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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/14216-0.txt b/14216-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8aa4d08 --- /dev/null +++ b/14216-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3552 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14216 *** + +ST. GEORGE'S CROSS; +OR, +ENGLAND ABOVE ALL. + +_An Episode of Channel Island History._ + +BY + +H.G. KEENE + +GUERNSEY: +FREDERICK CLARKE, STATES ARCADE. + +LONDON: +W.H. ALLEN & CO., 15. WATERLOO PLACE. + +1887. + + + + +TO THE READER. + + +The following little tale is neither pure fiction nor absolute historic +truth; being, indeed, little more than an attempt to show a picture of +Channel Island life as it was some two centuries ago. For the background +we have been beholden to Dr. S.E. Hoskins, whose "_Charles the Second in +the Channel Islands_" may be commended to all who may feel tempted to +pursue the matter further. + +_August, 1887._ + + + + +PROLOGUE. + + +On a bright day in September of the year 1649 Mr. William Prynne, a +suspended Member of Parliament, sat at the window of his lodging in the +Strand, London, where the Thames at high water brimmed softly against +the lawn, bearing barges, wherries, and other small craft, and gleaming +very pleasantly in the slant brightness of an autumn noon. + +The unprosperous politician looked upon the fair scene with quiet cheer. +He was a man of austere aspect, and looked farther advanced in middle +life than was actually the case. For he was bearing the unjust weight of +a double enmity; and though his after conduct showed that the world's +injustice by no means threw him off his moral balance, yet it is +impossible for a man to get into a position where every one but himself +seems wrong and not acquire a certain sense of solitude, which, with a +grave nature, will make him graver still. By the Cavaliers he had been +pilloried, mutilated, fined and imprisoned: expelled from the University +where he was a Master-of-Arts, driven out of the Inn-of-Court in which +he had been a Bencher. By the Roundheads, on the other hand, he had been +visited with a later and more intolerable wrong, exclusion from that +House of Commons which was the only surviving seat of sovereignty. Thus +excommunicated on all sides, Prynne still preserved his free and buoyant +nature. He had the voice and impulsive manner of a young man; while +there was a consistent moderation in his opinions which--however it +might weigh against his success as a party-man--yet sprang from +conviction, and was a guard against misanthropy. + +In his apparel he was plain but not slovenly. His eyes were eager; his +lean face, branded with the first letters of the words "Seditious +Libeller," was shaded by straight falls of lank hair, streaked here and +there with grey, that was combed down on either side of his head to hide +the loss of his ears. + +Hearing a step without, Prynne laid down the book he had been reading--a +pamphlet by John Milton--and advanced, with an air of polite reserve, to +meet the entering visitor. This was a man more than ten years his +junior, short of stature, with clear-cut features and thoughtful blue +eyes contrasting with hair and moustache dark almost to blackness. His +neatly brushed garments had a threadbare gloss, and his broad linen +falling collar, though white and clean, was somewhat frayed. But his +bearing was high-bred and distinguished, with an air of sober yet +resolute earnestness. He wore no sword, and the hat which he carried in +his hand was plain of shape and without adornment. + +"M. de Maufant," said Prynne, with the shy courtesy of a student, "will +admire that I should seek speech of him after sundry passages that have +been between us." + +"Alack! Mr. Prynne," answered the stranger, with a slight foreign +accent, "since your captivity in Mont Orgueil many things have befallen. +'Tis not alone I, Michael Lempriere the exile, changed from the state +of Seigneur de Maufant and Chief Magistrate of Jersey to that of an +outcast deriving a precarious subsistence from teaching French in your +Babylon here; but methinks you yourself have had a fall too, since the +days you speak of: when you left Jersey for London you came here in a +sort of triumph. But by this time, methinks, you must be cured of your +high hopes: I say it not for offence, but rather out of sorrow." + +"Why no," answered the ex-Member. "Though I be no longer one of yonder +assembly, I am still a denizen of London; and, let me tell you, a +citizen of no mean city. And I bear my share in advancing the great +cause on which so many of us are now engaged. Have you not read what Mr. +Milton hath said here as touching this?" And he took up the book which +he had dropped in the window-seat "It is well said, as you will find." + +Motioning Lempriere to a chair, he took another and read as follows:-- + +"'Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion-house of +liberty, encompassed and surrounded with its protection ... pens and +hands there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, +revolving new notions and ideas, wherewith to present, as with their +homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation.' As he saith a +little further on, the fields of our harvest are white already; and it +is your privilege and mine that live among this wise and active people, +to see it coming, perhaps to put in a sickle. The pamphlet is becoming a +force stronger than the sword; and those Ironsides and Woodenheads who +turn us out of the Chamber where our fellow citizens had seated us, may +find an ill time before them when our work is over. But our work will be +the work of freedom." + +What more would have been said, now that Prynne was setting forth on +his dearly-loved hobby, of which the name was _Cedant arma_, is unknown; +for the serving-man entered at this moment with a simple but plentiful +repast carried on his head from the adjacent tavern; and even Prynne's +eagerness was dashed with caution enough to keep him to ordinary topics +of talk so long as the man was in the room. But Lempriere had seen and +heard enough to put him in good humour with his host. The intimacy of +the latter with the Carterets, and a suspicion of general lukewarmness +in the popular cause, had begotten old enmities, of which Lempriere, in +the long probation of failure, exile, and poverty, had already learned +to be ashamed; and to see the man he had misjudged, looking him eagerly +and earnestly in the face as he uttered the language of a genuine +reformer, completed the Jerseyman's conversion. After the servant had +brought pipes and glasses and left the gentlemen to their tobacco and +their wine, their talk grew more familiar as they looked at the flowing +river, and the deserted towers of Lambeth away on the other side. + +"The truth is," said Prynne, "that I received from the cavaliers of your +island kindnesses that I cannot forget; yet as touching the trial and +execution of the late King, if I have gainsayed aught of the other side, +yet I need not repeat that I have ever been a friend to Liberty, as +witness these indentures," and with a starched smile he pointed to the +marks upon his face. "I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir +George Cartwright...." + +"Let us not talk of him," answered the other, with a flush on his +swarthy cheek. "I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs +entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When +his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the +Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be +a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath +made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people, +but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve +parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside +his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at +an easy farm." + +"I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such +a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip's +ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain +speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and +would, under God's pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause +of reasonable freedom." + +"I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne. +This wise man hath said that 'the simple believeth every word.' But if +we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we +might say 'that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret +when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.' And farther, it hath even +been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of +that for which you suffered." + +"It skills not," answered the host, with evident self-control, "it +skills not to rake into that which is passed." + +"Neither did I seek to do so," rejoined the Jerseyman, "I seek no +offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight's spirit, and whether +he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me +have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the +affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present +successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a +kinsman or creature of his own?" + +"Methinks," said Prynne, shrewdly, "there be others than he who would +gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes." + +"That may be," said Lempriere. "The labourer is worthy of his hire, to +give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies +by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant +daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the +charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a +multitude of sins!" + +The conference was once more growing warm, when fortunately, it was +abridged by the sudden entrance of a man not unlike Lempriere in general +appearance, though taller and many years his junior. He wore a steel +cap, a gorget, and a buff coat; and received a hearty welcome from the +Jerseyman, by whom he was presented to Prynne. + +"Captain Le Gallais is newly arrived from our island," said Lempriere, +"and I made bold to leave word that I was here, in case of his coming to +my lodgings while I tarried with you. He brings me news of 'domus et +placens uxor,'" added the speaker, taking with a sad smile the letter +which Le Gallais handed him. The servant having brought a third long +stalked glass and placed it on the table, left the room once more, as +the visitor, unbuckling his long basket-hilted sword, threw himself into +a high-backed chair, and stretched his limbs, as one who rests after +long travel. + +"I am come post," said he, "from Southampton. There is that to do in +Jersey which it imports the rulers of this land to know." + +"That may well be," observed Lempriere, who shared his countryman's +idea of the importance of their little island. "But how fares my Rose? A +wanderer may love his Ithaca, but he loves his wife most. Have I your +leave, Mr. Prynne, to examine this missive?" + +Prynne bowed, and Lempriere cut open his letter. + +"Penelope maketh such cheer as she may," he added, after glancing at the +contents: "but I see nothing of your mighty news, Alain." + +"The letter was written before I learned the same. The return of Ulysses +did not then seem so far as it does now." + +"Leave riddling, Alain, and let us know the worst." + +"The worst is, Charles Stuart is in S. Helier, with a large power, +warmly received by Sir George, and holding the island as a tool of +Jermyn and the Queen, if not a pensioner of France. I saw his barge row +into the harbour at high tide, followed by others laden with silken +courtiers and musicians; horse-boats and cook-boats swelled the train; +the great guns of the Castle fired salvoes, and the militia stood to +their arms upon the quay, with drums beating, fifes squeaking, and our +own company from Saint Saviour's ranked among the rest, green leaves in +their hats and round the poles of their colours." + +Lempriere leant his head on his hand with a discomfited and despondent +gesture. Prynne addressed him kindly:-- + +"Have a little patience, H. de Maufant," said he. "The sun shines in +heaven though earth's clouds hide his face." + +"Lukewarm Reuben!" cried the other, impatiently. "What comfort can I +have from such as thou? While we talk my country is indeed undone: my +wife perhaps a wanderer, and my lands and house given over to the +enemy." + +"Nay, but it need not be so," said Prynne. "The Rump that ruleth here, +even were it a complete Parliament, cannot be an idol to you and yours. +I have read your island laws. Those that say that the Parliament hath +jurisdiction there must, sure, be strangely ignorant. And so witnesseth +Lord Coke, no slave of the prerogative. Your islands are the ancient +patrimony of the Crown: what hinders you from casting in your lot with +Charles? For my part, I would willingly compound with him. Let him rule +as he pleases there, provided he make not slaves of us." + +"There spoke the self-loving Englishman," cried Le Gallais, whom respect +for his seniors had hitherto kept silent. "If you speak of hindering, +what is to hinder Sir George, now that he hath the King for backer, from +confiscating all our remaining lands and applying the produce to fitting +out a fleet which will ruin the trade of all England? It is a question +for you also, you perceive." + +"_Proximus Ucalegon_," said Lempriere, whom nothing could long restrain +from airing his classical knowledge. "But leave me to speak to Mr. +Prynne in terms that will not offend, and that he cannot fail to +understand. Harkye, Mr. Prynne," he said, turning to his host and +resuming use of the English language in lieu of the patois in which he +had addressed his countryman. "You love the Commonwealth, I know; your +many sufferings in that behalf show you a true friend to the cause of +English liberty. But to me it appears that this cause cannot be fitly +separated from that of your small satellite yonder." + +"I do not seek to deny it," answered Prynne. "Now this good fellow," +pursued Lempriere, laying his hand on his young friend's shoulder, +"(and let his zeal make amends for his blunt manner) hath brought +tidings, from which it appears that our affairs are in such a state as +calls for your interposition. And I learn moreover from this letter that +Henry Dumaresq is stirring, and the greed and grasping of the Carterets +have made them many ill-wishers. Nevertheless, Pierre Benoist hath been +taken, and under torture may readily betray our plans. On the other +hand, he that is called King there, the young Charles Stuart, is under +the regimen of his mother, who is the tool of France. Between them all +Jersey may be lost to the Commonwealth before a blow be stricken." + +"Nay," cried Prynne, interrupting, "I would not have you say so. We +English are neither braggarts nor cowards. Whitelocke knoweth the mind +of Mazarin; and I pray you note that Cromwell, though as a man of State +I do not uphold him, is a soldier whose zeal never sleeps, and who cares +more for the welfare of England and such as depend upon her than any +Stuart will ever do, or undo. I sent for you, indeed, on this very +behalf; not minded to show you all the springs of politics, yet to give +you a word of comfort and to ask of you a word of friendliness in +return, yea, word for word, an you will." + +The politician's keen eye softened as he looked at the forlorn exile. +The latter turned abruptly, as if to reveal no corresponding emotion: +then, looking straight before him, said in low tones:-- + +"For comfort, God knows whether or no it be needed. My place and power +are lost--such as they were--a price is set upon my head by those who +slew Maximilian Messervy. My wife--who is to me like the apple of mine +eye--is alone, battling with hostile authority, and with tenants too +ready to profit by her helpless condition. I am as one encompassed by +quicksands, and nigh to be swallowed up. I am tempted to say with +David, 'Vain is the help of man.' Do you show me a bridge of escape?" he +asked, turning to Prynne, "what is your meaning? I pray you speak it +out." + +"You cannot," said his host, "have forgotten Serjeant-Major Lydcott of +this Army; and how with a slender company he landed on your island six +years ago. It was about the end of August, 1643, I remember well, for +Sir Philip had been dead bare three days and indeed was not yet buried: +and the castles of Jersey still held out for the Cartwrights. I said +then that, had Lydcott but taken three hundred of our sober, God fearing +soldiers, he would have established himself as master of the island on +behalf of the Commonwealth. George Cartwright had never come over from +S. Maloes; the pirates of S. Aubin would have been confounded and +brought to nought; Sir Peter Osborne had never held Castle Cornet in +Guernsey (to the shame and sorrow of the well-affected in that island), +had they but been backed and aided from Jersey. Even as things were, and +with no more help but what he got from you--I say it not to offend +you--how much did not Lydcott do? Three days after his landing he called +together the States and opened before them his commission from the Earl +of Warwick, Warden of the Isles and Lord High Admiral of England. You +were present and presiding, as you must needs remember, together with +all but three Jurats, all the Constables save one, and nearly half the +Rectors. Without a dissentient voice you administered the oath of +Lieutenant-Governor to Lydcott, yourself standing forth as Bailiff and +sworn the first. What hindered you then from holding fast? Nothing but +want of a backbone of strength. The militia, whom you now hold +malignant, swore allegiance to a man, save and except one Colonel who +was broke then and there. You may say George Cartwright drove you out; +but what did he do that could justify your flight? I must be plain with +you: with all outward and visible signs of power you gave way before +three open boats and a mouldy ruin." + +"We gave way," said Lempriere with an indignant flush, "because we were +forsook by them on whom we leaned." + +"I know it," pursued Prynne, "I say it not to blame you, but to blame +the lukewarm weakness of those who held authority there on the part of +the Commonwealth: for had Lydcott been ever so able and willing he +lacked support from hence. We had our hands full of graver business. +Only I neither desire nor expect such things should be done a second +time. There be those now in power that will take better order. The +future of your islands, the ties that bind them to us, were not known +six years ago; and our friends--as I have already said--had other +matters, more pressing, to attend to. But now is not then. Now, that a +violent policy that I cannot altogether undertake to defend hath shorn +the strength of tyranny, and that fair deceiver the late King--whom none +could safely trust or utterly despise--is by that blow taken out of our +path, we are free to set matters straight around us. It is therefore not +to be endured that your small wasps' nest yonder should continue to +infest our ambient ocean with her petty and poisonous alarms. This is +the word I have to give thee--friendly meant, though thou mayest have +been hitherto no friend to me. Jersey will be brought under the power of +the Commonwealth, and you will be among the instruments of its +reduction. I seek a word from you in return for mine." + +"Sir," said the bewildered exile, "you have spoken hardly, but, I +believe, with a meaning kinder than seemed: a good intent makes amends +for a harsh manner, and a bitter drink may strengthen the heart, as has +this day been done to mine by the mingled counsel and reproof that have +been poured out for me. I seek not to pry into your affairs of State, +and what I have heard Le Gallais hath heard also. I therefore make no +scrutiny as touching the means to be employed; the end we will take +thankfully according as promised. If the Parliament and the Lord General +be so minded, I make no doubt but we shall return to our home. But as +regards the word you seek from me, I would fain know to what it shall +relate. You seek, I presume, to make conditions with me: let me know, in +the hearing of my friend, what they be. That we of the island shall be +true and faithful servants to the Commonwealth of England, not seeking +to intermeddle in matters that may be beyond our concernment, I would +gladly undertake for myself and for all with whom my wishes may have +weight: but methinks it shall hardly need. And perchance your Honour may +intend to glance at some more private matter?" + +"I do so," answered the politician. "I have never hidden from you the +love that I bore for good Sir Philip living, nor how dear I hold his +memory now that he is dead. I would not that any who were of his party +should suffer damage when the cause shall prosper in the island. You +have heard of Cromwell's present doings in Ireland: all the world knows +what things are being wrought in that unhappy country, where the Lord +Ormonde hath been another Cartwright and hath met with an overthrow the +like of which I pretell for his Jersey antitype. Cartwright is as +unbending and will hold out to the last. + +"Mont Orgueil, indeed, can make no opposition to a regular siege: we are +not now in the days of Du Guesclin. But it may be otherwise with +Elizabeth Castle. Like her whose name she bears that fortress is a +virgin, and not without a struggle will she yield. Cromwell loves not +such defences. Let us be there when the hour comes, and let us combine +to keep the garrison from perishing by the swords of our friends." + +"Gladly will I do my best in aid of mercy," answered Lempriere, looking +much relieved by the nature of the request. "If that be all that your +Honour hath to ask, I can have no hesitancy in giving a hearty and +honest pledge in such behalf. Jersey is no Corsica; and we love not +revenge, do we, Alain?" + +Alain readily endorsing his chief's assertion, Prynne continued:-- + +"It is not all. I have to pray you for the Lieutenant himself; misguided +and grasping as you deem him, he is of my deceased friend's name and +blood." + +"Alack, Mr. Prynne!" answered Lempriere, "have you quite forgotten what +I owe to that blood and name? And I speak not in this for myself only. +There are the spirits of the Bandinels before me; unhappy victims of +George Carteret's revenge. There is the shade of my friend Maximilian +Messervy, judged by an unlawful and corrupt Court, executed under +warrant of one who had no warrant for himself." + +In his excitement Lempriere had forgotten to quote Latin; he began to +pace the floor of the room. Prynne also rose and leaned by the window, +looking out at the shrubs standing dark and blotted against the evening +light that lay on the smooth water. + +"Take not your example," he said; "from those whose deeds you abhor, +neither make your enemies your pattern. Recollect who it is that hath +said, 'Vengeance is mine:' and in the hour of your triumph remember to +spare. Come, give me your word, willingly. I am doing much for you, more +than you are aware. I call to mind some solemn words that I have heard +Mr. Milton quote:-- + + "The quality of Mercy is not strained, + It droppeth as the gentle dew from Heaven + Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed, + It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." + +Let your promise to bless come as freely as the dews that are falling +out there on my little grass-plot. Peace is upon the world--let peace be +in our hearts also!" + +The vehement controversial voice changed and became musical as it +uttered the words. The fervour of an unwonted mood had brought something +of a mist into the speaker's eye; persuasion hung upon his gestures, and +the voice of private rancour sank before the pleading of his lips. As +the Jerseyman remained silent, Prynne went to the table and filled the +glasses from the flagon of Rhenish wine that stood there. + +"We Presbyterians," he said, "are not given to the drinking of toasts. +But 'tis no common occasion. England's wars are over, may there be peace +upon Israel. Let us drink one glass together, and let us join in the +blessing of old, invoking it on our land:--'Peace be within thy walls +and prosperity within thy palaces: for my brethren and companions' +sake!'" + +The guests followed their host's example, and seemed to share his mood. +Then, setting down their empty glasses, the three men parted in more +loving-kindness, it might well be, than what had marked some early +stages of their conversation. Prynne, when left alone, called for +candles and sat down to his writing-table. The Jerseymen walked together +towards Temple Bar. + +"Knowest thou, _mon cher_," said the Ex-Bailiff in the island language, +"a heartier friend than one of these English that seem so cold?" + +"But tell me, I pray thee, wherefore they call the present master of our +island by an English name? For surely yonder gentleman said +'Cartwright,' which is a name not of Jersey but of England." "They are +stupid, Alain, that is all; and they think to weigh the world in their +own scales. But whether we call him Cartwright or Carteret, it is +equally hard to pardon his voracity. He is like Time--_Edax rerum._ +Nevertheless, I feel as if it was not only the sight of you and news +from home that had made me of such good cheer to-night: but that I owe +something of it to Mons. Prynne; aye! thanks to his schooling and a +readiness to perform what he has made me promise, should Carteret ever +stand at my disposal. The time may be near or it may be far; but I feel +that it must come." + +"And then," asked Alain shyly, "shall not I too have something to expect +from thee: when thou art Bailiff again, and a man high in power, will +thou still be willing to give me thy sister-in-law?" + +"Parbleu!" cried Lempriere, "if maids could be given like passports. But +Marguerite will have her way; it is for thee, _coquin_, to make her way +thine." + +Thus, jointly labouring at airy castles, the pair of islanders pricked +their steps through the dirty and dimly-lighted streets till they +reached a squalid row of houses on Tower Hill, where was situated the +only lodging within the present means of the Seigneur of Maufant. + +"To-night thou must share my chamber, _telle quelle_," he said. "'Tis a +poor one, as thou mayest suppose. _Infelix, habitum temporis hujus +habe?_" + +"It is all one to me," said Alain, lightly; "whether here or at Maufant +thou art always good." + +As they neared the door a voice came to them from the shadow of a +projecting oriel:-- + +"Have a care, Jerseymen! You are betrayed." + +They ran to the shaded corner; but the moon was young and low and gave +but little light in the narrow street. A figure, seemingly that of a +tall man, was seen to glide away into another street, but they failed to +recognise it or trace its departing movements. Silently, and with +downcast looks they sought the entry of Lempriere's lodging, the door of +which he opened with a key that he carried in his pocket. Striking a +light from flint and steel on the hall table, Lempriere kindled a +hand-lamp, and led the way into a small chamber on the ground floor, +where they wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay down on a pallet +in the corner. The younger man, fatigued with travel, was soon asleep; +Lempriere, with more to think of, passed great part of the night in +wakeful anxiety. Before he finally sank to slumber he had resolved to +send Alain back at once to Jersey. + + + + +ACT I. + +THE KING. + + +In 1649, when Charles II. was uncertain as to what steps he should take +on the death of his father, it was considered that the best and safest +place for his temporary residence was the Castle at S. Helier, in +Jersey, known by the name of Queen Elizabeth, where he had already lived +for a short time on an earlier occasion. Founded by order of the +Sovereign whose name it bore, it stands on a rocky islet, once a +promontory of the mainland, but long since insulated by every high tide. +At low water it communicated with the town by a natural causeway of +shingly rock called "The Bridge," commanded by its own guns. On the +Western curve of the bay, nearly two miles off as the bird flies, was +the small town of S. Aubin, guarded by a smaller fortress. The entire +bay was protected, by the batteries of these two places, against the +entrance of hostile shipping. Circumstances, not now entirely traceable +but connected probably with defensive considerations, had taken its +ancient preponderance from Gorey, on the eastern coast, which had once +been the seat of administration; and thus commenced the importance of S. +Helier, though in nothing like the present activity of its quays and +wharves, or the throng of its streets and markets. Above the head of +the "Bridge," indeed, the view from the North face of the Castle met +with no buildings till it struck upon the Town Church, an ancient but +plain structure of the fourteenth century, whose square central tower, +although by no means of lofty elevation, formed a landmark for mariners +out at sea by reason of a beacon that was always kept burning there by +night. At the foot of this tower nestled a cemetery containing the tombs +of "the rude forefathers" of what had been, till lately, indeed little +more than a hamlet. On the southern aspect of this, facing the castle +and the sea, the enclosure was marked by a strong granite breastwork +armed with cannons mounted _en barbette_. These pieces were pointed, for +the most part, on the bridge, or causeway leading to the Castle, into +which they were capable of sending salvos of round-shot, as in fact they +had often done a few years before. The rest of the cemetery was strongly +walled, though without guns. To the north of the Church ran narrow +streets, sloping gently upward from the seaside. The houses of these +streets were built of the local granite, hewn and hammered flat and +without projection or decoration, and with no other relief but what was +afforded by small rectangular lattice-windows. They were usually of two +storeys, crowned by high-pitched thatched roofs, with here and there a +tiny dormer window. Some were shops or taverns, among which were +interspersed the residences of the burgesses and the town houses of the +rural gentry. Fronted by miry roadway, or at best an occasional strip of +rough boulder pavement, over which wheeled carriages could rarely pass, +these lines of houses had no form or comeliness, save what might be due +to an occasional bit of small flower-garden before the few that were +large and inhabited by persons in comparatively easy circumstances. +Farther back the ground rose more rapidly and showed some scattered +suburban houses. The "Town Hill" to the east, the "Gallows Hill" to the +west, completed the amphitheatre. Up the main hollow ran a road leading +due north to the Manor and Church of Trinity parish in the interior of +the island, and terminating on the north coast in Boulay Bay, a fine +natural harbour, which was the nearest point of embarkation for England. +The whole island, scarcely less than the town, bore an appearance of +defence, almost of inaccessibility; the manors, farm houses, and even +many of the fields, being surrounded by granite walls, and capable of +arresting the progress of an invader, unless in great force. Each of the +twelve parish churches contained the arsenal of the local militia; and +all things betokened a hardy population, ready to do battle against all +intruders. + +The titular Governor, Lord Jermyn, was an absentee, following the +fortunes of the widowed Queen, Henrietta Maria, in France. The actual +administration, both civil and military, was in the hands of a naval +officer of experience, Sir George Carteret, or de Carteret, cousin and +brother-in-law to the Seigneur of S. Owen, a large manor on the western +side of the island. This family, distinguished in island history ever +since it abandoned its fief of Carteret on the coast of Normandy to +follow the fortunes of John Lackland, when the Duchy was confiscated by +Philip Augustus, was by far the most powerful in the island. Its only +possible rival, the house of Lempriere, of Maufant, had espoused warmly +the cause of the Parliament, and had consequently met with reverses when +the Carterets, who were royalist, effected the revolution mentioned in +our Prologue. + +It only remains to be added that the people at large were not at all +warmly attached to either of the parties to the Civil War. The language +of the majority was an old form of French, now reduced to the condition +of a patois; the more educated classes studied the laws and language of +France. The proceedings of the Courts and the services of the Church +were conducted in modern French, and the sympathies of the community +were divided between a mundane attachment to England, and a religious +leaning to the creed of the Huguenots, of whom a great number had sought +refuge on their shores. Hence the Jersey folks were indifferently +submissive to royalty, the only form of English government of which, +till these days, they had heard; but they by no means shared the +High-Church fervour which had animated the late unfortunate King. Their +ultimate motive, as is common to human nature, was for their own +interests; and although the influence of the Carterets had kept them, +for the most part, nominal followers of the cause of royalty, men like +Michael Lempriere and Prynne had good reason for believing that they +would, in the long run, favour those who seemed the best friends to +Jersey. Let them not be blamed for this. Their love for England was very +much founded upon fear of France. By observing the attitude of the +Scottish borderers of a slightly earlier period, an Englishman of the +seventeenth century could imagine the attitude of the Jersey mind +towards the "Normans," by which name they were accustomed to designate +their feudal and aggressive Catholic neighbours the Lords and Ministers +of the French Kingdom. Even as the Grahams and Scotts of Tweedside stood +at arms against each other on either bank of the dividing stream, so did +the de Gruchys and Malets, the Le Feuvres and de Quettevilles, on either +side the Channel. The danger that was nearest was the most formidable; +and the Channel Islanders were ready to side with England much as the +Saxon Scots of the Lothians came to make common cause with the Celts of +the Highlands. + +These explanations may appear tedious: but the reader is implored to +pardon them; for without such he could not realise the passions which +are exemplified in this little story. Long exposed to invasion, the +Jerseymen of the middle ages had handed down to their descendants an +abhorrence of France which was fomented by the stories of persecution +brought to them by Huguenot refugees; and which, indeed, has hardly yet +completely died out among the rural population. Thus sentiment and +interest kept the islanders attached to England by a two-fold cord; +careless whether their immediate leaders were Cavaliers, as in Jersey, +or Parliamentarians, as in the neighbouring island of Guernsey, where +the royal Governor was beleaguered in Castle Cornet. + +For reasons arising out of this state of things, Carteret did not leave +the protection of the King to the unaided loyalty of the local militia. +Cooped up in the narrow limits of the Castle rock were no less than +three hundred Englishmen and women attached to the Court, and, in +addition, a strong force of Irish and Cornish soldiers who had been +brought over by Charles on his former visit, as Prince of Wales, after +the battle of Naseby. His Sacred Majesty--_de jure_ of England, +Scotland, and Ireland, King, to say nothing of France, whose lilies were +blazoned on his scutcheon--was _de facto_ monarch of this little island +plot of 45 square miles; and his state was at least equal to his +temporary sway. The accommodation of the Castle was, in truth, but +small; but it was the best that the occasion afforded; the royal palace +consisting of a suite of small apartments vacated for the King's +convenience by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir G. Carteret, who had removed +to the lower ward. S. Aubin, on the other horn of the bay, was the seat +of the naval power; here lived the families of the officers of the +corsair-squadron then constituting the Royal Navy. The rest of the +King's following was billetted on farm-houses in the parishes nearest to +the town. Yet, as a warning that all was not their own, four frigates +and two line-of-battle ships, with a commission from the rebel +government of London, and flying the broad pennant of Admiral Batten, +cruised between Jersey and Guernsey, never far from sight, although +giving for the most part a wide berth to both the island castles, whose +gunners watched them night and day. + +Such was the position of affairs on a Sunday towards the end of +September, a few days later than the events related in the Prologue. The +morning had been wet and windy, and the sacredness of the day had joined +to keep the men of those simple times from all activity save that +connected with the services of religion. But, in spite of the weather, +it had been judged wise and proper that Charles should show himself at +Church on this, the first Sunday of his kingship in Jersey: and he +accordingly attended worship at the Town Church of S. Helier's. The tide +was low, and the royal cortège, muffled in their cloaks, rode or walked +slowly along the causeway, and up the _glacis_ that led to the entrance. +The Rector was absent, his opinions being displeasing to the autocratic +Carteret; but the Rev. Mr. La Cloche, Rector of S. Owen (the Carteret +parish) was in charge; he was the Lieutenant-Governor's private +Chaplain; and under strict orders had made splendid preparation for the +illustrious congregation. The old temple had been swept and garnished. +Laurel boughs and the beautiful flowers and fruits of the season hung +from every arch and decorated every pillar. The aisles were covered with +a thick natural carpet of fragrant rushes; before the pulpit were +chairs for the King and his brother the Duke of York, and the space +they stood on was tapestried with glowing colours. Cushioned tables +supported the gilded bibles and prayer-books for the royal worshippers, +who arrived precisely at eleven followed by their numerous train. +Throwing off his wringing roquelaure Charles entered, plumed hat in +hand, a young man of middle stature, erect and well-knit for his +years--which were but nineteen--and with a countenance which, though +even then wanting in flesh and bloom, was not unpleasing: framed in +natural curls, and showing (to sympathetic observers) a noble and +pleasing dignity often, it must be avowed, contrasting strongly with the +mingled frivolity and cynicism that marked his words. Being in mourning +for the event of January he was clothed in purple velvet without lace or +embroidery. Over his doublet hung a short cloak with a star on the left +breast, under which was a silk scarf, cloak and scarf being all of +purple. The famous ribbon of the Garter round his left knee was the only +bit of other colour visible. James, a few years younger, was similarly +attired. Besides the two Princes the only other Knight of the Garter was +the Earl of Southampton. The rest of the Lords and Gentlemen in Waiting +were also in Court-mourning, and all without the smallest decoration. + +After the conclusion of the Service the clergyman ascended the pulpit in +his black gown. He took his text from the second book of Chronicles, c. +35, the end of the 24th verse:--"And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for +Josiah." + +The turn of Mr. La Cloche's discourse may be in great measure +anticipated. Setting forth the heinousness of rebellion and regicide, he +dwelt upon the virtues of the Royal Martyr, his courage, his patience, +his devotion to the Church. As was but natural in the circumstances, +there followed an application to local politics. They were there, he +informed his hearers (as the old lattices, shaken by the gale, rattled +their accompaniment to his monotone) in the character of Englishmen; but +he had to notice that to the existing rulers of England they owed no +obedience. The so-called Parliament which had judged and murdered the +late lamented Monarch, and which now claimed the right of ruling in his +stead, was no divinely appointed head of affairs, not even +representative of one Estate of the realm. Where were the Peers, the +Lords Temporal who had ever formed part of the Government of England, +the Lords Spiritual who represented the Church of Christ? The House of +Lords was now represented to them, there in the presence of the +Honourable Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, whom that High +Chamber had set and appointed to bear rule in that Island. Still more +had they before them their Sovereign, the Anointed of the Lord, without +whose assent all Acts of State must ever be futile and rebellious. Yes, +he was there, that Sacred head, covered and guarded by the loyal hearts +and arms of one--only one--of his Norman Isles. + +As the sermon came to an end the storm without showed signs of +abatement; and by the time the blessing had been pronounced and the King +and Prince had mounted their richly caparisoned horses, the wind had +lulled and the September sun gleamed brightly out upon the attentive and +orderly crowd. On returning to the Castle Charles sate down to dinner, +and a select portion of the more loyal Jersey society was admitted into +the Hall to see the King at table. Only two places were set; and after a +Latin grace had been pronounced by the Court-Chaplain, the dishes were +taken, one by one, to the King and his brother, and whatever meats were +approved were taken to the side-board and carved. The royal youths had +stood with uncovered heads while grace was being said; but they replaced +their hats when they sate down, and wore them throughout dinner. After +they had dined the Page-in-waiting, a tall and handsome youth, richly +attired, brought each of them a ewer and basin of parcel-gilt silver, +with a fringed damask napkin; and after they had washed their hands a +butler served them with Spanish and Gascon wines. Dessert having been +placed upon the table and tasted, the princes withdrew; and then the +hungry courtiers sate down to finish the repast. + +Retired to his private sitting-room, Charles lay back on a window-seat, +tooth-pick in hand, and looked out indolently on the sea. The waves +scintillated and broke into white foam, among the brown rocks, which +disappeared gradually under the rising tide; and the wings of glancing +gulls shone out against a rain-cloud which was bearing off the recent +storm. Below the dark pall the sky of the horizon glowed bright and +clear as jade over the deepening line of the distant waters. At the +King's feet sat the page who had served the princes at dinner, a bright +rakish-looking young fellow named Thomas Elliot; apparently absorbed in +the preparation of fishing-tackle, he was heedfully watching the face of +his royal master out of the corner of his dare-devil eyes. + +"Where is James, Tom?" asked presently the King. + +"Gone to feed the hawks, Sir." + +"One's own flesh-and-blood is poor company, he finds. By the Lord, Tom, +this is no life for a Christian, be he man or boy. To be lunged round my +good mother at the length of her apron-string seemed but dull work, and +making love to the Grande Mademoiselle was indifferent pastime. But, +odsfish, I would willingly be back there. In this God-forgotten corner +you cannot see a petticoat on any terms, save the farthingale of Dame +Carteret or her ancient housekeeper, as they cross the courtyard to give +corn to the pigeons. James and I went out fishing yesterday, as far as +S. Owen's pond; but no sport had we there but the chance of a broken +head from a Puritan farmer." + +"Why, what a plague did they want by laying hands on our anointed pate?" + +"Ah! look you," said Charles, in his languid drawl, "We did but beg a +cup of cider from his daughter. James hath a long face and a dull tongue +for a boy of his age; but I warrant I spoke the wench fair for my part; +and in French that had passed muster at Versailles. But 'tis a perverse +and stiff-necked generation. The wench screamed in some language not +understandable by us--Carribee it may be--but faith there was no +difficulty about the farmer's meaning: he conjugated his fists, but we +declined the encounter; and so we were quit as to grammar." + +The manner of the speaker was in such dry and droll contrast with his +matter that Elliot had no difficulty in according the sympathetic smile +which is the tribute of the jovial and manly sycophant to a superior he +wishes to please. + +"And this is then, the escapade for which the _gros bonnets_ down there +have determined that you are not to stir out of this charming retreat +without a guard, or suffer your sacred person to meet the air of the +island without the hedge of an escort. But I have a plan to defeat +them...." + +Whatever projects the young men might be disposed to form for the +purpose of eluding the prudent precautions of their seniors were for +the moment cut short by a knocking at the door, which made them start +aside like the disturbed conspirators that they were. + +"Quick! vanish," muttered the King sharply; "behind the bureau there. If +the comer be Nicholas let him not see thee here. He bears thee no good +will." + +As Elliot hurriedly obeyed, the door slowly opened, giving entrance to +the Rector of S. Owen. The worthy clergyman still wore the gown and +bands in which he had preached in the forenoon, and carried in his hand +the four-cornered but boardless college-cap which formed part of the +clerical costume of those days. Bestowing upon the youthful King a look +whose awestruck humility was at curious variance with the respective +ages and appearance of the two, and making an awkward obeisance, Mr. La +Cloche spoke:-- + +"I crave your pardon, Sir. Receiving no reply to my knock I presumed to +enter, deeming mine errand an excuse." + +Charles pointed to a seat and drew himself up with dignity:-- + +"It needs no further excuse, reverend Sir, say on, and fear nothing." La +Cloche seated himself on the corner of the chair. + +"It is my humble duty to warn your Majesty that Jersey is no suitable +place for your residence," he said. + +"We are very much of your mind," answered Charles, "but how made you the +mighty discovery?" + +"I have been dining," answered the clergyman, "in company with the +Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas, Knight, Secretary of State to your +Majesty. Certain of your Majesty's affectionate servants and +well-wishers were of the party, as also the Lieutenant-Governor, who +was the host. The discourse was grave; and albeit without permission of +the gentlemen--yet, in virtue of mine office, I hope I but anticipate +their humble duty to your Majesty, if I take upon myself to lay their +thoughts before you." + +"And for your own part, Sir, as a Jerseyman having, both by religion and +as a Member of the States, the means of knowing what the people think, +you would fain join your own private word to those who are refusing an +asylum to Charles Stuart in the dominions of his fathers. You had better +let them speak for themselves." + +The clergyman shuffled in his uneasy seat. The perspicacity of the young +man--it is a part of a Prince's stock-in-trade--had taken him by +surprise. + +"I am an old man," he faltered, "unversed in affairs of State. If it be +true, however, that the Lord Jermyn...." + +"Our mother's trusted councillor, Mr. Rector! What of my Lord Jermyn? +Thou hast not said enough--or, by God! thou hast said too much." + +The Chaplain's island temper hardened under menace, even from the Lord's +Anointed. What he felt he did not indeed care to lay bare: yet the +upshot he would tell. The King's recent exploit in the parish of which +he was Rector had come to his ears, garnished and exaggerated, perhaps; +and he was determined to get rid of such visitors if he could. The news +from France was an occasion, and he gladly used it. Lord Jermyn, it +seemed, had been talking openly--and not for the first time--of selling +the Channel Islands to France; and his connection with the Queen made +men suspect that he had not entertained such a design without high +sanction. On the other hand the Rector knew that Carteret would sooner +cede the Island over which he was set to Cromwell than see it occupied +by the French. The King would be in obvious danger, and he had +determined, under that excuse, to endeavour to dispose the King's mind +towards a removal which he himself, on other grounds, considered highly +desirable. Charles listened to all the clergyman had to say, with +impatience thinly veiled by good breeding. When the speaker came to a +pause, the King said, with a kinder manner, "Thou hast done well, and +hast given no just cause of offence to anyone. Mr. Secretary is an +approved friend: but I need not remind your Reverence of the prayer of +the Psalmist: 'Let not his precious balms break mine head!'" + +The King's manner indicated that the conference was at an end. He wished +to get rid of the Rector, not only because the good man was "boring" +him, as would be said now-a-days, but because he had but little trust in +Tom Elliot's discretion, and thought that at any moment the page might +be led to break forth from what must needs be an irksome confinement. +Moreover, the King knew that, sooner or later, he would have to undergo +a more serious lecture from some of his councillors, and it was an +object with him to make some inquiries in confidential quarters and +devise a course of speech if not of action. + +But the worthy Rector was, as he said, unversed in the ways of the +great; and the young King's affable manner had drawn him into +forgetfulness of any little lessons of etiquette that he might have ever +learned. Instead of departing on the King's hint, he let his tongue wag +afresh. + +"Alack, Sir! may your Majesty's prayers be heard. And may what I have +done breed myself no harm! For what saith the Wise Man? 'Burden not +thyself above thy power while thou livest, and have no fellowship with +one that is mightier than thyself: for how agree the kettle and earthen +pot together?'" + +"It was well said of the Wise Man," observed the King demurely. "And +your Reverence will do well to consider the words that follow, if my +memory do not deceive me;--'If thou be invited of a great man, _withdraw +thyself_!'" + +The underlined words, being pronounced with a voice changed to a sharp +and sudden tone from the solemn snuffle into which the King had slid in +first quoting _Ecclesiasticus_, were too much for Elliot, who broke into +an irrepressible giggle behind the bureau. Mr. La Cloche started at the +sound; then, recollecting himself, retired with a bow into which he +threw a look of surprise not unmixed with silent reproach. + +Still laughing, the page emerged from his ambush, knocking the dust from +his doublet with his hand, and eyeing the door as it closed after the +retreating Rector. + +"I'll wager he thinks thou wert a wench, Tom," cried Charles; "but tell +me, how much of the worthy parson's discourse didst thou hear?" + +"As much as you desire, Sir, and no more," was the discreet reply. "But +it is true that one is come from France who knows Lord Jermyn." + +"Jermyn," said the King, half soliloquising, "is a son of a----; and I +would as lief run him through the body as I would open an oyster. But +that is neither here nor there; such pleasures are not for Kings." He +sate thinking for a few minutes, and then, looking up, added, "Go, Tom, +and tell Nicholas and the rest that I would see them here." + +The page departed, presently returning to introduce four gentlemen, +after which, he again left the room and shut the door, which it would +be his office to keep against all intrusion while the conference +lasted. + +One of the visitors appeared to take precedence; a tall, high-featured +man, with a stoop and a receding chin. This was Lord Hopton, one of the +most respectable of Charles's followers; an honourable, stupid, +middle-aged nobleman, who could never marshal his own thoughts and who, +necessarily, spoke without persuading others. The other Englishmen were +Nicholas, the Secretary of State, and the old Lord Cottington. The +fourth gentleman was Sir George Carteret, the Lieutenant-Governor, a +bluff sea-faring man, little used to obey, yet anxious, in that +presence, to be deferential; with an unmistakable pugnacity varnished +over with a gloss of _ruse_. There being but one arm-chair in the room +Charles took his seat upon it, and awaited the advice of his friends who +perforce remained standing. + +"I have sent for you, my Lords and gentlemen, to confer on the matter +brought me by Mr. La Cloche, the Rector of St. Owen, and Chaplain to Sir +George Carteret." + +Hopton opened the conference, speaking in a dull, precise manner, from +the lips only, hardly opening his teeth:-- + +"May it please you Sir, Mr. La Cloche hath reported to me, as I met him +returning from your presence, that while he was imparting to your +Highness--I may say, your Majesty--a matter of great moment, there was +one hid in the room that played the eavesdropper. Before proceeding +farther I would humbly ask...." + +"Hold there, my Lord," broke in Charles. "Remember, I pray you, +that--howbeit our present power, by the malice of our enemies, be +brought to a narrow pass, we are still, by the grace of God your King, +of full age, moreover, and no longer to be schooled. As touching what +anyone may have heard here, by our consent, we need answer to no man; +neither to Mr. La Cloche nor to your Lordship. There is, however, no one +but ourselves in this room, as you may clearly see. As to the matter of +the priest's discourse, we opine that it is already known to you. It is +of that matter that we now seek to know your minds." + +The words were not ungracefully uttered; but Hopton found no immediate +answer. He only knit his narrow brow and held his peace. Carteret, +however, stepped briskly forward; and would perhaps have committed some +indiscretion had not Nicholas plucked him by the cloak. "By your leave, +Mr. Lieutenant," said the jovial lawyer, "I would say an humble word to +his Majesty, with the freedom of an ancient servant." His round face and +merry eye were rendered serious by the resolution of a full-lipped yet +firm mouth. "Sir!" said he, turning to the young King with a look in +which the _bonhomie_ of an indulgent Mentor was blended with genuine +respect, "it will, no doubt, seem to your Majesty both meet and proper +that we should not leave a meddlesome parson to let you know that our +faithful hearts have been sorely exercised by that which is newly come +to us out of France. Not to stay on sundry general advertisements and +rumours that have reached us--and which seemed to glance at a very +exalted personage--I mean, more particularly, what we have received this +morning from a very discreet and knowing gentleman (now residing at +Paris) of what he hath learned from persons of honour conversant in the +secrets of the Court there." + +"If it be her Majesty the Queen that you fear to name, Mr. Secretary," +interrupted the King, "it is but vain to fence. Do your duty, as you +have ever done." + +"With your Majesty's leave, I will name no one, save it be one Mr. +Cooly, Secretary to the Lord Jermyn, whom your Majesty, doubtless, +graciously recollects. Our informant was plainly asked by this +gentleman, how the islanders would take it if there should be an +overture of giving them up to the French." + +"This is but talk," observed the King. + +"Nay Sir, there is yet more. This letter, which is come to one of us in +cypher, goes on to tell that it hath been heard, from a very good +source, that the chief mover herein is to be made Duke and Peer of +France, and receive 200,000 pistoles, for which he is to deliver up not +Jersey only but Guernsey, Aurigny, and Serk. Nay, further, his Eminence +Cardinal Mazarine hath taken up ships for the transport of 2,000 French +soldiers, nominally for the service of your Majesty, actually for the +service whereof we are now speaking." + +"Let them come," said Charles. "We will put ourself at their head and +fall upon Guernsey, that nest of Roundheads where Osborne and honest +Baldwin Wake have borne so long the brunt of insult and privation." + +"Under your favour, Sir," broke in Carteret, "you would be bubbled. I +have seen and spoke with a known creature of my Lord Jermyn's; and I +know well that the design of the French is--so to speak--to clap your +Majesty under the hatches, and to steer the vessel on their own account. +Mr. La Cloche shall answer for this," he added in a lower tone. + +"By your leave again, Sir George," put in the beaming Secretary, "we +lawyers are to speak by our calling. It is not indeed, Sir, that my Lord +Jermyn hath made direct overtures to us. And 'tis to be thought that in +this last respect the messenger spoke but according to his own +understanding." + +"I would cut every throat in the island," cried Carteret, with savage +interruption.... + +"Sir George Cartwright's zeal hath eaten him up," said Nicholas with a +twinkle of his merry eye. "Let it suffice that the concurrent +information of divers persons (and they strangers to one another), +together with the Lord Jermyn's total neglect of the island in regard of +the provisions that he hath not sent as promised nor repaid sums of +money lent to your service by the people, have led us to sign a paper of +association for which we shall crave your gracious approval. We doubt +not you will agree with us that the delivery of the islands to the +French is not consistent with the duty and fidelity of Englishmen, and +would be an irreparable loss to the nation besides being an indelible +dishonour to the Crown." + +As Charles took the paper handed him for perusal by Nicholas, a flush +arose upon his swarthy countenance. + +"Enough said, my Lords and gentlemen! We need not that any should +instruct us as to our duty." + +"We trust not," cried Carteret, bluffly. "If the French come here we +shall give them a sour welcome; and as to my Lord the Governor, he will +find," and he slipped in his eagerness into his native tongue, "that he +has made _le marché de la peau de l'ours qui ne seroit pas encore tué_." + +Presently the little Council broke up. The King, after glancing at the +paper of association, consented that Lord Hopton--in whose diplomatic +abilities he perhaps did not feel much confidence--should proceed at +once to the Hague, and lay the case before the States General of Holland +as the power most interested--after England--in sifting and, if need +were, opposing the designs of France. Meanwhile the articles of the +association were not to be divulged; the whole affair being kept a +profound secret and mystery of State. + +Somewhat relieved, the associates then retired from the presence of the +yawning King, and passed down the little corridor. Here they found +Elliot keeping watch, and pacing innocently to and fro. And the +graceless page bowed their Honours down the stairs, without betraying by +his manner anything to suggest--which was, nevertheless, the simple +truth--that he had been attentively listening to as much of their recent +conversation as could be gathered through the imperfect channel afforded +by the key-hole of the door. Carteret cursed La Cloche's officious +meddling all the way to his own quarters, and on arriving there sent a +sergeant to the unfortunate clergyman, who deported him to France by the +next boat that sailed. + +On returning to the room, Elliot found Charles walking up and down the +narrow floor of his room in evident excitement. + +"Tom," said the King, as the page entered, "what is to do here? It seems +that I am not to be master even in this little island of Hop o' my +Thumb. They lord it over me even as they did when I was here before, as +Prince of Wales _in partibus_." + +"Why then," answered the audacious youth, "I would even show them a +clean pair of heels, and take refuge with the Scots." + +"The Scots who sold my father!" + +"The Scots, Sir, of whom I am one," cried the page, the hot blood of a +race of Border-Barons rising to his forehead. "Am I and mine to be +confounded with a crew of cuckoldy Presbyterians? I will not listen to +any one who says so, King or no King." + +And the malapert youth flung out of the room, while his wearied +master--not unaccustomed to such outbreaks--lounged into the dining room +and called for his supper. + + + + +ACT II. + +THE MANOR. + + +If the page was to be blamed for his disrespectful demeanour in abruptly +leaving his helpless but indulgent Sovereign, his next step was still +less worthy of commendation. But he had the perfervid temper of his +race, and he was not twenty-two. Having attended his royal Master in a +former visit to Jersey, he had made friends with some of the island +gentry, and among others with the family of St. Martin (then resident at +Rozel), in which he found a maiden of his own age with whom he soon +imagined himself to have fallen in love. Mdlle. de St. Martin was the +sister of Michael Lempriere's wife; with her she had since taken up her +abode; and the first thing that Elliot had done after the return of the +Court to Jersey had been to acquaint himself with this fact. In the +present excitement of his feelings he resolved to seek an interview with +the girl whose charms he so well remembered. A boat was moored at the +foot of the castle rock; and the impetuous young cavalier sprang on +board, loosened the painter, and with the aid of a pair of sculls that +had been left in the boat rapidly propelled himself to the shore of the +bay aided by the flowing tide. While he is engaged in making his way to +the northern extremity of the parish of S. Saviour, where the manor of +the Lemprieres was situated, we will anticipate his progress and +describe the scene. + +The manor-house stood in its own walled grounds, admission being +obtained through a round Norman archway, over which was carved the +scutcheon of the family--gules, three eagles displayed, proper--with the +date 1580. This opened on a long narrow avenue of tall elms, at the end +of which two enormous juniper trees made a second arch, of perennial +verdure. Such was the entrance, passing under which the visitor found +himself in a flower-garden in which summer roses still bloomed, and the +bees were still busy. On one side stood the house, a two-storeyed +building of stone, pierced with many small latticed windows, and +thatched with straw. The main-door bore another scutcheon, of newer +stone than the rest of the house, quartering the arms of St. Martin +(_azure_, nine billets _or_) over a device of two hearts tied together +with a cipher formed by the letters L. and M. This doorway opened into a +small hall, in front of which was a stair-case of polished oak. On +either side of the hall were low-ceiled parlours wainscotted with dark +wood, beams of which supported the ceilings. The floor of the room to +the right was paved with stone and carpeted with fresh rushes, a yawning +chimney of carved granite, on which a fire of drift-wood was burning +with parti-coloured flames, occupied one end of the room, which was +occupied by the ladies of the house. At the back were the kitchen and +offices, looking out upon a paved court-yard containing a well, and +backed by farm buildings. + +Madame Lempriere (or "de Maufant") and her sister sate by the fire +knitting in the autumn twilight. Both were lovely; beautiful women in +the typical style of island beauty, which not even the primness of +their somewhat old-fashioned costume could wholly disguise. For their +eyes were dark and sparkling, and their cheeks glowed with the rosy +bloom of a healthy and innocent womanhood. They were talking in low +tones of the troubles of the time and of their absent friends; their +language was in the island French. + +"It is more than a month," said Rose Lempriere, "since I had tidings of +M. de Maufant. Methinks your fiancé M. le Gallais might show more +alacrity in his coming." + +"Helas!" replied Marguerite, "poor Alain will never err on the side of +precipitancy. But seest thou not, my sister, the equinox here, and gales +are abroad. I did not expect him till the S. Michel; and then there are +Captain Bowden and M. the Lieutenant's cruisers to reckon with." + +"You do not appear to mind making the crane's foot, my sister," said +Rose, with a slight smile. "In my youth lovers were expected to be +forward and maidens looked for attention." + +"It is not so long since your youth, my all fair." + +"But perhaps M. le Gallais is better occupied in another part." + +"_Voyons, ma soeur_; it is quite equal, to me. Your M. le Gallais +indeed! one would think it was you and M. de Maufant that wanted to +marry him. As for me, I do not want to marry at all. Least of all does +it import me to marry a man chosen by others. I prefer the ways of +England." + +"_Di va_!" exclaimed her sister. "A good man is not bad because our +friends like him. Marry this good Alain, and love him after." + +The damsel replied by a pretty grimace. + +"Marguerite!" said Mme. de Maufant, with a little frown, "_on ne badine +pas avec l'amour_. Or do you love another perhaps? Ah! _malheureuse_; +art thou still thinking of _ce beau guilliard_, how did they call him? +M. Elliot, I think, the King's page? I hear that he is returned with the +King; and--oh, Marguerite!----" + +"I swear to you Rose, I know nothing of M. Elliot--" + +As she spoke a low whistle was heard without. + +"It is Alain's signal," cried Rose, all in a flutter. "He brings me news +from Michael." + +So saying Mme. de Maufant moved with a quick step towards the door +opening on the back yard, whence the signal-whistle evidently came. +Marguerite site still on her _tabouret_, her head hidden in her shapely +white hands. + +On reaching the back-door Rose threw a wimple over her head, and +carefully undoing the-chain and bar, admitted le Gallais, weary and +travel-stained. Taking both her hands the young man gazed in her face +with the honest gaze of a loving brother. Then searching in the lining +of his doublet he drew out a letter, or rather a packet tied with +string, and gave it to her. + +"He is well," he said, "but his heart suffers." + +"I know it, I know it," sobbed the wife, "but come in, Alain; come in +and take some repose." + +With which she led him into the room, and up to the hearth where sate +the wilful beauty. + +"Marguerite," she said, "do you not see Alain le Gallais?" + +"I am delighted to see M. le Capitaine," was the girl's reply, as she +rose and made an obeisance, immediately resuming her seat. + +Poor Alain! the cold of the autumn evening outside was nothing in +comparison with the chill that fell upon him by that blazing hearth. +Weary as he was, and--as soon appeared--wounded also, his nerve, shaken +by fatigue, gave way before this reception. With giddy brain and wan +face he sank into the nearest seat. + +"What hast thou, my friend, speak, for the love of God," said the lady +of Maufant, while her sister's reluctant eye glanced at him, through +unshed tears with yet more tender inquiry. + +"A scratch, no more," said Alain, tightening the scarf on his left arm, +which showed stains of new blood. "I am but now landed in Boulay Bay, +and a militia-sentry discharged his matchlock at me as I ran down the +lane under the battery. They are indifferent marksmen, my good +compatriots, and their pieces make small impression compared with +Cromwell's snaphaunces." + +Rose tenderly unbound the bandage, found a mere flesh-wound, to which +she applied some lint steeped in styptic, and restored the ligature in a +manner more effective. + +"_Remets-toi Alain, réprends ton haleine, et dis-nous ce que c'est_," +said she, after paying these quasi-maternal attentions to the fugitive. +"And first tell me, how bears himself my Michael, and what greeting +sends he to his home?" + +But before Alain could answer there came a knocking at the gate: and the +scared ladies had barely time to dismiss Le Gallais by a side door +almost hidden in the wainscot before Elliot entered, hat in hand, and +looking shy and breathless in the leaping light of the hearth. + +"Pardon me, fair ladies," he stammered, "have you any welcome for an old +friend." + +The two women leaned against each other, even more embarrassed than, for +a moment, was their visitor. They seemed to remember the voice, yet +could not speak to much purpose for the beating of their scared pulses. +But it is not easy for female self-love to be deceived. The boy had not +changed so much in turning into man but that the face of an old love +could resume its familiarity. + +"'Tis Mr. Elliot," presently said Marguerite, addressing her sister in +English. "Mr. Chevalier, the Centenier, told you of his return but +yesterday when we went to the market at S. Helier. I admire to see him +here so soon." + +Rose advanced, with the restored self-possession of a lady on her own +hearth, and gave the visitor her hand. "Welcome back to Jersey, Mr. +Elliot. Time hath dealt kindly with you: you are almost grown to man's +estate." + +The young Scot flushed, somewhat angrily, at this equivocal compliment. +"What Time hath done with me I cannot tell," said he, with less than his +wonted ease, "save that nothing Time can do can avail to quench old +feelings. This is the first liberty that I have had since we landed. I +have used it to lay myself at your feet." + +The ladies resumed their seats, motioning Tom to the place between them, +just vacated by Le Gallais: and the talk soon ran into easier grooves. + +"I have that to say," continued the page, "that may shake your spirits, +fair ladies. What I have listened to this day it may cost me my ears to +have heard. But," with an air of important resolution, "cost what it +may, I will not nor cannot keep it from you." + +"A groat for your tidings," replied Rose, "we poor women hear none in +this remote corner. But is it a secret? Women may keep one," she added, +looking at the panel that had closed on Le Gallais, "but walls have +ears: and so have you, as yet such as they are, which I would not have +you sacrifice in our cause. If therefore your news be dangerous, think +not of our curiosity, and give the matter no vent." + +Elliot was a scamp, no doubt, yet he could not but be moved by this +thoughtful speech of a woman who could decline a secret. But he had come +too far, laden with a burden that he would fain lay down. So long as he +kept to himself what he had heard in the King's chamber he might be +doing his duty to Charles. But Charles had insulted him and his nation. +Marguerite de St. Martin was his first love, the welfare of herself and +her sister was at stake; he had trudged, four miles and more through the +mire of steep and devious lanes to tell them; was he to leave them +unwarned? Love and Duty fought their old battle, and with the old +result--Love conquered and the secret was told. He had not, it is true, +heard the full purport of the Secretary's grave words or of Charles' +light replies: but what he had caught, tallying with the Chaplain's +disclosures of an earlier hour, had led him to conclude that there was a +villainous plot on foot, of which the King did not seem to approve, and +which therefore might be made known to those interested without real +breach of faith. What he knew he told, and eked it out with what he +could but conjecture. + +The conference lasted long. While it was confined to the designs of the +French, on which the short gusts of the Lieutenant-Governor's stormy +impatience had thrown a transient gleam of lurid light, the ladies were +all attention. When the page began to talk of the King's loyal resolves +and of what great things he would do, they gave less heed. It seemed to +them that Charles Stuart was all too young, too much bound to his +mother, to be trusted in an affair wherein her favourite took an +interest. Tom pleaded his master's cause with the zeal of one who felt +himself to have done that master some wrong; but he pleaded in vain. +Little did the Jersey ladies care who might bear rule in the British +islands; their chief care was for what would affect Jersey, and--above +all men and things of Jersey--their dear Michael, now in exile. + +It had long grown dusk, and Tom knew that he was absent without leave. +His visit must be cut short. If he glanced significantly at Marguerite +as he bent over Rose's hand, if he hoped that Marguerite would follow +him to the door and allow an integration of former toys, he was only +building on a precocious knowledge of the sex. "I will but lock the door +after Mr. Elliot," said she to Rose, in patois, "be tranquil, my sister, +he is but an infant." + +The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile +Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to +which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round +the parlour as he came inside. + +"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder _polisson_ of the +Court?" + +"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever +since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is +not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be +kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed +as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband +will find her faithful, in life and to the death." + +"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways." + +"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her +dealings with him--or with others--be never so little to thy taste, I +advertise thee to seek no cause of quarrel upon them; unless thou +wouldst lose her altogether." + +"I do not understand how a girl that is promised can do such things. +Moreover, his coming here at all is what Michael would not find well." + +"He has done us a very friendly act in coming here, and has told us of a +matter which it may cost him dear to have revealed. For the rest, we can +take very good care of ourselves." + +Alain was not a man of the world. With something of a poet's nature, he +was born to be the slave of women. Passionately attached to the mother +who had brought him up--and who was lately dead--and wholly unacquainted +with the coarser aspects of feminine character, he had a romantic ideal +of womanhood. The ladies in whose company he might chance to find +himself were usually quick enough to discover this; and seeing him at +their feet were always trampling upon him, reserving their wiles and +fascinations for men who were more artful or less chivalrous. The case +was by no means singular in those days, and is believed to be +occasionally reproduced even in more recent times. + +He was now thoroughly annoyed; and Rose's reasoning, far from composing +his mind, had rendered it only the more anxious. Therefore, when +Marguerite returned into the parlour, with a somewhat heightened colour, +Alain affected to take no notice of her, and sate gazing moodily at the +fire. + +"I have been plucking these roses," said the girl, offering Alain a +bunch of flowers wet with early dew. + +He took them with a negligent air, stuck one of the buds into the band +of his broad-brimmed hat that lay on the table, and allowed the rest to +fall upon the rushes that strewed the stone floor. Marguerite, with a +slight and mocking grimace, watched the ill-tempered action without +taking any audible notice of it. Then resuming her seat, she took up her +wool and needles and applied herself to her interrupted knitting. + +Meantime the page, apparently well satisfied with the circumstances of +his visit, including those of his parting from the fair Marguerite, +pursued his way to S. Helier. The darkness of the autumn evening was +relieved by the multitudinous illumination of a cloudless sky. The +lanes, bordered by the fortress-like enclosures of the fields, were +shaded overhead by tunnels of interlacing boughs still in the full +thickness of their summer foliage. A bird, disturbed by Elliot's +brushing against the branch on which she roosted, gave a solitary cry of +angry alarm; the dogs barked in the distant farms; the grazing cows, +tethered in the wayside pastures, made soft noises as they cropped the +grass. Passing on by the old grammar school of S. Manelier and then +through the village of Five Oaks, where he scared a quiet family +assembled in their parlour by looking in at their window with a grimace +and a wild scream, he ran on rapidly by the Town Mills and through the +town towards the quay. When he reached the bridge-head the tide was +ebbing; but partly walking, partly wading, he made good his footing on +the Castle-rock. A sleepy sentry challenged, but the page crept through +the darkness without deigning a reply. A ball whizzed through his hat, +but did not check his progress. Availing himself of projections in the +wall with which he seemed well acquainted, he entered his own little +room by the open casement, and throwing himself on the pallet soon slept +the sleep of youth and healthy fatigue. + +At Maufant matters were not quite so peaceful. The ladies there, it may +be feared, were ready enough to regret the page's visit and its +consequences, if not to express that regret to the old friend who might +with some cause have complained. + +Pretending indifference, he sate silently in a seat further from the +ladies than that which he had occupied before the page's intrusion. +Finding him disinclined for talk, Rose read her husband's letter without +taking any further notice of him by whom it had been brought. + +At length she broke the awkward silence; replacing the letter in her +bosom and turning to Alain, she said:-- + +"I must go and get your chamber ready. I shall be back anon." And she +left the room by the concealed door. + +Left alone with his mistress, Alain fell into a great embarrassment. +Marguerite, for her part, felt a qualm of conscience, had he only known +it. But her _amour-propre_ was, none the less, extremely hurt by his +cavalier treatment of her flowers. She was by no means in love with the +saucy Scot, who had indeed given her some offence by the frankness of +his leave-taking, though this was a matter of which she was not +likely to complain, least of all to her official adorer. + +"_Pourquoi me boudez-vous, Monsieur_?" at last she said; "are you +perhaps permitting yourself to be offended at my seeing M. Elliot to the +door? Do you not know that he is our old friend?" + +"He is nothing to me," answered Alain, moodily, "it is you of whom I am +thinking." + +"As Rose says, we can take care of ourselves. Do you for one moment +think that I acknowledge any restraining right on your part, any +privilege of question even? But come, if M. Elliot is an old friend you +are a much older. Do not let us quarrel." + +"It takes two to make a quarrel," said the foolish fellow, not +observing the olive-branch. + +If his display of annoyance was only a mask of jealousy she fancied that +she could deal with it, and forgive it, but if it should be really a +sign of indifference? so reasoned her rapid female brain; the cruder +masculine mind was but too ready to supply the solution of the problem. + +"_Voyons, Marguerite_," said her lover, almost blubbering. "I have loved +you all your life. Ever since you were a little totterer whom I carried +in my arms and planted on the top of the garden wall to pick +coquelicots, I have thought of you as one to be some day mine. I see now +how foolish I have been. I will put the sea between us; and I hope my +boat will go to the bottom; and then perhaps you will be sorry." ... And +in the fervour of self-pity he actually shed tears. + +Marguerite watched him, with a joyous sense of triumph. Secure of her +victory, she could now assume her turn to show anger. But she did not +feel it; and she had not much skill in the feigning of unbecoming +passions. + +"That is ungenerous, Monsieur. You do not think of the poor boatmen who +would go to the bottom with you. They are not sulky young men who have +quarrelled with harmless women. The Race of Alderney will do without +them; _dame_! it may afford to wait for you too." + +If Alain had but caught the look with which these final words were +accompanied! But he was still sitting in the distant darkness, with his +moistened eyes bent obstinately on the ground. + +And so the misunderstanding widened and deepened; and presently Rose +returned. Taking in the situation with a rapid glance, she passed +through the room and out into the buttery, whence she soon returned +with the materials of a modest supper. "We must be our own domestics," +she said with an attempt at lightness: but the attempt was hollow; a +cloud seemed to fill the low room, and press upon the inmates. The +_three_ sate down, but neither of the young people did much justice to +her hospitality. After supper she held a brief consultation with Alain; +and after giving him a bag of gold and a letter for her husband, +dismissed him, to rest if not to slumber, in the chamber that stood at +the head of the stair on which the door in the wainscot opened. Then she +and Marguerite retired by the other door to their own part of the upper +floor, where I fear the young lady received a lecture before she went to +her virgin couch. + + + + +ACT III. + +THE STATES. + + +Next morning the Militia Captain left before the house was awake, to +return to Lempriere in London. When the ladies went, later in the +forenoon, to arrange the chamber in which he had passed the night, they +found that the bed had not been used during Le Gallais' occupation. A +copy of Ben Jonson's Poems lay on the table; by the side of which were +pen and ink, and a burnt-out candle. On opening the book, Mdlle. de St. +Martin found some lines written on the fly-leaf, which ran as follows:-- + + "What tho' the floures be riche and rare + of hue and fragrancie, + What tho' the giver be kinde and fair, + they have no charme for me. + + The wreathe whose brightest budde is gone + is not ye wreathe I'de prise: + I'de pluck another, and so passe on, + with unregardfull eyes. + + And so the heart whose sweet resorte + an hundred rivalls share + May yielde a moment's passing sporte, + but Love's an alyen there." + +"He is unpolite, my sister," cried Marguerite, laughing. "But that is +only because he is sore. The wounded bird has moulted a feather in his +empty nest." + +"All the same, he is flown," answered Mdme. de Maufant, gravely. + +"_N'importe_," answered the damsel. "Leave him to me. I can whistle him +back when I want him--if I ever do." + +Leaving the ladies to the discussion of the topic thus set afoot, let us +turn to the more prosaic combinations of the rougher, if not harder, +sex. _Majora canamus!_ + +About four miles south-east of the manor-house, the old Castle of Gorey +arose out of the sea, almost as if it grew there, a part of the granite +crag. A survival of the rude warfare of Plantagenet times, it bore--as +it still does--the self assertive name of "Mont Orgueil," and boasted +itself the only English fortress that had ever resisted the avenger of +France, the constable Bertrand du Guesclin. But, in spite of its pride, +it proved to be commanded by a yet higher point, sufficiently near to +throw round shot into the Castle in the more advanced days to which our +tale relates. For this reason, and also because of the smallness of the +harbour at its feet, Mont Orgueil had given way to the growing +importance of S. Helier, protected by its virgin Castle. Hence the +place, though not quite in ruins, had sunk to a minor and subordinate +character; the Hall, in which the States had once assembled, was +neglected and dirty; the chambers formerly appropriated to the Governor +and his family were used as cells, or not used at all; the garden was +unweeded; and Mont Orgueil in general had sunk to be a prison and a +watch-tower. None the less proudly did it rise--as it does still--with a +protecting air above its little town and port, and look defiance upon +the opposite shores of Normandy. + +In a narrow guard-room on the South side of this castle, a few days +later than the visit of La Cloche to the King, the Lieutenant-Governor +was sitting at a heavy oaken table, with his steel cap before him and +his basket-hilted sword hung by the belt from the back of his carven +chair. A writer sate at the left-hand side of the same table, and +between them lay militia muster-rolls and other papers. At the further +end of the room, between two halberdiers in scarlet doublets, stood a +tall Jerseyman in squalid garments, his legs in fetters, his wrists in +manacles. Keen little grey eyes peered through the neglected black hair +that fell over his narrow brow; and his iron-grey beard showed signs of +long neglect. + +"Now, Pierre Benoist," said Sir George, "for the last time I give you +warning. If you do not speak, freely and to the purpose, it will be the +worse for you. There be those who can tell me what I desire to know. As +for you, I shall deliver you to the Provost-Sergeant, who will need no +words from me to tell him how to deal with you. I ask you, is Michael +Lempriere in correspondence with Henry Dumaresq?" + +"_Palfrancordi!_ Messire; you press me hard," said the prisoner, but his +eye was scarcely that of a pressed man. "When you examined me a week ago +in secret I think I answered that. I know of no letters that have passed +between M. de Samarès and M. de Maufant. That is," he added hastily, as +the Governor began to look impatient, "I have carried none myself." + +"Who has?" asked the Governor. + +The Greffier, at a signal from Carteret, plunged his pen into the ink; +the halberdiers shifted their legs and leaned upon their weapons; the +prisoner moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Speak, Benoist; who carried the letters?" + +"It was Alain Le Gallais," answered Pierre in a low voice. + +"It was Alain Le Gallais? Write, Master Greffier, the prisoner says that +the letters were carried by one Alain Le Gallais. You are sure of that, +Benoist?" + +"As sure as my name is Peter." A cock crew in the yard of the castle. +The coincidence did not seem to strike any of the party in the room. + +"By what route did Le Gallais go?" + +"He went by Boulay Bay." + +"By what conveyance?" + +"By Lesbirel's lugger." + +"When did he go last?" + +"This is the fourth day." + +Carteret compared these replies with some that lay before him, and +proceeded:-- + +"Do you know when he will return?" + +"I cannot know; but I can divine. The wind is changing; if he landed at +Southampton on Monday night he would be in London in twenty-four hours, +riding on the horses of the Parliament. Riding back in the same way he +might be back in Boulay Bay, with a fair wind, some time to-morrow." + +"_C'est assez_," said the Governor, "take the prisoner away; but not to +his former quarters. Lodge him in Prynne's old cell." + +As the prisoner was being removed, in obedience to these orders, he was +seen to limp heavily, and there was a bandage on one of his legs. + +"March, comrade," said one of his guards, when they were in the +corridor. + +"My leg was hurt, John Le Gros, when I tried to escape last night." + +"Not so badly but you can walk if you like," and the militia-man +emphasised his words by a slight thrust with the point of his weapon. + +To which of the parties in the island Master Benoist was faithful, the +muse that presides over this history declines to reveal: perhaps he was +an impartial traitor to both. It became presently clear that, in any +case, his lameness was little more than a feint. During that same night +he made a rope of his bedding, and letting himself down from the window +of his cell at high water, swam like a fish to the unwatched shore of +Anneport, and so effected his escape. It was long ere he was again heard +of by the Jersey authorities; but there is no record to show that he was +either mourned or missed. + +For the next three nights a party of soldiers--not militia-men, but +Cornishmen of the Royal body-guard--occupied a hut on the landing-place +at Boulay Bay, belonging to Lesbirel, the man whose lugger was known to +be employed in the communication between the Parliamentary party in the +island and their English allies. The third night being dark and stormy, +the patrol was suspended by orders of the sergeant in command, and the +men devoted themselves to the indoor pleasures afforded by cards, +tobacco, and cider. But others were less careful of personal comfort. On +the western point of the cliff over their heads (the "Belle Hougue") a +beacon was burning, of whose existence the sergeant and his men were +unaware. A man watched by the fire, keeping it alive by constant care +and attention, or rekindling it from time to time, when it was overcome +by the wind and rain. The soldiers in their hut did not see the light; +but it was seen by the crew of a lugger, driving through the waves of +the flowing tide before a rough but favouring gale. Accordingly, putting +the helm down, their steersman drove the craft clear of the threatened +danger that was prepared for the occupants below, and made her touch the +land in the adjacent bay of Bonne Nuit, hid from observation by the +interposing cliffs. Leaping to the shore, Alain Le Gallais, who was the +sole passenger, climbing the western heights, made his way by paths with +which he was well acquainted from his youth, to the manor-house of his +exiled friend the Seigneur of Maufant. + +It was near midnight when he arrived. All was dark. The yard-dog, roused +by his familiar footsteps, shook himself and sate down without raising +any alarm: nay, when Alain lifted the latch and passed through the outer +gate of the court-yard, the animal rose once more, and advanced to meet +Alain, fawning and wagging his tail. Alain was not sorry that the ladies +were asleep. Perhaps the readers of his verses may not have understood +that he was a poet; but, be it remembered, those verses were in a +language not native to the writer. Those who are able to understand such +fragments of his patois-poetry as still survive, declare that it is +marked by tenderness and _verve_; even if this be not so, a man may lack +the power of expression and yet have the poet's temper; Alain was +certainly of a deep and sensitive nature; he thought that he had borne +much from Marguerite, with whom he was now really angry; it was +therefore of set purpose that he had chosen this hour to visit the manor +instead of waiting till the morning. Depositing a letter with which +Lempriere had entrusted him in a cornbin of the stable which Mdme. de +Maufant had instructed him to use in such cases, he went his way without +disturbing any of the inmates of the house. + +His intention was to pass the rest of the night in the barn of a farm +called La Rosière, where he would be safe from pursuit for the moment, +and in the morning could join a party of the "well-affected," who were +in the habit of meeting in the neighbouring parish of S. Lawrence. Man +proposes; but his purpose was destined to failure. The sky had cleared +in the sudden way so common at midnight in these islands. The guard at +Lesbirel's, turning out to patrol, had at last caught sight of the fire +burning on the point above them. Taking alarm, the sergeant, who was an +intelligent and aspiring soldier, guessed that something was amiss, and +set off at the head of his men to search for the escaped prey. Taking +the road to the manor, where he had reason to believe Lempriere's +messenger would be found, and spreading his men among the shadows of the +bordering walls and hedges, he came upon the fugitive in a lane. To his +challenge, "Who goes there?" he received for answer a pistol-shot, which +laid him low in the mire of the lane, with a great flesh wound in the +right shoulder; but the soldiers hearing the report ran up from both +sides. Le Gallais was overpowered and secured after a brief resistance. + +"Search him and take him to the governor," said the wounded sergeant, as +he swooned from loss of blood. + +The following morning found Sir George and his clerk in their old places +in the Gorey Castle. Pale and draggled, Le Gallais confronted his +examiners with such firmness as he could gather from a good cause. + +"You have nothing against me, Messire de Carteret," he said firmly. + +"If I have not I shall soon make it," said the governor fiercely. +"Whence were you coming when you pistolled my sergeant?" + +"I was going to join my company of militia, in order to be present at +morning exercise," answered the prisoner, undauntedly. "Your sergeant +laid hands on me without warrant or warning on a public thoroughfare, +and I shot him in self-defence. What would you have done in my place?" + +"Insolence will not avail you. If you would save yourself from the +gallows, you have but one way. You must make a clean breast of it." + +Le Gallais made no answer, but stooping down, drew a letter out of his +boot and threw it on the table. The governor started as he read the +address:-- + +"For the honoured hands of Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, +these." + +He cut the string and opened the missive. After reading a few lines he +looked up. + +"Clear the room," he said; and as the clerk and guards obeyed, he added, +in a changed tone:-- + +"Be seated, M. Le Gallais! + +"This letter, as you probably know, is from Mr. Prynne, of the +Parliament. Why did you not bring it to me at once?" + +"I should have done so," answered Le Gallais. + +"It contains matter of the utmost moment," added the governor, after +finishing the perusal. "Are you aware of its contents?" + +"Of its general purport, yes," answered Le Gallais. "The emissaries of +Queen Henrietta are due from S. Malo this day. They will not go to you +(unless they are forced) nor yet to Mr. Secretary Nicholas. They are the +bringers of a secret communication from the queen mother to her son. You +see, sir, that I may be trusted." + +"By the faith of a gentleman, it is too strong," cried the governor, in +an impassioned voice. "Was ever honour or gratitude known among that +family? But I care not. Your friends, M. Le Gallais, are my enemies. If +Whitelock and company send to this island all the rebels outside the +gates of hell I will fight them. You may depart and take them that +message from me." + +Le Gallais did not move. "But in case of a French force landing--?" + +"In that case, sir," answered the governor, and his voice rose to a +quarter-deck shout. "In that case it would be 'up with the red cross +ensign and England for ever!'" + +Le Gallais rose and in a gentler tone echoed the cry, sharing the +generous impulse. + +"Now go," said the governor, more gently, "go to the buttery and get +thyself refreshed. I know what a sailor's appetite can be. No words; you +came from England last night. God bless England and all her friends!" + +So saying the governor departed, and in a few minutes more was seen to +mount his horse at the fort gate and gallop towards S. Helier, followed +by a single orderly. + +Immediately on arriving at the town, Sir George's first care was to send +his follower to the Dénonciateur and order him to summon an +extraordinary meeting of the States. After which be went on to the +Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King. + +Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails. A +tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was +with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the +governor entered. + +"How now?" asked the King, with some show of energy; "To what are we +indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? Were you not told, Sir +George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?" + +"Faith I was, Sir," answered Carteret, with a seaman's bluntness. "But, +under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I +know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one +that ought to be debated in my absence." + +Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and _ennui_. But +the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the +last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than +in the present instance. + +"If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty's +service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands. But +your Majesty knows that there is not. I am here to claim that the +message from the Queen be laid before the States. We are your Majesty's +to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is +required." + +Charles gave way before a will far stronger and a principle far higher +than his own. + +"Go, Major," he said, with an expressive look and gesture. "Let +Messieurs les Etats know of our Mother's message. Sir George! be pleased +to bring Major Querto into your assembly. And, I pray you, bid some one +send me here Tom Elliott," added the King, in a more natural tone of +voice. "_A bientôt!_ Sir George." He waved his visitors out and resumed +the care of his finger-ends, neglected in the excitement of the +discussion. + +Carteret, accompanied by Major Querto, repaired to the mainland. They +proceeded together to the Market-place (now the Royal Square) and +entered the newly-built _Cohue_ or Court-house, where the States were +assembling. Seven of the Jurats (or Justices) were already collected, in +their scarlet robes of office: Sir Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. +Owen (the Lieutenant-Bailiff); Amice de Carteret, Seigneur of Trinity; +Francis de Carteret, Joshua de Carteret, Elias Dumaresq, Philip le Geyt, +and John Pipon. These, in official tranquillity--as became their high +dignity--took seats on the dais, to the right and left of the Governor's +chair. Below them gradually gathered the officers of the Crown, the +Procureur du Roy, or Attorney-General (another de Carteret), and the +Viscount, or Sheriff, Mr. Lawrence Hamptonne. In the body of the hall +sate the Constables of the parishes, and some of the Rectors. The +townsmen swarmed into the unoccupied space beyond the gangway. When the +hall was full, the usher, having placed the silver mace on the table, +thrice proclaimed silence. Then Sir George--who united the +little-compatible offices of Bailiff and Lieutenant-Governor--arose from +his central seat and presented the Major who stood beside it. + +"M. le Lieutenant-Bailly, and Messieurs les Etats!" he said, "I have +called you together to consider a message from the Queen: this gentleman +here will impart it to you, Major Querto, of his Majesty's army." + +The Major's face assumed the colour of his nose. + +"I am a rough soldier," he muttered, in English, "and little used to +address such an august assembly as I see here; least of all in a foreign +language." + +"English, English," cried a dozen voices. But Querto was silent, and +looked at the Governor with a scared and anxious gaze. + +"Since our guest is so modest," resumed Carteret, "it is necessary that +I should speak for him. The question is simple. Her Majesty, with her +constant care for the subjects of her son, has heard with dismay that +the rebels in England are projecting a descent upon Jersey. At the same +time, Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, will be attacked by sea. Sir Baldwin +Wake, with your active aid, has hitherto held out against the Roundheads +of that island; and surely since the time of Troy has seldom been so +long a siege, so stout a defence. But, with the Roundheads assaulting +him by land, and Blake's squadron by sea--Gentlemen, I know Blake and +his brave seamen--what can Wake and a hundred half-starved men avail? To +guard us against all these dangers, and against the loss of all the +profits that we now have from our letters-of-marque in the Channel, her +Majesty has been pleased to devise a means of succour." + +Here the Governor's speech was interrupted by cries of "Vive la Reine," +led by the Constable of S. Brelade, in whose parish was situated the +town of S. Aubin, the principal port and residence of the corsairs. + +"Nay, but hear her Majesty's gracious project. Nothing doubting your +good affection or your courage, the Queen is persuaded that her royal +son's person (to say little of the other small matters already named by +me) cannot be safe in your hands against a serious attempt such as can +be made as soon as General Cromwell returns victorious--as he doubtless +will--from the Irish war. She therefore intends--and here, Gentlemen, I +come to the main purpose of our present meeting--she intends, I say, to +send over a strong force of French troops to occupy the island." + +Consternation kept the assembly silent. + +"You are not ignorant of the history of your country," pursued the +Governor. "When a former Queen sought the aid of France you know on what +terms that aid was given. You know the name of Maulévrier; how for six +years he held the Castle of Gorey with the Eastern half of our island. +'We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared to us' what +things the Papists did in those days, and how the Lord delivered you by +the hands of my own ancestor and of the sailors of England. Are we to do +it again; it is to be France or England?" + +The hall was in an uproar. With startling unanimity the last word was +echoed from all sides: "England for ever! England above all!" + +Returning to his quarters in the part of the Castle called by the name +of the late King, Carteret found Sir Edward Nicholas--who was ageing and +felt the cold of sunset--in a mantle and with a black silk skullcap on +his head, pacing up and down the little esplanade by the faint light of +a waning moon. There was an old friendliness between the two: Nicholas +having been long loved and favoured by Hyde, now in Spain, but formerly +the cherished guest of the Carterets. Hence the Secretary was both +willing and able to give sympathy and counsel to his host almost as well +as could have been done by the author of the famous _History of the +Rebellion_, had himself been once more in the Castle. + +"I hear by letter from Prynne, this day received," said the +Lieutenant-Governor, "to the effect that our giving harbour here to his +Majesty is a cause of umbrage to yonder cuckoldy knaves in London. +Meanwhile I have grave doubts as to the young man himself--under your +favour, Sir Edward. We are undergoing so many and great dangers and +distresses for him that we might well hope to have no renewal of the old +dealings to our disadvantage. Yet it seems that things are coming to +that pass that we may ere long have to choose between England and +France." + +"As for France," answered the Secretary, "we may expect due provision +from his Majesty who is--believe me--a true lover of his own country; as +also from your Honour, whose noble house has done well-known service in +bye-gone times. For England, we know what her power is; but that power +lies in the collection of her organs (as Sir Edward Hyde hath often +taught us) by no means in the hypertrophe of one organ, and that one +mutilated. The Church, Lords, Commons, are Three Estates--" + +"Alack, Sir Edward," interrupted the impatient sailor, "this is that +whereto Prynne would lead us. Bethink you of Will Shakspeare's saying, +'If two men ride on a horse one must go behind.' How much more if there +be three of them. Here, in Jersey, where there is but one organ of +Government--I mean the States--we may have labour, but we have none of +these confusions. But in England, look you--" + +"If it were as you suppose," cried Nicholas, "the King must needs ride +before and the Parliament behind. But let me hear more of Mr. Prynne. +Barring his sourness in regard of stage-plays and Bishops--which seemed +strangely coupled in his mind--he was ever a wise and moderate man." + +"Marry," replied Carteret, "I will show you what he hath writ. He would +persuade us--I will be plain with you--to send Charles packing, and to +yield ourselves wholly to the present Government in England. He argues +that might is right, and that it is to that a weak state like ours must +needs bow;--Here be your three organs of Government--or rather were--yet +one hath ever the last word, the casting vote; and that it is which in +very truth governs: the others are but baubles. For, put case it were +otherwise, then how would it fare with the public weal when one organ +says, 'This shall be so, while another saith, 'Nay, but it shall be +_so_;' and a third perhaps is divided. It is put to the touch, as hath +been lately seen in this nation, where the King came forth on one side +with his cavaliers, followed by tapsters, serving-men and clodhoppers; +officers and men for the most part broken in fortune, debauched in body +and mind. Against him were ranged the citizens, the gentry, many even of +the lords and the sober well-informed part of the yeomen. Your Royal +tapsters are scattered in almost every encounter, your King is taken, +dethroned, slain. Where be then your joint-organs, your paper-balance? +Is it not the merest audit of a bankrupt's books?' So far Mr. Prynne, of +whose wisdom you perhaps will make short work." + +"I do not say that he is wrong," answered the Secretary, with a puzzled +look. "I must own that we are beaten for the nonce. And it may be that +if we were uppermost we should equally destroy the balance. But who will +judge a man's constitution by the symptoms of calenture? The nation is +sick, yet it is not like to die." + +"My faith!" said Sir George, after a brief pause of reflection, "I think +thou must be right, Sir Edward. This present condition of things cannot +endure: but England will not die. When once men are earnestly disposed +upon a way of reconciliation there must be give-and-take on either side +until we get to work again. Mr. Prynne's own tyranny, that of the +Parliament, hath been already encountered by a stronger tyranny, that of +the army. But that is a regimen to which Englishmen will not submit." + +"Then you are for the English, Sir George, rather than for the French." + +"Aye, aye, Sir," answered the other. "For the King of England, if +possible. But for the Gaul we are not. We are of the old blood of the +Franks and Normans. We have served our Dukes ever since the battle of +Hastings; but when they became English, why, we became English too. We +beat the French under Du Guesclin, we beat them under Maulévrier. From +England we have had none but good and honest handling. We are English +above all." + +"Well said!" cried the Secretary. "I am no boaster, neither do I claim +the gift of prophecy, like some of our saints yonder. But I am persuaded +that a day will come when your words will be put to the proof. You will +have to choose not between King and Commons, but between England and +France you yourself said so but now." + +"_Mon Dieu_! the choice will be soon made," cried Carteret. "And now let +us to table. For albeit Dame Carteret is lying-in, it will be hard but I +can furnish a friend some junk and biscuit." + + + + +ACT IV. + +THE DUEL. + + +Tom Elliot was a very bad sample of the cavalier party. Trained in +camps, he had learned betimes to seek his happiness in wine, dice, loose +speech, and morals to match. As in France, the successors of the Sullys +and Du Plessis Mornays had become the coxcombs of the Fronde, and the +grandson of Bras-de-Fer was known as Bras-de-Laine, so the character and +conduct of men like Hyde, Ormonde, and Falkland furnished no example to +such as Villiers and Wilmot, whose only ideal of imitation was +scurrilous mimicry. Where the elder cavaliers had been proud to serve +their king, the rising generation was content if it could amuse him; and +with that Charles was satisfied. + +Thus Elliot had learned that for such an escapade as his last he might +easily obtain forgiveness. It was not that Charles was, even in youth, a +sincere or warm friend. His easy good nature had its root in +self-indulgence. Clarendon, who knew him and his family _intus et in +cute_, has pointed this out in one of his best character sentences. +"They were too much inclined to love men at first sight," so writes the +faithful servant of the Stuarts. "They did not love the conversation of +men of more years than themselves. They did not love to deny, ... not +out of bounty or generosity, which was a flower that did never grow +naturally in the heart of either family--that of Stuart or the other of +Bourbon--and when they prevailed with themselves to make some pause +rather than to deny, importunity removed all resolution." [_Continuation +of Life_, p. 339, fol. ed.] + +And there were not wanting particular reasons to dispose Charles to +favour and forgiveness in this instance. Though Elliot had concealed the +fact at Maufant, he was in fact a married man. His wife was the daughter +of the Mrs. Wyndham who had been the king's nurse. To this family +connection he owed his first introduction to the royal household, which +had been constantly improved by his lawless and pushing nature. A +contemporary remarked of Elliot that "he was not one who would receive +any injury from his modesty." The late king's grave and virtuous mind +had been greatly alienated by these things, and he had once dismissed +him from his family. The passionate youth had recovered his position +owing to the Wyndham influence, but he came back with illwill in his +heart. The memory of the royal martyr inspired him with scant reverence, +nor did he feel either respect or compassion for the queen-mother. From +these sentiments, however, one advantage flowed. Elliot was bitterly +opposed to Jermyn and the French interest, and made use of his +opportunities about the king's person to strengthen him in a like +opposition. So it came to pass that, after sulking an hour, the facile +master not only pardoned the petulant servant, but promoted him to be a +groom of the bedchamber; and the return was made in an increased +persistence in efforts on Elliot's part to amuse the king and flatter +all his propensities, whether political or personal. + +The "Indian summer," or _été de S. Martin_, was at its height in Jersey, +when Carteret, obtaining Charles's ready acquiescence, resolved on +ordering a general review of the militia. Soon after daybreak on the +30th October the population began streaming in from all parishes, under +the mild splendour of a cloudless heaven. The scene was on the sands of +S. Aubin's Bay, between the Mont Patibulaire and Millbrook. On the right +wing stood two squadrons of mounted infantry, with their standards +displayed in the morning breeze. On the left were the parish batteries, +with their guns, caissons, and tumbrils. In the centre were the Cornish +body guard and the militia infantry in battalion six deep, while the +reserve and recruits brought up the rear. All but the last-named carried +matches for their firearms, which were loaded with blank cartridge. The +supports carried pikes. The drums beat, the colours flew, as Charles and +his staff, surrounded by an escort of the mounted infantry, emerging +from the south gate of the castle, rode along the low-water causeway. + +Mme. de Maufant and her sister, mounted on sober but well-bred nags, and +accompanied by some of their farm hands in gala costume, occupied a +foremost place among the spectators. But the appearance of the castle +_cortège_ threatened their comfort, if not their safety. For the public +excitement grew from moment to moment, "and those behind cried forward! +and those before cried back!" The younger and more excitable especially, +spurred by the fine weather and the novel spectacle, pressed eagerly to +the front, mixed with mothers of scrofulous children, desirous of +gaining for them the healing virtue of the royal touch. The king's +horse, short of work, and participating in the general excitement, +reared and curvetted in the crowd, but was reined in by his skillful +rider. + +Charles was in his purple velvet, with no token of a military purpose. +But on his left rode a gigantic guardsman in full panoply, while Elliot +came on the right (but with his horse half a length behind) in gorgeous +array, though more for show than for service. In his silver helmet +fluttered a lissom ostrich plume, his shining cuirass was damascened +with gold, which metal also glittered on the hilt of his sword. The tops +of his buff boots and gauntlets were fringed with costly Brussels point. +As they approached the crushed and alarmed ladies, a militia officer +rushing to their aid from his place between the guns and the nearest +company of foot, came into involuntary contact with the glistening groom +of the chamber. The lace of the later's boot caught in the steel +shoulder piece of the infantry officer, and was torn. Irritated and +excited Elliot brought down his hand upon the unconscious offender, and +dealt him a heavy blow on the side of the face. At this sight--with +nerves already overstrung--Marguerite became unable to control her +usually placid steed; and Alain le Gallais--for he was the militia +officer--was diverted from his instinctive but imprudent impulse of +immediate retaliation, by seeing the young lady slip from her saddle +into his arms. + +The little incident was over in an instant, and the king passed on, but +not without taking it all in with the observation natural to him. + +"A comely wench, Tom!" he said to his companion, "and one that seemeth +to know thee. But it seems that others gather what thou fellest." + +"Faith, sir," answered Elliot, smilingly, "I have given him his wage +beforehand. It is well that he should do my work." + +There was no time for longer or plainer speech. The guns began a royal +salute, their muzzles fortunately directed towards the sea--for many of +the pieces had been charged for ball practice. This somewhat dangerous +demonstration was followed by a dropping fire of blank cartridge from +the matchlocks of the foot, and then by general acclamations of "Vive le +Roi" from all ranks. Then Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. Ouen, being +called to the front, received the congratulations of the king on the +appearance of the forces, in which, under the lieutenant-governor, his +uncle, he held the chief command. He was then bidden to kneel, touched +with the royal sword, and told to "Rise, Sir Philip de Carteret." The +eighteen stand of colours were displayed on the outer sides of the +columns. Again the drums beat, the trumpets blew, and with the same +state as that in which he had arrived, the king was escorted back to the +castle. + +As soon as Charles and his followers had been relieved of their full +dress they renewed the conversation in which they had been interrupted +on the sands, Elliot first endeavouring to improve the occasion into an +argument against the king's remaining in Jersey. + +"That malapert bumpkin will be no friend either to me or to your +majesty," he said. "At himself I snap my fingers. But it seems to me +there are some two thousand of them who cry 'Vive le Roi' for half a +pistole, but would cry 'Vivent nous autres' for nothing. If the French +land here they will turn against you at once. If the Parliament prevail +they will submit, willy nilly. And your majesty may feel no ailment, yet +have to be attended by the surgeon who cured your father." + +"Whither should I go hence?" asked the other. "The news of Ireland is +hardly such as to give colour to Ormonde's invitation." + +"I have told you what to do, sir, but got small thanks for my pains. +Think on it well. Now, by your leave I must attend to affairs of my own. +May I find you in a wiser mood when I return!" + +"Farewell, then, Tom," said Charles. "But beware of poaching on a Jersey +manor!" + +"There are no game laws here, or if there be the keeper is away." With +these words Elliot retired with a careless bow, and the king waved his +hand gaily as he disappeared. + +The forward young man bent his way, as often before, in the direction of +Maufant. On entering the garden he saw the lady of the manor--a rose +among the roses, as Malherbe might have said. The moment she perceived +Elliot she stood sternly, and with dilated eye before the entry of the +house, as if to bar the way, the united blazon of her husband's +ancestors and her own appearing above her head like a crest of battle. + +"Why so stern, fair lady?" demanded the courtier, saluting her, "And why +alone?" + +"My sister is not here," said Mme. de Maufant, answering but the second +of Elliot's questions. "She has spoken with you for the last time, Mr. +Elliot. I hope that I too have the same advantage. You should go home, +Monsieur, to your wife." + +Elliot started, but quickly recovering himself, said, with an insolent +smile, "Always thinking of marriage, these dear creatures. Ah, ah! +madame, sits the wind in that quarter? You thought the poor Scots +gentleman might be caught by the rosy cheeks of a Jersey farm girl. _Pas +si bête_." + +Rose pointed to the garden archway. "If you do not relieve me of your +presence this very instant," she said, pale and panting, "my farm +labourers shall drive you out with cudgels." + +"It shall not need, madame, to pay me this last attention, so worthy of +your habits. 