"Ay, ay," said Nat, with an approving nod of the head. "Why, you chicken-hearted cravens!" exclaimed Sir John, addressing Charnley and Waynfleet, "what the devil are you frightened at? Our enterprise, I tell you, must and shall succeed; our friends are stanch, the accounts from London are every day more favourable, and as to this rawhead and bloody-bones,—this bugaboo woman in black, this witch, this hag, this polecat, I care not a rush for her bedlamite freaks, for in another week the rising will take place, and we shall have the game in our own hands. However, if you wish to turn tail, do so, o' God's name, while you can escape scot-free; but as to me, on I go, though Beelzebub himself should stand in my path, and shake his horns at me as I proceed." "Speak not so irreverently, Sir John," said the chaplain devil, saith the Scripture, and he shall flee from you." "resist the "Well, I am resisting him in this enterprise, an't I? -- doing my best to trample him down with all the false prophets and fanatics whom he has lifted up, and it is your duty, as a minister of the true church, although an ejected one, to be aiding and abetting in the recovery of your rights." "Nay," replied the chaplain, not a little encouraged by this declaration of Sir John's object, as well as by the confidence of his tone, "I threw out the suggestion for your own consideration, not with any intention of withdrawing myself from so holy an enterprise, if it may be safely undertaken.” "That was my only idea," cried Waynfleet. "And a stupid one it was," exclaimed Sir John; "so let us lose no more time in palavering, but set to work in unloading the cart, like stout blades and willing." The end of the covered vehicle being now softly unbarred, several cases were withdrawn, carried through the gate into the garden, and down a short flight of steps, at whose extremity was a door opening into a vault. By the lantern suspended at its entrance, other cases of the same description were seen inside, and as soon as the contents of the cart were deposited with these, Sir John locked the door, and concealed the entrance y throwing down earth, which he covered with a cucumber-frame, so as o conceal effectually the little flight of steps. Around this, some dung was carefully thrown up by the party, to make the deception perfect, and they then prepared to separate for the night. Culpepper was directed to drive the cart back to the forest, and leave it in its usual place, and Sir John having recommended Waynfleet and the chaplain to take off their shoes and steal to their own apartments, without making the smallest noise, or even lighting a candle, so far disregarded the injunction in his own person, that when he reached his room, in which a lamp had been left burning, he finished a flask of Hippocras spiced, before he retired to rest: and so well was he satisfied with his liquor, as well as with the exploits of the night, that, while undressing, he kept singing to himself, although in a subdued voice, one of his cavalier songs: "A man that is arm'd With liquor, is charm'd, - And proof against strength and cunning He scorns the base humour of running Our brains are the quicker, When season'd with liquor; So let's drink and sing, Here's a health to the king, And I wish in this thing, Both the Roundheads and Cavies agree. Sing hey! Trolly, lolly, loe!"* The snatches of old songs introduced here and else where, are fragments of original ballads and lampoons that were current during the civil wrs, or immediately after their conclusion. THE heat of the weather, and the occurrence of the quarterly cattle faiz at East Grinstead, had occasioned a more than usual assemblage of rustic travellers at the Swan, a small public house in the obscure hamlet of ForestRow, near the northern extremity of Sussex. At the time when our history commences, it was kept by a jovial blade who had formerly served in the king's army, and was well known to have not only retained his political opinions, but to have a clear voice and a stout heart for singing his old Cavalier songs, a practice which was in those days by no means unattended with peril. On these accounts his house was frequented by such travellers and partisans as were not the best affected towards Cromwell's government, and who thought they might, in this unnoticed spot, safely indulge the effusion of their spleen, and drink, under the rose, confusion to all rogues and Roundheads. At that time the forest of Ashdown closely invested the place on every side, and a large solitary tree, of that species which had given its name to the vicinity, standing in front of the little inn, was encircled by a seat for the accommodation of such customers as occasionally traversed that cross-road for the purposes we have mentioned, or to visit the assize-town, from which it was only three miles distant. The old sign of the Swan is still existing upon the same spot, but the venerable ash has been succeeded by a large wilding cherry-tree, surrounded by a similar seat for the comfort of all weary wayfarers; and it has fallen to our lot to know that whatever may have been the reputation of this humble caravansera in the days of which we are about to write, it will still give satisfaction to all such travellers as may be propitiated by mild ale, plain viands, a courteous reception, and a moderate bill. It was on the second morning after the night-scene we have described, that the before-mentioned motley company of rustics were discussing the merits of sundry "creature comforts," as the Puritans affected to call them, beneath the friendly shade of the wide-spreading ash, when an emaciated and feeble old woman, covered with dust, arrived at the same rendezvous, and instead of calling clamorously for refreshment like her neighbours, drew a horn from her pocket, filled it with water