

the depression of the long ride through the darkness, and the incident

of the murdered traveller. Wild duck, widgeon, and snipe flapped up from

either side of the road at the sound of the horses’ hoofs, and once a

herd of red deer sprang to their feet from among the ferns and scampered

away in the direction of the forest. Once, too, when passing a dense

clump of trees, we saw a shadowy white creature half hidden by the

trunks, which must, I fancy, have been one of those wild cattle of

which I have heard the peasants speak, who dwell in the recesses of

the southern woods, and are so fierce and intractable that none dare

approach them. The breadth of the view, the keenness of the air, and the

novelty of the sense of having great work to do, all combined to send a

flush of life through my veins such as the quiet village existence

had never been able to give. My more experienced companion felt the

influence too, for he lifted up a cracked voice and broke into a droning

chant, which he assured me was an Eastern ode which had been taught him

by the second sister of the Hospodar of Wallachia.

‘Anent Monmouth,’ he remarked, coming back suddenly to the realities of

our position. ‘It is unlikely that he can take the field for some days,

though much depends upon his striking a blow soon, and so raising the

courage of his followers before the King’s troops can come down upon

him. He has, mark ye, not only his troops to find, but their weapons,

which is like to prove a more difficult matter. Suppose he can raise

five thousand men--and he cannot stir with less--he will not have one

musket in five, so the rest must do as they can with pikes and bills, or

such other rude arms as they can find. All this takes time, and though

there may be skirmishes, there can scarce be any engagement of import

before we arrive.’

‘He will have been landed three or four days ere we reach him,’ said I.

‘Hardly time for him with his small staff of officers to enrol his men

and divide them into regiments. I scarce expect to find him at Taunton,

though we were so directed. Hast ever heard whether there are any rich

Papists in those parts?’

‘I know not,’ I replied.

‘If so there might be plate chests and silver chargers, to say nothing

of my lady’s jewels and other such trifles to reward a faithful soldier.

What would war be without plunder! A bottle without the wine--a shell

without the oyster. See the house yonder that peeps through the trees.

I warrant there is a store of all good things under that roof, which you

and I might have for the asking, did we but ask with our swords in our

grip. You are my witness that your father did give and not lend me this

horse.’

‘Why say you that, then?’

‘Lest he claim a half of whatever booty I may chance to gain. What saith

my learned Fleming under the heading “an qui militi equum praebuit,

praedae ab eo captae particeps esse debeat?” which signifieth “whether

he who lendeth a horse hath a claim on the plunder of him who borroweth

it.” In this discourse he cites a case wherein a Spanish commander

having lent a steed to one of his captains, and the said captain having

captured the general of the enemy, the commander did sue him for a

half share of the twenty thousand crowns which formed the ransom of the

prisoner. A like case is noted by the famous Petrinus Bellus in his book

“De Re Militari,” much read by leaders of repute.’ (Note C. Appendix.)

‘I can promise you,’ I answered, ‘that no such claim shall ever be made

by my father upon you. See yonder, over the brow of the hill, how the

sun shines upon the high cathedral tower, which points upwards with its

great stone finger to the road that every man must travel.’

‘There is good store of silver and plate in these same churches,’ quoth

my companion. ‘I remember that at Leipsic, when I was serving my first

campaign, I got a candlestick, which I was forced to sell to a Jew

broker for a fourth of its value; yet even at his price it sufficed to

fill my haversack with broad pieces.’

It chanced that Saxon’s mare had gained a stride or two upon mine whilst

he spoke, so that I was able to get a good view of him without turning

my head. I had scarce had light during our ride to see how his harness

sat upon him, but now I was amazed on looking at him to mark the change

which it had wrought in the man. In his civil dress his lankiness and

length of limb gave him an awkward appearance, but on horse-back, with

his lean, gaunt face looking out from his steel cap, his breastplate

and buff jacket filling out his figure, and his high boots of untanned

leather reaching to the centre of his thighs, he looked the veteran

man-at-arms which he purported to be. The ease with which he sat his

horse, the high, bold expression upon his face, and the great length of

his arms, all marked him as one who could give a good account of himself

in a fray. In his words alone I could have placed little trust, but

there was that in his bearing which assured even a novice like myself

that he was indeed a trained man of war.