'Au revoir, madame!'" And with a profound and mocking +reverence the wanton cavalier slowly retreated, leaving Rose to sink, +half fainting, into a stone seat by the house door. + +Elliot strode off, smarting with the sting of his well-merited +humiliation. A brief moment of reflection was enough to show its +probable origin. It was evident that the secret of his marriage had +found its way to the manor, where the court he had been paying to +Marguerite had consequently ceased to be regarded as a harmless +gallantry, and come to be taken for insult, as indeed it deserved. Nor +was it difficult to go on to guess the channel of this information. Le +Gallais was Marguerite's acknowledged lover, the person who would +benefit by the removal of a fascinating dog like Elliot--a formidable +rival, as he flattered himself such as he must be to a bumpkin officer +of militia. How Le Gallais could have learned the fact of his having a +wife in France might be a harder question, but it was one that was not +material. Revenge would be equally sweet, whether that were answered or +not. + +Full of these thoughts the groom of the chamber stalked on to S. Helier. +On reaching the quay, he came to "The White Ship"--a tavern frequented +alike by the officers of the garrison and by those of the island +militia. The parlour was full of men, some in uniform, some in plain +clothes, smoking, drinking, playing cards--a scene of Teniers. One of +the first faces on which his eye fell was that of Le Gallais, who sprang +from his chair on Elliot's entrance, but was restrained by his +neighbours, and sat down watching the intruder's movements with glaring +eye. Striding up to the hearth, and standing with his back to it, the +cavalier broke into a forced laugh. + +"Strange company you keep, gentlemen. I spy one among you whom you had +better put forth without delay." + +"Whom mean you?" asked the patch-wearing Querto. "'May I not take mine +ease in mine inn?' as the fat fellow says in the play. May not a plain +soldier choose his own company?" + +"A soldier is a gentleman, and should keep company with gentlemen," +answered the flushed youth. "Mr. Le Gallais is no mate for cavaliers. I +say to his face that he is a cropeared rebel, a busybody, and a +pestilent knave." + +"I appeal to you, Major Querto," said Le Gallais, roused from his +temporary pause, and turning to the major, whom indeed he had brought to +the place, and for whose refreshment he was providing. + +"Appeal me no appeals," said the Major, with a truculent look. "No man +shall appeal to Dick Querto till he is purged of such epitaphs." + +Confusion reigned. Le Gallais looked about him for a friendly face, and +presently saw sympathy on that of a fellow-countryman and brother +officer. + +"Captain Bisson," he said, "you will speak to Mr. Elliot's friend." + +Elliot flung out of the house, followed by Querto and two or three +Royalist officers, Le Gallais, and Bisson in the rear. They walked +towards the beach, and on their arriving at the foot of the Gallows +Hill--near where the picquet-house now stands--an Irish officer came +from Elliot's group and met Bisson, hat in hand. + +"Are the gentlemen to fight now?" he asked. + +"The sooner the better," answered Bisson. + +"Will it be a _pas de deux_, or will we all join the dance?" + +"Surely, a combat of two," gravely replied the islander. "We do not +understand Paris fashions here. With you and me, sir, there need be no +quarrel." + +"Sure, and we could have an elegant fight without quarrelling," muttered +the Irishman, with a disappointed frown. "But 'anything for a quiet +life' is my motto. This is a mighty fine place, I'm thinking, where two +brave fellows can cut each other's throats in peace and without +disturbance." Major Querto stood by with the air of an indispensable +umpire. + +The _escrime_ of those days had not attained its later refinements. The +combatants were placed opposite to each other, each flinging a cloak +about his left arm, to serve as a shield, and they prepared to encounter +in what would seem a fashion of "rough-and-tumble" to our modern +masters. + +Both were brave men, and in the bloom of manhood. Elliot was the taller, +but Le Gallais, some seven or eight years older, far exceeded in +strength and weight. After scant ceremony the thrusting began. Feet +trampled, steel rang. A furious pass from the Jerseyman was with +difficulty caught in Elliot's cloak, and the sword for a moment +hampered. Before Le Gallais could extricate it, Elliot, with a savage +cry, ran in upon him, drawing back his elbow, so as to stab his +adversary with a shortened sword. A scuffle ensued, of which no +bystander could follow with his eye the full details, till the Scot's +sword was seen to turn upwards, and the point to pierce his own throat. +Each combatant fell backwards, Le Gallais bleeding from the left hand, +and Elliot spouting black gore from a severed artery. + +At that instant cries name from the outside of the ring, "The guard!" +On which the spectators hastened to disperse, while the +Lieutenant-Governor rode up at the head of a mounted patrol. Elliot was +taken from the ground in a dying state, and Le Gallais arrested, and +ordered to Mont Orgueil, to await the arrival of the magistrate, who +should make the preliminary inquiry. + +Left in that irksome durance, but with wound duly cared for, Alain had +abundant time to muse over the mistakes and misfortunes of the past. +After the inquiry he was necessarily committed for trial at the next +criminal session; and fell at first into a semi-mechanical existence. +But slowly the twin stars of memory and hope rose out of the dark, while +conscious integrity began to clear the moral æther. He tried in vain to +cherish remorse, but Elliot's treachery overbore the effort; slowly calm +returned. + +It was true that the news of Elliot's fraud had been made known to the +ladies of Maufant by himself. But as he thought over the matter in the +solitude of his chilly cell, he could not see any reason to blame +himself on that account. Hearing from Querto--who was connected with the +family--that Elliot was unquestionably a married man, he had only done +his duty in warning Rose and her sister against the groom of the +chamber. He would not admit to himself that jealousy had influenced him +in so doing. As Lempriere's agent, as the old friend of the family, he +could not have done otherwise. All was over between him and Marguerite, +yet he could not forget that, by the wish of the young lady's friends, +if not by her own, he had once been her affianced husband. As for the +death of the courtier, it was not in itself a subject for much regret; +and, further, it had been wholly the consequence of the dead man's own +actions, from his deceit towards the ladies to his final ferocity and +foul play in an encounter of his own provoking. + +While Alain Le Gallais thus sought comfort by the road of reason and of +conscience, his heart continued very sore. But on the morrow of his +commitment an event occurred which changed his cheer, and made his +prison for an instant more lovely than a palace. All the Jerseymen were +acquainted with each other, and the prison warder, though fully meaning +to keep his captive, did not by any means understand his duty to extend +to making such detention a punishment to a man whom he liked, and who +had not yet been condemned. So when Mme. de Maufant and her sister +presented themselves at the gate, seeking admission to Alain's cell, the +worthy jailor unhesitatingly showed them into his own parlour, and +fetched Alain to them, only taking the precaution of turning the door +key upon the outside as he left them alone with the priser, on the +understanding that they should call him from the window when they wished +to leave. + +Pale as death, her lovely eyes ringed with dark shades, poor Marguerite +fell upon Alain's breast, without pretence of coyness. + +"Alain, mon ami!" she cooed in her soft rich voice, "can you give me +your pardon?" + +How far Alain believed this sudden revelation cannot certainly be told. +All that he felt able to do was to strain the girl to his heart and be +silent. Rose stood discreetly at the window; but finding that the lovers +had no more to say to each other, she by and by broke silence. + +"We shall not leave you to suffer for us," she said. "Carteret is +without scruple and without mercy. As a friend of Michael's, he will +seek every loophole for your ruin. I have already seen the Advocate +Falle. He says that you will be tried for murder next week, and that if +Carteret presides you are no better than a dead man." + +"To die for you and Marguerite is not so hard," said the young man, with +a smile. + +"You shall do nothing of the sort," cried Rose, warmly, "listen to me. +The day is setting in for rain and storm. At five in the afternoon it +will be dark. Then one of us will come back with John Le Vesconte, of La +Rosière, who is your match in stature, and who will be admitted on +account of his being of kin to us. He will change clothes with you, and +will remain in your stead while you come out of prison in his. He is in +favour with Carteret, and will be quit for a fine, which I will gladly +pay." + +As she stood, warm and bright with zeal, and intellect flushing in her +eye, Alain thought that, with all his troubles, her exiled lord was a +happy man. But he had to think of his own case. Placing the broken form +of Marguerite tenderly in a chair, he stood up and looked full in Rose's +face, his hands joined, almost in an attitude of prayer. + +"Do not tempt me," he said, in a low, but determined voice. "I will not +put another in my place to save my life, nor even to please Michael +Lempriere's wife. Moreover, John Valpy, the jailor here--who is somewhat +of my family, too, for our fathers married cousins--has dealt tenderly +with me, and I will not do what would bring ruin upon him. Tempt me no +more," he repeated hastily, seeing Rose about to interrupt him. "My mind +is fully made up." + +"But for her sake," pleaded Mme. de Maufant, eyeing the almost senseless +girl with yearning pity. "Think of her young life, bound up with yours." + +"Alas!" answered he, "who knows what maidens mean? She has been excited +by all that has befallen, and will doubtless be sorry for me, and +remember me. But her life can never be bound but by herself. Briefly, I +will not be saved on the terms you offer. Existence for me is without +value, honour is not." + +After this speech, delivered in a tone of conviction, Rose could say no +more. For her part, Marguerite was helpless. Her nerves had broken in +the excitement of the whole scene, and by the time that Alain had done +speaking, she was on the edge of a fit of violent hysterics. When her +sister had succeeded, by the aid of the jailor's wife, hastily summoned, +in restoring a little calm, Marguerite insisted upon being taken away. +Alain was left unshaken in his resolve, and Rose, weary of the +unsuccessful interview, removed her sister to their temporary lodgings +in the town. Leaving her there in the careful hands of the woman of the +place--an old acquaintance--she hurried off to Hill-street, where she +had another consultation with the Advocate Falle. + +The result was soon apparent. To whatever motive Carteret may have +yielded, he did not preside at the trial of Le Gallais, leaving the +task--as indeed he usually did--to the Lieutenant-Bailiff. The record of +the trial has perished, along with many public papers of those troublous +times. But thus much we know, that Alain Le Gallais was tried before the +Lieutenant-Bailiff and six jurats, and, in spite of a strenuous defence +by Advocate Falle, was found guilty and sentenced to death. + +It would be impossible to describe the anguish of the ladies of Maufant, +who had remained in town during these proceedings. Rose had already +spent in the conduct of the case money that she could ill afford. But +she knew that her husband would never forgive her if she neglected any +means of delivering their champion. Nor was she in any way disposed to +do so. Secret service money was laid out to the full extent of Mme. de +Maufant's powers of borrowing. + +Meanwhile the political horizon grew darker day by day. Charles fretted +and yawned; but he continued to attend Divine service in the town +church. He also dined in public, "touched" for the king's evil, and +exercised such functions of royalty (as understood in that period of +transition) as the conditions of the place permitted. Just before the +end of the Stuart dynasty kingship in England was in much the same +condition among the English as it is now among the German nations. The +monarch was still regarded as the head of the feudal State, while a +number of the leading men were beginning to perceive more or less +clearly that society had passed out of a condition in which it could be +deeply or permanently swayed by the absolute will of one individual, +however highly placed by what one called the Divine pleasure, and +another the accident of birth. Among the personal prerogatives of the +Crown was the pardon of persons condemned to death. + +On the morning of the day when Mr. Secretary Nicholas was ordered to +bring up the papers in the case of Rex _v._ Le Gallais, the +Lieutenant-Governor of the small territory to which Charles's sway was +for the present restricted had a long audience. The king had, in his +light way, lamented the loss of his petulant favourite. But Carteret +had, with less pains than he had looked for, succeeded in convincing the +facile and intelligent sovereign that for both the quarrel and its +result Tom Elliot had been alone answerable. Probability leads us to +suspect that Charles had his own reasons for the readiness with which he +accepted the governor's arguments. Among all the young king's heavy +faults, vindictiveness was not, at that time, in the faintest degree +traceable; but, besides that, he had learned, in the intercourse of the +last day or two before the fatal encounter, too much of Elliot's +nefarious designs upon Marguerite de St. Martin to suppose that he would +with decency punish the conduct of her defender. Nor need we wonder if a +bag of Rose Lempriere's pistoles lent weight, even to royal scruples. + +"Odsfish, Sir George," he said, finally, "I believe that you must e'en +take the pardon of your choleric countryman." + +"Your majesty is ever gracious," answered Carteret, with his best +quarter-deck reverence, "though under your pardon my countrymen are in +no respect to be taxed with ready choler. They are ever courteous and +patient. Only steadfast malice is what they cannot abide." + +"I dare be bold to say that human nature hath its operation amongst +them," answered Charles, with his languid smile. "Give them what they +want and their temper is easy. But enough of this, Nicholas will draw +the pardon, and it shall be signed and sealed anon. But, further, take +order that there be no more duelling. And now, as touching another of +your prisoners, Major Querto?" + +"The major was arrested among those present at the duel, in which it +hath been shown that he was not a participator," said Sir George; "but +letters have been found in his possession which hinder his release +without further inquiry." + +"I can be the major's warrant," answered Charles. "He was a trooper in +Goring's horse, and rose by reason of his wife being chosen to nurse my +mother's last-born infant at Exeter. When her majesty retired into +France, Querto, raised to be a commissioned officer, remained in +Exeter. When that city was taken he followed his wife to France, from +whence he is now come, bringing letters from her majesty to me." + +"By your leave, sir," answered Carteret, "your information lacks +completeness. Querto by no means repaired from Exeter to France. We have +searched his valise, and have taken therefrom a packet of papers, from +which it plainly appears that he is a false knave, who hath bubbled both +sides. There is among these papers a letter from Sir John Grenville, to +the effect that this fellow was to obtain money from the Parliament on a +false pretence of delivering Scilly into their hands. There is another +from Bulstrode Whitelock, in which the matter assumes a different and a +more heinous aspect. According to that paper, Querto had been to London, +and there undertaken, on the receipt of two thousand pounds, to aid in +the betrayal, not merely of Scilly, but of Jersey. He had taken handsell +of his price, and went to France, either to complete the bargain or else +to trade with Mazarin. I leave to your majesty to determine which." + +The king moved uneasily in his chair. He shunned the governor's +searching eye, and affected to be watching a ship in the offing, of +which a view was commanded by his casement. + +"That vessel appears to interest your majesty," said Carteret, "she +flies St. Andrew's Cross." + +"I opine that it is the vessel of the Scots Commissioners," answered +Charles. "An it be so, we will receive them in council. Matters of great +moment may be awaiting their arrival. For the present, Sir George, I bid +you farewell." + +It was now December. The "St. Martin's summer" of the Channel Islands +was almost over. The trees were losing their leaves. The last roses +lingered still only in sheltered nooks, rich as the Maufant garden. The +sky was, however, serene, and the sea calm, as the Scottish ship sailed +into the harbour. She had come over from Holland with a favouring wind, +bringing the Chief Commissioner of the Parliament and clergy of +Scotland, together with other gentlemen and officers, and an emissary +from the Duke of Lorraine. The result of their arrival demands another +chapter, for it seriously affected the fortunes of several persons +concerned in the events which our history relates. Our scene changes to +the ancient monastic chapel of the castle, in which the commissioners +were brought before the king in council. + + + + +ACT V. + +FAREWELL TO JERSEY. + + +The king's ordinary cabinet council was now reduced to three persons +besides himself, for it must be remembered that down to the days of the +German sovereigns, who could not join from ignorance of the language, +the English kings were always members of the cabinet, as the viceroy is +to this day in British India. Hyde still playing the vain Ind futile +part of ambassador in Madrid, Lord Hopton and the two secretaries, +Nicholas and Long, were the only ministers present. + +But the matter now opened by the arrival of the Scottish commissioners, +was considered of so much moment as to justify, and even to demand, the +summoning of the lieutenant-governor, and of all the peers then resident +in Jersey. The deliberations of this assembly--which may be regarded as +being tantamount to the Privy Council at large--lasted to the end of the +month of December. But we are not dealing with general history. It will +suffice to record that Winram, of Liberton, the chief of the mission, +appeared charged, in the name of the parliament and clergy of the +northern kingdom, to present and enforce certain written addresses, of +which the gist was this. + +Charles was to subscribe the "solemn league and covenant," to give +pardon and amnesty to all past political offences, and to agree to +maintain the Protestant religion, according to the Presbyterian rite. +Our fathers fought for freedom, but it was freedom only for themselves. + +Upon these conditions it was observed by the foremost of the king's +advisers, that the so-called "Scottish Parliament" was no Parliament at +all, neither having been called by royal mandate nor dissolved by the +late king's death. It was thus wanting in the essential elements and +attributes. Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who +should upset the very nature of the constitution. Yet the commissioners +asserted stoutly that their employers would not be treated with under +any other style, title, or appellation. The king's councillors frowned. +It was added, further, that the clergy of the Church of England, as +might be learnt from his majesty's own chaplains then present in Jersey, +would strenuously oppose the Scottish alliance. They would indeed rather +see the king go among the Papists in Ireland than among such strict +Protestants as the Scots. These counsels were upheld by certain of the +lords; and the Lord Byron, though not giving such extreme lengths, +thought it not well to form a conclusive opinion until it was seen what +advices should be received from Ireland, where Ormonde was still +endeavouring to withstand the forces of the English Parliament under +General Cromwell. + +About the end of the month, however, all hope from that side faded away. +The defence of Ireland had melted before the two passions of fear and +avarice. All the strong places in Ireland had yielded themselves to the +parliament. Ormonde admitted his failure in a letter to Charles, dated +"Waterford, December 15, 1619." On this Lord Byron joined in urging the +king to yield the questions of form or title, and to treat with the +Scots on their own terms. + +While things were still in suspense, Alain le Gallais was wandering idly +on the rude quay of S. Helier, looking up at the insulated castle, and +vainly seeking to conjecture what might be the nature of the plans being +there matured, when he was suddenly addressed from behind in a rough, +but not wholly unfamiliar voice. Turning about he beheld the grim face +and gaunt form of Major Querto, by no means softened by prison fare and +restraint. + +"I cannot say much in praise of your island, Captain," growled the +veteran, "either as regards hospitality or diversion. Out of bare eight +weeks that I have lived here, six have been spent in prison; and now +that they have let me out, I can find nothing better to do than to count +the pebbles upon this beach here." + +Le Gallais led the grumbling officer to a neighbouring tavern, and +called for a mug of cider and two glasses. When the liquor had begun to +do its office, Querto showed signs of better cheer, nothing loth to have +a companion. + +"It is not often that a poor gentleman hath even such refreshment as +this," he said presently, after lighting a pipe of tobacco. The words +were hardly courteous, but the speaker had not been bred in courtesy. +"We had short commons in Exeter, but then there was none of the citizens +fared better than we. Here in Jersey Mr. Lieutenant takes good care that +they who have keep and they who want go on lacking. Yet methinks he +might find it worth his while to take care for something else." + +"What, mean you, major?" demanded the Jerseyman. + +"Marry this," answered his companion, "that there be some among your +friends who do not choose to starve while there are pistoles to be won +by a brave action. Hark ye, captain, are you well affected or no? You +need have no fear, sir, in telling me. I am not strait-laced, and I can +keep counsel. + +"Dost thou call to mind a certain evening in London when you and Mr. +Lempriere were walking home together, and a warning was uttered in your +ears?" + +"Was it thou that played the raven? Didst thou think that we were of +your side?" + +"Of my side, quotha. Why, man, do you think me one to take sides? O, +lord Sir, sides are for the quality. Dick Querto is of his own side, no +other. Now, see here, Captain le Gallais, mayhap you know one Pierre +Benoist that was then in limbo?" + +"Aye, do I, and what of him?" + +"Why, marry this; that he is at large, and hath a lure for your young +Charlie there that will bring him from his perch on the rock yonder, and +mew the tercel in London town. What think ye the Parliament will deem a +meet reward for the men who bring them such a prize as that?" + +Le Gallais was aghast. He was asked to consent to a plot to kidnap the +king, and convey him into the hands of those who had taken his father's +anointed head from his shoulders. A plot to be carried out in Jersey, +and by the aid of Jerseymen! Alain was not a blind royalist, as we have +seen, but he had not learned, either from Prynne or from Lempriere, +either that Jersey could exist without a King of England or that +treachery was a necessary part of the work of liberty. At the same time +the ruffian before him must not be prematurely alarmed. So he played his +part as best he might. + +"I must think of it," he said, "the enterprise is bold. Tell me no more +of your projects," he added, with a sudden shame, as the swashbuckler +was about to enter into details. "I cannot now take part in your work, +for reasons." + +"All the better," said the bravo, "but see that you betray me not. The +fewer of us the larger the share; but you were best not betray me." + +"Threats are not needed, major," answered the Jerseyman, "I am no +traitor." + +Le Gallais paid the reckoning and sauntered off, a prey to contending +thoughts. That the cruel plot should come to nought, if its frustration +were within his means, he unhesitatingly resolved. That Querto's +confidence--unasked though it had been--should be used against himself, +was equally unwelcome to Alain's sense of honour. + +In his perplexity, he wandered almost as by instinct to the lodgings of +the Lemprieres. He had long been accustomed to regard the simple good +faith and courage of Mme. de Maufant as an infallible oracle in cases of +conscience. Never had so hard a need for an infallible oracle presented +itself to his mind as this. + +He found the ladies seated in a parlour on the ground floor, engaged in +their usual employment of knitting. The room was small, but warm and +snug. Under a pledge of secrecy, he told them in general terms that +there was a plot to seize the king, but took care not to mention the +names either of Querto or Benoist. + +Meanwhile the council having broken up for the day, the king retired to +his chamber. But instead of resting and calling for refreshment, as was +his wont on such occasions, he seemed to meditate an excursion. Only +that, in deference to the prudent scruples of his council, he was +apparently going forth in strict disguise, for he unbuckled his +jewel-hilted sword, and took off his velvet doublet. Then tucking his +long hair under a fur cap, and putting on a blouse, such as was worn by +the country people, he walked out of the castle in the dark of the +winter evening, passing the sentries by giving the parole of the day. +The tide being low he walked across the "bridge," and at the town end +was accosted by a man, attired like himself, who was waiting for him +there. + +"Owls be abroad," said the stranger. + +"They mouse by night," answered the king. + +Without further communication the two walked silently through the town, +and up the steep lane in which Mme. de Maufant had taken up her abode. +It was on a hill over-looking the town, still known by the name of "The +King's Cliff." At the back were woods and fields. + +All this time Alain and the ladies of Maufant had remained in earnest +consultation. Rose was for letting matters take their course. She had +scant sympathy with those whose policy had separated her from her +husband, and who were, as she believed, plotting the betrayal of her +country, Jersey, and her Michael. In these lay all her world. That the +king should be carried off to London was nothing to her. But Marguerite +was younger and more generous. Wronged as she had been by Elliot's +insolent schemes, that account was balanced and closed by the great +audit. But she was not without a woman's romance, and the thought that a +king, young and unfortunate, was to be sold to his father's relentless +enemies and murderers, presented to her ardent mind a thing to be +prevented at all hazards. + +While they were thus debating the dog was heard to bark excitedly, and +footsteps were audible in the garden behind the house. + +"Mme. de Maufant," said a voice at the window, "come forth. It is I, +Pierre Benoist. I bring a message from your husband." + +"Wait an instant, Benoist," answered the lady, unalarmed, "I will let +you in." + +She went to the door, and gave admittance to two men in blouses. While +one conversed with Mme. de Maufant, the other advanced to her sister, +and, without taking heed of Le Gallais, addressed her in courtly tones, +holding his fur cap in his hand, his brown hair fell down upon his +shoulders. + +"Fear nothing, bright pearl of Jersey," said the stranger. "A traveller +who has heard of your charms asks leave to prove them." + +"Marguerite!" whispered Le Gallais on the other side, "be careful, it is +the king. I know his face. I have seen him many times in church." + +Marguerite slipped to the ground on her knees. "Ah, sir," she said, +imploringly, "the honour that you do us may cost your life. Your enemies +are at hand. Perhaps the house is already surrounded. Ah, heaven! put up +your hair!" So saying she aided the smiling young king to restore his +disguise, whilst Alain, with a sudden impulse, threw himself upon +Benoist, whom he gagged and pinioned almost before the rascal could +utter a sound. + +Charles, meanwhile not unwilling to wait the conclusion of the +adventure, retired by a back door, followed by Rose, who showed him into +the kitchen. The barking of the dog was at the same moment renewed, and +other footsteps and voices were heard further from the house, which was +apparently surrounded. + +Marguerite sank into a chair, while Le Gallais carried the helpless +Benoist out with whispered threats; and, throwing him into a dark +stable, shut the door upon him, locking it behind him and putting the +key into his pocket. He then returned into the parlour, and telling +Rose--who had re-entered the room--what he had done, bade her be of good +cheer. Marguerite continued to kneel, and her lips moved as if in +prayer. + +Meantime the voices came nearer. The dog, with one sharp yell ceased to +bark, and knocks were heard at the door. Alain gave Rose one encouraging +look and went out alone and unarmed to meet Querto and a number of +peasants, most of whom he recognised as belonging to his own company of +the parish militia. + +"What is it, neighbours?" he said, taking no notice of the major, and +speaking the local dialect. + +"Why, this gentleman hath brought us here to seize a spy," said one of +them--our old acquaintance Le Gros. + +"There is no spy here but himself," answered Le Gallais. Do you not know +who he is, Maître Le Gros? This is Major Querto, who came here about +selling Jersey to the French. + +"What are you saying in your whoreson lingo?'" cried the major. "Let us +in." + +"He wishes to do some mischief here," pursued Le Gallais. "Perhaps to +rob the ladies. Will you see Michael Lempriere's wife plundered?" + +"Never," said another of the peasants. "He said a spy had got admission +on false pretences." + +"There is no one here but I," said Le Gallais. "Do you take me for a +spy?" + +"We do not, Alain. Vive M. le Capitaine! What shall we do with him?" +said many friendly voices. + +"Take him to the Centenier under the Gallows-hill," said Alain, availing +himself of the rising tide. "Or, stay"--as he caught a look from Querto, +in which agony and reproach were mingled--"If he prefers it, carry him +on board the first ship bound for France. I will answer for his passage +money. Handle him as he deserves." + +To hear was to obey with the angry islanders. Hustled and disarmed, +bonnetted and bound with handkerchiefs, Querto was borne off, howling +and cursing. In a few minutes all was once more still in and about the +house, only the good watch dog had suffered. He would never sound +another alarm. One strobe of Querto's sabre had severed his faithful +head from his body. + +Alain returned to the parlour. + +Reassured by his telling them the story, they were easily persuaded to +retire to their chamber. Alain's next care was to seek the king's hiding +place. + +"You must stay where you are till morning, sir," he said, without +entering. "I will watch over the only way by which any one can approach +you." + +"As you will," cried Charles from within. "But hark ye, captain! +methinks a pint of claret would not be amiss, warm with a spiced toast +floating on the top." + +The man and his wife who waited on the ladies had been spirited away by +some intrigue on the part of Benoist, and the king would have to pass +the night alone in the small kitchen. + +More amused than disgusted with the royal levity, Le Gallais--who knew +the ways of the house--brewed the desired tankard, and, returning to the +kitchen, set the hot drink upon the table; then wishing the king "good +repose;" left him to his meditations. + +On returning to the parlour, Le Gallais carefully secured both the inner +and the outer door, put a log upon the fire, looked to the priming of +his pistols, laid his sword upon the table, threw a cloak over his +knees, sate up in his arm chair with a look of resolute vigilance, and +sank into a profound sleep, from which he did not wake till day streamed +through the casement. His first care was to go to the stable and release +Benoist, but that slippery rascal, after his wont, had released himself. +His gag and bandage lay upon the stable floor, along with a bar shaken +out of the loophole in the wall, leaving an aperture just large enough +for a lean man to push through. + +Returning to the house, Le Gallais found the graceless monarch seated at +table before a steaming bowl of porridge, while Rose was pouring him +some cider. + +"Odsfish," he heard Charles say, "I owe Captain Le Gallais thanks for a +fair deliverance, and you, madame, a courteous usage under difficulty. +But _à la guerre comme à la guerre_, and I have slept in worse +conditions than those of your house, madame. Let me but bid farewell to +your sweet sister, and I will be back in the castle before my absence +has been observed. Ha! Captain Le Gallais, you must be my guide back to +the quay. This part is strange to me." + +All Charles's prayers were vain. Marguerite had a _migraine_, and could +not have the honour of receiving the king's farewell. He finished his +breakfast, took a courtier's leave of his hostess, and set forth on his +homeward way, respectfully attended by Le Gallais. They walked through +the streets in silence for some time, the king having quite enough sense +to be ashamed of his situation. + +"You have an interest," he presently said, "in yonder ladies, captain?" + +"I have, sir. I am M. de Maufant's friend." + +"And therefore my enemy, I take it. No matter, you have served me a good +turn." + +Soon the strangely-assorted couple approached the quay. Scarcely anyone +being abroad at that early hour. Moreover they had come down to the +bridge head by way of the Gallows-hill, to avoid the publicity of the +main streets. As they parted, Charles turned kindly to his unwonted +follower, and said once more-- + +"We shall not forget our obligation to you, Captain Le Gallais, whenever +a time comes for proper acknowledgment. Meantime, if you will not own us +as your king, tell me, as man to man, if there be anything in which +Charles Stuart can serve you." + +"Aye, is there," answered the Jerseyman, out of the fullness of his +heart. "For your own sake, sir, leave us. We are a simple folk, unused +to the ways of the great world, and only asking to be left in peace." + +"By the faith of a gentleman," muttered Charles, as he made his way out +to the castle, "the islander is right in his amphibious way. The solemn +league and covenant is not amusing, but it cannot be worse than living +here like a seal upon a rock; and when one goes forth to talk to a +comely wench, being reconducted to one's rock by a Puritan with webbed +feet. Yet he hath saved me from a shrewd pinch, and that is the truth." + +It will not be supposed that Charles was all at once prepared to drop +the little intrigue--so united to his already corrupted character, into +which he had been led by Benoist's insidious suggestions, acting upon a +mind always anxious for excitement, and predisposed by the talk of the +deceased groom-of-the-chamber. But the danger which he had incurred was +a warning in the opposite direction. Benoist was in hiding, and appeared +no more in the castle; lastly, the negotiations with the Scots now +became so urgent and so perpetual as to require his almost constant +presence and personal influence. The opposing motives and conflicting +opinions of his various advisers often kindled into violent altercation, +in composing which the really excellent qualities of the young king's +prematurely developed character had room for beneficial action. So the +ladies of Maufant were left free from a troublesome persecution, against +which, nevertheless, they took all due precautions. + +Upon general grounds Charles was now willing enough to leave Jersey. The +bluff firmness of Sir George Carteret, and the grave counsels of +Nicholas, by whom the lieutenant-governor was usually backed up, were +unwelcome to a sovereign; and his tiny kingdom afforded but little +compensation, especially when he was forbidden to visit it, and was +virtually prisoner on an almost insulated corner thereof. For Carteret +and Nicholas had heard of his nocturnal adventure, and had extorted a +promise from him not to go on land without their knowledge. They had +also taken other precautions in the same behalf, which were perhaps more +trustworthy. + +It was finally determined that the king and his retinue should leave the +island. The Scots' invitation was accepted on the terms proposed by what +it was agreed to call "the committee of estates;" and Breda, in Holland, +was named as the place where the final agreement should be engrossed and +signed by the high contracting parties. Here Charles would be safe in +the protection of his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, until +matters should be ripe for his departure to Scotland. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + +Since the events related in the foregoing chapters nearly two years had +gone by. Jersey had been saved from intrigues of the Queen and Lord +Jermyn. Charles had gone to France, and thence to Holland, followed by +the Duke of York, his brother, and later by Sir Edward Nicholas and the +other members of his council and court. The lieutenant-governor, freed +from even the slight control afforded by their presence, had given full +scope to the worse parts of his peculiar and complicated character. More +than ever was his administration of his native island marked by +unblushing egotism. Oppressive, grasping, unguarded in speech, and +almost unrestrained in action, he seemed, from one point of view, the +model of a sordid, short-sighted despot, making hay while the sun shone. +But he had a fund of caution which kept him from proceeding quite to +extremes, and his energy and ability were undeniable, as was also his +attention to business. Hence, while feared and even hated, he was still +respected and obeyed. Most of the militia officers were his creatures, +as were also--as we have already seen--the civil, judicial, and +legislative officers of the little republic. The seat of his government +was at S. Helier, while S. Aubin, on the opposite point of the bay, was +filled with his skippers and their crews, and the traders who profited +by their piratical proceedings. Hardly a week passed but some rich +prize--usually an English merchantman--was brought in there, to be +condemned by Carteret's court, and sold, together with her cargo, while +the unfortunate mariners who had manned her were left to their own +resources. Adventurers from all parts flocked to Jersey, to share the +gains of this new and irregular trade, while the lawful commerce of +England was menaced as with a cancer. With the resources derived from +his maritime enterprise, joined to what he drew from his fines, taxes, +exactions, compositions, and confiscations within the limits of the +island, the unscrupulous governor was founding a sort of Christian +Barbary, and becoming a hostile power no less than a public scandal. +Nevertheless, he could on occasion make a generous use of his ill-gotten +gains.[_v._ Appendix.] He sent money more than once to the necessitous +court in Holland, continuing to do so until the king departed thence to +Scotland. And he kept up such a stream of supplies for Castle Cornet, in +Guernsey, as enabled Sir Baldwin Wake, the commandant, to hold out +against all the force of the Parliamentary power in that island, and +against all attempts by sea. Indeed this remarkable siege lasted longer +than the fabled one of Troy, and the feat, however creditable to the +handful of men by whom it was performed, and to Osborne and his +successor Wake, was only rendered possible by the constant aid of Sir +George Carteret. Most of all, however, did that energetic officer enrich +himself, laying in fact the foundation of that greatness which +afterwards culminated in his descendant, the famous Lord Granville, the +rival of Walpole. He obtained from Charles a grant of Crown lands, +including the escheated manor of Melèches. And he further appropriated +to his own use the revenues of his personal enemies, the chief of whom +were the exiled Seigneurs Dumaresq, of Samares, and Lempriere, of +Maufant. It should, however, be added that he shed no more blood. In +fact with the exception of the Bandinels and Messervy, Seigneur of Bagot +(already mentioned), no one lost life for opposition to Sir George. He +even attempted to conciliate some of his opponents, restoring Le Gallais +to his post of captain in the militia, and empowering him to offer to +Lempriere's wife the use of her house at Maufant, which he had +confiscated. But that valiant lady resolutely refused to hold or inhabit +under the favour of an usurper, and continued to occupy the lodgings on +King's Cliff, though in constant straits for want of money. Marguerite, +who, however wild and light others found her, was always faithful to her +good sister, cast in her lot with Mme. de Maufant, with the consent of +her own family at Rozel; and it was chiefly by her assistance that the +expenses were in any way met. Le Gallais also lost no opportunity of +visiting the ladies and ministering to their wants like a brother, to +the great straining of his own slender savings. He carefully forebore to +press Mlle. de St. Martin with a lover's suit, whether or no to that +young lady's complete satisfaction we are not informed. In any case, her +manner, though composed by trouble, gave no sign of the state of her +feelings; and whether she was fond of Alain or weary of him, her +self-control was equally to her credit. As for Alain, he seemed to be +stupefied, rather awaiting ruin than expecting better times. + +Matters were in this state, when one lovely day in September, 1651, +Alain came before Mme. de Maufant and her sister as they sate knitting +in the doorway. + +"Great news!" he cried, as soon as he was near enough for the ladies to +hear. "Great news! General Cromwell has thoroughly purged the garner. He +has beaten and scattered the Scots at Worcester. 'Tis said Charles +Stuart their king is taken prisoner. This 'crowning mercy,' as it is +called by the lord general, befel on the 3rd, the same day last year he +beat these same Scots at Dunbar. 'Tis a great and a bright day in his +lordship's life." + +"Count no man happy till his end," answered Rose gravely. "A day of +triumph may be a day of doom when God pleases. And how does this event +touch us, thinkest thou, Alain?" + +"Why thus," replied the young man. "The general is not a man to bear +with our lieutenant-governor's oppressions and piracies for ever. Like +Satan in the Apocalypse, Carteret hath great wrath, because he knoweth +that his time is short. For Admiral Blake hath been collecting his ships +at Portsmouth, and our informant says that they were to sail to-day, +eighty vessels of war. They carry a strong force of _fantassins_, +pikemen, and arquebussiers, with the new snaphaunces devised in the low +countries. Their commander is Major-General Haine, Prynne is there as +commissioner, and, best of all, Michael Lempriere is on board!" + +Rose looked at him with swimming eyes. + +"And Michael Lempriere comes as bailiff. He said that he would. And +then, when your fortunes are once more high, and you have no further +need of me ..." + +Alain faltered and looked down. But for that gesture even his despondent +mind might have been roused by the look that Marguerite cast upon him. +But the dart was parried by the shield of an obstinate depression. + +"I have arranged," he pursued, "with Sir George. You know that last +year he sent out a ship of five guns to America, laden with passengers, +all sorts of grain, and tools for husbandry. She was lost, being +captured (that is to say) off the Isle of Wight by Captain Green, of the +Commonwealth's navy. The stores were confiscated, but most of the +passengers came back to the island, and have been here ever since +awaiting a fresh opportunity for New Jersey. It will come soon, and I +sail with the next venture." + +"With the next fiddlestick," broke in Rose. "Speak to the silly fellow, +Marguerite. This is the last time of asking." + +Whatever may be thought of Alain's project of emigration, his +information was true enough. Cromwell had determined to put a stop to +the trouble caused by the present doings in Jersey. Yet he had no desire +to repeat the severities of Ireland. The Jersey cavaliers were good +Protestants, there had been no massacres, and their cause was warmly +supported by Prynne--a man with whom the general could not wholly +sympathise, but with whom he could still less afford to break on what +appeared to him a not very important difference. Left to himself, he +would not probably have been as stern with Jersey as he had been with +the blood-stained Rapparees and their allies, solicited by the leader of +the Moderates, he was willing to be won. So he readily agreed to the +counsels of those who urged him to accept Prynne's offer of service, and +appointed the Presbyterian confessor to accompany Blake and Haine as a +representative of conciliation and indulgence. + +Setting sail with a light north-east wind, the transports and their +convoy, multiplied by popular rumour into a vast fleet of war, and +really bearing nearly three thousand good troops and a quantum of field +guns, made slow way out of Portsmouth harbour on Sunday, September 19th. +Next morning they were in the open sea with all sail set. On the +quarter-deck of the _Constant Warwick_, a fine frigate (the first +launched by the new government) Lempriere and Prynne--now completely +reconciled--paced slowly up and down, talking of the present situation +and future policy. As they did so their eyes glanced from time to time +on the fair sea scape, illumined by the early autumn sunlight, and +shaded by the sails of the surrounding shipping. + +"'Tis a fair show, Mr. Bailiff," said the English politician, "And one +that ought to bring down our friend's stomach." + +"Faith! I do not know," answered the Jerseyman. "Sir George will fight, +I doubt. You know him as well as I." + +"Nevertheless, he cannot fight to much purpose, and I see not how there +can be any great effusion of blood. By himself he can do nothing, and +who will be of his side? It is the divine asseveration of the wisest of +men, Ecclesiastes vii. 7, 'Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' And +if it be so, Cartwright should have but few sane men about him. Yet in +his fall I pray he may find mercy. And I am forced to lean upon you, Mr. +Bailiff, in that behalf." + +"_Non tali auxilio_," began the quotation-loving bailiff. But Prynne +gravely pursued his pleading. + +"You may recollect what I said to the Commons' House three full years +ago. Indeed it was the very night before Pride's Purge. If fines, I +reminded them, if imprisonments, grievous mutilations, and brandings of +S.L.--which I once called 'stigmata landis;' but 'tis an ill subject for +jesting--could bespeak a true friend to liberty, why then sure I am one +whose voice might well claim, a hearing. Yet it hath been far otherwise +with yonder masterful men of the carnal weapon, who seek their own +advancement in the name of the Commonwealth. I have never coveted the +transient treasures, honours, or preferments of the world, but only to +do to my God, country, aye, and king, too, the best public services I +could, even though it brought upon me the loss of my liberty, the ruin +of my mean estate, and the hazard of my life. When the late king did +wrong I withstood him, to the extent of my poor capacity; but I was not +for seeing the crown and lords of the ancient realm of England subverted +or submerged by the flood of usurpation let in by some members of the +Lower House. My speech of the 4th December, 1649----." + +"I heard it," broke in the other, "And well do I remember the hum of +assent and approbation with which it was received." + +"It was printed no less than three times last year. Then followed my +tractate upon their deposing and executing their lawful king; and other +leaves against the arbitrary taxation of what I call 'the Westminster +Junto.' Think you that these things can be forgotten, or that my being +sent here with Haine is more than a hollow compliment? Recollect the +word that we exchanged at my lodging in the Strand two years ago, and +bear in mind that it is rather in your hands than in mine to temper +justice with mercy when my friends shall be overthrown in yonder +island." + +So pleaded, and to yet greater length, the verbose but earnest advocate. +But in truth he might have been more concise, less eloquence would have +sufficed had not the idle hours of a sea voyage thrown open a wider door +for its display. Lempriere was ready to promise anything on the joy of +the long-wished for moment. + + "Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo + Auderet." + +As he himself expressed the matter with wonted Latinity. His own nature +would have disposed him to adhere to the promise given long ago, and +still so urgently demanded of him by Prynne. + +On the evening of Monday, the 20th of September, the flotilla was +signalled in the north-western part of Jersey, where a vigilant outlook +had long been maintained upon the very top of Plémont. The sea heaved to +and fro in smooth fluctuations under the bright weather, which shed mild +splendour over the violet surface, studded with orange rocks. With +favouring airs the stately ships slid slowly on in crescent formation. +They cast anchor for the evening in S. Owen's Bay, sheltered on the +north by Grosnez Gape, and on the south by the cliffs that end in the +Corbière--an extent of nearly five miles. + +On shore all was bustle and preparation. Sir George's head-quarters were +at his cousin's seat, the manor house of S. Owen. The sandy plains to +seaward were held by companies of the island militia; the +lieutenant-governor's own immediate following consisted of a small +squadron of horse, raised and equipped by himself, but mounted on +chargers especially presented to them by the king. Considering the +natural difficulties of the coast, and that the equinox was at hand, the +numerical disparity was not absolutely desperate. Jersey is a strong +place yet. In those days of sailing ships and weak artillery it was a +gigantic fortress, if only held by a wholehearted and determined +garrison. Had that but been now the case, which, however, it was not. +The population in general had no insurmountable feeling of hostility +towards the _de facto_ government of England. On the other hand, the +hearts of the Cavalier party were not high. A rumour had been +spread--not traceable to any distinct source--that Charles had been +taken after the rout of Worcester. The public, ever credulous of ill +tidings, fastened with morbid eagerness on such reports. "Sorrow and +despair," writes a Royalist eye-witness with natural exaggeration, +"could be seen in every face. The more dispirited began to cry out that +it was in vain to contend any longer against powers that, like a +torrent, bore down everything before them." + +Carteret, who though ambitious and covetous, was never wanting in +courage, energy, intelligence or versatility, turned the more +obstinately to his task. Concealing his natural anxieties, he rode about +from post to post in morion and buff coat, wearing a resolute +countenance, and doing all that one man could do to keep up the hearts +of his people and prepare a stout defence. + +The position of Le Gallais, though humbler, was much more complicated. +Nor was he possessed of sufficient strength of character to choose a +distinct path and steadily pursue it. Determined enough, as we have +seen, under excitement he could fight with his back to the wall. Nor was +he one to shrink from any duty that was plainly pointed out to him. He +could not prepare himself _de longue main_ for a definite and consistent +conduct; still less had he the power--often wielded by natures otherwise +inferior--of striking a balance between opposing motives. His duty as a +militia-officer was at complete variance with his desires as a friend of +Lempriere's. He could not choose between them. He might have thrown up +his commission and devoted himself to watching over his friends at +King's Cliff. He might have cast his feelings to the winds and accepted +the post of orderly officer to the Lieutenant-Governor which was offered +him by Carteret. He chose neither line but adopted what he called "a +middle-course," in other words left himself to be drifted on the current +of events. He saw that the position of the cavaliers was hopeless if +they had to maintain a long and unaided contest against the conquerors +of Ireland and Scotland. He had no great trust in the willingness of the +French, none whatever in their good faith. His ardent desire to prevent +effusion of Jersey blood was a preoccupation that hid almost all other +considerations from his mind. And he had trust in the discipline and +morale of the Parliamentary troops, and in the presence among them of +Prynne and Lempriere, which saved him from much anxiety as to the +welfare of the ladies at King's Cliff. + +As he sate, that night, by the camp-fire of a picquet of his company he +heard two militiamen conversing, and recognised Benoist and Le Gros as +the speakers. + +"To what purpose are we here, _mon voisin_?" asked the former. "What +good would the sacrifice of ourselves do the King now, when perhaps he +has already undergone his father's fate and is no longer in this world?" + +"If the King be dead, indeed," answered Le Gros, "I for one will not +fire a single cartridge. All the same, he was a debonair prince, and +once gave me a groat to drink his health when he saw me holding his +horse." + +"That he is a prisoner is certain," croaked Benoist. "And if prisoner to +Maître Cromouailles he can only make his escape through one door. And +that door does not lead to Jersey, though it may to Paradise." + +Here the men got up and moved off in search of cider, which was being +served out by the Governor's orders at a neigbouring farm-house. But +their conversation mingled with the young Captain's thoughts as, +wearied with the marchings and countermarchings of the day, he dozed in +the still night air, lulled by the fire at his feet. Deep slumber must +have followed, for he started from dreams of tumult to feel the +vibration of air caused by a round-shot passing over his head. The wind +had fallen to an almost complete calm: a light breeze of autumn morning +breathed keen over the barren moor; bugles were sounding, drums +rattling, men shouting as they collected their accoutrements and fell in +under arms. + +Four-and-twenty guns from the nearest ships were playing upon them, +answered briskly by the little militia batteries that lined the bay. +Gunboats began to stand in, laden with red-coated marksmen discharging +their new pattern fire-locks. The militiamen on their part waded into +the sea and gave such answer as they could from their clumsy old +matchlocks: making good the deficiency--so far as noise was +concerned--by shouts of vituperation; and calling on their assailants as +"Rebels," "Traitors," and "Murderers of their King." The landing was +frustrated for the time. + +The next day was occupied in rapid movements from one part of the island +to another, in order to meet feigned attacks by the enemy who were ready +to turn any of those diversions into a real assault, on finding the +Jersey people unprepared. The Lieutenant-Governor had no choice but to +distract and weary his men, marching them backwards and forwards to S. +Aubin, S. Clement, and Gorey, according as the invaders appeared at one +or other of those landing-places. The militiamen were worn out by these +tactics, and were moreover of the class on whom Carteret's oppressive +taxations had long pressed with an almost intolerable weight. On the +third day their strength was reduced both by fatigue and desertion; and +in the afternoon, after more demonstrations a real landing took place in +S. Owen's Bay, the original point of attack. Carteret, as soon as he +perceived what was intended, galloped up his cavalry, ordering up a +battalion of militia in support, under his cousin, the Seigneur of S. +Owen. The English infantry formed upon the beach, and advanced to the +attack with terrible shouts and cheers. The first troop of Carteret's +horse met them boldly, and delivered a headlong charge; but the men who +had fought Rupert and Goring were not to be intimidated by a handful of +untrained cavaliers. The troopers were received with a volley that +emptied several saddles; and retired, leaving several of their number +dead and carrying off Colonel Bovil, a gallant English officer by whom +they had been led, and who soon after died of his wounds. The second +troop failed to support them, but guarded the retreat as the troopers +drew off without renewing their charge. Meanwhile, the militia who +should have been the third line dispersed and gained their homes. The +red 'coats meeting no further opposition marched cautiously across the +island, and encamped for the night on Gorey Common. Carteret, with such +men--mostly Cornishmen and Irish--as remained with him, threw himself +into Elizabeth Castle; the other forts, S. Aubin and Mont Orgueil, +yielded, almost without show of resistance, in a few days. + +In anticipation of such an occasion Carteret had furnished the Castle of +S. Helier with abundant provision, alike of victuals and ammunition; the +latter being stored in the old Abbey Church, which was proof against the +bullets used by the ordinary artillery of those days. His guns were +mounted on the landward batteries, so as to command the town and any +camp that might be formed there for siege purposes. The hill above--the +Mont de la Ville--was too remote to cause any serious danger from the +field-pieces of the period, which were not capable of sending shot with +effect to a greater distance than half-a-mile. He despatched boats to +convey his private property to France, and to take letters to the +Royalists there, asking for instructions and assistance; and then +stoutly prepared--with a garrison of 350 men--to sustain the siege +against the grim victors of Tredagh. + +Le Gallais, having lost his men in the late dispersal of the militia, +felt no scruple in seeking his friend Lempriere. The latter, after a +warm greeting, brought him to Prynne; and all three presently repaired +to the head-quarters, in La Motte-street, where they were amicably +received by Colonel Haine, the commander of the English forces. + +Haine was one of those rapidly-formed soldiers, who had been thrown +up and hardened by the war in England ten years before. He listened +with due attention to what Le Gallais had to say about the +Lieutenant-Governor's resources and probable intentions. + +"And who is this youth that hath such knowledge of affairs?" he asked, +turning to the Bailiff--for as such was Lempriere now officially +recognised. + +"He is one, sir, that hath suffered for the cause; a Captain in our +Militia, and my brother-in-law." + +Alain shot a glance of gratitude at Lempriere, while Haine, laying his +hand upon his shoulder, said in a friendly tone; "I pray you, Captain, +attend me as _aide-de-camp_ until your company be reformed." + +Then calling for his horse, he led the party, swollen by the number of +his staff, to the head of the causeway leading to the Castle, "If what I +hear from Captain Le Gallais be correct," he said to his Brigade-Major, +"the Castle will not yield. But send them a trumpet, and let them not +have cause to say the officers of the Commonwealth are unacquainted with +the usages of war." + +The trumpeter rode forward to summons the Castle, a white flag flying +from the tube of his instrument. Ere he could reach the gate, a gun +boomed out from the Castle, a round shot whizzed over the heads of the +summoners, and Haine roared at the top of his well-trained voice, "Come +back; it is a sufficient answer." + +And so the fiery duet began--the batteries of the Churchyard sounding +daily in harmony with those of the Castle, whilst ever and anon a piece +of greater calibre roared its bass from the Town-hill. + +Lempriere made haste to remove his wife and their sister from the noisy +alarms of war to their quiet home at Maufant, where he left them to +remove the traces of the usurper, and restore the old state of things +with the help of the steward and such of the farmers as had not died out +or left the country. One consequence of this removal was that Le Gallais +saw nothing of the ladies. His new duties kept him much at the +Brigadier's side; when not so employed, he was chiefly occupied with +Prynne, who was attracted by the turn of the young man's mind, more akin +to his own than that of the "hot gospellers," the "levellers," and the +professional soldiers by whom he was surrounded. + +Meanwhile, the siege dragged slowly on, until one dark night in the end +of November an old acquaintance, Pierre Benoist, threw himself in the +way of a party of Carteret's scouts, who had come on the mainland and +were questing for intelligence or plunder. Taken before Sir George, he +was threatened with the doom of a prisoner-of-war, who was also a spy, +unless he would tell all that he knew. He asked for nothing better, +having got himself taken by the patrol for the express purpose of +furnishing the garrison grounds for an early surrender. Especially +pleased was the rogue when the Lieutenant-Governor pressed him to +explain the nature of a movement of the enemy upon the top of the +Town-hill, which had been perceived before nightfall; and of the cargo +landed at S. Aubin by a heavy-looking craft that had arrived in the +morning, and which seemed neither man-of-war nor trader. + +"That I can tell you," said Benoist; "they are preparing engines for +your ruin. I saw the pieces landed, and drawn by oxen to the Mont de la +Ville. Two pieces of ordnance whereof each shot weighs four hundred +Jersey pounds, and takes ten pounds of powder to discharge. The like has +never been seen, and they will carry a ball from Mont Orgueil to the +coast of Prance. _Ver di!_" + +Carteret laughed; but his laughter was only justified by the +exaggeration. It did not altogether conceal the genuine anxiety caused +by so much of the information as might be reasonably believed. + +The anxiety was soon realised. When the mists of the winter dawn cleared +up, it was seen that a strong work of granite had been newly thrown up +on the nearest point of the hill, and while the besieged were still +examining the structure, a vivid jet of flame and a puff of smoke darted +from one of the embrasures, and a thirteen-inch shell--the largest +projectile then seen--came booming over their astonished heads. Two more +followed, at short intervals. After the third, an awful report was +heard, a babel of tumult followed, and a gigantic column of smoke +towered up behind them, from the magazine in the old Abbey Church. +Splinters and fragments of stone and timber, mingled with pieces of +powder, barrels, and ghastly members of human carcases were scattered, +as they rose as out of a horrid volcano. The magazine had been struck +and exploded by the great shell, killing no less than sixteen men, and +wounding horribly ten others, including soldiers on guard, armourers, +and workmen who had been collected for the daily labours of the arsenal. +Among the bystanders was Pierre Benoist, who now lay among the ruins, +half crushed by a stone, and who died after intense suffering in the +course of the day. + +A panic spread through the garrison; some prepared to fly at once, +others clamoured for surrender. Carteret called them together; and when +the officers and men were all collected on parade, appealed to all +classes, as Lieutenant-Governor of the King whom they had all seen +trusting himself in their protection, and as commander of the royal +forces in the loyal island "I am determined," said the undaunted seaman, +"to keep this castle for His Majesty so long as I have a man left to +fire a gun, and a loblolly boy to fetch the ammunition. The royal +standard still flies over our heads, the sea still lies between us and +France, to bring us Prince Rupert and his fleet. Let those who are +afraid depart--I keep no man against his will. Those who remain will be +all the more trustworthy. Let the gate stand open for the next +half-hour." + +His orders were obeyed; but as he probably foresaw, no one dared to +leave openly. By night, however, many of the garrison, who were of the +Jersey Militia, silently departed. The bulk of the garrison, however, +had heard of the storm of Drogheda, and chose what they deemed the +lesser evil of trusting to the strength of their walls and the resources +of their commander. To go to a town where they were unpopular +strangers, and where the soldiers of the Commonwealth were in undisputed +possession, would be to go to certain and immediate slaughter--to remain +with Carteret was to gain the present hour and the chances of the +future. Lady Carteret and the women and children were sent by the next +opportunity to France; and then the work of defence was renewed; the +guns were fired, as powder served and supplies were received from +France; injured walls were repaired, and aid was anxiously awaited. +Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, had held out since the Outbreak of +hostilities more than ten years before--why should not Elizabeth, do as +much, until the king enjoyed his own again? Meanwhile, December had +begun, and the days grew short and cold. Haine's great mortars proved +rude and cumbrous; before they could be loaded and fired, and cooled +again, one after the other, many times, the darkness would come on. The +remaining stores were buried out of range. In the black and stormy +nights, which lasted nearly sixteen hours, the men of the garrison threw +up mounds of shingle and sand behind the breaches made during the day. + +On the morning of the 5th December the sun rose clear and bright, and a +south-west wind softly threw out the silken folds of the Royal Standard +on the main tower of the Castle. Haine was standing by a cromlech that +in those days occupied the summit of the Town-hill; Prynne, Lempriere, +and some officers, of whom Le Gallais was one, stood beside him. In +their immediate front the gunners, under an officer, were preparing to +renew their apparently endless operations. + +"This must be brought to an end, Mr. Bailiff," said Haine. "For seven +weeks and more I have exhausted the powers of modern war upon that eyry +of malignants; and there is still the Guernsey Castle to be dealt with. +Mr. Prynne knoweth what is the mind of the Lord General; but a time +comes when sharp measures become necessary. I must take up +scaling-ladders and deliver an assault." + +As they looked out to sea a small barque was seen standing in; by the +help of field-glasses, it was observed that she flew the French flag. At +the same instant the Castle guns saluted. + +"Lo you, now!" pursued the commander, "there comes to them a promise of +help from France. As the Lord liveth, it must be prevented! I must +recall our cruisers from Guernsey; that castle shall be breached and +stormed on Monday. And then on their own heads be the blood of Sir +George and of those that hold with him!" + +"Under your favour, sir," said Prynne, "I think it shall not need." He +exchanged a hurried whisper with Lempriere. "What flag is that which you +see flying on the Castle staff?" + +"It is not a flag of truce," shouted Haine. "God do so to me and more +also if I make them not like unto Oreb and Zeb!" + +The text seemed to relieve the veteran like an execration. + +"What mean you by your flag, Mr. Prynne? I am not to take my orders from +you, sir, I hope." + +"It is the flag of England," answered the politician, "of your country +and of theirs--the red cross of S. George. The Royal Ensign has been +hauled down; do you not see? God save England!" + +With the impulse of Latin manners, Lempriere held out his arms, and Le +Gallais fell upon his breast. Meanwhile a drummer from the Castle was +seen to ascend the bill, bearing a white pennon at the end of a lance, +which he planted on the ground when he came within sight, and beat the +_chamade_ upon his instrument. + +The messenger being brought before the Brigadier, handed him a small +packet. Among them was a short note to the address of Captain Le +Gallais, in which Carteret, reminding the militia officer of their past +relations, invited him to plead his cause and that of the garrison with +Lempriere and Prynne. This note Le Gallais, after attentive perusal, +handed to Lempriere, who read it over, and waited in silence until Haine +had finished his own despatch. He then addressed the Brigadier, and +pleaded strongly the cause of his countrymen, concluded with these +words: + +"Carteret, sir, was a sentinel; he hath but done his duty to his master. +So long as he was not relieved, he could not honestly leave or surrender +that which he was placed to guard. Why he now lowers his arms he hath +made plain I doubt not, to your Honour." + +"Why, yes, Mr. Bailiff; for the matter of that, he hath put a fair case. +Yonder barque, it seems, brought him cold comfort. As for that thing +they call their 'King,' he is lost. He can only offer them aid on +condition of delivering the island to the French. Not that Mazarin dares +affront us by sending a French army to occupy the Castle in the name of +his King, and risk the giving us battle. Far from that, he hath a +conjunction of counsels with the Lord General, and they understand one +another. Nevertheless, there is ever a rabble of Irish cut-throats, +Flemish mercenaries, and such-like, and no lack of Maulévriers to be +their leaders." + +"But if such men come into Jersey," said the Bailiff, "who can say when +or how they would quit, or what mischief they might not have wrought +first." + +"One remedy for that," said the soldier, grimly, "will be to storm the +Castle forthwith, and let all be over before their friends can arrive." + +"For God's sake, do not so!" cried Lempriere; "not now that they have +surrendered." + +"I will be bail," added Prynne, "that Carteret shall depart in peace, +after giving up all that is in his charge. Only let Captain Le Gallais +go to him with a note of your Honour's terms; and let us await, I pray +you, his return." + +The General having at last consented, after just so much show of +hesitation as to make it appear that the terms were yielded to the +persuasion of his chief associates, Le Gallais returned with the drummer +bearing the _ultimatum_ of the English commander. He found the interior +of the Castle a scene of havoc; among the _débris_ Carteret, like a +modern Marius, maintained an air of resolution. + +"It is not enough, Captain," said he, after brief salutations had been +exchanged, "that we have fired away all our ammunition, and eaten our +last horse, while the blockade of your friend's cruisers ever increases +its rigour. After all was done, we could die in the breach or in a +general sortie. But there is treachery abroad. Not indeed among +ourselves, but among those whom we desire to serve." + +"Your King, urged by his necessities, would sell you to the French?" + +"It shall not be!" cried Carteret, with a fierce oath. "Let me see your +General's terms. Better an English Parliament than a Popish King." He +called into the corridor, "Bring the best bottle of wine that is left in +my cellar!" + +Le Gallais handed him the note containing the heads of Haine's terms. +"Perhaps, messire, you would consult with your council?" he asked. + +"_'A quoi bon?_" said Carteret. "You heard what the States carried by +acclamation, in October, 1649? All who are with me are of the same mind +still." The wine was brought. "What was said then in a triumph, I say +now in the day of my downfall; Captain, fill your glass! 'England for +ever! England above all!'" + + * * * * * + +The happy effect of this unexpected but welcome end of strife was soon +made known throughout the island. In the towns and villages tar-barrels +blazed all through the winter-night, and the best cider flowed free in +the farms. + +At Maufant all was happiness. The character of Marguerite de S. Martin +had come out purified from the trials of the past two years, and the +coquette-girl had grown into a woman, with but a lingering spice of +_mutinerie_. Rose, happy in the restoration of her husband to all public +honour and private joy, was anxious that her sister should partake in +her happiness. + +"Alain Le Gallais is no Solomon; that I grant you," so she concluded a +conversation on family matters, which they held after the labours and +excitement of the day; "but he can do his duty to his country; he has +proved himself a serviceable friend. Take him, _tel quel_, my little +heart, thou canst not hope for a better." + +"Marriage is a slavery, _quand même_," said Marguerite, with a saucy +shake of the head. "But it is not," she presently added, "I that will be +the slave; and there is some comfort in knowing so much." + +So the public and private troubles wore brought to an end at the same +time. Carteret and his followers were allowed to go to France in peace +and honour. Lempriere and he had held no intercourse since the +surrender, but the Bailiff and his wife were honoured members of the +assembly that gathered on the quay on the morning of the Cavaliers' +departure. The rising sun threw his orange hues on their swelling sails. + +"We have won this time," said Rose, pressing her husband's arm. "Mr. +Prynne, have you no compliment for us?" + +"It is our advantage," said Prynne in answer; "let us see that we +deserve it. There as a Power that judgeth right, and in serving of whom +there is great reward. For my part, I have done much wrong, to your +husband among others. I have been punished for mine offences; if I would +avoid more punishment, I must offend no more." + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +The character of Sir George Carteret is taken from the materials of the +time, without aid from fancy. + +It should be added that Charles showed no ingratitude towards this +faithful servant. After the Restoration he settled in London, where--in +spite of his bad English, noticed by Andrew Marvell--he rose to high +rank and founded a noble family, now represented by the Marquess of +Bath. + +Carteret was employed at the Admiralty, first as Treasurer, afterwards +as Commissioner--or Junior Lord. He was also Vice-Chamberlain of the +Royal Household; and he amassed considerable wealth. + +But he never forgot his native island. He endeavoured to found a High +School at St. Helier, what in the pompous style of these days would be +called a "College." But the project broke down for want of earnestness +on the part of the Jersey people, though Sir George offered the then +very large sum of 50,000 _livres tournois_ towards the endowment. He +lived till 1680. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St George's Cross, by H. G. Keene + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14216 *** diff --git a/14216-h/14216-h.htm b/14216-h/14216-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8497c14 --- /dev/null +++ b/14216-h/14216-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,3645 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of St. George's Cross, by H.G. Keene. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + .poem span.i1 {display: block; margin-left: 1em;} + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr {text-align: center; width: 50%;} + html>body hr {margin-right: 25%; margin-left: 25%; width: 50%;} + hr.full {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; clear: both;} + html>body hr.full {margin-right: 10%; margin-left: 10%; width: 80%;} + hr.short {text-align: center; width: 20%;} + html>body hr.short {margin-right: 40%; margin-left: 40%; width: 20%;} + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;font-variant: small-caps;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + .pagenum {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */ + .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em; + padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em; + float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em; + font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid 2px;} + .bl {border-left: solid 2px;} + .bt {border-top: solid 2px;} + .br {border-right: solid 2px;} + .bbox {border: solid 2px;} + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .figright {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + .footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} + .footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} + .footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} + .fnanchor {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;} + + .poem {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;} + .poem br {display: none;} + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + .poem span {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} + .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 2em;} + .poem span.i4 {display: block; margin-left: 4em;} + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14216 ***</div> + +<h1>ST. GEORGE'S CROSS;</h1> +<h2>OR,<br /> +ENGLAND ABOVE ALL.<br /> +<br /> +<i>An Episode of Channel Island History.</i><br /> +<br /></h2> +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>H.G. KEENE</h2> + +<h3>GUERNSEY:<br /> +FREDERICK CLARKE, STATES ARCADE.<br /> +<br /> +LONDON:<br /> +W.H. ALLEN & CO., 15. WATERLOO PLACE.<br /> +<br /> +1887<br /> +</h3> + + + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#TO_THE_READER">To The Reader.</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#PROLOGUE">Prologue.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_I">Act I.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_II">Act II.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_III">Act III.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_IV">Act IV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_V">Act V.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#EPILOGUE">Epilogue.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#APPENDIX">Appendix.</a></td></tr></table> + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="TO_THE_READER" id="TO_THE_READER"></a>TO THE READER.</h2> + + +<p>The following little tale is neither pure fiction nor absolute historic +truth; being, indeed, little more than an attempt to show a picture of +Channel Island life as it was some two centuries ago. For the background +we have been beholden to Dr. S.E. Hoskins, whose "<i>Charles the Second in +the Channel Islands</i>" may be commended to all who may feel tempted to +pursue the matter further.</p> + +<p><i>August, 1887.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="PROLOGUE" id="PROLOGUE"></a>PROLOGUE.</h2> + + +<p>On a bright day in September of the year 1649 Mr. William Prynne, a +suspended Member of Parliament, sat at the window of his lodging in the +Strand, London, where the Thames at high water brimmed softly against +the lawn, bearing barges, wherries, and other small craft, and gleaming +very pleasantly in the slant brightness of an autumn noon.</p> + +<p>The unprosperous politician looked upon the fair scene with quiet cheer. +He was a man of austere aspect, and looked farther advanced in middle +life than was actually the case. For he was bearing the unjust weight of +a double enmity; and though his after conduct showed that the world's +injustice by no means threw him off his moral balance, yet it is +impossible for a man to get into a position where every one but himself +seems wrong and not acquire a certain sense of solitude, which, with a +grave nature, will make him graver still. By the Cavaliers he had been +pilloried, mutilated, fined and imprisoned: expelled from the University +where he was a Master-of-Arts, driven out of the Inn-of-Court in which +he had been a Bencher. By the Roundheads, on the other hand, he had been +visited with a later and more intolerable wrong, exclusion from that +House of Commons which was the only surviving seat of sovereignty. Thus +excommunicated on all sides, Prynne still preserved his free and buoyant +nature. He had the voice and impulsive manner of a young man; while +there was a consistent moderation in his opinions which—however it +might weigh against his success as a party-man—yet sprang from +conviction, and was a guard against misanthropy.</p> + +<p>In his apparel he was plain but not slovenly. His eyes were eager; his +lean face, branded with the first letters of the words "Seditious +Libeller," was shaded by straight falls of lank hair, streaked here and +there with grey, that was combed down on either side of his head to hide +the loss of his ears.</p> + +<p>Hearing a step without, Prynne laid down the book he had been reading—a +pamphlet by John Milton—and advanced, with an air of polite reserve, to +meet the entering visitor. This was a man more than ten years his +junior, short of stature, with clear-cut features and thoughtful blue +eyes contrasting with hair and moustache dark almost to blackness. His +neatly brushed garments had a threadbare gloss, and his broad linen +falling collar, though white and clean, was somewhat frayed. But his +bearing was high-bred and distinguished, with an air of sober yet +resolute earnestness. He wore no sword, and the hat which he carried in +his hand was plain of shape and without adornment.</p> + +<p>"M. de Maufant," said Prynne, with the shy courtesy of a student, "will +admire that I should seek speech of him after sundry passages that have +been between us."</p> + +<p>"Alack! Mr. Prynne," answered the stranger, with a slight foreign +accent, "since your captivity in Mont Orgueil many things have befallen. +'Tis not alone I, Michael Lempriere the exile, changed from the state +of Seigneur de Maufant and Chief Magistrate of Jersey to that of an +outcast deriving a precarious subsistence from teaching French in your +Babylon here; but methinks you yourself have had a fall too, since the +days you speak of: when you left Jersey for London you came here in a +sort of triumph. But by this time, methinks, you must be cured of your +high hopes: I say it not for offence, but rather out of sorrow."</p> + +<p>"Why no," answered the ex-Member. "Though I be no longer one of yonder +assembly, I am still a denizen of London; and, let me tell you, a +citizen of no mean city. And I bear my share in advancing the great +cause on which so many of us are now engaged. Have you not read what Mr. +Milton hath said here as touching this?" And he took up the book which +he had dropped in the window-seat "It is well said, as you will find."</p> + +<p>Motioning Lempriere to a chair, he took another and read as follows:—</p> + +<p>"'Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion-house of +liberty, encompassed and surrounded with its protection ... pens and +hands there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, +revolving new notions and ideas, wherewith to present, as with their +homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation.' As he saith a +little further on, the fields of our harvest are white already; and it +is your privilege and mine that live among this wise and active people, +to see it coming, perhaps to put in a sickle. The pamphlet is becoming a +force stronger than the sword; and those Ironsides and Woodenheads who +turn us out of the Chamber where our fellow citizens had seated us, may +find an ill time before them when our work is over. But our work will be +the work of freedom."</p> + +<p>What more would have been said, now that Prynne was setting forth on +his dearly-loved hobby, of which the name was <i>Cedant arma</i>, is unknown; +for the serving-man entered at this moment with a simple but plentiful +repast carried on his head from the adjacent tavern; and even Prynne's +eagerness was dashed with caution enough to keep him to ordinary topics +of talk so long as the man was in the room. But Lempriere had seen and +heard enough to put him in good humour with his host. The intimacy of +the latter with the Carterets, and a suspicion of general lukewarmness +in the popular cause, had begotten old enmities, of which Lempriere, in +the long probation of failure, exile, and poverty, had already learned +to be ashamed; and to see the man he had misjudged, looking him eagerly +and earnestly in the face as he uttered the language of a genuine +reformer, completed the Jerseyman's conversion. After the servant had +brought pipes and glasses and left the gentlemen to their tobacco and +their wine, their talk grew more familiar as they looked at the flowing +river, and the deserted towers of Lambeth away on the other side.</p> + +<p>"The truth is," said Prynne, "that I received from the cavaliers of your +island kindnesses that I cannot forget; yet as touching the trial and +execution of the late King, if I have gainsayed aught of the other side, +yet I need not repeat that I have ever been a friend to Liberty, as +witness these indentures," and with a starched smile he pointed to the +marks upon his face. "I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir +George Cartwright...."</p> + +<p>"Let us not talk of him," answered the other, with a flush on his +swarthy cheek. "I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs +entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When +his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the +Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be +a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath +made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people, +but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve +parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside +his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at +an easy farm."</p> + +<p>"I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such +a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip's +ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain +speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and +would, under God's pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause +of reasonable freedom."</p> + +<p>"I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne. +This wise man hath said that 'the simple believeth every word.' But if +we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we +might say 'that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret +when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.' And farther, it hath even +been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of +that for which you suffered."</p> + +<p>"It skills not," answered the host, with evident self-control, "it +skills not to rake into that which is passed."</p> + +<p>"Neither did I seek to do so," rejoined the Jerseyman, "I seek no +offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight's spirit, and whether +he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me +have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the +affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present +successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a +kinsman or creature of his own?"</p> + +<p>"Methinks," said Prynne, shrewdly, "there be others than he who would +gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes."</p> + +<p>"That may be," said Lempriere. "The labourer is worthy of his hire, to +give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies +by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant +daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the +charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a +multitude of sins!"</p> + +<p>The conference was once more growing warm, when fortunately, it was +abridged by the sudden entrance of a man not unlike Lempriere in general +appearance, though taller and many years his junior. He wore a steel +cap, a gorget, and a buff coat; and received a hearty welcome from the +Jerseyman, by whom he was presented to Prynne.</p> + +<p>"Captain Le Gallais is newly arrived from our island," said Lempriere, +"and I made bold to leave word that I was here, in case of his coming to +my lodgings while I tarried with you. He brings me news of 'domus et +placens uxor,'" added the speaker, taking with a sad smile the letter +which Le Gallais handed him. The servant having brought a third long +stalked glass and placed it on the table, left the room once more, as +the visitor, unbuckling his long basket-hilted sword, threw himself into +a high-backed chair, and stretched his limbs, as one who rests after +long travel.</p> + +<p>"I am come post," said he, "from Southampton. There is that to do in +Jersey which it imports the rulers of this land to know."</p> + +<p>"That may well be," observed Lempriere, who shared his countryman's +idea of the importance of their little island. "But how fares my Rose? A +wanderer may love his Ithaca, but he loves his wife most. Have I your +leave, Mr. Prynne, to examine this missive?"</p> + +<p>Prynne bowed, and Lempriere cut open his letter.</p> + +<p>"Penelope maketh such cheer as she may," he added, after glancing at the +contents: "but I see nothing of your mighty news, Alain."</p> + +<p>"The letter was written before I learned the same. The return of Ulysses +did not then seem so far as it does now."</p> + +<p>"Leave riddling, Alain, and let us know the worst."</p> + +<p>"The worst is, Charles Stuart is in S. Helier, with a large power, +warmly received by Sir George, and holding the island as a tool of +Jermyn and the Queen, if not a pensioner of France. I saw his barge row +into the harbour at high tide, followed by others laden with silken +courtiers and musicians; horse-boats and cook-boats swelled the train; +the great guns of the Castle fired salvoes, and the militia stood to +their arms upon the quay, with drums beating, fifes squeaking, and our +own company from Saint Saviour's ranked among the rest, green leaves in +their hats and round the poles of their colours."</p> + +<p>Lempriere leant his head on his hand with a discomfited and despondent +gesture. Prynne addressed him kindly:—</p> + +<p>"Have a little patience, H. de Maufant," said he. "The sun shines in +heaven though earth's clouds hide his face."</p> + +<p>"Lukewarm Reuben!" cried the other, impatiently. "What comfort can I +have from such as thou? While we talk my country is indeed undone: my +wife perhaps a wanderer, and my lands and house given over to the +enemy."</p> + +<p>"Nay, but it need not be so," said Prynne. "The Rump that ruleth here, +even were it a complete Parliament, cannot be an idol to you and yours. +I have read your island laws. Those that say that the Parliament hath +jurisdiction there must, sure, be strangely ignorant. And so witnesseth +Lord Coke, no slave of the prerogative. Your islands are the ancient +patrimony of the Crown: what hinders you from casting in your lot with +Charles? For my part, I would willingly compound with him. Let him rule +as he pleases there, provided he make not slaves of us."</p> + +<p>"There spoke the self-loving Englishman," cried Le Gallais, whom respect +for his seniors had hitherto kept silent. "If you speak of hindering, +what is to hinder Sir George, now that he hath the King for backer, from +confiscating all our remaining lands and applying the produce to fitting +out a fleet which will ruin the trade of all England? It is a question +for you also, you perceive."</p> + +<p>"<i>Proximus Ucalegon</i>," said Lempriere, whom nothing could long restrain +from airing his classical knowledge. "But leave me to speak to Mr. +Prynne in terms that will not offend, and that he cannot fail to +understand. Harkye, Mr. Prynne," he said, turning to his host and +resuming use of the English language in lieu of the patois in which he +had addressed his countryman. "You love the Commonwealth, I know; your +many sufferings in that behalf show you a true friend to the cause of +English liberty. But to me it appears that this cause cannot be fitly +separated from that of your small satellite yonder."</p> + +<p>"I do not seek to deny it," answered Prynne. "Now this good fellow," +pursued Lempriere, laying his hand on his young friend's shoulder, +"(and let his zeal make amends for his blunt manner) hath brought +tidings, from which it appears that our affairs are in such a state as +calls for your interposition. And I learn moreover from this letter that +Henry Dumaresq is stirring, and the greed and grasping of the Carterets +have made them many ill-wishers. Nevertheless, Pierre Benoist hath been +taken, and under torture may readily betray our plans. On the other +hand, he that is called King there, the young Charles Stuart, is under +the regimen of his mother, who is the tool of France. Between them all +Jersey may be lost to the Commonwealth before a blow be stricken."</p> + +<p>"Nay," cried Prynne, interrupting, "I would not have you say so. We +English are neither braggarts nor cowards. Whitelocke knoweth the mind +of Mazarin; and I pray you note that Cromwell, though as a man of State +I do not uphold him, is a soldier whose zeal never sleeps, and who cares +more for the welfare of England and such as depend upon her than any +Stuart will ever do, or undo. I sent for you, indeed, on this very +behalf; not minded to show you all the springs of politics, yet to give +you a word of comfort and to ask of you a word of friendliness in +return, yea, word for word, an you will."</p> + +<p>The politician's keen eye softened as he looked at the forlorn exile. +The latter turned abruptly, as if to reveal no corresponding emotion: +then, looking straight before him, said in low tones:—</p> + +<p>"For comfort, God knows whether or no it be needed. My place and power +are lost—such as they were—a price is set upon my head by those who +slew Maximilian Messervy. My wife—who is to me like the apple of mine +eye—is alone, battling with hostile authority, and with tenants too +ready to profit by her helpless condition. I am as one encompassed by +quicksands, and nigh to be swallowed up. I am tempted to say with +David, 'Vain is the help of man.' Do you show me a bridge of escape?" he +asked, turning to Prynne, "what is your meaning? I pray you speak it +out."</p> + +<p>"You cannot," said his host, "have forgotten Serjeant-Major Lydcott of +this Army; and how with a slender company he landed on your island six +years ago. It was about the end of August, 1643, I remember well, for +Sir Philip had been dead bare three days and indeed was not yet buried: +and the castles of Jersey still held out for the Cartwrights. I said +then that, had Lydcott but taken three hundred of our sober, God fearing +soldiers, he would have established himself as master of the island on +behalf of the Commonwealth. George Cartwright had never come over from +S. Maloes; the pirates of S. Aubin would have been confounded and +brought to nought; Sir Peter Osborne had never held Castle Cornet in +Guernsey (to the shame and sorrow of the well-affected in that island), +had they but been backed and aided from Jersey. Even as things were, and +with no more help but what he got from you—I say it not to offend +you—how much did not Lydcott do? Three days after his landing he called +together the States and opened before them his commission from the Earl +of Warwick, Warden of the Isles and Lord High Admiral of England. You +were present and presiding, as you must needs remember, together with +all but three Jurats, all the Constables save one, and nearly half the +Rectors. Without a dissentient voice you administered the oath of +Lieutenant-Governor to Lydcott, yourself standing forth as Bailiff and +sworn the first. What hindered you then from holding fast? Nothing but +want of a backbone of strength. The militia, whom you now hold +malignant, swore allegiance to a man, save and except one Colonel who +was broke then and there. You may say George Cartwright drove you out; +but what did he do that could justify your flight? I must be plain with +you: with all outward and visible signs of power you gave way before +three open boats and a mouldy ruin."</p> + +<p>"We gave way," said Lempriere with an indignant flush, "because we were +forsook by them on whom we leaned."</p> + +<p>"I know it," pursued Prynne, "I say it not to blame you, but to blame +the lukewarm weakness of those who held authority there on the part of +the Commonwealth: for had Lydcott been ever so able and willing he +lacked support from hence. We had our hands full of graver business. +Only I neither desire nor expect such things should be done a second +time. There be those now in power that will take better order. The +future of your islands, the ties that bind them to us, were not known +six years ago; and our friends—as I have already said—had other +matters, more pressing, to attend to. But now is not then. Now, that a +violent policy that I cannot altogether undertake to defend hath shorn +the strength of tyranny, and that fair deceiver the late King—whom none +could safely trust or utterly despise—is by that blow taken out of our +path, we are free to set matters straight around us. It is therefore not +to be endured that your small wasps' nest yonder should continue to +infest our ambient ocean with her petty and poisonous alarms. This is +the word I have to give thee—friendly meant, though thou mayest have +been hitherto no friend to me. Jersey will be brought under the power of +the Commonwealth, and you will be among the instruments of its +reduction. I seek a word from you in return for mine."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the bewildered exile, "you have spoken hardly, but, I +believe, with a meaning kinder than seemed: a good intent makes amends +for a harsh manner, and a bitter drink may strengthen the heart, as has +this day been done to mine by the mingled counsel and reproof that have +been poured out for me. I seek not to pry into your affairs of State, +and what I have heard Le Gallais hath heard also. I therefore make no +scrutiny as touching the means to be employed; the end we will take +thankfully according as promised. If the Parliament and the Lord General +be so minded, I make no doubt but we shall return to our home. But as +regards the word you seek from me, I would fain know to what it shall +relate. You seek, I presume, to make conditions with me: let me know, in +the hearing of my friend, what they be. That we of the island shall be +true and faithful servants to the Commonwealth of England, not seeking +to intermeddle in matters that may be beyond our concernment, I would +gladly undertake for myself and for all with whom my wishes may have +weight: but methinks it shall hardly need. And perchance your Honour may +intend to glance at some more private matter?"</p> + +<p>"I do so," answered the politician. "I have never hidden from you the +love that I bore for good Sir Philip living, nor how dear I hold his +memory now that he is dead. I would not that any who were of his party +should suffer damage when the cause shall prosper in the island. You +have heard of Cromwell's present doings in Ireland: all the world knows +what things are being wrought in that unhappy country, where the Lord +Ormonde hath been another Cartwright and hath met with an overthrow the +like of which I pretell for his Jersey antitype. Cartwright is as +unbending and will hold out to the last.</p> + +<p>"Mont Orgueil, indeed, can make no opposition to a regular siege: we are +not now in the days of Du Guesclin. But it may be otherwise with +Elizabeth Castle. Like her whose name she bears that fortress is a +virgin, and not without a struggle will she yield. Cromwell loves not +such defences. Let us be there when the hour comes, and let us combine +to keep the garrison from perishing by the swords of our friends."</p> + +<p>"Gladly will I do my best in aid of mercy," answered Lempriere, looking +much relieved by the nature of the request. "If that be all that your +Honour hath to ask, I can have no hesitancy in giving a hearty and +honest pledge in such behalf. Jersey is no Corsica; and we love not +revenge, do we, Alain?"</p> + +<p>Alain readily endorsing his chief's assertion, Prynne continued:—</p> + +<p>"It is not all. I have to pray you for the Lieutenant himself; misguided +and grasping as you deem him, he is of my deceased friend's name and +blood."</p> + +<p>"Alack, Mr. Prynne!" answered Lempriere, "have you quite forgotten what +I owe to that blood and name? And I speak not in this for myself only. +There are the spirits of the Bandinels before me; unhappy victims of +George Carteret's revenge. There is the shade of my friend Maximilian +Messervy, judged by an unlawful and corrupt Court, executed under +warrant of one who had no warrant for himself."</p> + +<p>In his excitement Lempriere had forgotten to quote Latin; he began to +pace the floor of the room. Prynne also rose and leaned by the window, +looking out at the shrubs standing dark and blotted against the evening +light that lay on the smooth water.</p> + +<p>"Take not your example," he said; "from those whose deeds you abhor, +neither make your enemies your pattern. Recollect who it is that hath +said, 'Vengeance is mine:' and in the hour of your triumph remember to +spare. Come, give me your word, willingly. I am doing much for you, more +than you are aware. I call to mind some solemn words that I have heard +Mr. Milton quote:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The quality of Mercy is not strained,<br /></span> +<span>It droppeth as the gentle dew from Heaven<br /></span> +<span>Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed,<br /></span> +<span>It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Let your promise to bless come as freely as the dews that are falling +out there on my little grass-plot. Peace is upon the world—let peace be +in our hearts also!"</p> + +<p>The vehement controversial voice changed and became musical as it +uttered the words. The fervour of an unwonted mood had brought something +of a mist into the speaker's eye; persuasion hung upon his gestures, and +the voice of private rancour sank before the pleading of his lips. As +the Jerseyman remained silent, Prynne went to the table and filled the +glasses from the flagon of Rhenish wine that stood there.</p> + +<p>"We Presbyterians," he said, "are not given to the drinking of toasts. +But 'tis no common occasion. England's wars are over, may there be peace +upon Israel. Let us drink one glass together, and let us join in the +blessing of old, invoking it on our land:—'Peace be within thy walls +and prosperity within thy palaces: for my brethren and companions' +sake!'"</p> + +<p>The guests followed their host's example, and seemed to share his mood. +Then, setting down their empty glasses, the three men parted in more +loving-kindness, it might well be, than what had marked some early +stages of their conversation. Prynne, when left alone, called for +candles and sat down to his writing-table. The Jerseymen walked together +towards Temple Bar.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou, <i>mon cher</i>," said the Ex-Bailiff in the island language, +"a heartier friend than one of these English that seem so cold?"</p> + +<p>"But tell me, I pray thee, wherefore they call the present master of our +island by an English name? For surely yonder gentleman said +'Cartwright,' which is a name not of Jersey but of England." "They are +stupid, Alain, that is all; and they think to weigh the world in their +own scales. But whether we call him Cartwright or Carteret, it is +equally hard to pardon his voracity. He is like Time—<i>Edax rerum.</i> +Nevertheless, I feel as if it was not only the sight of you and news +from home that had made me of such good cheer to-night: but that I owe +something of it to Mons. Prynne; aye! thanks to his schooling and a +readiness to perform what he has made me promise, should Carteret ever +stand at my disposal. The time may be near or it may be far; but I feel +that it must come."</p> + +<p>"And then," asked Alain shyly, "shall not I too have something to expect +from thee: when thou art Bailiff again, and a man high in power, will +thou still be willing to give me thy sister-in-law?"</p> + +<p>"Parbleu!" cried Lempriere, "if maids could be given like passports. But +Marguerite will have her way; it is for thee, <i>coquin</i>, to make her way +thine."</p> + +<p>Thus, jointly labouring at airy castles, the pair of islanders pricked +their steps through the dirty and dimly-lighted streets till they +reached a squalid row of houses on Tower Hill, where was situated the +only lodging within the present means of the Seigneur of Maufant.</p> + +<p>"To-night thou must share my chamber, <i>telle quelle</i>," he said. "'Tis a +poor one, as thou mayest suppose. <i>Infelix, habitum temporis hujus +habe?</i>"</p> + +<p>"It is all one to me," said Alain, lightly; "whether here or at Maufant +thou art always good."</p> + +<p>As they neared the door a voice came to them from the shadow of a +projecting oriel:—</p> + +<p>"Have a care, Jerseymen! You are betrayed."