from the pump, and seating herself upon the sandy ground, began to empty it of its contents, by slowly swallowing a mouthful at a time. "God help thee, mother," said an honest grazier, who was making sad havoc with a cold sirloin of beef, "hast thee never a cross in thy purse, that thou art fain to wash the dust out of thy mouth with water?" * As historical characters and events are introduced into the following novel, it may be right to state here, once for all, that the author has, in several instances, deviated from exact chronological succession; and that in the history of Valentine Walton, in the third volume, he has taken the same liberty with fact, that he has uone in other places with time. "God neither deserts those who appear to be forlorn," replied the old woman, nor does he always favour those who may seem to be prosperous." As if to prove this assertion, and at the same time to rebut the suspicion of poverty, she took a twenty shilling gold piece from her pocket, and as she looked upon it proceeded thus: "What have we here? one side a cross with a palm and laurel, and the words 'Commonwealth of England:' on the other side, the cross and harp, and the words 'God with us.' -- Might not a scoffer now remark, that even by the confession of their own coin, the States and God are not on the same side?" On "And might they not further remark," cried the landlord, "that in these times we have two crosses for one merry-making? Ods pittikins! we that set up a sign, know that to our cost. Cock-fighting and horse-racing, games and betting, all are forbidden; holydays are suppressed; the maypole is pulled down; and if folks want to drink and be merry, as they used to do, they must wait, forsooth, for the second Tuesday in the month, and tipple by act of parliament." "The horn of the ungodly is exalted," exclaimed the old woman, "while they of the true faith are trodden under foot." "Zooks! mother," cried the grazier, " which faith is that? for I think we reckon up two or three score of one sort or another." "When the wolf that worried the flock is slain, and the wild ox that tore up the vineyard is muzzled, it will be time enough to tell ye what ye seek to know," resumed the old woman. "Troth, dame," cried the grazier, " I'm in no hurry, for I always thought it dangerous to be wiser than one's neighbours; but perhaps you won't quarrel with the religion which leads me to offer you a share of my trencher and my pottle, for I see you like not to change that parliament piece, and if I may trust your looks, you're both hungry and athirst." "I am both," said the woman calmly, "and yet I cannot partake of your bounty, though I thank you for it." Why, what the dickens ails ye?" exclaimed the grazier, somewhat offended 1166 ye might have a worse offer, good woman, I can tell ye that." "Waste not your breath, neighbour mine," cried the landlord, who liked not to encourage such lenten loiterers at his door; "this is Friday, and I thought every body knew mother Lawrence to be a Roman, who can swallow lies and miracles by the bushel, and yet boggles at picking a beef-bone on a fast-day. Ods pittikins, dame,” for so was she generally called in derision, "ye may as well fill your stomach and starve your faith, now that the mummery of mass-mongers and the robbery of Peter's pence are passed and gone, for thus runs the song to-day : · "There's neither cross nor crucifix, Shall stand for men to see, Rome's trash and trumpery shall go down, "Hold thy profane tongue," ejaculated the object of this attack, "lest when it is parched in the pit, like that of Dives, thou repent of thy jests.” "What the foul fiend!" cried the landlord, "neither wag our tongues nor our jaws; neither chatter nor chew! truly yours must be a bad religion for all publicans." "And sinners ". - added the old woman significantly; a remark which he pretended not to hear, but turning to a newly arrived customer, exclaimed, "Ah! Caleb, art thou still pedlering the country with thy box of puritan playthings and relics for the Roundheads? hast any more bodkins and thimbles, or spoons and patty-pans; any of Rivett's knife-handles, candlesticks, and nut-crackers made out of the king's-I mean Charles Stuart's statue tha. stood at Charing Cross ?" The Rivett here alluded to was the man who bought Le Sour's fine equestrian statue of Charles I., when it was ordered to be pulled down by the parliament, under the pretext of breaking it up for the materials; instead of which he prudently buried it in his back yard, anticipating a period when he might sell it on much better terms than by weight. In the mean time, he used up all the old brass in his shop for such implements as we have mentioned, which were eagerly purchased by both parties: by the Cavaliers as relics of a royal martyr; and by the Roundheads as memorials of their triumph over a crowned oppressor. Caleb the pedler had for some time been Rivett's agent, and though he affected the puritan principles and dialect, it was but for the purpose of selling his wares to better account, and collecting information for the opposite party, to which he had occasionally acted as a spy. At the Restoration, the statue, presently making its reappearance, was set up where it now stands, and Rivett was handsomely rewarded for his calculating loyalty. "Verily, verily," exclaimed Caleb, in answer to the landlord's last question, "I have little or nothing of the sort, and I grieve to say it, for the Lord prospered that trade beyond any that I ever drove." "How came ye then to leave it ?" inquired the landlord. "Would not the brass hold out? Then fare thee well, old Charing Cross, And fare thee well, old Stump; It was a thing set up by the king, "The brass held out," quoth the pedler, "but the buyers would not; the Lord's people have become lukewarm -a generation of