‘That is the Avon which glitters amongst the trees,’ I remarked. ‘We are

about three miles from Salisbury town.’

‘It is a noble spire,’ said he, glancing at the great stone spire in

front of us. ‘The men of old would seem to have spent all their days in

piling stones upon stones. And yet we read of tough battles and shrewd

blows struck, showing that they had some time for soldierly relaxation,

and were not always at this mason work.’

‘The Church was rich in those days,’ I answered, shaking my bridle, for

Covenant was beginning to show signs of laziness. ‘But here comes one

who might perhaps tell us something of the war.’

A horseman who bore traces of having ridden long and hard was rapidly

approaching us. Both rider and steed were grey with dust and splashed

with mire, yet he galloped with loosened rein and bent body, as one to

whom every extra stride is of value.

‘What ho, friend!’ cried Saxon, reining his mare across the road so as

to bar the man’s passage. ‘What news from the West?’

‘I must not tarry,’ the messenger gasped, slackening his speed for an

instant. ‘I bear papers of import from Gregory Alford, Mayor of Lyme, to

Ins Majesty’s Council. The rebels make great head, and gather together

like bees in the swarming time. There are some thousands in arms

already, and all Devonshire is on the move. The rebel horse under Lord

Grey hath been beaten back from Bridport by the red militia of Dorset,

but every prickeared Whig from the Channel to the Severn is making his

way to Monmouth.’ With this brief summary of the news he pushed his way

past us and clattered on in a cloud of dust upon his mission.

‘The broth is fairly on the fire, then,’ quoth Decimus Saxon, as we rode

onwards. ‘Now that skins have been slit the rebels may draw their swords

and fling away their scabbards, for it’s either victory for them or

their quarters will be dangling in every market town of the county. Heh,

lad? we throw a main for a brave stake.’

‘Marked ye that Lord Grey had met with a check,’ said I.

‘Pshaw! it is of no import. A cavalry skirmish at the most, for it is

impossible that Monmouth could have brought his main forces to Bridport;

nor would he if he could, for it is out of his track. It was one of

those three-shots-and-a-gallop affrays, where each side runs away and

each claims the victory. But here we are in the streets of Salisbury.

Now leave the talking to me, or your wrong-headed truthfulness may lay

us by the heels before our time.’

Passing down the broad High Street we dismounted in front of the Blue

Boar inn, and handed our tired horses over to the ostler, to whom

Saxon, in a loud voice, and with many rough military oaths, gave strict

injunctions as to their treatment. He then clanked into the inn parlour,

and throwing himself into one chair with his feet upon another, he

summoned the landlord up before him, and explained our needs in a tone

and manner which should give him a due sense of our quality.

‘Of your best, and at once,’ quoth he. ‘Have your largest double-couched

chamber ready with your softest lavender-scented sheets, for we have had

a weary ride and must rest. And hark ye, landlord, no palming off your

stale, musty goods as fresh, or of your washy French wines for the true

Hainault vintage. I would have you to understand that my friend here and

I are men who meet with some consideration in the world, though we

care not to speak our names to every underling. Deserve well of us,

therefore, or it may be the worse for you.’

This speech, combined with my companion’s haughty manner and fierce

face, had such an effect upon the landlord that he straightway sent

us in the breakfast which had been prepared for three officers of the

Blues, who were waiting for it in the next apartment. This kept them

fasting for another half-hour, and we could hear their oaths and

complaints through the partition while we were devouring their capon and

venison pie. Having eaten a hearty meal and washed it down with a bottle

of Burgundy we sought our room, and throwing our tired limbs upon the

bed, were soon in a deep slumber.