</p> + +<p>They ran to the shaded corner; but the moon was young and low and gave +but little light in the narrow street. A figure, seemingly that of a +tall man, was seen to glide away into another street, but they failed to +recognise it or trace its departing movements. Silently, and with +downcast looks they sought the entry of Lempriere's lodging, the door of +which he opened with a key that he carried in his pocket. Striking a +light from flint and steel on the hall table, Lempriere kindled a +hand-lamp, and led the way into a small chamber on the ground floor, +where they wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay down on a pallet +in the corner. The younger man, fatigued with travel, was soon asleep; +Lempriere, with more to think of, passed great part of the night in +wakeful anxiety. Before he finally sank to slumber he had resolved to +send Alain back at once to Jersey.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_I" id="ACT_I"></a>ACT I.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">The King.</h3> + + +<p>In 1649, when Charles II. was uncertain as to what steps he should take +on the death of his father, it was considered that the best and safest +place for his temporary residence was the Castle at S. Helier, in +Jersey, known by the name of Queen Elizabeth, where he had already lived +for a short time on an earlier occasion. Founded by order of the +Sovereign whose name it bore, it stands on a rocky islet, once a +promontory of the mainland, but long since insulated by every high tide. +At low water it communicated with the town by a natural causeway of +shingly rock called "The Bridge," commanded by its own guns. On the +Western curve of the bay, nearly two miles off as the bird flies, was +the small town of S. Aubin, guarded by a smaller fortress. The entire +bay was protected, by the batteries of these two places, against the +entrance of hostile shipping. Circumstances, not now entirely traceable +but connected probably with defensive considerations, had taken its +ancient preponderance from Gorey, on the eastern coast, which had once +been the seat of administration; and thus commenced the importance of S. +Helier, though in nothing like the present activity of its quays and +wharves, or the throng of its streets and markets. Above the head of +the "Bridge," indeed, the view from the North face of the Castle met +with no buildings till it struck upon the Town Church, an ancient but +plain structure of the fourteenth century, whose square central tower, +although by no means of lofty elevation, formed a landmark for mariners +out at sea by reason of a beacon that was always kept burning there by +night. At the foot of this tower nestled a cemetery containing the tombs +of "the rude forefathers" of what had been, till lately, indeed little +more than a hamlet. On the southern aspect of this, facing the castle +and the sea, the enclosure was marked by a strong granite breastwork +armed with cannons mounted <i>en barbette</i>. These pieces were pointed, for +the most part, on the bridge, or causeway leading to the Castle, into +which they were capable of sending salvos of round-shot, as in fact they +had often done a few years before. The rest of the cemetery was strongly +walled, though without guns. To the north of the Church ran narrow +streets, sloping gently upward from the seaside. The houses of these +streets were built of the local granite, hewn and hammered flat and +without projection or decoration, and with no other relief but what was +afforded by small rectangular lattice-windows. They were usually of two +storeys, crowned by high-pitched thatched roofs, with here and there a +tiny dormer window. Some were shops or taverns, among which were +interspersed the residences of the burgesses and the town houses of the +rural gentry. Fronted by miry roadway, or at best an occasional strip of +rough boulder pavement, over which wheeled carriages could rarely pass, +these lines of houses had no form or comeliness, save what might be due +to an occasional bit of small flower-garden before the few that were +large and inhabited by persons in comparatively easy circumstances. +Farther back the ground rose more rapidly and showed some scattered +suburban houses. The "Town Hill" to the east, the "Gallows Hill" to the +west, completed the amphitheatre. Up the main hollow ran a road leading +due north to the Manor and Church of Trinity parish in the interior of +the island, and terminating on the north coast in Boulay Bay, a fine +natural harbour, which was the nearest point of embarkation for England. +The whole island, scarcely less than the town, bore an appearance of +defence, almost of inaccessibility; the manors, farm houses, and even +many of the fields, being surrounded by granite walls, and capable of +arresting the progress of an invader, unless in great force. Each of the +twelve parish churches contained the arsenal of the local militia; and +all things betokened a hardy population, ready to do battle against all +intruders.</p> + +<p>The titular Governor, Lord Jermyn, was an absentee, following the +fortunes of the widowed Queen, Henrietta Maria, in France. The actual +administration, both civil and military, was in the hands of a naval +officer of experience, Sir George Carteret, or de Carteret, cousin and +brother-in-law to the Seigneur of S. Owen, a large manor on the western +side of the island. This family, distinguished in island history ever +since it abandoned its fief of Carteret on the coast of Normandy to +follow the fortunes of John Lackland, when the Duchy was confiscated by +Philip Augustus, was by far the most powerful in the island. Its only +possible rival, the house of Lempriere, of Maufant, had espoused warmly +the cause of the Parliament, and had consequently met with reverses when +the Carterets, who were royalist, effected the revolution mentioned in +our Prologue.</p> + +<p>It only remains to be added that the people at large were not at all +warmly attached to either of the parties to the Civil War. The language +of the majority was an old form of French, now reduced to the condition +of a patois; the more educated classes studied the laws and language of +France. The proceedings of the Courts and the services of the Church +were conducted in modern French, and the sympathies of the community +were divided between a mundane attachment to England, and a religious +leaning to the creed of the Huguenots, of whom a great number had sought +refuge on their shores. Hence the Jersey folks were indifferently +submissive to royalty, the only form of English government of which, +till these days, they had heard; but they by no means shared the +High-Church fervour which had animated the late unfortunate King. Their +ultimate motive, as is common to human nature, was for their own +interests; and although the influence of the Carterets had kept them, +for the most part, nominal followers of the cause of royalty, men like +Michael Lempriere and Prynne had good reason for believing that they +would, in the long run, favour those who seemed the best friends to +Jersey. Let them not be blamed for this. Their love for England was very +much founded upon fear of France. By observing the attitude of the +Scottish borderers of a slightly earlier period, an Englishman of the +seventeenth century could imagine the attitude of the Jersey mind +towards the "Normans," by which name they were accustomed to designate +their feudal and aggressive Catholic neighbours the Lords and Ministers +of the French Kingdom. Even as the Grahams and Scotts of Tweedside stood +at arms against each other on either bank of the dividing stream, so did +the de Gruchys and Malets, the Le Feuvres and de Quettevilles, on either +side the Channel. The danger that was nearest was the most formidable; +and the Channel Islanders were ready to side with England much as the +Saxon Scots of the Lothians came to make common cause with the Celts of +the Highlands.</p> + +<p>These explanations may appear tedious: but the reader is implored to +pardon them; for without such he could not realise the passions which +are exemplified in this little story. Long exposed to invasion, the +Jerseymen of the middle ages had handed down to their descendants an +abhorrence of France which was fomented by the stories of persecution +brought to them by Huguenot refugees; and which, indeed, has hardly yet +completely died out among the rural population. Thus sentiment and +interest kept the islanders attached to England by a two-fold cord; +careless whether their immediate leaders were Cavaliers, as in Jersey, +or Parliamentarians, as in the neighbouring island of Guernsey, where +the royal Governor was beleaguered in Castle Cornet.</p> + +<p>For reasons arising out of this state of things, Carteret did not leave +the protection of the King to the unaided loyalty of the local militia. +Cooped up in the narrow limits of the Castle rock were no less than +three hundred Englishmen and women attached to the Court, and, in +addition, a strong force of Irish and Cornish soldiers who had been +brought over by Charles on his former visit, as Prince of Wales, after +the battle of Naseby. His Sacred Majesty—<i>de jure</i> of England, +Scotland, and Ireland, King, to say nothing of France, whose lilies were +blazoned on his scutcheon—was <i>de facto</i> monarch of this little island +plot of 45 square miles; and his state was at least equal to his +temporary sway. The accommodation of the Castle was, in truth, but +small; but it was the best that the occasion afforded; the royal palace +consisting of a suite of small apartments vacated for the King's +convenience by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir G. Carteret, who had removed +to the lower ward. S. Aubin, on the other horn of the bay, was the seat +of the naval power; here lived the families of the officers of the +corsair-squadron then constituting the Royal Navy. The rest of the +King's following was billetted on farm-houses in the parishes nearest to +the town. Yet, as a warning that all was not their own, four frigates +and two line-of-battle ships, with a commission from the rebel +government of London, and flying the broad pennant of Admiral Batten, +cruised between Jersey and Guernsey, never far from sight, although +giving for the most part a wide berth to both the island castles, whose +gunners watched them night and day.</p> + +<p>Such was the position of affairs on a Sunday towards the end of +September, a few days later than the events related in the Prologue. The +morning had been wet and windy, and the sacredness of the day had joined +to keep the men of those simple times from all activity save that +connected with the services of religion. But, in spite of the weather, +it had been judged wise and proper that Charles should show himself at +Church on this, the first Sunday of his kingship in Jersey: and he +accordingly attended worship at the Town Church of S. Helier's. The tide +was low, and the royal cortège, muffled in their cloaks, rode or walked +slowly along the causeway, and up the <i>glacis</i> that led to the entrance. +The Rector was absent, his opinions being displeasing to the autocratic +Carteret; but the Rev. Mr. La Cloche, Rector of S. Owen (the Carteret +parish) was in charge; he was the Lieutenant-Governor's private +Chaplain; and under strict orders had made splendid preparation for the +illustrious congregation. The old temple had been swept and garnished. +Laurel boughs and the beautiful flowers and fruits of the season hung +from every arch and decorated every pillar. The aisles were covered with +a thick natural carpet of fragrant rushes; before the pulpit were +chairs for the King and his brother the Duke of York, and the space +they stood on was tapestried with glowing colours. Cushioned tables +supported the gilded bibles and prayer-books for the royal worshippers, +who arrived precisely at eleven followed by their numerous train. +Throwing off his wringing roquelaure Charles entered, plumed hat in +hand, a young man of middle stature, erect and well-knit for his +years—which were but nineteen—and with a countenance which, though +even then wanting in flesh and bloom, was not unpleasing: framed in +natural curls, and showing (to sympathetic observers) a noble and +pleasing dignity often, it must be avowed, contrasting strongly with the +mingled frivolity and cynicism that marked his words. Being in mourning +for the event of January he was clothed in purple velvet without lace or +embroidery. Over his doublet hung a short cloak with a star on the left +breast, under which was a silk scarf, cloak and scarf being all of +purple. The famous ribbon of the Garter round his left knee was the only +bit of other colour visible. James, a few years younger, was similarly +attired. Besides the two Princes the only other Knight of the Garter was +the Earl of Southampton. The rest of the Lords and Gentlemen in Waiting +were also in Court-mourning, and all without the smallest decoration.</p> + +<p>After the conclusion of the Service the clergyman ascended the pulpit in +his black gown. He took his text from the second book of Chronicles, c. +35, the end of the 24th verse:—"And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for +Josiah."</p> + +<p>The turn of Mr. La Cloche's discourse may be in great measure +anticipated. Setting forth the heinousness of rebellion and regicide, he +dwelt upon the virtues of the Royal Martyr, his courage, his patience, +his devotion to the Church. As was but natural in the circumstances, +there followed an application to local politics. They were there, he +informed his hearers (as the old lattices, shaken by the gale, rattled +their accompaniment to his monotone) in the character of Englishmen; but +he had to notice that to the existing rulers of England they owed no +obedience. The so-called Parliament which had judged and murdered the +late lamented Monarch, and which now claimed the right of ruling in his +stead, was no divinely appointed head of affairs, not even +representative of one Estate of the realm. Where were the Peers, the +Lords Temporal who had ever formed part of the Government of England, +the Lords Spiritual who represented the Church of Christ? The House of +Lords was now represented to them, there in the presence of the +Honourable Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, whom that High +Chamber had set and appointed to bear rule in that Island. Still more +had they before them their Sovereign, the Anointed of the Lord, without +whose assent all Acts of State must ever be futile and rebellious. Yes, +he was there, that Sacred head, covered and guarded by the loyal hearts +and arms of one—only one—of his Norman Isles.</p> + +<p>As the sermon came to an end the storm without showed signs of +abatement; and by the time the blessing had been pronounced and the King +and Prince had mounted their richly caparisoned horses, the wind had +lulled and the September sun gleamed brightly out upon the attentive and +orderly crowd. On returning to the Castle Charles sate down to dinner, +and a select portion of the more loyal Jersey society was admitted into +the Hall to see the King at table. Only two places were set; and after a +Latin grace had been pronounced by the Court-Chaplain, the dishes were +taken, one by one, to the King and his brother, and whatever meats were +approved were taken to the side-board and carved. The royal youths had +stood with uncovered heads while grace was being said; but they replaced +their hats when they sate down, and wore them throughout dinner. After +they had dined the Page-in-waiting, a tall and handsome youth, richly +attired, brought each of them a ewer and basin of parcel-gilt silver, +with a fringed damask napkin; and after they had washed their hands a +butler served them with Spanish and Gascon wines. Dessert having been +placed upon the table and tasted, the princes withdrew; and then the +hungry courtiers sate down to finish the repast.</p> + +<p>Retired to his private sitting-room, Charles lay back on a window-seat, +tooth-pick in hand, and looked out indolently on the sea. The waves +scintillated and broke into white foam, among the brown rocks, which +disappeared gradually under the rising tide; and the wings of glancing +gulls shone out against a rain-cloud which was bearing off the recent +storm. Below the dark pall the sky of the horizon glowed bright and +clear as jade over the deepening line of the distant waters. At the +King's feet sat the page who had served the princes at dinner, a bright +rakish-looking young fellow named Thomas Elliot; apparently absorbed in +the preparation of fishing-tackle, he was heedfully watching the face of +his royal master out of the corner of his dare-devil eyes.</p> + +<p>"Where is James, Tom?" asked presently the King.</p> + +<p>"Gone to feed the hawks, Sir."</p> + +<p>"One's own flesh-and-blood is poor company, he finds. By the Lord, Tom, +this is no life for a Christian, be he man or boy. To be lunged round my +good mother at the length of her apron-string seemed but dull work, and +making love to the Grande Mademoiselle was indifferent pastime. But, +odsfish, I would willingly be back there. In this God-forgotten corner +you cannot see a petticoat on any terms, save the farthingale of Dame +Carteret or her ancient housekeeper, as they cross the courtyard to give +corn to the pigeons. James and I went out fishing yesterday, as far as +S. Owen's pond; but no sport had we there but the chance of a broken +head from a Puritan farmer."</p> + +<p>"Why, what a plague did they want by laying hands on our anointed pate?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! look you," said Charles, in his languid drawl, "We did but beg a +cup of cider from his daughter. James hath a long face and a dull tongue +for a boy of his age; but I warrant I spoke the wench fair for my part; +and in French that had passed muster at Versailles. But 'tis a perverse +and stiff-necked generation. The wench screamed in some language not +understandable by us—Carribee it may be—but faith there was no +difficulty about the farmer's meaning: he conjugated his fists, but we +declined the encounter; and so we were quit as to grammar."</p> + +<p>The manner of the speaker was in such dry and droll contrast with his +matter that Elliot had no difficulty in according the sympathetic smile +which is the tribute of the jovial and manly sycophant to a superior he +wishes to please.</p> + +<p>"And this is then, the escapade for which the <i>gros bonnets</i> down there +have determined that you are not to stir out of this charming retreat +without a guard, or suffer your sacred person to meet the air of the +island without the hedge of an escort. But I have a plan to defeat +them...."</p> + +<p>Whatever projects the young men might be disposed to form for the +purpose of eluding the prudent precautions of their seniors were for +the moment cut short by a knocking at the door, which made them start +aside like the disturbed conspirators that they were.</p> + +<p>"Quick! vanish," muttered the King sharply; "behind the bureau there. If +the comer be Nicholas let him not see thee here. He bears thee no good +will."</p> + +<p>As Elliot hurriedly obeyed, the door slowly opened, giving entrance to +the Rector of S. Owen. The worthy clergyman still wore the gown and +bands in which he had preached in the forenoon, and carried in his hand +the four-cornered but boardless college-cap which formed part of the +clerical costume of those days. Bestowing upon the youthful King a look +whose awestruck humility was at curious variance with the respective +ages and appearance of the two, and making an awkward obeisance, Mr. La +Cloche spoke:—</p> + +<p>"I crave your pardon, Sir. Receiving no reply to my knock I presumed to +enter, deeming mine errand an excuse."</p> + +<p>Charles pointed to a seat and drew himself up with dignity:—</p> + +<p>"It needs no further excuse, reverend Sir, say on, and fear nothing." La +Cloche seated himself on the corner of the chair.</p> + +<p>"It is my humble duty to warn your Majesty that Jersey is no suitable +place for your residence," he said.</p> + +<p>"We are very much of your mind," answered Charles, "but how made you the +mighty discovery?"</p> + +<p>"I have been dining," answered the clergyman, "in company with the +Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas, Knight, Secretary of State to your +Majesty. Certain of your Majesty's affectionate servants and +well-wishers were of the party, as also the Lieutenant-Governor, who +was the host. The discourse was grave; and albeit without permission of +the gentlemen—yet, in virtue of mine office, I hope I but anticipate +their humble duty to your Majesty, if I take upon myself to lay their +thoughts before you."</p> + +<p>"And for your own part, Sir, as a Jerseyman having, both by religion and +as a Member of the States, the means of knowing what the people think, +you would fain join your own private word to those who are refusing an +asylum to Charles Stuart in the dominions of his fathers. You had better +let them speak for themselves."</p> + +<p>The clergyman shuffled in his uneasy seat. The perspicacity of the young +man—it is a part of a Prince's stock-in-trade—had taken him by +surprise.</p> + +<p>"I am an old man," he faltered, "unversed in affairs of State. If it be +true, however, that the Lord Jermyn...."</p> + +<p>"Our mother's trusted councillor, Mr. Rector! What of my Lord Jermyn? +Thou hast not said enough—or, by God! thou hast said too much."</p> + +<p>The Chaplain's island temper hardened under menace, even from the Lord's +Anointed. What he felt he did not indeed care to lay bare: yet the +upshot he would tell. The King's recent exploit in the parish of which +he was Rector had come to his ears, garnished and exaggerated, perhaps; +and he was determined to get rid of such visitors if he could. The news +from France was an occasion, and he gladly used it. Lord Jermyn, it +seemed, had been talking openly—and not for the first time—of selling +the Channel Islands to France; and his connection with the Queen made +men suspect that he had not entertained such a design without high +sanction. On the other hand the Rector knew that Carteret would sooner +cede the Island over which he was set to Cromwell than see it occupied +by the French. The King would be in obvious danger, and he had +determined, under that excuse, to endeavour to dispose the King's mind +towards a removal which he himself, on other grounds, considered highly +desirable. Charles listened to all the clergyman had to say, with +impatience thinly veiled by good breeding. When the speaker came to a +pause, the King said, with a kinder manner, "Thou hast done well, and +hast given no just cause of offence to anyone. Mr. Secretary is an +approved friend: but I need not remind your Reverence of the prayer of +the Psalmist: 'Let not his precious balms break mine head!'"</p> + +<p>The King's manner indicated that the conference was at an end. He wished +to get rid of the Rector, not only because the good man was "boring" +him, as would be said now-a-days, but because he had but little trust in +Tom Elliot's discretion, and thought that at any moment the page might +be led to break forth from what must needs be an irksome confinement. +Moreover, the King knew that, sooner or later, he would have to undergo +a more serious lecture from some of his councillors, and it was an +object with him to make some inquiries in confidential quarters and +devise a course of speech if not of action.</p> + +<p>But the worthy Rector was, as he said, unversed in the ways of the +great; and the young King's affable manner had drawn him into +forgetfulness of any little lessons of etiquette that he might have ever +learned. Instead of departing on the King's hint, he let his tongue wag +afresh.</p> + +<p>"Alack, Sir! may your Majesty's prayers be heard. And may what I have +done breed myself no harm! For what saith the Wise Man? 'Burden not +thyself above thy power while thou livest, and have no fellowship with +one that is mightier than thyself: for how agree the kettle and earthen +pot together?'"</p> + +<p>"It was well said of the Wise Man," observed the King demurely. "And +your Reverence will do well to consider the words that follow, if my +memory do not deceive me;—'If thou be invited of a great man, <i>withdraw +thyself</i>!'"</p> + +<p>The underlined words, being pronounced with a voice changed to a sharp +and sudden tone from the solemn snuffle into which the King had slid in +first quoting <i>Ecclesiasticus</i>, were too much for Elliot, who broke into +an irrepressible giggle behind the bureau. Mr. La Cloche started at the +sound; then, recollecting himself, retired with a bow into which he +threw a look of surprise not unmixed with silent reproach.</p> + +<p>Still laughing, the page emerged from his ambush, knocking the dust from +his doublet with his hand, and eyeing the door as it closed after the +retreating Rector.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager he thinks thou wert a wench, Tom," cried Charles; "but tell +me, how much of the worthy parson's discourse didst thou hear?"</p> + +<p>"As much as you desire, Sir, and no more," was the discreet reply. "But +it is true that one is come from France who knows Lord Jermyn."</p> + +<p>"Jermyn," said the King, half soliloquising, "is a son of a——; and I +would as lief run him through the body as I would open an oyster. But +that is neither here nor there; such pleasures are not for Kings." He +sate thinking for a few minutes, and then, looking up, added, "Go, Tom, +and tell Nicholas and the rest that I would see them here."</p> + +<p>The page departed, presently returning to introduce four gentlemen, +after which, he again left the room and shut the door, which it would +be his office to keep against all instrusion while the conference +lasted.</p> + +<p>One of the visitors appeared to take precedence; a tall, high-featured +man, with a stoop and a receding chin. This was Lord Hopton, one of the +most respectable of Charles's followers; an honourable, stupid, +middle-aged nobleman, who could never marshal his own thoughts and who, +necessarily, spoke without persuading others. The other Englishmen were +Nicholas, the Secretary of State, and the old Lord Cottington. The +fourth gentleman was Sir George Carteret, the Lieutenant-Governor, a +bluff sea-faring man, little used to obey, yet anxious, in that +presence, to be deferential; with an unmistakable pugnacity varnished +over with a gloss of <i>ruse</i>. There being but one arm-chair in the room +Charles took his seat upon it, and awaited the advice of his friends who +perforce remained standing.</p> + +<p>"I have sent for you, my Lords and gentlemen, to confer on the matter +brought me by Mr. La Cloche, the Rector of St. Owen, and Chaplain to Sir +George Carteret."</p> + +<p>Hopton opened the conference, speaking in a dull, precise manner, from +the lips only, hardly opening his teeth:—</p> + +<p>"May it please you Sir, Mr. La Cloche hath reported to me, as I met him +returning from your presence, that while he was imparting to your +Highness—I may say, your Majesty—a matter of great moment, there was +one hid in the room that played the eavesdropper. Before proceeding +farther I would humbly ask...."</p> + +<p>"Hold there, my Lord," broke in Charles. "Remember, I pray you, +that—howbeit our present power, by the malice of our enemies, be +brought to a narrow pass, we are still, by the grace of God your King, +of full age, moreover, and no longer to be schooled. As touching what +anyone may have heard here, by our consent, we need answer to no man; +neither to Mr. La Cloche nor to your Lordship. There is, however, no one +but ourselves in this room, as you may clearly see. As to the matter of +the priest's discourse, we opine that it is already known to you. It is +of that matter that we now seek to know your minds."</p> + +<p>The words were not ungracefully uttered; but Hopton found no immediate +answer. He only knit his narrow brow and held his peace. Carteret, +however, stepped briskly forward; and would perhaps have committed some +indiscretion had not Nicholas plucked him by the cloak. "By your leave, +Mr. Lieutenant," said the jovial lawyer, "I would say an humble word to +his Majesty, with the freedom of an ancient servant." His round face and +merry eye were rendered serious by the resolution of a full-lipped yet +firm mouth. "Sir!" said he, turning to the young King with a look in +which the <i>bonhomie</i> of an indulgent Mentor was blended with genuine +respect, "it will, no doubt, seem to your Majesty both meet and proper +that we should not leave a meddlesome parson to let you know that our +faithful hearts have been sorely exercised by that which is newly come +to us out of France. Not to stay on sundry general advertisements and +rumours that have reached us—and which seemed to glance at a very +exalted personage—I mean, more particularly, what we have received this +morning from a very discreet and knowing gentleman (now residing at +Paris) of what he hath learned from persons of honour conversant in the +secrets of the Court there."</p> + +<p>"If it be her Majesty the Queen that you fear to name, Mr. Secretary," +interrupted the King, "it is but vain to fence. Do your duty, as you +have ever done."</p> + +<p>"With your Majesty's leave, I will name no one, save it be one Mr. +Cooly, Secretary to the Lord Jermyn, whom your Majesty, doubtless, +graciously recollects. Our informant was plainly asked by this +gentleman, how the islanders would take it if there should be an +overture of giving them up to the French."</p> + +<p>"This is but talk," observed the King.</p> + +<p>"Nay Sir, there is yet more. This letter, which is come to one of us in +cypher, goes on to tell that it hath been heard, from a very good +source, that the chief mover herein is to be made Duke and Peer of +France, and receive 200,000 pistoles, for which he is to deliver up not +Jersey only but Guernsey, Aurigny, and Serk. Nay, further, his Eminence +Cardinal Mazarine hath taken up ships for the transport of 2,000 French +soldiers, nominally for the service of your Majesty, actually for the +service whereof we are now speaking."</p> + +<p>"Let them come," said Charles. "We will put ourself at their head and +fall upon Guernsey, that nest of Roundheads where Osborne and honest +Baldwin Wake have borne so long the brunt of insult and privation."</p> + +<p>"Under your favour, Sir," broke in Carteret, "you would be bubbled. I +have seen and spoke with a known creature of my Lord Jermyn's; and I +know well that the design of the French is—so to speak—to clap your +Majesty under the hatches, and to steer the vessel on their own account. +Mr. La Cloche shall answer for this," he added in a lower tone.</p> + +<p>"By your leave again, Sir George," put in the beaming Secretary, "we +lawyers are to speak by our calling. It is not indeed, Sir, that my Lord +Jermyn hath made direct overtures to us. And 'tis to be thought that in +this last respect the messenger spoke but according to his own +understanding."</p> + +<p>"I would cut every throat in the island," cried Carteret, with savage +interruption....</p> + +<p>"Sir George Cartwright's zeal hath eaten him up," said Nicholas with a +twinkle of his merry eye. "Let it suffice that the concurrent +information of divers persons (and they strangers to one another), +together with the Lord Jermyn's total neglect of the island in regard of +the provisions that he hath not sent as promised nor repaid sums of +money lent to your service by the people, have led us to sign a paper of +association for which we shall crave your gracious approval. We doubt +not you will agree with us that the delivery of the islands to the +French is not consistent with the duty and fidelity of Englishmen, and +would be an irreparable loss to the nation besides being an indelible +dishonour to the Crown."</p> + +<p>As Charles took the paper handed him for perusal by Nicholas, a flush +arose upon his swarthy countenance.</p> + +<p>"Enough said, my Lords and gentlemen! We need not that any should +instruct us as to our duty."</p> + +<p>"We trust not," cried Carteret, bluffly. "If the French come here we +shall give them a sour welcome; and as to my Lord the Governor, he will +find," and he slipped in his eagerness into his native tongue, "that he +has made <i>le marché de la peau de l'ours qui ne seroit pas encore tué</i>."</p> + +<p>Presently the little Council broke up. The King, after glancing at the +paper of association, consented that Lord Hopton—in whose diplomatic +abilities he perhaps did not feel much confidence—should proceed at +once to the Hague, and lay the case before the States General of Holland +as the power most interested—after England—in sifting and, if need +were, opposing the designs of France. Meanwhile the articles of the +association were not to be divulged; the whole affair being kept a +profound secret and mystery of State.</p> + +<p>Somewhat relieved, the associates then retired from the presence of the +yawning King, and passed down the little corridor. Here they found +Elliot keeping watch, and pacing innocently to and fro. And the +graceless page bowed their Honours down the stairs, without betraying by +his manner anything to suggest—which was, nevertheless, the simple +truth—that he had been attentively listening to as much of their recent +conversation as could be gathered through the imperfect channel afforded +by the key-hole of the door. Carteret cursed La Cloche's officious +meddling all the way to his own quarters, and on arriving there sent a +sergeant to the unfortunate clergyman, who deported him to France by the +next boat that sailed.</p> + +<p>On returning to the room, Elliot found Charles walking up and down the +narrow floor of his room in evident excitement.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said the King, as the page entered, "what is to do here? It seems +that I am not to be master even in this little island of Hop o' my +Thumb. They lord it over me even as they did when I was here before, as +Prince of Wales <i>in partibus</i>."</p> + +<p>"Why then," answered the audacious youth, "I would even show them a +clean pair of heels, and take refuge with the Scots."</p> + +<p>"The Scots who sold my father!"</p> + +<p>"The Scots, Sir, of whom I am one," cried the page, the hot blood of a +race of Border-Barons rising to his forehead. "Am I and mine to be +confounded with a crew of cuckoldy Presbyterians? I will not listen to +any one who says so, King or no King."</p> + +<p>And the malapert youth flung out of the room, while his wearied +master—not unaccustomed to such outbreaks—lounged into the dining room +and called for his supper.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_II" id="ACT_II"></a>ACT II.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">The Manor.</h3> + + +<p>If the page was to be blamed for his disrespectful demeanour in abruptly +leaving his helpless but indulgent Sovereign, his next step was still +less worthy of commendation. But he had the perfervid temper of his +race, and he was not twenty-two. Having attended his royal Master in a +former visit to Jersey, he had made friends with some of the island +gentry, and among others with the family of St. Martin (then resident at +Rozel), in which he found a maiden of his own age with whom he soon +imagined himself to have fallen in love. Mdlle. de St. Martin was the +sister of Michael Lempriere's wife; with her she had since taken up her +abode; and the first thing that Elliot had done after the return of the +Court to Jersey had been to acquaint himself with this fact. In the +present excitement of his feelings he resolved to seek an interview with +the girl whose charms he so well remembered. A boat was moored at the +foot of the castle rock; and the impetuous young cavalier sprang on +board, loosened the painter, and with the aid of a pair of sculls that +had been left in the boat rapidly propelled himself to the shore of the +bay aided by the flowing tide. While he is engaged in making his way to +the northern extremity of the parish of S. Saviour, where the manor of +the Lemprieres was situated, we will anticipate his progress and +describe the scene.</p> + +<p>The manor-house stood in its own walled grounds, admission being +obtained through a round Norman archway, over which was carved the +scutcheon of the family—gules, three eagles displayed, proper—with the +date 1580. This opened on a long narrow avenue of tall elms, at the end +of which two enormous juniper trees made a second arch, of perennial +verdure. Such was the entrance, passing under which the visitor found +himself in a flower-garden in which summer roses still bloomed, and the +bees were still busy. On one side stood the house, a two-storeyed +building of stone, pierced with many small latticed windows, and +thatched with straw. The main-door bore another scutcheon, of newer +stone than the rest of the house, quartering the arms of St. Martin +(<i>azure</i>, nine billets <i>or</i>) over a device of two hearts tied together +with a cipher formed by the letters L. and M. This doorway opened into a +small hall, in front of which was a stair-case of polished oak. On +either side of the hall were low-ceiled parlours wainscotted with dark +wood, beams of which supported the ceilings. The floor of the room to +the right was paved with stone and carpeted with fresh rushes, a yawning +chimney of carved granite, on which a fire of drift-wood was burning +with parti-coloured flames, occupied one end of the room, which was +occupied by the ladies of the house. At the back were the kitchen and +offices, looking out upon a paved court-yard containing a well, and +backed by farm buildings.</p> + +<p>Madame Lempriere (or "de Maufant") and her sister sate by the fire +knitting in the autumn twilight. Both were lovely; beautiful women in +the typical style of island beauty, which not even the primness of +their somewhat old-fashioned costume could wholly disguise. For their +eyes were dark and sparkling, and their cheeks glowed with the rosy +bloom of a healthy and innocent womanhood. They were talking in low +tones of the troubles of the time and of their absent friends; their +language was in the island French.</p> + +<p>"It is more than a month," said Rose Lempriere, "since I had tidings of +M. de Maufant. Methinks your fiancé M. le Gallais might show more +alacrity in his coming."</p> + +<p>"Helas!" replied Marguerite, "poor Alain will never err on the side of +precipitancy. But seest thou not, my sister, the equinox here, and gales +are abroad. I did not expect him till the S. Michel; and then there are +Captain Bowden and M. the Lieutenant's cruisers to reckon with."</p> + +<p>"You do not appear to mind making the crane's foot, my sister," said +Rose, with a slight smile. "In my youth lovers were expected to be +forward and maidens looked for attention."</p> + +<p>"It is not so long since your youth, my all fair."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps M. le Gallais is better occupied in another part."</p> + +<p>"<i>Voyons, ma soeur</i>; it is quite equal, to me. Your M. le Gallais +indeed! one would think it was you and M. de Maufant that wanted to +marry him. As for me, I do not want to marry at all. Least of all does +it import me to marry a man chosen by others. I prefer the ways of +England."</p> + +<p>"<i>Di va</i>!" exclaimed her sister. "A good man is not bad because our +friends like him. Marry this good Alain, and love him after."</p> + +<p>The damsel replied by a pretty grimace.</p> + +<p>"Marguerite!" said Mme. de Maufant, with a little frown, "<i>on ne badine +pas avec l'amour</i>. Or do you love another perhaps? Ah! <i>malheureuse</i>; +art thou still thinking of <i>ce beau guilliard</i>, how did they call him? +M. Elliot, I think, the King's page? I hear that he is returned with the +King; and—oh, Marguerite!—--"</p> + +<p>"I swear to you Rose, I know nothing of M. Elliot—"</p> + +<p>As she spoke a low whistle was heard without.</p> + +<p>"It is Alain's signal," cried Rose, all in a flutter. "He brings me news +from Michael."</p> + +<p>So saying Mme. de Maufant moved with a quick step towards the door +opening on the back yard, whence the signal-whistle evidently came. +Marguerite site still on her <i>tabouret</i>, her head hidden in her shapely +white hands.</p> + +<p>On reaching the back-door Rose threw a wimple over her head, and +carefully undoing the-chain and bar, admitted le Gallais, weary and +travel-stained. Taking both her hands the young man gazed in her face +with the honest gaze of a loving brother. Then searching in the lining +of his doublet he drew out a letter, or rather a packet tied with +string, and gave it to her.</p> + +<p>"He is well," he said, "but his heart suffers."</p> + +<p>"I know it, I know it," sobbed the wife, "but come in, Alain; come in +and take some repose."</p> + +<p>With which she led him into the room, and up to the hearth where sate +the wilful beauty.</p> + +<p>"Marguerite," she said, "do you not see Alain le Gallais?"</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to see M. le Capitaine," was the girl's reply, as she +rose and made an obeisance, immediately resuming her seat.</p> + +<p>Poor Alain! the cold of the autumn evening outside was nothing in +comparison with the chill that fell upon him by that blazing hearth. +Weary as he was, and—as soon appeared—wounded also, his nerve, shaken +by fatigue, gave way before this reception. With giddy brain and wan +face he sank into the nearest seat.</p> + +<p>"What hast thou, my friend, speak, for the love of God," said the lady +of Maufant, while her sister's reluctant eye glanced at him, through +unshed tears with yet more tender inquiry.</p> + +<p>"A scratch, no more," said Alain, tightening the scarf on his left arm, +which showed stains of new blood. "I am but now landed in Boulay Bay, +and a militia-sentry discharged his matchlock at me as I ran down the +lane under the battery. They are indifferent marksmen, my good +compatriots, and their pieces make small impression compared with +Cromwell's snaphaunces."</p> + +<p>Rose tenderly unbound the bandage, found a mere flesh-wound, to which +she applied some lint steeped in styptic, and restored the ligature in a +manner more effective.</p> + +<p>"<i>Remets-toi Alain, réprends ton haleine, et dis-nous ce que c'est</i>," +said she, after paying these quasi-maternal attentions to the fugitive. +"And first tell me, how bears himself my Michael, and what greeting +sends he to his home?"</p> + +<p>But before Alain could answer there came a knocking at the gate: and the +scared ladies had barely time to dismiss Le Gallais by a side door +almost hidden in the wainscot before Elliot entered, hat in hand, and +looking shy and breathless in the leaping light of the hearth.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, fair ladies," he stammered, "have you any welcome for an old +friend."</p> + +<p>The two women leaned against each other, even more embarrassed than, for +a moment, was their visitor. They seemed to remember the voice, yet +could not speak to much purpose for the beating of their scared pulses. +But it is not easy for female self-love to be deceived. The boy had not +changed so much in turning into man but that the face of an old love +could resume its familiarity.</p> + +<p>"'Tis Mr. Elliot," presently said Marguerite, addressing her sister in +English. "Mr. Chevalier, the Centenier, told you of his return but +yesterday when we went to the market at S. Helier. I admire to see him +here so soon."</p> + +<p>Rose advanced, with the restored self-possession of a lady on her own +hearth, and gave the visitor her hand. "Welcome back to Jersey, Mr. +Elliot. Time hath dealt kindly with you: you are almost grown to man's +estate."</p> + +<p>The young Scot flushed, somewhat angrily, at this equivocal compliment. +"What Time hath done with me I cannot tell," said he, with less than his +wonted ease, "save that nothing Time can do can avail to quench old +feelings. This is the first liberty that I have had since we landed. I +have used it to lay myself at your feet."</p> + +<p>The ladies resumed their seats, motioning Tom to the place between them, +just vacated by Le Gallais: and the talk soon ran into easier grooves.</p> + +<p>"I have that to say," continued the page, "that may shake your spirits, +fair ladies. What I have listened to this day it may cost me my ears to +have heard. But," with an air of important resolution, "cost what it +may, I will not nor cannot keep it from you."</p> + +<p>"A groat for your tidings," replied Rose, "we poor women hear none in +this remote corner. But is it a secret? Women may keep one," she added, +looking at the panel that had closed on Le Gallais, "but walls have +ears: and so have you, as yet such as they are, which I would not have +you sacrifice in our cause. If therefore your news be dangerous, think +not of our curiosity, and give the matter no vent."</p> + +<p>Elliot was a scamp, no doubt, yet he could not but be moved by this +thoughtful speech of a woman who could decline a secret. But he had come +too far, laden with a burden that he would fain lay down. So long as he +kept to himself what he had heard in the King's chamber he might be +doing his duty to Charles. But Charles had insulted him and his nation. +Marguerite de St. Martin was his first love, the welfare of herself and +her sister was at stake; he had trudged, four miles and more through the +mire of steep and devious lanes to tell them; was he to leave them +unwarned? Love and Duty fought their old battle, and with the old +result—Love conquered and the secret was told. He had not, it is true, +heard the full purport of the Secretary's grave words or of Charles' +light replies: but what he had caught, tallying with the Chaplain's +disclosures of an earlier hour, had led him to conclude that there was a +villainous plot on foot, of which the King did not seem to approve, and +which therefore might be made known to those interested without real +breach of faith. What he knew he told, and eked it out with what he +could but conjecture.</p> + +<p>The conference lasted long. While it was confined to the designs of the +French, on which the short gusts of the Lieutenant-Governor's stormy +impatience had thrown a transient gleam of lurid light, the ladies were +all attention. When the page began to talk of the King's loyal resolves +and of what great things he would do, they gave less heed. It seemed to +them that Charles Stuart was all too young, too much bound to his +mother, to be trusted in an affair wherein her favourite took an +interest. Tom pleaded his master's cause with the zeal of one who felt +himself to have done that master some wrong; but he pleaded in vain. +Little did the Jersey ladies care who might bear rule in the British +islands; their chief care was for what would affect Jersey, and—above +all men and things of Jersey—their dear Michael, now in exile.</p> + +<p>It had long grown dusk, and Tom knew that he was absent without leave. +His visit must be cut short. If he glanced significantly at Marguerite +as he bent over Rose's hand, if he hoped that Marguerite would follow +him to the door and allow an integration of former toys, he was only +building on a precocious knowledge of the sex. "I will but lock the door +after Mr. Elliot," said she to Rose, in patois, "be tranquil, my sister, +he is but an infant."</p> + +<p>The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile +Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to +which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round +the parlour as he came inside.</p> + +<p>"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder <i>polisson</i> of the +Court?"</p> + +<p>"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever +since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is +not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be +kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed +as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband +will find her faithful, in life and to the death."</p> + +<p>"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways."</p> + +<p>"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her +dealings with him—or with others—be never so little to thy taste, I +advertise thee to seek no cause of quarrel upon them; unless thou +wouldst lose her altogether."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand how a girl that is promised can do such things. +Moreover, his coming here at all is what Michael would not find well."</p> + +<p>"He has done us a very friendly act in coming here, and has told us of a +matter which it may cost him dear to have revealed. For the rest, we can +take very good care of ourselves."</p> + +<p>Alain was not a man of the world. With something of a poet's nature, he +was born to be the slave of women. Passionately attached to the mother +who had brought him up—and who was lately dead—and wholly unacquainted +with the coarser aspects of feminine character, he had a romantic ideal +of womanhood. The ladies in whose company he might chance to find +himself were usually quick enough to discover this; and seeing him at +their feet were always trampling upon him, reserving their wiles and +fascinations for men who were more artful or less chivalrous. The case +was by no means singular in those days, and is believed to be +occasionally reproduced even in more recent times.</p> + +<p>He was now thoroughly annoyed; and Rose's reasoning, far from composing +his mind, had rendered it only the more anxious. Therefore, when +Marguerite returned into the parlour, with a somewhat heightened colour, +Alain affected to take no notice of her, and sate gazing moodily at the +fire.</p> + +<p>"I have been plucking these roses," said the girl, offering Alain a +bunch of flowers wet with early dew.</p> + +<p>He took them with a negligent air, stuck one of the buds into the band +of his broad-brimmed hat that lay on the table, and allowed the rest to +fall upon the rushes that strewed the stone floor. Marguerite, with a +slight and mocking grimace, watched the ill-tempered action without +taking any audible notice of it. Then resuming her seat, she took up her +wool and needles and applied herself to her interrupted knitting.</p> + +<p>Meantime the page, apparently well satisfied with the circumstances of +his visit, including those of his parting from the fair Marguerite, +pursued his way to S. Helier. The darkness of the autumn evening was +relieved by the multitudinous illumination of a cloudless sky. The +lanes, bordered by the fortress-like enclosures of the fields, were +shaded overhead by tunnels of interlacing boughs still in the full +thickness of their summer foliage. A bird, disturbed by Elliot's +brushing against the branch on which she roosted, gave a solitary cry of +angry alarm; the dogs barked in the distant farms; the grazing cows, +tethered in the wayside pastures, made soft noises as they cropped the +grass. Passing on by the old grammar school of S. Manelier and then +through the village of Five Oaks, where he scared a quiet family +assembled in their parlour by looking in at their window with a grimace +and a wild scream, he ran on rapidly by the Town Mills and through the +town towards the quay. When he reached the bridge-head the tide was +ebbing; but partly walking, partly wading, he made good his footing on +the Castle-rock. A sleepy sentry challenged, but the page crept through +the darkness without deigning a reply. A ball whizzed through his hat, +but did not check his progress. Availing himself of projections in the +wall with which he seemed well acquainted, he entered his own little +room by the open casement, and throwing himself on the pallet soon slept +the sleep of youth and healthy fatigue.</p> + +<p>At Maufant matters were not quite so peaceful. The ladies there, it may +be feared, were ready enough to regret the page's visit and its +consequences, if not to express that regret to the old friend who might +with some cause have complained.</p> + +<p>Pretending indifference, he sate silently in a seat further from the +ladies than that which he had occupied before the page's intrusion. +Finding him disinclined for talk, Rose read her husband's letter without +taking any further notice of him by whom it had been brought.</p> + +<p>At length she broke the awkward silence; replacing the letter in her +bosom and turning to Alain, she said:—</p> + +<p>"I must go and get your chamber ready. I shall be back anon." And she +left the room by the concealed door.</p> + +<p>Left alone with his mistress, Alain fell into a great embarrassment. +Marguerite, for her part, felt a qualm of conscience, had he only known +it. But her <i>amour-propre</i> was, none the less, extremely hurt by his +cavalier treatment of her flowers. She was by no means in love with the +saucy Scot, who had indeed given her some offence by the frankness of +his leave-taking, though this was a matter of which she was not +likely to complain, least of all to her official adorer.</p> + +<p>"<i>Pourquoi me boudez-vous, Monsieur</i>?" at last she said; "are you +perhaps permitting yourself to be offended at my seeing M. Elliot to the +door? Do you not know that he is our old friend?"</p> + +<p>"He is nothing to me," answered Alain, moodily, "it is you of whom I am +thinking."</p> + +<p>"As Rose says, we can take care of ourselves. Do you for one moment +think that I acknowledge any restraining right on your part, any +privilege of question even? But come, if M. Elliot is an old friend you +are a much older. Do not let us quarrel."</p> + +<p>"It takes two to make a quarrel," said the foolish fellow, not +observing the olive-branch.</p> + +<p>If his display of annoyance was only a mask of jealousy she fancied that +she could deal with it, and forgive it, but if it should be really a +sign of indifference? so reasoned her rapid female brain; the cruder +masculine mind was but too ready to supply the solution of the problem.</p> + +<p>"<i>Voyons, Marguerite</i>," said her lover, almost blubbering. "I have loved +you all your life. Ever since you were a little totterer whom I carried +in my arms and planted on the top of the garden wall to pick +coquelicots, I have thought of you as one to be some day mine. I see now +how foolish I have been. I will put the sea between us; and I hope my +boat will go to the bottom; and then perhaps you will be sorry." ... And +in the fervour of self-pity he actually shed tears.</p> + +<p>Marguerite watched him, with a joyous sense of triumph. Secure of her +victory, she could now assume her turn to show anger. But she did not +feel it; and she had not much skill in the feigning of unbecoming +passions.</p> + +<p>"That is ungenerous, Monsieur. You do not think of the poor boatmen who +would go to the bottom with you. They are not sulky young men who have +quarrelled with harmless women. The Race of Alderney will do without +them; <i>dame</i>! it may afford to wait for you too."</p> + +<p>If Alain had but caught the look with which these final words were +accompanied! But he was still sitting in the distant darkness, with his +moistened eyes bent obstinately on the ground.</p> + +<p>And so the misunderstanding widened and deepened; and presently Rose +returned. Taking in the situation with a rapid glance, she passed +through the room and out into the buttery, whence she soon returned +with the materials of a modest supper. "We must be our own domestics," +she said with an attempt at lightness: but the attempt was hollow; a +cloud seemed to fill the low room, and press upon the inmates. The +<i>three</i> sate down, but neither of the young people did much justice to +her hospitality. After supper she held a brief consultation with Alain; +and after giving him a bag of gold and a letter for her husband, +dismissed him, to rest if not to slumber, in the chamber that stood at +the head of the stair on which the door in the wainscot opened. Then she +and Marguerite retired by the other door to their own part of the upper +floor, where I fear the young lady received a lecture before she went to +her virgin couch.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_III" id="ACT_III"></a>ACT III.</h2> + + +<h3 class="smcap">The States.</h3> + + +<p>Next morning the Militia Captain left before the house was awake, to +return to Lempriere in London. When the ladies went, later in the +forenoon, to arrange the chamber in which he had passed the night, they +found that the bed had not been used during Le Gallais' occupation. A +copy of Ben Jonson's Poems lay on the table; by the side of which were +pen and ink, and a burnt-out candle. On opening the book, Mdlle. de St. +Martin found some lines written on the fly-leaf, which ran as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"What tho' the floures be riche and rare<br /></span> +<span class="i2">of hue and fragrancie,<br /></span> +<span>What tho' the giver be kinde and fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">they have no charme for me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>The wreathe whose brightest budde is gone<br /></span> +<span class="i2">is not ye wreathe I'de prise:<br /></span> +<span>I'de pluck another, and so passe on,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">with unregardfull eyes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And so the heart whose sweet resorte<br /></span> +<span class="i2">an hundred rivalls share<br /></span> +<span>May yielde a moment's passing sporte,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">but Love's an alyen there."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"He is unpolite, my sister," cried Marguerite, laughing. "But that is +only because he is sore. The wounded bird has moulted a feather in his +empty nest."</p> + +<p>"All the same, he is flown," answered Mdme. de Maufant, gravely.</p> + +<p>"<i>N'importe</i>," answered the damsel. "Leave him to me. I can whistle him +back when I want him—if I ever do."</p> + +<p>Leaving the ladies to the discussion of the topic thus set afoot, let us +turn to the more prosaic combinations of the rougher, if not harder, +sex. <i>Majora canamus!</i></p> + +<p>About four miles south-east of the manor-house, the old Castle of Gorey +arose out of the sea, almost as if it grew there, a part of the granite +crag. A survival of the rude warfare of Plantagenet times, it bore—as +it still does—the self assertive name of "Mont Orgueil," and boasted +itself the only English fortress that had ever resisted the avenger of +France, the constable Bertrand du Guesclin. But, in spite of its pride, +it proved to be commanded by a yet higher point, sufficiently near to +throw round shot into the Castle in the more advanced days to which our +tale relates. For this reason, and also because of the smallness of the +harbour at its feet, Mont Orgueil had given way to the growing +importance of S. Helier, protected by its virgin Castle. Hence the +place, though not quite in ruins, had sunk to a minor and subordinate +character; the Hall, in which the States had once assembled, was +neglected and dirty; the chambers formerly appropriated to the Governor +and his family were used as cells, or not used at all; the garden was +unweeded; and Mont Orgueil in general had sunk to be a prison and a +watch-tower. None the less proudly did it rise—as it does still—with a +protecting air above its little town and port, and look defiance upon +the opposite shores of Normandy.</p> + +<p>In a narrow guard-room on the South side of this castle, a few days +later than the visit of La Cloche to the King, the Lieutenant-Governor +was sitting at a heavy oaken table, with his steel cap before him and +his basket-hilted sword hung by the belt from the back of his carven +chair. A writer sate at the left-hand side of the same table, and +between them lay militia muster-rolls and other papers. At the further +end of the room, between two halberdiers in scarlet doublets, stood a +tall Jerseyman in squalid garments, his legs in fetters, his wrists in +manacles. Keen little grey eyes peered through the neglected black hair +that fell over his narrow brow; and his iron-grey beard showed signs of +long neglect.</p> + +<p>"Now, Pierre Benoist," said Sir George, "for the last time I give you +warning. If you do not speak, freely and to the purpose, it will be the +worse for you. There be those who can tell me what I desire to know. As +for you, I shall deliver you to the Provost-Sergeant, who will need no +words from me to tell him how to deal with you. I ask you, is Michael +Lempriere in correspondence with Henry Dumaresq?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Palfrancordi!</i> Messire; you press me hard," said the prisoner, but his +eye was scarcely that of a pressed man. "When you examined me a week ago +in secret I think I answered that. I know of no letters that have passed +between M. de Samarès and M. de Maufant. That is," he added hastily, as +the Governor began to look impatient, "I have carried none myself."</p> + +<p>"Who has?" asked the Governor.</p> + +<p>The Greffier, at a signal from Carteret, plunged his pen into the ink; +the halberdiers shifted their legs and leaned upon their weapons; the +prisoner moistened his lips with his tongue.</p> + +<p>"Speak, Benoist; who carried the letters?"</p> + +<p>"It was Alain Le Gallais," answered Pierre in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"It was Alain Le Gallais? Write, Master Greffier, the prisoner says that +the letters were carried by one Alain Le Gallais. You are sure of that, +Benoist?"</p> + +<p>"As sure as my name is Peter." A cock crew in the yard of the castle. +The coincidence did not seem to strike any of the party in the room.</p> + +<p>"By what route did Le Gallais go?"</p> + +<p>"He went by Boulay Bay."</p> + +<p>"By what conveyance?"</p> + +<p>"By Lesbirel's lugger."</p> + +<p>"When did he go last?"</p> + +<p>"This is the fourth day."</p> + +<p>Carteret compared these replies with some that lay before him, and +proceeded:—</p> + +<p>"Do you know when he will return?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot know; but I can divine. The wind is changing; if he landed at +Southampton on Monday night he would be in London in twenty-four hours, +riding on the horses of the Parliament. Riding back in the same way he +might be back in Boulay Bay, with a fair wind, some time to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"<i>C'est assez</i>," said the Governor, "take the prisoner away; but not to +his former quarters. Lodge him in Prynne's old cell."</p> + +<p>As the prisoner was being removed, in obedience to these orders, he was +seen to limp heavily, and there was a bandage on one of his legs.</p> + +<p>"March, comrade," said one of his guards, when they were in the +corridor.</p> + +<p>"My leg was hurt, John Le Gros, when I tried to escape last night."</p> + +<p>"Not so badly but you can walk if you like," and the militia-man +emphasised his words by a slight thrust with the point of his weapon.</p> + +<p>To which of the parties in the island Master Benoist was faithful, the +muse that presides over this history declines to reveal: perhaps he was +an impartial traitor to both. It became presently clear that, in any +case, his lameness was little more than a feint. During that same night +he made a rope of his bedding, and letting himself down from the window +of his cell at high water, swam like a fish to the unwatched shore of +Anneport, and so effected his escape. It was long ere he was again heard +of by the Jersey authorities; but there is no record to show that he was +either mourned or missed.</p> + +<p>For the next three nights a party of soldiers—not militia-men, but +Cornishmen of the Royal body-guard—occupied a hut on the landing-place +at Boulay Bay, belonging to Lesbirel, the man whose lugger was known to +be employed in the communication between the Parliamentary party in the +island and their English allies. The third night being dark and stormy, +the patrol was suspended by orders of the sergeant in command, and the +men devoted themselves to the indoor pleasures afforded by cards, +tobacco, and cider. But others were less careful of personal comfort. On +the western point of the cliff over their heads (the "Belle Hougue") a +beacon was burning, of whose existence the sergeant and his men were +unaware. A man watched by the fire, keeping it alive by constant care +and attention, or rekindling it from time to time, when it was overcome +by the wind and rain. The soldiers in their hut did not see the light; +but it was seen by the crew of a lugger, driving through the waves of +the flowing tide before a rough but favouring gale. Accordingly, putting +the helm down, their steersman drove the craft clear of the threatened +danger that was prepared for the occupants below, and made her touch the +land in the adjacent bay of Bonne Nuit, hid from observation by the +interposing cliffs. Leaping to the shore, Alain Le Gallais, who was the +sole passenger, climbing the western heights, made his way by paths with +which he was well acquainted from his youth, to the manor-house of his +exiled friend the Seigneur of Maufant.</p> + +<p>It was near midnight when he arrived. All was dark. The yard-dog, roused +by his familiar footsteps, shook himself and sate down without raising +any alarm: nay, when Alain lifted the latch and passed through the outer +gate of the court-yard, the animal rose once more, and advanced to meet +Alain, fawning and wagging his tail. Alain was not sorry that the ladies +were asleep. Perhaps the readers of his verses may not have understood +that he was a poet; but, be it remembered, those verses were in a +language not native to the writer. Those who are able to understand such +fragments of his patois-poetry as still survive, declare that it is +marked by tenderness and <i>verve</i>; even if this be not so, a man may lack +the power of expression and yet have the poet's temper; Alain was +certainly of a deep and sensitive nature; he thought that he had borne +much from Marguerite, with whom he was now really angry; it was +therefore of set purpose that he had chosen this hour to visit the manor +instead of waiting till the morning. Depositing a letter with which +Lempriere had entrusted him in a cornbin of the stable which Mdme. de +Maufant had instructed him to use in such cases, he went his way without +disturbing any of the inmates of the house.</p> + +<p>His intention was to pass the rest of the night in the barn of a farm +called La Rosière, where he would be safe from pursuit for the moment, +and in the morning could join a party of the "well-affected," who were +in the habit of meeting in the neighbouring parish of S. Lawrence. Man +proposes; but his purpose was destined to failure. The sky had cleared +in the sudden way so common at midnight in these islands. The guard at +Lesbirel's, turning out to patrol, had at last caught sight of the fire +burning on the point above them. Taking alarm, the sergeant, who was an +intelligent and aspiring soldier, guessed that something was amiss, and +set off at the head of his men to search for the escaped prey. Taking +the road to the manor, where he had reason to believe Lempriere's +messenger would be found, and spreading his men among the shadows of the +bordering walls and hedges, he came upon the fugitive in a lane. To his +challenge, "Who goes there?" he received for answer a pistol-shot, which +laid him low in the mire of the lane, with a great flesh wound in the +right shoulder; but the soldiers hearing the report ran up from both +sides. Le Gallais was overpowered and secured after a brief resistance.</p> + +<p>"Search him and take him to the governor," said the wounded sergeant, as +he swooned from loss of blood.</p> + +<p>The following morning found Sir George and his clerk in their old places +in the Gorey Castle. Pale and draggled, Le Gallais confronted his +examiners with such firmness as he could gather from a good cause.</p> + +<p>"You have nothing against me, Messire de Carteret," he said firmly.</p> + +<p>"If I have not I shall soon make it," said the governor fiercely. +"Whence were you coming when you pistolled my sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"I was going to join my company of militia, in order to be present at +morning exercise," answered the prisoner, undauntedly. "Your sergeant +laid hands on me without warrant or warning on a public thoroughfare, +and I shot him in self-defence. What would you have done in my place?"</p> + +<p>"Insolence will not avail you. If you would save yourself from the +gallows, you have but one way. You must make a clean breast of it."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais made no answer, but stooping down, drew a letter out of his +boot and threw it on the table. The governor started as he read the +address:—</p> + +<p>"For the honoured hands of Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, +these."</p> + +<p>He cut the string and opened the missive. After reading a few lines he +looked up.</p> + +<p>"Clear the room," he said; and as the clerk and guards obeyed, he added, +in a changed tone:—</p> + +<p>"Be seated, M. Le Gallais!</p> + +<p>"This letter, as you probably know, is from Mr. Prynne, of the +Parliament. Why did you not bring it to me at once?"</p> + +<p>"I should have done so," answered Le Gallais.</p> + +<p>"It contains matter of the utmost moment," added the governor, after +finishing the perusal. "Are you aware of its contents?"</p> + +<p>"Of its general purport, yes," answered Le Gallais. "The emissaries of +Queen Henrietta are due from S. Malo this day. They will not go to you +(unless they are forced) nor yet to Mr. Secretary Nicholas. They are the +bringers of a secret communication from the queen mother to her son. You +see, sir, that I may be trusted."</p> + +<p>"By the faith of a gentleman, it is too strong," cried the governor, in +an impassioned voice. "Was ever honour or gratitude known among that +family? But I care not. Your friends, M. Le Gallais, are my enemies. If +Whitelock and company send to this island all the rebels outside the +gates of hell I will fight them. You may depart and take them that +message from me."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais did not move. "But in case of a French force landing—?"</p> + +<p>"In that case, sir," answered the governor, and his voice rose to a +quarter-deck shout. "In that case it would be 'up with the red cross +ensign and England for ever!'"</p> + +<p>Le Gallais rose and in a gentler tone echoed the cry, sharing the +generous impulse.</p> + +<p>"Now go," said the governor, more gently, "go to the buttery and get +thyself refreshed. I know what a sailor's appetite can be. No words; you +came from England last night. God bless England and all her friends!"</p> + +<p>So saying the governor departed, and in a few minutes more was seen to +mount his horse at the fort gate and gallop towards S. Helier, followed +by a single orderly.</p> + +<p>Immediately on arriving at the town, Sir George's first care was to send +his follower to the Dénonciateur and order him to summon an +extraordinary meeting of the States. After which be went on to the +Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King.</p> + +<p>Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails. A +tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was +with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the +governor entered.</p> + +<p>"How now?" asked the King, with some show of energy; "To what are we +indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? Were you not told, Sir +George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?"</p> + +<p>"Faith I was, Sir," answered Carteret, with a seaman's bluntness. "But, +under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I +know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one +that ought to be debated in my absence."</p> + +<p>Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and <i>ennui</i>. But +the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the +last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than +in the present instance.</p> + +<p>"If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty's +service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands. But +your Majesty knows that there is not. I am here to claim that the +message from the Queen be laid before the States. We are your Majesty's +to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is +required."</p> + +<p>Charles gave way before a will far stronger and a principle far higher +than his own.</p> + +<p>"Go, Major," he said, with an expressive look and gesture. "Let +Messieurs les Etats know of our Mother's message. Sir George! be pleased +to bring Major Querto into your assembly. And, I pray you, bid some one +send me here Tom Elliott," added the King, in a more natural tone of +voice. "<i>A bientôt!</i> Sir George." He waved his visitors out and resumed +the care of his finger-ends, neglected in the excitement of the +discussion.</p> + +<p>Carteret, accompanied by Major Querto, repaired to the mainland. They +proceeded together to the Market-place (now the Royal Square) and +entered the newly-built <i>Cohue</i> or Court-house, where the States were +assembling. Seven of the Jurats (or Justices) were already collected, in +their scarlet robes of office: Sir Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. +Owen (the Lieutenant-Bailiff); Amice de Carteret, Seigneur of Trinity; +Francis de Carteret, Joshua de Carteret, Elias Dumaresq, Philip le Geyt, +and John Pipon. These, in official tranquillity—as became their high +dignity—took seats on the dais, to the right and left of the Governor's +chair. Below them gradually gathered the officers of the Crown, the +Procureur du Roy, or Attorney-General (another de Carteret), and the +Viscount, or Sheriff, Mr. Lawrence Hamptonne. In the body of the hall +sate the Constables of the parishes, and some of the Rectors. The +townsmen swarmed into the unoccupied space beyond the gangway. When the +hall was full, the usher, having placed the silver mace on the table, +thrice proclaimed silence. Then Sir George—who united the +little-compatible offices of Bailiff and Lieutenant-Governor—arose from +his central seat and presented the Major who stood beside it.</p> + +<p>"M. le Lieutenant-Bailly, and Messieurs les Etats!" he said, "I have +called you together to consider a message from the Queen: this gentleman +here will impart it to you, Major Querto, of his Majesty's army."</p> + +<p>The Major's face assumed the colour of his nose.</p> + +<p>"I am a rough soldier," he muttered, in English, "and little used to +address such an august assembly as I see here; least of all in a foreign +language."</p> + +<p>"English, English," cried a dozen voices. But Querto was silent, and +looked at the Governor with a scared and anxious gaze.</p> + +<p>"Since our guest is so modest," resumed Carteret, "it is necessary that +I should speak for him. The question is simple. Her Majesty, with her +constant care for the subjects of her son, has heard with dismay that +the rebels in England are projecting a descent upon Jersey. At the same +time, Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, will be attacked by sea. Sir Baldwin +Wake, with your active aid, has hitherto held out against the Roundheads +of that island; and surely since the time of Troy has seldom been so +long a siege, so stout a defence. But, with the Roundheads assaulting +him by land, and Blake's squadron by sea—Gentlemen, I know Blake and +his brave seamen—what can Wake and a hundred half-starved men avail? To +guard us against all these dangers, and against the loss of all the +profits that we now have from our letters-of-marque in the Channel, her +Majesty has been pleased to devise a means of succour."</p> + +<p>Here the Governor's speech was interrupted by cries of "Vive la Reine," +led by the Constable of S. Brelade, in whose parish was situated the +town of S. Aubin, the principal port and residence of the corsairs.</p> + +<p>"Nay, but hear her Majesty's gracious project. Nothing doubting your +good affection or your courage, the Queen is persuaded that her royal +son's person (to say little of the other small matters already named by +me) cannot be safe in your hands against a serious attempt such as can +be made as soon as General Cromwell returns victorious—as he doubtless +will—from the Irish war. She therefore intends—and here, Gentlemen, I +come to the main purpose of our present meeting—she intends, I say, to +send over a strong force of French troops to occupy the island."</p> + +<p>Consternation kept the assembly silent.</p> + +<p>"You are not ignorant of the history of your country," pursued the +Governor. "When a former Queen sought the aid of France you know on what +terms that aid was given. You know the name of Maulévrier; how for six +years he held the Castle of Gorey with the Eastern half of our island. +'We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared to us' what +things the Papists did in those days, and how the Lord delivered you by +the hands of my own ancestor and of the sailors of England. Are we to do +it again; it is to be France or England?"</p> + +<p>The hall was in an uproar. With startling unanimity the last word was +echoed from all sides: "England for ever! England above all!"</p> + +<p>Returning to his quarters in the part of the Castle called by the name +of the late King, Carteret found Sir Edward Nicholas—who was ageing and +felt the cold of sunset—in a mantle and with a black silk skullcap on +his head, pacing up and down the little esplanade by the faint light of +a waning moon. There was an old friendliness between the two: Nicholas +having been long loved and favoured by Hyde, now in Spain, but formerly +the cherished guest of the Carterets. Hence the Secretary was both +willing and able to give sympathy and counsel to his host almost as well +as could have been done by the author of the famous <i>History of the +Rebellion</i>, had himself been once more in the Castle.</p> + +<p>"I hear by letter from Prynne, this day received," said the +Lieutenant-Governor, "to the effect that our giving harbour here to his +Majesty is a cause of umbrage to yonder cuckoldy knaves in London. +Meanwhile I have grave doubts as to the young man himself—under your +favour, Sir Edward. We are undergoing so many and great dangers and +distresses for him that we might well hope to have no renewal of the old +dealings to our disadvantage. Yet it seems that things are coming to +that pass that we may ere long have to choose between England and +France."</p> + +<p>"As for France," answered the Secretary, "we may expect due provision +from his Majesty who is—believe me—a true lover of his own country; as +also from your Honour, whose noble house has done well-known service in +bye-gone times. For England, we know what her power is; but that power +lies in the collection of her organs (as Sir Edward Hyde hath often +taught us) by no means in the hypertrophe of one organ, and that one +mutilated. The Church, Lords, Commons, are Three Estates—"</p> + +<p>"Alack, Sir Edward," interrupted the impatient sailor, "this is that +whereto Prynne would lead us. Bethink you of Will Shakspeare's saying, +'If two men ride on a horse one must go behind.' How much more if there +be three of them. Here, in Jersey, where there is but one organ of +Government—I mean the States—we may have labour, but we have none of +these confusions. But in England, look you—"</p> + +<p>"If it were as you suppose," cried Nicholas, "the King must needs ride +before and the Parliament behind. But let me hear more of Mr. Prynne. +Barring his sourness in regard of stage-plays and Bishops—which seemed +strangely coupled in his mind—he was ever a wise and moderate man."</p> + +<p>"Marry," replied Carteret, "I will show you what he hath writ. He would +persuade us—I will be plain with you—to send Charles packing, and to +yield ourselves wholly to the present Government in England. He argues +that might is right, and that it is to that a weak state like ours must +needs bow;—Here be your three organs of Government—or rather were—yet +one hath ever the last word, the casting vote; and that it is which in +very truth governs: the others are but baubles. For, put case it were +otherwise, then how would it fare with the public weal when one organ +says, 'This shall be so, while another saith, 'Nay, but it shall be +<i>so</i>;' and a third perhaps is divided. It is put to the touch, as hath +been lately seen in this nation, where the King came forth on one side +with his cavaliers, followed by tapsters, serving-men and clodhoppers; +officers and men for the most part broken in fortune, debauched in body +and mind. Against him were ranged the citizens, the gentry, many even of +the lords and the sober well-informed part of the yeomen. Your Royal +tapsters are scattered in almost every encounter, your King is taken, +dethroned, slain. Where be then your joint-organs, your paper-balance? +Is it not the merest audit of a bankrupt's books?' So far Mr. Prynne, of +whose wisdom you perhaps will make short work."</p> + +<p>"I do not say that he is wrong," answered the Secretary, with a puzzled +look. "I must own that we are beaten for the nonce. And it may be that +if we were uppermost we should equally destroy the balance. But who will +judge a man's constitution by the symptoms of calenture? The nation is +sick, yet it is not like to die."</p> + +<p>"My faith!" said Sir George, after a brief pause of reflection, "I think +thou must be right, Sir Edward. This present condition of things cannot +endure: but England will not die. When once men are earnestly disposed +upon a way of reconciliation there must be give-and-take on either side +until we get to work again. Mr. Prynne's own tyranny, that of the +Parliament, hath been already encountered by a stronger tyranny, that of +the army. But that is a regimen to which Englishmen will not submit."</p> + +<p>"Then you are for the English, Sir George, rather than for the French."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, Sir," answered the other. "For the King of England, if +possible. But for the Gaul we are not. We are of the old blood of the +Franks and Normans. We have served our Dukes ever since the battle of +Hastings; but when they became English, why, we became English too. We +beat the French under Du Guesclin, we beat them under Maulévrier. From +England we have had none but good and honest handling. We are English +above all."</p> + +<p>"Well said!" cried the Secretary. "I am no boaster, neither do I claim +the gift of prophecy, like some of our saints yonder. But I am persuaded +that a day will come when your words will be put to the proof. You will +have to choose not between King and Commons, but between England and +France you yourself said so but now."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon Dieu</i>! the choice will be soon made," cried Carteret. "And now let +us to table. For albeit Dame Carteret is lying-in, it will be hard but I +can furnish a friend some junk and biscuit."</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_IV" id="ACT_IV"></a>ACT IV.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">The Duel.</h3> + + +<p>Tom Elliot was a very bad sample of the cavalier party. Trained in +camps, he had learned betimes to seek his happiness in wine, dice, loose +speech, and morals to match. As in France, the successors of the Sullys +and Du Plessis Mornays had become the coxcombs of the Fronde, and the +grandson of Bras-de-Fer was known as Bras-de-Laine, so the character and +conduct of men like Hyde, Ormonde, and Falkland furnished no example to +such as Villiers and Wilmot, whose only ideal of imitation was +scurrilous mimicry. Where the elder cavaliers had been proud to serve +their king, the rising generation was content if it could amuse him; and +with that Charles was satisfied.</p> + +<p>Thus Elliot had learned that for such an escapade as his last he might +easily obtain forgiveness. It was not that Charles was, even in youth, a +sincere or warm friend. His easy good nature had its root in +self-indulgence. Clarendon, who knew him and his family <i>intus et in +cute</i>, has pointed this out in one of his best character sentences. +"They were too much inclined to love men at first sight," so writes the +faithful servant of the Stuarts. "They did not love the conversation of +men of more years than themselves. They did not love to deny, ... not +out of bounty or generosity, which was a flower that did never grow +naturally in the heart of either family—that of Stuart or the other of +Bourbon—and when they prevailed with themselves to make some pause +rather than to deny, importunity removed all resolution." [<i>Continuation +of Life</i>, p. 339, fol. ed.]</p> + +<p>And there were not wanting particular reasons to dispose Charles to +favour and forgiveness in this instance. Though Elliot had concealed the +fact at Maufant, he was in fact a married man. His wife was the daughter +of the Mrs. Wyndham who had been the king's nurse. To this family +connection he owed his first introduction to the royal household, which +had been constantly improved by his lawless and pushing nature. A +contemporary remarked of Elliot that "he was not one who would receive +any injury from his modesty." The late king's grave and virtuous mind +had been greatly alienated by these things, and he had once dismissed +him from his family. The passionate youth had recovered his position +owing to the Wyndham influence, but he came back with illwill in his +heart. The memory of the royal martyr inspired him with scant reverence, +nor did he feel either respect or compassion for the queen-mother. From +these sentiments, however, one advantage flowed. Elliot was bitterly +opposed to Jermyn and the French interest, and made use of his +opportunities about the king's person to strengthen him in a like +opposition. So it came to pass that, after sulking an hour, the facile +master not only pardoned the petulant servant, but promoted him to be a +groom of the bedchamber; and the return was made in an increased +persistence in efforts on Elliot's part to amuse the king and flatter +all his propensities, whether political or personal.</p> + +<p>The "Indian summer," or <i>été de S. Martin</i>, was at its height in Jersey, +when Carteret, obtaining Charles's ready acquiescence, resolved on +ordering a general review of the militia. Soon after daybreak on the +30th October the population began streaming in from all parishes, under +the mild splendour of a cloudless heaven. The scene was on the sands of +S. Aubin's Bay, between the Mont Patibulaire and Millbrook. On the right +wing stood two squadrons of mounted infantry, with their standards +displayed in the morning breeze. On the left were the parish batteries, +with their guns, caissons, and tumbrils. In the centre were the Cornish +body guard and the militia infantry in battalion six deep, while the +reserve and recruits brought up the rear. All but the last-named carried +matches for their firearms, which were loaded with blank cartridge. The +supports carried pikes. The drums beat, the colours flew, as Charles and +his staff, surrounded by an escort of the mounted infantry, emerging +from the south gate of the castle, rode along the low-water causeway.</p> + +<p>Mme. de Maufant and her sister, mounted on sober but well-bred nags, and +accompanied by some of their farm hands in gala costume, occupied a +foremost place among the spectators. But the appearance of the castle +<i>cortège</i> threatened their comfort, if not their safety. For the public +excitement grew from moment to moment, "and those behind cried forward! +and those before cried back!" The younger and more excitable especially, +spurred by the fine weather and the novel spectacle, pressed eagerly to +the front, mixed with mothers of scrofulous children, desirous of +gaining for them the healing virtue of the royal touch. The king's +horse, short of work, and participating in the general excitement, +reared and curvetted in the crowd, but was reined in by his skillful +rider.</p> + +<p>Charles was in his purple velvet, with no token of a military purpose. +But on his left rode a gigantic guardsman in full panoply, while Elliot +came on the right (but with his horse half a length behind) in gorgeous +array, though more for show than for service. In his silver helmet +fluttered a lissom ostrich plume, his shining cuirass was damascened +with gold, which metal also glittered on the hilt of his sword. The tops +of his buff boots and gauntlets were fringed with costly Brussels point. +As they approached the crushed and alarmed ladies, a militia officer +rushing to their aid from his place between the guns and the nearest +company of foot, came into involuntary contact with the glistening groom +of the chamber. The lace of the later's boot caught in the steel +shoulder piece of the infantry officer, and was torn. Irritated and +excited Elliot brought down his hand upon the unconscious offender, and +dealt him a heavy blow on the side of the face. At this sight—with +nerves already overstrung—Marguerite became unable to control her +usually placid steed; and Alain le Gallais—for he was the militia +officer—was diverted from his instinctive but imprudent impulse of +immediate retaliation, by seeing the young lady slip from her saddle +into his arms.</p> + +<p>The little incident was over in an instant, and the king passed on, but +not without taking it all in with the observation natural to him.</p> + +<p>"A comely wench, Tom!" he said to his companion, "and one that seemeth +to know thee. But it seems that others gather what thou fellest."</p> + +<p>"Faith, sir," answered Elliot, smilingly, "I have given him his wage +beforehand. It is well that he should do my work."</p> + +<p>There was no time for longer or plainer speech. The guns began a royal +salute, their muzzles fortunately directed towards the sea—for many of +the pieces had been charged for ball practice. This somewhat dangerous +demonstration was followed by a dropping fire of blank cartridge from +the matchlocks of the foot, and then by general acclamations of "Vive le +Roi" from all ranks. Then Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. Ouen, being +called to the front, received the congratulations of the king on the +appearance of the forces, in which, under the lieutenant-governor, his +uncle, he held the chief command. He was then bidden to kneel, touched +with the royal sword, and told to "Rise, Sir Philip de Carteret." The +eighteen stand of colours were displayed on the outer sides of the +columns. Again the drums beat, the trumpets blew, and with the same +state as that in which he had arrived, the king was escorted back to the +castle.</p> + +<p>As soon as Charles and his followers had been relieved of their full +dress they renewed the conversation in which they had been interrupted +on the sands, Elliot first endeavouring to improve the occasion into an +argument against the king's remaining in Jersey.</p> + +<p>"That malapert bumpkin will be no friend either to me or to your +majesty," he said. "At himself I snap my fingers. But it seems to me +there are some two thousand of them who cry 'Vive le Roi' for half a +pistole, but would cry 'Vivent nous autres' for nothing. If the French +land here they will turn against you at once. If the Parliament prevail +they will submit, willy nilly. And your majesty may feel no ailment, yet +have to be attended by the surgeon who cured your father."</p> + +<p>"Whither should I go hence?" asked the other. "The news of Ireland is +hardly such as to give colour to Ormonde's invitation."</p> + +<p>"I have told you what to do, sir, but got small thanks for my pains. +Think on it well. Now, by your leave I must attend to affairs of my own. +May I find you in a wiser mood when I return!"</p> + +<p>"Farewell, then, Tom," said Charles. "But beware of poaching on a Jersey +manor!"</p> + +<p>"There are no game laws here, or if there be the keeper is away." With +these words Elliot retired with a careless bow, and the king waved his +hand gaily as he disappeared.</p> + +<p>The forward young man bent his way, as often before, in the direction of +Maufant. On entering the garden he saw the lady of the manor—a rose +among the roses, as Malherbe might have said. The moment she perceived +Elliot she stood sternly, and with dilated eye before the entry of the +house, as if to bar the way, the united blazon of her husband's +ancestors and her own appearing above her head like a crest of battle.</p> + +<p>"Why so stern, fair lady?" demanded the courtier, saluting her, "And why +alone?"</p> + +<p>"My sister is not here," said Mme. de Maufant, answering but the second +of Elliot's questions. "She has spoken with you for the last time, Mr. +Elliot. I hope that I too have the same advantage. You should go home, +Monsieur, to your wife."</p> + +<p>Elliot started, but quickly recovering himself, said, with an insolent +smile, "Always thinking of marriage, these dear creatures. Ah, ah! +madame, sits the wind in that quarter? You thought the poor Scots +gentleman might be caught by the rosy cheeks of a Jersey farm girl. <i>Pas +si bête</i>."</p> + +<p>Rose pointed to the garden archway. "If you do not relieve me of your +presence this very instant," she said, pale and panting, "my farm +labourers shall drive you out with cudgels."</p> + +<p>"It shall not need, madame, to pay me this last attention, so worthy of +your habits. 'Au revoir, madame!'" And with a profound and mocking +reverence the wanton cavalier slowly retreated, leaving Rose to sink, +half fainting, into a stone seat by the house door.</p> + +<p>Elliot strode off, smarting with the sting of his well-merited +humiliation. A brief moment of reflection was enough to show its +probable origin. It was evident that the secret of his marriage had +found its way to the manor, where the court he had been paying to +Marguerite had consequently ceased to be regarded as a harmless +gallantry, and come to be taken for insult, as indeed it deserved. Nor +was it difficult to go on to guess the channel of this information. Le +Gallais was Marguerite's acknowledged lover, the person who would +benefit by the removal of a fascinating dog like Elliot—a formidable +rival, as he flattered himself such as he must be to a bumpkin officer +of militia. How Le Gallais could have learned the fact of his having a +wife in France might be a harder question, but it was one that was not +material. Revenge would be equally sweet, whether that were answered or +not.</p> + +<p>Full of these thoughts the groom of the chamber stalked on to S. Helier. +On reaching the quay, he came to "The White Ship"—a tavern frequented +alike by the officers of the garrison and by those of the island +militia. The parlour was full of men, some in uniform, some in plain +clothes, smoking, drinking, playing cards—a scene of Teniers. One of +the first faces on which his eye fell was that of Le Gallais, who sprang +from his chair on Elliot's entrance, but was restrained by his +neighbours, and sat down watching the intruder's movements with glaring +eye. Striding up to the hearth, and standing with his back to it, the +cavalier broke into a forced laugh.</p> + +<p>"Strange company you keep, gentlemen. I spy one among you whom you had +better put forth without delay."</p> + +<p>"Whom mean you?" asked the patch-wearing Querto. "'May I not take mine +ease in mine inn?' as the fat fellow says in the play. May not a plain +soldier choose his own company?"</p> + +<p>"A soldier is a gentleman, and should keep company with gentlemen," +answered the flushed youth. "Mr. Le Gallais is no mate for cavaliers. I +say to his face that he is a cropeared rebel, a busybody, and a +pestilent knave."</p> + +<p>"I appeal to you, Major Querto," said Le Gallais, roused from his +temporary pause, and turning to the major, whom indeed he had brought to +the place, and for whose refreshment he was providing.</p> + +<p>"Appeal me no appeals," said the Major, with a truculent look. "No man +shall appeal to Dick Querto till he is purged of such epitaphs."</p> + +<p>Confusion reigned. Le Gallais looked about him for a friendly face, and +presently saw sympathy on that of a fellow-countryman and brother +officer.</p> + +<p>"Captain Bisson," he said, "you will speak to Mr. Elliot's friend."</p> + +<p>Elliot flung out of the house, followed by Querto and two or three +Royalist officers, Le Gallais, and Bisson in the rear. They walked +towards the beach, and on their arriving at the foot of the Gallows +Hill—near where the picquet-house now stands—an Irish officer came +from Elliot's group and met Bisson, hat in hand.</p> + +<p>"Are the gentlemen to fight now?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better," answered Bisson.</p> + +<p>"Will it be a <i>pas de deux</i>, or will we all join the dance?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, a combat of two," gravely replied the islander. "We do not +understand Paris fashions here. With you and me, sir, there need be no +quarrel."</p> + +<p>"Sure, and we could have an elegant fight without quarrelling," muttered +the Irishman, with a disappointed frown. "But 'anything for a quiet +life' is my motto. This is a mighty fine place, I'm thinking, where two +brave fellows can cut each other's throats in peace and without +disturbance." Major Querto stood by with the air of an indispensable +umpire.</p> + +<p>The <i>escrime</i> of those days had not attained its later refinements. The +combatants were placed opposite to each other, each flinging a cloak +about his left arm, to serve as a shield, and they prepared to encounter +in what would seem a fashion of "rough-and-tumble" to our modern +masters.</p> + +<p>Both were brave men, and in the bloom of manhood. Elliot was the taller, +but Le Gallais, some seven or eight years older, far exceeded in +strength and weight. After scant ceremony the thrusting began. Feet +trampled, steel rang. A furious pass from the Jerseyman was with +difficulty caught in Elliot's cloak, and the sword for a moment +hampered. Before Le Gallais could extricate it, Elliot, with a savage +cry, ran in upon him, drawing back his elbow, so as to stab his +adversary with a shortened sword. A scuffle ensued, of which no +bystander could follow with his eye the full details, till the Scot's +sword was seen to turn upwards, and the point to pierce his own throat. +Each combatant fell backwards, Le Gallais bleeding from the left hand, +and Elliot spouting black gore from a severed artery.</p> + +<p>At that instant cries name from the outside of the ring, "The guard!" +On which the spectators hastened to disperse, while the +Lieutenant-Governor rode up at the head of a mounted patrol. Elliot was +taken from the ground in a dying state, and Le Gallais arrested, and +ordered to Mont Orgueil, to await the arrival of the magistrate, who +should make the preliminary inquiry.</p> + +<p>Left in that irksome durance, but with wound duly cared for, Alain had +abundant time to muse over the mistakes and misfortunes of the past. +After the inquiry he was necessarily committed for trial at the next +criminal session; and fell at first into a semi-mechanical existence. +But slowly the twin stars of memory and hope rose out of the dark, while +conscious integrity began to clear the moral æther. He tried in vain to +cherish remorse, but Elliot's treachery overbore the effort; slowly calm +returned.</p> + +<p>It was true that the news of Elliot's fraud had been made known to the +ladies of Maufant by himself. But as he thought over the matter in the +solitude of his chilly cell, he could not see any reason to blame +himself on that account. Hearing from Querto—who was connected with the +family—that Elliot was unquestionably a married man, he had only done +his duty in warning Rose and her sister against the groom of the +chamber. He would not admit to himself that jealousy had influenced him +in so doing. As Lempriere's agent, as the old friend of the family, he +could not have done otherwise. All was over between him and Marguerite, +yet he could not forget that, by the wish of the young lady's friends, +if not by her own, he had once been her affianced husband. As for the +death of the courtier, it was not in itself a subject for much regret; +and, further, it had been wholly the consequence of the dead man's own +actions, from his deceit towards the ladies to his final ferocity and +foul play in an encounter of his own provoking.</p> + +<p>While Alain Le Gallais thus sought comfort by the road of reason and of +conscience, his heart continued very sore. But on the morrow of his +commitment an event occurred which changed his cheer, and made his +prison for an instant more lovely than a palace. All the Jerseymen were +acquainted with each other, and the prison warder, though fully meaning +to keep his captive, did not by any means understand his duty to extend +to making such detention a punishment to a man whom he liked, and who +had not yet been condemned. So when Mme. de Maufant and her sister +presented themselves at the gate, seeking admission to Alain's cell, the +worthy jailor unhesitatingly showed them into his own parlour, and +fetched Alain to them, only taking the precaution of turning the door +key upon the outside as he left them alone with the priser, on the +understanding that they should call him from the window when they wished +to leave.</p> + +<p>Pale as death, her lovely eyes ringed with dark shades, poor Marguerite +fell upon Alain's breast, without pretence of coyness.</p> + +<p>"Alain, mon ami!" she cooed in her soft rich voice, "can you give me +your pardon?"</p> + +<p>How far Alain believed this sudden revelation cannot certainly be told. +All that he felt able to do was to strain the girl to his heart and be +silent. Rose stood discreetly at the window; but finding that the lovers +had no more to say to each other, she by and by broke silence.</p> + +<p>"We shall not leave you to suffer for us," she said. "Carteret is +without scruple and without mercy. As a friend of Michael's, he will +seek every loophole for your ruin. I have already seen the Advocate +Falle. He says that you will be tried for murder next week, and that if +Carteret presides you are no better than a dead man."</p> + +<p>"To die for you and Marguerite is not so hard," said the young man, with +a smile.</p> + +<p>"You shall do nothing of the sort," cried Rose, warmly, "listen to me. +The day is setting in for rain and storm. At five in the afternoon it +will be dark. Then one of us will come back with John Le Vesconte, of La +Rosière, who is your match in stature, and who will be admitted on +account of his being of kin to us. He will change clothes with you, and +will remain in your stead while you come out of prison in his. He is in +favour with Carteret, and will be quit for a fine, which I will gladly +pay."</p> + +<p>As she stood, warm and bright with zeal, and intellect flushing in her +eye, Alain thought that, with all his troubles, her exiled lord was a +happy man. But he had to think of his own case. Placing the broken form +of Marguerite tenderly in a chair, he stood up and looked full in Rose's +face, his hands joined, almost in an attitude of prayer.</p> + +<p>"Do not tempt me," he said, in a low, but determined voice. "I will not +put another in my place to save my life, nor even to please Michael +Lempriere's wife. Moreover, John Valpy, the jailor here—who is somewhat +of my family, too, for our fathers married cousins—has dealt tenderly +with me, and I will not do what would bring ruin upon him. Tempt me no +more," he repeated hastily, seeing Rose about to interrupt him. "My mind +is fully made up."</p> + +<p>"But for her sake," pleaded Mme. de Maufant, eyeing the almost senseless +girl with yearning pity. "Think of her young life, bound up with yours."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" answered he, "who knows what maidens mean? She has been excited +by all that has befallen, and will doubtless be sorry for me, and +remember me. But her life can never be bound but by herself. Briefly, I +will not be saved on the terms you offer. Existence for me is without +value, honour is not."</p> + +<p>After this speech, delivered in a tone of conviction, Rose could say no +more. For her part, Marguerite was helpless. Her nerves had broken in +the excitement of the whole scene, and by the time that Alain had done +speaking, she was on the edge of a fit of violent hysterics. When her +sister had succeeded, by the aid of the jailor's wife, hastily summoned, +in restoring a little calm, Marguerite insisted upon being taken away. +Alain was left unshaken in his resolve, and Rose, weary of the +unsuccessful interview, removed her sister to their temporary lodgings +in the town. Leaving her there in the careful hands of the woman of the +place—an old acquaintance—she hurried off to Hill-street, where she +had another consultation with the Advocate Falle.</p> + +<p>The result was soon apparent. To whatever motive Carteret may have +yielded, he did not preside at the trial of Le Gallais, leaving the +task—as indeed he usually did—to the Lieutenant-Bailiff. The record of +the trial has perished, along with many public papers of those troublous +times. But thus much we know, that Alain Le Gallais was tried before the +Lieutenant-Bailiff and six jurats, and, in spite of a strenuous defence +by Advocate Falle, was found guilty and sentenced to death.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe the anguish of the ladies of Maufant, +who had remained in town during these proceedings. Rose had already +spent in the conduct of the case money that she could ill afford. But +she knew that her husband would never forgive her if she neglected any +means of delivering their champion. Nor was she in any way disposed to +do so. Secret service money was laid out to the full extent of Mme. de +Maufant's powers of borrowing.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the political horizon grew darker day by day. Charles fretted +and yawned; but he continued to attend Divine service in the town +church. He also dined in public, "touched" for the king's evil, and +exercised such functions of royalty (as understood in that period of +transition) as the conditions of the place permitted. Just before the +end of the Stuart dynasty kingship in England was in much the same +condition among the English as it is now among the German nations. The +monarch was still regarded as the head of the feudal State, while a +number of the leading men were beginning to perceive more or less +clearly that society had passed out of a condition in which it could be +deeply or permanently swayed by the absolute will of one individual, +however highly placed by what one called the Divine pleasure, and +another the accident of birth. Among the personal prerogatives of the +Crown was the pardon of persons condemned to death.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the day when Mr. Secretary Nicholas was ordered to +bring up the papers in the case of Rex <i>v.</i> Le Gallais, the +Lieutenant-Governor of the small territory to which Charles's sway was +for the present restricted had a long audience. The king had, in his +light way, lamented the loss of his petulant favourite. But Carteret +had, with less pains than he had looked for, succeeded in convincing the +facile and intelligent sovereign that for both the quarrel and its +result Tom Elliot had been alone answerable. Probability leads us to +suspect that Charles had his own reasons for the readiness with which he +accepted the governor's arguments. Among all the young king's heavy +faults, vindictiveness was not, at that time, in the faintest degree +traceable; but, besides that, he had learned, in the intercourse of the +last day or two before the fatal encounter, too much of Elliot's +nefarious designs upon Marguerite de St. Martin to suppose that he would +with decency punish the conduct of her defender. Nor need we wonder if a +bag of Rose Lempriere's pistoles lent weight, even to royal scruples.</p> + +<p>"Odsfish, Sir George," he said, finally, "I believe that you must e'en +take the pardon of your choleric countryman."</p> + +<p>"Your majesty is ever gracious," answered Carteret, with his best +quarter-deck reverence, "though under your pardon my countrymen are in +no respect to be taxed with ready choler. They are ever courteous and +patient. Only steadfast malice is what they cannot abide."</p> + +<p>"I dare be bold to say that human nature hath its operation amongst +them," answered Charles, with his languid smile. "Give them what they +want and their temper is easy. But enough of this, Nicholas will draw +the pardon, and it shall be signed and sealed anon. But, further, take +order that there be no more duelling. And now, as touching another of +your prisoners, Major Querto?"</p> + +<p>"The major was arrested among those present at the duel, in which it +hath been shown that he was not a participator," said Sir George; "but +letters have been found in his possession which hinder his release +without further inquiry."</p> + +<p>"I can be the major's warrant," answered Charles. "He was a trooper in +Goring's horse, and rose by reason of his wife being chosen to nurse my +mother's last-born infant at Exeter. When her majesty retired into +France, Querto, raised to be a commissioned officer, remained in +Exeter. When that city was taken he followed his wife to France, from +whence he is now come, bringing letters from her majesty to me."</p> + +<p>"By your leave, sir," answered Carteret, "your information lacks +completeness. Querto by no means repaired from Exeter to France. We have +searched his valise, and have taken therefrom a packet of papers, from +which it plainly appears that he is a false knave, who hath bubbled both +sides. There is among these papers a letter from Sir John Grenville, to +the effect that this fellow was to obtain money from the Parliament on a +false pretence of delivering Scilly into their hands. There is another +from Bulstrode Whitelock, in which the matter assumes a different and a +more heinous aspect. According to that paper, Querto had been to London, +and there undertaken, on the receipt of two thousand pounds, to aid in +the betrayal, not merely of Scilly, but of Jersey. He had taken handsell +of his price, and went to France, either to complete the bargain or else +to trade with Mazarin. I leave to your majesty to determine which."</p> + +<p>The king moved uneasily in his chair. He shunned the governor's +searching eye, and affected to be watching a ship in the offing, of +which a view was commanded by his casement.</p> + +<p>"That vessel appears to interest your majesty," said Carteret, "she +flies St. Andrew's Cross."</p> + +<p>"I opine that it is the vessel of the Scots Commissioners," answered +Charles. "An it be so, we will receive them in council. Matters of great +moment may be awaiting their arrival. For the present, Sir George, I bid +you farewell."</p> + +<p>It was now December. The "St. Martin's summer" of the Channel Islands +was almost over. The trees were losing their leaves. The last roses +lingered still only in sheltered nooks, rich as the Maufant garden. The +sky was, however, serene, and the sea calm, as the Scottish ship sailed +into the harbour. She had come over from Holland with a favouring wind, +bringing the Chief Commissioner of the Parliament and clergy of +Scotland, together with other gentlemen and officers, and an emissary +from the Duke of Lorraine. The result of their arrival demands another +chapter, for it seriously affected the fortunes of several persons +concerned in the events which our history relates. Our scene changes to +the ancient monastic chapel of the castle, in which the commissioners +were brought before the king in council.