backsliders. Carnal and thrifty, and hungering after the fleshpots of Egypt, they will no longer give in their silver plate upon requisition, nor purchase my brass trinkets, though molten from the statue of a tyrant. I preached for two hours upon this very subject in the market-place at Horsham, and though I was evidently warmed by the Spirit—" "So shalt thou be now, Caleb," interrupted the landlord, "if thou wilt but tipple a drop of Dick's cordial, and I warrant it genuine,- but as to sermons of two hours, they like me not, either from the black silk skull-cap with the Geneva cloak and band, or the blue apron of the handicraft cushion-cuffer." So saying, he hurried away, as if apprehensive of an extempore preachment from the pedler, and turning towards a personage on a dapple gray pony, who, from his canvass satchel, rabbit-skin cap, and a figure of the same animal worked in white worsted on the sleeve of his green jerkin, was evidently a warrener, he exclaimed-"Ods pittikins, Nick Groombridge! how comes it you're not a hunting with Sir John? he was here with his merry men all afore the sun had taken off his nightcap, and though he wasn't ten minutes from Brambletye House, he called for a cup of sack, and tossed it off with his old troll - 'My petition shall be that Canary be cheaper, Without patent or custom, or cursed excise, That the wits may have leave to drink deeper and deeper, Well, I will say for Sir John Compton he's as merry a soul as ever whetted whistle at the Swan, though I have had Prince Rupert here, ay, and Maurice too, master Groombridge, by the same token that the latter drew his pistol, for he was a droll blade, and taking aim at my sign, saysHere goes at the Swan's crown, since such baubles are out of fashion;' and sure enough he shot it clean away, (do ye see the hole, Nick?) and then tossed me a crown piece, saying, exchange was no robbery. Ah! we had solid crown pieces in those days, none of your three-groat bits with the crosses and harp, or the brewer's -; but mum's the word, Nick, when the Rump may cut off the head. There's one good brewer in the world, and this is his ale, brewed by Manby's patent, so you may pull at the black jack for nothing so long as ye drink the health of your master, Sir John Compton." - "Anathema maranatha !" said the old woman in a solemn voice. "The health of a Compton! No good has come or can come to any of the race. Has God, then, so short a memory that he can forget in a few years the perpetrators of sacrilege? Has he not even said that he will visit the sins of the fathers upon the children, even unto the third and fourth generation? And lo! what has become of them? Was not one of them killed in a duel by Lord Chandois ? - Did not William Compton go raving mad; mad with money in consequence of the princely dowry brought to him by his wife, the daughter of Sir John Spencer, Lord Mayor of London? And was not the nephew of him that built Brambletye killed at the battle of Hopton Heath, and his son Lord Compton wounded? and he and his brothers, are they not exiles and wanderers upon the face of the earth? And was not an only child of one of the Comptons murdered or stolen away from this very Brambletye by the club-men?* and has there not been ever since a deadly feud in consequence between both branches of the family? Verily the hand of the Lord is upon them, but all his vengeance has not yet fallen." "We should be the more thankful that Sir John is left to us," cried the landlord, who considered him as his patron, and had often joined with him in a Cavalier song, "and, if I mistake not, I have seen you, spite of your preaching, sitting in this hall, ay, and sharing his broken victuals, and quaffing his ale when it happened not to be a fast-day." "To do the Lord a service," replied the old woman, "we may lawfully enter the tents of the enemy, even as the spies of Joshua feasted in the house of Rahab, and as Daniel was present in the banqueting hall of Belshazzar. But neither the Babylonian idolater, nor the people of Jericho, were worse than this accursed Sir John Compton. He has sinned against the Holy Ghost - he is marked for destruction, even as — 66 Dang thee, foul-mouthed taud !" cried the warrener, "what hast thee to say against Sir John? Pest upon thee for an old beldame of Babylon! gie us no more of thy papistry, or thy lips shall have a taste of my leathern thong." "Out upon her for a scurrel witch!" exclaimed another; "to the horsepond with her, and swim her for her life." "If she be, in sooth, one of the accursed Amalekites, and a woman of Canaan," added the pedler, with a sanctimonious look, "twere pleasant in the sight of the Lord to have her smothered in the mud." *Mostly country people armed with clubs, and distinguished by white ribbons in their hats, who, about the year 1645, irritated by the exactions and spoliations of both parties during the progress of the civil war, assembled together in large bands, sometimes not less than ten thousand in a body, for the mutual protection of their lives and property. In several of the counties they were headed by the gentry and clergy, and in some instances showed themselves disposed to exercise club-law, and retaliate, upon the defenceless, those plundering inroads to which they had been them selves exposed. Cromwell, when lieutenant-general, was sent against several formidable parties in the West, many of whom he persuaded to return to their homes but at Hambleton Hill, near Stratton, a band of about 4000 stood upon their guard, in an old Roman work, deeply trenched, and repulsed his troop at the passage into the fort. Desborough, however, attacking them in the rear, they were dispersed, and many prisoners taken, with twelve colours, on one of which was written: "If you offer to plunder or take our cattel, Be assured we will bid you battel." |