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_V" id="ACT_V"></a>ACT V.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">Farewell To Jersey.</h3> + + +<p>The king's ordinary cabinet council was now reduced to three persons +besides himself, for it must be remembered that down to the days of the +German sovereigns, who could not join from ignorance of the language, +the English kings were always members of the cabinet, as the viceroy is +to this day in British India. Hyde still playing the vain Ind futile +part of ambassador in Madrid, Lord Hopton and the two secretaries, +Nicholas and Long, were the only ministers present.</p> + +<p>But the matter now opened by the arrival of the Scottish commissioners, +was considered of so much moment as to justify, and even to demand, the +summoning of the lieutenant-governor, and of all the peers then resident +in Jersey. The deliberations of this assembly—which may be regarded as +being tantamount to the Privy Council at large—lasted to the end of the +month of December. But we are not dealing with general history. It will +suffice to record that Winram, of Liberton, the chief of the mission, +appeared charged, in the name of the parliament and clergy of the +northern kingdom, to present and enforce certain written addresses, of +which the gist was this.</p> + +<p>Charles was to subscribe the "solemn league and covenant," to give +pardon and amnesty to all past political offences, and to agree to +maintain the Protestant religion, according to the Presbyterian rite. +Our fathers fought for freedom, but it was freedom only for themselves.</p> + +<p>Upon these conditions it was observed by the foremost of the king's +advisers, that the so-called "Scottish Parliament" was no Parliament at +all, neither having been called by royal mandate nor dissolved by the +late king's death. It was thus wanting in the essential elements and +attributes. Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who +should upset the very nature of the constitution. Yet the commissioners +asserted stoutly that their employers would not be treated with under +any other style, title, or appellation. The king's councillors frowned. +It was added, further, that the clergy of the Church of England, as +might be learnt from his majesty's own chaplains then present in Jersey, +would strenuously oppose the Scottish alliance. They would indeed rather +see the king go among the Papists in Ireland than among such strict +Protestants as the Scots. These counsels were upheld by certain of the +lords; and the Lord Byron, though not giving such extreme lengths, +thought it not well to form a conclusive opinion until it was seen what +advices should be received from Ireland, where Ormonde was still +endeavouring to withstand the forces of the English Parliament under +General Cromwell.</p> + +<p>About the end of the month, however, all hope from that side faded away. +The defence of Ireland had melted before the two passions of fear and +avarice. All the strong places in Ireland had yielded themselves to the +parliament. Ormonde admitted his failure in a letter to Charles, dated +"Waterford, December 15, 1619." On this Lord Byron joined in urging the +king to yield the questions of form or title, and to treat with the +Scots on their own terms.</p> + +<p>While things were still in suspense, Alain le Gallais was wandering idly +on the rude quay of S. Helier, looking up at the insulated castle, and +vainly seeking to conjecture what might be the nature of the plans being +there matured, when he was suddenly addressed from behind in a rough, +but not wholly unfamiliar voice. Turning about he beheld the grim face +and gaunt form of Major Querto, by no means softened by prison fare and +restraint.</p> + +<p>"I cannot say much in praise of your island, Captain," growled the +veteran, "either as regards hospitality or diversion. Out of bare eight +weeks that I have lived here, six have been spent in prison; and now +that they have let me out, I can find nothing better to do than to count +the pebbles upon this beach here."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais led the grumbling officer to a neighbouring tavern, and +called for a mug of cider and two glasses. When the liquor had begun to +do its office, Querto showed signs of better cheer, nothing loth to have +a companion.</p> + +<p>"It is not often that a poor gentleman hath even such refreshment as +this," he said presently, after lighting a pipe of tobacco. The words +were hardly courteous, but the speaker had not been bred in courtesy. +"We had short commons in Exeter, but then there was none of the citizens +fared better than we. Here in Jersey Mr. Lieutenant takes good care that +they who have keep and they who want go on lacking. Yet methinks he +might find it worth his while to take care for something else."</p> + +<p>"What, mean you, major?" demanded the Jerseyman.</p> + +<p>"Marry this," answered his companion, "that there be some among your +friends who do not choose to starve while there are pistoles to be won +by a brave action. Hark ye, captain, are you well affected or no? You +need have no fear, sir, in telling me. I am not strait-laced, and I can +keep counsel.</p> + +<p>"Dost thou call to mind a certain evening in London when you and Mr. +Lempriere were walking home together, and a warning was uttered in your +ears?"</p> + +<p>"Was it thou that played the raven? Didst thou think that we were of +your side?"</p> + +<p>"Of my side, quotha. Why, man, do you think me one to take sides? O, +lord Sir, sides are for the quality. Dick Querto is of his own side, no +other. Now, see here, Captain le Gallais, mayhap you know one Pierre +Benoist that was then in limbo?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, do I, and what of him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, marry this; that he is at large, and hath a lure for your young +Charlie there that will bring him from his perch on the rock yonder, and +mew the tercel in London town. What think ye the Parliament will deem a +meet reward for the men who bring them such a prize as that?"</p> + +<p>Le Gallais was aghast. He was asked to consent to a plot to kidnap the +king, and convey him into the hands of those who had taken his father's +anointed head from his shoulders. A plot to be carried out in Jersey, +and by the aid of Jerseymen! Alain was not a blind royalist, as we have +seen, but he had not learned, either from Prynne or from Lempriere, +either that Jersey could exist without a King of England or that +treachery was a necessary part of the work of liberty. At the same time +the ruffian before him must not be prematurely alarmed. So he played his +part as best he might.</p> + +<p>"I must think of it," he said, "the enterprise is bold. Tell me no more +of your projects," he added, with a sudden shame, as the swashbuckler +was about to enter into details. "I cannot now take part in your work, +for reasons."</p> + +<p>"All the better," said the bravo, "but see that you betray me not. The +fewer of us the larger the share; but you were best not betray me."</p> + +<p>"Threats are not needed, major," answered the Jerseyman, "I am no +traitor."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais paid the reckoning and sauntered off, a prey to contending +thoughts. That the cruel plot should come to nought, if its frustration +were within his means, he unhesitatingly resolved. That Querto's +confidence—unasked though it had been—should be used against himself, +was equally unwelcome to Alain's sense of honour.</p> + +<p>In his perplexity, he wandered almost as by instinct to the lodgings of +the Lemprieres. He had long been accustomed to regard the simple good +faith and courage of Mme. de Maufant as an infallible oracle in cases of +conscience. Never had so hard a need for an infallible oracle presented +itself to his mind as this.</p> + +<p>He found the ladies seated in a parlour on the ground floor, engaged in +their usual employment of knitting. The room was small, but warm and +snug. Under a pledge of secrecy, he told them in general terms that +there was a plot to seize the king, but took care not to mention the +names either of Querto or Benoist.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the council having broken up for the day, the king retired to +his chamber. But instead of resting and calling for refreshment, as was +his wont on such occasions, he seemed to meditate an excursion. Only +that, in deference to the prudent scruples of his council, he was +apparently going forth in strict disguise, for he unbuckled his +jewel-hilted sword, and took off his velvet doublet. Then tucking his +long hair under a fur cap, and putting on a blouse, such as was worn by +the country people, he walked out of the castle in the dark of the +winter evening, passing the sentries by giving the parole of the day. +The tide being low he walked across the "bridge," and at the town end +was accosted by a man, attired like himself, who was waiting for him +there.</p> + +<p>"Owls be abroad," said the stranger.</p> + +<p>"They mouse by night," answered the king.</p> + +<p>Without further communication the two walked silently through the town, +and up the steep lane in which Mme. de Maufant had taken up her abode. +It was on a hill over-looking the town, still known by the name of "The +King's Cliff." At the back were woods and fields.</p> + +<p>All this time Alain and the ladies of Maufant had remained in earnest +consultation. Rose was for letting matters take their course. She had +scant sympathy with those whose policy had separated her from her +husband, and who were, as she believed, plotting the betrayal of her +country, Jersey, and her Michael. In these lay all her world. That the +king should be carried off to London was nothing to her. But Marguerite +was younger and more generous. Wronged as she had been by Elliot's +insolent schemes, that account was balanced and closed by the great +audit. But she was not without a woman's romance, and the thought that a +king, young and unfortunate, was to be sold to his father's relentless +enemies and murderers, presented to her ardent mind a thing to be +prevented at all hazards.</p> + +<p>While they were thus debating the dog was heard to bark excitedly, and +footsteps were audible in the garden behind the house.</p> + +<p>"Mme. de Maufant," said a voice at the window, "come forth. It is I, +Pierre Benoist. I bring a message from your husband."</p> + +<p>"Wait an instant, Benoist," answered the lady, unalarmed, "I will let +you in."</p> + +<p>She went to the door, and gave admittance to two men in blouses. While +one conversed with Mme. de Maufant, the other advanced to her sister, +and, without taking heed of Le Gallais, addressed her in courtly tones, +holding his fur cap in his hand, his brown hair fell down upon his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Fear nothing, bright pearl of Jersey," said the stranger. "A traveller +who has heard of your charms asks leave to prove them."</p> + +<p>"Marguerite!" whispered Le Gallais on the other side, "be careful, it is +the king. I know his face. I have seen him many times in church."</p> + +<p>Marguerite slipped to the ground on her knees. "Ah, sir," she said, +imploringly, "the honour that you do us may cost your life. Your enemies +are at hand. Perhaps the house is already surrounded. Ah, heaven! put up +your hair!" So saying she aided the smiling young king to restore his +disguise, whilst Alain, with a sudden impulse, threw himself upon +Benoist, whom he gagged and pinioned almost before the rascal could +utter a sound.</p> + +<p>Charles, meanwhile not unwilling to wait the conclusion of the +adventure, retired by a back door, followed by Rose, who showed him into +the kitchen. The barking of the dog was at the same moment renewed, and +other footsteps and voices were heard further from the house, which was +apparently surrounded.</p> + +<p>Marguerite sank into a chair, while Le Gallais carried the helpless +Benoist out with whispered threats; and, throwing him into a dark +stable, shut the door upon him, locking it behind him and putting the +key into his pocket. He then returned into the parlour, and telling +Rose—who had re-entered the room—what he had done, bade her be of good +cheer. Marguerite continued to kneel, and her lips moved as if in +prayer.</p> + +<p>Meantime the voices came nearer. The dog, with one sharp yell ceased to +bark, and knocks were heard at the door. Alain gave Rose one encouraging +look and went out alone and unarmed to meet Querto and a number of +peasants, most of whom he recognised as belonging to his own company of +the parish militia.</p> + +<p>"What is it, neighbours?" he said, taking no notice of the major, and +speaking the local dialect.</p> + +<p>"Why, this gentleman hath brought us here to seize a spy," said one of +them—our old acquaintance Le Gros.</p> + +<p>"There is no spy here but himself," answered Le Gallais. Do you not know +who he is, Maître Le Gros? This is Major Querto, who came here about +selling Jersey to the French.</p> + +<p>"What are you saying in your whoreson lingo?'" cried the major. "Let us +in."</p> + +<p>"He wishes to do some mischief here," pursued Le Gallais. "Perhaps to +rob the ladies. Will you see Michael Lempriere's wife plundered?"</p> + +<p>"Never," said another of the peasants. "He said a spy had got admission +on false pretences."</p> + +<p>"There is no one here but I," said Le Gallais. "Do you take me for a +spy?"</p> + +<p>"We do not, Alain. Vive M. le Capitaine! What shall we do with him?" +said many friendly voices.</p> + +<p>"Take him to the Centenier under the Gallows-hill," said Alain, availing +himself of the rising tide. "Or, stay"—as he caught a look from Querto, +in which agony and reproach were mingled—"If he prefers it, carry him +on board the first ship bound for France. I will answer for his passage +money. Handle him as he deserves."</p> + +<p>To hear was to obey with the angry islanders. Hustled and disarmed, +bonnetted and bound with handkerchiefs, Querto was borne off, howling +and cursing. In a few minutes all was once more still in and about the +house, only the good watch dog had suffered. He would never sound +another alarm. One strobe of Querto's sabre had severed his faithful +head from his body.</p> + +<p>Alain returned to the parlour.</p> + +<p>Reassured by his telling them the story, they were easily persuaded to +retire to their chamber. Alain's next care was to seek the king's hiding +place.</p> + +<p>"You must stay where you are till morning, sir," he said, without +entering. "I will watch over the only way by which any one can approach +you."</p> + +<p>"As you will," cried Charles from within. "But hark ye, captain! +methinks a pint of claret would not be amiss, warm with a spiced toast +floating on the top."</p> + +<p>The man and his wife who waited on the ladies had been spirited away by +some intrigue on the part of Benoist, and the king would have to pass +the night alone in the small kitchen.</p> + +<p>More amused than disgusted with the royal levity, Le Gallais—who knew +the ways of the house—brewed the desired tankard, and, returning to the +kitchen, set the hot drink upon the table; then wishing the king "good +repose;" left him to his meditations.</p> + +<p>On returning to the parlour, Le Gallais carefully secured both the inner +and the outer door, put a log upon the fire, looked to the priming of +his pistols, laid his sword upon the table, threw a cloak over his +knees, sate up in his arm chair with a look of resolute vigilance, and +sank into a profound sleep, from which he did not wake till day streamed +through the casement. His first care was to go to the stable and release +Benoist, but that slippery rascal, after his wont, had released himself. +His gag and bandage lay upon the stable floor, along with a bar shaken +out of the loophole in the wall, leaving an aperture just large enough +for a lean man to push through.</p> + +<p>Returning to the house, Le Gallais found the graceless monarch seated at +table before a steaming bowl of porridge, while Rose was pouring him +some cider.</p> + +<p>"Odsfish," he heard Charles say, "I owe Captain Le Gallais thanks for a +fair deliverance, and you, madame, a courteous usage under difficulty. +But <i>à la guerre comme à la guerre</i>, and I have slept in worse +conditions than those of your house, madame. Let me but bid farewell to +your sweet sister, and I will be back in the castle before my absence +has been observed. Ha! Captain Le Gallais, you must be my guide back to +the quay. This part is strange to me."</p> + +<p>All Charles's prayers were vain. Marguerite had a <i>migraine</i>, and could +not have the honour of receiving the king's farewell. He finished his +breakfast, took a courtier's leave of his hostess, and set forth on his +homeward way, respectfully attended by Le Gallais. They walked through +the streets in silence for some time, the king having quite enough sense +to be ashamed of his situation.</p> + +<p>"You have an interest," he presently said, "in yonder ladies, captain?"</p> + +<p>"I have, sir. I am M. de Maufant's friend."</p> + +<p>"And therefore my enemy, I take it. No matter, you have served me a good +turn."</p> + +<p>Soon the strangely-assorted couple approached the quay. Scarcely anyone +being abroad at that early hour. Moreover they had come down to the +bridge head by way of the Gallows-hill, to avoid the publicity of the +main streets. As they parted, Charles turned kindly to his unwonted +follower, and said once more—</p> + +<p>"We shall not forget our obligation to you, Captain Le Gallais, whenever +a time comes for proper acknowledgment. Meantime, if you will not own us +as your king, tell me, as man to man, if there be anything in which +Charles Stuart can serve you."</p> + +<p>"Aye, is there," answered the Jerseyman, out of the fullness of his +heart. "For your own sake, sir, leave us. We are a simple folk, unused +to the ways of the great world, and only asking to be left in peace."</p> + +<p>"By the faith of a gentleman," muttered Charles, as he made his way out +to the castle, "the islander is right in his amphibious way. The solemn +league and covenant is not amusing, but it cannot be worse than living +here like a seal upon a rock; and when one goes forth to talk to a +comely wench, being reconducted to one's rock by a Puritan with webbed +feet. Yet he hath saved me from a shrewd pinch, and that is the truth."</p> + +<p>It will not be supposed that Charles was all at once prepared to drop +the little intrigue—so united to his already corrupted character, into +which he had been led by Benoist's insidious suggestions, acting upon a +mind always anxious for excitement, and predisposed by the talk of the +deceased groom-of-the-chamber. But the danger which he had incurred was +a warning in the opposite direction. Benoist was in hiding, and appeared +no more in the castle; lastly, the negotiations with the Scots now +became so urgent and so perpetual as to require his almost constant +presence and personal influence. The opposing motives and conflicting +opinions of his various advisers often kindled into violent altercation, +in composing which the really excellent qualities of the young king's +prematurely developed character had room for beneficial action. So the +ladies of Maufant were left free from a troublesome persecution, against +which, nevertheless, they took all due precautions.</p> + +<p>Upon general grounds Charles was now willing enough to leave Jersey. The +bluff firmness of Sir George Carteret, and the grave counsels of +Nicholas, by whom the lieutenant-governor was usually backed up, were +unwelcome to a sovereign; and his tiny kingdom afforded but little +compensation, especially when he was forbidden to visit it, and was +virtually prisoner on an almost insulated corner thereof. For Carteret +and Nicholas had heard of his nocturnal adventure, and had extorted a +promise from him not to go on land without their knowledge. They had +also taken other precautions in the same behalf, which were perhaps more +trustworthy.</p> + +<p>It was finally determined that the king and his retinue should leave the +island. The Scots' invitation was accepted on the terms proposed by what +it was agreed to call "the committee of estates;" and Breda, in Holland, +was named as the place where the final agreement should be engrossed and +signed by the high contracting parties. Here Charles would be safe in +the protection of his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, until +matters should be ripe for his departure to Scotland.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="EPILOGUE" id="EPILOGUE"></a>EPILOGUE.</h2> + + +<p>Since the events related in the foregoing chapters nearly two years had +gone by. Jersey had been saved from intrigues of the Queen and Lord +Jermyn. Charles had gone to France, and thence to Holland, followed by +the Duke of York, his brother, and later by Sir Edward Nicholas and the +other members of his council and court. The lieutenant-governor, freed +from even the slight control afforded by their presence, had given full +scope to the worse parts of his peculiar and complicated character. More +than ever was his administration of his native island marked by +unblushing egotism. Oppressive, grasping, unguarded in speech, and +almost unrestrained in action, he seemed, from one point of view, the +model of a sordid, short-sighted despot, making hay while the sun shone. +But he had a fund of caution which kept him from proceeding quite to +extremes, and his energy and ability were undeniable, as was also his +attention to business. Hence, while feared and even hated, he was still +respected and obeyed. Most of the militia officers were his creatures, +as were also—as we have already seen—the civil, judicial, and +legislative officers of the little republic. The seat of his government +was at S. Helier, while S. Aubin, on the opposite point of the bay, was +filled with his skippers and their crews, and the traders who profited +by their piratical proceedings. Hardly a week passed but some rich +prize—usually an English merchantman—was brought in there, to be +condemned by Carteret's court, and sold, together with her cargo, while +the unfortunate mariners who had manned her were left to their own +resources. Adventurers from all parts flocked to Jersey, to share the +gains of this new and irregular trade, while the lawful commerce of +England was menaced as with a cancer. With the resources derived from +his maritime enterprise, joined to what he drew from his fines, taxes, +exactions, compositions, and confiscations within the limits of the +island, the unscrupulous governor was founding a sort of Christian +Barbary, and becoming a hostile power no less than a public scandal. +Nevertheless, he could on occasion make a generous use of his ill-gotten +gains.[<i>v.</i> Appendix.] He sent money more than once to the necessitous +court in Holland, continuing to do so until the king departed thence to +Scotland. And he kept up such a stream of supplies for Castle Cornet, in +Guernsey, as enabled Sir Baldwin Wake, the commandant, to hold out +against all the force of the Parliamentary power in that island, and +against all attempts by sea. Indeed this remarkable siege lasted longer +than the fabled one of Troy, and the feat, however creditable to the +handful of men by whom it was performed, and to Osborne and his +successor Wake, was only rendered possible by the constant aid of Sir +George Carteret. Most of all, however, did that energetic officer enrich +himself, laying in fact the foundation of that greatness which +afterwards culminated in his descendant, the famous Lord Granville, the +rival of Walpole. He obtained from Charles a grant of Crown lands, +including the escheated manor of Melèches. And he further appropriated +to his own use the revenues of his personal enemies, the chief of whom +were the exiled Seigneurs Dumaresq, of Samares, and Lempriere, of +Maufant. It should, however, be added that he shed no more blood. In +fact with the exception of the Bandinels and Messervy, Seigneur of Bagot +(already mentioned), no one lost life for opposition to Sir George. He +even attempted to conciliate some of his opponents, restoring Le Gallais +to his post of captain in the militia, and empowering him to offer to +Lempriere's wife the use of her house at Maufant, which he had +confiscated. But that valiant lady resolutely refused to hold or inhabit +under the favour of an usurper, and continued to occupy the lodgings on +King's Cliff, though in constant straits for want of money. Marguerite, +who, however wild and light others found her, was always faithful to her +good sister, cast in her lot with Mme. de Maufant, with the consent of +her own family at Rozel; and it was chiefly by her assistance that the +expenses were in any way met. Le Gallais also lost no opportunity of +visiting the ladies and ministering to their wants like a brother, to +the great straining of his own slender savings. He carefully forebore to +press Mlle. de St. Martin with a lover's suit, whether or no to that +young lady's complete satisfaction we are not informed. In any case, her +manner, though composed by trouble, gave no sign of the state of her +feelings; and whether she was fond of Alain or weary of him, her +self-control was equally to her credit. As for Alain, he seemed to be +stupefied, rather awaiting ruin than expecting better times.</p> + +<p>Matters were in this state, when one lovely day in September, 1651, +Alain came before Mme. de Maufant and her sister as they sate knitting +in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Great news!" he cried, as soon as he was near enough for the ladies to +hear. "Great news! General Cromwell has thoroughly purged the garner. He +has beaten and scattered the Scots at Worcester. 'Tis said Charles +Stuart their king is taken prisoner. This 'crowning mercy,' as it is +called by the lord general, befel on the 3rd, the same day last year he +beat these same Scots at Dunbar. 'Tis a great and a bright day in his +lordship's life."</p> + +<p>"Count no man happy till his end," answered Rose gravely. "A day of +triumph may be a day of doom when God pleases. And how does this event +touch us, thinkest thou, Alain?"</p> + +<p>"Why thus," replied the young man. "The general is not a man to bear +with our lieutenant-governor's oppressions and piracies for ever. Like +Satan in the Apocalypse, Carteret hath great wrath, because he knoweth +that his time is short. For Admiral Blake hath been collecting his ships +at Portsmouth, and our informant says that they were to sail to-day, +eighty vessels of war. They carry a strong force of <i>fantassins</i>, +pikemen, and arquebussiers, with the new snaphaunces devised in the low +countries. Their commander is Major-General Haine, Prynne is there as +commissioner, and, best of all, Michael Lempriere is on board!"</p> + +<p>Rose looked at him with swimming eyes.</p> + +<p>"And Michael Lempriere comes as bailiff. He said that he would. And +then, when your fortunes are once more high, and you have no further +need of me ..."</p> + +<p>Alain faltered and looked down. But for that gesture even his despondent +mind might have been roused by the look that Marguerite cast upon him. +But the dart was parried by the shield of an obstinate depression.</p> + +<p>"I have arranged," he pursued, "with Sir George. You know that last +year he sent out a ship of five guns to America, laden with passengers, +all sorts of grain, and tools for husbandry. She was lost, being +captured (that is to say) off the Isle of Wight by Captain Green, of the +Commonwealth's navy. The stores were confiscated, but most of the +passengers came back to the island, and have been here ever since +awaiting a fresh opportunity for New Jersey. It will come soon, and I +sail with the next venture."</p> + +<p>"With the next fiddlestick," broke in Rose. "Speak to the silly fellow, +Marguerite. This is the last time of asking."</p> + +<p>Whatever may be thought of Alain's project of emigration, his +information was true enough. Cromwell had determined to put a stop to +the trouble caused by the present doings in Jersey. Yet he had no desire +to repeat the severities of Ireland. The Jersey cavaliers were good +Protestants, there had been no massacres, and their cause was warmly +supported by Prynne—a man with whom the general could not wholly +sympathise, but with whom he could still less afford to break on what +appeared to him a not very important difference. Left to himself, he +would not probably have been as stern with Jersey as he had been with +the blood-stained Rapparees and their allies, solicited by the leader of +the Moderates, he was willing to be won. So he readily agreed to the +counsels of those who urged him to accept Prynne's offer of service, and +appointed the Presbyterian confessor to accompany Blake and Haine as a +representative of conciliation and indulgence.</p> + +<p>Setting sail with a light north-east wind, the transports and their +convoy, multiplied by popular rumour into a vast fleet of war, and +really bearing nearly three thousand good troops and a quantum of field +guns, made slow way out of Portsmouth harbour on Sunday, September 19th. +Next morning they were in the open sea with all sail set. On the +quarter-deck of the <i>Constant Warwick</i>, a fine frigate (the first +launched by the new government) Lempriere and Prynne—now completely +reconciled—paced slowly up and down, talking of the present situation +and future policy. As they did so their eyes glanced from time to time +on the fair sea scape, illumined by the early autumn sunlight, and +shaded by the sails of the surrounding shipping.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a fair show, Mr. Bailiff," said the English politician, "And one +that ought to bring down our friend's stomach."</p> + +<p>"Faith! I do not know," answered the Jerseyman. "Sir George will fight, +I doubt. You know him as well as I."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, he cannot fight to much purpose, and I see not how there +can be any great effusion of blood. By himself he can do nothing, and +who will be of his side? It is the divine asseveration of the wisest of +men, Ecclesiastes vii. 7, 'Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' And +if it be so, Cartwright should have but few sane men about him. Yet in +his fall I pray he may find mercy. And I am forced to lean upon you, Mr. +Bailiff, in that behalf."</p> + +<p>"<i>Non tali auxilio</i>," began the quotation-loving bailiff. But Prynne +gravely pursued his pleading.</p> + +<p>"You may recollect what I said to the Commons' House three full years +ago. Indeed it was the very night before Pride's Purge. If fines, I +reminded them, if imprisonments, grievous mutilations, and brandings of +S.L.—which I once called 'stigmata landis;' but 'tis an ill subject for +jesting—could bespeak a true friend to liberty, why then sure I am one +whose voice might well claim, a hearing. Yet it hath been far otherwise +with yonder masterful men of the carnal weapon, who seek their own +advancement in the name of the Commonwealth. I have never coveted the +transient treasures, honours, or preferments of the world, but only to +do to my God, country, aye, and king, too, the best public services I +could, even though it brought upon me the loss of my liberty, the ruin +of my mean estate, and the hazard of my life. When the late king did +wrong I withstood him, to the extent of my poor capacity; but I was not +for seeing the crown and lords of the ancient realm of England subverted +or submerged by the flood of usurpation let in by some members of the +Lower House. My speech of the 4th December, 1649——."</p> + +<p>"I heard it," broke in the other, "And well do I remember the hum of +assent and approbation with which it was received."</p> + +<p>"It was printed no less than three times last year. Then followed my +tractate upon their deposing and executing their lawful king; and other +leaves against the arbitrary taxation of what I call 'the Westminster +Junto.' Think you that these things can be forgotten, or that my being +sent here with Haine is more than a hollow compliment? Recollect the +word that we exchanged at my lodging in the Strand two years ago, and +bear in mind that it is rather in your hands than in mine to temper +justice with mercy when my friends shall be overthrown in yonder +island."</p> + +<p>So pleaded, and to yet greater length, the verbose but earnest advocate. +But in truth he might have been more concise, less eloquence would have +sufficed had not the idle hours of a sea voyage thrown open a wider door +for its display. Lempriere was ready to promise anything on the joy of +the long-wished for moment.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Auderet."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>As he himself expressed the matter with wonted Latinity. His own nature +would have disposed him to adhere to the promise given long ago, and +still so urgently demanded of him by Prynne.</p> + +<p>On the evening of Monday, the 20th of September, the flotilla was +signalled in the north-western part of Jersey, where a vigilant outlook +had long been maintained upon the very top of Plémont. The sea heaved to +and fro in smooth fluctuations under the bright weather, which shed mild +splendour over the violet surface, studded with orange rocks. With +favouring airs the stately ships slid slowly on in crescent formation. +They cast anchor for the evening in S. Owen's Bay, sheltered on the +north by Grosnez Gape, and on the south by the cliffs that end in the +Corbière—an extent of nearly five miles.</p> + +<p>On shore all was bustle and preparation. Sir George's head-quarters were +at his cousin's seat, the manor house of S. Owen. The sandy plains to +seaward were held by companies of the island militia; the +lieutenant-governor's own immediate following consisted of a small +squadron of horse, raised and equipped by himself, but mounted on +chargers especially presented to them by the king. Considering the +natural difficulties of the coast, and that the equinox was at hand, the +numerical disparity was not absolutely desperate. Jersey is a strong +place yet. In those days of sailing ships and weak artillery it was a +gigantic fortress, if only held by a wholehearted and determined +garrison. Had that but been now the case, which, however, it was not. +The population in general had no insurmountable feeling of hostility +towards the <i>de facto</i> government of England. On the other hand, the +hearts of the Cavalier party were not high. A rumour had been +spread—not traceable to any distinct source—that Charles had been +taken after the rout of Worcester. The public, ever credulous of ill +tidings, fastened with morbid eagerness on such reports. "Sorrow and +despair," writes a Royalist eye-witness with natural exaggeration, +"could be seen in every face. The more dispirited began to cry out that +it was in vain to contend any longer against powers that, like a +torrent, bore down everything before them."</p> + +<p>Carteret, who though ambitious and covetous, was never wanting in +courage, energy, intelligence or versatility, turned the more +obstinately to his task. Concealing his natural anxieties, he rode about +from post to post in morion and buff coat, wearing a resolute +countenance, and doing all that one man could do to keep up the hearts +of his people and prepare a stout defence.</p> + +<p>The position of Le Gallais, though humbler, was much more complicated. +Nor was he possessed of sufficient strength of character to choose a +distinct path and steadily pursue it. Determined enough, as we have +seen, under excitement he could fight with his back to the wall. Nor was +he one to shrink from any duty that was plainly pointed out to him. He +could not prepare himself <i>de longue main</i> for a definite and consistent +conduct; still less had he the power—often wielded by natures otherwise +inferior—of striking a balance between opposing motives. His duty as a +militia-officer was at complete variance with his desires as a friend of +Lempriere's. He could not choose between them. He might have thrown up +his commission and devoted himself to watching over his friends at +King's Cliff. He might have cast his feelings to the winds and accepted +the post of orderly officer to the Lieutenant-Governor which was offered +him by Carteret. He chose neither line but adopted what he called "a +middle-course," in other words left himself to be drifted on the current +of events. He saw that the position of the cavaliers was hopeless if +they had to maintain a long and unaided contest against the conquerors +of Ireland and Scotland. He had no great trust in the willingness of the +French, none whatever in their good faith. His ardent desire to prevent +effusion of Jersey blood was a preoccupation that hid almost all other +considerations from his mind. And he had trust in the discipline and +morale of the Parliamentary troops, and in the presence among them of +Prynne and Lempriere, which saved him from much anxiety as to the +welfare of the ladies at King's Cliff.</p> + +<p>As he sate, that night, by the camp-fire of a picquet of his company he +heard two militiamen conversing, and recognised Benoist and Le Gros as +the speakers.</p> + +<p>"To what purpose are we here, <i>mon voisin</i>?" asked the former. "What +good would the sacrifice of ourselves do the King now, when perhaps he +has already undergone his father's fate and is no longer in this world?"</p> + +<p>"If the King be dead, indeed," answered Le Gros, "I for one will not +fire a single cartridge. All the same, he was a debonair prince, and +once gave me a groat to drink his health when he saw me holding his +horse."</p> + +<p>"That he is a prisoner is certain," croaked Benoist. "And if prisoner to +Maître Cromouailles he can only make his escape through one door. And +that door does not lead to Jersey, though it may to Paradise."</p> + +<p>Here the men got up and moved off in search of cider, which was being +served out by the Governor's orders at a neigbouring farm-house. But +their conversation mingled with the young Captain's thoughts as, +wearied with the marchings and countermarchings of the day, he dozed in +the still night air, lulled by the fire at his feet. Deep slumber must +have followed, for he started from dreams of tumult to feel the +vibration of air caused by a round-shot passing over his head. The wind +had fallen to an almost complete calm: a light breeze of autumn morning +breathed keen over the barren moor; bugles were sounding, drums +rattling, men shouting as they collected their accoutrements and fell in +under arms.</p> + +<p>Four-and-twenty guns from the nearest ships were playing upon them, +answered briskly by the little militia batteries that lined the bay. +Gunboats began to stand in, laden with red-coated marksmen discharging +their new pattern fire-locks. The militiamen on their part waded into +the sea and gave such answer as they could from their clumsy old +matchlocks: making good the deficiency—so far as noise was +concerned—by shouts of vituperation; and calling on their assailants as +"Rebels," "Traitors," and "Murderers of their King." The landing was +frustrated for the time.</p> + +<p>The next day was occupied in rapid movements from one part of the island +to another, in order to meet feigned attacks by the enemy who were ready +to turn any of those diversions into a real assault, on finding the +Jersey people unprepared. The Lieutenant-Governor had no choice but to +distract and weary his men, marching them backwards and forwards to S. +Aubin, S. Clement, and Gorey, according as the invaders appeared at one +or other of those landing-places. The militiamen were worn out by these +tactics, and were moreover of the class on whom Carteret's oppressive +taxations had long pressed with an almost intolerable weight. On the +third day their strength was reduced both by fatigue and desertion; and +in the afternoon, after more demonstrations a real landing took place in +S. Owen's Bay, the original point of attack. Carteret, as soon as he +perceived what was intended, galloped up his cavalry, ordering up a +battalion of militia in support, under his cousin, the Seigneur of S. +Owen. The English infantry formed upon the beach, and advanced to the +attack with terrible shouts and cheers. The first troop of Carteret's +horse met them boldly, and delivered a headlong charge; but the men who +had fought Rupert and Goring were not to be intimidated by a handful of +untrained cavaliers. The troopers were received with a volley that +emptied several saddles; and retired, leaving several of their number +dead and carrying off Colonel Bovil, a gallant English officer by whom +they had been led, and who soon after died of his wounds. The second +troop failed to support them, but guarded the retreat as the troopers +drew off without renewing their charge. Meanwhile, the militia who +should have been the third line dispersed and gained their homes. The +red 'coats meeting no further opposition marched cautiously across the +island, and encamped for the night on Gorey Common. Carteret, with such +men—mostly Cornishmen and Irish—as remained with him, threw himself +into Elizabeth Castle; the other forts, S. Aubin and Mont Orgueil, +yielded, almost without show of resistance, in a few days.</p> + +<p>In anticipation of such an occasion Carteret had furnished the Castle of +S. Helier with abundant provision, alike of victuals and ammunition; the +latter being stored in the old Abbey Church, which was proof against the +bullets used by the ordinary artillery of those days. His guns were +mounted on the landward batteries, so as to command the town and any +camp that might be formed there for siege purposes. The hill above—the +Mont de la Ville—was too remote to cause any serious danger from the +field-pieces of the period, which were not capable of sending shot with +effect to a greater distance than half-a-mile. He despatched boats to +convey his private property to France, and to take letters to the +Royalists there, asking for instructions and assistance; and then +stoutly prepared—with a garrison of 350 men—to sustain the siege +against the grim victors of Tredagh.</p> + +<p>Le Gallais, having lost his men in the late dispersal of the militia, +felt no scruple in seeking his friend Lempriere. The latter, after a +warm greeting, brought him to Prynne; and all three presently repaired +to the head-quarters, in La Motte-street, where they were amicably +received by Colonel Haine, the commander of the English forces.</p> + +<p>Haine was one of those rapidly-formed soldiers, who had been thrown up +and hardened by the war in England ten years before. He listened with +due attention to what Le Gallais had to say about the +Lieutenant-Governor's resources and probable intentions.</p> + +<p>"And who is this youth that hath such knowledge of affairs?" he asked, +turning to the Bailiff—for as such was Lempriere now officially +recognised.</p> + +<p>"He is one, sir, that hath suffered for the cause; a Captain in our +Militia, and my brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>Alain shot a glance of gratitude at Lempriere, while Haine, laying his +hand upon his shoulder, said in a friendly tone; "I pray you, Captain, +attend me as <i>aide-de-camp</i> until your company be reformed."</p> + +<p>Then calling for his horse, he led the party, swollen by the number of +his staff, to the head of the causeway leading to the Castle, "If what I +hear from Captain Le Gallais be correct," he said to his Brigade-Major, +"the Castle will not yield. But send them a trumpet, and let them not +have cause to say the officers of the Commonwealth are unacquainted with +the usages of war."</p> + +<p>The trumpeter rode forward to summons the Castle, a white flag flying +from the tube of his instrument. Ere he could reach the gate, a gun +boomed out from the Castle, a round shot whizzed over the heads of the +summoners, and Haine roared at the top of his well-trained voice, "Come +back; it is a sufficient answer."</p> + +<p>And so the fiery duet began—the batteries of the Churchyard sounding +daily in harmony with those of the Castle, whilst ever and anon a piece +of greater calibre roared its bass from the Town-hill.</p> + +<p>Lempriere made haste to remove his wife and their sister from the noisy +alarms of war to their quiet home at Maufant, where he left them to +remove the traces of the usurper, and restore the old state of things +with the help of the steward and such of the farmers as had not died out +or left the country. One consequence of this removal was that Le Gallais +saw nothing of the ladies. His new duties kept him much at the +Brigadier's side; when not so employed, he was chiefly occupied with +Prynne, who was attracted by the turn of the young man's mind, more akin +to his own than that of the "hot gospellers," the "levellers," and the +professional soldiers by whom he was surrounded.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the siege dragged slowly on, until one dark night in the end +of November an old acquaintance, Pierre Benoist, threw himself in the +way of a party of Carteret's scouts, who had come on the mainland and +were questing for intelligence or plunder. Taken before Sir George, he +was threatened with the doom of a prisoner-of-war, who was also a spy, +unless he would tell all that he knew. He asked for nothing better, +having got himself taken by the patrol for the express purpose of +furnishing the garrison grounds for an early surrender. Especially +pleased was the rogue when the Lieutenant-Governor pressed him to +explain the nature of a movement of the enemy upon the top of the +Town-hill, which had been perceived before nightfall; and of the cargo +landed at S. Aubin by a heavy-looking craft that had arrived in the +morning, and which seemed neither man-of-war nor trader.</p> + +<p>"That I can tell you," said Benoist; "they are preparing engines for +your ruin. I saw the pieces landed, and drawn by oxen to the Mont de la +Ville. Two pieces of ordnance whereof each shot weighs four hundred +Jersey pounds, and takes ten pounds of powder to discharge. The like has +never been seen, and they will carry a ball from Mont Orgueil to the +coast of Prance. <i>Ver di!</i>"</p> + +<p>Carteret laughed; but his laughter was only justified by the +exaggeration. It did not altogether conceal the genuine anxiety caused +by so much of the information as might be reasonably believed.</p> + +<p>The anxiety was soon realised. When the mists of the winter dawn cleared +up, it was seen that a strong work of granite had been newly thrown up +on the nearest point of the hill, and while the besieged were still +examining the structure, a vivid jet of flame and a puff of smoke darted +from one of the embrasures, and a thirteen-inch shell—the largest +projectile then seen—came booming over their astonished heads. Two more +followed, at short intervals. After the third, an awful report was +heard, a babel of tumult followed, and a gigantic column of smoke +towered up behind them, from the magazine in the old Abbey Church. +Splinters and fragments of stone and timber, mingled with pieces of +powder, barrels, and ghastly members of human carcases were scattered, +as they rose as out of a horrid volcano. The magazine had been struck +and exploded by the great shell, killing no less than sixteen men, and +wounding horribly ten others, including soldiers on guard, armourers, +and workmen who had been collected for the daily labours of the arsenal. +Among the bystanders was Pierre Benoist, who now lay among the ruins, +half crushed by a stone, and who died after intense suffering in the +course of the day.</p> + +<p>A panic spread through the garrison; some prepared to fly at once, +others clamoured for surrender. Carteret called them together; and when +the officers and men were all collected on parade, appealed to all +classes, as Lieutenant-Governor of the King whom they had all seen +trusting himself in their protection, and as commander of the royal +forces in the loyal island "I am determined," said the undaunted seaman, +"to keep this castle for His Majesty so long as I have a man left to +fire a gun, and a loblolly boy to fetch the ammunition. The royal +standard still flies over our heads, the sea still lies between us and +France, to bring us Prince Rupert and his fleet. Let those who are +afraid depart—I keep no man against his will. Those who remain will be +all the more trustworthy. Let the gate stand open for the next +half-hour."</p> + +<p>His orders were obeyed; but as he probably foresaw, no one dared to +leave openly. By night, however, many of the garrison, who were of the +Jersey Militia, silently departed. The bulk of the garrison, however, +had heard of the storm of Drogheda, and chose what they deemed the +lesser evil of trusting to the strength of their walls and the resources +of their commander. To go to a town where they were unpopular +strangers, and where the soldiers of the Commonwealth were in undisputed +possession, would be to go to certain and immediate slaughter—to remain +with Carteret was to gain the present hour and the chances of the +future. Lady Carteret and the women and children were sent by the next +opportunity to France; and then the work of defence was renewed; the +guns were fired, as powder served and supplies were received from +France; injured walls were repaired, and aid was anxiously awaited. +Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, had held out since the Outbreak of +hostilities more than ten years before—why should not Elizabeth, do as +much, until the king enjoyed his own again? Meanwhile, December had +begun, and the days grew short and cold. Haine's great mortars proved +rude and cumbrous; before they could be loaded and fired, and cooled +again, one after the other, many times, the darkness would come on. The +remaining stores were buried out of range. In the black and stormy +nights, which lasted nearly sixteen hours, the men of the garrison threw +up mounds of shingle and sand behind the breaches made during the day.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 5th December the sun rose clear and bright, and a +south-west wind softly threw out the silken folds of the Royal Standard +on the main tower of the Castle. Haine was standing by a cromlech that +in those days occupied the summit of the Town-hill; Prynne, Lempriere, +and some officers, of whom Le Gallais was one, stood beside him. In +their immediate front the gunners, under an officer, were preparing to +renew their apparently endless operations.</p> + +<p>"This must be brought to an end, Mr. Bailiff," said Haine. "For seven +weeks and more I have exhausted the powers of modern war upon that eyry +of malignants; and there is still the Guernsey Castle to be dealt with. +Mr. Prynne knoweth what is the mind of the Lord General; but a time +comes when sharp measures become necessary. I must take up +scaling-ladders and deliver an assault."</p> + +<p>As they looked out to sea a small barque was seen standing in; by the +help of field-glasses, it was observed that she flew the French flag. At +the same instant the Castle guns saluted.</p> + +<p>"Lo you, now!" pursued the commander, "there comes to them a promise of +help from France. As the Lord liveth, it must be prevented! I must +recall our cruisers from Guernsey; that castle shall be breached and +stormed on Monday. And then on their own heads be the blood of Sir +George and of those that hold with him!"</p> + +<p>"Under your favour, sir," said Prynne, "I think it shall not need." He +exchanged a hurried whisper with Lempriere. "What flag is that which you +see flying on the Castle staff?"</p> + +<p>"It is not a flag of truce," shouted Haine. "God do so to me and more +also if I make them not like unto Oreb and Zeb!"</p> + +<p>The text seemed to relieve the veteran like an execration.</p> + +<p>"What mean you by your flag, Mr. Prynne? I am not to take my orders from +you, sir, I hope."</p> + +<p>"It is the flag of England," answered the politician, "of your country +and of theirs—the red cross of S. George. The Royal Ensign has been +hauled down; do you not see? God save England!"</p> + +<p>With the impulse of Latin manners, Lempriere held out his arms, and Le +Gallais fell upon his breast. Meanwhile a drummer from the Castle was +seen to ascend the bill, bearing a white pennon at the end of a lance, +which he planted on the ground when he came within sight, and beat the +<i>chamade</i> upon his instrument.</p> + +<p>The messenger being brought before the Brigadier, handed him a small +packet. Among them was a short note to the address of Captain Le +Gallais, in which Carteret, reminding the militia officer of their past +relations, invited him to plead his cause and that of the garrison with +Lempriere and Prynne. This note Le Gallais, after attentive perusal, +handed to Lempriere, who read it over, and waited in silence until Haine +had finished his own despatch. He then addressed the Brigadier, and +pleaded strongly the cause of his countrymen, concluded with these +words:</p> + +<p>"Carteret, sir, was a sentinel; he hath but done his duty to his master. +So long as he was not relieved, he could not honestly leave or surrender +that which he was placed to guard. Why he now lowers his arms he hath +made plain I doubt not, to your Honour."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Mr. Bailiff; for the matter of that, he hath put a fair case. +Yonder barque, it seems, brought him cold comfort. As for that thing +they call their 'King,' he is lost. He can only offer them aid on +condition of delivering the island to the French. Not that Mazarin dares +affront us by sending a French army to occupy the Castle in the name of +his King, and risk the giving us battle. Far from that, he hath a +conjunction of counsels with the Lord General, and they understand one +another. Nevertheless, there is ever a rabble of Irish cut-throats, +Flemish mercenaries, and such-like, and no lack of Maulévriers to be +their leaders."</p> + +<p>"But if such men come into Jersey," said the Bailiff, "who can say when +or how they would quit, or what mischief they might not have wrought +first."</p> + +<p>"One remedy for that," said the soldier, grimly, "will be to storm the +Castle forthwith, and let all be over before their friends can arrive."</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, do not so!" cried Lempriere; "not now that they have +surrendered."</p> + +<p>"I will be bail," added Prynne, "that Carteret shall depart in peace, +after giving up all that is in his charge. Only let Captain Le Gallais +go to him with a note of your Honour's terms; and let us await, I pray +you, his return."</p> + +<p>The General having at last consented, after just so much show of +hesitation as to make it appear that the terms were yielded to the +persuasion of his chief associates, Le Gallais returned with the drummer +bearing the <i>ultimatum</i> of the English commander. He found the interior +of the Castle a scene of havoc; among the <i>débris</i> Carteret, like a +modern Marius, maintained an air of resolution.</p> + +<p>"It is not enough, Captain," said he, after brief salutations had been +exchanged, "that we have fired away all our ammunition, and eaten our +last horse, while the blockade of your friend's cruisers ever increases +its rigour. After all was done, we could die in the breach or in a +general sortie. But there is treachery abroad. Not indeed among +ourselves, but among those whom we desire to serve."</p> + +<p>"Your King, urged by his necessities, would sell you to the French?"</p> + +<p>"It shall not be!" cried Carteret, with a fierce oath. "Let me see your +General's terms. Better an English Parliament than a Popish King." He +called into the corridor, "Bring the best bottle of wine that is left in +my cellar!"</p> + +<p>Le Gallais handed him the note containing the heads of Haine's terms. +"Perhaps, messire, you would consult with your council?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"<i>'A quoi bon?</i>" said Carteret. "You heard what the States carried by +acclamation, in October, 1649? All who are with me are of the same mind +still." The wine was brought. "What was said then in a triumph, I say +now in the day of my downfall; Captain, fill your glass! 'England for +ever! England above all!'"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The happy effect of this unexpected but welcome end of strife was soon +made known throughout the island. In the towns and villages tar-barrels +blazed all through the winter-night, and the best cider flowed free in +the farms.</p> + +<p>At Maufant all was happiness. The character of Marguerite de S. Martin +had come out purified from the trials of the past two years, and the +coquette-girl had grown into a woman, with but a lingering spice of +<i>mutinerie</i>. Rose, happy in the restoration of her husband to all public +honour and private joy, was anxious that her sister should partake in +her happiness.</p> + +<p>"Alain Le Gallais is no Solomon; that I grant you," so she concluded a +conversation on family matters, which they held after the labours and +excitement of the day; "but he can do his duty to his country; he has +proved himself a serviceable friend. Take him, <i>tel quel</i>, my little +heart, thou canst not hope for a better."</p> + +<p>"Marriage is a slavery, <i>quand même</i>," said Marguerite, with a saucy +shake of the head. "But it is not," she presently added, "I that will be +the slave; and there is some comfort in knowing so much."</p> + +<p>So the public and private troubles wore brought to an end at the same +time. Carteret and his followers were allowed to go to France in peace +and honour. Lempriere and he had held no intercourse since the +surrender, but the Bailiff and his wife were honoured members of the +assembly that gathered on the quay on the morning of the Cavaliers' +departure. The rising sun threw his orange hues on their swelling sails.</p> + +<p>"We have won this time," said Rose, pressing her husband's arm. "Mr. +Prynne, have you no compliment for us?"</p> + +<p>"It is our advantage," said Prynne in answer; "let us see that we +deserve it. There as a Power that judgeth right, and in serving of whom +there is great reward. For my part, I have done much wrong, to your +husband among others. I have been punished for mine offences; if I would +avoid more punishment, I must offend no more."</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<p>The character of Sir George Carteret is taken from the materials of the +time, without aid from fancy.</p> + +<p>It should be added that Charles showed no ingratitude towards this +faithful servant. After the Restoration he settled in London, where—in +spite of his bad English, noticed by Andrew Marvell—he rose to high +rank and founded a noble family, now represented by the Marquess of +Bath.</p> + +<p>Carteret was employed at the Admiralty, first as Treasurer, afterwards +as Commissioner—or Junior Lord. He was also Vice-Chamberlain of the +Royal Household; and he amassed considerable wealth.</p> + +<p>But he never forgot his native island. He endeavoured to found a High +School at St. Helier, what in the pompous style of these days would be +called a "College." But the project broke down for want of earnestness +on the part of the Jersey people, though Sir George offered the then +very large sum of 50,000 <i>livres tournois</i> towards the endowment. He +lived till 1680.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14216 ***</div> +</body> +</html> diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..398e596 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #14216 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14216) diff --git a/old/14216-8.txt b/old/14216-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..be4a5a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/14216-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3941 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of St George's Cross, by H. G. Keene + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: St George's Cross + +Author: H. G. Keene + +Release Date: November 30, 2004 [EBook #14216] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST GEORGE'S CROSS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +ST. GEORGE'S CROSS; +OR, +ENGLAND ABOVE ALL. + +_An Episode of Channel Island History._ + +BY + +H.G. KEENE + +GUERNSEY: +FREDERICK CLARKE, STATES ARCADE. + +LONDON: +W.H. ALLEN & CO., 15. WATERLOO PLACE. + +1887. + + + + +TO THE READER. + + +The following little tale is neither pure fiction nor absolute historic +truth; being, indeed, little more than an attempt to show a picture of +Channel Island life as it was some two centuries ago. For the background +we have been beholden to Dr. S.E. Hoskins, whose "_Charles the Second in +the Channel Islands_" may be commended to all who may feel tempted to +pursue the matter further. + +_August, 1887._ + + + + +PROLOGUE. + + +On a bright day in September of the year 1649 Mr. William Prynne, a +suspended Member of Parliament, sat at the window of his lodging in the +Strand, London, where the Thames at high water brimmed softly against +the lawn, bearing barges, wherries, and other small craft, and gleaming +very pleasantly in the slant brightness of an autumn noon. + +The unprosperous politician looked upon the fair scene with quiet cheer. +He was a man of austere aspect, and looked farther advanced in middle +life than was actually the case. For he was bearing the unjust weight of +a double enmity; and though his after conduct showed that the world's +injustice by no means threw him off his moral balance, yet it is +impossible for a man to get into a position where every one but himself +seems wrong and not acquire a certain sense of solitude, which, with a +grave nature, will make him graver still. By the Cavaliers he had been +pilloried, mutilated, fined and imprisoned: expelled from the University +where he was a Master-of-Arts, driven out of the Inn-of-Court in which +he had been a Bencher. By the Roundheads, on the other hand, he had been +visited with a later and more intolerable wrong, exclusion from that +House of Commons which was the only surviving seat of sovereignty. Thus +excommunicated on all sides, Prynne still preserved his free and buoyant +nature. He had the voice and impulsive manner of a young man; while +there was a consistent moderation in his opinions which--however it +might weigh against his success as a party-man--yet sprang from +conviction, and was a guard against misanthropy. + +In his apparel he was plain but not slovenly. His eyes were eager; his +lean face, branded with the first letters of the words "Seditious +Libeller," was shaded by straight falls of lank hair, streaked here and +there with grey, that was combed down on either side of his head to hide +the loss of his ears. + +Hearing a step without, Prynne laid down the book he had been reading--a +pamphlet by John Milton--and advanced, with an air of polite reserve, to +meet the entering visitor. This was a man more than ten years his +junior, short of stature, with clear-cut features and thoughtful blue +eyes contrasting with hair and moustache dark almost to blackness. His +neatly brushed garments had a threadbare gloss, and his broad linen +falling collar, though white and clean, was somewhat frayed. But his +bearing was high-bred and distinguished, with an air of sober yet +resolute earnestness. He wore no sword, and the hat which he carried in +his hand was plain of shape and without adornment. + +"M. de Maufant," said Prynne, with the shy courtesy of a student, "will +admire that I should seek speech of him after sundry passages that have +been between us." + +"Alack! Mr. Prynne," answered the stranger, with a slight foreign +accent, "since your captivity in Mont Orgueil many things have befallen. +'Tis not alone I, Michael Lempriere the exile, changed from the state +of Seigneur de Maufant and Chief Magistrate of Jersey to that of an +outcast deriving a precarious subsistence from teaching French in your +Babylon here; but methinks you yourself have had a fall too, since the +days you speak of: when you left Jersey for London you came here in a +sort of triumph. But by this time, methinks, you must be cured of your +high hopes: I say it not for offence, but rather out of sorrow." + +"Why no," answered the ex-Member. "Though I be no longer one of yonder +assembly, I am still a denizen of London; and, let me tell you, a +citizen of no mean city. And I bear my share in advancing the great +cause on which so many of us are now engaged. Have you not read what Mr. +Milton hath said here as touching this?" And he took up the book which +he had dropped in the window-seat "It is well said, as you will find." + +Motioning Lempriere to a chair, he took another and read as follows:-- + +"'Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion-house of +liberty, encompassed and surrounded with its protection ... pens and +hands there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, +revolving new notions and ideas, wherewith to present, as with their +homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation.' As he saith a +little further on, the fields of our harvest are white already; and it +is your privilege and mine that live among this wise and active people, +to see it coming, perhaps to put in a sickle. The pamphlet is becoming a +force stronger than the sword; and those Ironsides and Woodenheads who +turn us out of the Chamber where our fellow citizens had seated us, may +find an ill time before them when our work is over. But our work will be +the work of freedom." + +What more would have been said, now that Prynne was setting forth on +his dearly-loved hobby, of which the name was _Cedant arma_, is unknown; +for the serving-man entered at this moment with a simple but plentiful +repast carried on his head from the adjacent tavern; and even Prynne's +eagerness was dashed with caution enough to keep him to ordinary topics +of talk so long as the man was in the room. But Lempriere had seen and +heard enough to put him in good humour with his host. The intimacy of +the latter with the Carterets, and a suspicion of general lukewarmness +in the popular cause, had begotten old enmities, of which Lempriere, in +the long probation of failure, exile, and poverty, had already learned +to be ashamed; and to see the man he had misjudged, looking him eagerly +and earnestly in the face as he uttered the language of a genuine +reformer, completed the Jerseyman's conversion. After the servant had +brought pipes and glasses and left the gentlemen to their tobacco and +their wine, their talk grew more familiar as they looked at the flowing +river, and the deserted towers of Lambeth away on the other side. + +"The truth is," said Prynne, "that I received from the cavaliers of your +island kindnesses that I cannot forget; yet as touching the trial and +execution of the late King, if I have gainsayed aught of the other side, +yet I need not repeat that I have ever been a friend to Liberty, as +witness these indentures," and with a starched smile he pointed to the +marks upon his face. "I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir +George Cartwright...." + +"Let us not talk of him," answered the other, with a flush on his +swarthy cheek. "I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs +entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When +his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the +Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be +a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath +made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people, +but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve +parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside +his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at +an easy farm." + +"I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such +a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip's +ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain +speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and +would, under God's pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause +of reasonable freedom." + +"I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne. +This wise man hath said that 'the simple believeth every word.' But if +we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we +might say 'that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret +when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.' And farther, it hath even +been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of +that for which you suffered." + +"It skills not," answered the host, with evident self-control, "it +skills not to rake into that which is passed." + +"Neither did I seek to do so," rejoined the Jerseyman, "I seek no +offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight's spirit, and whether +he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me +have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the +affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present +successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a +kinsman or creature of his own?" + +"Methinks," said Prynne, shrewdly, "there be others than he who would +gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes." + +"That may be," said Lempriere. "The labourer is worthy of his hire, to +give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies +by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant +daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the +charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a +multitude of sins!" + +The conference was once more growing warm, when fortunately, it was +abridged by the sudden entrance of a man not unlike Lempriere in general +appearance, though taller and many years his junior. He wore a steel +cap, a gorget, and a buff coat; and received a hearty welcome from the +Jerseyman, by whom he was presented to Prynne. + +"Captain Le Gallais is newly arrived from our island," said Lempriere, +"and I made bold to leave word that I was here, in case of his coming to +my lodgings while I tarried with you. He brings me news of 'domus et +placens uxor,'" added the speaker, taking with a sad smile the letter +which Le Gallais handed him. The servant having brought a third long +stalked glass and placed it on the table, left the room once more, as +the visitor, unbuckling his long basket-hilted sword, threw himself into +a high-backed chair, and stretched his limbs, as one who rests after +long travel. + +"I am come post," said he, "from Southampton. There is that to do in +Jersey which it imports the rulers of this land to know." + +"That may well be," observed Lempriere, who shared his countryman's +idea of the importance of their little island. "But how fares my Rose? A +wanderer may love his Ithaca, but he loves his wife most. Have I your +leave, Mr. Prynne, to examine this missive?" + +Prynne bowed, and Lempriere cut open his letter. + +"Penelope maketh such cheer as she may," he added, after glancing at the +contents: "but I see nothing of your mighty news, Alain." + +"The letter was written before I learned the same. The return of Ulysses +did not then seem so far as it does now." + +"Leave riddling, Alain, and let us know the worst." + +"The worst is, Charles Stuart is in S. Helier, with a large power, +warmly received by Sir George, and holding the island as a tool of +Jermyn and the Queen, if not a pensioner of France. I saw his barge row +into the harbour at high tide, followed by others laden with silken +courtiers and musicians; horse-boats and cook-boats swelled the train; +the great guns of the Castle fired salvoes, and the militia stood to +their arms upon the quay, with drums beating, fifes squeaking, and our +own company from Saint Saviour's ranked among the rest, green leaves in +their hats and round the poles of their colours." + +Lempriere leant his head on his hand with a discomfited and despondent +gesture. Prynne addressed him kindly:-- + +"Have a little patience, H. de Maufant," said he. "The sun shines in +heaven though earth's clouds hide his face." + +"Lukewarm Reuben!" cried the other, impatiently. "What comfort can I +have from such as thou? While we talk my country is indeed undone: my +wife perhaps a wanderer, and my lands and house given over to the +enemy." + +"Nay, but it need not be so," said Prynne. "The Rump that ruleth here, +even were it a complete Parliament, cannot be an idol to you and yours. +I have read your island laws. Those that say that the Parliament hath +jurisdiction there must, sure, be strangely ignorant. And so witnesseth +Lord Coke, no slave of the prerogative. Your islands are the ancient +patrimony of the Crown: what hinders you from casting in your lot with +Charles? For my part, I would willingly compound with him. Let him rule +as he pleases there, provided he make not slaves of us." + +"There spoke the self-loving Englishman," cried Le Gallais, whom respect +for his seniors had hitherto kept silent. "If you speak of hindering, +what is to hinder Sir George, now that he hath the King for backer, from +confiscating all our remaining lands and applying the produce to fitting +out a fleet which will ruin the trade of all England? It is a question +for you also, you perceive." + +"_Proximus Ucalegon_," said Lempriere, whom nothing could long restrain +from airing his classical knowledge. "But leave me to speak to Mr. +Prynne in terms that will not offend, and that he cannot fail to +understand. Harkye, Mr. Prynne," he said, turning to his host and +resuming use of the English language in lieu of the patois in which he +had addressed his countryman. "You love the Commonwealth, I know; your +many sufferings in that behalf show you a true friend to the cause of +English liberty. But to me it appears that this cause cannot be fitly +separated from that of your small satellite yonder." + +"I do not seek to deny it," answered Prynne. "Now this good fellow," +pursued Lempriere, laying his hand on his young friend's shoulder, +"(and let his zeal make amends for his blunt manner) hath brought +tidings, from which it appears that our affairs are in such a state as +calls for your interposition. And I learn moreover from this letter that +Henry Dumaresq is stirring, and the greed and grasping of the Carterets +have made them many ill-wishers. Nevertheless, Pierre Benoist hath been +taken, and under torture may readily betray our plans. On the other +hand, he that is called King there, the young Charles Stuart, is under +the regimen of his mother, who is the tool of France. Between them all +Jersey may be lost to the Commonwealth before a blow be stricken." + +"Nay," cried Prynne, interrupting, "I would not have you say so. We +English are neither braggarts nor cowards. Whitelocke knoweth the mind +of Mazarin; and I pray you note that Cromwell, though as a man of State +I do not uphold him, is a soldier whose zeal never sleeps, and who cares +more for the welfare of England and such as depend upon her than any +Stuart will ever do, or undo. I sent for you, indeed, on this very +behalf; not minded to show you all the springs of politics, yet to give +you a word of comfort and to ask of you a word of friendliness in +return, yea, word for word, an you will." + +The politician's keen eye softened as he looked at the forlorn exile. +The latter turned abruptly, as if to reveal no corresponding emotion: +then, looking straight before him, said in low tones:-- + +"For comfort, God knows whether or no it be needed. My place and power +are lost--such as they were--a price is set upon my head by those who +slew Maximilian Messervy. My wife--who is to me like the apple of mine +eye--is alone, battling with hostile authority, and with tenants too +ready to profit by her helpless condition. I am as one encompassed by +quicksands, and nigh to be swallowed up. I am tempted to say with +David, 'Vain is the help of man.' Do you show me a bridge of escape?" he +asked, turning to Prynne, "what is your meaning? I pray you speak it +out." + +"You cannot," said his host, "have forgotten Serjeant-Major Lydcott of +this Army; and how with a slender company he landed on your island six +years ago. It was about the end of August, 1643, I remember well, for +Sir Philip had been dead bare three days and indeed was not yet buried: +and the castles of Jersey still held out for the Cartwrights. I said +then that, had Lydcott but taken three hundred of our sober, God fearing +soldiers, he would have established himself as master of the island on +behalf of the Commonwealth. George Cartwright had never come over from +S. Maloes; the pirates of S. Aubin would have been confounded and +brought to nought; Sir Peter Osborne had never held Castle Cornet in +Guernsey (to the shame and sorrow of the well-affected in that island), +had they but been backed and aided from Jersey. Even as things were, and +with no more help but what he got from you--I say it not to offend +you--how much did not Lydcott do? Three days after his landing he called +together the States and opened before them his commission from the Earl +of Warwick, Warden of the Isles and Lord High Admiral of England. You +were present and presiding, as you must needs remember, together with +all but three Jurats, all the Constables save one, and nearly half the +Rectors. Without a dissentient voice you administered the oath of +Lieutenant-Governor to Lydcott, yourself standing forth as Bailiff and +sworn the first. What hindered you then from holding fast? Nothing but +want of a backbone of strength. The militia, whom you now hold +malignant, swore allegiance to a man, save and except one Colonel who +was broke then and there. You may say George Cartwright drove you out; +but what did he do that could justify your flight? I must be plain with +you: with all outward and visible signs of power you gave way before +three open boats and a mouldy ruin." + +"We gave way," said Lempriere with an indignant flush, "because we were +forsook by them on whom we leaned." + +"I know it," pursued Prynne, "I say it not to blame you, but to blame +the lukewarm weakness of those who held authority there on the part of +the Commonwealth: for had Lydcott been ever so able and willing he +lacked support from hence. We had our hands full of graver business. +Only I neither desire nor expect such things should be done a second +time. There be those now in power that will take better order. The +future of your islands, the ties that bind them to us, were not known +six years ago; and our friends--as I have already said--had other +matters, more pressing, to attend to. But now is not then. Now, that a +violent policy that I cannot altogether undertake to defend hath shorn +the strength of tyranny, and that fair deceiver the late King--whom none +could safely trust or utterly despise--is by that blow taken out of our +path, we are free to set matters straight around us. It is therefore not +to be endured that your small wasps' nest yonder should continue to +infest our ambient ocean with her petty and poisonous alarms. This is +the word I have to give thee--friendly meant, though thou mayest have +been hitherto no friend to me. Jersey will be brought under the power of +the Commonwealth, and you will be among the instruments of its +reduction. I seek a word from you in return for mine." + +"Sir," said the bewildered exile, "you have spoken hardly, but, I +believe, with a meaning kinder than seemed: a good intent makes amends +for a harsh manner, and a bitter drink may strengthen the heart, as has +this day been done to mine by the mingled counsel and reproof that have +been poured out for me. I seek not to pry into your affairs of State, +and what I have heard Le Gallais hath heard also. I therefore make no +scrutiny as touching the means to be employed; the end we will take +thankfully according as promised. If the Parliament and the Lord General +be so minded, I make no doubt but we shall return to our home. But as +regards the word you seek from me, I would fain know to what it shall +relate. You seek, I presume, to make conditions with me: let me know, in +the hearing of my friend, what they be. That we of the island shall be +true and faithful servants to the Commonwealth of England, not seeking +to intermeddle in matters that may be beyond our concernment, I would +gladly undertake for myself and for all with whom my wishes may have +weight: but methinks it shall hardly need. And perchance your Honour may +intend to glance at some more private matter?" + +"I do so," answered the politician. "I have never hidden from you the +love that I bore for good Sir Philip living, nor how dear I hold his +memory now that he is dead. I would not that any who were of his party +should suffer damage when the cause shall prosper in the island. You +have heard of Cromwell's present doings in Ireland: all the world knows +what things are being wrought in that unhappy country, where the Lord +Ormonde hath been another Cartwright and hath met with an overthrow the +like of which I pretell for his Jersey antitype. Cartwright is as +unbending and will hold out to the last. + +"Mont Orgueil, indeed, can make no opposition to a regular siege: we are +not now in the days of Du Guesclin. But it may be otherwise with +Elizabeth Castle. Like her whose name she bears that fortress is a +virgin, and not without a struggle will she yield. Cromwell loves not +such defences. Let us be there when the hour comes, and let us combine +to keep the garrison from perishing by the swords of our friends." + +"Gladly will I do my best in aid of mercy," answered Lempriere, looking +much relieved by the nature of the request. "If that be all that your +Honour hath to ask, I can have no hesitancy in giving a hearty and +honest pledge in such behalf. Jersey is no Corsica; and we love not +revenge, do we, Alain?" + +Alain readily endorsing his chief's assertion, Prynne continued:-- + +"It is not all. I have to pray you for the Lieutenant himself; misguided +and grasping as you deem him, he is of my deceased friend's name and +blood." + +"Alack, Mr. Prynne!" answered Lempriere, "have you quite forgotten what +I owe to that blood and name? And I speak not in this for myself only. +There are the spirits of the Bandinels before me; unhappy victims of +George Carteret's revenge. There is the shade of my friend Maximilian +Messervy, judged by an unlawful and corrupt Court, executed under +warrant of one who had no warrant for himself." + +In his excitement Lempriere had forgotten to quote Latin; he began to +pace the floor of the room. Prynne also rose and leaned by the window, +looking out at the shrubs standing dark and blotted against the evening +light that lay on the smooth water. + +"Take not your example," he said; "from those whose deeds you abhor, +neither make your enemies your pattern. Recollect who it is that hath +said, 'Vengeance is mine:' and in the hour of your triumph remember to +spare. Come, give me your word, willingly. I am doing much for you, more +than you are aware. I call to mind some solemn words that I have heard +Mr. Milton quote:-- + + "The quality of Mercy is not strained, + It droppeth as the gentle dew from Heaven + Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed, + It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." + +Let your promise to bless come as freely as the dews that are falling +out there on my little grass-plot. Peace is upon the world--let peace be +in our hearts also!" + +The vehement controversial voice changed and became musical as it +uttered the words. The fervour of an unwonted mood had brought something +of a mist into the speaker's eye; persuasion hung upon his gestures, and +the voice of private rancour sank before the pleading of his lips. As +the Jerseyman remained silent, Prynne went to the table and filled the +glasses from the flagon of Rhenish wine that stood there. + +"We Presbyterians," he said, "are not given to the drinking of toasts. +But 'tis no common occasion. England's wars are over, may there be peace +upon Israel. Let us drink one glass together, and let us join in the +blessing of old, invoking it on our land:--'Peace be within thy walls +and prosperity within thy palaces: for my brethren and companions' +sake!'" + +The guests followed their host's example, and seemed to share his mood. +Then, setting down their empty glasses, the three men parted in more +loving-kindness, it might well be, than what had marked some early +stages of their conversation. Prynne, when left alone, called for +candles and sat down to his writing-table. The Jerseymen walked together +towards Temple Bar. + +"Knowest thou, _mon cher_," said the Ex-Bailiff in the island language, +"a heartier friend than one of these English that seem so cold?" + +"But tell me, I pray thee, wherefore they call the present master of our +island by an English name? For surely yonder gentleman said +'Cartwright,' which is a name not of Jersey but of England." "They are +stupid, Alain, that is all; and they think to weigh the world in their +own scales. But whether we call him Cartwright or Carteret, it is +equally hard to pardon his voracity. He is like Time--_Edax rerum._ +Nevertheless, I feel as if it was not only the sight of you and news +from home that had made me of such good cheer to-night: but that I owe +something of it to Mons. Prynne; aye! thanks to his schooling and a +readiness to perform what he has made me promise, should Carteret ever +stand at my disposal. The time may be near or it may be far; but I feel +that it must come." + +"And then," asked Alain shyly, "shall not I too have something to expect +from thee: when thou art Bailiff again, and a man high in power, will +thou still be willing to give me thy sister-in-law?" + +"Parbleu!" cried Lempriere, "if maids could be given like passports. But +Marguerite will have her way; it is for thee, _coquin_, to make her way +thine." + +Thus, jointly labouring at airy castles, the pair of islanders pricked +their steps through the dirty and dimly-lighted streets till they +reached a squalid row of houses on Tower Hill, where was situated the +only lodging within the present means of the Seigneur of Maufant. + +"To-night thou must share my chamber, _telle quelle_," he said. "'Tis a +poor one, as thou mayest suppose. _Infelix, habitum temporis hujus +habe?_" + +"It is all one to me," said Alain, lightly; "whether here or at Maufant +thou art always good." + +As they neared the door a voice came to them from the shadow of a +projecting oriel:-- + +"Have a care, Jerseymen! You are betrayed." + +They ran to the shaded corner; but the moon was young and low and gave +but little light in the narrow street. A figure, seemingly that of a +tall man, was seen to glide away into another street, but they failed to +recognise it or trace its departing movements. Silently, and with +downcast looks they sought the entry of Lempriere's lodging, the door of +which he opened with a key that he carried in his pocket. Striking a +light from flint and steel on the hall table, Lempriere kindled a +hand-lamp, and led the way into a small chamber on the ground floor, +where they wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay down on a pallet +in the corner. The younger man, fatigued with travel, was soon asleep; +Lempriere, with more to think of, passed great part of the night in +wakeful anxiety. Before he finally sank to slumber he had resolved to +send Alain back at once to Jersey. + + + + +ACT I. + +THE KING. + + +In 1649, when Charles II. was uncertain as to what steps he should take +on the death of his father, it was considered that the best and safest +place for his temporary residence was the Castle at S. Helier, in +Jersey, known by the name of Queen Elizabeth, where he had already lived +for a short time on an earlier occasion. Founded by order of the +Sovereign whose name it bore, it stands on a rocky islet, once a +promontory of the mainland, but long since insulated by every high tide. +At low water it communicated with the town by a natural causeway of +shingly rock called "The Bridge," commanded by its own guns. On the +Western curve of the bay, nearly two miles off as the bird flies, was +the small town of S. Aubin, guarded by a smaller fortress. The entire +bay was protected, by the batteries of these two places, against the +entrance of hostile shipping. Circumstances, not now entirely traceable +but connected probably with defensive considerations, had taken its +ancient preponderance from Gorey, on the eastern coast, which had once +been the seat of administration; and thus commenced the importance of S. +Helier, though in nothing like the present activity of its quays and +wharves, or the throng of its streets and markets. Above the head of +the "Bridge," indeed, the view from the North face of the Castle met +with no buildings till it struck upon the Town Church, an ancient but +plain structure of the fourteenth century, whose square central tower, +although by no means of lofty elevation, formed a landmark for mariners +out at sea by reason of a beacon that was always kept burning there by +night. At the foot of this tower nestled a cemetery containing the tombs +of "the rude forefathers" of what had been, till lately, indeed little +more than a hamlet. On the southern aspect of this, facing the castle +and the sea, the enclosure was marked by a strong granite breastwork +armed with cannons mounted _en barbette_. These pieces were pointed, for +the most part, on the bridge, or causeway leading to the Castle, into +which they were capable of sending salvos of round-shot, as in fact they +had often done a few years before. The rest of the cemetery was strongly +walled, though without guns. To the north of the Church ran narrow +streets, sloping gently upward from the seaside. The houses of these +streets were built of the local granite, hewn and hammered flat and +without projection or decoration, and with no other relief but what was +afforded by small rectangular lattice-windows. They were usually of two +storeys, crowned by high-pitched thatched roofs, with here and there a +tiny dormer window. Some were shops or taverns, among which were +interspersed the residences of the burgesses and the town houses of the +rural gentry. Fronted by miry roadway, or at best an occasional strip of +rough boulder pavement, over which wheeled carriages could rarely pass, +these lines of houses had no form or comeliness, save what might be due +to an occasional bit of small flower-garden before the few that were +large and inhabited by persons in comparatively easy circumstances. +Farther back the ground rose more rapidly and showed some scattered +suburban houses. The "Town Hill" to the east, the "Gallows Hill" to the +west, completed the amphitheatre. Up the main hollow ran a road leading +due north to the Manor and Church of Trinity parish in the interior of +the island, and terminating on the north coast in Boulay Bay, a fine +natural harbour, which was the nearest point of embarkation for England. +The whole island, scarcely less than the town, bore an appearance of +defence, almost of inaccessibility; the manors, farm houses, and even +many of the fields, being surrounded by granite walls, and capable of +arresting the progress of an invader, unless in great force. Each of the +twelve parish churches contained the arsenal of the local militia; and +all things betokened a hardy population, ready to do battle against all +intruders. + +The titular Governor, Lord Jermyn, was an absentee, following the +fortunes of the widowed Queen, Henrietta Maria, in France. The actual +administration, both civil and military, was in the hands of a naval +officer of experience, Sir George Carteret, or de Carteret, cousin and +brother-in-law to the Seigneur of S. Owen, a large manor on the western +side of the island. This family, distinguished in island history ever +since it abandoned its fief of Carteret on the coast of Normandy to +follow the fortunes of John Lackland, when the Duchy was confiscated by +Philip Augustus, was by far the most powerful in the island. Its only +possible rival, the house of Lempriere, of Maufant, had espoused warmly +the cause of the Parliament, and had consequently met with reverses when +the Carterets, who were royalist, effected the revolution mentioned in +our Prologue. + +It only remains to be added that the people at large were not at all +warmly attached to either of the parties to the Civil War. The language +of the majority was an old form of French, now reduced to the condition +of a patois; the more educated classes studied the laws and language of +France. The proceedings of the Courts and the services of the Church +were conducted in modern French, and the sympathies of the community +were divided between a mundane attachment to England, and a religious +leaning to the creed of the Huguenots, of whom a great number had sought +refuge on their shores. Hence the Jersey folks were indifferently +submissive to royalty, the only form of English government of which, +till these days, they had heard; but they by no means shared the +High-Church fervour which had animated the late unfortunate King. Their +ultimate motive, as is common to human nature, was for their own +interests; and although the influence of the Carterets had kept them, +for the most part, nominal followers of the cause of royalty, men like +Michael Lempriere and Prynne had good reason for believing that they +would, in the long run, favour those who seemed the best friends to +Jersey. Let them not be blamed for this. Their love for England was very +much founded upon fear of France. By observing the attitude of the +Scottish borderers of a slightly earlier period, an Englishman of the +seventeenth century could imagine the attitude of the Jersey mind +towards the "Normans," by which name they were accustomed to designate +their feudal and aggressive Catholic neighbours the Lords and Ministers +of the French Kingdom. Even as the Grahams and Scotts of Tweedside stood +at arms against each other on either bank of the dividing stream, so did +the de Gruchys and Malets, the Le Feuvres and de Quettevilles, on either +side the Channel. The danger that was nearest was the most formidable; +and the Channel Islanders were ready to side with England much as the +Saxon Scots of the Lothians came to make common cause with the Celts of +the Highlands. + +These explanations may appear tedious: but the reader is implored to +pardon them; for without such he could not realise the passions which +are exemplified in this little story. Long exposed to invasion, the +Jerseymen of the middle ages had handed down to their descendants an +abhorrence of France which was fomented by the stories of persecution +brought to them by Huguenot refugees; and which, indeed, has hardly yet +completely died out among the rural population. Thus sentiment and +interest kept the islanders attached to England by a two-fold cord; +careless whether their immediate leaders were Cavaliers, as in Jersey, +or Parliamentarians, as in the neighbouring island of Guernsey, where +the royal Governor was beleaguered in Castle Cornet. + +For reasons arising out of this state of things, Carteret did not leave +the protection of the King to the unaided loyalty of the local militia. +Cooped up in the narrow limits of the Castle rock were no less than +three hundred Englishmen and women attached to the Court, and, in +addition, a strong force of Irish and Cornish soldiers who had been +brought over by Charles on his former visit, as Prince of Wales, after +the battle of Naseby. His Sacred Majesty--_de jure_ of England, +Scotland, and Ireland, King, to say nothing of France, whose lilies were +blazoned on his scutcheon--was _de facto_ monarch of this little island +plot of 45 square miles; and his state was at least equal to his +temporary sway. The accommodation of the Castle was, in truth, but +small; but it was the best that the occasion afforded; the royal palace +consisting of a suite of small apartments vacated for the King's +convenience by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir G. Carteret, who had removed +to the lower ward. S. Aubin, on the other horn of the bay, was the seat +of the naval power; here lived the families of the officers of the +corsair-squadron then constituting the Royal Navy. The rest of the +King's following was billetted on farm-houses in the parishes nearest to +the town. Yet, as a warning that all was not their own, four frigates +and two line-of-battle ships, with a commission from the rebel +government of London, and flying the broad pennant of Admiral Batten, +cruised between Jersey and Guernsey, never far from sight, although +giving for the most part a wide berth to both the island castles, whose +gunners watched them night and day. + +Such was the position of affairs on a Sunday towards the end of +September, a few days later than the events related in the Prologue. The +morning had been wet and windy, and the sacredness of the day had joined +to keep the men of those simple times from all activity save that +connected with the services of religion. But, in spite of the weather, +it had been judged wise and proper that Charles should show himself at +Church on this, the first Sunday of his kingship in Jersey: and he +accordingly attended worship at the Town Church of S. Helier's. The tide +was low, and the royal cortège, muffled in their cloaks, rode or walked +slowly along the causeway, and up the _glacis_ that led to the entrance. +The Rector was absent, his opinions being displeasing to the autocratic +Carteret; but the Rev. Mr. La Cloche, Rector of S. Owen (the Carteret +parish) was in charge; he was the Lieutenant-Governor's private +Chaplain; and under strict orders had made splendid preparation for the +illustrious congregation. The old temple had been swept and garnished. +Laurel boughs and the beautiful flowers and fruits of the season hung +from every arch and decorated every pillar. The aisles were covered with +a thick natural carpet of fragrant rushes; before the pulpit were +chairs for the King and his brother the Duke of York, and the space +they stood on was tapestried with glowing colours. Cushioned tables +supported the gilded bibles and prayer-books for the royal worshippers, +who arrived precisely at eleven followed by their numerous train. +Throwing off his wringing roquelaure Charles entered, plumed hat in +hand, a young man of middle stature, erect and well-knit for his +years--which were but nineteen--and with a countenance which, though +even then wanting in flesh and bloom, was not unpleasing: framed in +natural curls, and showing (to sympathetic observers) a noble and +pleasing dignity often, it must be avowed, contrasting strongly with the +mingled frivolity and cynicism that marked his words. Being in mourning +for the event of January he was clothed in purple velvet without lace or +embroidery. Over his doublet hung a short cloak with a star on the left +breast, under which was a silk scarf, cloak and scarf being all of +purple. The famous ribbon of the Garter round his left knee was the only +bit of other colour visible. James, a few years younger, was similarly +attired. Besides the two Princes the only other Knight of the Garter was +the Earl of Southampton. The rest of the Lords and Gentlemen in Waiting +were also in Court-mourning, and all without the smallest decoration. + +After the conclusion of the Service the clergyman ascended the pulpit in +his black gown. He took his text from the second book of Chronicles, c. +35, the end of the 24th verse:--"And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for +Josiah." + +The turn of Mr. La Cloche's discourse may be in great measure +anticipated. Setting forth the heinousness of rebellion and regicide, he +dwelt upon the virtues of the Royal Martyr, his courage, his patience, +his devotion to the Church. As was but natural in the circumstances, +there followed an application to local politics. They were there, he +informed his hearers (as the old lattices, shaken by the gale, rattled +their accompaniment to his monotone) in the character of Englishmen; but +he had to notice that to the existing rulers of England they owed no +obedience. The so-called Parliament which had judged and murdered the +late lamented Monarch, and which now claimed the right of ruling in his +stead, was no divinely appointed head of affairs, not even +representative of one Estate of the realm. Where were the Peers, the +Lords Temporal who had ever formed part of the Government of England, +the Lords Spiritual who represented the Church of Christ? The House of +Lords was now represented to them, there in the presence of the +Honourable Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, whom that High +Chamber had set and appointed to bear rule in that Island. Still more +had they before them their Sovereign, the Anointed of the Lord, without +whose assent all Acts of State must ever be futile and rebellious. Yes, +he was there, that Sacred head, covered and guarded by the loyal hearts +and arms of one--only one--of his Norman Isles. + +As the sermon came to an end the storm without showed signs of +abatement; and by the time the blessing had been pronounced and the King +and Prince had mounted their richly caparisoned horses, the wind had +lulled and the September sun gleamed brightly out upon the attentive and +orderly crowd. On returning to the Castle Charles sate down to dinner, +and a select portion of the more loyal Jersey society was admitted into +the Hall to see the King at table. Only two places were set; and after a +Latin grace had been pronounced by the Court-Chaplain, the dishes were +taken, one by one, to the King and his brother, and whatever meats were +approved were taken to the side-board and carved. The royal youths had +stood with uncovered heads while grace was being said; but they replaced +their hats when they sate down, and wore them throughout dinner. After +they had dined the Page-in-waiting, a tall and handsome youth, richly +attired, brought each of them a ewer and basin of parcel-gilt silver, +with a fringed damask napkin; and after they had washed their hands a +butler served them with Spanish and Gascon wines. Dessert having been +placed upon the table and tasted, the princes withdrew; and then the +hungry courtiers sate down to finish the repast. + +Retired to his private sitting-room, Charles lay back on a window-seat, +tooth-pick in hand, and looked out indolently on the sea. The waves +scintillated and broke into white foam, among the brown rocks, which +disappeared gradually under the rising tide; and the wings of glancing +gulls shone out against a rain-cloud which was bearing off the recent +storm. Below the dark pall the sky of the horizon glowed bright and +clear as jade over the deepening line of the distant waters. At the +King's feet sat the page who had served the princes at dinner, a bright +rakish-looking young fellow named Thomas Elliot; apparently absorbed in +the preparation of fishing-tackle, he was heedfully watching the face of +his royal master out of the corner of his dare-devil eyes. + +"Where is James, Tom?" asked presently the King. + +"Gone to feed the hawks, Sir." + +"One's own flesh-and-blood is poor company, he finds. By the Lord, Tom, +this is no life for a Christian, be he man or boy. To be lunged round my +good mother at the length of her apron-string seemed but dull work, and +making love to the Grande Mademoiselle was indifferent pastime. But, +odsfish, I would willingly be back there. In this God-forgotten corner +you cannot see a petticoat on any terms, save the farthingale of Dame +Carteret or her ancient housekeeper, as they cross the courtyard to give +corn to the pigeons. James and I went out fishing yesterday, as far as +S. Owen's pond; but no sport had we there but the chance of a broken +head from a Puritan farmer." + +"Why, what a plague did they want by laying hands on our anointed pate?" + +"Ah! look you," said Charles, in his languid drawl, "We did but beg a +cup of cider from his daughter. James hath a long face and a dull tongue +for a boy of his age; but I warrant I spoke the wench fair for my part; +and in French that had passed muster at Versailles. But 'tis a perverse +and stiff-necked generation. The wench screamed in some language not +understandable by us--Carribee it may be--but faith there was no +difficulty about the farmer's meaning: he conjugated his fists, but we +declined the encounter; and so we were quit as to grammar." + +The manner of the speaker was in such dry and droll contrast with his +matter that Elliot had no difficulty in according the sympathetic smile +which is the tribute of the jovial and manly sycophant to a superior he +wishes to please. + +"And this is then, the escapade for which the _gros bonnets_ down there +have determined that you are not to stir out of this charming retreat +without a guard, or suffer your sacred person to meet the air of the +island without the hedge of an escort. But I have a plan to defeat +them...." + +Whatever projects the young men might be disposed to form for the +purpose of eluding the prudent precautions of their seniors were for +the moment cut short by a knocking at the door, which made them start +aside like the disturbed conspirators that they were. + +"Quick! vanish," muttered the King sharply; "behind the bureau there. If +the comer be Nicholas let him not see thee here. He bears thee no good +will." + +As Elliot hurriedly obeyed, the door slowly opened, giving entrance to +the Rector of S. Owen. The worthy clergyman still wore the gown and +bands in which he had preached in the forenoon, and carried in his hand +the four-cornered but boardless college-cap which formed part of the +clerical costume of those days. Bestowing upon the youthful King a look +whose awestruck humility was at curious variance with the respective +ages and appearance of the two, and making an awkward obeisance, Mr. La +Cloche spoke:-- + +"I crave your pardon, Sir. Receiving no reply to my knock I presumed to +enter, deeming mine errand an excuse." + +Charles pointed to a seat and drew himself up with dignity:-- + +"It needs no further excuse, reverend Sir, say on, and fear nothing." La +Cloche seated himself on the corner of the chair. + +"It is my humble duty to warn your Majesty that Jersey is no suitable +place for your residence," he said. + +"We are very much of your mind," answered Charles, "but how made you the +mighty discovery?" + +"I have been dining," answered the clergyman, "in company with the +Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas, Knight, Secretary of State to your +Majesty. Certain of your Majesty's affectionate servants and +well-wishers were of the party, as also the Lieutenant-Governor, who +was the host. The discourse was grave; and albeit without permission of +the gentlemen--yet, in virtue of mine office, I hope I but anticipate +their humble duty to your Majesty, if I take upon myself to lay their +thoughts before you." + +"And for your own part, Sir, as a Jerseyman having, both by religion and +as a Member of the States, the means of knowing what the people think, +you would fain join your own private word to those who are refusing an +asylum to Charles Stuart in the dominions of his fathers. You had better +let them speak for themselves." + +The clergyman shuffled in his uneasy seat. The perspicacity of the young +man--it is a part of a Prince's stock-in-trade--had taken him by +surprise. + +"I am an old man," he faltered, "unversed in affairs of State. If it be +true, however, that the Lord Jermyn...." + +"Our mother's trusted councillor, Mr. Rector! What of my Lord Jermyn? +Thou hast not said enough--or, by God! thou hast said too much." + +The Chaplain's island temper hardened under menace, even from the Lord's +Anointed. What he felt he did not indeed care to lay bare: yet the +upshot he would tell. The King's recent exploit in the parish of which +he was Rector had come to his ears, garnished and exaggerated, perhaps; +and he was determined to get rid of such visitors if he could. The news +from France was an occasion, and he gladly used it. Lord Jermyn, it +seemed, had been talking openly--and not for the first time--of selling +the Channel Islands to France; and his connection with the Queen made +men suspect that he had not entertained such a design without high +sanction. On the other hand the Rector knew that Carteret would sooner +cede the Island over which he was set to Cromwell than see it occupied +by the French. The King would be in obvious danger, and he had +determined, under that excuse, to endeavour to dispose the King's mind +towards a removal which he himself, on other grounds, considered highly +desirable. Charles listened to all the clergyman had to say, with +impatience thinly veiled by good breeding. When the speaker came to a +pause, the King said, with a kinder manner, "Thou hast done well, and +hast given no just cause of offence to anyone. Mr. Secretary is an +approved friend: but I need not remind your Reverence of the prayer of +the Psalmist: 'Let not his precious balms break mine head!'" + +The King's manner indicated that the conference was at an end. He wished +to get rid of the Rector, not only because the good man was "boring" +him, as would be said now-a-days, but because he had but little trust in +Tom Elliot's discretion, and thought that at any moment the page might +be led to break forth from what must needs be an irksome confinement. +Moreover, the King knew that, sooner or later, he would have to undergo +a more serious lecture from some of his councillors, and it was an +object with him to make some inquiries in confidential quarters and +devise a course of speech if not of action. + +But the worthy Rector was, as he said, unversed in the ways of the +great; and the young King's affable manner had drawn him into +forgetfulness of any little lessons of etiquette that he might have ever +learned. Instead of departing on the King's hint, he let his tongue wag +afresh. + +"Alack, Sir! may your Majesty's prayers be heard. And may what I have +done breed myself no harm! For what saith the Wise Man? 'Burden not +thyself above thy power while thou livest, and have no fellowship with +one that is mightier than thyself: for how agree the kettle and earthen +pot together?'" + +"It was well said of the Wise Man," observed the King demurely. "And +your Reverence will do well to consider the words that follow, if my +memory do not deceive me;--'If thou be invited of a great man, _withdraw +thyself_!'" + +The underlined words, being pronounced with a voice changed to a sharp +and sudden tone from the solemn snuffle into which the King had slid in +first quoting _Ecclesiasticus_, were too much for Elliot, who broke into +an irrepressible giggle behind the bureau. Mr. La Cloche started at the +sound; then, recollecting himself, retired with a bow into which he +threw a look of surprise not unmixed with silent reproach. + +Still laughing, the page emerged from his ambush, knocking the dust from +his doublet with his hand, and eyeing the door as it closed after the +retreating Rector. + +"I'll wager he thinks thou wert a wench, Tom," cried Charles; "but tell +me, how much of the worthy parson's discourse didst thou hear?" + +"As much as you desire, Sir, and no more," was the discreet reply. "But +it is true that one is come from France who knows Lord Jermyn." + +"Jermyn," said the King, half soliloquising, "is a son of a----; and I +would as lief run him through the body as I would open an oyster. But +that is neither here nor there; such pleasures are not for Kings." He +sate thinking for a few minutes, and then, looking up, added, "Go, Tom, +and tell Nicholas and the rest that I would see them here." + +The page departed, presently returning to introduce four gentlemen, +after which, he again left the room and shut the door, which it would +be his office to keep against all intrusion while the conference +lasted. + +One of the visitors appeared to take precedence; a tall, high-featured +man, with a stoop and a receding chin. This was Lord Hopton, one of the +most respectable of Charles's followers; an honourable, stupid, +middle-aged nobleman, who could never marshal his own thoughts and who, +necessarily, spoke without persuading others. The other Englishmen were +Nicholas, the Secretary of State, and the old Lord Cottington. The +fourth gentleman was Sir George Carteret, the Lieutenant-Governor, a +bluff sea-faring man, little used to obey, yet anxious, in that +presence, to be deferential; with an unmistakable pugnacity varnished +over with a gloss of _ruse_. There being but one arm-chair in the room +Charles took his seat upon it, and awaited the advice of his friends who +perforce remained standing. + +"I have sent for you, my Lords and gentlemen, to confer on the matter +brought me by Mr. La Cloche, the Rector of St. Owen, and Chaplain to Sir +George Carteret." + +Hopton opened the conference, speaking in a dull, precise manner, from +the lips only, hardly opening his teeth:-- + +"May it please you Sir, Mr. La Cloche hath reported to me, as I met him +returning from your presence, that while he was imparting to your +Highness--I may say, your Majesty--a matter of great moment, there was +one hid in the room that played the eavesdropper. Before proceeding +farther I would humbly ask...." + +"Hold there, my Lord," broke in Charles. "Remember, I pray you, +that--howbeit our present power, by the malice of our enemies, be +brought to a narrow pass, we are still, by the grace of God your King, +of full age, moreover, and no longer to be schooled. As touching what +anyone may have heard here, by our consent, we need answer to no man; +neither to Mr. La Cloche nor to your Lordship. There is, however, no one +but ourselves in this room, as you may clearly see. As to the matter of +the priest's discourse, we opine that it is already known to you. It is +of that matter that we now seek to know your minds." + +The words were not ungracefully uttered; but Hopton found no immediate +answer. He only knit his narrow brow and held his peace. Carteret, +however, stepped briskly forward; and would perhaps have committed some +indiscretion had not Nicholas plucked him by the cloak. "By your leave, +Mr. Lieutenant," said the jovial lawyer, "I would say an humble word to +his Majesty, with the freedom of an ancient servant." His round face and +merry eye were rendered serious by the resolution of a full-lipped yet +firm mouth. "Sir!" said he, turning to the young King with a look in +which the _bonhomie_ of an indulgent Mentor was blended with genuine +respect, "it will, no doubt, seem to your Majesty both meet and proper +that we should not leave a meddlesome parson to let you know that our +faithful hearts have been sorely exercised by that which is newly come +to us out of France. Not to stay on sundry general advertisements and +rumours that have reached us--and which seemed to glance at a very +exalted personage--I mean, more particularly, what we have received this +morning from a very discreet and knowing gentleman (now residing at +Paris) of what he hath learned from persons of honour conversant in the +secrets of the Court there." + +"If it be her Majesty the Queen that you fear to name, Mr. Secretary," +interrupted the King, "it is but vain to fence. Do your duty, as you +have ever done." + +"With your Majesty's leave, I will name no one, save it be one Mr. +Cooly, Secretary to the Lord Jermyn, whom your Majesty, doubtless, +graciously recollects. Our informant was plainly asked by this +gentleman, how the islanders would take it if there should be an +overture of giving them up to the French." + +"This is but talk," observed the King. + +"Nay Sir, there is yet more. This letter, which is come to one of us in +cypher, goes on to tell that it hath been heard, from a very good +source, that the chief mover herein is to be made Duke and Peer of +France, and receive 200,000 pistoles, for which he is to deliver up not +Jersey only but Guernsey, Aurigny, and Serk. Nay, further, his Eminence +Cardinal Mazarine hath taken up ships for the transport of 2,000 French +soldiers, nominally for the service of your Majesty, actually for the +service whereof we are now speaking." + +"Let them come," said Charles. "We will put ourself at their head and +fall upon Guernsey, that nest of Roundheads where Osborne and honest +Baldwin Wake have borne so long the brunt of insult and privation." + +"Under your favour, Sir," broke in Carteret, "you would be bubbled. I +have seen and spoke with a known creature of my Lord Jermyn's; and I +know well that the design of the French is--so to speak--to clap your +Majesty under the hatches, and to steer the vessel on their own account. +Mr. La Cloche shall answer for this," he added in a lower tone. + +"By your leave again, Sir George," put in the beaming Secretary, "we +lawyers are to speak by our calling. It is not indeed, Sir, that my Lord +Jermyn hath made direct overtures to us. And 'tis to be thought that in +this last respect the messenger spoke but according to his own +understanding." + +"I would cut every throat in the island," cried Carteret, with savage +interruption.... + +"Sir George Cartwright's zeal hath eaten him up," said Nicholas with a +twinkle of his merry eye. "Let it suffice that the concurrent +information of divers persons (and they strangers to one another), +together with the Lord Jermyn's total neglect of the island in regard of +the provisions that he hath not sent as promised nor repaid sums of +money lent to your service by the people, have led us to sign a paper of +association for which we shall crave your gracious approval. We doubt +not you will agree with us that the delivery of the islands to the +French is not consistent with the duty and fidelity of Englishmen, and +would be an irreparable loss to the nation besides being an indelible +dishonour to the Crown." + +As Charles took the paper handed him for perusal by Nicholas, a flush +arose upon his swarthy countenance. + +"Enough said, my Lords and gentlemen! We need not that any should +instruct us as to our duty." + +"We trust not," cried Carteret, bluffly. "If the French come here we +shall give them a sour welcome; and as to my Lord the Governor, he will +find," and he slipped in his eagerness into his native tongue, "that he +has made _le marché de la peau de l'ours qui ne seroit pas encore tué_." + +Presently the little Council broke up. The King, after glancing at the +paper of association, consented that Lord Hopton--in whose diplomatic +abilities he perhaps did not feel much confidence--should proceed at +once to the Hague, and lay the case before the States General of Holland +as the power most interested--after England--in sifting and, if need +were, opposing the designs of France. Meanwhile the articles of the +association were not to be divulged; the whole affair being kept a +profound secret and mystery of State. + +Somewhat relieved, the associates then retired from the presence of the +yawning King, and passed down the little corridor. Here they found +Elliot keeping watch, and pacing innocently to and fro. And the +graceless page bowed their Honours down the stairs, without betraying by +his manner anything to suggest--which was, nevertheless, the simple +truth--that he had been attentively listening to as much of their recent +conversation as could be gathered through the imperfect channel afforded +by the key-hole of the door. Carteret cursed La Cloche's officious +meddling all the way to his own quarters, and on arriving there sent a +sergeant to the unfortunate clergyman, who deported him to France by the +next boat that sailed. + +On returning to the room, Elliot found Charles walking up and down the +narrow floor of his room in evident excitement. + +"Tom," said the King, as the page entered, "what is to do here? It seems +that I am not to be master even in this little island of Hop o' my +Thumb. They lord it over me even as they did when I was here before, as +Prince of Wales _in partibus_." + +"Why then," answered the audacious youth, "I would even show them a +clean pair of heels, and take refuge with the Scots." + +"The Scots who sold my father!" + +"The Scots, Sir, of whom I am one," cried the page, the hot blood of a +race of Border-Barons rising to his forehead. "Am I and mine to be +confounded with a crew of cuckoldy Presbyterians? I will not listen to +any one who says so, King or no King." + +And the malapert youth flung out of the room, while his wearied +master--not unaccustomed to such outbreaks--lounged into the dining room +and called for his supper. + + + + +ACT II. + +THE MANOR. + + +If the page was to be blamed for his disrespectful demeanour in abruptly +leaving his helpless but indulgent Sovereign, his next step was still +less worthy of commendation. But he had the perfervid temper of his +race, and he was not twenty-two. Having attended his royal Master in a +former visit to Jersey, he had made friends with some of the island +gentry, and among others with the family of St. Martin (then resident at +Rozel), in which he found a maiden of his own age with whom he soon +imagined himself to have fallen in love. Mdlle. de St. Martin was the +sister of Michael Lempriere's wife; with her she had since taken up her +abode; and the first thing that Elliot had done after the return of the +Court to Jersey had been to acquaint himself with this fact. In the +present excitement of his feelings he resolved to seek an interview with +the girl whose charms he so well remembered. A boat was moored at the +foot of the castle rock; and the impetuous young cavalier sprang on +board, loosened the painter, and with the aid of a pair of sculls that +had been left in the boat rapidly propelled himself to the shore of the +bay aided by the flowing tide. While he is engaged in making his way to +the northern extremity of the parish of S. Saviour, where the manor of +the Lemprieres was situated, we will anticipate his progress and +describe the scene. + +The manor-house stood in its own walled grounds, admission being +obtained through a round Norman archway, over which was carved the +scutcheon of the family--gules, three eagles displayed, proper--with the +date 1580. This opened on a long narrow avenue of tall elms, at the end +of which two enormous juniper trees made a second arch, of perennial +verdure. Such was the entrance, passing under which the visitor found +himself in a flower-garden in which summer roses still bloomed, and the +bees were still busy. On one side stood the house, a two-storeyed +building of stone, pierced with many small latticed windows, and +thatched with straw. The main-door bore another scutcheon, of newer +stone than the rest of the house, quartering the arms of St. Martin +(_azure_, nine billets _or_) over a device of two hearts tied together +with a cipher formed by the letters L. and M. This doorway opened into a +small hall, in front of which was a stair-case of polished oak. On +either side of the hall were low-ceiled parlours wainscotted with dark +wood, beams of which supported the ceilings. The floor of the room to +the right was paved with stone and carpeted with fresh rushes, a yawning +chimney of carved granite, on which a fire of drift-wood was burning +with parti-coloured flames, occupied one end of the room, which was +occupied by the ladies of the house. At the back were the kitchen and +offices, looking out upon a paved court-yard containing a well, and +backed by farm buildings. + +Madame Lempriere (or "de Maufant") and her sister sate by the fire +knitting in the autumn twilight. Both were lovely; beautiful women in +the typical style of island beauty, which not even the primness of +their somewhat old-fashioned costume could wholly disguise. For their +eyes were dark and sparkling, and their cheeks glowed with the rosy +bloom of a healthy and innocent womanhood. They were talking in low +tones of the troubles of the time and of their absent friends; their +language was in the island French. + +"It is more than a month," said Rose Lempriere, "since I had tidings of +M. de Maufant. Methinks your fiancé M. le Gallais might show more +alacrity in his coming." + +"Helas!" replied Marguerite, "poor Alain will never err on the side of +precipitancy. But seest thou not, my sister, the equinox here, and gales +are abroad. I did not expect him till the S. Michel; and then there are +Captain Bowden and M. the Lieutenant's cruisers to reckon with." + +"You do not appear to mind making the crane's foot, my sister," said +Rose, with a slight smile. "In my youth lovers were expected to be +forward and maidens looked for attention." + +"It is not so long since your youth, my all fair." + +"But perhaps M. le Gallais is better occupied in another part." + +"_Voyons, ma soeur_; it is quite equal, to me. Your M. le Gallais +indeed! one would think it was you and M. de Maufant that wanted to +marry him. As for me, I do not want to marry at all. Least of all does +it import me to marry a man chosen by others. I prefer the ways of +England." + +"_Di va_!" exclaimed her sister. "A good man is not bad because our +friends like him. Marry this good Alain, and love him after." + +The damsel replied by a pretty grimace. + +"Marguerite!" said Mme. de Maufant, with a little frown, "_on ne badine +pas avec l'amour_. Or do you love another perhaps? Ah! _malheureuse_; +art thou still thinking of _ce beau guilliard_, how did they call him? +M. Elliot, I think, the King's page? I hear that he is returned with the +King; and--oh, Marguerite!----" + +"I swear to you Rose, I know nothing of M. Elliot--" + +As she spoke a low whistle was heard without. + +"It is Alain's signal," cried Rose, all in a flutter. "He brings me news +from Michael." + +So saying Mme. de Maufant moved with a quick step towards the door +opening on the back yard, whence the signal-whistle evidently came. +Marguerite site still on her _tabouret_, her head hidden in her shapely +white hands. + +On reaching the back-door Rose threw a wimple over her head, and +carefully undoing the-chain and bar, admitted le Gallais, weary and +travel-stained. Taking both her hands the young man gazed in her face +with the honest gaze of a loving brother. Then searching in the lining +of his doublet he drew out a letter, or rather a packet tied with +string, and gave it to her. + +"He is well," he said, "but his heart suffers." + +"I know it, I know it," sobbed the wife, "but come in, Alain; come in +and take some repose." + +With which she led him into the room, and up to the hearth where sate +the wilful beauty. + +"Marguerite," she said, "do you not see Alain le Gallais?" + +"I am delighted to see M. le Capitaine," was the girl's reply, as she +rose and made an obeisance, immediately resuming her seat. + +Poor Alain! the cold of the autumn evening outside was nothing in +comparison with the chill that fell upon him by that blazing hearth. +Weary as he was, and--as soon appeared--wounded also, his nerve, shaken +by fatigue, gave way before this reception. With giddy brain and wan +face he sank into the nearest seat. + +"What hast thou, my friend, speak, for the love of God," said the lady +of Maufant, while her sister's reluctant eye glanced at him, through +unshed tears with yet more tender inquiry. + +"A scratch, no more," said Alain, tightening the scarf on his left arm, +which showed stains of new blood. "I am but now landed in Boulay Bay, +and a militia-sentry discharged his matchlock at me as I ran down the +lane under the battery. They are indifferent marksmen, my good +compatriots, and their pieces make small impression compared with +Cromwell's snaphaunces." + +Rose tenderly unbound the bandage, found a mere flesh-wound, to which +she applied some lint steeped in styptic, and restored the ligature in a +manner more effective. + +"_Remets-toi Alain, réprends ton haleine, et dis-nous ce que c'est_," +said she, after paying these quasi-maternal attentions to the fugitive. +"And first tell me, how bears himself my Michael, and what greeting +sends he to his home?" + +But before Alain could answer there came a knocking at the gate: and the +scared ladies had barely time to dismiss Le Gallais by a side door +almost hidden in the wainscot before Elliot entered, hat in hand, and +looking shy and breathless in the leaping light of the hearth. + +"Pardon me, fair ladies," he stammered, "have you any welcome for an old +friend." + +The two women leaned against each other, even more embarrassed than, for +a moment, was their visitor. They seemed to remember the voice, yet +could not speak to much purpose for the beating of their scared pulses. +But it is not easy for female self-love to be deceived. The boy had not +changed so much in turning into man but that the face of an old love +could resume its familiarity. + +"'Tis Mr. Elliot," presently said Marguerite, addressing her sister in +English. "Mr. Chevalier, the Centenier, told you of his return but +yesterday when we went to the market at S. Helier. I admire to see him +here so soon." + +Rose advanced, with the restored self-possession of a lady on her own +hearth, and gave the visitor her hand. "Welcome back to Jersey, Mr. +Elliot. Time hath dealt kindly with you: you are almost grown to man's +estate." + +The young Scot flushed, somewhat angrily, at this equivocal compliment. +"What Time hath done with me I cannot tell," said he, with less than his +wonted ease, "save that nothing Time can do can avail to quench old +feelings. This is the first liberty that I have had since we landed. I +have used it to lay myself at your feet." + +The ladies resumed their seats, motioning Tom to the place between them, +just vacated by Le Gallais: and the talk soon ran into easier grooves. + +"I have that to say," continued the page, "that may shake your spirits, +fair ladies. What I have listened to this day it may cost me my ears to +have heard. But," with an air of important resolution, "cost what it +may, I will not nor cannot keep it from you." + +"A groat for your tidings," replied Rose, "we poor women hear none in +this remote corner. But is it a secret? Women may keep one," she added, +looking at the panel that had closed on Le Gallais, "but walls have +ears: and so have you, as yet such as they are, which I would not have +you sacrifice in our cause. If therefore your news be dangerous, think +not of our curiosity, and give the matter no vent." + +Elliot was a scamp, no doubt, yet he could not but be moved by this +thoughtful speech of a woman who could decline a secret. But he had come +too far, laden with a burden that he would fain lay down. So long as he +kept to himself what he had heard in the King's chamber he might be +doing his duty to Charles. But Charles had insulted him and his nation. +Marguerite de St. Martin was his first love, the welfare of herself and +her sister was at stake; he had trudged, four miles and more through the +mire of steep and devious lanes to tell them; was he to leave them +unwarned? Love and Duty fought their old battle, and with the old +result--Love conquered and the secret was told. He had not, it is true, +heard the full purport of the Secretary's grave words or of Charles' +light replies: but what he had caught, tallying with the Chaplain's +disclosures of an earlier hour, had led him to conclude that there was a +villainous plot on foot, of which the King did not seem to approve, and +which therefore might be made known to those interested without real +breach of faith. What he knew he told, and eked it out with what he +could but conjecture. + +The conference lasted long. While it was confined to the designs of the +French, on which the short gusts of the Lieutenant-Governor's stormy +impatience had thrown a transient gleam of lurid light, the ladies were +all attention. When the page began to talk of the King's loyal resolves +and of what great things he would do, they gave less heed. It seemed to +them that Charles Stuart was all too young, too much bound to his +mother, to be trusted in an affair wherein her favourite took an +interest. Tom pleaded his master's cause with the zeal of one who felt +himself to have done that master some wrong; but he pleaded in vain. +Little did the Jersey ladies care who might bear rule in the British +islands; their chief care was for what would affect Jersey, and--above +all men and things of Jersey--their dear Michael, now in exile. + +It had long grown dusk, and Tom knew that he was absent without leave. +His visit must be cut short. If he glanced significantly at Marguerite +as he bent over Rose's hand, if he hoped that Marguerite would follow +him to the door and allow an integration of former toys, he was only +building on a precocious knowledge of the sex. "I will but lock the door +after Mr. Elliot," said she to Rose, in patois, "be tranquil, my sister, +he is but an infant." + +The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile +Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to +which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round +the parlour as he came inside. + +"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder _polisson_ of the +Court?" + +"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever +since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is +not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be +kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed +as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband +will find her faithful, in life and to the death." + +"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways." + +"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her +dealings with him--or with others--be never so little to thy taste, I +advertise thee to seek no cause of quarrel upon them; unless thou +wouldst lose her altogether." + +"I do not understand how a girl that is promised can do such things. +Moreover, his coming here at all is what Michael would not find well." + +"He has done us a very friendly act in coming here, and has told us of a +matter which it may cost him dear to have revealed. For the rest, we can +take very good care of ourselves." + +Alain was not a man of the world. With something of a poet's nature, he +was born to be the slave of women. Passionately attached to the mother +who had brought him up--and who was lately dead--and wholly unacquainted +with the coarser aspects of feminine character, he had a romantic ideal +of womanhood. The ladies in whose company he might chance to find +himself were usually quick enough to discover this; and seeing him at +their feet were always trampling upon him, reserving their wiles and +fascinations for men who were more artful or less chivalrous. The case +was by no means singular in those days, and is believed to be +occasionally reproduced even in more recent times. + +He was now thoroughly annoyed; and Rose's reasoning, far from composing +his mind, had rendered it only the more anxious. Therefore, when +Marguerite returned into the parlour, with a somewhat heightened colour, +Alain affected to take no notice of her, and sate gazing moodily at the +fire. + +"I have been plucking these roses," said the girl, offering Alain a +bunch of flowers wet with early dew. + +He took them with a negligent air, stuck one of the buds into the band +of his broad-brimmed hat that lay on the table, and allowed the rest to +fall upon the rushes that strewed the stone floor. Marguerite, with a +slight and mocking grimace, watched the ill-tempered action without +taking any audible notice of it. Then resuming her seat, she took up her +wool and needles and applied herself to her interrupted knitting. + +Meantime the page, apparently well satisfied with the circumstances of +his visit, including those of his parting from the fair Marguerite, +pursued his way to S. Helier. The darkness of the autumn evening was +relieved by the multitudinous illumination of a cloudless sky. The +lanes, bordered by the fortress-like enclosures of the fields, were +shaded overhead by tunnels of interlacing boughs still in the full +thickness of their summer foliage. A bird, disturbed by Elliot's +brushing against the branch on which she roosted, gave a solitary cry of +angry alarm; the dogs barked in the distant farms; the grazing cows, +tethered in the wayside pastures, made soft noises as they cropped the +grass. Passing on by the old grammar school of S. Manelier and then +through the village of Five Oaks, where he scared a quiet family +assembled in their parlour by looking in at their window with a grimace +and a wild scream, he ran on rapidly by the Town Mills and through the +town towards the quay. When he reached the bridge-head the tide was +ebbing; but partly walking, partly wading, he made good his footing on +the Castle-rock. A sleepy sentry challenged, but the page crept through +the darkness without deigning a reply. A ball whizzed through his hat, +but did not check his progress. Availing himself of projections in the +wall with which he seemed well acquainted, he entered his own little +room by the open casement, and throwing himself on the pallet soon slept +the sleep of youth and healthy fatigue. + +At Maufant matters were not quite so peaceful. The ladies there, it may +be feared, were ready enough to regret the page's visit and its +consequences, if not to express that regret to the old friend who might +with some cause have complained. + +Pretending indifference, he sate silently in a seat further from the +ladies than that which he had occupied before the page's intrusion. +Finding him disinclined for talk, Rose read her husband's letter without +taking any further notice of him by whom it had been brought. + +At length she broke the awkward silence; replacing the letter in her +bosom and turning to Alain, she said:-- + +"I must go and get your chamber ready. I shall be back anon." And she +left the room by the concealed door. + +Left alone with his mistress, Alain fell into a great embarrassment. +Marguerite, for her part, felt a qualm of conscience, had he only known +it. But her _amour-propre_ was, none the less, extremely hurt by his +cavalier treatment of her flowers. She was by no means in love with the +saucy Scot, who had indeed given her some offence by the frankness of +his leave-taking, though this was a matter of which she was not +likely to complain, least of all to her official adorer. + +"_Pourquoi me boudez-vous, Monsieur_?" at last she said; "are you +perhaps permitting yourself to be offended at my seeing M. Elliot to the +door? Do you not know that he is our old friend?" + +"He is nothing to me," answered Alain, moodily, "it is you of whom I am +thinking." + +"As Rose says, we can take care of ourselves. Do you for one moment +think that I acknowledge any restraining right on your part, any +privilege of question even? But come, if M. Elliot is an old friend you +are a much older. Do not let us quarrel." + +"It takes two to make a quarrel," said the foolish fellow, not +observing the olive-branch. + +If his display of annoyance was only a mask of jealousy she fancied that +she could deal with it, and forgive it, but if it should be really a +sign of indifference? so reasoned her rapid female brain; the cruder +masculine mind was but too ready to supply the solution of the problem. + +"_Voyons, Marguerite_," said her lover, almost blubbering. "I have loved +you all your life. Ever since you were a little totterer whom I carried +in my arms and planted on the top of the garden wall to pick +coquelicots, I have thought of you as one to be some day mine. I see now +how foolish I have been. I will put the sea between us; and I hope my +boat will go to the bottom; and then perhaps you will be sorry." ... And +in the fervour of self-pity he actually shed tears. + +Marguerite watched him, with a joyous sense of triumph. Secure of her +victory, she could now assume her turn to show anger. But she did not +feel it; and she had not much skill in the feigning of unbecoming +passions. + +"That is ungenerous, Monsieur. You do not think of the poor boatmen who +would go to the bottom with you. They are not sulky young men who have +quarrelled with harmless women. The Race of Alderney will do without +them; _dame_! it may afford to wait for you too." + +If Alain had but caught the look with which these final words were +accompanied! But he was still sitting in the distant darkness, with his +moistened eyes bent obstinately on the ground. + +And so the misunderstanding widened and deepened; and presently Rose +returned. Taking in the situation with a rapid glance, she passed +through the room and out into the buttery, whence she soon returned +with the materials of a modest supper. "We must be our own domestics," +she said with an attempt at lightness: but the attempt was hollow; a +cloud seemed to fill the low room, and press upon the inmates. The +_three_ sate down, but neither of the young people did much justice to +her hospitality. After supper she held a brief consultation with Alain; +and after giving him a bag of gold and a letter for her husband, +dismissed him, to rest if not to slumber, in the chamber that stood at +the head of the stair on which the door in the wainscot opened. Then she +and Marguerite retired by the other door to their own part of the upper +floor, where I fear the young lady received a lecture before she went to +her virgin couch. + + + + +ACT III. + +THE STATES. + + +Next morning the Militia Captain left before the house was awake, to +return to Lempriere in London. When the ladies went, later in the +forenoon, to arrange the chamber in which he had passed the night, they +found that the bed had not been used during Le Gallais' occupation. A +copy of Ben Jonson's Poems lay on the table; by the side of which were +pen and ink, and a burnt-out candle. On opening the book, Mdlle. de St. +Martin found some lines written on the fly-leaf, which ran as follows:-- + + "What tho' the floures be riche and rare + of hue and fragrancie, + What tho' the giver be kinde and fair, + they have no charme for me. + + The wreathe whose brightest budde is gone + is not ye wreathe I'de prise: + I'de pluck another, and so passe on, + with unregardfull eyes. + + And so the heart whose sweet resorte + an hundred rivalls share + May yielde a moment's passing sporte, + but Love's an alyen there." + +"He is unpolite, my sister," cried Marguerite, laughing. "But that is +only because he is sore. The wounded bird has moulted a feather in his +empty nest." + +"All the same, he is flown," answered Mdme. de Maufant, gravely. + +"_N'importe_," answered the damsel. "Leave him to me. I can whistle him +back when I want him--if I ever do." + +Leaving the ladies to the discussion of the topic thus set afoot, let us +turn to the more prosaic combinations of the rougher, if not harder, +sex. _Majora canamus!_ + +About four miles south-east of the manor-house, the old Castle of Gorey +arose out of the sea, almost as if it grew there, a part of the granite +crag. A survival of the rude warfare of Plantagenet times, it bore--as +it still does--the self assertive name of "Mont Orgueil," and boasted +itself the only English fortress that had ever resisted the avenger of +France, the constable Bertrand du Guesclin. But, in spite of its pride, +it proved to be commanded by a yet higher point, sufficiently near to +throw round shot into the Castle in the more advanced days to which our +tale relates. For this reason, and also because of the smallness of the +harbour at its feet, Mont Orgueil had given way to the growing +importance of S. Helier, protected by its virgin Castle. Hence the +place, though not quite in ruins, had sunk to a minor and subordinate +character; the Hall, in which the States had once assembled, was +neglected and dirty; the chambers formerly appropriated to the Governor +and his family were used as cells, or not used at all; the garden was +unweeded; and Mont Orgueil in general had sunk to be a prison and a +watch-tower. None the less proudly did it rise--as it does still--with a +protecting air above its little town and port, and look defiance upon +the opposite shores of Normandy. + +In a narrow guard-room on the South side of this castle, a few days +later than the visit of La Cloche to the King, the Lieutenant-Governor +was sitting at a heavy oaken table, with his steel cap before him and +his basket-hilted sword hung by the belt from the back of his carven +chair. A writer sate at the left-hand side of the same table, and +between them lay militia muster-rolls and other papers. At the further +end of the room, between two halberdiers in scarlet doublets, stood a +tall Jerseyman in squalid garments, his legs in fetters, his wrists in +manacles. Keen little grey eyes peered through the neglected black hair +that fell over his narrow brow; and his iron-grey beard showed signs of +long neglect. + +"Now, Pierre Benoist," said Sir George, "for the last time I give you +warning. If you do not speak, freely and to the purpose, it will be the +worse for you. There be those who can tell me what I desire to know. As +for you, I shall deliver you to the Provost-Sergeant, who will need no +words from me to tell him how to deal with you. I ask you, is Michael +Lempriere in correspondence with Henry Dumaresq?" + +"_Palfrancordi!_ Messire; you press me hard," said the prisoner, but his +eye was scarcely that of a pressed man. "When you examined me a week ago +in secret I think I answered that. I know of no letters that have passed +between M. de Samarès and M. de Maufant. That is," he added hastily, as +the Governor began to look impatient, "I have carried none myself." + +"Who has?" asked the Governor. + +The Greffier, at a signal from Carteret, plunged his pen into the ink; +the halberdiers shifted their legs and leaned upon their weapons; the +prisoner moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Speak, Benoist; who carried the letters?" + +"It was Alain Le Gallais," answered Pierre in a low voice. + +"It was Alain Le Gallais? Write, Master Greffier, the prisoner says that +the letters were carried by one Alain Le Gallais. You are sure of that, +Benoist?" + +"As sure as my name is Peter." A cock crew in the yard of the castle. +The coincidence did not seem to strike any of the party in the room. + +"By what route did Le Gallais go?" + +"He went by Boulay Bay." + +"By what conveyance?" + +"By Lesbirel's lugger." + +"When did he go last?" + +"This is the fourth day." + +Carteret compared these replies with some that lay before him, and +proceeded:-- + +"Do you know when he will return?" + +"I cannot know; but I can divine. The wind is changing; if he landed at +Southampton on Monday night he would be in London in twenty-four hours, +riding on the horses of the Parliament. Riding back in the same way he +might be back in Boulay Bay, with a fair wind, some time to-morrow." + +"_C'est assez_," said the Governor, "take the prisoner away; but not to +his former quarters. Lodge him in Prynne's old cell." + +As the prisoner was being removed, in obedience to these orders, he was +seen to limp heavily, and there was a bandage on one of his legs. + +"March, comrade," said one of his guards, when they were in the +corridor. + +"My leg was hurt, John Le Gros, when I tried to escape last night." + +"Not so badly but you can walk if you like," and the militia-man +emphasised his words by a slight thrust with the point of his weapon. + +To which of the parties in the island Master Benoist was faithful, the +muse that presides over this history declines to reveal: perhaps he was +an impartial traitor to both. It became presently clear that, in any +case, his lameness was little more than a feint. During that same night +he made a rope of his bedding, and letting himself down from the window +of his cell at high water, swam like a fish to the unwatched shore of +Anneport, and so effected his escape. It was long ere he was again heard +of by the Jersey authorities; but there is no record to show that he was +either mourned or missed. + +For the next three nights a party of soldiers--not militia-men, but +Cornishmen of the Royal body-guard--occupied a hut on the landing-place +at Boulay Bay, belonging to Lesbirel, the man whose lugger was known to +be employed in the communication between the Parliamentary party in the +island and their English allies. The third night being dark and stormy, +the patrol was suspended by orders of the sergeant in command, and the +men devoted themselves to the indoor pleasures afforded by cards, +tobacco, and cider. But others were less careful of personal comfort. On +the western point of the cliff over their heads (the "Belle Hougue") a +beacon was burning, of whose existence the sergeant and his men were +unaware. A man watched by the fire, keeping it alive by constant care +and attention, or rekindling it from time to time, when it was overcome +by the wind and rain. The soldiers in their hut did not see the light; +but it was seen by the crew of a lugger, driving through the waves of +the flowing tide before a rough but favouring gale. Accordingly, putting +the helm down, their steersman drove the craft clear of the threatened +danger that was prepared for the occupants below, and made her touch the +land in the adjacent bay of Bonne Nuit, hid from observation by the +interposing cliffs. Leaping to the shore, Alain Le Gallais, who was the +sole passenger, climbing the western heights, made his way by paths with +which he was well acquainted from his youth, to the manor-house of his +exiled friend the Seigneur of Maufant. + +It was near midnight when he arrived. All was dark. The yard-dog, roused +by his familiar footsteps, shook himself and sate down without raising +any alarm: nay, when Alain lifted the latch and passed through the outer +gate of the court-yard, the animal rose once more, and advanced to meet +Alain, fawning and wagging his tail. Alain was not sorry that the ladies +were asleep. Perhaps the readers of his verses may not have understood +that he was a poet; but, be it remembered, those verses were in a +language not native to the writer. Those who are able to understand such +fragments of his patois-poetry as still survive, declare that it is +marked by tenderness and _verve_; even if this be not so, a man may lack +the power of expression and yet have the poet's temper; Alain was +certainly of a deep and sensitive nature; he thought that he had borne +much from Marguerite, with whom he was now really angry; it was +therefore of set purpose that he had chosen this hour to visit the manor +instead of waiting till the morning. Depositing a letter with which +Lempriere had entrusted him in a cornbin of the stable which Mdme. de +Maufant had instructed him to use in such cases, he went his way without +disturbing any of the inmates of the house. + +His intention was to pass the rest of the night in the barn of a farm +called La Rosière, where he would be safe from pursuit for the moment, +and in the morning could join a party of the "well-affected," who were +in the habit of meeting in the neighbouring parish of S. Lawrence. Man +proposes; but his purpose was destined to failure. The sky had cleared +in the sudden way so common at midnight in these islands. The guard at +Lesbirel's, turning out to patrol, had at last caught sight of the fire +burning on the point above them. Taking alarm, the sergeant, who was an +intelligent and aspiring soldier, guessed that something was amiss, and +set off at the head of his men to search for the escaped prey. Taking +the road to the manor, where he had reason to believe Lempriere's +messenger would be found, and spreading his men among the shadows of the +bordering walls and hedges, he came upon the fugitive in a lane. To his +challenge, "Who goes there?" he received for answer a pistol-shot, which +laid him low in the mire of the lane, with a great flesh wound in the +right shoulder; but the soldiers hearing the report ran up from both +sides. Le Gallais was overpowered and secured after a brief resistance. + +"Search him and take him to the governor," said the wounded sergeant, as +he swooned from loss of blood. + +The following morning found Sir George and his clerk in their old places +in the Gorey Castle. Pale and draggled, Le Gallais confronted his +examiners with such firmness as he could gather from a good cause. + +"You have nothing against me, Messire de Carteret," he said firmly. + +"If I have not I shall soon make it," said the governor fiercely. +"Whence were you coming when you pistolled my sergeant?" + +"I was going to join my company of militia, in order to be present at +morning exercise," answered the prisoner, undauntedly. "Your sergeant +laid hands on me without warrant or warning on a public thoroughfare, +and I shot him in self-defence. What would you have done in my place?" + +"Insolence will not avail you. If you would save yourself from the +gallows, you have but one way. You must make a clean breast of it." + +Le Gallais made no answer, but stooping down, drew a letter out of his +boot and threw it on the table. The governor started as he read the +address:-- + +"For the honoured hands of Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, +these." + +He cut the string and opened the missive. After reading a few lines he +looked up. + +"Clear the room," he said; and as the clerk and guards obeyed, he added, +in a changed tone:-- + +"Be seated, M. Le Gallais! + +"This letter, as you probably know, is from Mr. Prynne, of the +Parliament. Why did you not bring it to me at once?" + +"I should have done so," answered Le Gallais. + +"It contains matter of the utmost moment," added the governor, after +finishing the perusal. "Are you aware of its contents?" + +"Of its general purport, yes," answered Le Gallais. "The emissaries of +Queen Henrietta are due from S. Malo this day. They will not go to you +(unless they are forced) nor yet to Mr. Secretary Nicholas. They are the +bringers of a secret communication from the queen mother to her son. You +see, sir, that I may be trusted." + +"By the faith of a gentleman, it is too strong," cried the governor, in +an impassioned voice. "Was ever honour or gratitude known among that +family? But I care not. Your friends, M. Le Gallais, are my enemies. If +Whitelock and company send to this island all the rebels outside the +gates of hell I will fight them. You may depart and take them that +message from me." + +Le Gallais did not move. "But in case of a French force landing--?" + +"In that case, sir," answered the governor, and his voice rose to a +quarter-deck shout. "In that case it would be 'up with the red cross +ensign and England for ever!'" + +Le Gallais rose and in a gentler tone echoed the cry, sharing the +generous impulse. + +"Now go," said the governor, more gently, "go to the buttery and get +thyself refreshed. I know what a sailor's appetite can be. No words; you +came from England last night. God bless England and all her friends!" + +So saying the governor departed, and in a few minutes more was seen to +mount his horse at the fort gate and gallop towards S. Helier, followed +by a single orderly. + +Immediately on arriving at the town, Sir George's first care was to send +his follower to the Dénonciateur and order him to summon an +extraordinary meeting of the States. After which be went on to the +Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King. + +Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails. A +tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was +with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the +governor entered. + +"How now?" asked the King, with some show of energy; "To what are we +indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? Were you not told, Sir +George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?" + +"Faith I was, Sir," answered Carteret, with a seaman's bluntness. "But, +under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I +know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one +that ought to be debated in my absence." + +Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and _ennui_. But +the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the +last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than +in the present instance. + +"If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty's +service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands. But +your Majesty knows that there is not. I am here to claim that the +message from the Queen be laid before the States. We are your Majesty's +to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is +required." + +Charles gave way before a will far stronger and a principle far higher +than his own. + +"Go, Major," he said, with an expressive look and gesture. "Let +Messieurs les Etats know of our Mother's message. Sir George! be pleased +to bring Major Querto into your assembly. And, I pray you, bid some one +send me here Tom Elliott," added the King, in a more natural tone of +voice. "_A bientôt!_ Sir George." He waved his visitors out and resumed +the care of his finger-ends, neglected in the excitement of the +discussion. + +Carteret, accompanied by Major Querto, repaired to the mainland. They +proceeded together to the Market-place (now the Royal Square) and +entered the newly-built _Cohue_ or Court-house, where the States were +assembling. Seven of the Jurats (or Justices) were already collected, in +their scarlet robes of office: Sir Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. +Owen (the Lieutenant-Bailiff); Amice de Carteret, Seigneur of Trinity; +Francis de Carteret, Joshua de Carteret, Elias Dumaresq, Philip le Geyt, +and John Pipon. These, in official tranquillity--as became their high +dignity--took seats on the dais, to the right and left of the Governor's +chair. Below them gradually gathered the officers of the Crown, the +Procureur du Roy, or Attorney-General (another de Carteret), and the +Viscount, or Sheriff, Mr. Lawrence Hamptonne. In the body of the hall +sate the Constables of the parishes, and some of the Rectors. The +townsmen swarmed into the unoccupied space beyond the gangway. When the +hall was full, the usher, having placed the silver mace on the table, +thrice proclaimed silence. Then Sir George--who united the +little-compatible offices of Bailiff and Lieutenant-Governor--arose from +his central seat and presented the Major who stood beside it. + +"M. le Lieutenant-Bailly, and Messieurs les Etats!" he said, "I have +called you together to consider a message from the Queen: this gentleman +here will impart it to you, Major Querto, of his Majesty's army." + +The Major's face assumed the colour of his nose. + +"I am a rough soldier," he muttered, in English, "and little used to +address such an august assembly as I see here; least of all in a foreign +language." + +"English, English," cried a dozen voices. But Querto was silent, and +looked at the Governor with a scared and anxious gaze. + +"Since our guest is so modest," resumed Carteret, "it is necessary that +I should speak for him. The question is simple. Her Majesty, with her +constant care for the subjects of her son, has heard with dismay that +the rebels in England are projecting a descent upon Jersey. At the same +time, Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, will be attacked by sea. Sir Baldwin +Wake, with your active aid, has hitherto held out against the Roundheads +of that island; and surely since the time of Troy has seldom been so +long a siege, so stout a defence. But, with the Roundheads assaulting +him by land, and Blake's squadron by sea--Gentlemen, I know Blake and +his brave seamen--what can Wake and a hundred half-starved men avail? To +guard us against all these dangers, and against the loss of all the +profits that we now have from our letters-of-marque in the Channel, her +Majesty has been pleased to devise a means of succour." + +Here the Governor's speech was interrupted by cries of "Vive la Reine," +led by the Constable of S. Brelade, in whose parish was situated the +town of S. Aubin, the principal port and residence of the corsairs. + +"Nay, but hear her Majesty's gracious project. Nothing doubting your +good affection or your courage, the Queen is persuaded that her royal +son's person (to say little of the other small matters already named by +me) cannot be safe in your hands against a serious attempt such as can +be made as soon as General Cromwell returns victorious--as he doubtless +will--from the Irish war. She therefore intends--and here, Gentlemen, I +come to the main purpose of our present meeting--she intends, I say, to +send over a strong force of French troops to occupy the island." + +Consternation kept the assembly silent. + +"You are not ignorant of the history of your country," pursued the +Governor. "When a former Queen sought the aid of France you know on what +terms that aid was given. You know the name of Maulévrier; how for six +years he held the Castle of Gorey with the Eastern half of our island. +'We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared to us' what +things the Papists did in those days, and how the Lord delivered you by +the hands of my own ancestor and of the sailors of England. Are we to do +it again; it is to be France or England?" + +The hall was in an uproar. With startling unanimity the last word was +echoed from all sides: "England for ever! England above all!" + +Returning to his quarters in the part of the Castle called by the name +of the late King, Carteret found Sir Edward Nicholas--who was ageing and +felt the cold of sunset--in a mantle and with a black silk skullcap on +his head, pacing up and down the little esplanade by the faint light of +a waning moon. There was an old friendliness between the two: Nicholas +having been long loved and favoured by Hyde, now in Spain, but formerly +the cherished guest of the Carterets. Hence the Secretary was both +willing and able to give sympathy and counsel to his host almost as well +as could have been done by the author of the famous _History of the +Rebellion_, had himself been once more in the Castle. + +"I hear by letter from Prynne, this day received," said the +Lieutenant-Governor, "to the effect that our giving harbour here to his +Majesty is a cause of umbrage to yonder cuckoldy knaves in London. +Meanwhile I have grave doubts as to the young man himself--under your +favour, Sir Edward. We are undergoing so many and great dangers and +distresses for him that we might well hope to have no renewal of the old +dealings to our disadvantage. Yet it seems that things are coming to +that pass that we may ere long have to choose between England and +France." + +"As for France," answered the Secretary, "we may expect due provision +from his Majesty who is--believe me--a true lover of his own country; as +also from your Honour, whose noble house has done well-known service in +bye-gone times. For England, we know what her power is; but that power +lies in the collection of her organs (as Sir Edward Hyde hath often +taught us) by no means in the hypertrophe of one organ, and that one +mutilated. The Church, Lords, Commons, are Three Estates--" + +"Alack, Sir Edward," interrupted the impatient sailor, "this is that +whereto Prynne would lead us. Bethink you of Will Shakspeare's saying, +'If two men ride on a horse one must go behind.' How much more if there +be three of them. Here, in Jersey, where there is but one organ of +Government--I mean the States--we may have labour, but we have none of +these confusions. But in England, look you--" + +"If it were as you suppose," cried Nicholas, "the King must needs ride +before and the Parliament behind. But let me hear more of Mr. Prynne. +Barring his sourness in regard of stage-plays and Bishops--which seemed +strangely coupled in his mind--he was ever a wise and moderate man." + +"Marry," replied Carteret, "I will show you what he hath writ. He would +persuade us--I will be plain with you--to send Charles packing, and to +yield ourselves wholly to the present Government in England. He argues +that might is right, and that it is to that a weak state like ours must +needs bow;--Here be your three organs of Government--or rather were--yet +one hath ever the last word, the casting vote; and that it is which in +very truth governs: the others are but baubles. For, put case it were +otherwise, then how would it fare with the public weal when one organ +says, 'This shall be so, while another saith, 'Nay, but it shall be +_so_;' and a third perhaps is divided. It is put to the touch, as hath +been lately seen in this nation, where the King came forth on one side +with his cavaliers, followed by tapsters, serving-men and clodhoppers; +officers and men for the most part broken in fortune, debauched in body +and mind. Against him were ranged the citizens, the gentry, many even of +the lords and the sober well-informed part of the yeomen. Your Royal +tapsters are scattered in almost every encounter, your King is taken, +dethroned, slain. Where be then your joint-organs, your paper-balance? +Is it not the merest audit of a bankrupt's books?' So far Mr. Prynne, of +whose wisdom you perhaps will make short work." + +"I do not say that he is wrong," answered the Secretary, with a puzzled +look. "I must own that we are beaten for the nonce. And it may be that +if we were uppermost we should equally destroy the balance. But who will +judge a man's constitution by the symptoms of calenture? The nation is +sick, yet it is not like to die." + +"My faith!" said Sir George, after a brief pause of reflection, "I think +thou must be right, Sir Edward. This present condition of things cannot +endure: but England will not die. When once men are earnestly disposed +upon a way of reconciliation there must be give-and-take on either side +until we get to work again. Mr. Prynne's own tyranny, that of the +Parliament, hath been already encountered by a stronger tyranny, that of +the army. But that is a regimen to which Englishmen will not submit." + +"Then you are for the English, Sir George, rather than for the French." + +"Aye, aye, Sir," answered the other. "For the King of England, if +possible. But for the Gaul we are not. We are of the old blood of the +Franks and Normans. We have served our Dukes ever since the battle of +Hastings; but when they became English, why, we became English too. We +beat the French under Du Guesclin, we beat them under Maulévrier. From +England we have had none but good and honest handling. We are English +above all." + +"Well said!" cried the Secretary. "I am no boaster, neither do I claim +the gift of prophecy, like some of our saints yonder. But I am persuaded +that a day will come when your words will be put to the proof. You will +have to choose not between King and Commons, but between England and +France you yourself said so but now." + +"_Mon Dieu_! the choice will be soon made," cried Carteret. "And now let +us to table. For albeit Dame Carteret is lying-in, it will be hard but I +can furnish a friend some junk and biscuit." + + + + +ACT IV. + +THE DUEL. + + +Tom Elliot was a very bad sample of the cavalier party. Trained in +camps, he had learned betimes to seek his happiness in wine, dice, loose +speech, and morals to match. As in France, the successors of the Sullys +and Du Plessis Mornays had become the coxcombs of the Fronde, and the +grandson of Bras-de-Fer was known as Bras-de-Laine, so the character and +conduct of men like Hyde, Ormonde, and Falkland furnished no example to +such as Villiers and Wilmot, whose only ideal of imitation was +scurrilous mimicry. Where the elder cavaliers had been proud to serve +their king, the rising generation was content if it could amuse him; and +with that Charles was satisfied. + +Thus Elliot had learned that for such an escapade as his last he might +easily obtain forgiveness. It was not that Charles was, even in youth, a +sincere or warm friend. His easy good nature had its root in +self-indulgence. Clarendon, who knew him and his family _intus et in +cute_, has pointed this out in one of his best character sentences. +"They were too much inclined to love men at first sight," so writes the +faithful servant of the Stuarts. "They did not love the conversation of +men of more years than themselves. They did not love to deny, ... not +out of bounty or generosity, which was a flower that did never grow +naturally in the heart of either family--that of Stuart or the other of +Bourbon--and when they prevailed with themselves to make some pause +rather than to deny, importunity removed all resolution." [_Continuation +of Life_, p. 339, fol. ed.] + +And there were not wanting particular reasons to dispose Charles to +favour and forgiveness in this instance. Though Elliot had concealed the +fact at Maufant, he was in fact a married man. His wife was the daughter +of the Mrs. Wyndham who had been the king's nurse. To this family +connection he owed his first introduction to the royal household, which +had been constantly improved by his lawless and pushing nature. A +contemporary remarked of Elliot that "he was not one who would receive +any injury from his modesty." The late king's grave and virtuous mind +had been greatly alienated by these things, and he had once dismissed +him from his family. The passionate youth had recovered his position +owing to the Wyndham influence, but he came back with illwill in his +heart. The memory of the royal martyr inspired him with scant reverence, +nor did he feel either respect or compassion for the queen-mother. From +these sentiments, however, one advantage flowed. Elliot was bitterly +opposed to Jermyn and the French interest, and made use of his +opportunities about the king's person to strengthen him in a like +opposition. So it came to pass that, after sulking an hour, the facile +master not only pardoned the petulant servant, but promoted him to be a +groom of the bedchamber; and the return was made in an increased +persistence in efforts on Elliot's part to amuse the king and flatter +all his propensities, whether political or personal. + +The "Indian summer," or _été de S. Martin_, was at its height in Jersey, +when Carteret, obtaining Charles's ready acquiescence, resolved on +ordering a general review of the militia. Soon after daybreak on the +30th October the population began streaming in from all parishes, under +the mild splendour of a cloudless heaven. The scene was on the sands of +S. Aubin's Bay, between the Mont Patibulaire and Millbrook. On the right +wing stood two squadrons of mounted infantry, with their standards +displayed in the morning breeze. On the left were the parish batteries, +with their guns, caissons, and tumbrils. In the centre were the Cornish +body guard and the militia infantry in battalion six deep, while the +reserve and recruits brought up the rear. All but the last-named carried +matches for their firearms, which were loaded with blank cartridge. The +supports carried pikes. The drums beat, the colours flew, as Charles and +his staff, surrounded by an escort of the mounted infantry, emerging +from the south gate of the castle, rode along the low-water causeway. + +Mme. de Maufant and her sister, mounted on sober but well-bred nags, and +accompanied by some of their farm hands in gala costume, occupied a +foremost place among the spectators. But the appearance of the castle +_cortège_ threatened their comfort, if not their safety. For the public +excitement grew from moment to moment, "and those behind cried forward! +and those before cried back!" The younger and more excitable especially, +spurred by the fine weather and the novel spectacle, pressed eagerly to +the front, mixed with mothers of scrofulous children, desirous of +gaining for them the healing virtue of the royal touch. The king's +horse, short of work, and participating in the general excitement, +reared and curvetted in the crowd, but was reined in by his skillful +rider. + +Charles was in his purple velvet, with no token of a military purpose. +But on his left rode a gigantic guardsman in full panoply, while Elliot +came on the right (but with his horse half a length behind) in gorgeous +array, though more for show than for service. In his silver helmet +fluttered a lissom ostrich plume, his shining cuirass was damascened +with gold, which metal also glittered on the hilt of his sword. The tops +of his buff boots and gauntlets were fringed with costly Brussels point. +As they approached the crushed and alarmed ladies, a militia officer +rushing to their aid from his place between the guns and the nearest +company of foot, came into involuntary contact with the glistening groom +of the chamber. The lace of the later's boot caught in the steel +shoulder piece of the infantry officer, and was torn. Irritated and +excited Elliot brought down his hand upon the unconscious offender, and +dealt him a heavy blow on the side of the face. At this sight--with +nerves already overstrung--Marguerite became unable to control her +usually placid steed; and Alain le Gallais--for he was the militia +officer--was diverted from his instinctive but imprudent impulse of +immediate retaliation, by seeing the young lady slip from her saddle +into his arms. + +The little incident was over in an instant, and the king passed on, but +not without taking it all in with the observation natural to him. + +"A comely wench, Tom!" he said to his companion, "and one that seemeth +to know thee. But it seems that others gather what thou fellest." + +"Faith, sir," answered Elliot, smilingly, "I have given him his wage +beforehand. It is well that he should do my work." + +There was no time for longer or plainer speech. The guns began a royal +salute, their muzzles fortunately directed towards the sea--for many of +the pieces had been charged for ball practice. This somewhat dangerous +demonstration was followed by a dropping fire of blank cartridge from +the matchlocks of the foot, and then by general acclamations of "Vive le +Roi" from all ranks. Then Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. Ouen, being +called to the front, received the congratulations of the king on the +appearance of the forces, in which, under the lieutenant-governor, his +uncle, he held the chief command. He was then bidden to kneel, touched +with the royal sword, and told to "Rise, Sir Philip de Carteret." The +eighteen stand of colours were displayed on the outer sides of the +columns. Again the drums beat, the trumpets blew, and with the same +state as that in which he had arrived, the king was escorted back to the +castle. + +As soon as Charles and his followers had been relieved of their full +dress they renewed the conversation in which they had been interrupted +on the sands, Elliot first endeavouring to improve the occasion into an +argument against the king's remaining in Jersey. + +"That malapert bumpkin will be no friend either to me or to your +majesty," he said. "At himself I snap my fingers. But it seems to me +there are some two thousand of them who cry 'Vive le Roi' for half a +pistole, but would cry 'Vivent nous autres' for nothing. If the French +land here they will turn against you at once. If the Parliament prevail +they will submit, willy nilly. And your majesty may feel no ailment, yet +have to be attended by the surgeon who cured your father." + +"Whither should I go hence?" asked the other. "The news of Ireland is +hardly such as to give colour to Ormonde's invitation." + +"I have told you what to do, sir, but got small thanks for my pains. +Think on it well. Now, by your leave I must attend to affairs of my own. +May I find you in a wiser mood when I return!" + +"Farewell, then, Tom," said Charles. "But beware of poaching on a Jersey +manor!" + +"There are no game laws here, or if there be the keeper is away." With +these words Elliot retired with a careless bow, and the king waved his +hand gaily as he disappeared. + +The forward young man bent his way, as often before, in the direction of +Maufant. On entering the garden he saw the lady of the manor--a rose +among the roses, as Malherbe might have said. The moment she perceived +Elliot she stood sternly, and with dilated eye before the entry of the +house, as if to bar the way, the united blazon of her husband's +ancestors and her own appearing above her head like a crest of battle. + +"Why so stern, fair lady?" demanded the courtier, saluting her, "And why +alone?" + +"My sister is not here," said Mme. de Maufant, answering but the second +of Elliot's questions. "She has spoken with you for the last time, Mr. +Elliot. I hope that I too have the same advantage. You should go home, +Monsieur, to your wife." + +Elliot started, but quickly recovering himself, said, with an insolent +smile, "Always thinking of marriage, these dear creatures. Ah, ah! +madame, sits the wind in that quarter? You thought the poor Scots +gentleman might be caught by the rosy cheeks of a Jersey farm girl. _Pas +si bête_." + +Rose pointed to the garden archway. "If you do not relieve me of your +presence this very instant," she said, pale and panting, "my farm +labourers shall drive you out with cudgels." + +"It shall not need, madame, to pay me this last attention, so worthy of +your habits. 'Au revoir, madame!'" And with a profound and mocking +reverence the wanton cavalier slowly retreated, leaving Rose to sink, +half fainting, into a stone seat by the house door. + +Elliot strode off, smarting with the sting of his well-merited +humiliation. A brief moment of reflection was enough to show its +probable origin. It was evident that the secret of his marriage had +found its way to the manor, where the court he had been paying to +Marguerite had consequently ceased to be regarded as a harmless +gallantry, and come to be taken for insult, as indeed it deserved. Nor +was it difficult to go on to guess the channel of this information. Le +Gallais was Marguerite's acknowledged lover, the person who would +benefit by the removal of a fascinating dog like Elliot--a formidable +rival, as he flattered himself such as he must be to a bumpkin officer +of militia. How Le Gallais could have learned the fact of his having a +wife in France might be a harder question, but it was one that was not +material. Revenge would be equally sweet, whether that were answered or +not. + +Full of these thoughts the groom of the chamber stalked on to S. Helier. +On reaching the quay, he came to "The White Ship"--a tavern frequented +alike by the officers of the garrison and by those of the island +militia. The parlour was full of men, some in uniform, some in plain +clothes, smoking, drinking, playing cards--a scene of Teniers. One of +the first faces on which his eye fell was that of Le Gallais, who sprang +from his chair on Elliot's entrance, but was restrained by his +neighbours, and sat down watching the intruder's movements with glaring +eye. Striding up to the hearth, and standing with his back to it, the +cavalier broke into a forced laugh. + +"Strange company you keep, gentlemen. I spy one among you whom you had +better put forth without delay." + +"Whom mean you?" asked the patch-wearing Querto. "'May I not take mine +ease in mine inn?' as the fat fellow says in the play. May not a plain +soldier choose his own company?" + +"A soldier is a gentleman, and should keep company with gentlemen," +answered the flushed youth. "Mr. Le Gallais is no mate for cavaliers. I +say to his face that he is a cropeared rebel, a busybody, and a +pestilent knave." + +"I appeal to you, Major Querto," said Le Gallais, roused from his +temporary pause, and turning to the major, whom indeed he had brought to +the place, and for whose refreshment he was providing. + +"Appeal me no appeals," said the Major, with a truculent look. "No man +shall appeal to Dick Querto till he is purged of such epitaphs." + +Confusion reigned. Le Gallais looked about him for a friendly face, and +presently saw sympathy on that of a fellow-countryman and brother +officer. + +"Captain Bisson," he said, "you will speak to Mr. Elliot's friend." + +Elliot flung out of the house, followed by Querto and two or three +Royalist officers, Le Gallais, and Bisson in the rear. They walked +towards the beach, and on their arriving at the foot of the Gallows +Hill--near where the picquet-house now stands--an Irish officer came +from Elliot's group and met Bisson, hat in hand. + +"Are the gentlemen to fight now?" he asked. + +"The sooner the better," answered Bisson. + +"Will it be a _pas de deux_, or will we all join the dance?" + +"Surely, a combat of two," gravely replied the islander. "We do not +understand Paris fashions here. With you and me, sir, there need be no +quarrel." + +"Sure, and we could have an elegant fight without quarrelling," muttered +the Irishman, with a disappointed frown. "But 'anything for a quiet +life' is my motto. This is a mighty fine place, I'm thinking, where two +brave fellows can cut each other's throats in peace and without +disturbance." Major Querto stood by with the air of an indispensable +umpire. + +The _escrime_ of those days had not attained its later refinements. The +combatants were placed opposite to each other, each flinging a cloak +about his left arm, to serve as a shield, and they prepared to encounter +in what would seem a fashion of "rough-and-tumble" to our modern +masters. + +Both were brave men, and in the bloom of manhood. Elliot was the taller, +but Le Gallais, some seven or eight years older, far exceeded in +strength and weight. After scant ceremony the thrusting began. Feet +trampled, steel rang. A furious pass from the Jerseyman was with +difficulty caught in Elliot's cloak, and the sword for a moment +hampered. Before Le Gallais could extricate it, Elliot, with a savage +cry, ran in upon him, drawing back his elbow, so as to stab his +adversary with a shortened sword. A scuffle ensued, of which no +bystander could follow with his eye the full details, till the Scot's +sword was seen to turn upwards, and the point to pierce his own throat. +Each combatant fell backwards, Le Gallais bleeding from the left hand, +and Elliot spouting black gore from a severed artery. + +At that instant cries name from the outside of the ring, "The guard!" +On which the spectators hastened to disperse, while the +Lieutenant-Governor rode up at the head of a mounted patrol. Elliot was +taken from the ground in a dying state, and Le Gallais arrested, and +ordered to Mont Orgueil, to await the arrival of the magistrate, who +should make the preliminary inquiry. + +Left in that irksome durance, but with wound duly cared for, Alain had +abundant time to muse over the mistakes and misfortunes of the past. +After the inquiry he was necessarily committed for trial at the next +criminal session; and fell at first into a semi-mechanical existence. +But slowly the twin stars of memory and hope rose out of the dark, while +conscious integrity began to clear the moral æther. He tried in vain to +cherish remorse, but Elliot's treachery overbore the effort; slowly calm +returned. + +It was true that the news of Elliot's fraud had been made known to the +ladies of Maufant by himself. But as he thought over the matter in the +solitude of his chilly cell, he could not see any reason to blame +himself on that account. Hearing from Querto--who was connected with the +family--that Elliot was unquestionably a married man, he had only done +his duty in warning Rose and her sister against the groom of the +chamber. He would not admit to himself that jealousy had influenced him +in so doing. As Lempriere's agent, as the old friend of the family, he +could not have done otherwise. All was over between him and Marguerite, +yet he could not forget that, by the wish of the young lady's friends, +if not by her own, he had once been her affianced husband. As for the +death of the courtier, it was not in itself a subject for much regret; +and, further, it had been wholly the consequence of the dead man's own +actions, from his deceit towards the ladies to his final ferocity and +foul play in an encounter of his own provoking. + +While Alain Le Gallais thus sought comfort by the road of reason and of +conscience, his heart continued very sore. But on the morrow of his +commitment an event occurred which changed his cheer, and made his +prison for an instant more lovely than a palace. All the Jerseymen were +acquainted with each other, and the prison warder, though fully meaning +to keep his captive, did not by any means understand his duty to extend +to making such detention a punishment to a man whom he liked, and who +had not yet been condemned. So when Mme. de Maufant and her sister +presented themselves at the gate, seeking admission to Alain's cell, the +worthy jailor unhesitatingly showed them into his own parlour, and +fetched Alain to them, only taking the precaution of turning the door +key upon the outside as he left them alone with the priser, on the +understanding that they should call him from the window when they wished +to leave. + +Pale as death, her lovely eyes ringed with dark shades, poor Marguerite +fell upon Alain's breast, without pretence of coyness. + +"Alain, mon ami!" she cooed in her soft rich voice, "can you give me +your pardon?" + +How far Alain believed this sudden revelation cannot certainly be told. +All that he felt able to do was to strain the girl to his heart and be +silent. Rose stood discreetly at the window; but finding that the lovers +had no more to say to each other, she by and by broke silence. + +"We shall not leave you to suffer for us," she said. "Carteret is +without scruple and without mercy. As a friend of Michael's, he will +seek every loophole for your ruin. I have already seen the Advocate +Falle. He says that you will be tried for murder next week, and that if +Carteret presides you are no better than a dead man." + +"To die for you and Marguerite is not so hard," said the young man, with +a smile. + +"You shall do nothing of the sort," cried Rose, warmly, "listen to me. +The day is setting in for rain and storm. At five in the afternoon it +will be dark. Then one of us will come back with John Le Vesconte, of La +Rosière, who is your match in stature, and who will be admitted on +account of his being of kin to us. He will change clothes with you, and +will remain in your stead while you come out of prison in his. He is in +favour with Carteret, and will be quit for a fine, which I will gladly +pay." + +As she stood, warm and bright with zeal, and intellect flushing in her +eye, Alain thought that, with all his troubles, her exiled lord was a +happy man. But he had to think of his own case. Placing the broken form +of Marguerite tenderly in a chair, he stood up and looked full in Rose's +face, his hands joined, almost in an attitude of prayer. + +"Do not tempt me," he said, in a low, but determined voice. "I will not +put another in my place to save my life, nor even to please Michael +Lempriere's wife. Moreover, John Valpy, the jailor here--who is somewhat +of my family, too, for our fathers married cousins--has dealt tenderly +with me, and I will not do what would bring ruin upon him. Tempt me no +more," he repeated hastily, seeing Rose about to interrupt him. "My mind +is fully made up." + +"But for her sake," pleaded Mme. de Maufant, eyeing the almost senseless +girl with yearning pity. "Think of her young life, bound up with yours." + +"Alas!" answered he, "who knows what maidens mean? She has been excited +by all that has befallen, and will doubtless be sorry for me, and +remember me. But her life can never be bound but by herself. Briefly, I +will not be saved on the terms you offer. Existence for me is without +value, honour is not." + +After this speech, delivered in a tone of conviction, Rose could say no +more. For her part, Marguerite was helpless. Her nerves had broken in +the excitement of the whole scene, and by the time that Alain had done +speaking, she was on the edge of a fit of violent hysterics. When her +sister had succeeded, by the aid of the jailor's wife, hastily summoned, +in restoring a little calm, Marguerite insisted upon being taken away. +Alain was left unshaken in his resolve, and Rose, weary of the +unsuccessful interview, removed her sister to their temporary lodgings +in the town. Leaving her there in the careful hands of the woman of the +place--an old acquaintance--she hurried off to Hill-street, where she +had another consultation with the Advocate Falle. + +The result was soon apparent. To whatever motive Carteret may have +yielded, he did not preside at the trial of Le Gallais, leaving the +task--as indeed he usually did--to the Lieutenant-Bailiff. The record of +the trial has perished, along with many public papers of those troublous +times. But thus much we know, that Alain Le Gallais was tried before the +Lieutenant-Bailiff and six jurats, and, in spite of a strenuous defence +by Advocate Falle, was found guilty and sentenced to death. + +It would be impossible to describe the anguish of the ladies of Maufant, +who had remained in town during these proceedings. Rose had already +spent in the conduct of the case money that she could ill afford. But +she knew that her husband would never forgive her if she neglected any +means of delivering their champion. Nor was she in any way disposed to +do so. Secret service money was laid out to the full extent of Mme. de +Maufant's powers of borrowing. + +Meanwhile the political horizon grew darker day by day. Charles fretted +and yawned; but he continued to attend Divine service in the town +church. He also dined in public, "touched" for the king's evil, and +exercised such functions of royalty (as understood in that period of +transition) as the conditions of the place permitted. Just before the +end of the Stuart dynasty kingship in England was in much the same +condition among the English as it is now among the German nations. The +monarch was still regarded as the head of the feudal State, while a +number of the leading men were beginning to perceive more or less +clearly that society had passed out of a condition in which it could be +deeply or permanently swayed by the absolute will of one individual, +however highly placed by what one called the Divine pleasure, and +another the accident of birth. Among the personal prerogatives of the +Crown was the pardon of persons condemned to death. + +On the morning of the day when Mr. Secretary Nicholas was ordered to +bring up the papers in the case of Rex _v._ Le Gallais, the +Lieutenant-Governor of the small territory to which Charles's sway was +for the present restricted had a long audience. The king had, in his +light way, lamented the loss of his petulant favourite. But Carteret +had, with less pains than he had looked for, succeeded in convincing the +facile and intelligent sovereign that for both the quarrel and its +result Tom Elliot had been alone answerable. Probability leads us to +suspect that Charles had his own reasons for the readiness with which he +accepted the governor's arguments. Among all the young king's heavy +faults, vindictiveness was not, at that time, in the faintest degree +traceable; but, besides that, he had learned, in the intercourse of the +last day or two before the fatal encounter, too much of Elliot's +nefarious designs upon Marguerite de St. Martin to suppose that he would +with decency punish the conduct of her defender. Nor need we wonder if a +bag of Rose Lempriere's pistoles lent weight, even to royal scruples. + +"Odsfish, Sir George," he said, finally, "I believe that you must e'en +take the pardon of your choleric countryman." + +"Your majesty is ever gracious," answered Carteret, with his best +quarter-deck reverence, "though under your pardon my countrymen are in +no respect to be taxed with ready choler. They are ever courteous and +patient. Only steadfast malice is what they cannot abide." + +"I dare be bold to say that human nature hath its operation amongst +them," answered Charles, with his languid smile. "Give them what they +want and their temper is easy. But enough of this, Nicholas will draw +the pardon, and it shall be signed and sealed anon. But, further, take +order that there be no more duelling. And now, as touching another of +your prisoners, Major Querto?" + +"The major was arrested among those present at the duel, in which it +hath been shown that he was not a participator," said Sir George; "but +letters have been found in his possession which hinder his release +without further inquiry." + +"I can be the major's warrant," answered Charles. "He was a trooper in +Goring's horse, and rose by reason of his wife being chosen to nurse my +mother's last-born infant at Exeter. When her majesty retired into +France, Querto, raised to be a commissioned officer, remained in +Exeter. When that city was taken he followed his wife to France, from +whence he is now come, bringing letters from her majesty to me." + +"By your leave, sir," answered Carteret, "your information lacks +completeness. Querto by no means repaired from Exeter to France. We have +searched his valise, and have taken therefrom a packet of papers, from +which it plainly appears that he is a false knave, who hath bubbled both +sides. There is among these papers a letter from Sir John Grenville, to +the effect that this fellow was to obtain money from the Parliament on a +false pretence of delivering Scilly into their hands. There is another +from Bulstrode Whitelock, in which the matter assumes a different and a +more heinous aspect. According to that paper, Querto had been to London, +and there undertaken, on the receipt of two thousand pounds, to aid in +the betrayal, not merely of Scilly, but of Jersey. He had taken handsell +of his price, and went to France, either to complete the bargain or else +to trade with Mazarin. I leave to your majesty to determine which." + +The king moved uneasily in his chair. He shunned the governor's +searching eye, and affected to be watching a ship in the offing, of +which a view was commanded by his casement. + +"That vessel appears to interest your majesty," said Carteret, "she +flies St. Andrew's Cross." + +"I opine that it is the vessel of the Scots Commissioners," answered +Charles. "An it be so, we will receive them in council. Matters of great +moment may be awaiting their arrival. For the present, Sir George, I bid +you farewell." + +It was now December. The "St. Martin's summer" of the Channel Islands +was almost over. The trees were losing their leaves. The last roses +lingered still only in sheltered nooks, rich as the Maufant garden. The +sky was, however, serene, and the sea calm, as the Scottish ship sailed +into the harbour. She had come over from Holland with a favouring wind, +bringing the Chief Commissioner of the Parliament and clergy of +Scotland, together with other gentlemen and officers, and an emissary +from the Duke of Lorraine. The result of their arrival demands another +chapter, for it seriously affected the fortunes of several persons +concerned in the events which our history relates. Our scene changes to +the ancient monastic chapel of the castle, in which the commissioners +were brought before the king in council. + + + + +ACT V. + +FAREWELL TO JERSEY. + + +The king's ordinary cabinet council was now reduced to three persons +besides himself, for it must be remembered that down to the days of the +German sovereigns, who could not join from ignorance of the language, +the English kings were always members of the cabinet, as the viceroy is +to this day in British India. Hyde still playing the vain Ind futile +part of ambassador in Madrid, Lord Hopton and the two secretaries, +Nicholas and Long, were the only ministers present. + +But the matter now opened by the arrival of the Scottish commissioners, +was considered of so much moment as to justify, and even to demand, the +summoning of the lieutenant-governor, and of all the peers then resident +in Jersey. The deliberations of this assembly--which may be regarded as +being tantamount to the Privy Council at large--lasted to the end of the +month of December. But we are not dealing with general history. It will +suffice to record that Winram, of Liberton, the chief of the mission, +appeared charged, in the name of the parliament and clergy of the +northern kingdom, to present and enforce certain written addresses, of +which the gist was this. + +Charles was to subscribe the "solemn league and covenant," to give +pardon and amnesty to all past political offences, and to agree to +maintain the Protestant religion, according to the Presbyterian rite. +Our fathers fought for freedom, but it was freedom only for themselves. + +Upon these conditions it was observed by the foremost of the king's +advisers, that the so-called "Scottish Parliament" was no Parliament at +all, neither having been called by royal mandate nor dissolved by the +late king's death. It was thus wanting in the essential elements and +attributes. Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who +should upset the very nature of the constitution. Yet the commissioners +asserted stoutly that their employers would not be treated with under +any other style, title, or appellation. The king's councillors frowned. +It was added, further, that the clergy of the Church of England, as +might be learnt from his majesty's own chaplains then present in Jersey, +would strenuously oppose the Scottish alliance. They would indeed rather +see the king go among the Papists in Ireland than among such strict +Protestants as the Scots. These counsels were upheld by certain of the +lords; and the Lord Byron, though not giving such extreme lengths, +thought it not well to form a conclusive opinion until it was seen what +advices should be received from Ireland, where Ormonde was still +endeavouring to withstand the forces of the English Parliament under +General Cromwell. + +About the end of the month, however, all hope from that side faded away. +The defence of Ireland had melted before the two passions of fear and +avarice. All the strong places in Ireland had yielded themselves to the +parliament. Ormonde admitted his failure in a letter to Charles, dated +"Waterford, December 15, 1619." On this Lord Byron joined in urging the +king to yield the questions of form or title, and to treat with the +Scots on their own terms. + +While things were still in suspense, Alain le Gallais was wandering idly +on the rude quay of S. Helier, looking up at the insulated castle, and +vainly seeking to conjecture what might be the nature of the plans being +there matured, when he was suddenly addressed from behind in a rough, +but not wholly unfamiliar voice. Turning about he beheld the grim face +and gaunt form of Major Querto, by no means softened by prison fare and +restraint. + +"I cannot say much in praise of your island, Captain," growled the +veteran, "either as regards hospitality or diversion. Out of bare eight +weeks that I have lived here, six have been spent in prison; and now +that they have let me out, I can find nothing better to do than to count +the pebbles upon this beach here." + +Le Gallais led the grumbling officer to a neighbouring tavern, and +called for a mug of cider and two glasses. When the liquor had begun to +do its office, Querto showed signs of better cheer, nothing loth to have +a companion. + +"It is not often that a poor gentleman hath even such refreshment as +this," he said presently, after lighting a pipe of tobacco. The words +were hardly courteous, but the speaker had not been bred in courtesy. +"We had short commons in Exeter, but then there was none of the citizens +fared better than we. Here in Jersey Mr. Lieutenant takes good care that +they who have keep and they who want go on lacking. Yet methinks he +might find it worth his while to take care for something else." + +"What, mean you, major?" demanded the Jerseyman. + +"Marry this," answered his companion, "that there be some among your +friends who do not choose to starve while there are pistoles to be won +by a brave action. Hark ye, captain, are you well affected or no? You +need have no fear, sir, in telling me. I am not strait-laced, and I can +keep counsel. + +"Dost thou call to mind a certain evening in London when you and Mr. +Lempriere were walking home together, and a warning was uttered in your +ears?" + +"Was it thou that played the raven? Didst thou think that we were of +your side?" + +"Of my side, quotha. Why, man, do you think me one to take sides? O, +lord Sir, sides are for the quality. Dick Querto is of his own side, no +other. Now, see here, Captain le Gallais, mayhap you know one Pierre +Benoist that was then in limbo?" + +"Aye, do I, and what of him?" + +"Why, marry this; that he is at large, and hath a lure for your young +Charlie there that will bring him from his perch on the rock yonder, and +mew the tercel in London town. What think ye the Parliament will deem a +meet reward for the men who bring them such a prize as that?" + +Le Gallais was aghast. He was asked to consent to a plot to kidnap the +king, and convey him into the hands of those who had taken his father's +anointed head from his shoulders. A plot to be carried out in Jersey, +and by the aid of Jerseymen! Alain was not a blind royalist, as we have +seen, but he had not learned, either from Prynne or from Lempriere, +either that Jersey could exist without a King of England or that +treachery was a necessary part of the work of liberty. At the same time +the ruffian before him must not be prematurely alarmed. So he played his +part as best he might. + +"I must think of it," he said, "the enterprise is bold. Tell me no more +of your projects," he added, with a sudden shame, as the swashbuckler +was about to enter into details. "I cannot now take part in your work, +for reasons." + +"All the better," said the bravo, "but see that you betray me not. The +fewer of us the larger the share; but you were best not betray me." + +"Threats are not needed, major," answered the Jerseyman, "I am no +traitor." + +Le Gallais paid the reckoning and sauntered off, a prey to contending +thoughts. That the cruel plot should come to nought, if its frustration +were within his means, he unhesitatingly resolved. That Querto's +confidence--unasked though it had been--should be used against himself, +was equally unwelcome to Alain's sense of honour. + +In his perplexity, he wandered almost as by instinct to the lodgings of +the Lemprieres. He had long been accustomed to regard the simple good +faith and courage of Mme. de Maufant as an infallible oracle in cases of +conscience. Never had so hard a need for an infallible oracle presented +itself to his mind as this. + +He found the ladies seated in a parlour on the ground floor, engaged in +their usual employment of knitting. The room was small, but warm and +snug. Under a pledge of secrecy, he told them in general terms that +there was a plot to seize the king, but took care not to mention the +names either of Querto or Benoist. + +Meanwhile the council having broken up for the day, the king retired to +his chamber. But instead of resting and calling for refreshment, as was +his wont on such occasions, he seemed to meditate an excursion. Only +that, in deference to the prudent scruples of his council, he was +apparently going forth in strict disguise, for he unbuckled his +jewel-hilted sword, and took off his velvet doublet. Then tucking his +long hair under a fur cap, and putting on a blouse, such as was worn by +the country people, he walked out of the castle in the dark of the +winter evening, passing the sentries by giving the parole of the day. +The tide being low he walked across the "bridge," and at the town end +was accosted by a man, attired like himself, who was waiting for him +there. + +"Owls be abroad," said the stranger. + +"They mouse by night," answered the king. + +Without further communication the two walked silently through the town, +and up the steep lane in which Mme. de Maufant had taken up her abode. +It was on a hill over-looking the town, still known by the name of "The +King's Cliff." At the back were woods and fields. + +All this time Alain and the ladies of Maufant had remained in earnest +consultation. Rose was for letting matters take their course. She had +scant sympathy with those whose policy had separated her from her +husband, and who were, as she believed, plotting the betrayal of her +country, Jersey, and her Michael. In these lay all her world. That the +king should be carried off to London was nothing to her. But Marguerite +was younger and more generous. Wronged as she had been by Elliot's +insolent schemes, that account was balanced and closed by the great +audit. But she was not without a woman's romance, and the thought that a +king, young and unfortunate, was to be sold to his father's relentless +enemies and murderers, presented to her ardent mind a thing to be +prevented at all hazards. + +While they were thus debating the dog was heard to bark excitedly, and +footsteps were audible in the garden behind the house. + +"Mme. de Maufant," said a voice at the window, "come forth. It is I, +Pierre Benoist. I bring a message from your husband." + +"Wait an instant, Benoist," answered the lady, unalarmed, "I will let +you in." + +She went to the door, and gave admittance to two men in blouses. While +one conversed with Mme. de Maufant, the other advanced to her sister, +and, without taking heed of Le Gallais, addressed her in courtly tones, +holding his fur cap in his hand, his brown hair fell down upon his +shoulders. + +"Fear nothing, bright pearl of Jersey," said the stranger. "A traveller +who has heard of your charms asks leave to prove them." + +"Marguerite!" whispered Le Gallais on the other side, "be careful, it is +the king. I know his face. I have seen him many times in church." + +Marguerite slipped to the ground on her knees. "Ah, sir," she said, +imploringly, "the honour that you do us may cost your life. Your enemies +are at hand. Perhaps the house is already surrounded. Ah, heaven! put up +your hair!" So saying she aided the smiling young king to restore his +disguise, whilst Alain, with a sudden impulse, threw himself upon +Benoist, whom he gagged and pinioned almost before the rascal could +utter a sound. + +Charles, meanwhile not unwilling to wait the conclusion of the +adventure, retired by a back door, followed by Rose, who showed him into +the kitchen. The barking of the dog was at the same moment renewed, and +other footsteps and voices were heard further from the house, which was +apparently surrounded. + +Marguerite sank into a chair, while Le Gallais carried the helpless +Benoist out with whispered threats; and, throwing him into a dark +stable, shut the door upon him, locking it behind him and putting the +key into his pocket. He then returned into the parlour, and telling +Rose--who had re-entered the room--what he had done, bade her be of good +cheer. Marguerite continued to kneel, and her lips moved as if in +prayer. + +Meantime the voices came nearer. The dog, with one sharp yell ceased to +bark, and knocks were heard at the door. Alain gave Rose one encouraging +look and went out alone and unarmed to meet Querto and a number of +peasants, most of whom he recognised as belonging to his own company of +the parish militia. + +"What is it, neighbours?" he said, taking no notice of the major, and +speaking the local dialect. + +"Why, this gentleman hath brought us here to seize a spy," said one of +them--our old acquaintance Le Gros. + +"There is no spy here but himself," answered Le Gallais. Do you not know +who he is, Maître Le Gros? This is Major Querto, who came here about +selling Jersey to the French. + +"What are you saying in your whoreson lingo?'" cried the major. "Let us +in." + +"He wishes to do some mischief here," pursued Le Gallais. "Perhaps to +rob the ladies. Will you see Michael Lempriere's wife plundered?" + +"Never," said another of the peasants. "He said a spy had got admission +on false pretences." + +"There is no one here but I," said Le Gallais. "Do you take me for a +spy?" + +"We do not, Alain. Vive M. le Capitaine! What shall we do with him?" +said many friendly voices. + +"Take him to the Centenier under the Gallows-hill," said Alain, availing +himself of the rising tide. "Or, stay"--as he caught a look from Querto, +in which agony and reproach were mingled--"If he prefers it, carry him +on board the first ship bound for France. I will answer for his passage +money. Handle him as he deserves." + +To hear was to obey with the angry islanders. Hustled and disarmed, +bonnetted and bound with handkerchiefs, Querto was borne off, howling +and cursing. In a few minutes all was once more still in and about the +house, only the good watch dog had suffered. He would never sound +another alarm. One strobe of Querto's sabre had severed his faithful +head from his body. + +Alain returned to the parlour. + +Reassured by his telling them the story, they were easily persuaded to +retire to their chamber. Alain's next care was to seek the king's hiding +place. + +"You must stay where you are till morning, sir," he said, without +entering. "I will watch over the only way by which any one can approach +you." + +"As you will," cried Charles from within. "But hark ye, captain! +methinks a pint of claret would not be amiss, warm with a spiced toast +floating on the top." + +The man and his wife who waited on the ladies had been spirited away by +some intrigue on the part of Benoist, and the king would have to pass +the night alone in the small kitchen. + +More amused than disgusted with the royal levity, Le Gallais--who knew +the ways of the house--brewed the desired tankard, and, returning to the +kitchen, set the hot drink upon the table; then wishing the king "good +repose;" left him to his meditations. + +On returning to the parlour, Le Gallais carefully secured both the inner +and the outer door, put a log upon the fire, looked to the priming of +his pistols, laid his sword upon the table, threw a cloak over his +knees, sate up in his arm chair with a look of resolute vigilance, and +sank into a profound sleep, from which he did not wake till day streamed +through the casement. His first care was to go to the stable and release +Benoist, but that slippery rascal, after his wont, had released himself. +His gag and bandage lay upon the stable floor, along with a bar shaken +out of the loophole in the wall, leaving an aperture just large enough +for a lean man to push through. + +Returning to the house, Le Gallais found the graceless monarch seated at +table before a steaming bowl of porridge, while Rose was pouring him +some cider. + +"Odsfish," he heard Charles say, "I owe Captain Le Gallais thanks for a +fair deliverance, and you, madame, a courteous usage under difficulty. +But _à la guerre comme à la guerre_, and I have slept in worse +conditions than those of your house, madame. Let me but bid farewell to +your sweet sister, and I will be back in the castle before my absence +has been observed. Ha! Captain Le Gallais, you must be my guide back to +the quay. This part is strange to me." + +All Charles's prayers were vain. Marguerite had a _migraine_, and could +not have the honour of receiving the king's farewell. He finished his +breakfast, took a courtier's leave of his hostess, and set forth on his +homeward way, respectfully attended by Le Gallais. They walked through +the streets in silence for some time, the king having quite enough sense +to be ashamed of his situation. + +"You have an interest," he presently said, "in yonder ladies, captain?" + +"I have, sir. I am M. de Maufant's friend." + +"And therefore my enemy, I take it. No matter, you have served me a good +turn." + +Soon the strangely-assorted couple approached the quay. Scarcely anyone +being abroad at that early hour. Moreover they had come down to the +bridge head by way of the Gallows-hill, to avoid the publicity of the +main streets. As they parted, Charles turned kindly to his unwonted +follower, and said once more-- + +"We shall not forget our obligation to you, Captain Le Gallais, whenever +a time comes for proper acknowledgment. Meantime, if you will not own us +as your king, tell me, as man to man, if there be anything in which +Charles Stuart can serve you." + +"Aye, is there," answered the Jerseyman, out of the fullness of his +heart. "For your own sake, sir, leave us. We are a simple folk, unused +to the ways of the great world, and only asking to be left in peace." + +"By the faith of a gentleman," muttered Charles, as he made his way out +to the castle, "the islander is right in his amphibious way. The solemn +league and covenant is not amusing, but it cannot be worse than living +here like a seal upon a rock; and when one goes forth to talk to a +comely wench, being reconducted to one's rock by a Puritan with webbed +feet. Yet he hath saved me from a shrewd pinch, and that is the truth." + +It will not be supposed that Charles was all at once prepared to drop +the little intrigue--so united to his already corrupted character, into +which he had been led by Benoist's insidious suggestions, acting upon a +mind always anxious for excitement, and predisposed by the talk of the +deceased groom-of-the-chamber. But the danger which he had incurred was +a warning in the opposite direction. Benoist was in hiding, and appeared +no more in the castle; lastly, the negotiations with the Scots now +became so urgent and so perpetual as to require his almost constant +presence and personal influence. The opposing motives and conflicting +opinions of his various advisers often kindled into violent altercation, +in composing which the really excellent qualities of the young king's +prematurely developed character had room for beneficial action. So the +ladies of Maufant were left free from a troublesome persecution, against +which, nevertheless, they took all due precautions. + +Upon general grounds Charles was now willing enough to leave Jersey. The +bluff firmness of Sir George Carteret, and the grave counsels of +Nicholas, by whom the lieutenant-governor was usually backed up, were +unwelcome to a sovereign; and his tiny kingdom afforded but little +compensation, especially when he was forbidden to visit it, and was +virtually prisoner on an almost insulated corner thereof. For Carteret +and Nicholas had heard of his nocturnal adventure, and had extorted a +promise from him not to go on land without their knowledge. They had +also taken other precautions in the same behalf, which were perhaps more +trustworthy. + +It was finally determined that the king and his retinue should leave the +island. The Scots' invitation was accepted on the terms proposed by what +it was agreed to call "the committee of estates;" and Breda, in Holland, +was named as the place where the final agreement should be engrossed and +signed by the high contracting parties. Here Charles would be safe in +the protection of his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, until +matters should be ripe for his departure to Scotland. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + +Since the events related in the foregoing chapters nearly two years had +gone by. Jersey had been saved from intrigues of the Queen and Lord +Jermyn. Charles had gone to France, and thence to Holland, followed by +the Duke of York, his brother, and later by Sir Edward Nicholas and the +other members of his council and court. The lieutenant-governor, freed +from even the slight control afforded by their presence, had given full +scope to the worse parts of his peculiar and complicated character. More +than ever was his administration of his native island marked by +unblushing egotism. Oppressive, grasping, unguarded in speech, and +almost unrestrained in action, he seemed, from one point of view, the +model of a sordid, short-sighted despot, making hay while the sun shone. +But he had a fund of caution which kept him from proceeding quite to +extremes, and his energy and ability were undeniable, as was also his +attention to business. Hence, while feared and even hated, he was still +respected and obeyed. Most of the militia officers were his creatures, +as were also--as we have already seen--the civil, judicial, and +legislative officers of the little republic. The seat of his government +was at S. Helier, while S. Aubin, on the opposite point of the bay, was +filled with his skippers and their crews, and the traders who profited +by their piratical proceedings. Hardly a week passed but some rich +prize--usually an English merchantman--was brought in there, to be +condemned by Carteret's court, and sold, together with her cargo, while +the unfortunate mariners who had manned her were left to their own +resources. Adventurers from all parts flocked to Jersey, to share the +gains of this new and irregular trade, while the lawful commerce of +England was menaced as with a cancer. With the resources derived from +his maritime enterprise, joined to what he drew from his fines, taxes, +exactions, compositions, and confiscations within the limits of the +island, the unscrupulous governor was founding a sort of Christian +Barbary, and becoming a hostile power no less than a public scandal. +Nevertheless, he could on occasion make a generous use of his ill-gotten +gains.[_v._ Appendix.] He sent money more than once to the necessitous +court in Holland, continuing to do so until the king departed thence to +Scotland. And he kept up such a stream of supplies for Castle Cornet, in +Guernsey, as enabled Sir Baldwin Wake, the commandant, to hold out +against all the force of the Parliamentary power in that island, and +against all attempts by sea. Indeed this remarkable siege lasted longer +than the fabled one of Troy, and the feat, however creditable to the +handful of men by whom it was performed, and to Osborne and his +successor Wake, was only rendered possible by the constant aid of Sir +George Carteret. Most of all, however, did that energetic officer enrich +himself, laying in fact the foundation of that greatness which +afterwards culminated in his descendant, the famous Lord Granville, the +rival of Walpole. He obtained from Charles a grant of Crown lands, +including the escheated manor of Melèches. And he further appropriated +to his own use the revenues of his personal enemies, the chief of whom +were the exiled Seigneurs Dumaresq, of Samares, and Lempriere, of +Maufant. It should, however, be added that he shed no more blood. In +fact with the exception of the Bandinels and Messervy, Seigneur of Bagot +(already mentioned), no one lost life for opposition to Sir George. He +even attempted to conciliate some of his opponents, restoring Le Gallais +to his post of captain in the militia, and empowering him to offer to +Lempriere's wife the use of her house at Maufant, which he had +confiscated. But that valiant lady resolutely refused to hold or inhabit +under the favour of an usurper, and continued to occupy the lodgings on +King's Cliff, though in constant straits for want of money. Marguerite, +who, however wild and light others found her, was always faithful to her +good sister, cast in her lot with Mme. de Maufant, with the consent of +her own family at Rozel; and it was chiefly by her assistance that the +expenses were in any way met. Le Gallais also lost no opportunity of +visiting the ladies and ministering to their wants like a brother, to +the great straining of his own slender savings. He carefully forebore to +press Mlle. de St. Martin with a lover's suit, whether or no to that +young lady's complete satisfaction we are not informed. In any case, her +manner, though composed by trouble, gave no sign of the state of her +feelings; and whether she was fond of Alain or weary of him, her +self-control was equally to her credit. As for Alain, he seemed to be +stupefied, rather awaiting ruin than expecting better times. + +Matters were in this state, when one lovely day in September, 1651, +Alain came before Mme. de Maufant and her sister as they sate knitting +in the doorway. + +"Great news!" he cried, as soon as he was near enough for the ladies to +hear. "Great news! General Cromwell has thoroughly purged the garner. He +has beaten and scattered the Scots at Worcester. 'Tis said Charles +Stuart their king is taken prisoner. This 'crowning mercy,' as it is +called by the lord general, befel on the 3rd, the same day last year he +beat these same Scots at Dunbar. 'Tis a great and a bright day in his +lordship's life." + +"Count no man happy till his end," answered Rose gravely. "A day of +triumph may be a day of doom when God pleases. And how does this event +touch us, thinkest thou, Alain?" + +"Why thus," replied the young man. "The general is not a man to bear +with our lieutenant-governor's oppressions and piracies for ever. Like +Satan in the Apocalypse, Carteret hath great wrath, because he knoweth +that his time is short. For Admiral Blake hath been collecting his ships +at Portsmouth, and our informant says that they were to sail to-day, +eighty vessels of war. They carry a strong force of _fantassins_, +pikemen, and arquebussiers, with the new snaphaunces devised in the low +countries. Their commander is Major-General Haine, Prynne is there as +commissioner, and, best of all, Michael Lempriere is on board!" + +Rose looked at him with swimming eyes. + +"And Michael Lempriere comes as bailiff. He said that he would. And +then, when your fortunes are once more high, and you have no further +need of me ..." + +Alain faltered and looked down. But for that gesture even his despondent +mind might have been roused by the look that Marguerite cast upon him. +But the dart was parried by the shield of an obstinate depression. + +"I have arranged," he pursued, "with Sir George. You know that last +year he sent out a ship of five guns to America, laden with passengers, +all sorts of grain, and tools for husbandry. She was lost, being +captured (that is to say) off the Isle of Wight by Captain Green, of the +Commonwealth's navy. The stores were confiscated, but most of the +passengers came back to the island, and have been here ever since +awaiting a fresh opportunity for New Jersey. It will come soon, and I +sail with the next venture." + +"With the next fiddlestick," broke in Rose. "Speak to the silly fellow, +Marguerite. This is the last time of asking." + +Whatever may be thought of Alain's project of emigration, his +information was true enough. Cromwell had determined to put a stop to +the trouble caused by the present doings in Jersey. Yet he had no desire +to repeat the severities of Ireland. The Jersey cavaliers were good +Protestants, there had been no massacres, and their cause was warmly +supported by Prynne--a man with whom the general could not wholly +sympathise, but with whom he could still less afford to break on what +appeared to him a not very important difference. Left to himself, he +would not probably have been as stern with Jersey as he had been with +the blood-stained Rapparees and their allies, solicited by the leader of +the Moderates, he was willing to be won. So he readily agreed to the +counsels of those who urged him to accept Prynne's offer of service, and +appointed the Presbyterian confessor to accompany Blake and Haine as a +representative of conciliation and indulgence. + +Setting sail with a light north-east wind, the transports and their +convoy, multiplied by popular rumour into a vast fleet of war, and +really bearing nearly three thousand good troops and a quantum of field +guns, made slow way out of Portsmouth harbour on Sunday, September 19th. +Next morning they were in the open sea with all sail set. On the +quarter-deck of the _Constant Warwick_, a fine frigate (the first +launched by the new government) Lempriere and Prynne--now completely +reconciled--paced slowly up and down, talking of the present situation +and future policy. As they did so their eyes glanced from time to time +on the fair sea scape, illumined by the early autumn sunlight, and +shaded by the sails of the surrounding shipping. + +"'Tis a fair show, Mr. Bailiff," said the English politician, "And one +that ought to bring down our friend's stomach." + +"Faith! I do not know," answered the Jerseyman. "Sir George will fight, +I doubt. You know him as well as I." + +"Nevertheless, he cannot fight to much purpose, and I see not how there +can be any great effusion of blood. By himself he can do nothing, and +who will be of his side? It is the divine asseveration of the wisest of +men, Ecclesiastes vii. 7, 'Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' And +if it be so, Cartwright should have but few sane men about him. Yet in +his fall I pray he may find mercy. And I am forced to lean upon you, Mr. +Bailiff, in that behalf." + +"_Non tali auxilio_," began the quotation-loving bailiff. But Prynne +gravely pursued his pleading. + +"You may recollect what I said to the Commons' House three full years +ago. Indeed it was the very night before Pride's Purge. If fines, I +reminded them, if imprisonments, grievous mutilations, and brandings of +S.L.--which I once called 'stigmata landis;' but 'tis an ill subject for +jesting--could bespeak a true friend to liberty, why then sure I am one +whose voice might well claim, a hearing. Yet it hath been far otherwise +with yonder masterful men of the carnal weapon, who seek their own +advancement in the name of the Commonwealth. I have never coveted the +transient treasures, honours, or preferments of the world, but only to +do to my God, country, aye, and king, too, the best public services I +could, even though it brought upon me the loss of my liberty, the ruin +of my mean estate, and the hazard of my life. When the late king did +wrong I withstood him, to the extent of my poor capacity; but I was not +for seeing the crown and lords of the ancient realm of England subverted +or submerged by the flood of usurpation let in by some members of the +Lower House. My speech of the 4th December, 1649----." + +"I heard it," broke in the other, "And well do I remember the hum of +assent and approbation with which it was received." + +"It was printed no less than three times last year. Then followed my +tractate upon their deposing and executing their lawful king; and other +leaves against the arbitrary taxation of what I call 'the Westminster +Junto.' Think you that these things can be forgotten, or that my being +sent here with Haine is more than a hollow compliment? Recollect the +word that we exchanged at my lodging in the Strand two years ago, and +bear in mind that it is rather in your hands than in mine to temper +justice with mercy when my friends shall be overthrown in yonder +island." + +So pleaded, and to yet greater length, the verbose but earnest advocate. +But in truth he might have been more concise, less eloquence would have +sufficed had not the idle hours of a sea voyage thrown open a wider door +for its display. Lempriere was ready to promise anything on the joy of +the long-wished for moment. + + "Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo + Auderet." + +As he himself expressed the matter with wonted Latinity. His own nature +would have disposed him to adhere to the promise given long ago, and +still so urgently demanded of him by Prynne. + +On the evening of Monday, the 20th of September, the flotilla was +signalled in the north-western part of Jersey, where a vigilant outlook +had long been maintained upon the very top of Plémont. The sea heaved to +and fro in smooth fluctuations under the bright weather, which shed mild +splendour over the violet surface, studded with orange rocks. With +favouring airs the stately ships slid slowly on in crescent formation. +They cast anchor for the evening in S. Owen's Bay, sheltered on the +north by Grosnez Gape, and on the south by the cliffs that end in the +Corbière--an extent of nearly five miles. + +On shore all was bustle and preparation. Sir George's head-quarters were +at his cousin's seat, the manor house of S. Owen. The sandy plains to +seaward were held by companies of the island militia; the +lieutenant-governor's own immediate following consisted of a small +squadron of horse, raised and equipped by himself, but mounted on +chargers especially presented to them by the king. Considering the +natural difficulties of the coast, and that the equinox was at hand, the +numerical disparity was not absolutely desperate. Jersey is a strong +place yet. In those days of sailing ships and weak artillery it was a +gigantic fortress, if only held by a wholehearted and determined +garrison. Had that but been now the case, which, however, it was not. +The population in general had no insurmountable feeling of hostility +towards the _de facto_ government of England. On the other hand, the +hearts of the Cavalier party were not high. A rumour had been +spread--not traceable to any distinct source--that Charles had been +taken after the rout of Worcester. The public, ever credulous of ill +tidings, fastened with morbid eagerness on such reports. "Sorrow and +despair," writes a Royalist eye-witness with natural exaggeration, +"could be seen in every face. The more dispirited began to cry out that +it was in vain to contend any longer against powers that, like a +torrent, bore down everything before them." + +Carteret, who though ambitious and covetous, was never wanting in +courage, energy, intelligence or versatility, turned the more +obstinately to his task. Concealing his natural anxieties, he rode about +from post to post in morion and buff coat, wearing a resolute +countenance, and doing all that one man could do to keep up the hearts +of his people and prepare a stout defence. + +The position of Le Gallais, though humbler, was much more complicated. +Nor was he possessed of sufficient strength of character to choose a +distinct path and steadily pursue it. Determined enough, as we have +seen, under excitement he could fight with his back to the wall. Nor was +he one to shrink from any duty that was plainly pointed out to him. He +could not prepare himself _de longue main_ for a definite and consistent +conduct; still less had he the power--often wielded by natures otherwise +inferior--of striking a balance between opposing motives. His duty as a +militia-officer was at complete variance with his desires as a friend of +Lempriere's. He could not choose between them. He might have thrown up +his commission and devoted himself to watching over his friends at +King's Cliff. He might have cast his feelings to the winds and accepted +the post of orderly officer to the Lieutenant-Governor which was offered +him by Carteret. He chose neither line but adopted what he called "a +middle-course," in other words left himself to be drifted on the current +of events. He saw that the position of the cavaliers was hopeless if +they had to maintain a long and unaided contest against the conquerors +of Ireland and Scotland. He had no great trust in the willingness of the +French, none whatever in their good faith. His ardent desire to prevent +effusion of Jersey blood was a preoccupation that hid almost all other +considerations from his mind. And he had trust in the discipline and +morale of the Parliamentary troops, and in the presence among them of +Prynne and Lempriere, which saved him from much anxiety as to the +welfare of the ladies at King's Cliff. + +As he sate, that night, by the camp-fire of a picquet of his company he +heard two militiamen conversing, and recognised Benoist and Le Gros as +the speakers. + +"To what purpose are we here, _mon voisin_?" asked the former. "What +good would the sacrifice of ourselves do the King now, when perhaps he +has already undergone his father's fate and is no longer in this world?" + +"If the King be dead, indeed," answered Le Gros, "I for one will not +fire a single cartridge. All the same, he was a debonair prince, and +once gave me a groat to drink his health when he saw me holding his +horse." + +"That he is a prisoner is certain," croaked Benoist. "And if prisoner to +Maître Cromouailles he can only make his escape through one door. And +that door does not lead to Jersey, though it may to Paradise." + +Here the men got up and moved off in search of cider, which was being +served out by the Governor's orders at a neigbouring farm-house. But +their conversation mingled with the young Captain's thoughts as, +wearied with the marchings and countermarchings of the day, he dozed in +the still night air, lulled by the fire at his feet. Deep slumber must +have followed, for he started from dreams of tumult to feel the +vibration of air caused by a round-shot passing over his head. The wind +had fallen to an almost complete calm: a light breeze of autumn morning +breathed keen over the barren moor; bugles were sounding, drums +rattling, men shouting as they collected their accoutrements and fell in +under arms. + +Four-and-twenty guns from the nearest ships were playing upon them, +answered briskly by the little militia batteries that lined the bay. +Gunboats began to stand in, laden with red-coated marksmen discharging +their new pattern fire-locks. The militiamen on their part waded into +the sea and gave such answer as they could from their clumsy old +matchlocks: making good the deficiency--so far as noise was +concerned--by shouts of vituperation; and calling on their assailants as +"Rebels," "Traitors," and "Murderers of their King." The landing was +frustrated for the time. + +The next day was occupied in rapid movements from one part of the island +to another, in order to meet feigned attacks by the enemy who were ready +to turn any of those diversions into a real assault, on finding the +Jersey people unprepared. The Lieutenant-Governor had no choice but to +distract and weary his men, marching them backwards and forwards to S. +Aubin, S. Clement, and Gorey, according as the invaders appeared at one +or other of those landing-places. The militiamen were worn out by these +tactics, and were moreover of the class on whom Carteret's oppressive +taxations had long pressed with an almost intolerable weight. On the +third day their strength was reduced both by fatigue and desertion; and +in the afternoon, after more demonstrations a real landing took place in +S. Owen's Bay, the original point of attack. Carteret, as soon as he +perceived what was intended, galloped up his cavalry, ordering up a +battalion of militia in support, under his cousin, the Seigneur of S. +Owen. The English infantry formed upon the beach, and advanced to the +attack with terrible shouts and cheers. The first troop of Carteret's +horse met them boldly, and delivered a headlong charge; but the men who +had fought Rupert and Goring were not to be intimidated by a handful of +untrained cavaliers. The troopers were received with a volley that +emptied several saddles; and retired, leaving several of their number +dead and carrying off Colonel Bovil, a gallant English officer by whom +they had been led, and who soon after died of his wounds. The second +troop failed to support them, but guarded the retreat as the troopers +drew off without renewing their charge. Meanwhile, the militia who +should have been the third line dispersed and gained their homes. The +red 'coats meeting no further opposition marched cautiously across the +island, and encamped for the night on Gorey Common. Carteret, with such +men--mostly Cornishmen and Irish--as remained with him, threw himself +into Elizabeth Castle; the other forts, S. Aubin and Mont Orgueil, +yielded, almost without show of resistance, in a few days. + +In anticipation of such an occasion Carteret had furnished the Castle of +S. Helier with abundant provision, alike of victuals and ammunition; the +latter being stored in the old Abbey Church, which was proof against the +bullets used by the ordinary artillery of those days. His guns were +mounted on the landward batteries, so as to command the town and any +camp that might be formed there for siege purposes. The hill above--the +Mont de la Ville--was too remote to cause any serious danger from the +field-pieces of the period, which were not capable of sending shot with +effect to a greater distance than half-a-mile. He despatched boats to +convey his private property to France, and to take letters to the +Royalists there, asking for instructions and assistance; and then +stoutly prepared--with a garrison of 350 men--to sustain the siege +against the grim victors of Tredagh. + +Le Gallais, having lost his men in the late dispersal of the militia, +felt no scruple in seeking his friend Lempriere. The latter, after a +warm greeting, brought him to Prynne; and all three presently repaired +to the head-quarters, in La Motte-street, where they were amicably +received by Colonel Haine, the commander of the English forces. + +Haine was one of those rapidly-formed soldiers, who had been thrown +up and hardened by the war in England ten years before. He listened +with due attention to what Le Gallais had to say about the +Lieutenant-Governor's resources and probable intentions. + +"And who is this youth that hath such knowledge of affairs?" he asked, +turning to the Bailiff--for as such was Lempriere now officially +recognised. + +"He is one, sir, that hath suffered for the cause; a Captain in our +Militia, and my brother-in-law." + +Alain shot a glance of gratitude at Lempriere, while Haine, laying his +hand upon his shoulder, said in a friendly tone; "I pray you, Captain, +attend me as _aide-de-camp_ until your company be reformed." + +Then calling for his horse, he led the party, swollen by the number of +his staff, to the head of the causeway leading to the Castle, "If what I +hear from Captain Le Gallais be correct," he said to his Brigade-Major, +"the Castle will not yield. But send them a trumpet, and let them not +have cause to say the officers of the Commonwealth are unacquainted with +the usages of war." + +The trumpeter rode forward to summons the Castle, a white flag flying +from the tube of his instrument. Ere he could reach the gate, a gun +boomed out from the Castle, a round shot whizzed over the heads of the +summoners, and Haine roared at the top of his well-trained voice, "Come +back; it is a sufficient answer." + +And so the fiery duet began--the batteries of the Churchyard sounding +daily in harmony with those of the Castle, whilst ever and anon a piece +of greater calibre roared its bass from the Town-hill. + +Lempriere made haste to remove his wife and their sister from the noisy +alarms of war to their quiet home at Maufant, where he left them to +remove the traces of the usurper, and restore the old state of things +with the help of the steward and such of the farmers as had not died out +or left the country. One consequence of this removal was that Le Gallais +saw nothing of the ladies. His new duties kept him much at the +Brigadier's side; when not so employed, he was chiefly occupied with +Prynne, who was attracted by the turn of the young man's mind, more akin +to his own than that of the "hot gospellers," the "levellers," and the +professional soldiers by whom he was surrounded. + +Meanwhile, the siege dragged slowly on, until one dark night in the end +of November an old acquaintance, Pierre Benoist, threw himself in the +way of a party of Carteret's scouts, who had come on the mainland and +were questing for intelligence or plunder. Taken before Sir George, he +was threatened with the doom of a prisoner-of-war, who was also a spy, +unless he would tell all that he knew. He asked for nothing better, +having got himself taken by the patrol for the express purpose of +furnishing the garrison grounds for an early surrender. Especially +pleased was the rogue when the Lieutenant-Governor pressed him to +explain the nature of a movement of the enemy upon the top of the +Town-hill, which had been perceived before nightfall; and of the cargo +landed at S. Aubin by a heavy-looking craft that had arrived in the +morning, and which seemed neither man-of-war nor trader. + +"That I can tell you," said Benoist; "they are preparing engines for +your ruin. I saw the pieces landed, and drawn by oxen to the Mont de la +Ville. Two pieces of ordnance whereof each shot weighs four hundred +Jersey pounds, and takes ten pounds of powder to discharge. The like has +never been seen, and they will carry a ball from Mont Orgueil to the +coast of Prance. _Ver di!_" + +Carteret laughed; but his laughter was only justified by the +exaggeration. It did not altogether conceal the genuine anxiety caused +by so much of the information as might be reasonably believed. + +The anxiety was soon realised. When the mists of the winter dawn cleared +up, it was seen that a strong work of granite had been newly thrown up +on the nearest point of the hill, and while the besieged were still +examining the structure, a vivid jet of flame and a puff of smoke darted +from one of the embrasures, and a thirteen-inch shell--the largest +projectile then seen--came booming over their astonished heads. Two more +followed, at short intervals. After the third, an awful report was +heard, a babel of tumult followed, and a gigantic column of smoke +towered up behind them, from the magazine in the old Abbey Church. +Splinters and fragments of stone and timber, mingled with pieces of +powder, barrels, and ghastly members of human carcases were scattered, +as they rose as out of a horrid volcano. The magazine had been struck +and exploded by the great shell, killing no less than sixteen men, and +wounding horribly ten others, including soldiers on guard, armourers, +and workmen who had been collected for the daily labours of the arsenal. +Among the bystanders was Pierre Benoist, who now lay among the ruins, +half crushed by a stone, and who died after intense suffering in the +course of the day. + +A panic spread through the garrison; some prepared to fly at once, +others clamoured for surrender. Carteret called them together; and when +the officers and men were all collected on parade, appealed to all +classes, as Lieutenant-Governor of the King whom they had all seen +trusting himself in their protection, and as commander of the royal +forces in the loyal island "I am determined," said the undaunted seaman, +"to keep this castle for His Majesty so long as I have a man left to +fire a gun, and a loblolly boy to fetch the ammunition. The royal +standard still flies over our heads, the sea still lies between us and +France, to bring us Prince Rupert and his fleet. Let those who are +afraid depart--I keep no man against his will. Those who remain will be +all the more trustworthy. Let the gate stand open for the next +half-hour." + +His orders were obeyed; but as he probably foresaw, no one dared to +leave openly. By night, however, many of the garrison, who were of the +Jersey Militia, silently departed. The bulk of the garrison, however, +had heard of the storm of Drogheda, and chose what they deemed the +lesser evil of trusting to the strength of their walls and the resources +of their commander. To go to a town where they were unpopular +strangers, and where the soldiers of the Commonwealth were in undisputed +possession, would be to go to certain and immediate slaughter--to remain +with Carteret was to gain the present hour and the chances of the +future. Lady Carteret and the women and children were sent by the next +opportunity to France; and then the work of defence was renewed; the +guns were fired, as powder served and supplies were received from +France; injured walls were repaired, and aid was anxiously awaited. +Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, had held out since the Outbreak of +hostilities more than ten years before--why should not Elizabeth, do as +much, until the king enjoyed his own again? Meanwhile, December had +begun, and the days grew short and cold. Haine's great mortars proved +rude and cumbrous; before they could be loaded and fired, and cooled +again, one after the other, many times, the darkness would come on. The +remaining stores were buried out of range. In the black and stormy +nights, which lasted nearly sixteen hours, the men of the garrison threw +up mounds of shingle and sand behind the breaches made during the day. + +On the morning of the 5th December the sun rose clear and bright, and a +south-west wind softly threw out the silken folds of the Royal Standard +on the main tower of the Castle. Haine was standing by a cromlech that +in those days occupied the summit of the Town-hill; Prynne, Lempriere, +and some officers, of whom Le Gallais was one, stood beside him. In +their immediate front the gunners, under an officer, were preparing to +renew their apparently endless operations. + +"This must be brought to an end, Mr. Bailiff," said Haine. "For seven +weeks and more I have exhausted the powers of modern war upon that eyry +of malignants; and there is still the Guernsey Castle to be dealt with. +Mr. Prynne knoweth what is the mind of the Lord General; but a time +comes when sharp measures become necessary. I must take up +scaling-ladders and deliver an assault." + +As they looked out to sea a small barque was seen standing in; by the +help of field-glasses, it was observed that she flew the French flag. At +the same instant the Castle guns saluted. + +"Lo you, now!" pursued the commander, "there comes to them a promise of +help from France. As the Lord liveth, it must be prevented! I must +recall our cruisers from Guernsey; that castle shall be breached and +stormed on Monday. And then on their own heads be the blood of Sir +George and of those that hold with him!" + +"Under your favour, sir," said Prynne, "I think it shall not need." He +exchanged a hurried whisper with Lempriere. "What flag is that which you +see flying on the Castle staff?" + +"It is not a flag of truce," shouted Haine. "God do so to me and more +also if I make them not like unto Oreb and Zeb!" + +The text seemed to relieve the veteran like an execration. + +"What mean you by your flag, Mr. Prynne? I am not to take my orders from +you, sir, I hope." + +"It is the flag of England," answered the politician, "of your country +and of theirs--the red cross of S. George. The Royal Ensign has been +hauled down; do you not see? God save England!" + +With the impulse of Latin manners, Lempriere held out his arms, and Le +Gallais fell upon his breast. Meanwhile a drummer from the Castle was +seen to ascend the bill, bearing a white pennon at the end of a lance, +which he planted on the ground when he came within sight, and beat the +_chamade_ upon his instrument. + +The messenger being brought before the Brigadier, handed him a small +packet. Among them was a short note to the address of Captain Le +Gallais, in which Carteret, reminding the militia officer of their past +relations, invited him to plead his cause and that of the garrison with +Lempriere and Prynne. This note Le Gallais, after attentive perusal, +handed to Lempriere, who read it over, and waited in silence until Haine +had finished his own despatch. He then addressed the Brigadier, and +pleaded strongly the cause of his countrymen, concluded with these +words: + +"Carteret, sir, was a sentinel; he hath but done his duty to his master. +So long as he was not relieved, he could not honestly leave or surrender +that which he was placed to guard. Why he now lowers his arms he hath +made plain I doubt not, to your Honour." + +"Why, yes, Mr. Bailiff; for the matter of that, he hath put a fair case. +Yonder barque, it seems, brought him cold comfort. As for that thing +they call their 'King,' he is lost. He can only offer them aid on +condition of delivering the island to the French. Not that Mazarin dares +affront us by sending a French army to occupy the Castle in the name of +his King, and risk the giving us battle. Far from that, he hath a +conjunction of counsels with the Lord General, and they understand one +another. Nevertheless, there is ever a rabble of Irish cut-throats, +Flemish mercenaries, and such-like, and no lack of Maulévriers to be +their leaders." + +"But if such men come into Jersey," said the Bailiff, "who can say when +or how they would quit, or what mischief they might not have wrought +first." + +"One remedy for that," said the soldier, grimly, "will be to storm the +Castle forthwith, and let all be over before their friends can arrive." + +"For God's sake, do not so!" cried Lempriere; "not now that they have +surrendered." + +"I will be bail," added Prynne, "that Carteret shall depart in peace, +after giving up all that is in his charge. Only let Captain Le Gallais +go to him with a note of your Honour's terms; and let us await, I pray +you, his return." + +The General having at last consented, after just so much show of +hesitation as to make it appear that the terms were yielded to the +persuasion of his chief associates, Le Gallais returned with the drummer +bearing the _ultimatum_ of the English commander. He found the interior +of the Castle a scene of havoc; among the _débris_ Carteret, like a +modern Marius, maintained an air of resolution. + +"It is not enough, Captain," said he, after brief salutations had been +exchanged, "that we have fired away all our ammunition, and eaten our +last horse, while the blockade of your friend's cruisers ever increases +its rigour. After all was done, we could die in the breach or in a +general sortie. But there is treachery abroad. Not indeed among +ourselves, but among those whom we desire to serve." + +"Your King, urged by his necessities, would sell you to the French?" + +"It shall not be!" cried Carteret, with a fierce oath. "Let me see your +General's terms. Better an English Parliament than a Popish King." He +called into the corridor, "Bring the best bottle of wine that is left in +my cellar!" + +Le Gallais handed him the note containing the heads of Haine's terms. +"Perhaps, messire, you would consult with your council?" he asked. + +"_'A quoi bon?_" said Carteret. "You heard what the States carried by +acclamation, in October, 1649? All who are with me are of the same mind +still." The wine was brought. "What was said then in a triumph, I say +now in the day of my downfall; Captain, fill your glass! 'England for +ever! England above all!'" + + * * * * * + +The happy effect of this unexpected but welcome end of strife was soon +made known throughout the island. In the towns and villages tar-barrels +blazed all through the winter-night, and the best cider flowed free in +the farms. + +At Maufant all was happiness. The character of Marguerite de S. Martin +had come out purified from the trials of the past two years, and the +coquette-girl had grown into a woman, with but a lingering spice of +_mutinerie_. Rose, happy in the restoration of her husband to all public +honour and private joy, was anxious that her sister should partake in +her happiness. + +"Alain Le Gallais is no Solomon; that I grant you," so she concluded a +conversation on family matters, which they held after the labours and +excitement of the day; "but he can do his duty to his country; he has +proved himself a serviceable friend. Take him, _tel quel_, my little +heart, thou canst not hope for a better." + +"Marriage is a slavery, _quand même_," said Marguerite, with a saucy +shake of the head. "But it is not," she presently added, "I that will be +the slave; and there is some comfort in knowing so much." + +So the public and private troubles wore brought to an end at the same +time. Carteret and his followers were allowed to go to France in peace +and honour. Lempriere and he had held no intercourse since the +surrender, but the Bailiff and his wife were honoured members of the +assembly that gathered on the quay on the morning of the Cavaliers' +departure. The rising sun threw his orange hues on their swelling sails. + +"We have won this time," said Rose, pressing her husband's arm. "Mr. +Prynne, have you no compliment for us?" + +"It is our advantage," said Prynne in answer; "let us see that we +deserve it. There as a Power that judgeth right, and in serving of whom +there is great reward. For my part, I have done much wrong, to your +husband among others. I have been punished for mine offences; if I would +avoid more punishment, I must offend no more." + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +The character of Sir George Carteret is taken from the materials of the +time, without aid from fancy. + +It should be added that Charles showed no ingratitude towards this +faithful servant. After the Restoration he settled in London, where--in +spite of his bad English, noticed by Andrew Marvell--he rose to high +rank and founded a noble family, now represented by the Marquess of +Bath. + +Carteret was employed at the Admiralty, first as Treasurer, afterwards +as Commissioner--or Junior Lord. He was also Vice-Chamberlain of the +Royal Household; and he amassed considerable wealth. + +But he never forgot his native island. He endeavoured to found a High +School at St. Helier, what in the pompous style of these days would be +called a "College." But the project broke down for want of earnestness +on the part of the Jersey people, though Sir George offered the then +very large sum of 50,000 _livres tournois_ towards the endowment. He +lived till 1680. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St George's Cross, by H. G. 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G. Keene + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: St George's Cross + +Author: H. G. Keene + +Release Date: November 30, 2004 [EBook #14216] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST GEORGE'S CROSS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<h1>ST. GEORGE'S CROSS;</h1> +<h2>OR,<br /> +ENGLAND ABOVE ALL.<br /> +<br /> +<i>An Episode of Channel Island History.</i><br /> +<br /></h2> +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>H.G. KEENE</h2> + +<h3>GUERNSEY:<br /> +FREDERICK CLARKE, STATES ARCADE.<br /> +<br /> +LONDON:<br /> +W.H. ALLEN & CO., 15. WATERLOO PLACE.<br /> +<br /> +1887<br /> +</h3> + + + +<hr class="full" /> + +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#TO_THE_READER">To The Reader.</a> </td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#PROLOGUE">Prologue.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_I">Act I.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_II">Act II.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_III">Act III.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_IV">Act IV.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ACT_V">Act V.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#EPILOGUE">Epilogue.</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><a href="#APPENDIX">Appendix.</a></td></tr></table> + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="TO_THE_READER" id="TO_THE_READER"></a>TO THE READER.</h2> + + +<p>The following little tale is neither pure fiction nor absolute historic +truth; being, indeed, little more than an attempt to show a picture of +Channel Island life as it was some two centuries ago. For the background +we have been beholden to Dr. S.E. Hoskins, whose "<i>Charles the Second in +the Channel Islands</i>" may be commended to all who may feel tempted to +pursue the matter further.</p> + +<p><i>August, 1887.</i></p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="PROLOGUE" id="PROLOGUE"></a>PROLOGUE.</h2> + + +<p>On a bright day in September of the year 1649 Mr. William Prynne, a +suspended Member of Parliament, sat at the window of his lodging in the +Strand, London, where the Thames at high water brimmed softly against +the lawn, bearing barges, wherries, and other small craft, and gleaming +very pleasantly in the slant brightness of an autumn noon.</p> + +<p>The unprosperous politician looked upon the fair scene with quiet cheer. +He was a man of austere aspect, and looked farther advanced in middle +life than was actually the case. For he was bearing the unjust weight of +a double enmity; and though his after conduct showed that the world's +injustice by no means threw him off his moral balance, yet it is +impossible for a man to get into a position where every one but himself +seems wrong and not acquire a certain sense of solitude, which, with a +grave nature, will make him graver still. By the Cavaliers he had been +pilloried, mutilated, fined and imprisoned: expelled from the University +where he was a Master-of-Arts, driven out of the Inn-of-Court in which +he had been a Bencher. By the Roundheads, on the other hand, he had been +visited with a later and more intolerable wrong, exclusion from that +House of Commons which was the only surviving seat of sovereignty. Thus +excommunicated on all sides, Prynne still preserved his free and buoyant +nature. He had the voice and impulsive manner of a young man; while +there was a consistent moderation in his opinions which—however it +might weigh against his success as a party-man—yet sprang from +conviction, and was a guard against misanthropy.</p> + +<p>In his apparel he was plain but not slovenly. His eyes were eager; his +lean face, branded with the first letters of the words "Seditious +Libeller," was shaded by straight falls of lank hair, streaked here and +there with grey, that was combed down on either side of his head to hide +the loss of his ears.</p> + +<p>Hearing a step without, Prynne laid down the book he had been reading—a +pamphlet by John Milton—and advanced, with an air of polite reserve, to +meet the entering visitor. This was a man more than ten years his +junior, short of stature, with clear-cut features and thoughtful blue +eyes contrasting with hair and moustache dark almost to blackness. His +neatly brushed garments had a threadbare gloss, and his broad linen +falling collar, though white and clean, was somewhat frayed. But his +bearing was high-bred and distinguished, with an air of sober yet +resolute earnestness. He wore no sword, and the hat which he carried in +his hand was plain of shape and without adornment.</p> + +<p>"M. de Maufant," said Prynne, with the shy courtesy of a student, "will +admire that I should seek speech of him after sundry passages that have +been between us."</p> + +<p>"Alack! Mr. Prynne," answered the stranger, with a slight foreign +accent, "since your captivity in Mont Orgueil many things have befallen. +'Tis not alone I, Michael Lempriere the exile, changed from the state +of Seigneur de Maufant and Chief Magistrate of Jersey to that of an +outcast deriving a precarious subsistence from teaching French in your +Babylon here; but methinks you yourself have had a fall too, since the +days you speak of: when you left Jersey for London you came here in a +sort of triumph. But by this time, methinks, you must be cured of your +high hopes: I say it not for offence, but rather out of sorrow."</p> + +<p>"Why no," answered the ex-Member. "Though I be no longer one of yonder +assembly, I am still a denizen of London; and, let me tell you, a +citizen of no mean city. And I bear my share in advancing the great +cause on which so many of us are now engaged. Have you not read what Mr. +Milton hath said here as touching this?" And he took up the book which +he had dropped in the window-seat "It is well said, as you will find."</p> + +<p>Motioning Lempriere to a chair, he took another and read as follows:—</p> + +<p>"'Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion-house of +liberty, encompassed and surrounded with its protection ... pens and +hands there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, +revolving new notions and ideas, wherewith to present, as with their +homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation.' As he saith a +little further on, the fields of our harvest are white already; and it +is your privilege and mine that live among this wise and active people, +to see it coming, perhaps to put in a sickle. The pamphlet is becoming a +force stronger than the sword; and those Ironsides and Woodenheads who +turn us out of the Chamber where our fellow citizens had seated us, may +find an ill time before them when our work is over. But our work will be +the work of freedom."</p> + +<p>What more would have been said, now that Prynne was setting forth on +his dearly-loved hobby, of which the name was <i>Cedant arma</i>, is unknown; +for the serving-man entered at this moment with a simple but plentiful +repast carried on his head from the adjacent tavern; and even Prynne's +eagerness was dashed with caution enough to keep him to ordinary topics +of talk so long as the man was in the room. But Lempriere had seen and +heard enough to put him in good humour with his host. The intimacy of +the latter with the Carterets, and a suspicion of general lukewarmness +in the popular cause, had begotten old enmities, of which Lempriere, in +the long probation of failure, exile, and poverty, had already learned +to be ashamed; and to see the man he had misjudged, looking him eagerly +and earnestly in the face as he uttered the language of a genuine +reformer, completed the Jerseyman's conversion. After the servant had +brought pipes and glasses and left the gentlemen to their tobacco and +their wine, their talk grew more familiar as they looked at the flowing +river, and the deserted towers of Lambeth away on the other side.</p> + +<p>"The truth is," said Prynne, "that I received from the cavaliers of your +island kindnesses that I cannot forget; yet as touching the trial and +execution of the late King, if I have gainsayed aught of the other side, +yet I need not repeat that I have ever been a friend to Liberty, as +witness these indentures," and with a starched smile he pointed to the +marks upon his face. "I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir +George Cartwright...."</p> + +<p>"Let us not talk of him," answered the other, with a flush on his +swarthy cheek. "I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs +entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When +his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the +Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be +a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath +made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people, +but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve +parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside +his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at +an easy farm."</p> + +<p>"I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such +a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip's +ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain +speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and +would, under God's pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause +of reasonable freedom."</p> + +<p>"I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne. +This wise man hath said that 'the simple believeth every word.' But if +we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we +might say 'that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret +when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.' And farther, it hath even +been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of +that for which you suffered."</p> + +<p>"It skills not," answered the host, with evident self-control, "it +skills not to rake into that which is passed."</p> + +<p>"Neither did I seek to do so," rejoined the Jerseyman, "I seek no +offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight's spirit, and whether +he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me +have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the +affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present +successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a +kinsman or creature of his own?"</p> + +<p>"Methinks," said Prynne, shrewdly, "there be others than he who would +gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes."</p> + +<p>"That may be," said Lempriere. "The labourer is worthy of his hire, to +give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies +by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant +daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the +charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a +multitude of sins!"</p> + +<p>The conference was once more growing warm, when fortunately, it was +abridged by the sudden entrance of a man not unlike Lempriere in general +appearance, though taller and many years his junior. He wore a steel +cap, a gorget, and a buff coat; and received a hearty welcome from the +Jerseyman, by whom he was presented to Prynne.</p> + +<p>"Captain Le Gallais is newly arrived from our island," said Lempriere, +"and I made bold to leave word that I was here, in case of his coming to +my lodgings while I tarried with you. He brings me news of 'domus et +placens uxor,'" added the speaker, taking with a sad smile the letter +which Le Gallais handed him. The servant having brought a third long +stalked glass and placed it on the table, left the room once more, as +the visitor, unbuckling his long basket-hilted sword, threw himself into +a high-backed chair, and stretched his limbs, as one who rests after +long travel.</p> + +<p>"I am come post," said he, "from Southampton. There is that to do in +Jersey which it imports the rulers of this land to know."</p> + +<p>"That may well be," observed Lempriere, who shared his countryman's +idea of the importance of their little island. "But how fares my Rose? A +wanderer may love his Ithaca, but he loves his wife most. Have I your +leave, Mr. Prynne, to examine this missive?"</p> + +<p>Prynne bowed, and Lempriere cut open his letter.</p> + +<p>"Penelope maketh such cheer as she may," he added, after glancing at the +contents: "but I see nothing of your mighty news, Alain."</p> + +<p>"The letter was written before I learned the same. The return of Ulysses +did not then seem so far as it does now."</p> + +<p>"Leave riddling, Alain, and let us know the worst."</p> + +<p>"The worst is, Charles Stuart is in S. Helier, with a large power, +warmly received by Sir George, and holding the island as a tool of +Jermyn and the Queen, if not a pensioner of France. I saw his barge row +into the harbour at high tide, followed by others laden with silken +courtiers and musicians; horse-boats and cook-boats swelled the train; +the great guns of the Castle fired salvoes, and the militia stood to +their arms upon the quay, with drums beating, fifes squeaking, and our +own company from Saint Saviour's ranked among the rest, green leaves in +their hats and round the poles of their colours."</p> + +<p>Lempriere leant his head on his hand with a discomfited and despondent +gesture. Prynne addressed him kindly:—</p> + +<p>"Have a little patience, H. de Maufant," said he. "The sun shines in +heaven though earth's clouds hide his face."</p> + +<p>"Lukewarm Reuben!" cried the other, impatiently. "What comfort can I +have from such as thou? While we talk my country is indeed undone: my +wife perhaps a wanderer, and my lands and house given over to the +enemy."</p> + +<p>"Nay, but it need not be so," said Prynne. "The Rump that ruleth here, +even were it a complete Parliament, cannot be an idol to you and yours. +I have read your island laws. Those that say that the Parliament hath +jurisdiction there must, sure, be strangely ignorant. And so witnesseth +Lord Coke, no slave of the prerogative. Your islands are the ancient +patrimony of the Crown: what hinders you from casting in your lot with +Charles? For my part, I would willingly compound with him. Let him rule +as he pleases there, provided he make not slaves of us."</p> + +<p>"There spoke the self-loving Englishman," cried Le Gallais, whom respect +for his seniors had hitherto kept silent. "If you speak of hindering, +what is to hinder Sir George, now that he hath the King for backer, from +confiscating all our remaining lands and applying the produce to fitting +out a fleet which will ruin the trade of all England? It is a question +for you also, you perceive."</p> + +<p>"<i>Proximus Ucalegon</i>," said Lempriere, whom nothing could long restrain +from airing his classical knowledge. "But leave me to speak to Mr. +Prynne in terms that will not offend, and that he cannot fail to +understand. Harkye, Mr. Prynne," he said, turning to his host and +resuming use of the English language in lieu of the patois in which he +had addressed his countryman. "You love the Commonwealth, I know; your +many sufferings in that behalf show you a true friend to the cause of +English liberty. But to me it appears that this cause cannot be fitly +separated from that of your small satellite yonder."</p> + +<p>"I do not seek to deny it," answered Prynne. "Now this good fellow," +pursued Lempriere, laying his hand on his young friend's shoulder, +"(and let his zeal make amends for his blunt manner) hath brought +tidings, from which it appears that our affairs are in such a state as +calls for your interposition. And I learn moreover from this letter that +Henry Dumaresq is stirring, and the greed and grasping of the Carterets +have made them many ill-wishers. Nevertheless, Pierre Benoist hath been +taken, and under torture may readily betray our plans. On the other +hand, he that is called King there, the young Charles Stuart, is under +the regimen of his mother, who is the tool of France. Between them all +Jersey may be lost to the Commonwealth before a blow be stricken."</p> + +<p>"Nay," cried Prynne, interrupting, "I would not have you say so. We +English are neither braggarts nor cowards. Whitelocke knoweth the mind +of Mazarin; and I pray you note that Cromwell, though as a man of State +I do not uphold him, is a soldier whose zeal never sleeps, and who cares +more for the welfare of England and such as depend upon her than any +Stuart will ever do, or undo. I sent for you, indeed, on this very +behalf; not minded to show you all the springs of politics, yet to give +you a word of comfort and to ask of you a word of friendliness in +return, yea, word for word, an you will."</p> + +<p>The politician's keen eye softened as he looked at the forlorn exile. +The latter turned abruptly, as if to reveal no corresponding emotion: +then, looking straight before him, said in low tones:—</p> + +<p>"For comfort, God knows whether or no it be needed. My place and power +are lost—such as they were—a price is set upon my head by those who +slew Maximilian Messervy. My wife—who is to me like the apple of mine +eye—is alone, battling with hostile authority, and with tenants too +ready to profit by her helpless condition. I am as one encompassed by +quicksands, and nigh to be swallowed up. I am tempted to say with +David, 'Vain is the help of man.' Do you show me a bridge of escape?" he +asked, turning to Prynne, "what is your meaning? I pray you speak it +out."</p> + +<p>"You cannot," said his host, "have forgotten Serjeant-Major Lydcott of +this Army; and how with a slender company he landed on your island six +years ago. It was about the end of August, 1643, I remember well, for +Sir Philip had been dead bare three days and indeed was not yet buried: +and the castles of Jersey still held out for the Cartwrights. I said +then that, had Lydcott but taken three hundred of our sober, God fearing +soldiers, he would have established himself as master of the island on +behalf of the Commonwealth. George Cartwright had never come over from +S. Maloes; the pirates of S. Aubin would have been confounded and +brought to nought; Sir Peter Osborne had never held Castle Cornet in +Guernsey (to the shame and sorrow of the well-affected in that island), +had they but been backed and aided from Jersey. Even as things were, and +with no more help but what he got from you—I say it not to offend +you—how much did not Lydcott do? Three days after his landing he called +together the States and opened before them his commission from the Earl +of Warwick, Warden of the Isles and Lord High Admiral of England. You +were present and presiding, as you must needs remember, together with +all but three Jurats, all the Constables save one, and nearly half the +Rectors. Without a dissentient voice you administered the oath of +Lieutenant-Governor to Lydcott, yourself standing forth as Bailiff and +sworn the first. What hindered you then from holding fast? Nothing but +want of a backbone of strength. The militia, whom you now hold +malignant, swore allegiance to a man, save and except one Colonel who +was broke then and there. You may say George Cartwright drove you out; +but what did he do that could justify your flight? I must be plain with +you: with all outward and visible signs of power you gave way before +three open boats and a mouldy ruin."</p> + +<p>"We gave way," said Lempriere with an indignant flush, "because we were +forsook by them on whom we leaned."</p> + +<p>"I know it," pursued Prynne, "I say it not to blame you, but to blame +the lukewarm weakness of those who held authority there on the part of +the Commonwealth: for had Lydcott been ever so able and willing he +lacked support from hence. We had our hands full of graver business. +Only I neither desire nor expect such things should be done a second +time. There be those now in power that will take better order. The +future of your islands, the ties that bind them to us, were not known +six years ago; and our friends—as I have already said—had other +matters, more pressing, to attend to. But now is not then. Now, that a +violent policy that I cannot altogether undertake to defend hath shorn +the strength of tyranny, and that fair deceiver the late King—whom none +could safely trust or utterly despise—is by that blow taken out of our +path, we are free to set matters straight around us. It is therefore not +to be endured that your small wasps' nest yonder should continue to +infest our ambient ocean with her petty and poisonous alarms. This is +the word I have to give thee—friendly meant, though thou mayest have +been hitherto no friend to me. Jersey will be brought under the power of +the Commonwealth, and you will be among the instruments of its +reduction. I seek a word from you in return for mine."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said the bewildered exile, "you have spoken hardly, but, I +believe, with a meaning kinder than seemed: a good intent makes amends +for a harsh manner, and a bitter drink may strengthen the heart, as has +this day been done to mine by the mingled counsel and reproof that have +been poured out for me. I seek not to pry into your affairs of State, +and what I have heard Le Gallais hath heard also. I therefore make no +scrutiny as touching the means to be employed; the end we will take +thankfully according as promised. If the Parliament and the Lord General +be so minded, I make no doubt but we shall return to our home. But as +regards the word you seek from me, I would fain know to what it shall +relate. You seek, I presume, to make conditions with me: let me know, in +the hearing of my friend, what they be. That we of the island shall be +true and faithful servants to the Commonwealth of England, not seeking +to intermeddle in matters that may be beyond our concernment, I would +gladly undertake for myself and for all with whom my wishes may have +weight: but methinks it shall hardly need. And perchance your Honour may +intend to glance at some more private matter?"</p> + +<p>"I do so," answered the politician. "I have never hidden from you the +love that I bore for good Sir Philip living, nor how dear I hold his +memory now that he is dead. I would not that any who were of his party +should suffer damage when the cause shall prosper in the island. You +have heard of Cromwell's present doings in Ireland: all the world knows +what things are being wrought in that unhappy country, where the Lord +Ormonde hath been another Cartwright and hath met with an overthrow the +like of which I pretell for his Jersey antitype. Cartwright is as +unbending and will hold out to the last.</p> + +<p>"Mont Orgueil, indeed, can make no opposition to a regular siege: we are +not now in the days of Du Guesclin. But it may be otherwise with +Elizabeth Castle. Like her whose name she bears that fortress is a +virgin, and not without a struggle will she yield. Cromwell loves not +such defences. Let us be there when the hour comes, and let us combine +to keep the garrison from perishing by the swords of our friends."</p> + +<p>"Gladly will I do my best in aid of mercy," answered Lempriere, looking +much relieved by the nature of the request. "If that be all that your +Honour hath to ask, I can have no hesitancy in giving a hearty and +honest pledge in such behalf. Jersey is no Corsica; and we love not +revenge, do we, Alain?"</p> + +<p>Alain readily endorsing his chief's assertion, Prynne continued:—</p> + +<p>"It is not all. I have to pray you for the Lieutenant himself; misguided +and grasping as you deem him, he is of my deceased friend's name and +blood."</p> + +<p>"Alack, Mr. Prynne!" answered Lempriere, "have you quite forgotten what +I owe to that blood and name? And I speak not in this for myself only. +There are the spirits of the Bandinels before me; unhappy victims of +George Carteret's revenge. There is the shade of my friend Maximilian +Messervy, judged by an unlawful and corrupt Court, executed under +warrant of one who had no warrant for himself."</p> + +<p>In his excitement Lempriere had forgotten to quote Latin; he began to +pace the floor of the room. Prynne also rose and leaned by the window, +looking out at the shrubs standing dark and blotted against the evening +light that lay on the smooth water.</p> + +<p>"Take not your example," he said; "from those whose deeds you abhor, +neither make your enemies your pattern. Recollect who it is that hath +said, 'Vengeance is mine:' and in the hour of your triumph remember to +spare. Come, give me your word, willingly. I am doing much for you, more +than you are aware. I call to mind some solemn words that I have heard +Mr. Milton quote:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"The quality of Mercy is not strained,<br /></span> +<span>It droppeth as the gentle dew from Heaven<br /></span> +<span>Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed,<br /></span> +<span>It blesseth him that gives and him that takes."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Let your promise to bless come as freely as the dews that are falling +out there on my little grass-plot. Peace is upon the world—let peace be +in our hearts also!"</p> + +<p>The vehement controversial voice changed and became musical as it +uttered the words. The fervour of an unwonted mood had brought something +of a mist into the speaker's eye; persuasion hung upon his gestures, and +the voice of private rancour sank before the pleading of his lips. As +the Jerseyman remained silent, Prynne went to the table and filled the +glasses from the flagon of Rhenish wine that stood there.</p> + +<p>"We Presbyterians," he said, "are not given to the drinking of toasts. +But 'tis no common occasion. England's wars are over, may there be peace +upon Israel. Let us drink one glass together, and let us join in the +blessing of old, invoking it on our land:—'Peace be within thy walls +and prosperity within thy palaces: for my brethren and companions' +sake!'"</p> + +<p>The guests followed their host's example, and seemed to share his mood. +Then, setting down their empty glasses, the three men parted in more +loving-kindness, it might well be, than what had marked some early +stages of their conversation. Prynne, when left alone, called for +candles and sat down to his writing-table. The Jerseymen walked together +towards Temple Bar.</p> + +<p>"Knowest thou, <i>mon cher</i>," said the Ex-Bailiff in the island language, +"a heartier friend than one of these English that seem so cold?"</p> + +<p>"But tell me, I pray thee, wherefore they call the present master of our +island by an English name? For surely yonder gentleman said +'Cartwright,' which is a name not of Jersey but of England." "They are +stupid, Alain, that is all; and they think to weigh the world in their +own scales. But whether we call him Cartwright or Carteret, it is +equally hard to pardon his voracity. He is like Time—<i>Edax rerum.</i> +Nevertheless, I feel as if it was not only the sight of you and news +from home that had made me of such good cheer to-night: but that I owe +something of it to Mons. Prynne; aye! thanks to his schooling and a +readiness to perform what he has made me promise, should Carteret ever +stand at my disposal. The time may be near or it may be far; but I feel +that it must come."</p> + +<p>"And then," asked Alain shyly, "shall not I too have something to expect +from thee: when thou art Bailiff again, and a man high in power, will +thou still be willing to give me thy sister-in-law?"</p> + +<p>"Parbleu!" cried Lempriere, "if maids could be given like passports. But +Marguerite will have her way; it is for thee, <i>coquin</i>, to make her way +thine."</p> + +<p>Thus, jointly labouring at airy castles, the pair of islanders pricked +their steps through the dirty and dimly-lighted streets till they +reached a squalid row of houses on Tower Hill, where was situated the +only lodging within the present means of the Seigneur of Maufant.</p> + +<p>"To-night thou must share my chamber, <i>telle quelle</i>," he said. "'Tis a +poor one, as thou mayest suppose. <i>Infelix, habitum temporis hujus +habe?</i>"</p> + +<p>"It is all one to me," said Alain, lightly; "whether here or at Maufant +thou art always good."</p> + +<p>As they neared the door a voice came to them from the shadow of a +projecting oriel:—</p> + +<p>"Have a care, Jerseymen! You are betrayed."</p> + +<p>They ran to the shaded corner; but the moon was young and low and gave +but little light in the narrow street. A figure, seemingly that of a +tall man, was seen to glide away into another street, but they failed to +recognise it or trace its departing movements. Silently, and with +downcast looks they sought the entry of Lempriere's lodging, the door of +which he opened with a key that he carried in his pocket. Striking a +light from flint and steel on the hall table, Lempriere kindled a +hand-lamp, and led the way into a small chamber on the ground floor, +where they wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay down on a pallet +in the corner. The younger man, fatigued with travel, was soon asleep; +Lempriere, with more to think of, passed great part of the night in +wakeful anxiety. Before he finally sank to slumber he had resolved to +send Alain back at once to Jersey.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_I" id="ACT_I"></a>ACT I.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">The King.</h3> + + +<p>In 1649, when Charles II. was uncertain as to what steps he should take +on the death of his father, it was considered that the best and safest +place for his temporary residence was the Castle at S. Helier, in +Jersey, known by the name of Queen Elizabeth, where he had already lived +for a short time on an earlier occasion. Founded by order of the +Sovereign whose name it bore, it stands on a rocky islet, once a +promontory of the mainland, but long since insulated by every high tide. +At low water it communicated with the town by a natural causeway of +shingly rock called "The Bridge," commanded by its own guns. On the +Western curve of the bay, nearly two miles off as the bird flies, was +the small town of S. Aubin, guarded by a smaller fortress. The entire +bay was protected, by the batteries of these two places, against the +entrance of hostile shipping. Circumstances, not now entirely traceable +but connected probably with defensive considerations, had taken its +ancient preponderance from Gorey, on the eastern coast, which had once +been the seat of administration; and thus commenced the importance of S. +Helier, though in nothing like the present activity of its quays and +wharves, or the throng of its streets and markets. Above the head of +the "Bridge," indeed, the view from the North face of the Castle met +with no buildings till it struck upon the Town Church, an ancient but +plain structure of the fourteenth century, whose square central tower, +although by no means of lofty elevation, formed a landmark for mariners +out at sea by reason of a beacon that was always kept burning there by +night. At the foot of this tower nestled a cemetery containing the tombs +of "the rude forefathers" of what had been, till lately, indeed little +more than a hamlet. On the southern aspect of this, facing the castle +and the sea, the enclosure was marked by a strong granite breastwork +armed with cannons mounted <i>en barbette</i>. These pieces were pointed, for +the most part, on the bridge, or causeway leading to the Castle, into +which they were capable of sending salvos of round-shot, as in fact they +had often done a few years before. The rest of the cemetery was strongly +walled, though without guns. To the north of the Church ran narrow +streets, sloping gently upward from the seaside. The houses of these +streets were built of the local granite, hewn and hammered flat and +without projection or decoration, and with no other relief but what was +afforded by small rectangular lattice-windows. They were usually of two +storeys, crowned by high-pitched thatched roofs, with here and there a +tiny dormer window. Some were shops or taverns, among which were +interspersed the residences of the burgesses and the town houses of the +rural gentry. Fronted by miry roadway, or at best an occasional strip of +rough boulder pavement, over which wheeled carriages could rarely pass, +these lines of houses had no form or comeliness, save what might be due +to an occasional bit of small flower-garden before the few that were +large and inhabited by persons in comparatively easy circumstances. +Farther back the ground rose more rapidly and showed some scattered +suburban houses. The "Town Hill" to the east, the "Gallows Hill" to the +west, completed the amphitheatre. Up the main hollow ran a road leading +due north to the Manor and Church of Trinity parish in the interior of +the island, and terminating on the north coast in Boulay Bay, a fine +natural harbour, which was the nearest point of embarkation for England. +The whole island, scarcely less than the town, bore an appearance of +defence, almost of inaccessibility; the manors, farm houses, and even +many of the fields, being surrounded by granite walls, and capable of +arresting the progress of an invader, unless in great force. Each of the +twelve parish churches contained the arsenal of the local militia; and +all things betokened a hardy population, ready to do battle against all +intruders.</p> + +<p>The titular Governor, Lord Jermyn, was an absentee, following the +fortunes of the widowed Queen, Henrietta Maria, in France. The actual +administration, both civil and military, was in the hands of a naval +officer of experience, Sir George Carteret, or de Carteret, cousin and +brother-in-law to the Seigneur of S. Owen, a large manor on the western +side of the island. This family, distinguished in island history ever +since it abandoned its fief of Carteret on the coast of Normandy to +follow the fortunes of John Lackland, when the Duchy was confiscated by +Philip Augustus, was by far the most powerful in the island. Its only +possible rival, the house of Lempriere, of Maufant, had espoused warmly +the cause of the Parliament, and had consequently met with reverses when +the Carterets, who were royalist, effected the revolution mentioned in +our Prologue.</p> + +<p>It only remains to be added that the people at large were not at all +warmly attached to either of the parties to the Civil War. The language +of the majority was an old form of French, now reduced to the condition +of a patois; the more educated classes studied the laws and language of +France. The proceedings of the Courts and the services of the Church +were conducted in modern French, and the sympathies of the community +were divided between a mundane attachment to England, and a religious +leaning to the creed of the Huguenots, of whom a great number had sought +refuge on their shores. Hence the Jersey folks were indifferently +submissive to royalty, the only form of English government of which, +till these days, they had heard; but they by no means shared the +High-Church fervour which had animated the late unfortunate King. Their +ultimate motive, as is common to human nature, was for their own +interests; and although the influence of the Carterets had kept them, +for the most part, nominal followers of the cause of royalty, men like +Michael Lempriere and Prynne had good reason for believing that they +would, in the long run, favour those who seemed the best friends to +Jersey. Let them not be blamed for this. Their love for England was very +much founded upon fear of France. By observing the attitude of the +Scottish borderers of a slightly earlier period, an Englishman of the +seventeenth century could imagine the attitude of the Jersey mind +towards the "Normans," by which name they were accustomed to designate +their feudal and aggressive Catholic neighbours the Lords and Ministers +of the French Kingdom. Even as the Grahams and Scotts of Tweedside stood +at arms against each other on either bank of the dividing stream, so did +the de Gruchys and Malets, the Le Feuvres and de Quettevilles, on either +side the Channel. The danger that was nearest was the most formidable; +and the Channel Islanders were ready to side with England much as the +Saxon Scots of the Lothians came to make common cause with the Celts of +the Highlands.</p> + +<p>These explanations may appear tedious: but the reader is implored to +pardon them; for without such he could not realise the passions which +are exemplified in this little story. Long exposed to invasion, the +Jerseymen of the middle ages had handed down to their descendants an +abhorrence of France which was fomented by the stories of persecution +brought to them by Huguenot refugees; and which, indeed, has hardly yet +completely died out among the rural population. Thus sentiment and +interest kept the islanders attached to England by a two-fold cord; +careless whether their immediate leaders were Cavaliers, as in Jersey, +or Parliamentarians, as in the neighbouring island of Guernsey, where +the royal Governor was beleaguered in Castle Cornet.</p> + +<p>For reasons arising out of this state of things, Carteret did not leave +the protection of the King to the unaided loyalty of the local militia. +Cooped up in the narrow limits of the Castle rock were no less than +three hundred Englishmen and women attached to the Court, and, in +addition, a strong force of Irish and Cornish soldiers who had been +brought over by Charles on his former visit, as Prince of Wales, after +the battle of Naseby. His Sacred Majesty—<i>de jure</i> of England, +Scotland, and Ireland, King, to say nothing of France, whose lilies were +blazoned on his scutcheon—was <i>de facto</i> monarch of this little island +plot of 45 square miles; and his state was at least equal to his +temporary sway. The accommodation of the Castle was, in truth, but +small; but it was the best that the occasion afforded; the royal palace +consisting of a suite of small apartments vacated for the King's +convenience by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir G. Carteret, who had removed +to the lower ward. S. Aubin, on the other horn of the bay, was the seat +of the naval power; here lived the families of the officers of the +corsair-squadron then constituting the Royal Navy. The rest of the +King's following was billetted on farm-houses in the parishes nearest to +the town. Yet, as a warning that all was not their own, four frigates +and two line-of-battle ships, with a commission from the rebel +government of London, and flying the broad pennant of Admiral Batten, +cruised between Jersey and Guernsey, never far from sight, although +giving for the most part a wide berth to both the island castles, whose +gunners watched them night and day.</p> + +<p>Such was the position of affairs on a Sunday towards the end of +September, a few days later than the events related in the Prologue. The +morning had been wet and windy, and the sacredness of the day had joined +to keep the men of those simple times from all activity save that +connected with the services of religion. But, in spite of the weather, +it had been judged wise and proper that Charles should show himself at +Church on this, the first Sunday of his kingship in Jersey: and he +accordingly attended worship at the Town Church of S. Helier's. The tide +was low, and the royal cortège, muffled in their cloaks, rode or walked +slowly along the causeway, and up the <i>glacis</i> that led to the entrance. +The Rector was absent, his opinions being displeasing to the autocratic +Carteret; but the Rev. Mr. La Cloche, Rector of S. Owen (the Carteret +parish) was in charge; he was the Lieutenant-Governor's private +Chaplain; and under strict orders had made splendid preparation for the +illustrious congregation. The old temple had been swept and garnished. +Laurel boughs and the beautiful flowers and fruits of the season hung +from every arch and decorated every pillar. The aisles were covered with +a thick natural carpet of fragrant rushes; before the pulpit were +chairs for the King and his brother the Duke of York, and the space +they stood on was tapestried with glowing colours. Cushioned tables +supported the gilded bibles and prayer-books for the royal worshippers, +who arrived precisely at eleven followed by their numerous train. +Throwing off his wringing roquelaure Charles entered, plumed hat in +hand, a young man of middle stature, erect and well-knit for his +years—which were but nineteen—and with a countenance which, though +even then wanting in flesh and bloom, was not unpleasing: framed in +natural curls, and showing (to sympathetic observers) a noble and +pleasing dignity often, it must be avowed, contrasting strongly with the +mingled frivolity and cynicism that marked his words. Being in mourning +for the event of January he was clothed in purple velvet without lace or +embroidery. Over his doublet hung a short cloak with a star on the left +breast, under which was a silk scarf, cloak and scarf being all of +purple. The famous ribbon of the Garter round his left knee was the only +bit of other colour visible. James, a few years younger, was similarly +attired. Besides the two Princes the only other Knight of the Garter was +the Earl of Southampton. The rest of the Lords and Gentlemen in Waiting +were also in Court-mourning, and all without the smallest decoration.</p> + +<p>After the conclusion of the Service the clergyman ascended the pulpit in +his black gown. He took his text from the second book of Chronicles, c. +35, the end of the 24th verse:—"And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for +Josiah."</p> + +<p>The turn of Mr. La Cloche's discourse may be in great measure +anticipated. Setting forth the heinousness of rebellion and regicide, he +dwelt upon the virtues of the Royal Martyr, his courage, his patience, +his devotion to the Church. As was but natural in the circumstances, +there followed an application to local politics. They were there, he +informed his hearers (as the old lattices, shaken by the gale, rattled +their accompaniment to his monotone) in the character of Englishmen; but +he had to notice that to the existing rulers of England they owed no +obedience. The so-called Parliament which had judged and murdered the +late lamented Monarch, and which now claimed the right of ruling in his +stead, was no divinely appointed head of affairs, not even +representative of one Estate of the realm. Where were the Peers, the +Lords Temporal who had ever formed part of the Government of England, +the Lords Spiritual who represented the Church of Christ? The House of +Lords was now represented to them, there in the presence of the +Honourable Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, whom that High +Chamber had set and appointed to bear rule in that Island. Still more +had they before them their Sovereign, the Anointed of the Lord, without +whose assent all Acts of State must ever be futile and rebellious. Yes, +he was there, that Sacred head, covered and guarded by the loyal hearts +and arms of one—only one—of his Norman Isles.</p> + +<p>As the sermon came to an end the storm without showed signs of +abatement; and by the time the blessing had been pronounced and the King +and Prince had mounted their richly caparisoned horses, the wind had +lulled and the September sun gleamed brightly out upon the attentive and +orderly crowd. On returning to the Castle Charles sate down to dinner, +and a select portion of the more loyal Jersey society was admitted into +the Hall to see the King at table. Only two places were set; and after a +Latin grace had been pronounced by the Court-Chaplain, the dishes were +taken, one by one, to the King and his brother, and whatever meats were +approved were taken to the side-board and carved. The royal youths had +stood with uncovered heads while grace was being said; but they replaced +their hats when they sate down, and wore them throughout dinner. After +they had dined the Page-in-waiting, a tall and handsome youth, richly +attired, brought each of them a ewer and basin of parcel-gilt silver, +with a fringed damask napkin; and after they had washed their hands a +butler served them with Spanish and Gascon wines. Dessert having been +placed upon the table and tasted, the princes withdrew; and then the +hungry courtiers sate down to finish the repast.</p> + +<p>Retired to his private sitting-room, Charles lay back on a window-seat, +tooth-pick in hand, and looked out indolently on the sea. The waves +scintillated and broke into white foam, among the brown rocks, which +disappeared gradually under the rising tide; and the wings of glancing +gulls shone out against a rain-cloud which was bearing off the recent +storm. Below the dark pall the sky of the horizon glowed bright and +clear as jade over the deepening line of the distant waters. At the +King's feet sat the page who had served the princes at dinner, a bright +rakish-looking young fellow named Thomas Elliot; apparently absorbed in +the preparation of fishing-tackle, he was heedfully watching the face of +his royal master out of the corner of his dare-devil eyes.</p> + +<p>"Where is James, Tom?" asked presently the King.</p> + +<p>"Gone to feed the hawks, Sir."</p> + +<p>"One's own flesh-and-blood is poor company, he finds. By the Lord, Tom, +this is no life for a Christian, be he man or boy. To be lunged round my +good mother at the length of her apron-string seemed but dull work, and +making love to the Grande Mademoiselle was indifferent pastime. But, +odsfish, I would willingly be back there. In this God-forgotten corner +you cannot see a petticoat on any terms, save the farthingale of Dame +Carteret or her ancient housekeeper, as they cross the courtyard to give +corn to the pigeons. James and I went out fishing yesterday, as far as +S. Owen's pond; but no sport had we there but the chance of a broken +head from a Puritan farmer."</p> + +<p>"Why, what a plague did they want by laying hands on our anointed pate?"</p> + +<p>"Ah! look you," said Charles, in his languid drawl, "We did but beg a +cup of cider from his daughter. James hath a long face and a dull tongue +for a boy of his age; but I warrant I spoke the wench fair for my part; +and in French that had passed muster at Versailles. But 'tis a perverse +and stiff-necked generation. The wench screamed in some language not +understandable by us—Carribee it may be—but faith there was no +difficulty about the farmer's meaning: he conjugated his fists, but we +declined the encounter; and so we were quit as to grammar."</p> + +<p>The manner of the speaker was in such dry and droll contrast with his +matter that Elliot had no difficulty in according the sympathetic smile +which is the tribute of the jovial and manly sycophant to a superior he +wishes to please.</p> + +<p>"And this is then, the escapade for which the <i>gros bonnets</i> down there +have determined that you are not to stir out of this charming retreat +without a guard, or suffer your sacred person to meet the air of the +island without the hedge of an escort. But I have a plan to defeat +them...."</p> + +<p>Whatever projects the young men might be disposed to form for the +purpose of eluding the prudent precautions of their seniors were for +the moment cut short by a knocking at the door, which made them start +aside like the disturbed conspirators that they were.</p> + +<p>"Quick! vanish," muttered the King sharply; "behind the bureau there. If +the comer be Nicholas let him not see thee here. He bears thee no good +will."</p> + +<p>As Elliot hurriedly obeyed, the door slowly opened, giving entrance to +the Rector of S. Owen. The worthy clergyman still wore the gown and +bands in which he had preached in the forenoon, and carried in his hand +the four-cornered but boardless college-cap which formed part of the +clerical costume of those days. Bestowing upon the youthful King a look +whose awestruck humility was at curious variance with the respective +ages and appearance of the two, and making an awkward obeisance, Mr. La +Cloche spoke:—</p> + +<p>"I crave your pardon, Sir. Receiving no reply to my knock I presumed to +enter, deeming mine errand an excuse."</p> + +<p>Charles pointed to a seat and drew himself up with dignity:—</p> + +<p>"It needs no further excuse, reverend Sir, say on, and fear nothing." La +Cloche seated himself on the corner of the chair.</p> + +<p>"It is my humble duty to warn your Majesty that Jersey is no suitable +place for your residence," he said.</p> + +<p>"We are very much of your mind," answered Charles, "but how made you the +mighty discovery?"</p> + +<p>"I have been dining," answered the clergyman, "in company with the +Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas, Knight, Secretary of State to your +Majesty. Certain of your Majesty's affectionate servants and +well-wishers were of the party, as also the Lieutenant-Governor, who +was the host. The discourse was grave; and albeit without permission of +the gentlemen—yet, in virtue of mine office, I hope I but anticipate +their humble duty to your Majesty, if I take upon myself to lay their +thoughts before you."</p> + +<p>"And for your own part, Sir, as a Jerseyman having, both by religion and +as a Member of the States, the means of knowing what the people think, +you would fain join your own private word to those who are refusing an +asylum to Charles Stuart in the dominions of his fathers. You had better +let them speak for themselves."</p> + +<p>The clergyman shuffled in his uneasy seat. The perspicacity of the young +man—it is a part of a Prince's stock-in-trade—had taken him by +surprise.</p> + +<p>"I am an old man," he faltered, "unversed in affairs of State. If it be +true, however, that the Lord Jermyn...."</p> + +<p>"Our mother's trusted councillor, Mr. Rector! What of my Lord Jermyn? +Thou hast not said enough—or, by God! thou hast said too much."</p> + +<p>The Chaplain's island temper hardened under menace, even from the Lord's +Anointed. What he felt he did not indeed care to lay bare: yet the +upshot he would tell. The King's recent exploit in the parish of which +he was Rector had come to his ears, garnished and exaggerated, perhaps; +and he was determined to get rid of such visitors if he could. The news +from France was an occasion, and he gladly used it. Lord Jermyn, it +seemed, had been talking openly—and not for the first time—of selling +the Channel Islands to France; and his connection with the Queen made +men suspect that he had not entertained such a design without high +sanction. On the other hand the Rector knew that Carteret would sooner +cede the Island over which he was set to Cromwell than see it occupied +by the French. The King would be in obvious danger, and he had +determined, under that excuse, to endeavour to dispose the King's mind +towards a removal which he himself, on other grounds, considered highly +desirable. Charles listened to all the clergyman had to say, with +impatience thinly veiled by good breeding. When the speaker came to a +pause, the King said, with a kinder manner, "Thou hast done well, and +hast given no just cause of offence to anyone. Mr. Secretary is an +approved friend: but I need not remind your Reverence of the prayer of +the Psalmist: 'Let not his precious balms break mine head!'"</p> + +<p>The King's manner indicated that the conference was at an end. He wished +to get rid of the Rector, not only because the good man was "boring" +him, as would be said now-a-days, but because he had but little trust in +Tom Elliot's discretion, and thought that at any moment the page might +be led to break forth from what must needs be an irksome confinement. +Moreover, the King knew that, sooner or later, he would have to undergo +a more serious lecture from some of his councillors, and it was an +object with him to make some inquiries in confidential quarters and +devise a course of speech if not of action.</p> + +<p>But the worthy Rector was, as he said, unversed in the ways of the +great; and the young King's affable manner had drawn him into +forgetfulness of any little lessons of etiquette that he might have ever +learned. Instead of departing on the King's hint, he let his tongue wag +afresh.</p> + +<p>"Alack, Sir! may your Majesty's prayers be heard. And may what I have +done breed myself no harm! For what saith the Wise Man? 'Burden not +thyself above thy power while thou livest, and have no fellowship with +one that is mightier than thyself: for how agree the kettle and earthen +pot together?'"</p> + +<p>"It was well said of the Wise Man," observed the King demurely. "And +your Reverence will do well to consider the words that follow, if my +memory do not deceive me;—'If thou be invited of a great man, <i>withdraw +thyself</i>!'"</p> + +<p>The underlined words, being pronounced with a voice changed to a sharp +and sudden tone from the solemn snuffle into which the King had slid in +first quoting <i>Ecclesiasticus</i>, were too much for Elliot, who broke into +an irrepressible giggle behind the bureau. Mr. La Cloche started at the +sound; then, recollecting himself, retired with a bow into which he +threw a look of surprise not unmixed with silent reproach.</p> + +<p>Still laughing, the page emerged from his ambush, knocking the dust from +his doublet with his hand, and eyeing the door as it closed after the +retreating Rector.</p> + +<p>"I'll wager he thinks thou wert a wench, Tom," cried Charles; "but tell +me, how much of the worthy parson's discourse didst thou hear?"</p> + +<p>"As much as you desire, Sir, and no more," was the discreet reply. "But +it is true that one is come from France who knows Lord Jermyn."</p> + +<p>"Jermyn," said the King, half soliloquising, "is a son of a——; and I +would as lief run him through the body as I would open an oyster. But +that is neither here nor there; such pleasures are not for Kings." He +sate thinking for a few minutes, and then, looking up, added, "Go, Tom, +and tell Nicholas and the rest that I would see them here."</p> + +<p>The page departed, presently returning to introduce four gentlemen, +after which, he again left the room and shut the door, which it would +be his office to keep against all instrusion while the conference +lasted.</p> + +<p>One of the visitors appeared to take precedence; a tall, high-featured +man, with a stoop and a receding chin. This was Lord Hopton, one of the +most respectable of Charles's followers; an honourable, stupid, +middle-aged nobleman, who could never marshal his own thoughts and who, +necessarily, spoke without persuading others. The other Englishmen were +Nicholas, the Secretary of State, and the old Lord Cottington. The +fourth gentleman was Sir George Carteret, the Lieutenant-Governor, a +bluff sea-faring man, little used to obey, yet anxious, in that +presence, to be deferential; with an unmistakable pugnacity varnished +over with a gloss of <i>ruse</i>. There being but one arm-chair in the room +Charles took his seat upon it, and awaited the advice of his friends who +perforce remained standing.</p> + +<p>"I have sent for you, my Lords and gentlemen, to confer on the matter +brought me by Mr. La Cloche, the Rector of St. Owen, and Chaplain to Sir +George Carteret."</p> + +<p>Hopton opened the conference, speaking in a dull, precise manner, from +the lips only, hardly opening his teeth:—</p> + +<p>"May it please you Sir, Mr. La Cloche hath reported to me, as I met him +returning from your presence, that while he was imparting to your +Highness—I may say, your Majesty—a matter of great moment, there was +one hid in the room that played the eavesdropper. Before proceeding +farther I would humbly ask...."</p> + +<p>"Hold there, my Lord," broke in Charles. "Remember, I pray you, +that—howbeit our present power, by the malice of our enemies, be +brought to a narrow pass, we are still, by the grace of God your King, +of full age, moreover, and no longer to be schooled. As touching what +anyone may have heard here, by our consent, we need answer to no man; +neither to Mr. La Cloche nor to your Lordship. There is, however, no one +but ourselves in this room, as you may clearly see. As to the matter of +the priest's discourse, we opine that it is already known to you. It is +of that matter that we now seek to know your minds."</p> + +<p>The words were not ungracefully uttered; but Hopton found no immediate +answer. He only knit his narrow brow and held his peace. Carteret, +however, stepped briskly forward; and would perhaps have committed some +indiscretion had not Nicholas plucked him by the cloak. "By your leave, +Mr. Lieutenant," said the jovial lawyer, "I would say an humble word to +his Majesty, with the freedom of an ancient servant." His round face and +merry eye were rendered serious by the resolution of a full-lipped yet +firm mouth. "Sir!" said he, turning to the young King with a look in +which the <i>bonhomie</i> of an indulgent Mentor was blended with genuine +respect, "it will, no doubt, seem to your Majesty both meet and proper +that we should not leave a meddlesome parson to let you know that our +faithful hearts have been sorely exercised by that which is newly come +to us out of France. Not to stay on sundry general advertisements and +rumours that have reached us—and which seemed to glance at a very +exalted personage—I mean, more particularly, what we have received this +morning from a very discreet and knowing gentleman (now residing at +Paris) of what he hath learned from persons of honour conversant in the +secrets of the Court there."</p> + +<p>"If it be her Majesty the Queen that you fear to name, Mr. Secretary," +interrupted the King, "it is but vain to fence. Do your duty, as you +have ever done."</p> + +<p>"With your Majesty's leave, I will name no one, save it be one Mr. +Cooly, Secretary to the Lord Jermyn, whom your Majesty, doubtless, +graciously recollects. Our informant was plainly asked by this +gentleman, how the islanders would take it if there should be an +overture of giving them up to the French."</p> + +<p>"This is but talk," observed the King.</p> + +<p>"Nay Sir, there is yet more. This letter, which is come to one of us in +cypher, goes on to tell that it hath been heard, from a very good +source, that the chief mover herein is to be made Duke and Peer of +France, and receive 200,000 pistoles, for which he is to deliver up not +Jersey only but Guernsey, Aurigny, and Serk. Nay, further, his Eminence +Cardinal Mazarine hath taken up ships for the transport of 2,000 French +soldiers, nominally for the service of your Majesty, actually for the +service whereof we are now speaking."</p> + +<p>"Let them come," said Charles. "We will put ourself at their head and +fall upon Guernsey, that nest of Roundheads where Osborne and honest +Baldwin Wake have borne so long the brunt of insult and privation."</p> + +<p>"Under your favour, Sir," broke in Carteret, "you would be bubbled. I +have seen and spoke with a known creature of my Lord Jermyn's; and I +know well that the design of the French is—so to speak—to clap your +Majesty under the hatches, and to steer the vessel on their own account. +Mr. La Cloche shall answer for this," he added in a lower tone.</p> + +<p>"By your leave again, Sir George," put in the beaming Secretary, "we +lawyers are to speak by our calling. It is not indeed, Sir, that my Lord +Jermyn hath made direct overtures to us. And 'tis to be thought that in +this last respect the messenger spoke but according to his own +understanding."</p> + +<p>"I would cut every throat in the island," cried Carteret, with savage +interruption....</p> + +<p>"Sir George Cartwright's zeal hath eaten him up," said Nicholas with a +twinkle of his merry eye. "Let it suffice that the concurrent +information of divers persons (and they strangers to one another), +together with the Lord Jermyn's total neglect of the island in regard of +the provisions that he hath not sent as promised nor repaid sums of +money lent to your service by the people, have led us to sign a paper of +association for which we shall crave your gracious approval. We doubt +not you will agree with us that the delivery of the islands to the +French is not consistent with the duty and fidelity of Englishmen, and +would be an irreparable loss to the nation besides being an indelible +dishonour to the Crown."</p> + +<p>As Charles took the paper handed him for perusal by Nicholas, a flush +arose upon his swarthy countenance.</p> + +<p>"Enough said, my Lords and gentlemen! We need not that any should +instruct us as to our duty."</p> + +<p>"We trust not," cried Carteret, bluffly. "If the French come here we +shall give them a sour welcome; and as to my Lord the Governor, he will +find," and he slipped in his eagerness into his native tongue, "that he +has made <i>le marché de la peau de l'ours qui ne seroit pas encore tué</i>."</p> + +<p>Presently the little Council broke up. The King, after glancing at the +paper of association, consented that Lord Hopton—in whose diplomatic +abilities he perhaps did not feel much confidence—should proceed at +once to the Hague, and lay the case before the States General of Holland +as the power most interested—after England—in sifting and, if need +were, opposing the designs of France. Meanwhile the articles of the +association were not to be divulged; the whole affair being kept a +profound secret and mystery of State.</p> + +<p>Somewhat relieved, the associates then retired from the presence of the +yawning King, and passed down the little corridor. Here they found +Elliot keeping watch, and pacing innocently to and fro. And the +graceless page bowed their Honours down the stairs, without betraying by +his manner anything to suggest—which was, nevertheless, the simple +truth—that he had been attentively listening to as much of their recent +conversation as could be gathered through the imperfect channel afforded +by the key-hole of the door. Carteret cursed La Cloche's officious +meddling all the way to his own quarters, and on arriving there sent a +sergeant to the unfortunate clergyman, who deported him to France by the +next boat that sailed.</p> + +<p>On returning to the room, Elliot found Charles walking up and down the +narrow floor of his room in evident excitement.</p> + +<p>"Tom," said the King, as the page entered, "what is to do here? It seems +that I am not to be master even in this little island of Hop o' my +Thumb. They lord it over me even as they did when I was here before, as +Prince of Wales <i>in partibus</i>."</p> + +<p>"Why then," answered the audacious youth, "I would even show them a +clean pair of heels, and take refuge with the Scots."</p> + +<p>"The Scots who sold my father!"</p> + +<p>"The Scots, Sir, of whom I am one," cried the page, the hot blood of a +race of Border-Barons rising to his forehead. "Am I and mine to be +confounded with a crew of cuckoldy Presbyterians? I will not listen to +any one who says so, King or no King."</p> + +<p>And the malapert youth flung out of the room, while his wearied +master—not unaccustomed to such outbreaks—lounged into the dining room +and called for his supper.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_II" id="ACT_II"></a>ACT II.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">The Manor.</h3> + + +<p>If the page was to be blamed for his disrespectful demeanour in abruptly +leaving his helpless but indulgent Sovereign, his next step was still +less worthy of commendation. But he had the perfervid temper of his +race, and he was not twenty-two. Having attended his royal Master in a +former visit to Jersey, he had made friends with some of the island +gentry, and among others with the family of St. Martin (then resident at +Rozel), in which he found a maiden of his own age with whom he soon +imagined himself to have fallen in love. Mdlle. de St. Martin was the +sister of Michael Lempriere's wife; with her she had since taken up her +abode; and the first thing that Elliot had done after the return of the +Court to Jersey had been to acquaint himself with this fact. In the +present excitement of his feelings he resolved to seek an interview with +the girl whose charms he so well remembered. A boat was moored at the +foot of the castle rock; and the impetuous young cavalier sprang on +board, loosened the painter, and with the aid of a pair of sculls that +had been left in the boat rapidly propelled himself to the shore of the +bay aided by the flowing tide. While he is engaged in making his way to +the northern extremity of the parish of S. Saviour, where the manor of +the Lemprieres was situated, we will anticipate his progress and +describe the scene.</p> + +<p>The manor-house stood in its own walled grounds, admission being +obtained through a round Norman archway, over which was carved the +scutcheon of the family—gules, three eagles displayed, proper—with the +date 1580. This opened on a long narrow avenue of tall elms, at the end +of which two enormous juniper trees made a second arch, of perennial +verdure. Such was the entrance, passing under which the visitor found +himself in a flower-garden in which summer roses still bloomed, and the +bees were still busy. On one side stood the house, a two-storeyed +building of stone, pierced with many small latticed windows, and +thatched with straw. The main-door bore another scutcheon, of newer +stone than the rest of the house, quartering the arms of St. Martin +(<i>azure</i>, nine billets <i>or</i>) over a device of two hearts tied together +with a cipher formed by the letters L. and M. This doorway opened into a +small hall, in front of which was a stair-case of polished oak. On +either side of the hall were low-ceiled parlours wainscotted with dark +wood, beams of which supported the ceilings. The floor of the room to +the right was paved with stone and carpeted with fresh rushes, a yawning +chimney of carved granite, on which a fire of drift-wood was burning +with parti-coloured flames, occupied one end of the room, which was +occupied by the ladies of the house. At the back were the kitchen and +offices, looking out upon a paved court-yard containing a well, and +backed by farm buildings.</p> + +<p>Madame Lempriere (or "de Maufant") and her sister sate by the fire +knitting in the autumn twilight. Both were lovely; beautiful women in +the typical style of island beauty, which not even the primness of +their somewhat old-fashioned costume could wholly disguise. For their +eyes were dark and sparkling, and their cheeks glowed with the rosy +bloom of a healthy and innocent womanhood. They were talking in low +tones of the troubles of the time and of their absent friends; their +language was in the island French.</p> + +<p>"It is more than a month," said Rose Lempriere, "since I had tidings of +M. de Maufant. Methinks your fiancé M. le Gallais might show more +alacrity in his coming."</p> + +<p>"Helas!" replied Marguerite, "poor Alain will never err on the side of +precipitancy. But seest thou not, my sister, the equinox here, and gales +are abroad. I did not expect him till the S. Michel; and then there are +Captain Bowden and M. the Lieutenant's cruisers to reckon with."</p> + +<p>"You do not appear to mind making the crane's foot, my sister," said +Rose, with a slight smile. "In my youth lovers were expected to be +forward and maidens looked for attention."</p> + +<p>"It is not so long since your youth, my all fair."</p> + +<p>"But perhaps M. le Gallais is better occupied in another part."</p> + +<p>"<i>Voyons, ma soeur</i>; it is quite equal, to me. Your M. le Gallais +indeed! one would think it was you and M. de Maufant that wanted to +marry him. As for me, I do not want to marry at all. Least of all does +it import me to marry a man chosen by others. I prefer the ways of +England."</p> + +<p>"<i>Di va</i>!" exclaimed her sister. "A good man is not bad because our +friends like him. Marry this good Alain, and love him after."</p> + +<p>The damsel replied by a pretty grimace.</p> + +<p>"Marguerite!" said Mme. de Maufant, with a little frown, "<i>on ne badine +pas avec l'amour</i>. Or do you love another perhaps? Ah! <i>malheureuse</i>; +art thou still thinking of <i>ce beau guilliard</i>, how did they call him? +M. Elliot, I think, the King's page? I hear that he is returned with the +King; and—oh, Marguerite!—--"</p> + +<p>"I swear to you Rose, I know nothing of M. Elliot—"</p> + +<p>As she spoke a low whistle was heard without.</p> + +<p>"It is Alain's signal," cried Rose, all in a flutter. "He brings me news +from Michael."</p> + +<p>So saying Mme. de Maufant moved with a quick step towards the door +opening on the back yard, whence the signal-whistle evidently came. +Marguerite site still on her <i>tabouret</i>, her head hidden in her shapely +white hands.</p> + +<p>On reaching the back-door Rose threw a wimple over her head, and +carefully undoing the-chain and bar, admitted le Gallais, weary and +travel-stained. Taking both her hands the young man gazed in her face +with the honest gaze of a loving brother. Then searching in the lining +of his doublet he drew out a letter, or rather a packet tied with +string, and gave it to her.</p> + +<p>"He is well," he said, "but his heart suffers."</p> + +<p>"I know it, I know it," sobbed the wife, "but come in, Alain; come in +and take some repose."</p> + +<p>With which she led him into the room, and up to the hearth where sate +the wilful beauty.</p> + +<p>"Marguerite," she said, "do you not see Alain le Gallais?"</p> + +<p>"I am delighted to see M. le Capitaine," was the girl's reply, as she +rose and made an obeisance, immediately resuming her seat.</p> + +<p>Poor Alain! the cold of the autumn evening outside was nothing in +comparison with the chill that fell upon him by that blazing hearth. +Weary as he was, and—as soon appeared—wounded also, his nerve, shaken +by fatigue, gave way before this reception. With giddy brain and wan +face he sank into the nearest seat.</p> + +<p>"What hast thou, my friend, speak, for the love of God," said the lady +of Maufant, while her sister's reluctant eye glanced at him, through +unshed tears with yet more tender inquiry.</p> + +<p>"A scratch, no more," said Alain, tightening the scarf on his left arm, +which showed stains of new blood. "I am but now landed in Boulay Bay, +and a militia-sentry discharged his matchlock at me as I ran down the +lane under the battery. They are indifferent marksmen, my good +compatriots, and their pieces make small impression compared with +Cromwell's snaphaunces."</p> + +<p>Rose tenderly unbound the bandage, found a mere flesh-wound, to which +she applied some lint steeped in styptic, and restored the ligature in a +manner more effective.</p> + +<p>"<i>Remets-toi Alain, réprends ton haleine, et dis-nous ce que c'est</i>," +said she, after paying these quasi-maternal attentions to the fugitive. +"And first tell me, how bears himself my Michael, and what greeting +sends he to his home?"</p> + +<p>But before Alain could answer there came a knocking at the gate: and the +scared ladies had barely time to dismiss Le Gallais by a side door +almost hidden in the wainscot before Elliot entered, hat in hand, and +looking shy and breathless in the leaping light of the hearth.</p> + +<p>"Pardon me, fair ladies," he stammered, "have you any welcome for an old +friend."</p> + +<p>The two women leaned against each other, even more embarrassed than, for +a moment, was their visitor. They seemed to remember the voice, yet +could not speak to much purpose for the beating of their scared pulses. +But it is not easy for female self-love to be deceived. The boy had not +changed so much in turning into man but that the face of an old love +could resume its familiarity.</p> + +<p>"'Tis Mr. Elliot," presently said Marguerite, addressing her sister in +English. "Mr. Chevalier, the Centenier, told you of his return but +yesterday when we went to the market at S. Helier. I admire to see him +here so soon."</p> + +<p>Rose advanced, with the restored self-possession of a lady on her own +hearth, and gave the visitor her hand. "Welcome back to Jersey, Mr. +Elliot. Time hath dealt kindly with you: you are almost grown to man's +estate."</p> + +<p>The young Scot flushed, somewhat angrily, at this equivocal compliment. +"What Time hath done with me I cannot tell," said he, with less than his +wonted ease, "save that nothing Time can do can avail to quench old +feelings. This is the first liberty that I have had since we landed. I +have used it to lay myself at your feet."</p> + +<p>The ladies resumed their seats, motioning Tom to the place between them, +just vacated by Le Gallais: and the talk soon ran into easier grooves.</p> + +<p>"I have that to say," continued the page, "that may shake your spirits, +fair ladies. What I have listened to this day it may cost me my ears to +have heard. But," with an air of important resolution, "cost what it +may, I will not nor cannot keep it from you."</p> + +<p>"A groat for your tidings," replied Rose, "we poor women hear none in +this remote corner. But is it a secret? Women may keep one," she added, +looking at the panel that had closed on Le Gallais, "but walls have +ears: and so have you, as yet such as they are, which I would not have +you sacrifice in our cause. If therefore your news be dangerous, think +not of our curiosity, and give the matter no vent."</p> + +<p>Elliot was a scamp, no doubt, yet he could not but be moved by this +thoughtful speech of a woman who could decline a secret. But he had come +too far, laden with a burden that he would fain lay down. So long as he +kept to himself what he had heard in the King's chamber he might be +doing his duty to Charles. But Charles had insulted him and his nation. +Marguerite de St. Martin was his first love, the welfare of herself and +her sister was at stake; he had trudged, four miles and more through the +mire of steep and devious lanes to tell them; was he to leave them +unwarned? Love and Duty fought their old battle, and with the old +result—Love conquered and the secret was told. He had not, it is true, +heard the full purport of the Secretary's grave words or of Charles' +light replies: but what he had caught, tallying with the Chaplain's +disclosures of an earlier hour, had led him to conclude that there was a +villainous plot on foot, of which the King did not seem to approve, and +which therefore might be made known to those interested without real +breach of faith. What he knew he told, and eked it out with what he +could but conjecture.</p> + +<p>The conference lasted long. While it was confined to the designs of the +French, on which the short gusts of the Lieutenant-Governor's stormy +impatience had thrown a transient gleam of lurid light, the ladies were +all attention. When the page began to talk of the King's loyal resolves +and of what great things he would do, they gave less heed. It seemed to +them that Charles Stuart was all too young, too much bound to his +mother, to be trusted in an affair wherein her favourite took an +interest. Tom pleaded his master's cause with the zeal of one who felt +himself to have done that master some wrong; but he pleaded in vain. +Little did the Jersey ladies care who might bear rule in the British +islands; their chief care was for what would affect Jersey, and—above +all men and things of Jersey—their dear Michael, now in exile.</p> + +<p>It had long grown dusk, and Tom knew that he was absent without leave. +His visit must be cut short. If he glanced significantly at Marguerite +as he bent over Rose's hand, if he hoped that Marguerite would follow +him to the door and allow an integration of former toys, he was only +building on a precocious knowledge of the sex. "I will but lock the door +after Mr. Elliot," said she to Rose, in patois, "be tranquil, my sister, +he is but an infant."</p> + +<p>The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile +Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to +which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round +the parlour as he came inside.</p> + +<p>"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder <i>polisson</i> of the +Court?"</p> + +<p>"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever +since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is +not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be +kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed +as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband +will find her faithful, in life and to the death."</p> + +<p>"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways."</p> + +<p>"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her +dealings with him—or with others—be never so little to thy taste, I +advertise thee to seek no cause of quarrel upon them; unless thou +wouldst lose her altogether."</p> + +<p>"I do not understand how a girl that is promised can do such things. +Moreover, his coming here at all is what Michael would not find well."</p> + +<p>"He has done us a very friendly act in coming here, and has told us of a +matter which it may cost him dear to have revealed. For the rest, we can +take very good care of ourselves."</p> + +<p>Alain was not a man of the world. With something of a poet's nature, he +was born to be the slave of women. Passionately attached to the mother +who had brought him up—and who was lately dead—and wholly unacquainted +with the coarser aspects of feminine character, he had a romantic ideal +of womanhood. The ladies in whose company he might chance to find +himself were usually quick enough to discover this; and seeing him at +their feet were always trampling upon him, reserving their wiles and +fascinations for men who were more artful or less chivalrous. The case +was by no means singular in those days, and is believed to be +occasionally reproduced even in more recent times.</p> + +<p>He was now thoroughly annoyed; and Rose's reasoning, far from composing +his mind, had rendered it only the more anxious. Therefore, when +Marguerite returned into the parlour, with a somewhat heightened colour, +Alain affected to take no notice of her, and sate gazing moodily at the +fire.</p> + +<p>"I have been plucking these roses," said the girl, offering Alain a +bunch of flowers wet with early dew.</p> + +<p>He took them with a negligent air, stuck one of the buds into the band +of his broad-brimmed hat that lay on the table, and allowed the rest to +fall upon the rushes that strewed the stone floor. Marguerite, with a +slight and mocking grimace, watched the ill-tempered action without +taking any audible notice of it. Then resuming her seat, she took up her +wool and needles and applied herself to her interrupted knitting.</p> + +<p>Meantime the page, apparently well satisfied with the circumstances of +his visit, including those of his parting from the fair Marguerite, +pursued his way to S. Helier. The darkness of the autumn evening was +relieved by the multitudinous illumination of a cloudless sky. The +lanes, bordered by the fortress-like enclosures of the fields, were +shaded overhead by tunnels of interlacing boughs still in the full +thickness of their summer foliage. A bird, disturbed by Elliot's +brushing against the branch on which she roosted, gave a solitary cry of +angry alarm; the dogs barked in the distant farms; the grazing cows, +tethered in the wayside pastures, made soft noises as they cropped the +grass. Passing on by the old grammar school of S. Manelier and then +through the village of Five Oaks, where he scared a quiet family +assembled in their parlour by looking in at their window with a grimace +and a wild scream, he ran on rapidly by the Town Mills and through the +town towards the quay. When he reached the bridge-head the tide was +ebbing; but partly walking, partly wading, he made good his footing on +the Castle-rock. A sleepy sentry challenged, but the page crept through +the darkness without deigning a reply. A ball whizzed through his hat, +but did not check his progress. Availing himself of projections in the +wall with which he seemed well acquainted, he entered his own little +room by the open casement, and throwing himself on the pallet soon slept +the sleep of youth and healthy fatigue.</p> + +<p>At Maufant matters were not quite so peaceful. The ladies there, it may +be feared, were ready enough to regret the page's visit and its +consequences, if not to express that regret to the old friend who might +with some cause have complained.</p> + +<p>Pretending indifference, he sate silently in a seat further from the +ladies than that which he had occupied before the page's intrusion. +Finding him disinclined for talk, Rose read her husband's letter without +taking any further notice of him by whom it had been brought.</p> + +<p>At length she broke the awkward silence; replacing the letter in her +bosom and turning to Alain, she said:—</p> + +<p>"I must go and get your chamber ready. I shall be back anon." And she +left the room by the concealed door.</p> + +<p>Left alone with his mistress, Alain fell into a great embarrassment. +Marguerite, for her part, felt a qualm of conscience, had he only known +it. But her <i>amour-propre</i> was, none the less, extremely hurt by his +cavalier treatment of her flowers. She was by no means in love with the +saucy Scot, who had indeed given her some offence by the frankness of +his leave-taking, though this was a matter of which she was not +likely to complain, least of all to her official adorer.</p> + +<p>"<i>Pourquoi me boudez-vous, Monsieur</i>?" at last she said; "are you +perhaps permitting yourself to be offended at my seeing M. Elliot to the +door? Do you not know that he is our old friend?"</p> + +<p>"He is nothing to me," answered Alain, moodily, "it is you of whom I am +thinking."</p> + +<p>"As Rose says, we can take care of ourselves. Do you for one moment +think that I acknowledge any restraining right on your part, any +privilege of question even? But come, if M. Elliot is an old friend you +are a much older. Do not let us quarrel."</p> + +<p>"It takes two to make a quarrel," said the foolish fellow, not +observing the olive-branch.</p> + +<p>If his display of annoyance was only a mask of jealousy she fancied that +she could deal with it, and forgive it, but if it should be really a +sign of indifference? so reasoned her rapid female brain; the cruder +masculine mind was but too ready to supply the solution of the problem.</p> + +<p>"<i>Voyons, Marguerite</i>," said her lover, almost blubbering. "I have loved +you all your life. Ever since you were a little totterer whom I carried +in my arms and planted on the top of the garden wall to pick +coquelicots, I have thought of you as one to be some day mine. I see now +how foolish I have been. I will put the sea between us; and I hope my +boat will go to the bottom; and then perhaps you will be sorry." ... And +in the fervour of self-pity he actually shed tears.</p> + +<p>Marguerite watched him, with a joyous sense of triumph. Secure of her +victory, she could now assume her turn to show anger. But she did not +feel it; and she had not much skill in the feigning of unbecoming +passions.</p> + +<p>"That is ungenerous, Monsieur. You do not think of the poor boatmen who +would go to the bottom with you. They are not sulky young men who have +quarrelled with harmless women. The Race of Alderney will do without +them; <i>dame</i>! it may afford to wait for you too."</p> + +<p>If Alain had but caught the look with which these final words were +accompanied! But he was still sitting in the distant darkness, with his +moistened eyes bent obstinately on the ground.</p> + +<p>And so the misunderstanding widened and deepened; and presently Rose +returned. Taking in the situation with a rapid glance, she passed +through the room and out into the buttery, whence she soon returned +with the materials of a modest supper. "We must be our own domestics," +she said with an attempt at lightness: but the attempt was hollow; a +cloud seemed to fill the low room, and press upon the inmates. The +<i>three</i> sate down, but neither of the young people did much justice to +her hospitality. After supper she held a brief consultation with Alain; +and after giving him a bag of gold and a letter for her husband, +dismissed him, to rest if not to slumber, in the chamber that stood at +the head of the stair on which the door in the wainscot opened. Then she +and Marguerite retired by the other door to their own part of the upper +floor, where I fear the young lady received a lecture before she went to +her virgin couch.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_III" id="ACT_III"></a>ACT III.</h2> + + +<h3 class="smcap">The States.</h3> + + +<p>Next morning the Militia Captain left before the house was awake, to +return to Lempriere in London. When the ladies went, later in the +forenoon, to arrange the chamber in which he had passed the night, they +found that the bed had not been used during Le Gallais' occupation. A +copy of Ben Jonson's Poems lay on the table; by the side of which were +pen and ink, and a burnt-out candle. On opening the book, Mdlle. de St. +Martin found some lines written on the fly-leaf, which ran as follows:—</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"What tho' the floures be riche and rare<br /></span> +<span class="i2">of hue and fragrancie,<br /></span> +<span>What tho' the giver be kinde and fair,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">they have no charme for me.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>The wreathe whose brightest budde is gone<br /></span> +<span class="i2">is not ye wreathe I'de prise:<br /></span> +<span>I'de pluck another, and so passe on,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">with unregardfull eyes.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span>And so the heart whose sweet resorte<br /></span> +<span class="i2">an hundred rivalls share<br /></span> +<span>May yielde a moment's passing sporte,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">but Love's an alyen there."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"He is unpolite, my sister," cried Marguerite, laughing. "But that is +only because he is sore. The wounded bird has moulted a feather in his +empty nest."</p> + +<p>"All the same, he is flown," answered Mdme. de Maufant, gravely.</p> + +<p>"<i>N'importe</i>," answered the damsel. "Leave him to me. I can whistle him +back when I want him—if I ever do."</p> + +<p>Leaving the ladies to the discussion of the topic thus set afoot, let us +turn to the more prosaic combinations of the rougher, if not harder, +sex. <i>Majora canamus!</i></p> + +<p>About four miles south-east of the manor-house, the old Castle of Gorey +arose out of the sea, almost as if it grew there, a part of the granite +crag. A survival of the rude warfare of Plantagenet times, it bore—as +it still does—the self assertive name of "Mont Orgueil," and boasted +itself the only English fortress that had ever resisted the avenger of +France, the constable Bertrand du Guesclin. But, in spite of its pride, +it proved to be commanded by a yet higher point, sufficiently near to +throw round shot into the Castle in the more advanced days to which our +tale relates. For this reason, and also because of the smallness of the +harbour at its feet, Mont Orgueil had given way to the growing +importance of S. Helier, protected by its virgin Castle. Hence the +place, though not quite in ruins, had sunk to a minor and subordinate +character; the Hall, in which the States had once assembled, was +neglected and dirty; the chambers formerly appropriated to the Governor +and his family were used as cells, or not used at all; the garden was +unweeded; and Mont Orgueil in general had sunk to be a prison and a +watch-tower. None the less proudly did it rise—as it does still—with a +protecting air above its little town and port, and look defiance upon +the opposite shores of Normandy.</p> + +<p>In a narrow guard-room on the South side of this castle, a few days +later than the visit of La Cloche to the King, the Lieutenant-Governor +was sitting at a heavy oaken table, with his steel cap before him and +his basket-hilted sword hung by the belt from the back of his carven +chair. A writer sate at the left-hand side of the same table, and +between them lay militia muster-rolls and other papers. At the further +end of the room, between two halberdiers in scarlet doublets, stood a +tall Jerseyman in squalid garments, his legs in fetters, his wrists in +manacles. Keen little grey eyes peered through the neglected black hair +that fell over his narrow brow; and his iron-grey beard showed signs of +long neglect.</p> + +<p>"Now, Pierre Benoist," said Sir George, "for the last time I give you +warning. If you do not speak, freely and to the purpose, it will be the +worse for you. There be those who can tell me what I desire to know. As +for you, I shall deliver you to the Provost-Sergeant, who will need no +words from me to tell him how to deal with you. I ask you, is Michael +Lempriere in correspondence with Henry Dumaresq?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Palfrancordi!</i> Messire; you press me hard," said the prisoner, but his +eye was scarcely that of a pressed man. "When you examined me a week ago +in secret I think I answered that. I know of no letters that have passed +between M. de Samarès and M. de Maufant. That is," he added hastily, as +the Governor began to look impatient, "I have carried none myself."</p> + +<p>"Who has?" asked the Governor.</p> + +<p>The Greffier, at a signal from Carteret, plunged his pen into the ink; +the halberdiers shifted their legs and leaned upon their weapons; the +prisoner moistened his lips with his tongue.</p> + +<p>"Speak, Benoist; who carried the letters?"</p> + +<p>"It was Alain Le Gallais," answered Pierre in a low voice.</p> + +<p>"It was Alain Le Gallais? Write, Master Greffier, the prisoner says that +the letters were carried by one Alain Le Gallais. You are sure of that, +Benoist?"</p> + +<p>"As sure as my name is Peter." A cock crew in the yard of the castle. +The coincidence did not seem to strike any of the party in the room.</p> + +<p>"By what route did Le Gallais go?"</p> + +<p>"He went by Boulay Bay."</p> + +<p>"By what conveyance?"</p> + +<p>"By Lesbirel's lugger."</p> + +<p>"When did he go last?"</p> + +<p>"This is the fourth day."</p> + +<p>Carteret compared these replies with some that lay before him, and +proceeded:—</p> + +<p>"Do you know when he will return?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot know; but I can divine. The wind is changing; if he landed at +Southampton on Monday night he would be in London in twenty-four hours, +riding on the horses of the Parliament. Riding back in the same way he +might be back in Boulay Bay, with a fair wind, some time to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"<i>C'est assez</i>," said the Governor, "take the prisoner away; but not to +his former quarters. Lodge him in Prynne's old cell."</p> + +<p>As the prisoner was being removed, in obedience to these orders, he was +seen to limp heavily, and there was a bandage on one of his legs.</p> + +<p>"March, comrade," said one of his guards, when they were in the +corridor.</p> + +<p>"My leg was hurt, John Le Gros, when I tried to escape last night."</p> + +<p>"Not so badly but you can walk if you like," and the militia-man +emphasised his words by a slight thrust with the point of his weapon.</p> + +<p>To which of the parties in the island Master Benoist was faithful, the +muse that presides over this history declines to reveal: perhaps he was +an impartial traitor to both. It became presently clear that, in any +case, his lameness was little more than a feint. During that same night +he made a rope of his bedding, and letting himself down from the window +of his cell at high water, swam like a fish to the unwatched shore of +Anneport, and so effected his escape. It was long ere he was again heard +of by the Jersey authorities; but there is no record to show that he was +either mourned or missed.</p> + +<p>For the next three nights a party of soldiers—not militia-men, but +Cornishmen of the Royal body-guard—occupied a hut on the landing-place +at Boulay Bay, belonging to Lesbirel, the man whose lugger was known to +be employed in the communication between the Parliamentary party in the +island and their English allies. The third night being dark and stormy, +the patrol was suspended by orders of the sergeant in command, and the +men devoted themselves to the indoor pleasures afforded by cards, +tobacco, and cider. But others were less careful of personal comfort. On +the western point of the cliff over their heads (the "Belle Hougue") a +beacon was burning, of whose existence the sergeant and his men were +unaware. A man watched by the fire, keeping it alive by constant care +and attention, or rekindling it from time to time, when it was overcome +by the wind and rain. The soldiers in their hut did not see the light; +but it was seen by the crew of a lugger, driving through the waves of +the flowing tide before a rough but favouring gale. Accordingly, putting +the helm down, their steersman drove the craft clear of the threatened +danger that was prepared for the occupants below, and made her touch the +land in the adjacent bay of Bonne Nuit, hid from observation by the +interposing cliffs. Leaping to the shore, Alain Le Gallais, who was the +sole passenger, climbing the western heights, made his way by paths with +which he was well acquainted from his youth, to the manor-house of his +exiled friend the Seigneur of Maufant.</p> + +<p>It was near midnight when he arrived. All was dark. The yard-dog, roused +by his familiar footsteps, shook himself and sate down without raising +any alarm: nay, when Alain lifted the latch and passed through the outer +gate of the court-yard, the animal rose once more, and advanced to meet +Alain, fawning and wagging his tail. Alain was not sorry that the ladies +were asleep. Perhaps the readers of his verses may not have understood +that he was a poet; but, be it remembered, those verses were in a +language not native to the writer. Those who are able to understand such +fragments of his patois-poetry as still survive, declare that it is +marked by tenderness and <i>verve</i>; even if this be not so, a man may lack +the power of expression and yet have the poet's temper; Alain was +certainly of a deep and sensitive nature; he thought that he had borne +much from Marguerite, with whom he was now really angry; it was +therefore of set purpose that he had chosen this hour to visit the manor +instead of waiting till the morning. Depositing a letter with which +Lempriere had entrusted him in a cornbin of the stable which Mdme. de +Maufant had instructed him to use in such cases, he went his way without +disturbing any of the inmates of the house.</p> + +<p>His intention was to pass the rest of the night in the barn of a farm +called La Rosière, where he would be safe from pursuit for the moment, +and in the morning could join a party of the "well-affected," who were +in the habit of meeting in the neighbouring parish of S. Lawrence. Man +proposes; but his purpose was destined to failure. The sky had cleared +in the sudden way so common at midnight in these islands. The guard at +Lesbirel's, turning out to patrol, had at last caught sight of the fire +burning on the point above them. Taking alarm, the sergeant, who was an +intelligent and aspiring soldier, guessed that something was amiss, and +set off at the head of his men to search for the escaped prey. Taking +the road to the manor, where he had reason to believe Lempriere's +messenger would be found, and spreading his men among the shadows of the +bordering walls and hedges, he came upon the fugitive in a lane. To his +challenge, "Who goes there?" he received for answer a pistol-shot, which +laid him low in the mire of the lane, with a great flesh wound in the +right shoulder; but the soldiers hearing the report ran up from both +sides. Le Gallais was overpowered and secured after a brief resistance.</p> + +<p>"Search him and take him to the governor," said the wounded sergeant, as +he swooned from loss of blood.</p> + +<p>The following morning found Sir George and his clerk in their old places +in the Gorey Castle. Pale and draggled, Le Gallais confronted his +examiners with such firmness as he could gather from a good cause.</p> + +<p>"You have nothing against me, Messire de Carteret," he said firmly.</p> + +<p>"If I have not I shall soon make it," said the governor fiercely. +"Whence were you coming when you pistolled my sergeant?"</p> + +<p>"I was going to join my company of militia, in order to be present at +morning exercise," answered the prisoner, undauntedly. "Your sergeant +laid hands on me without warrant or warning on a public thoroughfare, +and I shot him in self-defence. What would you have done in my place?"</p> + +<p>"Insolence will not avail you. If you would save yourself from the +gallows, you have but one way. You must make a clean breast of it."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais made no answer, but stooping down, drew a letter out of his +boot and threw it on the table. The governor started as he read the +address:—</p> + +<p>"For the honoured hands of Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, +these."</p> + +<p>He cut the string and opened the missive. After reading a few lines he +looked up.</p> + +<p>"Clear the room," he said; and as the clerk and guards obeyed, he added, +in a changed tone:—</p> + +<p>"Be seated, M. Le Gallais!</p> + +<p>"This letter, as you probably know, is from Mr. Prynne, of the +Parliament. Why did you not bring it to me at once?"</p> + +<p>"I should have done so," answered Le Gallais.</p> + +<p>"It contains matter of the utmost moment," added the governor, after +finishing the perusal. "Are you aware of its contents?"</p> + +<p>"Of its general purport, yes," answered Le Gallais. "The emissaries of +Queen Henrietta are due from S. Malo this day. They will not go to you +(unless they are forced) nor yet to Mr. Secretary Nicholas. They are the +bringers of a secret communication from the queen mother to her son. You +see, sir, that I may be trusted."</p> + +<p>"By the faith of a gentleman, it is too strong," cried the governor, in +an impassioned voice. "Was ever honour or gratitude known among that +family? But I care not. Your friends, M. Le Gallais, are my enemies. If +Whitelock and company send to this island all the rebels outside the +gates of hell I will fight them. You may depart and take them that +message from me."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais did not move. "But in case of a French force landing—?"</p> + +<p>"In that case, sir," answered the governor, and his voice rose to a +quarter-deck shout. "In that case it would be 'up with the red cross +ensign and England for ever!'"</p> + +<p>Le Gallais rose and in a gentler tone echoed the cry, sharing the +generous impulse.</p> + +<p>"Now go," said the governor, more gently, "go to the buttery and get +thyself refreshed. I know what a sailor's appetite can be. No words; you +came from England last night. God bless England and all her friends!"</p> + +<p>So saying the governor departed, and in a few minutes more was seen to +mount his horse at the fort gate and gallop towards S. Helier, followed +by a single orderly.</p> + +<p>Immediately on arriving at the town, Sir George's first care was to send +his follower to the Dénonciateur and order him to summon an +extraordinary meeting of the States. After which be went on to the +Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King.</p> + +<p>Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails. A +tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was +with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the +governor entered.</p> + +<p>"How now?" asked the King, with some show of energy; "To what are we +indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? Were you not told, Sir +George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?"</p> + +<p>"Faith I was, Sir," answered Carteret, with a seaman's bluntness. "But, +under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I +know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one +that ought to be debated in my absence."</p> + +<p>Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and <i>ennui</i>. But +the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the +last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than +in the present instance.</p> + +<p>"If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty's +service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands. But +your Majesty knows that there is not. I am here to claim that the +message from the Queen be laid before the States. We are your Majesty's +to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is +required."</p> + +<p>Charles gave way before a will far stronger and a principle far higher +than his own.</p> + +<p>"Go, Major," he said, with an expressive look and gesture. "Let +Messieurs les Etats know of our Mother's message. Sir George! be pleased +to bring Major Querto into your assembly. And, I pray you, bid some one +send me here Tom Elliott," added the King, in a more natural tone of +voice. "<i>A bientôt!</i> Sir George." He waved his visitors out and resumed +the care of his finger-ends, neglected in the excitement of the +discussion.</p> + +<p>Carteret, accompanied by Major Querto, repaired to the mainland. They +proceeded together to the Market-place (now the Royal Square) and +entered the newly-built <i>Cohue</i> or Court-house, where the States were +assembling. Seven of the Jurats (or Justices) were already collected, in +their scarlet robes of office: Sir Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. +Owen (the Lieutenant-Bailiff); Amice de Carteret, Seigneur of Trinity; +Francis de Carteret, Joshua de Carteret, Elias Dumaresq, Philip le Geyt, +and John Pipon. These, in official tranquillity—as became their high +dignity—took seats on the dais, to the right and left of the Governor's +chair. Below them gradually gathered the officers of the Crown, the +Procureur du Roy, or Attorney-General (another de Carteret), and the +Viscount, or Sheriff, Mr. Lawrence Hamptonne. In the body of the hall +sate the Constables of the parishes, and some of the Rectors. The +townsmen swarmed into the unoccupied space beyond the gangway. When the +hall was full, the usher, having placed the silver mace on the table, +thrice proclaimed silence. Then Sir George—who united the +little-compatible offices of Bailiff and Lieutenant-Governor—arose from +his central seat and presented the Major who stood beside it.</p> + +<p>"M. le Lieutenant-Bailly, and Messieurs les Etats!" he said, "I have +called you together to consider a message from the Queen: this gentleman +here will impart it to you, Major Querto, of his Majesty's army."</p> + +<p>The Major's face assumed the colour of his nose.</p> + +<p>"I am a rough soldier," he muttered, in English, "and little used to +address such an august assembly as I see here; least of all in a foreign +language."</p> + +<p>"English, English," cried a dozen voices. But Querto was silent, and +looked at the Governor with a scared and anxious gaze.</p> + +<p>"Since our guest is so modest," resumed Carteret, "it is necessary that +I should speak for him. The question is simple. Her Majesty, with her +constant care for the subjects of her son, has heard with dismay that +the rebels in England are projecting a descent upon Jersey. At the same +time, Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, will be attacked by sea. Sir Baldwin +Wake, with your active aid, has hitherto held out against the Roundheads +of that island; and surely since the time of Troy has seldom been so +long a siege, so stout a defence. But, with the Roundheads assaulting +him by land, and Blake's squadron by sea—Gentlemen, I know Blake and +his brave seamen—what can Wake and a hundred half-starved men avail? To +guard us against all these dangers, and against the loss of all the +profits that we now have from our letters-of-marque in the Channel, her +Majesty has been pleased to devise a means of succour."</p> + +<p>Here the Governor's speech was interrupted by cries of "Vive la Reine," +led by the Constable of S. Brelade, in whose parish was situated the +town of S. Aubin, the principal port and residence of the corsairs.</p> + +<p>"Nay, but hear her Majesty's gracious project. Nothing doubting your +good affection or your courage, the Queen is persuaded that her royal +son's person (to say little of the other small matters already named by +me) cannot be safe in your hands against a serious attempt such as can +be made as soon as General Cromwell returns victorious—as he doubtless +will—from the Irish war. She therefore intends—and here, Gentlemen, I +come to the main purpose of our present meeting—she intends, I say, to +send over a strong force of French troops to occupy the island."</p> + +<p>Consternation kept the assembly silent.</p> + +<p>"You are not ignorant of the history of your country," pursued the +Governor. "When a former Queen sought the aid of France you know on what +terms that aid was given. You know the name of Maulévrier; how for six +years he held the Castle of Gorey with the Eastern half of our island. +'We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared to us' what +things the Papists did in those days, and how the Lord delivered you by +the hands of my own ancestor and of the sailors of England. Are we to do +it again; it is to be France or England?"</p> + +<p>The hall was in an uproar. With startling unanimity the last word was +echoed from all sides: "England for ever! England above all!"</p> + +<p>Returning to his quarters in the part of the Castle called by the name +of the late King, Carteret found Sir Edward Nicholas—who was ageing and +felt the cold of sunset—in a mantle and with a black silk skullcap on +his head, pacing up and down the little esplanade by the faint light of +a waning moon. There was an old friendliness between the two: Nicholas +having been long loved and favoured by Hyde, now in Spain, but formerly +the cherished guest of the Carterets. Hence the Secretary was both +willing and able to give sympathy and counsel to his host almost as well +as could have been done by the author of the famous <i>History of the +Rebellion</i>, had himself been once more in the Castle.</p> + +<p>"I hear by letter from Prynne, this day received," said the +Lieutenant-Governor, "to the effect that our giving harbour here to his +Majesty is a cause of umbrage to yonder cuckoldy knaves in London. +Meanwhile I have grave doubts as to the young man himself—under your +favour, Sir Edward. We are undergoing so many and great dangers and +distresses for him that we might well hope to have no renewal of the old +dealings to our disadvantage. Yet it seems that things are coming to +that pass that we may ere long have to choose between England and +France."</p> + +<p>"As for France," answered the Secretary, "we may expect due provision +from his Majesty who is—believe me—a true lover of his own country; as +also from your Honour, whose noble house has done well-known service in +bye-gone times. For England, we know what her power is; but that power +lies in the collection of her organs (as Sir Edward Hyde hath often +taught us) by no means in the hypertrophe of one organ, and that one +mutilated. The Church, Lords, Commons, are Three Estates—"</p> + +<p>"Alack, Sir Edward," interrupted the impatient sailor, "this is that +whereto Prynne would lead us. Bethink you of Will Shakspeare's saying, +'If two men ride on a horse one must go behind.' How much more if there +be three of them. Here, in Jersey, where there is but one organ of +Government—I mean the States—we may have labour, but we have none of +these confusions. But in England, look you—"</p> + +<p>"If it were as you suppose," cried Nicholas, "the King must needs ride +before and the Parliament behind. But let me hear more of Mr. Prynne. +Barring his sourness in regard of stage-plays and Bishops—which seemed +strangely coupled in his mind—he was ever a wise and moderate man."</p> + +<p>"Marry," replied Carteret, "I will show you what he hath writ. He would +persuade us—I will be plain with you—to send Charles packing, and to +yield ourselves wholly to the present Government in England. He argues +that might is right, and that it is to that a weak state like ours must +needs bow;—Here be your three organs of Government—or rather were—yet +one hath ever the last word, the casting vote; and that it is which in +very truth governs: the others are but baubles. For, put case it were +otherwise, then how would it fare with the public weal when one organ +says, 'This shall be so, while another saith, 'Nay, but it shall be +<i>so</i>;' and a third perhaps is divided. It is put to the touch, as hath +been lately seen in this nation, where the King came forth on one side +with his cavaliers, followed by tapsters, serving-men and clodhoppers; +officers and men for the most part broken in fortune, debauched in body +and mind. Against him were ranged the citizens, the gentry, many even of +the lords and the sober well-informed part of the yeomen. Your Royal +tapsters are scattered in almost every encounter, your King is taken, +dethroned, slain. Where be then your joint-organs, your paper-balance? +Is it not the merest audit of a bankrupt's books?' So far Mr. Prynne, of +whose wisdom you perhaps will make short work."</p> + +<p>"I do not say that he is wrong," answered the Secretary, with a puzzled +look. "I must own that we are beaten for the nonce. And it may be that +if we were uppermost we should equally destroy the balance. But who will +judge a man's constitution by the symptoms of calenture? The nation is +sick, yet it is not like to die."</p> + +<p>"My faith!" said Sir George, after a brief pause of reflection, "I think +thou must be right, Sir Edward. This present condition of things cannot +endure: but England will not die. When once men are earnestly disposed +upon a way of reconciliation there must be give-and-take on either side +until we get to work again. Mr. Prynne's own tyranny, that of the +Parliament, hath been already encountered by a stronger tyranny, that of +the army. But that is a regimen to which Englishmen will not submit."</p> + +<p>"Then you are for the English, Sir George, rather than for the French."</p> + +<p>"Aye, aye, Sir," answered the other. "For the King of England, if +possible. But for the Gaul we are not. We are of the old blood of the +Franks and Normans. We have served our Dukes ever since the battle of +Hastings; but when they became English, why, we became English too. We +beat the French under Du Guesclin, we beat them under Maulévrier. From +England we have had none but good and honest handling. We are English +above all."</p> + +<p>"Well said!" cried the Secretary. "I am no boaster, neither do I claim +the gift of prophecy, like some of our saints yonder. But I am persuaded +that a day will come when your words will be put to the proof. You will +have to choose not between King and Commons, but between England and +France you yourself said so but now."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon Dieu</i>! the choice will be soon made," cried Carteret. "And now let +us to table. For albeit Dame Carteret is lying-in, it will be hard but I +can furnish a friend some junk and biscuit."</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_IV" id="ACT_IV"></a>ACT IV.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">The Duel.</h3> + + +<p>Tom Elliot was a very bad sample of the cavalier party. Trained in +camps, he had learned betimes to seek his happiness in wine, dice, loose +speech, and morals to match. As in France, the successors of the Sullys +and Du Plessis Mornays had become the coxcombs of the Fronde, and the +grandson of Bras-de-Fer was known as Bras-de-Laine, so the character and +conduct of men like Hyde, Ormonde, and Falkland furnished no example to +such as Villiers and Wilmot, whose only ideal of imitation was +scurrilous mimicry. Where the elder cavaliers had been proud to serve +their king, the rising generation was content if it could amuse him; and +with that Charles was satisfied.</p> + +<p>Thus Elliot had learned that for such an escapade as his last he might +easily obtain forgiveness. It was not that Charles was, even in youth, a +sincere or warm friend. His easy good nature had its root in +self-indulgence. Clarendon, who knew him and his family <i>intus et in +cute</i>, has pointed this out in one of his best character sentences. +"They were too much inclined to love men at first sight," so writes the +faithful servant of the Stuarts. "They did not love the conversation of +men of more years than themselves. They did not love to deny, ... not +out of bounty or generosity, which was a flower that did never grow +naturally in the heart of either family—that of Stuart or the other of +Bourbon—and when they prevailed with themselves to make some pause +rather than to deny, importunity removed all resolution." [<i>Continuation +of Life</i>, p. 339, fol. ed.]</p> + +<p>And there were not wanting particular reasons to dispose Charles to +favour and forgiveness in this instance. Though Elliot had concealed the +fact at Maufant, he was in fact a married man. His wife was the daughter +of the Mrs. Wyndham who had been the king's nurse. To this family +connection he owed his first introduction to the royal household, which +had been constantly improved by his lawless and pushing nature. A +contemporary remarked of Elliot that "he was not one who would receive +any injury from his modesty." The late king's grave and virtuous mind +had been greatly alienated by these things, and he had once dismissed +him from his family. The passionate youth had recovered his position +owing to the Wyndham influence, but he came back with illwill in his +heart. The memory of the royal martyr inspired him with scant reverence, +nor did he feel either respect or compassion for the queen-mother. From +these sentiments, however, one advantage flowed. Elliot was bitterly +opposed to Jermyn and the French interest, and made use of his +opportunities about the king's person to strengthen him in a like +opposition. So it came to pass that, after sulking an hour, the facile +master not only pardoned the petulant servant, but promoted him to be a +groom of the bedchamber; and the return was made in an increased +persistence in efforts on Elliot's part to amuse the king and flatter +all his propensities, whether political or personal.</p> + +<p>The "Indian summer," or <i>été de S. Martin</i>, was at its height in Jersey, +when Carteret, obtaining Charles's ready acquiescence, resolved on +ordering a general review of the militia. Soon after daybreak on the +30th October the population began streaming in from all parishes, under +the mild splendour of a cloudless heaven. The scene was on the sands of +S. Aubin's Bay, between the Mont Patibulaire and Millbrook. On the right +wing stood two squadrons of mounted infantry, with their standards +displayed in the morning breeze. On the left were the parish batteries, +with their guns, caissons, and tumbrils. In the centre were the Cornish +body guard and the militia infantry in battalion six deep, while the +reserve and recruits brought up the rear. All but the last-named carried +matches for their firearms, which were loaded with blank cartridge. The +supports carried pikes. The drums beat, the colours flew, as Charles and +his staff, surrounded by an escort of the mounted infantry, emerging +from the south gate of the castle, rode along the low-water causeway.</p> + +<p>Mme. de Maufant and her sister, mounted on sober but well-bred nags, and +accompanied by some of their farm hands in gala costume, occupied a +foremost place among the spectators. But the appearance of the castle +<i>cortège</i> threatened their comfort, if not their safety. For the public +excitement grew from moment to moment, "and those behind cried forward! +and those before cried back!" The younger and more excitable especially, +spurred by the fine weather and the novel spectacle, pressed eagerly to +the front, mixed with mothers of scrofulous children, desirous of +gaining for them the healing virtue of the royal touch. The king's +horse, short of work, and participating in the general excitement, +reared and curvetted in the crowd, but was reined in by his skillful +rider.</p> + +<p>Charles was in his purple velvet, with no token of a military purpose. +But on his left rode a gigantic guardsman in full panoply, while Elliot +came on the right (but with his horse half a length behind) in gorgeous +array, though more for show than for service. In his silver helmet +fluttered a lissom ostrich plume, his shining cuirass was damascened +with gold, which metal also glittered on the hilt of his sword. The tops +of his buff boots and gauntlets were fringed with costly Brussels point. +As they approached the crushed and alarmed ladies, a militia officer +rushing to their aid from his place between the guns and the nearest +company of foot, came into involuntary contact with the glistening groom +of the chamber. The lace of the later's boot caught in the steel +shoulder piece of the infantry officer, and was torn. Irritated and +excited Elliot brought down his hand upon the unconscious offender, and +dealt him a heavy blow on the side of the face. At this sight—with +nerves already overstrung—Marguerite became unable to control her +usually placid steed; and Alain le Gallais—for he was the militia +officer—was diverted from his instinctive but imprudent impulse of +immediate retaliation, by seeing the young lady slip from her saddle +into his arms.</p> + +<p>The little incident was over in an instant, and the king passed on, but +not without taking it all in with the observation natural to him.</p> + +<p>"A comely wench, Tom!" he said to his companion, "and one that seemeth +to know thee. But it seems that others gather what thou fellest."</p> + +<p>"Faith, sir," answered Elliot, smilingly, "I have given him his wage +beforehand. It is well that he should do my work."</p> + +<p>There was no time for longer or plainer speech. The guns began a royal +salute, their muzzles fortunately directed towards the sea—for many of +the pieces had been charged for ball practice. This somewhat dangerous +demonstration was followed by a dropping fire of blank cartridge from +the matchlocks of the foot, and then by general acclamations of "Vive le +Roi" from all ranks. Then Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. Ouen, being +called to the front, received the congratulations of the king on the +appearance of the forces, in which, under the lieutenant-governor, his +uncle, he held the chief command. He was then bidden to kneel, touched +with the royal sword, and told to "Rise, Sir Philip de Carteret." The +eighteen stand of colours were displayed on the outer sides of the +columns. Again the drums beat, the trumpets blew, and with the same +state as that in which he had arrived, the king was escorted back to the +castle.</p> + +<p>As soon as Charles and his followers had been relieved of their full +dress they renewed the conversation in which they had been interrupted +on the sands, Elliot first endeavouring to improve the occasion into an +argument against the king's remaining in Jersey.</p> + +<p>"That malapert bumpkin will be no friend either to me or to your +majesty," he said. "At himself I snap my fingers. But it seems to me +there are some two thousand of them who cry 'Vive le Roi' for half a +pistole, but would cry 'Vivent nous autres' for nothing. If the French +land here they will turn against you at once. If the Parliament prevail +they will submit, willy nilly. And your majesty may feel no ailment, yet +have to be attended by the surgeon who cured your father."</p> + +<p>"Whither should I go hence?" asked the other. "The news of Ireland is +hardly such as to give colour to Ormonde's invitation."</p> + +<p>"I have told you what to do, sir, but got small thanks for my pains. +Think on it well. Now, by your leave I must attend to affairs of my own. +May I find you in a wiser mood when I return!"</p> + +<p>"Farewell, then, Tom," said Charles. "But beware of poaching on a Jersey +manor!"</p> + +<p>"There are no game laws here, or if there be the keeper is away." With +these words Elliot retired with a careless bow, and the king waved his +hand gaily as he disappeared.</p> + +<p>The forward young man bent his way, as often before, in the direction of +Maufant. On entering the garden he saw the lady of the manor—a rose +among the roses, as Malherbe might have said. The moment she perceived +Elliot she stood sternly, and with dilated eye before the entry of the +house, as if to bar the way, the united blazon of her husband's +ancestors and her own appearing above her head like a crest of battle.</p> + +<p>"Why so stern, fair lady?" demanded the courtier, saluting her, "And why +alone?"</p> + +<p>"My sister is not here," said Mme. de Maufant, answering but the second +of Elliot's questions. "She has spoken with you for the last time, Mr. +Elliot. I hope that I too have the same advantage. You should go home, +Monsieur, to your wife."</p> + +<p>Elliot started, but quickly recovering himself, said, with an insolent +smile, "Always thinking of marriage, these dear creatures. Ah, ah! +madame, sits the wind in that quarter? You thought the poor Scots +gentleman might be caught by the rosy cheeks of a Jersey farm girl. <i>Pas +si bête</i>."</p> + +<p>Rose pointed to the garden archway. "If you do not relieve me of your +presence this very instant," she said, pale and panting, "my farm +labourers shall drive you out with cudgels."</p> + +<p>"It shall not need, madame, to pay me this last attention, so worthy of +your habits. 'Au revoir, madame!'" And with a profound and mocking +reverence the wanton cavalier slowly retreated, leaving Rose to sink, +half fainting, into a stone seat by the house door.</p> + +<p>Elliot strode off, smarting with the sting of his well-merited +humiliation. A brief moment of reflection was enough to show its +probable origin. It was evident that the secret of his marriage had +found its way to the manor, where the court he had been paying to +Marguerite had consequently ceased to be regarded as a harmless +gallantry, and come to be taken for insult, as indeed it deserved. Nor +was it difficult to go on to guess the channel of this information. Le +Gallais was Marguerite's acknowledged lover, the person who would +benefit by the removal of a fascinating dog like Elliot—a formidable +rival, as he flattered himself such as he must be to a bumpkin officer +of militia. How Le Gallais could have learned the fact of his having a +wife in France might be a harder question, but it was one that was not +material. Revenge would be equally sweet, whether that were answered or +not.</p> + +<p>Full of these thoughts the groom of the chamber stalked on to S. Helier. +On reaching the quay, he came to "The White Ship"—a tavern frequented +alike by the officers of the garrison and by those of the island +militia. The parlour was full of men, some in uniform, some in plain +clothes, smoking, drinking, playing cards—a scene of Teniers. One of +the first faces on which his eye fell was that of Le Gallais, who sprang +from his chair on Elliot's entrance, but was restrained by his +neighbours, and sat down watching the intruder's movements with glaring +eye. Striding up to the hearth, and standing with his back to it, the +cavalier broke into a forced laugh.</p> + +<p>"Strange company you keep, gentlemen. I spy one among you whom you had +better put forth without delay."</p> + +<p>"Whom mean you?" asked the patch-wearing Querto. "'May I not take mine +ease in mine inn?' as the fat fellow says in the play. May not a plain +soldier choose his own company?"</p> + +<p>"A soldier is a gentleman, and should keep company with gentlemen," +answered the flushed youth. "Mr. Le Gallais is no mate for cavaliers. I +say to his face that he is a cropeared rebel, a busybody, and a +pestilent knave."</p> + +<p>"I appeal to you, Major Querto," said Le Gallais, roused from his +temporary pause, and turning to the major, whom indeed he had brought to +the place, and for whose refreshment he was providing.</p> + +<p>"Appeal me no appeals," said the Major, with a truculent look. "No man +shall appeal to Dick Querto till he is purged of such epitaphs."</p> + +<p>Confusion reigned. Le Gallais looked about him for a friendly face, and +presently saw sympathy on that of a fellow-countryman and brother +officer.</p> + +<p>"Captain Bisson," he said, "you will speak to Mr. Elliot's friend."</p> + +<p>Elliot flung out of the house, followed by Querto and two or three +Royalist officers, Le Gallais, and Bisson in the rear. They walked +towards the beach, and on their arriving at the foot of the Gallows +Hill—near where the picquet-house now stands—an Irish officer came +from Elliot's group and met Bisson, hat in hand.</p> + +<p>"Are the gentlemen to fight now?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"The sooner the better," answered Bisson.</p> + +<p>"Will it be a <i>pas de deux</i>, or will we all join the dance?"</p> + +<p>"Surely, a combat of two," gravely replied the islander. "We do not +understand Paris fashions here. With you and me, sir, there need be no +quarrel."</p> + +<p>"Sure, and we could have an elegant fight without quarrelling," muttered +the Irishman, with a disappointed frown. "But 'anything for a quiet +life' is my motto. This is a mighty fine place, I'm thinking, where two +brave fellows can cut each other's throats in peace and without +disturbance." Major Querto stood by with the air of an indispensable +umpire.</p> + +<p>The <i>escrime</i> of those days had not attained its later refinements. The +combatants were placed opposite to each other, each flinging a cloak +about his left arm, to serve as a shield, and they prepared to encounter +in what would seem a fashion of "rough-and-tumble" to our modern +masters.</p> + +<p>Both were brave men, and in the bloom of manhood. Elliot was the taller, +but Le Gallais, some seven or eight years older, far exceeded in +strength and weight. After scant ceremony the thrusting began. Feet +trampled, steel rang. A furious pass from the Jerseyman was with +difficulty caught in Elliot's cloak, and the sword for a moment +hampered. Before Le Gallais could extricate it, Elliot, with a savage +cry, ran in upon him, drawing back his elbow, so as to stab his +adversary with a shortened sword. A scuffle ensued, of which no +bystander could follow with his eye the full details, till the Scot's +sword was seen to turn upwards, and the point to pierce his own throat. +Each combatant fell backwards, Le Gallais bleeding from the left hand, +and Elliot spouting black gore from a severed artery.</p> + +<p>At that instant cries name from the outside of the ring, "The guard!" +On which the spectators hastened to disperse, while the +Lieutenant-Governor rode up at the head of a mounted patrol. Elliot was +taken from the ground in a dying state, and Le Gallais arrested, and +ordered to Mont Orgueil, to await the arrival of the magistrate, who +should make the preliminary inquiry.</p> + +<p>Left in that irksome durance, but with wound duly cared for, Alain had +abundant time to muse over the mistakes and misfortunes of the past. +After the inquiry he was necessarily committed for trial at the next +criminal session; and fell at first into a semi-mechanical existence. +But slowly the twin stars of memory and hope rose out of the dark, while +conscious integrity began to clear the moral æther. He tried in vain to +cherish remorse, but Elliot's treachery overbore the effort; slowly calm +returned.</p> + +<p>It was true that the news of Elliot's fraud had been made known to the +ladies of Maufant by himself. But as he thought over the matter in the +solitude of his chilly cell, he could not see any reason to blame +himself on that account. Hearing from Querto—who was connected with the +family—that Elliot was unquestionably a married man, he had only done +his duty in warning Rose and her sister against the groom of the +chamber. He would not admit to himself that jealousy had influenced him +in so doing. As Lempriere's agent, as the old friend of the family, he +could not have done otherwise. All was over between him and Marguerite, +yet he could not forget that, by the wish of the young lady's friends, +if not by her own, he had once been her affianced husband. As for the +death of the courtier, it was not in itself a subject for much regret; +and, further, it had been wholly the consequence of the dead man's own +actions, from his deceit towards the ladies to his final ferocity and +foul play in an encounter of his own provoking.</p> + +<p>While Alain Le Gallais thus sought comfort by the road of reason and of +conscience, his heart continued very sore. But on the morrow of his +commitment an event occurred which changed his cheer, and made his +prison for an instant more lovely than a palace. All the Jerseymen were +acquainted with each other, and the prison warder, though fully meaning +to keep his captive, did not by any means understand his duty to extend +to making such detention a punishment to a man whom he liked, and who +had not yet been condemned. So when Mme. de Maufant and her sister +presented themselves at the gate, seeking admission to Alain's cell, the +worthy jailor unhesitatingly showed them into his own parlour, and +fetched Alain to them, only taking the precaution of turning the door +key upon the outside as he left them alone with the priser, on the +understanding that they should call him from the window when they wished +to leave.</p> + +<p>Pale as death, her lovely eyes ringed with dark shades, poor Marguerite +fell upon Alain's breast, without pretence of coyness.</p> + +<p>"Alain, mon ami!" she cooed in her soft rich voice, "can you give me +your pardon?"</p> + +<p>How far Alain believed this sudden revelation cannot certainly be told. +All that he felt able to do was to strain the girl to his heart and be +silent. Rose stood discreetly at the window; but finding that the lovers +had no more to say to each other, she by and by broke silence.</p> + +<p>"We shall not leave you to suffer for us," she said. "Carteret is +without scruple and without mercy. As a friend of Michael's, he will +seek every loophole for your ruin. I have already seen the Advocate +Falle. He says that you will be tried for murder next week, and that if +Carteret presides you are no better than a dead man."</p> + +<p>"To die for you and Marguerite is not so hard," said the young man, with +a smile.</p> + +<p>"You shall do nothing of the sort," cried Rose, warmly, "listen to me. +The day is setting in for rain and storm. At five in the afternoon it +will be dark. Then one of us will come back with John Le Vesconte, of La +Rosière, who is your match in stature, and who will be admitted on +account of his being of kin to us. He will change clothes with you, and +will remain in your stead while you come out of prison in his. He is in +favour with Carteret, and will be quit for a fine, which I will gladly +pay."</p> + +<p>As she stood, warm and bright with zeal, and intellect flushing in her +eye, Alain thought that, with all his troubles, her exiled lord was a +happy man. But he had to think of his own case. Placing the broken form +of Marguerite tenderly in a chair, he stood up and looked full in Rose's +face, his hands joined, almost in an attitude of prayer.</p> + +<p>"Do not tempt me," he said, in a low, but determined voice. "I will not +put another in my place to save my life, nor even to please Michael +Lempriere's wife. Moreover, John Valpy, the jailor here—who is somewhat +of my family, too, for our fathers married cousins—has dealt tenderly +with me, and I will not do what would bring ruin upon him. Tempt me no +more," he repeated hastily, seeing Rose about to interrupt him. "My mind +is fully made up."</p> + +<p>"But for her sake," pleaded Mme. de Maufant, eyeing the almost senseless +girl with yearning pity. "Think of her young life, bound up with yours."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" answered he, "who knows what maidens mean? She has been excited +by all that has befallen, and will doubtless be sorry for me, and +remember me. But her life can never be bound but by herself. Briefly, I +will not be saved on the terms you offer. Existence for me is without +value, honour is not."</p> + +<p>After this speech, delivered in a tone of conviction, Rose could say no +more. For her part, Marguerite was helpless. Her nerves had broken in +the excitement of the whole scene, and by the time that Alain had done +speaking, she was on the edge of a fit of violent hysterics. When her +sister had succeeded, by the aid of the jailor's wife, hastily summoned, +in restoring a little calm, Marguerite insisted upon being taken away. +Alain was left unshaken in his resolve, and Rose, weary of the +unsuccessful interview, removed her sister to their temporary lodgings +in the town. Leaving her there in the careful hands of the woman of the +place—an old acquaintance—she hurried off to Hill-street, where she +had another consultation with the Advocate Falle.</p> + +<p>The result was soon apparent. To whatever motive Carteret may have +yielded, he did not preside at the trial of Le Gallais, leaving the +task—as indeed he usually did—to the Lieutenant-Bailiff. The record of +the trial has perished, along with many public papers of those troublous +times. But thus much we know, that Alain Le Gallais was tried before the +Lieutenant-Bailiff and six jurats, and, in spite of a strenuous defence +by Advocate Falle, was found guilty and sentenced to death.</p> + +<p>It would be impossible to describe the anguish of the ladies of Maufant, +who had remained in town during these proceedings. Rose had already +spent in the conduct of the case money that she could ill afford. But +she knew that her husband would never forgive her if she neglected any +means of delivering their champion. Nor was she in any way disposed to +do so. Secret service money was laid out to the full extent of Mme. de +Maufant's powers of borrowing.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the political horizon grew darker day by day. Charles fretted +and yawned; but he continued to attend Divine service in the town +church. He also dined in public, "touched" for the king's evil, and +exercised such functions of royalty (as understood in that period of +transition) as the conditions of the place permitted. Just before the +end of the Stuart dynasty kingship in England was in much the same +condition among the English as it is now among the German nations. The +monarch was still regarded as the head of the feudal State, while a +number of the leading men were beginning to perceive more or less +clearly that society had passed out of a condition in which it could be +deeply or permanently swayed by the absolute will of one individual, +however highly placed by what one called the Divine pleasure, and +another the accident of birth. Among the personal prerogatives of the +Crown was the pardon of persons condemned to death.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the day when Mr. Secretary Nicholas was ordered to +bring up the papers in the case of Rex <i>v.</i> Le Gallais, the +Lieutenant-Governor of the small territory to which Charles's sway was +for the present restricted had a long audience. The king had, in his +light way, lamented the loss of his petulant favourite. But Carteret +had, with less pains than he had looked for, succeeded in convincing the +facile and intelligent sovereign that for both the quarrel and its +result Tom Elliot had been alone answerable. Probability leads us to +suspect that Charles had his own reasons for the readiness with which he +accepted the governor's arguments. Among all the young king's heavy +faults, vindictiveness was not, at that time, in the faintest degree +traceable; but, besides that, he had learned, in the intercourse of the +last day or two before the fatal encounter, too much of Elliot's +nefarious designs upon Marguerite de St. Martin to suppose that he would +with decency punish the conduct of her defender. Nor need we wonder if a +bag of Rose Lempriere's pistoles lent weight, even to royal scruples.</p> + +<p>"Odsfish, Sir George," he said, finally, "I believe that you must e'en +take the pardon of your choleric countryman."</p> + +<p>"Your majesty is ever gracious," answered Carteret, with his best +quarter-deck reverence, "though under your pardon my countrymen are in +no respect to be taxed with ready choler. They are ever courteous and +patient. Only steadfast malice is what they cannot abide."</p> + +<p>"I dare be bold to say that human nature hath its operation amongst +them," answered Charles, with his languid smile. "Give them what they +want and their temper is easy. But enough of this, Nicholas will draw +the pardon, and it shall be signed and sealed anon. But, further, take +order that there be no more duelling. And now, as touching another of +your prisoners, Major Querto?"</p> + +<p>"The major was arrested among those present at the duel, in which it +hath been shown that he was not a participator," said Sir George; "but +letters have been found in his possession which hinder his release +without further inquiry."</p> + +<p>"I can be the major's warrant," answered Charles. "He was a trooper in +Goring's horse, and rose by reason of his wife being chosen to nurse my +mother's last-born infant at Exeter. When her majesty retired into +France, Querto, raised to be a commissioned officer, remained in +Exeter. When that city was taken he followed his wife to France, from +whence he is now come, bringing letters from her majesty to me."</p> + +<p>"By your leave, sir," answered Carteret, "your information lacks +completeness. Querto by no means repaired from Exeter to France. We have +searched his valise, and have taken therefrom a packet of papers, from +which it plainly appears that he is a false knave, who hath bubbled both +sides. There is among these papers a letter from Sir John Grenville, to +the effect that this fellow was to obtain money from the Parliament on a +false pretence of delivering Scilly into their hands. There is another +from Bulstrode Whitelock, in which the matter assumes a different and a +more heinous aspect. According to that paper, Querto had been to London, +and there undertaken, on the receipt of two thousand pounds, to aid in +the betrayal, not merely of Scilly, but of Jersey. He had taken handsell +of his price, and went to France, either to complete the bargain or else +to trade with Mazarin. I leave to your majesty to determine which."</p> + +<p>The king moved uneasily in his chair. He shunned the governor's +searching eye, and affected to be watching a ship in the offing, of +which a view was commanded by his casement.</p> + +<p>"That vessel appears to interest your majesty," said Carteret, "she +flies St. Andrew's Cross."</p> + +<p>"I opine that it is the vessel of the Scots Commissioners," answered +Charles. "An it be so, we will receive them in council. Matters of great +moment may be awaiting their arrival. For the present, Sir George, I bid +you farewell."</p> + +<p>It was now December. The "St. Martin's summer" of the Channel Islands +was almost over. The trees were losing their leaves. The last roses +lingered still only in sheltered nooks, rich as the Maufant garden. The +sky was, however, serene, and the sea calm, as the Scottish ship sailed +into the harbour. She had come over from Holland with a favouring wind, +bringing the Chief Commissioner of the Parliament and clergy of +Scotland, together with other gentlemen and officers, and an emissary +from the Duke of Lorraine. The result of their arrival demands another +chapter, for it seriously affected the fortunes of several persons +concerned in the events which our history relates. Our scene changes to +the ancient monastic chapel of the castle, in which the commissioners +were brought before the king in council.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="ACT_V" id="ACT_V"></a>ACT V.</h2> + +<h3 class="smcap">Farewell To Jersey.</h3> + + +<p>The king's ordinary cabinet council was now reduced to three persons +besides himself, for it must be remembered that down to the days of the +German sovereigns, who could not join from ignorance of the language, +the English kings were always members of the cabinet, as the viceroy is +to this day in British India. Hyde still playing the vain Ind futile +part of ambassador in Madrid, Lord Hopton and the two secretaries, +Nicholas and Long, were the only ministers present.</p> + +<p>But the matter now opened by the arrival of the Scottish commissioners, +was considered of so much moment as to justify, and even to demand, the +summoning of the lieutenant-governor, and of all the peers then resident +in Jersey. The deliberations of this assembly—which may be regarded as +being tantamount to the Privy Council at large—lasted to the end of the +month of December. But we are not dealing with general history. It will +suffice to record that Winram, of Liberton, the chief of the mission, +appeared charged, in the name of the parliament and clergy of the +northern kingdom, to present and enforce certain written addresses, of +which the gist was this.</p> + +<p>Charles was to subscribe the "solemn league and covenant," to give +pardon and amnesty to all past political offences, and to agree to +maintain the Protestant religion, according to the Presbyterian rite. +Our fathers fought for freedom, but it was freedom only for themselves.</p> + +<p>Upon these conditions it was observed by the foremost of the king's +advisers, that the so-called "Scottish Parliament" was no Parliament at +all, neither having been called by royal mandate nor dissolved by the +late king's death. It was thus wanting in the essential elements and +attributes. Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who +should upset the very nature of the constitution. Yet the commissioners +asserted stoutly that their employers would not be treated with under +any other style, title, or appellation. The king's councillors frowned. +It was added, further, that the clergy of the Church of England, as +might be learnt from his majesty's own chaplains then present in Jersey, +would strenuously oppose the Scottish alliance. They would indeed rather +see the king go among the Papists in Ireland than among such strict +Protestants as the Scots. These counsels were upheld by certain of the +lords; and the Lord Byron, though not giving such extreme lengths, +thought it not well to form a conclusive opinion until it was seen what +advices should be received from Ireland, where Ormonde was still +endeavouring to withstand the forces of the English Parliament under +General Cromwell.</p> + +<p>About the end of the month, however, all hope from that side faded away. +The defence of Ireland had melted before the two passions of fear and +avarice. All the strong places in Ireland had yielded themselves to the +parliament. Ormonde admitted his failure in a letter to Charles, dated +"Waterford, December 15, 1619." On this Lord Byron joined in urging the +king to yield the questions of form or title, and to treat with the +Scots on their own terms.</p> + +<p>While things were still in suspense, Alain le Gallais was wandering idly +on the rude quay of S. Helier, looking up at the insulated castle, and +vainly seeking to conjecture what might be the nature of the plans being +there matured, when he was suddenly addressed from behind in a rough, +but not wholly unfamiliar voice. Turning about he beheld the grim face +and gaunt form of Major Querto, by no means softened by prison fare and +restraint.</p> + +<p>"I cannot say much in praise of your island, Captain," growled the +veteran, "either as regards hospitality or diversion. Out of bare eight +weeks that I have lived here, six have been spent in prison; and now +that they have let me out, I can find nothing better to do than to count +the pebbles upon this beach here."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais led the grumbling officer to a neighbouring tavern, and +called for a mug of cider and two glasses. When the liquor had begun to +do its office, Querto showed signs of better cheer, nothing loth to have +a companion.</p> + +<p>"It is not often that a poor gentleman hath even such refreshment as +this," he said presently, after lighting a pipe of tobacco. The words +were hardly courteous, but the speaker had not been bred in courtesy. +"We had short commons in Exeter, but then there was none of the citizens +fared better than we. Here in Jersey Mr. Lieutenant takes good care that +they who have keep and they who want go on lacking. Yet methinks he +might find it worth his while to take care for something else."</p> + +<p>"What, mean you, major?" demanded the Jerseyman.</p> + +<p>"Marry this," answered his companion, "that there be some among your +friends who do not choose to starve while there are pistoles to be won +by a brave action. Hark ye, captain, are you well affected or no? You +need have no fear, sir, in telling me. I am not strait-laced, and I can +keep counsel.</p> + +<p>"Dost thou call to mind a certain evening in London when you and Mr. +Lempriere were walking home together, and a warning was uttered in your +ears?"</p> + +<p>"Was it thou that played the raven? Didst thou think that we were of +your side?"</p> + +<p>"Of my side, quotha. Why, man, do you think me one to take sides? O, +lord Sir, sides are for the quality. Dick Querto is of his own side, no +other. Now, see here, Captain le Gallais, mayhap you know one Pierre +Benoist that was then in limbo?"</p> + +<p>"Aye, do I, and what of him?"</p> + +<p>"Why, marry this; that he is at large, and hath a lure for your young +Charlie there that will bring him from his perch on the rock yonder, and +mew the tercel in London town. What think ye the Parliament will deem a +meet reward for the men who bring them such a prize as that?"</p> + +<p>Le Gallais was aghast. He was asked to consent to a plot to kidnap the +king, and convey him into the hands of those who had taken his father's +anointed head from his shoulders. A plot to be carried out in Jersey, +and by the aid of Jerseymen! Alain was not a blind royalist, as we have +seen, but he had not learned, either from Prynne or from Lempriere, +either that Jersey could exist without a King of England or that +treachery was a necessary part of the work of liberty. At the same time +the ruffian before him must not be prematurely alarmed. So he played his +part as best he might.</p> + +<p>"I must think of it," he said, "the enterprise is bold. Tell me no more +of your projects," he added, with a sudden shame, as the swashbuckler +was about to enter into details. "I cannot now take part in your work, +for reasons."</p> + +<p>"All the better," said the bravo, "but see that you betray me not. The +fewer of us the larger the share; but you were best not betray me."</p> + +<p>"Threats are not needed, major," answered the Jerseyman, "I am no +traitor."</p> + +<p>Le Gallais paid the reckoning and sauntered off, a prey to contending +thoughts. That the cruel plot should come to nought, if its frustration +were within his means, he unhesitatingly resolved. That Querto's +confidence—unasked though it had been—should be used against himself, +was equally unwelcome to Alain's sense of honour.</p> + +<p>In his perplexity, he wandered almost as by instinct to the lodgings of +the Lemprieres. He had long been accustomed to regard the simple good +faith and courage of Mme. de Maufant as an infallible oracle in cases of +conscience. Never had so hard a need for an infallible oracle presented +itself to his mind as this.</p> + +<p>He found the ladies seated in a parlour on the ground floor, engaged in +their usual employment of knitting. The room was small, but warm and +snug. Under a pledge of secrecy, he told them in general terms that +there was a plot to seize the king, but took care not to mention the +names either of Querto or Benoist.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the council having broken up for the day, the king retired to +his chamber. But instead of resting and calling for refreshment, as was +his wont on such occasions, he seemed to meditate an excursion. Only +that, in deference to the prudent scruples of his council, he was +apparently going forth in strict disguise, for he unbuckled his +jewel-hilted sword, and took off his velvet doublet. Then tucking his +long hair under a fur cap, and putting on a blouse, such as was worn by +the country people, he walked out of the castle in the dark of the +winter evening, passing the sentries by giving the parole of the day. +The tide being low he walked across the "bridge," and at the town end +was accosted by a man, attired like himself, who was waiting for him +there.</p> + +<p>"Owls be abroad," said the stranger.</p> + +<p>"They mouse by night," answered the king.</p> + +<p>Without further communication the two walked silently through the town, +and up the steep lane in which Mme. de Maufant had taken up her abode. +It was on a hill over-looking the town, still known by the name of "The +King's Cliff." At the back were woods and fields.</p> + +<p>All this time Alain and the ladies of Maufant had remained in earnest +consultation. Rose was for letting matters take their course. She had +scant sympathy with those whose policy had separated her from her +husband, and who were, as she believed, plotting the betrayal of her +country, Jersey, and her Michael. In these lay all her world. That the +king should be carried off to London was nothing to her. But Marguerite +was younger and more generous. Wronged as she had been by Elliot's +insolent schemes, that account was balanced and closed by the great +audit. But she was not without a woman's romance, and the thought that a +king, young and unfortunate, was to be sold to his father's relentless +enemies and murderers, presented to her ardent mind a thing to be +prevented at all hazards.</p> + +<p>While they were thus debating the dog was heard to bark excitedly, and +footsteps were audible in the garden behind the house.</p> + +<p>"Mme. de Maufant," said a voice at the window, "come forth. It is I, +Pierre Benoist. I bring a message from your husband."</p> + +<p>"Wait an instant, Benoist," answered the lady, unalarmed, "I will let +you in."</p> + +<p>She went to the door, and gave admittance to two men in blouses. While +one conversed with Mme. de Maufant, the other advanced to her sister, +and, without taking heed of Le Gallais, addressed her in courtly tones, +holding his fur cap in his hand, his brown hair fell down upon his +shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Fear nothing, bright pearl of Jersey," said the stranger. "A traveller +who has heard of your charms asks leave to prove them."</p> + +<p>"Marguerite!" whispered Le Gallais on the other side, "be careful, it is +the king. I know his face. I have seen him many times in church."</p> + +<p>Marguerite slipped to the ground on her knees. "Ah, sir," she said, +imploringly, "the honour that you do us may cost your life. Your enemies +are at hand. Perhaps the house is already surrounded. Ah, heaven! put up +your hair!" So saying she aided the smiling young king to restore his +disguise, whilst Alain, with a sudden impulse, threw himself upon +Benoist, whom he gagged and pinioned almost before the rascal could +utter a sound.</p> + +<p>Charles, meanwhile not unwilling to wait the conclusion of the +adventure, retired by a back door, followed by Rose, who showed him into +the kitchen. The barking of the dog was at the same moment renewed, and +other footsteps and voices were heard further from the house, which was +apparently surrounded.</p> + +<p>Marguerite sank into a chair, while Le Gallais carried the helpless +Benoist out with whispered threats; and, throwing him into a dark +stable, shut the door upon him, locking it behind him and putting the +key into his pocket. He then returned into the parlour, and telling +Rose—who had re-entered the room—what he had done, bade her be of good +cheer. Marguerite continued to kneel, and her lips moved as if in +prayer.</p> + +<p>Meantime the voices came nearer. The dog, with one sharp yell ceased to +bark, and knocks were heard at the door. Alain gave Rose one encouraging +look and went out alone and unarmed to meet Querto and a number of +peasants, most of whom he recognised as belonging to his own company of +the parish militia.</p> + +<p>"What is it, neighbours?" he said, taking no notice of the major, and +speaking the local dialect.</p> + +<p>"Why, this gentleman hath brought us here to seize a spy," said one of +them—our old acquaintance Le Gros.</p> + +<p>"There is no spy here but himself," answered Le Gallais. Do you not know +who he is, Maître Le Gros? This is Major Querto, who came here about +selling Jersey to the French.</p> + +<p>"What are you saying in your whoreson lingo?'" cried the major. "Let us +in."</p> + +<p>"He wishes to do some mischief here," pursued Le Gallais. "Perhaps to +rob the ladies. Will you see Michael Lempriere's wife plundered?"</p> + +<p>"Never," said another of the peasants. "He said a spy had got admission +on false pretences."</p> + +<p>"There is no one here but I," said Le Gallais. "Do you take me for a +spy?"</p> + +<p>"We do not, Alain. Vive M. le Capitaine! What shall we do with him?" +said many friendly voices.</p> + +<p>"Take him to the Centenier under the Gallows-hill," said Alain, availing +himself of the rising tide. "Or, stay"—as he caught a look from Querto, +in which agony and reproach were mingled—"If he prefers it, carry him +on board the first ship bound for France. I will answer for his passage +money. Handle him as he deserves."</p> + +<p>To hear was to obey with the angry islanders. Hustled and disarmed, +bonnetted and bound with handkerchiefs, Querto was borne off, howling +and cursing. In a few minutes all was once more still in and about the +house, only the good watch dog had suffered. He would never sound +another alarm. One strobe of Querto's sabre had severed his faithful +head from his body.</p> + +<p>Alain returned to the parlour.</p> + +<p>Reassured by his telling them the story, they were easily persuaded to +retire to their chamber. Alain's next care was to seek the king's hiding +place.</p> + +<p>"You must stay where you are till morning, sir," he said, without +entering. "I will watch over the only way by which any one can approach +you."</p> + +<p>"As you will," cried Charles from within. "But hark ye, captain! +methinks a pint of claret would not be amiss, warm with a spiced toast +floating on the top."</p> + +<p>The man and his wife who waited on the ladies had been spirited away by +some intrigue on the part of Benoist, and the king would have to pass +the night alone in the small kitchen.</p> + +<p>More amused than disgusted with the royal levity, Le Gallais—who knew +the ways of the house—brewed the desired tankard, and, returning to the +kitchen, set the hot drink upon the table; then wishing the king "good +repose;" left him to his meditations.</p> + +<p>On returning to the parlour, Le Gallais carefully secured both the inner +and the outer door, put a log upon the fire, looked to the priming of +his pistols, laid his sword upon the table, threw a cloak over his +knees, sate up in his arm chair with a look of resolute vigilance, and +sank into a profound sleep, from which he did not wake till day streamed +through the casement. His first care was to go to the stable and release +Benoist, but that slippery rascal, after his wont, had released himself. +His gag and bandage lay upon the stable floor, along with a bar shaken +out of the loophole in the wall, leaving an aperture just large enough +for a lean man to push through.</p> + +<p>Returning to the house, Le Gallais found the graceless monarch seated at +table before a steaming bowl of porridge, while Rose was pouring him +some cider.</p> + +<p>"Odsfish," he heard Charles say, "I owe Captain Le Gallais thanks for a +fair deliverance, and you, madame, a courteous usage under difficulty. +But <i>à la guerre comme à la guerre</i>, and I have slept in worse +conditions than those of your house, madame. Let me but bid farewell to +your sweet sister, and I will be back in the castle before my absence +has been observed. Ha! Captain Le Gallais, you must be my guide back to +the quay. This part is strange to me."</p> + +<p>All Charles's prayers were vain. Marguerite had a <i>migraine</i>, and could +not have the honour of receiving the king's farewell. He finished his +breakfast, took a courtier's leave of his hostess, and set forth on his +homeward way, respectfully attended by Le Gallais. They walked through +the streets in silence for some time, the king having quite enough sense +to be ashamed of his situation.</p> + +<p>"You have an interest," he presently said, "in yonder ladies, captain?"</p> + +<p>"I have, sir. I am M. de Maufant's friend."</p> + +<p>"And therefore my enemy, I take it. No matter, you have served me a good +turn."</p> + +<p>Soon the strangely-assorted couple approached the quay. Scarcely anyone +being abroad at that early hour. Moreover they had come down to the +bridge head by way of the Gallows-hill, to avoid the publicity of the +main streets. As they parted, Charles turned kindly to his unwonted +follower, and said once more—</p> + +<p>"We shall not forget our obligation to you, Captain Le Gallais, whenever +a time comes for proper acknowledgment. Meantime, if you will not own us +as your king, tell me, as man to man, if there be anything in which +Charles Stuart can serve you."</p> + +<p>"Aye, is there," answered the Jerseyman, out of the fullness of his +heart. "For your own sake, sir, leave us. We are a simple folk, unused +to the ways of the great world, and only asking to be left in peace."</p> + +<p>"By the faith of a gentleman," muttered Charles, as he made his way out +to the castle, "the islander is right in his amphibious way. The solemn +league and covenant is not amusing, but it cannot be worse than living +here like a seal upon a rock; and when one goes forth to talk to a +comely wench, being reconducted to one's rock by a Puritan with webbed +feet. Yet he hath saved me from a shrewd pinch, and that is the truth."</p> + +<p>It will not be supposed that Charles was all at once prepared to drop +the little intrigue—so united to his already corrupted character, into +which he had been led by Benoist's insidious suggestions, acting upon a +mind always anxious for excitement, and predisposed by the talk of the +deceased groom-of-the-chamber. But the danger which he had incurred was +a warning in the opposite direction. Benoist was in hiding, and appeared +no more in the castle; lastly, the negotiations with the Scots now +became so urgent and so perpetual as to require his almost constant +presence and personal influence. The opposing motives and conflicting +opinions of his various advisers often kindled into violent altercation, +in composing which the really excellent qualities of the young king's +prematurely developed character had room for beneficial action. So the +ladies of Maufant were left free from a troublesome persecution, against +which, nevertheless, they took all due precautions.</p> + +<p>Upon general grounds Charles was now willing enough to leave Jersey. The +bluff firmness of Sir George Carteret, and the grave counsels of +Nicholas, by whom the lieutenant-governor was usually backed up, were +unwelcome to a sovereign; and his tiny kingdom afforded but little +compensation, especially when he was forbidden to visit it, and was +virtually prisoner on an almost insulated corner thereof. For Carteret +and Nicholas had heard of his nocturnal adventure, and had extorted a +promise from him not to go on land without their knowledge. They had +also taken other precautions in the same behalf, which were perhaps more +trustworthy.</p> + +<p>It was finally determined that the king and his retinue should leave the +island. The Scots' invitation was accepted on the terms proposed by what +it was agreed to call "the committee of estates;" and Breda, in Holland, +was named as the place where the final agreement should be engrossed and +signed by the high contracting parties. Here Charles would be safe in +the protection of his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, until +matters should be ripe for his departure to Scotland.</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="EPILOGUE" id="EPILOGUE"></a>EPILOGUE.</h2> + + +<p>Since the events related in the foregoing chapters nearly two years had +gone by. Jersey had been saved from intrigues of the Queen and Lord +Jermyn. Charles had gone to France, and thence to Holland, followed by +the Duke of York, his brother, and later by Sir Edward Nicholas and the +other members of his council and court. The lieutenant-governor, freed +from even the slight control afforded by their presence, had given full +scope to the worse parts of his peculiar and complicated character. More +than ever was his administration of his native island marked by +unblushing egotism. Oppressive, grasping, unguarded in speech, and +almost unrestrained in action, he seemed, from one point of view, the +model of a sordid, short-sighted despot, making hay while the sun shone. +But he had a fund of caution which kept him from proceeding quite to +extremes, and his energy and ability were undeniable, as was also his +attention to business. Hence, while feared and even hated, he was still +respected and obeyed. Most of the militia officers were his creatures, +as were also—as we have already seen—the civil, judicial, and +legislative officers of the little republic. The seat of his government +was at S. Helier, while S. Aubin, on the opposite point of the bay, was +filled with his skippers and their crews, and the traders who profited +by their piratical proceedings. Hardly a week passed but some rich +prize—usually an English merchantman—was brought in there, to be +condemned by Carteret's court, and sold, together with her cargo, while +the unfortunate mariners who had manned her were left to their own +resources. Adventurers from all parts flocked to Jersey, to share the +gains of this new and irregular trade, while the lawful commerce of +England was menaced as with a cancer. With the resources derived from +his maritime enterprise, joined to what he drew from his fines, taxes, +exactions, compositions, and confiscations within the limits of the +island, the unscrupulous governor was founding a sort of Christian +Barbary, and becoming a hostile power no less than a public scandal. +Nevertheless, he could on occasion make a generous use of his ill-gotten +gains.[<i>v.</i> Appendix.] He sent money more than once to the necessitous +court in Holland, continuing to do so until the king departed thence to +Scotland. And he kept up such a stream of supplies for Castle Cornet, in +Guernsey, as enabled Sir Baldwin Wake, the commandant, to hold out +against all the force of the Parliamentary power in that island, and +against all attempts by sea. Indeed this remarkable siege lasted longer +than the fabled one of Troy, and the feat, however creditable to the +handful of men by whom it was performed, and to Osborne and his +successor Wake, was only rendered possible by the constant aid of Sir +George Carteret. Most of all, however, did that energetic officer enrich +himself, laying in fact the foundation of that greatness which +afterwards culminated in his descendant, the famous Lord Granville, the +rival of Walpole. He obtained from Charles a grant of Crown lands, +including the escheated manor of Melèches. And he further appropriated +to his own use the revenues of his personal enemies, the chief of whom +were the exiled Seigneurs Dumaresq, of Samares, and Lempriere, of +Maufant. It should, however, be added that he shed no more blood. In +fact with the exception of the Bandinels and Messervy, Seigneur of Bagot +(already mentioned), no one lost life for opposition to Sir George. He +even attempted to conciliate some of his opponents, restoring Le Gallais +to his post of captain in the militia, and empowering him to offer to +Lempriere's wife the use of her house at Maufant, which he had +confiscated. But that valiant lady resolutely refused to hold or inhabit +under the favour of an usurper, and continued to occupy the lodgings on +King's Cliff, though in constant straits for want of money. Marguerite, +who, however wild and light others found her, was always faithful to her +good sister, cast in her lot with Mme. de Maufant, with the consent of +her own family at Rozel; and it was chiefly by her assistance that the +expenses were in any way met. Le Gallais also lost no opportunity of +visiting the ladies and ministering to their wants like a brother, to +the great straining of his own slender savings. He carefully forebore to +press Mlle. de St. Martin with a lover's suit, whether or no to that +young lady's complete satisfaction we are not informed. In any case, her +manner, though composed by trouble, gave no sign of the state of her +feelings; and whether she was fond of Alain or weary of him, her +self-control was equally to her credit. As for Alain, he seemed to be +stupefied, rather awaiting ruin than expecting better times.</p> + +<p>Matters were in this state, when one lovely day in September, 1651, +Alain came before Mme. de Maufant and her sister as they sate knitting +in the doorway.</p> + +<p>"Great news!" he cried, as soon as he was near enough for the ladies to +hear. "Great news! General Cromwell has thoroughly purged the garner. He +has beaten and scattered the Scots at Worcester. 'Tis said Charles +Stuart their king is taken prisoner. This 'crowning mercy,' as it is +called by the lord general, befel on the 3rd, the same day last year he +beat these same Scots at Dunbar. 'Tis a great and a bright day in his +lordship's life."</p> + +<p>"Count no man happy till his end," answered Rose gravely. "A day of +triumph may be a day of doom when God pleases. And how does this event +touch us, thinkest thou, Alain?"</p> + +<p>"Why thus," replied the young man. "The general is not a man to bear +with our lieutenant-governor's oppressions and piracies for ever. Like +Satan in the Apocalypse, Carteret hath great wrath, because he knoweth +that his time is short. For Admiral Blake hath been collecting his ships +at Portsmouth, and our informant says that they were to sail to-day, +eighty vessels of war. They carry a strong force of <i>fantassins</i>, +pikemen, and arquebussiers, with the new snaphaunces devised in the low +countries. Their commander is Major-General Haine, Prynne is there as +commissioner, and, best of all, Michael Lempriere is on board!"</p> + +<p>Rose looked at him with swimming eyes.</p> + +<p>"And Michael Lempriere comes as bailiff. He said that he would. And +then, when your fortunes are once more high, and you have no further +need of me ..."</p> + +<p>Alain faltered and looked down. But for that gesture even his despondent +mind might have been roused by the look that Marguerite cast upon him. +But the dart was parried by the shield of an obstinate depression.</p> + +<p>"I have arranged," he pursued, "with Sir George. You know that last +year he sent out a ship of five guns to America, laden with passengers, +all sorts of grain, and tools for husbandry. She was lost, being +captured (that is to say) off the Isle of Wight by Captain Green, of the +Commonwealth's navy. The stores were confiscated, but most of the +passengers came back to the island, and have been here ever since +awaiting a fresh opportunity for New Jersey. It will come soon, and I +sail with the next venture."</p> + +<p>"With the next fiddlestick," broke in Rose. "Speak to the silly fellow, +Marguerite. This is the last time of asking."</p> + +<p>Whatever may be thought of Alain's project of emigration, his +information was true enough. Cromwell had determined to put a stop to +the trouble caused by the present doings in Jersey. Yet he had no desire +to repeat the severities of Ireland. The Jersey cavaliers were good +Protestants, there had been no massacres, and their cause was warmly +supported by Prynne—a man with whom the general could not wholly +sympathise, but with whom he could still less afford to break on what +appeared to him a not very important difference. Left to himself, he +would not probably have been as stern with Jersey as he had been with +the blood-stained Rapparees and their allies, solicited by the leader of +the Moderates, he was willing to be won. So he readily agreed to the +counsels of those who urged him to accept Prynne's offer of service, and +appointed the Presbyterian confessor to accompany Blake and Haine as a +representative of conciliation and indulgence.</p> + +<p>Setting sail with a light north-east wind, the transports and their +convoy, multiplied by popular rumour into a vast fleet of war, and +really bearing nearly three thousand good troops and a quantum of field +guns, made slow way out of Portsmouth harbour on Sunday, September 19th. +Next morning they were in the open sea with all sail set. On the +quarter-deck of the <i>Constant Warwick</i>, a fine frigate (the first +launched by the new government) Lempriere and Prynne—now completely +reconciled—paced slowly up and down, talking of the present situation +and future policy. As they did so their eyes glanced from time to time +on the fair sea scape, illumined by the early autumn sunlight, and +shaded by the sails of the surrounding shipping.</p> + +<p>"'Tis a fair show, Mr. Bailiff," said the English politician, "And one +that ought to bring down our friend's stomach."</p> + +<p>"Faith! I do not know," answered the Jerseyman. "Sir George will fight, +I doubt. You know him as well as I."</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless, he cannot fight to much purpose, and I see not how there +can be any great effusion of blood. By himself he can do nothing, and +who will be of his side? It is the divine asseveration of the wisest of +men, Ecclesiastes vii. 7, 'Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' And +if it be so, Cartwright should have but few sane men about him. Yet in +his fall I pray he may find mercy. And I am forced to lean upon you, Mr. +Bailiff, in that behalf."</p> + +<p>"<i>Non tali auxilio</i>," began the quotation-loving bailiff. But Prynne +gravely pursued his pleading.</p> + +<p>"You may recollect what I said to the Commons' House three full years +ago. Indeed it was the very night before Pride's Purge. If fines, I +reminded them, if imprisonments, grievous mutilations, and brandings of +S.L.—which I once called 'stigmata landis;' but 'tis an ill subject for +jesting—could bespeak a true friend to liberty, why then sure I am one +whose voice might well claim, a hearing. Yet it hath been far otherwise +with yonder masterful men of the carnal weapon, who seek their own +advancement in the name of the Commonwealth. I have never coveted the +transient treasures, honours, or preferments of the world, but only to +do to my God, country, aye, and king, too, the best public services I +could, even though it brought upon me the loss of my liberty, the ruin +of my mean estate, and the hazard of my life. When the late king did +wrong I withstood him, to the extent of my poor capacity; but I was not +for seeing the crown and lords of the ancient realm of England subverted +or submerged by the flood of usurpation let in by some members of the +Lower House. My speech of the 4th December, 1649——."</p> + +<p>"I heard it," broke in the other, "And well do I remember the hum of +assent and approbation with which it was received."</p> + +<p>"It was printed no less than three times last year. Then followed my +tractate upon their deposing and executing their lawful king; and other +leaves against the arbitrary taxation of what I call 'the Westminster +Junto.' Think you that these things can be forgotten, or that my being +sent here with Haine is more than a hollow compliment? Recollect the +word that we exchanged at my lodging in the Strand two years ago, and +bear in mind that it is rather in your hands than in mine to temper +justice with mercy when my friends shall be overthrown in yonder +island."</p> + +<p>So pleaded, and to yet greater length, the verbose but earnest advocate. +But in truth he might have been more concise, less eloquence would have +sufficed had not the idle hours of a sea voyage thrown open a wider door +for its display. Lempriere was ready to promise anything on the joy of +the long-wished for moment.</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span>"Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo<br /></span> +<span class="i1">Auderet."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>As he himself expressed the matter with wonted Latinity. His own nature +would have disposed him to adhere to the promise given long ago, and +still so urgently demanded of him by Prynne.</p> + +<p>On the evening of Monday, the 20th of September, the flotilla was +signalled in the north-western part of Jersey, where a vigilant outlook +had long been maintained upon the very top of Plémont. The sea heaved to +and fro in smooth fluctuations under the bright weather, which shed mild +splendour over the violet surface, studded with orange rocks. With +favouring airs the stately ships slid slowly on in crescent formation. +They cast anchor for the evening in S. Owen's Bay, sheltered on the +north by Grosnez Gape, and on the south by the cliffs that end in the +Corbière—an extent of nearly five miles.</p> + +<p>On shore all was bustle and preparation. Sir George's head-quarters were +at his cousin's seat, the manor house of S. Owen. The sandy plains to +seaward were held by companies of the island militia; the +lieutenant-governor's own immediate following consisted of a small +squadron of horse, raised and equipped by himself, but mounted on +chargers especially presented to them by the king. Considering the +natural difficulties of the coast, and that the equinox was at hand, the +numerical disparity was not absolutely desperate. Jersey is a strong +place yet. In those days of sailing ships and weak artillery it was a +gigantic fortress, if only held by a wholehearted and determined +garrison. Had that but been now the case, which, however, it was not. +The population in general had no insurmountable feeling of hostility +towards the <i>de facto</i> government of England. On the other hand, the +hearts of the Cavalier party were not high. A rumour had been +spread—not traceable to any distinct source—that Charles had been +taken after the rout of Worcester. The public, ever credulous of ill +tidings, fastened with morbid eagerness on such reports. "Sorrow and +despair," writes a Royalist eye-witness with natural exaggeration, +"could be seen in every face. The more dispirited began to cry out that +it was in vain to contend any longer against powers that, like a +torrent, bore down everything before them."</p> + +<p>Carteret, who though ambitious and covetous, was never wanting in +courage, energy, intelligence or versatility, turned the more +obstinately to his task. Concealing his natural anxieties, he rode about +from post to post in morion and buff coat, wearing a resolute +countenance, and doing all that one man could do to keep up the hearts +of his people and prepare a stout defence.</p> + +<p>The position of Le Gallais, though humbler, was much more complicated. +Nor was he possessed of sufficient strength of character to choose a +distinct path and steadily pursue it. Determined enough, as we have +seen, under excitement he could fight with his back to the wall. Nor was +he one to shrink from any duty that was plainly pointed out to him. He +could not prepare himself <i>de longue main</i> for a definite and consistent +conduct; still less had he the power—often wielded by natures otherwise +inferior—of striking a balance between opposing motives. His duty as a +militia-officer was at complete variance with his desires as a friend of +Lempriere's. He could not choose between them. He might have thrown up +his commission and devoted himself to watching over his friends at +King's Cliff. He might have cast his feelings to the winds and accepted +the post of orderly officer to the Lieutenant-Governor which was offered +him by Carteret. He chose neither line but adopted what he called "a +middle-course," in other words left himself to be drifted on the current +of events. He saw that the position of the cavaliers was hopeless if +they had to maintain a long and unaided contest against the conquerors +of Ireland and Scotland. He had no great trust in the willingness of the +French, none whatever in their good faith. His ardent desire to prevent +effusion of Jersey blood was a preoccupation that hid almost all other +considerations from his mind. And he had trust in the discipline and +morale of the Parliamentary troops, and in the presence among them of +Prynne and Lempriere, which saved him from much anxiety as to the +welfare of the ladies at King's Cliff.</p> + +<p>As he sate, that night, by the camp-fire of a picquet of his company he +heard two militiamen conversing, and recognised Benoist and Le Gros as +the speakers.</p> + +<p>"To what purpose are we here, <i>mon voisin</i>?" asked the former. "What +good would the sacrifice of ourselves do the King now, when perhaps he +has already undergone his father's fate and is no longer in this world?"</p> + +<p>"If the King be dead, indeed," answered Le Gros, "I for one will not +fire a single cartridge. All the same, he was a debonair prince, and +once gave me a groat to drink his health when he saw me holding his +horse."</p> + +<p>"That he is a prisoner is certain," croaked Benoist. "And if prisoner to +Maître Cromouailles he can only make his escape through one door. And +that door does not lead to Jersey, though it may to Paradise."</p> + +<p>Here the men got up and moved off in search of cider, which was being +served out by the Governor's orders at a neigbouring farm-house. But +their conversation mingled with the young Captain's thoughts as, +wearied with the marchings and countermarchings of the day, he dozed in +the still night air, lulled by the fire at his feet. Deep slumber must +have followed, for he started from dreams of tumult to feel the +vibration of air caused by a round-shot passing over his head. The wind +had fallen to an almost complete calm: a light breeze of autumn morning +breathed keen over the barren moor; bugles were sounding, drums +rattling, men shouting as they collected their accoutrements and fell in +under arms.</p> + +<p>Four-and-twenty guns from the nearest ships were playing upon them, +answered briskly by the little militia batteries that lined the bay. +Gunboats began to stand in, laden with red-coated marksmen discharging +their new pattern fire-locks. The militiamen on their part waded into +the sea and gave such answer as they could from their clumsy old +matchlocks: making good the deficiency—so far as noise was +concerned—by shouts of vituperation; and calling on their assailants as +"Rebels," "Traitors," and "Murderers of their King." The landing was +frustrated for the time.</p> + +<p>The next day was occupied in rapid movements from one part of the island +to another, in order to meet feigned attacks by the enemy who were ready +to turn any of those diversions into a real assault, on finding the +Jersey people unprepared. The Lieutenant-Governor had no choice but to +distract and weary his men, marching them backwards and forwards to S. +Aubin, S. Clement, and Gorey, according as the invaders appeared at one +or other of those landing-places. The militiamen were worn out by these +tactics, and were moreover of the class on whom Carteret's oppressive +taxations had long pressed with an almost intolerable weight. On the +third day their strength was reduced both by fatigue and desertion; and +in the afternoon, after more demonstrations a real landing took place in +S. Owen's Bay, the original point of attack. Carteret, as soon as he +perceived what was intended, galloped up his cavalry, ordering up a +battalion of militia in support, under his cousin, the Seigneur of S. +Owen. The English infantry formed upon the beach, and advanced to the +attack with terrible shouts and cheers. The first troop of Carteret's +horse met them boldly, and delivered a headlong charge; but the men who +had fought Rupert and Goring were not to be intimidated by a handful of +untrained cavaliers. The troopers were received with a volley that +emptied several saddles; and retired, leaving several of their number +dead and carrying off Colonel Bovil, a gallant English officer by whom +they had been led, and who soon after died of his wounds. The second +troop failed to support them, but guarded the retreat as the troopers +drew off without renewing their charge. Meanwhile, the militia who +should have been the third line dispersed and gained their homes. The +red 'coats meeting no further opposition marched cautiously across the +island, and encamped for the night on Gorey Common. Carteret, with such +men—mostly Cornishmen and Irish—as remained with him, threw himself +into Elizabeth Castle; the other forts, S. Aubin and Mont Orgueil, +yielded, almost without show of resistance, in a few days.</p> + +<p>In anticipation of such an occasion Carteret had furnished the Castle of +S. Helier with abundant provision, alike of victuals and ammunition; the +latter being stored in the old Abbey Church, which was proof against the +bullets used by the ordinary artillery of those days. His guns were +mounted on the landward batteries, so as to command the town and any +camp that might be formed there for siege purposes. The hill above—the +Mont de la Ville—was too remote to cause any serious danger from the +field-pieces of the period, which were not capable of sending shot with +effect to a greater distance than half-a-mile. He despatched boats to +convey his private property to France, and to take letters to the +Royalists there, asking for instructions and assistance; and then +stoutly prepared—with a garrison of 350 men—to sustain the siege +against the grim victors of Tredagh.</p> + +<p>Le Gallais, having lost his men in the late dispersal of the militia, +felt no scruple in seeking his friend Lempriere. The latter, after a +warm greeting, brought him to Prynne; and all three presently repaired +to the head-quarters, in La Motte-street, where they were amicably +received by Colonel Haine, the commander of the English forces.</p> + +<p>Haine was one of those rapidly-formed soldiers, who had been thrown up +and hardened by the war in England ten years before. He listened with +due attention to what Le Gallais had to say about the +Lieutenant-Governor's resources and probable intentions.</p> + +<p>"And who is this youth that hath such knowledge of affairs?" he asked, +turning to the Bailiff—for as such was Lempriere now officially +recognised.</p> + +<p>"He is one, sir, that hath suffered for the cause; a Captain in our +Militia, and my brother-in-law."</p> + +<p>Alain shot a glance of gratitude at Lempriere, while Haine, laying his +hand upon his shoulder, said in a friendly tone; "I pray you, Captain, +attend me as <i>aide-de-camp</i> until your company be reformed."</p> + +<p>Then calling for his horse, he led the party, swollen by the number of +his staff, to the head of the causeway leading to the Castle, "If what I +hear from Captain Le Gallais be correct," he said to his Brigade-Major, +"the Castle will not yield. But send them a trumpet, and let them not +have cause to say the officers of the Commonwealth are unacquainted with +the usages of war."</p> + +<p>The trumpeter rode forward to summons the Castle, a white flag flying +from the tube of his instrument. Ere he could reach the gate, a gun +boomed out from the Castle, a round shot whizzed over the heads of the +summoners, and Haine roared at the top of his well-trained voice, "Come +back; it is a sufficient answer."</p> + +<p>And so the fiery duet began—the batteries of the Churchyard sounding +daily in harmony with those of the Castle, whilst ever and anon a piece +of greater calibre roared its bass from the Town-hill.</p> + +<p>Lempriere made haste to remove his wife and their sister from the noisy +alarms of war to their quiet home at Maufant, where he left them to +remove the traces of the usurper, and restore the old state of things +with the help of the steward and such of the farmers as had not died out +or left the country. One consequence of this removal was that Le Gallais +saw nothing of the ladies. His new duties kept him much at the +Brigadier's side; when not so employed, he was chiefly occupied with +Prynne, who was attracted by the turn of the young man's mind, more akin +to his own than that of the "hot gospellers," the "levellers," and the +professional soldiers by whom he was surrounded.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, the siege dragged slowly on, until one dark night in the end +of November an old acquaintance, Pierre Benoist, threw himself in the +way of a party of Carteret's scouts, who had come on the mainland and +were questing for intelligence or plunder. Taken before Sir George, he +was threatened with the doom of a prisoner-of-war, who was also a spy, +unless he would tell all that he knew. He asked for nothing better, +having got himself taken by the patrol for the express purpose of +furnishing the garrison grounds for an early surrender. Especially +pleased was the rogue when the Lieutenant-Governor pressed him to +explain the nature of a movement of the enemy upon the top of the +Town-hill, which had been perceived before nightfall; and of the cargo +landed at S. Aubin by a heavy-looking craft that had arrived in the +morning, and which seemed neither man-of-war nor trader.</p> + +<p>"That I can tell you," said Benoist; "they are preparing engines for +your ruin. I saw the pieces landed, and drawn by oxen to the Mont de la +Ville. Two pieces of ordnance whereof each shot weighs four hundred +Jersey pounds, and takes ten pounds of powder to discharge. The like has +never been seen, and they will carry a ball from Mont Orgueil to the +coast of Prance. <i>Ver di!</i>"</p> + +<p>Carteret laughed; but his laughter was only justified by the +exaggeration. It did not altogether conceal the genuine anxiety caused +by so much of the information as might be reasonably believed.</p> + +<p>The anxiety was soon realised. When the mists of the winter dawn cleared +up, it was seen that a strong work of granite had been newly thrown up +on the nearest point of the hill, and while the besieged were still +examining the structure, a vivid jet of flame and a puff of smoke darted +from one of the embrasures, and a thirteen-inch shell—the largest +projectile then seen—came booming over their astonished heads. Two more +followed, at short intervals. After the third, an awful report was +heard, a babel of tumult followed, and a gigantic column of smoke +towered up behind them, from the magazine in the old Abbey Church. +Splinters and fragments of stone and timber, mingled with pieces of +powder, barrels, and ghastly members of human carcases were scattered, +as they rose as out of a horrid volcano. The magazine had been struck +and exploded by the great shell, killing no less than sixteen men, and +wounding horribly ten others, including soldiers on guard, armourers, +and workmen who had been collected for the daily labours of the arsenal. +Among the bystanders was Pierre Benoist, who now lay among the ruins, +half crushed by a stone, and who died after intense suffering in the +course of the day.</p> + +<p>A panic spread through the garrison; some prepared to fly at once, +others clamoured for surrender. Carteret called them together; and when +the officers and men were all collected on parade, appealed to all +classes, as Lieutenant-Governor of the King whom they had all seen +trusting himself in their protection, and as commander of the royal +forces in the loyal island "I am determined," said the undaunted seaman, +"to keep this castle for His Majesty so long as I have a man left to +fire a gun, and a loblolly boy to fetch the ammunition. The royal +standard still flies over our heads, the sea still lies between us and +France, to bring us Prince Rupert and his fleet. Let those who are +afraid depart—I keep no man against his will. Those who remain will be +all the more trustworthy. Let the gate stand open for the next +half-hour."</p> + +<p>His orders were obeyed; but as he probably foresaw, no one dared to +leave openly. By night, however, many of the garrison, who were of the +Jersey Militia, silently departed. The bulk of the garrison, however, +had heard of the storm of Drogheda, and chose what they deemed the +lesser evil of trusting to the strength of their walls and the resources +of their commander. To go to a town where they were unpopular +strangers, and where the soldiers of the Commonwealth were in undisputed +possession, would be to go to certain and immediate slaughter—to remain +with Carteret was to gain the present hour and the chances of the +future. Lady Carteret and the women and children were sent by the next +opportunity to France; and then the work of defence was renewed; the +guns were fired, as powder served and supplies were received from +France; injured walls were repaired, and aid was anxiously awaited. +Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, had held out since the Outbreak of +hostilities more than ten years before—why should not Elizabeth, do as +much, until the king enjoyed his own again? Meanwhile, December had +begun, and the days grew short and cold. Haine's great mortars proved +rude and cumbrous; before they could be loaded and fired, and cooled +again, one after the other, many times, the darkness would come on. The +remaining stores were buried out of range. In the black and stormy +nights, which lasted nearly sixteen hours, the men of the garrison threw +up mounds of shingle and sand behind the breaches made during the day.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the 5th December the sun rose clear and bright, and a +south-west wind softly threw out the silken folds of the Royal Standard +on the main tower of the Castle. Haine was standing by a cromlech that +in those days occupied the summit of the Town-hill; Prynne, Lempriere, +and some officers, of whom Le Gallais was one, stood beside him. In +their immediate front the gunners, under an officer, were preparing to +renew their apparently endless operations.</p> + +<p>"This must be brought to an end, Mr. Bailiff," said Haine. "For seven +weeks and more I have exhausted the powers of modern war upon that eyry +of malignants; and there is still the Guernsey Castle to be dealt with. +Mr. Prynne knoweth what is the mind of the Lord General; but a time +comes when sharp measures become necessary. I must take up +scaling-ladders and deliver an assault."</p> + +<p>As they looked out to sea a small barque was seen standing in; by the +help of field-glasses, it was observed that she flew the French flag. At +the same instant the Castle guns saluted.</p> + +<p>"Lo you, now!" pursued the commander, "there comes to them a promise of +help from France. As the Lord liveth, it must be prevented! I must +recall our cruisers from Guernsey; that castle shall be breached and +stormed on Monday. And then on their own heads be the blood of Sir +George and of those that hold with him!"</p> + +<p>"Under your favour, sir," said Prynne, "I think it shall not need." He +exchanged a hurried whisper with Lempriere. "What flag is that which you +see flying on the Castle staff?"</p> + +<p>"It is not a flag of truce," shouted Haine. "God do so to me and more +also if I make them not like unto Oreb and Zeb!"</p> + +<p>The text seemed to relieve the veteran like an execration.</p> + +<p>"What mean you by your flag, Mr. Prynne? I am not to take my orders from +you, sir, I hope."</p> + +<p>"It is the flag of England," answered the politician, "of your country +and of theirs—the red cross of S. George. The Royal Ensign has been +hauled down; do you not see? God save England!"</p> + +<p>With the impulse of Latin manners, Lempriere held out his arms, and Le +Gallais fell upon his breast. Meanwhile a drummer from the Castle was +seen to ascend the bill, bearing a white pennon at the end of a lance, +which he planted on the ground when he came within sight, and beat the +<i>chamade</i> upon his instrument.</p> + +<p>The messenger being brought before the Brigadier, handed him a small +packet. Among them was a short note to the address of Captain Le +Gallais, in which Carteret, reminding the militia officer of their past +relations, invited him to plead his cause and that of the garrison with +Lempriere and Prynne. This note Le Gallais, after attentive perusal, +handed to Lempriere, who read it over, and waited in silence until Haine +had finished his own despatch. He then addressed the Brigadier, and +pleaded strongly the cause of his countrymen, concluded with these +words:</p> + +<p>"Carteret, sir, was a sentinel; he hath but done his duty to his master. +So long as he was not relieved, he could not honestly leave or surrender +that which he was placed to guard. Why he now lowers his arms he hath +made plain I doubt not, to your Honour."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Mr. Bailiff; for the matter of that, he hath put a fair case. +Yonder barque, it seems, brought him cold comfort. As for that thing +they call their 'King,' he is lost. He can only offer them aid on +condition of delivering the island to the French. Not that Mazarin dares +affront us by sending a French army to occupy the Castle in the name of +his King, and risk the giving us battle. Far from that, he hath a +conjunction of counsels with the Lord General, and they understand one +another. Nevertheless, there is ever a rabble of Irish cut-throats, +Flemish mercenaries, and such-like, and no lack of Maulévriers to be +their leaders."</p> + +<p>"But if such men come into Jersey," said the Bailiff, "who can say when +or how they would quit, or what mischief they might not have wrought +first."</p> + +<p>"One remedy for that," said the soldier, grimly, "will be to storm the +Castle forthwith, and let all be over before their friends can arrive."</p> + +<p>"For God's sake, do not so!" cried Lempriere; "not now that they have +surrendered."</p> + +<p>"I will be bail," added Prynne, "that Carteret shall depart in peace, +after giving up all that is in his charge. Only let Captain Le Gallais +go to him with a note of your Honour's terms; and let us await, I pray +you, his return."</p> + +<p>The General having at last consented, after just so much show of +hesitation as to make it appear that the terms were yielded to the +persuasion of his chief associates, Le Gallais returned with the drummer +bearing the <i>ultimatum</i> of the English commander. He found the interior +of the Castle a scene of havoc; among the <i>débris</i> Carteret, like a +modern Marius, maintained an air of resolution.</p> + +<p>"It is not enough, Captain," said he, after brief salutations had been +exchanged, "that we have fired away all our ammunition, and eaten our +last horse, while the blockade of your friend's cruisers ever increases +its rigour. After all was done, we could die in the breach or in a +general sortie. But there is treachery abroad. Not indeed among +ourselves, but among those whom we desire to serve."</p> + +<p>"Your King, urged by his necessities, would sell you to the French?"</p> + +<p>"It shall not be!" cried Carteret, with a fierce oath. "Let me see your +General's terms. Better an English Parliament than a Popish King." He +called into the corridor, "Bring the best bottle of wine that is left in +my cellar!"</p> + +<p>Le Gallais handed him the note containing the heads of Haine's terms. +"Perhaps, messire, you would consult with your council?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"<i>'A quoi bon?</i>" said Carteret. "You heard what the States carried by +acclamation, in October, 1649? All who are with me are of the same mind +still." The wine was brought. "What was said then in a triumph, I say +now in the day of my downfall; Captain, fill your glass! 'England for +ever! England above all!'"</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The happy effect of this unexpected but welcome end of strife was soon +made known throughout the island. In the towns and villages tar-barrels +blazed all through the winter-night, and the best cider flowed free in +the farms.</p> + +<p>At Maufant all was happiness. The character of Marguerite de S. Martin +had come out purified from the trials of the past two years, and the +coquette-girl had grown into a woman, with but a lingering spice of +<i>mutinerie</i>. Rose, happy in the restoration of her husband to all public +honour and private joy, was anxious that her sister should partake in +her happiness.</p> + +<p>"Alain Le Gallais is no Solomon; that I grant you," so she concluded a +conversation on family matters, which they held after the labours and +excitement of the day; "but he can do his duty to his country; he has +proved himself a serviceable friend. Take him, <i>tel quel</i>, my little +heart, thou canst not hope for a better."</p> + +<p>"Marriage is a slavery, <i>quand même</i>," said Marguerite, with a saucy +shake of the head. "But it is not," she presently added, "I that will be +the slave; and there is some comfort in knowing so much."</p> + +<p>So the public and private troubles wore brought to an end at the same +time. Carteret and his followers were allowed to go to France in peace +and honour. Lempriere and he had held no intercourse since the +surrender, but the Bailiff and his wife were honoured members of the +assembly that gathered on the quay on the morning of the Cavaliers' +departure. The rising sun threw his orange hues on their swelling sails.</p> + +<p>"We have won this time," said Rose, pressing her husband's arm. "Mr. +Prynne, have you no compliment for us?"</p> + +<p>"It is our advantage," said Prynne in answer; "let us see that we +deserve it. There as a Power that judgeth right, and in serving of whom +there is great reward. For my part, I have done much wrong, to your +husband among others. I have been punished for mine offences; if I would +avoid more punishment, I must offend no more."</p> + + + +<hr class="full" /> +<h2><a name="APPENDIX" id="APPENDIX"></a>APPENDIX.</h2> + + +<p>The character of Sir George Carteret is taken from the materials of the +time, without aid from fancy.</p> + +<p>It should be added that Charles showed no ingratitude towards this +faithful servant. After the Restoration he settled in London, where—in +spite of his bad English, noticed by Andrew Marvell—he rose to high +rank and founded a noble family, now represented by the Marquess of +Bath.</p> + +<p>Carteret was employed at the Admiralty, first as Treasurer, afterwards +as Commissioner—or Junior Lord. He was also Vice-Chamberlain of the +Royal Household; and he amassed considerable wealth.</p> + +<p>But he never forgot his native island. He endeavoured to found a High +School at St. Helier, what in the pompous style of these days would be +called a "College." But the project broke down for want of earnestness +on the part of the Jersey people, though Sir George offered the then +very large sum of 50,000 <i>livres tournois</i> towards the endowment. He +lived till 1680.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St George's Cross, by H. G. Keene + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST GEORGE'S CROSS *** + +***** This file should be named 14216-h.htm or 14216-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/2/1/14216/ + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. 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Keene + +Release Date: November 30, 2004 [EBook #14216] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST GEORGE'S CROSS *** + + + + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +ST. GEORGE'S CROSS; +OR, +ENGLAND ABOVE ALL. + +_An Episode of Channel Island History._ + +BY + +H.G. KEENE + +GUERNSEY: +FREDERICK CLARKE, STATES ARCADE. + +LONDON: +W.H. ALLEN & CO., 15. WATERLOO PLACE. + +1887. + + + + +TO THE READER. + + +The following little tale is neither pure fiction nor absolute historic +truth; being, indeed, little more than an attempt to show a picture of +Channel Island life as it was some two centuries ago. For the background +we have been beholden to Dr. S.E. Hoskins, whose "_Charles the Second in +the Channel Islands_" may be commended to all who may feel tempted to +pursue the matter further. + +_August, 1887._ + + + + +PROLOGUE. + + +On a bright day in September of the year 1649 Mr. William Prynne, a +suspended Member of Parliament, sat at the window of his lodging in the +Strand, London, where the Thames at high water brimmed softly against +the lawn, bearing barges, wherries, and other small craft, and gleaming +very pleasantly in the slant brightness of an autumn noon. + +The unprosperous politician looked upon the fair scene with quiet cheer. +He was a man of austere aspect, and looked farther advanced in middle +life than was actually the case. For he was bearing the unjust weight of +a double enmity; and though his after conduct showed that the world's +injustice by no means threw him off his moral balance, yet it is +impossible for a man to get into a position where every one but himself +seems wrong and not acquire a certain sense of solitude, which, with a +grave nature, will make him graver still. By the Cavaliers he had been +pilloried, mutilated, fined and imprisoned: expelled from the University +where he was a Master-of-Arts, driven out of the Inn-of-Court in which +he had been a Bencher. By the Roundheads, on the other hand, he had been +visited with a later and more intolerable wrong, exclusion from that +House of Commons which was the only surviving seat of sovereignty. Thus +excommunicated on all sides, Prynne still preserved his free and buoyant +nature. He had the voice and impulsive manner of a young man; while +there was a consistent moderation in his opinions which--however it +might weigh against his success as a party-man--yet sprang from +conviction, and was a guard against misanthropy. + +In his apparel he was plain but not slovenly. His eyes were eager; his +lean face, branded with the first letters of the words "Seditious +Libeller," was shaded by straight falls of lank hair, streaked here and +there with grey, that was combed down on either side of his head to hide +the loss of his ears. + +Hearing a step without, Prynne laid down the book he had been reading--a +pamphlet by John Milton--and advanced, with an air of polite reserve, to +meet the entering visitor. This was a man more than ten years his +junior, short of stature, with clear-cut features and thoughtful blue +eyes contrasting with hair and moustache dark almost to blackness. His +neatly brushed garments had a threadbare gloss, and his broad linen +falling collar, though white and clean, was somewhat frayed. But his +bearing was high-bred and distinguished, with an air of sober yet +resolute earnestness. He wore no sword, and the hat which he carried in +his hand was plain of shape and without adornment. + +"M. de Maufant," said Prynne, with the shy courtesy of a student, "will +admire that I should seek speech of him after sundry passages that have +been between us." + +"Alack! Mr. Prynne," answered the stranger, with a slight foreign +accent, "since your captivity in Mont Orgueil many things have befallen. +'Tis not alone I, Michael Lempriere the exile, changed from the state +of Seigneur de Maufant and Chief Magistrate of Jersey to that of an +outcast deriving a precarious subsistence from teaching French in your +Babylon here; but methinks you yourself have had a fall too, since the +days you speak of: when you left Jersey for London you came here in a +sort of triumph. But by this time, methinks, you must be cured of your +high hopes: I say it not for offence, but rather out of sorrow." + +"Why no," answered the ex-Member. "Though I be no longer one of yonder +assembly, I am still a denizen of London; and, let me tell you, a +citizen of no mean city. And I bear my share in advancing the great +cause on which so many of us are now engaged. Have you not read what Mr. +Milton hath said here as touching this?" And he took up the book which +he had dropped in the window-seat "It is well said, as you will find." + +Motioning Lempriere to a chair, he took another and read as follows:-- + +"'Behold now this vast city, a city of refuge, the mansion-house of +liberty, encompassed and surrounded with its protection ... pens and +hands there, sitting by their studious lamps, musing, searching, +revolving new notions and ideas, wherewith to present, as with their +homage and their fealty, the approaching reformation.' As he saith a +little further on, the fields of our harvest are white already; and it +is your privilege and mine that live among this wise and active people, +to see it coming, perhaps to put in a sickle. The pamphlet is becoming a +force stronger than the sword; and those Ironsides and Woodenheads who +turn us out of the Chamber where our fellow citizens had seated us, may +find an ill time before them when our work is over. But our work will be +the work of freedom." + +What more would have been said, now that Prynne was setting forth on +his dearly-loved hobby, of which the name was _Cedant arma_, is unknown; +for the serving-man entered at this moment with a simple but plentiful +repast carried on his head from the adjacent tavern; and even Prynne's +eagerness was dashed with caution enough to keep him to ordinary topics +of talk so long as the man was in the room. But Lempriere had seen and +heard enough to put him in good humour with his host. The intimacy of +the latter with the Carterets, and a suspicion of general lukewarmness +in the popular cause, had begotten old enmities, of which Lempriere, in +the long probation of failure, exile, and poverty, had already learned +to be ashamed; and to see the man he had misjudged, looking him eagerly +and earnestly in the face as he uttered the language of a genuine +reformer, completed the Jerseyman's conversion. After the servant had +brought pipes and glasses and left the gentlemen to their tobacco and +their wine, their talk grew more familiar as they looked at the flowing +river, and the deserted towers of Lambeth away on the other side. + +"The truth is," said Prynne, "that I received from the cavaliers of your +island kindnesses that I cannot forget; yet as touching the trial and +execution of the late King, if I have gainsayed aught of the other side, +yet I need not repeat that I have ever been a friend to Liberty, as +witness these indentures," and with a starched smile he pointed to the +marks upon his face. "I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir +George Cartwright...." + +"Let us not talk of him," answered the other, with a flush on his +swarthy cheek. "I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs +entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When +his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the +Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be +a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath +made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people, +but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve +parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside +his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at +an easy farm." + +"I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such +a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip's +ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain +speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and +would, under God's pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause +of reasonable freedom." + +"I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne. +This wise man hath said that 'the simple believeth every word.' But if +we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we +might say 'that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret +when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.' And farther, it hath even +been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of +that for which you suffered." + +"It skills not," answered the host, with evident self-control, "it +skills not to rake into that which is passed." + +"Neither did I seek to do so," rejoined the Jerseyman, "I seek no +offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight's spirit, and whether +he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me +have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the +affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present +successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a +kinsman or creature of his own?" + +"Methinks," said Prynne, shrewdly, "there be others than he who would +gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes." + +"That may be," said Lempriere. "The labourer is worthy of his hire, to +give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies +by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant +daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the +charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a +multitude of sins!" + +The conference was once more growing warm, when fortunately, it was +abridged by the sudden entrance of a man not unlike Lempriere in general +appearance, though taller and many years his junior. He wore a steel +cap, a gorget, and a buff coat; and received a hearty welcome from the +Jerseyman, by whom he was presented to Prynne. + +"Captain Le Gallais is newly arrived from our island," said Lempriere, +"and I made bold to leave word that I was here, in case of his coming to +my lodgings while I tarried with you. He brings me news of 'domus et +placens uxor,'" added the speaker, taking with a sad smile the letter +which Le Gallais handed him. The servant having brought a third long +stalked glass and placed it on the table, left the room once more, as +the visitor, unbuckling his long basket-hilted sword, threw himself into +a high-backed chair, and stretched his limbs, as one who rests after +long travel. + +"I am come post," said he, "from Southampton. There is that to do in +Jersey which it imports the rulers of this land to know." + +"That may well be," observed Lempriere, who shared his countryman's +idea of the importance of their little island. "But how fares my Rose? A +wanderer may love his Ithaca, but he loves his wife most. Have I your +leave, Mr. Prynne, to examine this missive?" + +Prynne bowed, and Lempriere cut open his letter. + +"Penelope maketh such cheer as she may," he added, after glancing at the +contents: "but I see nothing of your mighty news, Alain." + +"The letter was written before I learned the same. The return of Ulysses +did not then seem so far as it does now." + +"Leave riddling, Alain, and let us know the worst." + +"The worst is, Charles Stuart is in S. Helier, with a large power, +warmly received by Sir George, and holding the island as a tool of +Jermyn and the Queen, if not a pensioner of France. I saw his barge row +into the harbour at high tide, followed by others laden with silken +courtiers and musicians; horse-boats and cook-boats swelled the train; +the great guns of the Castle fired salvoes, and the militia stood to +their arms upon the quay, with drums beating, fifes squeaking, and our +own company from Saint Saviour's ranked among the rest, green leaves in +their hats and round the poles of their colours." + +Lempriere leant his head on his hand with a discomfited and despondent +gesture. Prynne addressed him kindly:-- + +"Have a little patience, H. de Maufant," said he. "The sun shines in +heaven though earth's clouds hide his face." + +"Lukewarm Reuben!" cried the other, impatiently. "What comfort can I +have from such as thou? While we talk my country is indeed undone: my +wife perhaps a wanderer, and my lands and house given over to the +enemy." + +"Nay, but it need not be so," said Prynne. "The Rump that ruleth here, +even were it a complete Parliament, cannot be an idol to you and yours. +I have read your island laws. Those that say that the Parliament hath +jurisdiction there must, sure, be strangely ignorant. And so witnesseth +Lord Coke, no slave of the prerogative. Your islands are the ancient +patrimony of the Crown: what hinders you from casting in your lot with +Charles? For my part, I would willingly compound with him. Let him rule +as he pleases there, provided he make not slaves of us." + +"There spoke the self-loving Englishman," cried Le Gallais, whom respect +for his seniors had hitherto kept silent. "If you speak of hindering, +what is to hinder Sir George, now that he hath the King for backer, from +confiscating all our remaining lands and applying the produce to fitting +out a fleet which will ruin the trade of all England? It is a question +for you also, you perceive." + +"_Proximus Ucalegon_," said Lempriere, whom nothing could long restrain +from airing his classical knowledge. "But leave me to speak to Mr. +Prynne in terms that will not offend, and that he cannot fail to +understand. Harkye, Mr. Prynne," he said, turning to his host and +resuming use of the English language in lieu of the patois in which he +had addressed his countryman. "You love the Commonwealth, I know; your +many sufferings in that behalf show you a true friend to the cause of +English liberty. But to me it appears that this cause cannot be fitly +separated from that of your small satellite yonder." + +"I do not seek to deny it," answered Prynne. "Now this good fellow," +pursued Lempriere, laying his hand on his young friend's shoulder, +"(and let his zeal make amends for his blunt manner) hath brought +tidings, from which it appears that our affairs are in such a state as +calls for your interposition. And I learn moreover from this letter that +Henry Dumaresq is stirring, and the greed and grasping of the Carterets +have made them many ill-wishers. Nevertheless, Pierre Benoist hath been +taken, and under torture may readily betray our plans. On the other +hand, he that is called King there, the young Charles Stuart, is under +the regimen of his mother, who is the tool of France. Between them all +Jersey may be lost to the Commonwealth before a blow be stricken." + +"Nay," cried Prynne, interrupting, "I would not have you say so. We +English are neither braggarts nor cowards. Whitelocke knoweth the mind +of Mazarin; and I pray you note that Cromwell, though as a man of State +I do not uphold him, is a soldier whose zeal never sleeps, and who cares +more for the welfare of England and such as depend upon her than any +Stuart will ever do, or undo. I sent for you, indeed, on this very +behalf; not minded to show you all the springs of politics, yet to give +you a word of comfort and to ask of you a word of friendliness in +return, yea, word for word, an you will." + +The politician's keen eye softened as he looked at the forlorn exile. +The latter turned abruptly, as if to reveal no corresponding emotion: +then, looking straight before him, said in low tones:-- + +"For comfort, God knows whether or no it be needed. My place and power +are lost--such as they were--a price is set upon my head by those who +slew Maximilian Messervy. My wife--who is to me like the apple of mine +eye--is alone, battling with hostile authority, and with tenants too +ready to profit by her helpless condition. I am as one encompassed by +quicksands, and nigh to be swallowed up. I am tempted to say with +David, 'Vain is the help of man.' Do you show me a bridge of escape?" he +asked, turning to Prynne, "what is your meaning? I pray you speak it +out." + +"You cannot," said his host, "have forgotten Serjeant-Major Lydcott of +this Army; and how with a slender company he landed on your island six +years ago. It was about the end of August, 1643, I remember well, for +Sir Philip had been dead bare three days and indeed was not yet buried: +and the castles of Jersey still held out for the Cartwrights. I said +then that, had Lydcott but taken three hundred of our sober, God fearing +soldiers, he would have established himself as master of the island on +behalf of the Commonwealth. George Cartwright had never come over from +S. Maloes; the pirates of S. Aubin would have been confounded and +brought to nought; Sir Peter Osborne had never held Castle Cornet in +Guernsey (to the shame and sorrow of the well-affected in that island), +had they but been backed and aided from Jersey. Even as things were, and +with no more help but what he got from you--I say it not to offend +you--how much did not Lydcott do? Three days after his landing he called +together the States and opened before them his commission from the Earl +of Warwick, Warden of the Isles and Lord High Admiral of England. You +were present and presiding, as you must needs remember, together with +all but three Jurats, all the Constables save one, and nearly half the +Rectors. Without a dissentient voice you administered the oath of +Lieutenant-Governor to Lydcott, yourself standing forth as Bailiff and +sworn the first. What hindered you then from holding fast? Nothing but +want of a backbone of strength. The militia, whom you now hold +malignant, swore allegiance to a man, save and except one Colonel who +was broke then and there. You may say George Cartwright drove you out; +but what did he do that could justify your flight? I must be plain with +you: with all outward and visible signs of power you gave way before +three open boats and a mouldy ruin." + +"We gave way," said Lempriere with an indignant flush, "because we were +forsook by them on whom we leaned." + +"I know it," pursued Prynne, "I say it not to blame you, but to blame +the lukewarm weakness of those who held authority there on the part of +the Commonwealth: for had Lydcott been ever so able and willing he +lacked support from hence. We had our hands full of graver business. +Only I neither desire nor expect such things should be done a second +time. There be those now in power that will take better order. The +future of your islands, the ties that bind them to us, were not known +six years ago; and our friends--as I have already said--had other +matters, more pressing, to attend to. But now is not then. Now, that a +violent policy that I cannot altogether undertake to defend hath shorn +the strength of tyranny, and that fair deceiver the late King--whom none +could safely trust or utterly despise--is by that blow taken out of our +path, we are free to set matters straight around us. It is therefore not +to be endured that your small wasps' nest yonder should continue to +infest our ambient ocean with her petty and poisonous alarms. This is +the word I have to give thee--friendly meant, though thou mayest have +been hitherto no friend to me. Jersey will be brought under the power of +the Commonwealth, and you will be among the instruments of its +reduction. I seek a word from you in return for mine." + +"Sir," said the bewildered exile, "you have spoken hardly, but, I +believe, with a meaning kinder than seemed: a good intent makes amends +for a harsh manner, and a bitter drink may strengthen the heart, as has +this day been done to mine by the mingled counsel and reproof that have +been poured out for me. I seek not to pry into your affairs of State, +and what I have heard Le Gallais hath heard also. I therefore make no +scrutiny as touching the means to be employed; the end we will take +thankfully according as promised. If the Parliament and the Lord General +be so minded, I make no doubt but we shall return to our home. But as +regards the word you seek from me, I would fain know to what it shall +relate. You seek, I presume, to make conditions with me: let me know, in +the hearing of my friend, what they be. That we of the island shall be +true and faithful servants to the Commonwealth of England, not seeking +to intermeddle in matters that may be beyond our concernment, I would +gladly undertake for myself and for all with whom my wishes may have +weight: but methinks it shall hardly need. And perchance your Honour may +intend to glance at some more private matter?" + +"I do so," answered the politician. "I have never hidden from you the +love that I bore for good Sir Philip living, nor how dear I hold his +memory now that he is dead. I would not that any who were of his party +should suffer damage when the cause shall prosper in the island. You +have heard of Cromwell's present doings in Ireland: all the world knows +what things are being wrought in that unhappy country, where the Lord +Ormonde hath been another Cartwright and hath met with an overthrow the +like of which I pretell for his Jersey antitype. Cartwright is as +unbending and will hold out to the last. + +"Mont Orgueil, indeed, can make no opposition to a regular siege: we are +not now in the days of Du Guesclin. But it may be otherwise with +Elizabeth Castle. Like her whose name she bears that fortress is a +virgin, and not without a struggle will she yield. Cromwell loves not +such defences. Let us be there when the hour comes, and let us combine +to keep the garrison from perishing by the swords of our friends." + +"Gladly will I do my best in aid of mercy," answered Lempriere, looking +much relieved by the nature of the request. "If that be all that your +Honour hath to ask, I can have no hesitancy in giving a hearty and +honest pledge in such behalf. Jersey is no Corsica; and we love not +revenge, do we, Alain?" + +Alain readily endorsing his chief's assertion, Prynne continued:-- + +"It is not all. I have to pray you for the Lieutenant himself; misguided +and grasping as you deem him, he is of my deceased friend's name and +blood." + +"Alack, Mr. Prynne!" answered Lempriere, "have you quite forgotten what +I owe to that blood and name? And I speak not in this for myself only. +There are the spirits of the Bandinels before me; unhappy victims of +George Carteret's revenge. There is the shade of my friend Maximilian +Messervy, judged by an unlawful and corrupt Court, executed under +warrant of one who had no warrant for himself." + +In his excitement Lempriere had forgotten to quote Latin; he began to +pace the floor of the room. Prynne also rose and leaned by the window, +looking out at the shrubs standing dark and blotted against the evening +light that lay on the smooth water. + +"Take not your example," he said; "from those whose deeds you abhor, +neither make your enemies your pattern. Recollect who it is that hath +said, 'Vengeance is mine:' and in the hour of your triumph remember to +spare. Come, give me your word, willingly. I am doing much for you, more +than you are aware. I call to mind some solemn words that I have heard +Mr. Milton quote:-- + + "The quality of Mercy is not strained, + It droppeth as the gentle dew from Heaven + Upon the place beneath: it is twice blessed, + It blesseth him that gives and him that takes." + +Let your promise to bless come as freely as the dews that are falling +out there on my little grass-plot. Peace is upon the world--let peace be +in our hearts also!" + +The vehement controversial voice changed and became musical as it +uttered the words. The fervour of an unwonted mood had brought something +of a mist into the speaker's eye; persuasion hung upon his gestures, and +the voice of private rancour sank before the pleading of his lips. As +the Jerseyman remained silent, Prynne went to the table and filled the +glasses from the flagon of Rhenish wine that stood there. + +"We Presbyterians," he said, "are not given to the drinking of toasts. +But 'tis no common occasion. England's wars are over, may there be peace +upon Israel. Let us drink one glass together, and let us join in the +blessing of old, invoking it on our land:--'Peace be within thy walls +and prosperity within thy palaces: for my brethren and companions' +sake!'" + +The guests followed their host's example, and seemed to share his mood. +Then, setting down their empty glasses, the three men parted in more +loving-kindness, it might well be, than what had marked some early +stages of their conversation. Prynne, when left alone, called for +candles and sat down to his writing-table. The Jerseymen walked together +towards Temple Bar. + +"Knowest thou, _mon cher_," said the Ex-Bailiff in the island language, +"a heartier friend than one of these English that seem so cold?" + +"But tell me, I pray thee, wherefore they call the present master of our +island by an English name? For surely yonder gentleman said +'Cartwright,' which is a name not of Jersey but of England." "They are +stupid, Alain, that is all; and they think to weigh the world in their +own scales. But whether we call him Cartwright or Carteret, it is +equally hard to pardon his voracity. He is like Time--_Edax rerum._ +Nevertheless, I feel as if it was not only the sight of you and news +from home that had made me of such good cheer to-night: but that I owe +something of it to Mons. Prynne; aye! thanks to his schooling and a +readiness to perform what he has made me promise, should Carteret ever +stand at my disposal. The time may be near or it may be far; but I feel +that it must come." + +"And then," asked Alain shyly, "shall not I too have something to expect +from thee: when thou art Bailiff again, and a man high in power, will +thou still be willing to give me thy sister-in-law?" + +"Parbleu!" cried Lempriere, "if maids could be given like passports. But +Marguerite will have her way; it is for thee, _coquin_, to make her way +thine." + +Thus, jointly labouring at airy castles, the pair of islanders pricked +their steps through the dirty and dimly-lighted streets till they +reached a squalid row of houses on Tower Hill, where was situated the +only lodging within the present means of the Seigneur of Maufant. + +"To-night thou must share my chamber, _telle quelle_," he said. "'Tis a +poor one, as thou mayest suppose. _Infelix, habitum temporis hujus +habe?_" + +"It is all one to me," said Alain, lightly; "whether here or at Maufant +thou art always good." + +As they neared the door a voice came to them from the shadow of a +projecting oriel:-- + +"Have a care, Jerseymen! You are betrayed." + +They ran to the shaded corner; but the moon was young and low and gave +but little light in the narrow street. A figure, seemingly that of a +tall man, was seen to glide away into another street, but they failed to +recognise it or trace its departing movements. Silently, and with +downcast looks they sought the entry of Lempriere's lodging, the door of +which he opened with a key that he carried in his pocket. Striking a +light from flint and steel on the hall table, Lempriere kindled a +hand-lamp, and led the way into a small chamber on the ground floor, +where they wrapped themselves in their cloaks and lay down on a pallet +in the corner. The younger man, fatigued with travel, was soon asleep; +Lempriere, with more to think of, passed great part of the night in +wakeful anxiety. Before he finally sank to slumber he had resolved to +send Alain back at once to Jersey. + + + + +ACT I. + +THE KING. + + +In 1649, when Charles II. was uncertain as to what steps he should take +on the death of his father, it was considered that the best and safest +place for his temporary residence was the Castle at S. Helier, in +Jersey, known by the name of Queen Elizabeth, where he had already lived +for a short time on an earlier occasion. Founded by order of the +Sovereign whose name it bore, it stands on a rocky islet, once a +promontory of the mainland, but long since insulated by every high tide. +At low water it communicated with the town by a natural causeway of +shingly rock called "The Bridge," commanded by its own guns. On the +Western curve of the bay, nearly two miles off as the bird flies, was +the small town of S. Aubin, guarded by a smaller fortress. The entire +bay was protected, by the batteries of these two places, against the +entrance of hostile shipping. Circumstances, not now entirely traceable +but connected probably with defensive considerations, had taken its +ancient preponderance from Gorey, on the eastern coast, which had once +been the seat of administration; and thus commenced the importance of S. +Helier, though in nothing like the present activity of its quays and +wharves, or the throng of its streets and markets. Above the head of +the "Bridge," indeed, the view from the North face of the Castle met +with no buildings till it struck upon the Town Church, an ancient but +plain structure of the fourteenth century, whose square central tower, +although by no means of lofty elevation, formed a landmark for mariners +out at sea by reason of a beacon that was always kept burning there by +night. At the foot of this tower nestled a cemetery containing the tombs +of "the rude forefathers" of what had been, till lately, indeed little +more than a hamlet. On the southern aspect of this, facing the castle +and the sea, the enclosure was marked by a strong granite breastwork +armed with cannons mounted _en barbette_. These pieces were pointed, for +the most part, on the bridge, or causeway leading to the Castle, into +which they were capable of sending salvos of round-shot, as in fact they +had often done a few years before. The rest of the cemetery was strongly +walled, though without guns. To the north of the Church ran narrow +streets, sloping gently upward from the seaside. The houses of these +streets were built of the local granite, hewn and hammered flat and +without projection or decoration, and with no other relief but what was +afforded by small rectangular lattice-windows. They were usually of two +storeys, crowned by high-pitched thatched roofs, with here and there a +tiny dormer window. Some were shops or taverns, among which were +interspersed the residences of the burgesses and the town houses of the +rural gentry. Fronted by miry roadway, or at best an occasional strip of +rough boulder pavement, over which wheeled carriages could rarely pass, +these lines of houses had no form or comeliness, save what might be due +to an occasional bit of small flower-garden before the few that were +large and inhabited by persons in comparatively easy circumstances. +Farther back the ground rose more rapidly and showed some scattered +suburban houses. The "Town Hill" to the east, the "Gallows Hill" to the +west, completed the amphitheatre. Up the main hollow ran a road leading +due north to the Manor and Church of Trinity parish in the interior of +the island, and terminating on the north coast in Boulay Bay, a fine +natural harbour, which was the nearest point of embarkation for England. +The whole island, scarcely less than the town, bore an appearance of +defence, almost of inaccessibility; the manors, farm houses, and even +many of the fields, being surrounded by granite walls, and capable of +arresting the progress of an invader, unless in great force. Each of the +twelve parish churches contained the arsenal of the local militia; and +all things betokened a hardy population, ready to do battle against all +intruders. + +The titular Governor, Lord Jermyn, was an absentee, following the +fortunes of the widowed Queen, Henrietta Maria, in France. The actual +administration, both civil and military, was in the hands of a naval +officer of experience, Sir George Carteret, or de Carteret, cousin and +brother-in-law to the Seigneur of S. Owen, a large manor on the western +side of the island. This family, distinguished in island history ever +since it abandoned its fief of Carteret on the coast of Normandy to +follow the fortunes of John Lackland, when the Duchy was confiscated by +Philip Augustus, was by far the most powerful in the island. Its only +possible rival, the house of Lempriere, of Maufant, had espoused warmly +the cause of the Parliament, and had consequently met with reverses when +the Carterets, who were royalist, effected the revolution mentioned in +our Prologue. + +It only remains to be added that the people at large were not at all +warmly attached to either of the parties to the Civil War. The language +of the majority was an old form of French, now reduced to the condition +of a patois; the more educated classes studied the laws and language of +France. The proceedings of the Courts and the services of the Church +were conducted in modern French, and the sympathies of the community +were divided between a mundane attachment to England, and a religious +leaning to the creed of the Huguenots, of whom a great number had sought +refuge on their shores. Hence the Jersey folks were indifferently +submissive to royalty, the only form of English government of which, +till these days, they had heard; but they by no means shared the +High-Church fervour which had animated the late unfortunate King. Their +ultimate motive, as is common to human nature, was for their own +interests; and although the influence of the Carterets had kept them, +for the most part, nominal followers of the cause of royalty, men like +Michael Lempriere and Prynne had good reason for believing that they +would, in the long run, favour those who seemed the best friends to +Jersey. Let them not be blamed for this. Their love for England was very +much founded upon fear of France. By observing the attitude of the +Scottish borderers of a slightly earlier period, an Englishman of the +seventeenth century could imagine the attitude of the Jersey mind +towards the "Normans," by which name they were accustomed to designate +their feudal and aggressive Catholic neighbours the Lords and Ministers +of the French Kingdom. Even as the Grahams and Scotts of Tweedside stood +at arms against each other on either bank of the dividing stream, so did +the de Gruchys and Malets, the Le Feuvres and de Quettevilles, on either +side the Channel. The danger that was nearest was the most formidable; +and the Channel Islanders were ready to side with England much as the +Saxon Scots of the Lothians came to make common cause with the Celts of +the Highlands. + +These explanations may appear tedious: but the reader is implored to +pardon them; for without such he could not realise the passions which +are exemplified in this little story. Long exposed to invasion, the +Jerseymen of the middle ages had handed down to their descendants an +abhorrence of France which was fomented by the stories of persecution +brought to them by Huguenot refugees; and which, indeed, has hardly yet +completely died out among the rural population. Thus sentiment and +interest kept the islanders attached to England by a two-fold cord; +careless whether their immediate leaders were Cavaliers, as in Jersey, +or Parliamentarians, as in the neighbouring island of Guernsey, where +the royal Governor was beleaguered in Castle Cornet. + +For reasons arising out of this state of things, Carteret did not leave +the protection of the King to the unaided loyalty of the local militia. +Cooped up in the narrow limits of the Castle rock were no less than +three hundred Englishmen and women attached to the Court, and, in +addition, a strong force of Irish and Cornish soldiers who had been +brought over by Charles on his former visit, as Prince of Wales, after +the battle of Naseby. His Sacred Majesty--_de jure_ of England, +Scotland, and Ireland, King, to say nothing of France, whose lilies were +blazoned on his scutcheon--was _de facto_ monarch of this little island +plot of 45 square miles; and his state was at least equal to his +temporary sway. The accommodation of the Castle was, in truth, but +small; but it was the best that the occasion afforded; the royal palace +consisting of a suite of small apartments vacated for the King's +convenience by the Lieutenant-Governor, Sir G. Carteret, who had removed +to the lower ward. S. Aubin, on the other horn of the bay, was the seat +of the naval power; here lived the families of the officers of the +corsair-squadron then constituting the Royal Navy. The rest of the +King's following was billetted on farm-houses in the parishes nearest to +the town. Yet, as a warning that all was not their own, four frigates +and two line-of-battle ships, with a commission from the rebel +government of London, and flying the broad pennant of Admiral Batten, +cruised between Jersey and Guernsey, never far from sight, although +giving for the most part a wide berth to both the island castles, whose +gunners watched them night and day. + +Such was the position of affairs on a Sunday towards the end of +September, a few days later than the events related in the Prologue. The +morning had been wet and windy, and the sacredness of the day had joined +to keep the men of those simple times from all activity save that +connected with the services of religion. But, in spite of the weather, +it had been judged wise and proper that Charles should show himself at +Church on this, the first Sunday of his kingship in Jersey: and he +accordingly attended worship at the Town Church of S. Helier's. The tide +was low, and the royal cortege, muffled in their cloaks, rode or walked +slowly along the causeway, and up the _glacis_ that led to the entrance. +The Rector was absent, his opinions being displeasing to the autocratic +Carteret; but the Rev. Mr. La Cloche, Rector of S. Owen (the Carteret +parish) was in charge; he was the Lieutenant-Governor's private +Chaplain; and under strict orders had made splendid preparation for the +illustrious congregation. The old temple had been swept and garnished. +Laurel boughs and the beautiful flowers and fruits of the season hung +from every arch and decorated every pillar. The aisles were covered with +a thick natural carpet of fragrant rushes; before the pulpit were +chairs for the King and his brother the Duke of York, and the space +they stood on was tapestried with glowing colours. Cushioned tables +supported the gilded bibles and prayer-books for the royal worshippers, +who arrived precisely at eleven followed by their numerous train. +Throwing off his wringing roquelaure Charles entered, plumed hat in +hand, a young man of middle stature, erect and well-knit for his +years--which were but nineteen--and with a countenance which, though +even then wanting in flesh and bloom, was not unpleasing: framed in +natural curls, and showing (to sympathetic observers) a noble and +pleasing dignity often, it must be avowed, contrasting strongly with the +mingled frivolity and cynicism that marked his words. Being in mourning +for the event of January he was clothed in purple velvet without lace or +embroidery. Over his doublet hung a short cloak with a star on the left +breast, under which was a silk scarf, cloak and scarf being all of +purple. The famous ribbon of the Garter round his left knee was the only +bit of other colour visible. James, a few years younger, was similarly +attired. Besides the two Princes the only other Knight of the Garter was +the Earl of Southampton. The rest of the Lords and Gentlemen in Waiting +were also in Court-mourning, and all without the smallest decoration. + +After the conclusion of the Service the clergyman ascended the pulpit in +his black gown. He took his text from the second book of Chronicles, c. +35, the end of the 24th verse:--"And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for +Josiah." + +The turn of Mr. La Cloche's discourse may be in great measure +anticipated. Setting forth the heinousness of rebellion and regicide, he +dwelt upon the virtues of the Royal Martyr, his courage, his patience, +his devotion to the Church. As was but natural in the circumstances, +there followed an application to local politics. They were there, he +informed his hearers (as the old lattices, shaken by the gale, rattled +their accompaniment to his monotone) in the character of Englishmen; but +he had to notice that to the existing rulers of England they owed no +obedience. The so-called Parliament which had judged and murdered the +late lamented Monarch, and which now claimed the right of ruling in his +stead, was no divinely appointed head of affairs, not even +representative of one Estate of the realm. Where were the Peers, the +Lords Temporal who had ever formed part of the Government of England, +the Lords Spiritual who represented the Church of Christ? The House of +Lords was now represented to them, there in the presence of the +Honourable Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, whom that High +Chamber had set and appointed to bear rule in that Island. Still more +had they before them their Sovereign, the Anointed of the Lord, without +whose assent all Acts of State must ever be futile and rebellious. Yes, +he was there, that Sacred head, covered and guarded by the loyal hearts +and arms of one--only one--of his Norman Isles. + +As the sermon came to an end the storm without showed signs of +abatement; and by the time the blessing had been pronounced and the King +and Prince had mounted their richly caparisoned horses, the wind had +lulled and the September sun gleamed brightly out upon the attentive and +orderly crowd. On returning to the Castle Charles sate down to dinner, +and a select portion of the more loyal Jersey society was admitted into +the Hall to see the King at table. Only two places were set; and after a +Latin grace had been pronounced by the Court-Chaplain, the dishes were +taken, one by one, to the King and his brother, and whatever meats were +approved were taken to the side-board and carved. The royal youths had +stood with uncovered heads while grace was being said; but they replaced +their hats when they sate down, and wore them throughout dinner. After +they had dined the Page-in-waiting, a tall and handsome youth, richly +attired, brought each of them a ewer and basin of parcel-gilt silver, +with a fringed damask napkin; and after they had washed their hands a +butler served them with Spanish and Gascon wines. Dessert having been +placed upon the table and tasted, the princes withdrew; and then the +hungry courtiers sate down to finish the repast. + +Retired to his private sitting-room, Charles lay back on a window-seat, +tooth-pick in hand, and looked out indolently on the sea. The waves +scintillated and broke into white foam, among the brown rocks, which +disappeared gradually under the rising tide; and the wings of glancing +gulls shone out against a rain-cloud which was bearing off the recent +storm. Below the dark pall the sky of the horizon glowed bright and +clear as jade over the deepening line of the distant waters. At the +King's feet sat the page who had served the princes at dinner, a bright +rakish-looking young fellow named Thomas Elliot; apparently absorbed in +the preparation of fishing-tackle, he was heedfully watching the face of +his royal master out of the corner of his dare-devil eyes. + +"Where is James, Tom?" asked presently the King. + +"Gone to feed the hawks, Sir." + +"One's own flesh-and-blood is poor company, he finds. By the Lord, Tom, +this is no life for a Christian, be he man or boy. To be lunged round my +good mother at the length of her apron-string seemed but dull work, and +making love to the Grande Mademoiselle was indifferent pastime. But, +odsfish, I would willingly be back there. In this God-forgotten corner +you cannot see a petticoat on any terms, save the farthingale of Dame +Carteret or her ancient housekeeper, as they cross the courtyard to give +corn to the pigeons. James and I went out fishing yesterday, as far as +S. Owen's pond; but no sport had we there but the chance of a broken +head from a Puritan farmer." + +"Why, what a plague did they want by laying hands on our anointed pate?" + +"Ah! look you," said Charles, in his languid drawl, "We did but beg a +cup of cider from his daughter. James hath a long face and a dull tongue +for a boy of his age; but I warrant I spoke the wench fair for my part; +and in French that had passed muster at Versailles. But 'tis a perverse +and stiff-necked generation. The wench screamed in some language not +understandable by us--Carribee it may be--but faith there was no +difficulty about the farmer's meaning: he conjugated his fists, but we +declined the encounter; and so we were quit as to grammar." + +The manner of the speaker was in such dry and droll contrast with his +matter that Elliot had no difficulty in according the sympathetic smile +which is the tribute of the jovial and manly sycophant to a superior he +wishes to please. + +"And this is then, the escapade for which the _gros bonnets_ down there +have determined that you are not to stir out of this charming retreat +without a guard, or suffer your sacred person to meet the air of the +island without the hedge of an escort. But I have a plan to defeat +them...." + +Whatever projects the young men might be disposed to form for the +purpose of eluding the prudent precautions of their seniors were for +the moment cut short by a knocking at the door, which made them start +aside like the disturbed conspirators that they were. + +"Quick! vanish," muttered the King sharply; "behind the bureau there. If +the comer be Nicholas let him not see thee here. He bears thee no good +will." + +As Elliot hurriedly obeyed, the door slowly opened, giving entrance to +the Rector of S. Owen. The worthy clergyman still wore the gown and +bands in which he had preached in the forenoon, and carried in his hand +the four-cornered but boardless college-cap which formed part of the +clerical costume of those days. Bestowing upon the youthful King a look +whose awestruck humility was at curious variance with the respective +ages and appearance of the two, and making an awkward obeisance, Mr. La +Cloche spoke:-- + +"I crave your pardon, Sir. Receiving no reply to my knock I presumed to +enter, deeming mine errand an excuse." + +Charles pointed to a seat and drew himself up with dignity:-- + +"It needs no further excuse, reverend Sir, say on, and fear nothing." La +Cloche seated himself on the corner of the chair. + +"It is my humble duty to warn your Majesty that Jersey is no suitable +place for your residence," he said. + +"We are very much of your mind," answered Charles, "but how made you the +mighty discovery?" + +"I have been dining," answered the clergyman, "in company with the +Honourable Sir Edward Nicholas, Knight, Secretary of State to your +Majesty. Certain of your Majesty's affectionate servants and +well-wishers were of the party, as also the Lieutenant-Governor, who +was the host. The discourse was grave; and albeit without permission of +the gentlemen--yet, in virtue of mine office, I hope I but anticipate +their humble duty to your Majesty, if I take upon myself to lay their +thoughts before you." + +"And for your own part, Sir, as a Jerseyman having, both by religion and +as a Member of the States, the means of knowing what the people think, +you would fain join your own private word to those who are refusing an +asylum to Charles Stuart in the dominions of his fathers. You had better +let them speak for themselves." + +The clergyman shuffled in his uneasy seat. The perspicacity of the young +man--it is a part of a Prince's stock-in-trade--had taken him by +surprise. + +"I am an old man," he faltered, "unversed in affairs of State. If it be +true, however, that the Lord Jermyn...." + +"Our mother's trusted councillor, Mr. Rector! What of my Lord Jermyn? +Thou hast not said enough--or, by God! thou hast said too much." + +The Chaplain's island temper hardened under menace, even from the Lord's +Anointed. What he felt he did not indeed care to lay bare: yet the +upshot he would tell. The King's recent exploit in the parish of which +he was Rector had come to his ears, garnished and exaggerated, perhaps; +and he was determined to get rid of such visitors if he could. The news +from France was an occasion, and he gladly used it. Lord Jermyn, it +seemed, had been talking openly--and not for the first time--of selling +the Channel Islands to France; and his connection with the Queen made +men suspect that he had not entertained such a design without high +sanction. On the other hand the Rector knew that Carteret would sooner +cede the Island over which he was set to Cromwell than see it occupied +by the French. The King would be in obvious danger, and he had +determined, under that excuse, to endeavour to dispose the King's mind +towards a removal which he himself, on other grounds, considered highly +desirable. Charles listened to all the clergyman had to say, with +impatience thinly veiled by good breeding. When the speaker came to a +pause, the King said, with a kinder manner, "Thou hast done well, and +hast given no just cause of offence to anyone. Mr. Secretary is an +approved friend: but I need not remind your Reverence of the prayer of +the Psalmist: 'Let not his precious balms break mine head!'" + +The King's manner indicated that the conference was at an end. He wished +to get rid of the Rector, not only because the good man was "boring" +him, as would be said now-a-days, but because he had but little trust in +Tom Elliot's discretion, and thought that at any moment the page might +be led to break forth from what must needs be an irksome confinement. +Moreover, the King knew that, sooner or later, he would have to undergo +a more serious lecture from some of his councillors, and it was an +object with him to make some inquiries in confidential quarters and +devise a course of speech if not of action. + +But the worthy Rector was, as he said, unversed in the ways of the +great; and the young King's affable manner had drawn him into +forgetfulness of any little lessons of etiquette that he might have ever +learned. Instead of departing on the King's hint, he let his tongue wag +afresh. + +"Alack, Sir! may your Majesty's prayers be heard. And may what I have +done breed myself no harm! For what saith the Wise Man? 'Burden not +thyself above thy power while thou livest, and have no fellowship with +one that is mightier than thyself: for how agree the kettle and earthen +pot together?'" + +"It was well said of the Wise Man," observed the King demurely. "And +your Reverence will do well to consider the words that follow, if my +memory do not deceive me;--'If thou be invited of a great man, _withdraw +thyself_!'" + +The underlined words, being pronounced with a voice changed to a sharp +and sudden tone from the solemn snuffle into which the King had slid in +first quoting _Ecclesiasticus_, were too much for Elliot, who broke into +an irrepressible giggle behind the bureau. Mr. La Cloche started at the +sound; then, recollecting himself, retired with a bow into which he +threw a look of surprise not unmixed with silent reproach. + +Still laughing, the page emerged from his ambush, knocking the dust from +his doublet with his hand, and eyeing the door as it closed after the +retreating Rector. + +"I'll wager he thinks thou wert a wench, Tom," cried Charles; "but tell +me, how much of the worthy parson's discourse didst thou hear?" + +"As much as you desire, Sir, and no more," was the discreet reply. "But +it is true that one is come from France who knows Lord Jermyn." + +"Jermyn," said the King, half soliloquising, "is a son of a----; and I +would as lief run him through the body as I would open an oyster. But +that is neither here nor there; such pleasures are not for Kings." He +sate thinking for a few minutes, and then, looking up, added, "Go, Tom, +and tell Nicholas and the rest that I would see them here." + +The page departed, presently returning to introduce four gentlemen, +after which, he again left the room and shut the door, which it would +be his office to keep against all intrusion while the conference +lasted. + +One of the visitors appeared to take precedence; a tall, high-featured +man, with a stoop and a receding chin. This was Lord Hopton, one of the +most respectable of Charles's followers; an honourable, stupid, +middle-aged nobleman, who could never marshal his own thoughts and who, +necessarily, spoke without persuading others. The other Englishmen were +Nicholas, the Secretary of State, and the old Lord Cottington. The +fourth gentleman was Sir George Carteret, the Lieutenant-Governor, a +bluff sea-faring man, little used to obey, yet anxious, in that +presence, to be deferential; with an unmistakable pugnacity varnished +over with a gloss of _ruse_. There being but one arm-chair in the room +Charles took his seat upon it, and awaited the advice of his friends who +perforce remained standing. + +"I have sent for you, my Lords and gentlemen, to confer on the matter +brought me by Mr. La Cloche, the Rector of St. Owen, and Chaplain to Sir +George Carteret." + +Hopton opened the conference, speaking in a dull, precise manner, from +the lips only, hardly opening his teeth:-- + +"May it please you Sir, Mr. La Cloche hath reported to me, as I met him +returning from your presence, that while he was imparting to your +Highness--I may say, your Majesty--a matter of great moment, there was +one hid in the room that played the eavesdropper. Before proceeding +farther I would humbly ask...." + +"Hold there, my Lord," broke in Charles. "Remember, I pray you, +that--howbeit our present power, by the malice of our enemies, be +brought to a narrow pass, we are still, by the grace of God your King, +of full age, moreover, and no longer to be schooled. As touching what +anyone may have heard here, by our consent, we need answer to no man; +neither to Mr. La Cloche nor to your Lordship. There is, however, no one +but ourselves in this room, as you may clearly see. As to the matter of +the priest's discourse, we opine that it is already known to you. It is +of that matter that we now seek to know your minds." + +The words were not ungracefully uttered; but Hopton found no immediate +answer. He only knit his narrow brow and held his peace. Carteret, +however, stepped briskly forward; and would perhaps have committed some +indiscretion had not Nicholas plucked him by the cloak. "By your leave, +Mr. Lieutenant," said the jovial lawyer, "I would say an humble word to +his Majesty, with the freedom of an ancient servant." His round face and +merry eye were rendered serious by the resolution of a full-lipped yet +firm mouth. "Sir!" said he, turning to the young King with a look in +which the _bonhomie_ of an indulgent Mentor was blended with genuine +respect, "it will, no doubt, seem to your Majesty both meet and proper +that we should not leave a meddlesome parson to let you know that our +faithful hearts have been sorely exercised by that which is newly come +to us out of France. Not to stay on sundry general advertisements and +rumours that have reached us--and which seemed to glance at a very +exalted personage--I mean, more particularly, what we have received this +morning from a very discreet and knowing gentleman (now residing at +Paris) of what he hath learned from persons of honour conversant in the +secrets of the Court there." + +"If it be her Majesty the Queen that you fear to name, Mr. Secretary," +interrupted the King, "it is but vain to fence. Do your duty, as you +have ever done." + +"With your Majesty's leave, I will name no one, save it be one Mr. +Cooly, Secretary to the Lord Jermyn, whom your Majesty, doubtless, +graciously recollects. Our informant was plainly asked by this +gentleman, how the islanders would take it if there should be an +overture of giving them up to the French." + +"This is but talk," observed the King. + +"Nay Sir, there is yet more. This letter, which is come to one of us in +cypher, goes on to tell that it hath been heard, from a very good +source, that the chief mover herein is to be made Duke and Peer of +France, and receive 200,000 pistoles, for which he is to deliver up not +Jersey only but Guernsey, Aurigny, and Serk. Nay, further, his Eminence +Cardinal Mazarine hath taken up ships for the transport of 2,000 French +soldiers, nominally for the service of your Majesty, actually for the +service whereof we are now speaking." + +"Let them come," said Charles. "We will put ourself at their head and +fall upon Guernsey, that nest of Roundheads where Osborne and honest +Baldwin Wake have borne so long the brunt of insult and privation." + +"Under your favour, Sir," broke in Carteret, "you would be bubbled. I +have seen and spoke with a known creature of my Lord Jermyn's; and I +know well that the design of the French is--so to speak--to clap your +Majesty under the hatches, and to steer the vessel on their own account. +Mr. La Cloche shall answer for this," he added in a lower tone. + +"By your leave again, Sir George," put in the beaming Secretary, "we +lawyers are to speak by our calling. It is not indeed, Sir, that my Lord +Jermyn hath made direct overtures to us. And 'tis to be thought that in +this last respect the messenger spoke but according to his own +understanding." + +"I would cut every throat in the island," cried Carteret, with savage +interruption.... + +"Sir George Cartwright's zeal hath eaten him up," said Nicholas with a +twinkle of his merry eye. "Let it suffice that the concurrent +information of divers persons (and they strangers to one another), +together with the Lord Jermyn's total neglect of the island in regard of +the provisions that he hath not sent as promised nor repaid sums of +money lent to your service by the people, have led us to sign a paper of +association for which we shall crave your gracious approval. We doubt +not you will agree with us that the delivery of the islands to the +French is not consistent with the duty and fidelity of Englishmen, and +would be an irreparable loss to the nation besides being an indelible +dishonour to the Crown." + +As Charles took the paper handed him for perusal by Nicholas, a flush +arose upon his swarthy countenance. + +"Enough said, my Lords and gentlemen! We need not that any should +instruct us as to our duty." + +"We trust not," cried Carteret, bluffly. "If the French come here we +shall give them a sour welcome; and as to my Lord the Governor, he will +find," and he slipped in his eagerness into his native tongue, "that he +has made _le marche de la peau de l'ours qui ne seroit pas encore tue_." + +Presently the little Council broke up. The King, after glancing at the +paper of association, consented that Lord Hopton--in whose diplomatic +abilities he perhaps did not feel much confidence--should proceed at +once to the Hague, and lay the case before the States General of Holland +as the power most interested--after England--in sifting and, if need +were, opposing the designs of France. Meanwhile the articles of the +association were not to be divulged; the whole affair being kept a +profound secret and mystery of State. + +Somewhat relieved, the associates then retired from the presence of the +yawning King, and passed down the little corridor. Here they found +Elliot keeping watch, and pacing innocently to and fro. And the +graceless page bowed their Honours down the stairs, without betraying by +his manner anything to suggest--which was, nevertheless, the simple +truth--that he had been attentively listening to as much of their recent +conversation as could be gathered through the imperfect channel afforded +by the key-hole of the door. Carteret cursed La Cloche's officious +meddling all the way to his own quarters, and on arriving there sent a +sergeant to the unfortunate clergyman, who deported him to France by the +next boat that sailed. + +On returning to the room, Elliot found Charles walking up and down the +narrow floor of his room in evident excitement. + +"Tom," said the King, as the page entered, "what is to do here? It seems +that I am not to be master even in this little island of Hop o' my +Thumb. They lord it over me even as they did when I was here before, as +Prince of Wales _in partibus_." + +"Why then," answered the audacious youth, "I would even show them a +clean pair of heels, and take refuge with the Scots." + +"The Scots who sold my father!" + +"The Scots, Sir, of whom I am one," cried the page, the hot blood of a +race of Border-Barons rising to his forehead. "Am I and mine to be +confounded with a crew of cuckoldy Presbyterians? I will not listen to +any one who says so, King or no King." + +And the malapert youth flung out of the room, while his wearied +master--not unaccustomed to such outbreaks--lounged into the dining room +and called for his supper. + + + + +ACT II. + +THE MANOR. + + +If the page was to be blamed for his disrespectful demeanour in abruptly +leaving his helpless but indulgent Sovereign, his next step was still +less worthy of commendation. But he had the perfervid temper of his +race, and he was not twenty-two. Having attended his royal Master in a +former visit to Jersey, he had made friends with some of the island +gentry, and among others with the family of St. Martin (then resident at +Rozel), in which he found a maiden of his own age with whom he soon +imagined himself to have fallen in love. Mdlle. de St. Martin was the +sister of Michael Lempriere's wife; with her she had since taken up her +abode; and the first thing that Elliot had done after the return of the +Court to Jersey had been to acquaint himself with this fact. In the +present excitement of his feelings he resolved to seek an interview with +the girl whose charms he so well remembered. A boat was moored at the +foot of the castle rock; and the impetuous young cavalier sprang on +board, loosened the painter, and with the aid of a pair of sculls that +had been left in the boat rapidly propelled himself to the shore of the +bay aided by the flowing tide. While he is engaged in making his way to +the northern extremity of the parish of S. Saviour, where the manor of +the Lemprieres was situated, we will anticipate his progress and +describe the scene. + +The manor-house stood in its own walled grounds, admission being +obtained through a round Norman archway, over which was carved the +scutcheon of the family--gules, three eagles displayed, proper--with the +date 1580. This opened on a long narrow avenue of tall elms, at the end +of which two enormous juniper trees made a second arch, of perennial +verdure. Such was the entrance, passing under which the visitor found +himself in a flower-garden in which summer roses still bloomed, and the +bees were still busy. On one side stood the house, a two-storeyed +building of stone, pierced with many small latticed windows, and +thatched with straw. The main-door bore another scutcheon, of newer +stone than the rest of the house, quartering the arms of St. Martin +(_azure_, nine billets _or_) over a device of two hearts tied together +with a cipher formed by the letters L. and M. This doorway opened into a +small hall, in front of which was a stair-case of polished oak. On +either side of the hall were low-ceiled parlours wainscotted with dark +wood, beams of which supported the ceilings. The floor of the room to +the right was paved with stone and carpeted with fresh rushes, a yawning +chimney of carved granite, on which a fire of drift-wood was burning +with parti-coloured flames, occupied one end of the room, which was +occupied by the ladies of the house. At the back were the kitchen and +offices, looking out upon a paved court-yard containing a well, and +backed by farm buildings. + +Madame Lempriere (or "de Maufant") and her sister sate by the fire +knitting in the autumn twilight. Both were lovely; beautiful women in +the typical style of island beauty, which not even the primness of +their somewhat old-fashioned costume could wholly disguise. For their +eyes were dark and sparkling, and their cheeks glowed with the rosy +bloom of a healthy and innocent womanhood. They were talking in low +tones of the troubles of the time and of their absent friends; their +language was in the island French. + +"It is more than a month," said Rose Lempriere, "since I had tidings of +M. de Maufant. Methinks your fiance M. le Gallais might show more +alacrity in his coming." + +"Helas!" replied Marguerite, "poor Alain will never err on the side of +precipitancy. But seest thou not, my sister, the equinox here, and gales +are abroad. I did not expect him till the S. Michel; and then there are +Captain Bowden and M. the Lieutenant's cruisers to reckon with." + +"You do not appear to mind making the crane's foot, my sister," said +Rose, with a slight smile. "In my youth lovers were expected to be +forward and maidens looked for attention." + +"It is not so long since your youth, my all fair." + +"But perhaps M. le Gallais is better occupied in another part." + +"_Voyons, ma soeur_; it is quite equal, to me. Your M. le Gallais +indeed! one would think it was you and M. de Maufant that wanted to +marry him. As for me, I do not want to marry at all. Least of all does +it import me to marry a man chosen by others. I prefer the ways of +England." + +"_Di va_!" exclaimed her sister. "A good man is not bad because our +friends like him. Marry this good Alain, and love him after." + +The damsel replied by a pretty grimace. + +"Marguerite!" said Mme. de Maufant, with a little frown, "_on ne badine +pas avec l'amour_. Or do you love another perhaps? Ah! _malheureuse_; +art thou still thinking of _ce beau guilliard_, how did they call him? +M. Elliot, I think, the King's page? I hear that he is returned with the +King; and--oh, Marguerite!----" + +"I swear to you Rose, I know nothing of M. Elliot--" + +As she spoke a low whistle was heard without. + +"It is Alain's signal," cried Rose, all in a flutter. "He brings me news +from Michael." + +So saying Mme. de Maufant moved with a quick step towards the door +opening on the back yard, whence the signal-whistle evidently came. +Marguerite site still on her _tabouret_, her head hidden in her shapely +white hands. + +On reaching the back-door Rose threw a wimple over her head, and +carefully undoing the-chain and bar, admitted le Gallais, weary and +travel-stained. Taking both her hands the young man gazed in her face +with the honest gaze of a loving brother. Then searching in the lining +of his doublet he drew out a letter, or rather a packet tied with +string, and gave it to her. + +"He is well," he said, "but his heart suffers." + +"I know it, I know it," sobbed the wife, "but come in, Alain; come in +and take some repose." + +With which she led him into the room, and up to the hearth where sate +the wilful beauty. + +"Marguerite," she said, "do you not see Alain le Gallais?" + +"I am delighted to see M. le Capitaine," was the girl's reply, as she +rose and made an obeisance, immediately resuming her seat. + +Poor Alain! the cold of the autumn evening outside was nothing in +comparison with the chill that fell upon him by that blazing hearth. +Weary as he was, and--as soon appeared--wounded also, his nerve, shaken +by fatigue, gave way before this reception. With giddy brain and wan +face he sank into the nearest seat. + +"What hast thou, my friend, speak, for the love of God," said the lady +of Maufant, while her sister's reluctant eye glanced at him, through +unshed tears with yet more tender inquiry. + +"A scratch, no more," said Alain, tightening the scarf on his left arm, +which showed stains of new blood. "I am but now landed in Boulay Bay, +and a militia-sentry discharged his matchlock at me as I ran down the +lane under the battery. They are indifferent marksmen, my good +compatriots, and their pieces make small impression compared with +Cromwell's snaphaunces." + +Rose tenderly unbound the bandage, found a mere flesh-wound, to which +she applied some lint steeped in styptic, and restored the ligature in a +manner more effective. + +"_Remets-toi Alain, reprends ton haleine, et dis-nous ce que c'est_," +said she, after paying these quasi-maternal attentions to the fugitive. +"And first tell me, how bears himself my Michael, and what greeting +sends he to his home?" + +But before Alain could answer there came a knocking at the gate: and the +scared ladies had barely time to dismiss Le Gallais by a side door +almost hidden in the wainscot before Elliot entered, hat in hand, and +looking shy and breathless in the leaping light of the hearth. + +"Pardon me, fair ladies," he stammered, "have you any welcome for an old +friend." + +The two women leaned against each other, even more embarrassed than, for +a moment, was their visitor. They seemed to remember the voice, yet +could not speak to much purpose for the beating of their scared pulses. +But it is not easy for female self-love to be deceived. The boy had not +changed so much in turning into man but that the face of an old love +could resume its familiarity. + +"'Tis Mr. Elliot," presently said Marguerite, addressing her sister in +English. "Mr. Chevalier, the Centenier, told you of his return but +yesterday when we went to the market at S. Helier. I admire to see him +here so soon." + +Rose advanced, with the restored self-possession of a lady on her own +hearth, and gave the visitor her hand. "Welcome back to Jersey, Mr. +Elliot. Time hath dealt kindly with you: you are almost grown to man's +estate." + +The young Scot flushed, somewhat angrily, at this equivocal compliment. +"What Time hath done with me I cannot tell," said he, with less than his +wonted ease, "save that nothing Time can do can avail to quench old +feelings. This is the first liberty that I have had since we landed. I +have used it to lay myself at your feet." + +The ladies resumed their seats, motioning Tom to the place between them, +just vacated by Le Gallais: and the talk soon ran into easier grooves. + +"I have that to say," continued the page, "that may shake your spirits, +fair ladies. What I have listened to this day it may cost me my ears to +have heard. But," with an air of important resolution, "cost what it +may, I will not nor cannot keep it from you." + +"A groat for your tidings," replied Rose, "we poor women hear none in +this remote corner. But is it a secret? Women may keep one," she added, +looking at the panel that had closed on Le Gallais, "but walls have +ears: and so have you, as yet such as they are, which I would not have +you sacrifice in our cause. If therefore your news be dangerous, think +not of our curiosity, and give the matter no vent." + +Elliot was a scamp, no doubt, yet he could not but be moved by this +thoughtful speech of a woman who could decline a secret. But he had come +too far, laden with a burden that he would fain lay down. So long as he +kept to himself what he had heard in the King's chamber he might be +doing his duty to Charles. But Charles had insulted him and his nation. +Marguerite de St. Martin was his first love, the welfare of herself and +her sister was at stake; he had trudged, four miles and more through the +mire of steep and devious lanes to tell them; was he to leave them +unwarned? Love and Duty fought their old battle, and with the old +result--Love conquered and the secret was told. He had not, it is true, +heard the full purport of the Secretary's grave words or of Charles' +light replies: but what he had caught, tallying with the Chaplain's +disclosures of an earlier hour, had led him to conclude that there was a +villainous plot on foot, of which the King did not seem to approve, and +which therefore might be made known to those interested without real +breach of faith. What he knew he told, and eked it out with what he +could but conjecture. + +The conference lasted long. While it was confined to the designs of the +French, on which the short gusts of the Lieutenant-Governor's stormy +impatience had thrown a transient gleam of lurid light, the ladies were +all attention. When the page began to talk of the King's loyal resolves +and of what great things he would do, they gave less heed. It seemed to +them that Charles Stuart was all too young, too much bound to his +mother, to be trusted in an affair wherein her favourite took an +interest. Tom pleaded his master's cause with the zeal of one who felt +himself to have done that master some wrong; but he pleaded in vain. +Little did the Jersey ladies care who might bear rule in the British +islands; their chief care was for what would affect Jersey, and--above +all men and things of Jersey--their dear Michael, now in exile. + +It had long grown dusk, and Tom knew that he was absent without leave. +His visit must be cut short. If he glanced significantly at Marguerite +as he bent over Rose's hand, if he hoped that Marguerite would follow +him to the door and allow an integration of former toys, he was only +building on a precocious knowledge of the sex. "I will but lock the door +after Mr. Elliot," said she to Rose, in patois, "be tranquil, my sister, +he is but an infant." + +The dismissal of the infant appeared a work of time. In the meanwhile +Rose opened the wainscot door, and called softly up the narrow stair to +which it led. Alain heard her, and came down, looking anxiously round +the parlour as he came inside. + +"Is Marguerite gone out," he asked, "with yonder _polisson_ of the +Court?" + +"Thou knowest her, my friend," answered Madame de Maufant, kindly; "ever +since her mother's death she has been a daughter to me. But a sister is +not a mother at the end of the account; and our little one will not be +kept a prisoner. She has learned English ideas in her girlhood, passed +as you know with our London kinsfolk. Once she is married her husband +will find her faithful, in life and to the death." + +"Such freedoms are not according to our island ways." + +"Be not stupid, my good Alain. Mr. Elliot is an old friend; though her +dealings with him--or with others--be never so little to thy taste, I +advertise thee to seek no cause of quarrel upon them; unless thou +wouldst lose her altogether." + +"I do not understand how a girl that is promised can do such things. +Moreover, his coming here at all is what Michael would not find well." + +"He has done us a very friendly act in coming here, and has told us of a +matter which it may cost him dear to have revealed. For the rest, we can +take very good care of ourselves." + +Alain was not a man of the world. With something of a poet's nature, he +was born to be the slave of women. Passionately attached to the mother +who had brought him up--and who was lately dead--and wholly unacquainted +with the coarser aspects of feminine character, he had a romantic ideal +of womanhood. The ladies in whose company he might chance to find +himself were usually quick enough to discover this; and seeing him at +their feet were always trampling upon him, reserving their wiles and +fascinations for men who were more artful or less chivalrous. The case +was by no means singular in those days, and is believed to be +occasionally reproduced even in more recent times. + +He was now thoroughly annoyed; and Rose's reasoning, far from composing +his mind, had rendered it only the more anxious. Therefore, when +Marguerite returned into the parlour, with a somewhat heightened colour, +Alain affected to take no notice of her, and sate gazing moodily at the +fire. + +"I have been plucking these roses," said the girl, offering Alain a +bunch of flowers wet with early dew. + +He took them with a negligent air, stuck one of the buds into the band +of his broad-brimmed hat that lay on the table, and allowed the rest to +fall upon the rushes that strewed the stone floor. Marguerite, with a +slight and mocking grimace, watched the ill-tempered action without +taking any audible notice of it. Then resuming her seat, she took up her +wool and needles and applied herself to her interrupted knitting. + +Meantime the page, apparently well satisfied with the circumstances of +his visit, including those of his parting from the fair Marguerite, +pursued his way to S. Helier. The darkness of the autumn evening was +relieved by the multitudinous illumination of a cloudless sky. The +lanes, bordered by the fortress-like enclosures of the fields, were +shaded overhead by tunnels of interlacing boughs still in the full +thickness of their summer foliage. A bird, disturbed by Elliot's +brushing against the branch on which she roosted, gave a solitary cry of +angry alarm; the dogs barked in the distant farms; the grazing cows, +tethered in the wayside pastures, made soft noises as they cropped the +grass. Passing on by the old grammar school of S. Manelier and then +through the village of Five Oaks, where he scared a quiet family +assembled in their parlour by looking in at their window with a grimace +and a wild scream, he ran on rapidly by the Town Mills and through the +town towards the quay. When he reached the bridge-head the tide was +ebbing; but partly walking, partly wading, he made good his footing on +the Castle-rock. A sleepy sentry challenged, but the page crept through +the darkness without deigning a reply. A ball whizzed through his hat, +but did not check his progress. Availing himself of projections in the +wall with which he seemed well acquainted, he entered his own little +room by the open casement, and throwing himself on the pallet soon slept +the sleep of youth and healthy fatigue. + +At Maufant matters were not quite so peaceful. The ladies there, it may +be feared, were ready enough to regret the page's visit and its +consequences, if not to express that regret to the old friend who might +with some cause have complained. + +Pretending indifference, he sate silently in a seat further from the +ladies than that which he had occupied before the page's intrusion. +Finding him disinclined for talk, Rose read her husband's letter without +taking any further notice of him by whom it had been brought. + +At length she broke the awkward silence; replacing the letter in her +bosom and turning to Alain, she said:-- + +"I must go and get your chamber ready. I shall be back anon." And she +left the room by the concealed door. + +Left alone with his mistress, Alain fell into a great embarrassment. +Marguerite, for her part, felt a qualm of conscience, had he only known +it. But her _amour-propre_ was, none the less, extremely hurt by his +cavalier treatment of her flowers. She was by no means in love with the +saucy Scot, who had indeed given her some offence by the frankness of +his leave-taking, though this was a matter of which she was not +likely to complain, least of all to her official adorer. + +"_Pourquoi me boudez-vous, Monsieur_?" at last she said; "are you +perhaps permitting yourself to be offended at my seeing M. Elliot to the +door? Do you not know that he is our old friend?" + +"He is nothing to me," answered Alain, moodily, "it is you of whom I am +thinking." + +"As Rose says, we can take care of ourselves. Do you for one moment +think that I acknowledge any restraining right on your part, any +privilege of question even? But come, if M. Elliot is an old friend you +are a much older. Do not let us quarrel." + +"It takes two to make a quarrel," said the foolish fellow, not +observing the olive-branch. + +If his display of annoyance was only a mask of jealousy she fancied that +she could deal with it, and forgive it, but if it should be really a +sign of indifference? so reasoned her rapid female brain; the cruder +masculine mind was but too ready to supply the solution of the problem. + +"_Voyons, Marguerite_," said her lover, almost blubbering. "I have loved +you all your life. Ever since you were a little totterer whom I carried +in my arms and planted on the top of the garden wall to pick +coquelicots, I have thought of you as one to be some day mine. I see now +how foolish I have been. I will put the sea between us; and I hope my +boat will go to the bottom; and then perhaps you will be sorry." ... And +in the fervour of self-pity he actually shed tears. + +Marguerite watched him, with a joyous sense of triumph. Secure of her +victory, she could now assume her turn to show anger. But she did not +feel it; and she had not much skill in the feigning of unbecoming +passions. + +"That is ungenerous, Monsieur. You do not think of the poor boatmen who +would go to the bottom with you. They are not sulky young men who have +quarrelled with harmless women. The Race of Alderney will do without +them; _dame_! it may afford to wait for you too." + +If Alain had but caught the look with which these final words were +accompanied! But he was still sitting in the distant darkness, with his +moistened eyes bent obstinately on the ground. + +And so the misunderstanding widened and deepened; and presently Rose +returned. Taking in the situation with a rapid glance, she passed +through the room and out into the buttery, whence she soon returned +with the materials of a modest supper. "We must be our own domestics," +she said with an attempt at lightness: but the attempt was hollow; a +cloud seemed to fill the low room, and press upon the inmates. The +_three_ sate down, but neither of the young people did much justice to +her hospitality. After supper she held a brief consultation with Alain; +and after giving him a bag of gold and a letter for her husband, +dismissed him, to rest if not to slumber, in the chamber that stood at +the head of the stair on which the door in the wainscot opened. Then she +and Marguerite retired by the other door to their own part of the upper +floor, where I fear the young lady received a lecture before she went to +her virgin couch. + + + + +ACT III. + +THE STATES. + + +Next morning the Militia Captain left before the house was awake, to +return to Lempriere in London. When the ladies went, later in the +forenoon, to arrange the chamber in which he had passed the night, they +found that the bed had not been used during Le Gallais' occupation. A +copy of Ben Jonson's Poems lay on the table; by the side of which were +pen and ink, and a burnt-out candle. On opening the book, Mdlle. de St. +Martin found some lines written on the fly-leaf, which ran as follows:-- + + "What tho' the floures be riche and rare + of hue and fragrancie, + What tho' the giver be kinde and fair, + they have no charme for me. + + The wreathe whose brightest budde is gone + is not ye wreathe I'de prise: + I'de pluck another, and so passe on, + with unregardfull eyes. + + And so the heart whose sweet resorte + an hundred rivalls share + May yielde a moment's passing sporte, + but Love's an alyen there." + +"He is unpolite, my sister," cried Marguerite, laughing. "But that is +only because he is sore. The wounded bird has moulted a feather in his +empty nest." + +"All the same, he is flown," answered Mdme. de Maufant, gravely. + +"_N'importe_," answered the damsel. "Leave him to me. I can whistle him +back when I want him--if I ever do." + +Leaving the ladies to the discussion of the topic thus set afoot, let us +turn to the more prosaic combinations of the rougher, if not harder, +sex. _Majora canamus!_ + +About four miles south-east of the manor-house, the old Castle of Gorey +arose out of the sea, almost as if it grew there, a part of the granite +crag. A survival of the rude warfare of Plantagenet times, it bore--as +it still does--the self assertive name of "Mont Orgueil," and boasted +itself the only English fortress that had ever resisted the avenger of +France, the constable Bertrand du Guesclin. But, in spite of its pride, +it proved to be commanded by a yet higher point, sufficiently near to +throw round shot into the Castle in the more advanced days to which our +tale relates. For this reason, and also because of the smallness of the +harbour at its feet, Mont Orgueil had given way to the growing +importance of S. Helier, protected by its virgin Castle. Hence the +place, though not quite in ruins, had sunk to a minor and subordinate +character; the Hall, in which the States had once assembled, was +neglected and dirty; the chambers formerly appropriated to the Governor +and his family were used as cells, or not used at all; the garden was +unweeded; and Mont Orgueil in general had sunk to be a prison and a +watch-tower. None the less proudly did it rise--as it does still--with a +protecting air above its little town and port, and look defiance upon +the opposite shores of Normandy. + +In a narrow guard-room on the South side of this castle, a few days +later than the visit of La Cloche to the King, the Lieutenant-Governor +was sitting at a heavy oaken table, with his steel cap before him and +his basket-hilted sword hung by the belt from the back of his carven +chair. A writer sate at the left-hand side of the same table, and +between them lay militia muster-rolls and other papers. At the further +end of the room, between two halberdiers in scarlet doublets, stood a +tall Jerseyman in squalid garments, his legs in fetters, his wrists in +manacles. Keen little grey eyes peered through the neglected black hair +that fell over his narrow brow; and his iron-grey beard showed signs of +long neglect. + +"Now, Pierre Benoist," said Sir George, "for the last time I give you +warning. If you do not speak, freely and to the purpose, it will be the +worse for you. There be those who can tell me what I desire to know. As +for you, I shall deliver you to the Provost-Sergeant, who will need no +words from me to tell him how to deal with you. I ask you, is Michael +Lempriere in correspondence with Henry Dumaresq?" + +"_Palfrancordi!_ Messire; you press me hard," said the prisoner, but his +eye was scarcely that of a pressed man. "When you examined me a week ago +in secret I think I answered that. I know of no letters that have passed +between M. de Samares and M. de Maufant. That is," he added hastily, as +the Governor began to look impatient, "I have carried none myself." + +"Who has?" asked the Governor. + +The Greffier, at a signal from Carteret, plunged his pen into the ink; +the halberdiers shifted their legs and leaned upon their weapons; the +prisoner moistened his lips with his tongue. + +"Speak, Benoist; who carried the letters?" + +"It was Alain Le Gallais," answered Pierre in a low voice. + +"It was Alain Le Gallais? Write, Master Greffier, the prisoner says that +the letters were carried by one Alain Le Gallais. You are sure of that, +Benoist?" + +"As sure as my name is Peter." A cock crew in the yard of the castle. +The coincidence did not seem to strike any of the party in the room. + +"By what route did Le Gallais go?" + +"He went by Boulay Bay." + +"By what conveyance?" + +"By Lesbirel's lugger." + +"When did he go last?" + +"This is the fourth day." + +Carteret compared these replies with some that lay before him, and +proceeded:-- + +"Do you know when he will return?" + +"I cannot know; but I can divine. The wind is changing; if he landed at +Southampton on Monday night he would be in London in twenty-four hours, +riding on the horses of the Parliament. Riding back in the same way he +might be back in Boulay Bay, with a fair wind, some time to-morrow." + +"_C'est assez_," said the Governor, "take the prisoner away; but not to +his former quarters. Lodge him in Prynne's old cell." + +As the prisoner was being removed, in obedience to these orders, he was +seen to limp heavily, and there was a bandage on one of his legs. + +"March, comrade," said one of his guards, when they were in the +corridor. + +"My leg was hurt, John Le Gros, when I tried to escape last night." + +"Not so badly but you can walk if you like," and the militia-man +emphasised his words by a slight thrust with the point of his weapon. + +To which of the parties in the island Master Benoist was faithful, the +muse that presides over this history declines to reveal: perhaps he was +an impartial traitor to both. It became presently clear that, in any +case, his lameness was little more than a feint. During that same night +he made a rope of his bedding, and letting himself down from the window +of his cell at high water, swam like a fish to the unwatched shore of +Anneport, and so effected his escape. It was long ere he was again heard +of by the Jersey authorities; but there is no record to show that he was +either mourned or missed. + +For the next three nights a party of soldiers--not militia-men, but +Cornishmen of the Royal body-guard--occupied a hut on the landing-place +at Boulay Bay, belonging to Lesbirel, the man whose lugger was known to +be employed in the communication between the Parliamentary party in the +island and their English allies. The third night being dark and stormy, +the patrol was suspended by orders of the sergeant in command, and the +men devoted themselves to the indoor pleasures afforded by cards, +tobacco, and cider. But others were less careful of personal comfort. On +the western point of the cliff over their heads (the "Belle Hougue") a +beacon was burning, of whose existence the sergeant and his men were +unaware. A man watched by the fire, keeping it alive by constant care +and attention, or rekindling it from time to time, when it was overcome +by the wind and rain. The soldiers in their hut did not see the light; +but it was seen by the crew of a lugger, driving through the waves of +the flowing tide before a rough but favouring gale. Accordingly, putting +the helm down, their steersman drove the craft clear of the threatened +danger that was prepared for the occupants below, and made her touch the +land in the adjacent bay of Bonne Nuit, hid from observation by the +interposing cliffs. Leaping to the shore, Alain Le Gallais, who was the +sole passenger, climbing the western heights, made his way by paths with +which he was well acquainted from his youth, to the manor-house of his +exiled friend the Seigneur of Maufant. + +It was near midnight when he arrived. All was dark. The yard-dog, roused +by his familiar footsteps, shook himself and sate down without raising +any alarm: nay, when Alain lifted the latch and passed through the outer +gate of the court-yard, the animal rose once more, and advanced to meet +Alain, fawning and wagging his tail. Alain was not sorry that the ladies +were asleep. Perhaps the readers of his verses may not have understood +that he was a poet; but, be it remembered, those verses were in a +language not native to the writer. Those who are able to understand such +fragments of his patois-poetry as still survive, declare that it is +marked by tenderness and _verve_; even if this be not so, a man may lack +the power of expression and yet have the poet's temper; Alain was +certainly of a deep and sensitive nature; he thought that he had borne +much from Marguerite, with whom he was now really angry; it was +therefore of set purpose that he had chosen this hour to visit the manor +instead of waiting till the morning. Depositing a letter with which +Lempriere had entrusted him in a cornbin of the stable which Mdme. de +Maufant had instructed him to use in such cases, he went his way without +disturbing any of the inmates of the house. + +His intention was to pass the rest of the night in the barn of a farm +called La Rosiere, where he would be safe from pursuit for the moment, +and in the morning could join a party of the "well-affected," who were +in the habit of meeting in the neighbouring parish of S. Lawrence. Man +proposes; but his purpose was destined to failure. The sky had cleared +in the sudden way so common at midnight in these islands. The guard at +Lesbirel's, turning out to patrol, had at last caught sight of the fire +burning on the point above them. Taking alarm, the sergeant, who was an +intelligent and aspiring soldier, guessed that something was amiss, and +set off at the head of his men to search for the escaped prey. Taking +the road to the manor, where he had reason to believe Lempriere's +messenger would be found, and spreading his men among the shadows of the +bordering walls and hedges, he came upon the fugitive in a lane. To his +challenge, "Who goes there?" he received for answer a pistol-shot, which +laid him low in the mire of the lane, with a great flesh wound in the +right shoulder; but the soldiers hearing the report ran up from both +sides. Le Gallais was overpowered and secured after a brief resistance. + +"Search him and take him to the governor," said the wounded sergeant, as +he swooned from loss of blood. + +The following morning found Sir George and his clerk in their old places +in the Gorey Castle. Pale and draggled, Le Gallais confronted his +examiners with such firmness as he could gather from a good cause. + +"You have nothing against me, Messire de Carteret," he said firmly. + +"If I have not I shall soon make it," said the governor fiercely. +"Whence were you coming when you pistolled my sergeant?" + +"I was going to join my company of militia, in order to be present at +morning exercise," answered the prisoner, undauntedly. "Your sergeant +laid hands on me without warrant or warning on a public thoroughfare, +and I shot him in self-defence. What would you have done in my place?" + +"Insolence will not avail you. If you would save yourself from the +gallows, you have but one way. You must make a clean breast of it." + +Le Gallais made no answer, but stooping down, drew a letter out of his +boot and threw it on the table. The governor started as he read the +address:-- + +"For the honoured hands of Sir George Carteret, Knight and Baronet, +these." + +He cut the string and opened the missive. After reading a few lines he +looked up. + +"Clear the room," he said; and as the clerk and guards obeyed, he added, +in a changed tone:-- + +"Be seated, M. Le Gallais! + +"This letter, as you probably know, is from Mr. Prynne, of the +Parliament. Why did you not bring it to me at once?" + +"I should have done so," answered Le Gallais. + +"It contains matter of the utmost moment," added the governor, after +finishing the perusal. "Are you aware of its contents?" + +"Of its general purport, yes," answered Le Gallais. "The emissaries of +Queen Henrietta are due from S. Malo this day. They will not go to you +(unless they are forced) nor yet to Mr. Secretary Nicholas. They are the +bringers of a secret communication from the queen mother to her son. You +see, sir, that I may be trusted." + +"By the faith of a gentleman, it is too strong," cried the governor, in +an impassioned voice. "Was ever honour or gratitude known among that +family? But I care not. Your friends, M. Le Gallais, are my enemies. If +Whitelock and company send to this island all the rebels outside the +gates of hell I will fight them. You may depart and take them that +message from me." + +Le Gallais did not move. "But in case of a French force landing--?" + +"In that case, sir," answered the governor, and his voice rose to a +quarter-deck shout. "In that case it would be 'up with the red cross +ensign and England for ever!'" + +Le Gallais rose and in a gentler tone echoed the cry, sharing the +generous impulse. + +"Now go," said the governor, more gently, "go to the buttery and get +thyself refreshed. I know what a sailor's appetite can be. No words; you +came from England last night. God bless England and all her friends!" + +So saying the governor departed, and in a few minutes more was seen to +mount his horse at the fort gate and gallop towards S. Helier, followed +by a single orderly. + +Immediately on arriving at the town, Sir George's first care was to send +his follower to the Denonciateur and order him to summon an +extraordinary meeting of the States. After which be went on to the +Castle and demanded an immediate audience of the King. + +Charles was sitting in his chamber, indolently trimming his nails. A +tall swash-buckler, with a red nose and a black patch over his eye, was +with him, also seated and conversing with familiar earnestness, as the +governor entered. + +"How now?" asked the King, with some show of energy; "To what are we +indebted for the honour of this sudden visit? Were you not told, Sir +George, that we were giving private audience to Major Querto?" + +"Faith I was, Sir," answered Carteret, with a seaman's bluntness. "But, +under your pardon, I am Lieutenant-Governor of this island and Castle; I +know the matter on which Major Querto hath audience, and it is not one +that ought to be debated in my absence." + +Charles looked at Carteret with a mixture of impatience and _ennui_. But +the Governor was not a man to be daunted by looks; and with Charles, the +last speaker usually prevailed, unless he was much less energetic than +in the present instance. + +"If there be any man more ready to lay down life in your Majesty's +service than George Carteret, I willingly leave you in his hands. But +your Majesty knows that there is not. I am here to claim that the +message from the Queen be laid before the States. We are your Majesty's +to deal with; but if we are to help, we must know in what our help is +required." + +Charles gave way before a will far stronger and a principle far higher +than his own. + +"Go, Major," he said, with an expressive look and gesture. "Let +Messieurs les Etats know of our Mother's message. Sir George! be pleased +to bring Major Querto into your assembly. And, I pray you, bid some one +send me here Tom Elliott," added the King, in a more natural tone of +voice. "_A bientot!_ Sir George." He waved his visitors out and resumed +the care of his finger-ends, neglected in the excitement of the +discussion. + +Carteret, accompanied by Major Querto, repaired to the mainland. They +proceeded together to the Market-place (now the Royal Square) and +entered the newly-built _Cohue_ or Court-house, where the States were +assembling. Seven of the Jurats (or Justices) were already collected, in +their scarlet robes of office: Sir Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. +Owen (the Lieutenant-Bailiff); Amice de Carteret, Seigneur of Trinity; +Francis de Carteret, Joshua de Carteret, Elias Dumaresq, Philip le Geyt, +and John Pipon. These, in official tranquillity--as became their high +dignity--took seats on the dais, to the right and left of the Governor's +chair. Below them gradually gathered the officers of the Crown, the +Procureur du Roy, or Attorney-General (another de Carteret), and the +Viscount, or Sheriff, Mr. Lawrence Hamptonne. In the body of the hall +sate the Constables of the parishes, and some of the Rectors. The +townsmen swarmed into the unoccupied space beyond the gangway. When the +hall was full, the usher, having placed the silver mace on the table, +thrice proclaimed silence. Then Sir George--who united the +little-compatible offices of Bailiff and Lieutenant-Governor--arose from +his central seat and presented the Major who stood beside it. + +"M. le Lieutenant-Bailly, and Messieurs les Etats!" he said, "I have +called you together to consider a message from the Queen: this gentleman +here will impart it to you, Major Querto, of his Majesty's army." + +The Major's face assumed the colour of his nose. + +"I am a rough soldier," he muttered, in English, "and little used to +address such an august assembly as I see here; least of all in a foreign +language." + +"English, English," cried a dozen voices. But Querto was silent, and +looked at the Governor with a scared and anxious gaze. + +"Since our guest is so modest," resumed Carteret, "it is necessary that +I should speak for him. The question is simple. Her Majesty, with her +constant care for the subjects of her son, has heard with dismay that +the rebels in England are projecting a descent upon Jersey. At the same +time, Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, will be attacked by sea. Sir Baldwin +Wake, with your active aid, has hitherto held out against the Roundheads +of that island; and surely since the time of Troy has seldom been so +long a siege, so stout a defence. But, with the Roundheads assaulting +him by land, and Blake's squadron by sea--Gentlemen, I know Blake and +his brave seamen--what can Wake and a hundred half-starved men avail? To +guard us against all these dangers, and against the loss of all the +profits that we now have from our letters-of-marque in the Channel, her +Majesty has been pleased to devise a means of succour." + +Here the Governor's speech was interrupted by cries of "Vive la Reine," +led by the Constable of S. Brelade, in whose parish was situated the +town of S. Aubin, the principal port and residence of the corsairs. + +"Nay, but hear her Majesty's gracious project. Nothing doubting your +good affection or your courage, the Queen is persuaded that her royal +son's person (to say little of the other small matters already named by +me) cannot be safe in your hands against a serious attempt such as can +be made as soon as General Cromwell returns victorious--as he doubtless +will--from the Irish war. She therefore intends--and here, Gentlemen, I +come to the main purpose of our present meeting--she intends, I say, to +send over a strong force of French troops to occupy the island." + +Consternation kept the assembly silent. + +"You are not ignorant of the history of your country," pursued the +Governor. "When a former Queen sought the aid of France you know on what +terms that aid was given. You know the name of Maulevrier; how for six +years he held the Castle of Gorey with the Eastern half of our island. +'We have heard with our ears, and our fathers have declared to us' what +things the Papists did in those days, and how the Lord delivered you by +the hands of my own ancestor and of the sailors of England. Are we to do +it again; it is to be France or England?" + +The hall was in an uproar. With startling unanimity the last word was +echoed from all sides: "England for ever! England above all!" + +Returning to his quarters in the part of the Castle called by the name +of the late King, Carteret found Sir Edward Nicholas--who was ageing and +felt the cold of sunset--in a mantle and with a black silk skullcap on +his head, pacing up and down the little esplanade by the faint light of +a waning moon. There was an old friendliness between the two: Nicholas +having been long loved and favoured by Hyde, now in Spain, but formerly +the cherished guest of the Carterets. Hence the Secretary was both +willing and able to give sympathy and counsel to his host almost as well +as could have been done by the author of the famous _History of the +Rebellion_, had himself been once more in the Castle. + +"I hear by letter from Prynne, this day received," said the +Lieutenant-Governor, "to the effect that our giving harbour here to his +Majesty is a cause of umbrage to yonder cuckoldy knaves in London. +Meanwhile I have grave doubts as to the young man himself--under your +favour, Sir Edward. We are undergoing so many and great dangers and +distresses for him that we might well hope to have no renewal of the old +dealings to our disadvantage. Yet it seems that things are coming to +that pass that we may ere long have to choose between England and +France." + +"As for France," answered the Secretary, "we may expect due provision +from his Majesty who is--believe me--a true lover of his own country; as +also from your Honour, whose noble house has done well-known service in +bye-gone times. For England, we know what her power is; but that power +lies in the collection of her organs (as Sir Edward Hyde hath often +taught us) by no means in the hypertrophe of one organ, and that one +mutilated. The Church, Lords, Commons, are Three Estates--" + +"Alack, Sir Edward," interrupted the impatient sailor, "this is that +whereto Prynne would lead us. Bethink you of Will Shakspeare's saying, +'If two men ride on a horse one must go behind.' How much more if there +be three of them. Here, in Jersey, where there is but one organ of +Government--I mean the States--we may have labour, but we have none of +these confusions. But in England, look you--" + +"If it were as you suppose," cried Nicholas, "the King must needs ride +before and the Parliament behind. But let me hear more of Mr. Prynne. +Barring his sourness in regard of stage-plays and Bishops--which seemed +strangely coupled in his mind--he was ever a wise and moderate man." + +"Marry," replied Carteret, "I will show you what he hath writ. He would +persuade us--I will be plain with you--to send Charles packing, and to +yield ourselves wholly to the present Government in England. He argues +that might is right, and that it is to that a weak state like ours must +needs bow;--Here be your three organs of Government--or rather were--yet +one hath ever the last word, the casting vote; and that it is which in +very truth governs: the others are but baubles. For, put case it were +otherwise, then how would it fare with the public weal when one organ +says, 'This shall be so, while another saith, 'Nay, but it shall be +_so_;' and a third perhaps is divided. It is put to the touch, as hath +been lately seen in this nation, where the King came forth on one side +with his cavaliers, followed by tapsters, serving-men and clodhoppers; +officers and men for the most part broken in fortune, debauched in body +and mind. Against him were ranged the citizens, the gentry, many even of +the lords and the sober well-informed part of the yeomen. Your Royal +tapsters are scattered in almost every encounter, your King is taken, +dethroned, slain. Where be then your joint-organs, your paper-balance? +Is it not the merest audit of a bankrupt's books?' So far Mr. Prynne, of +whose wisdom you perhaps will make short work." + +"I do not say that he is wrong," answered the Secretary, with a puzzled +look. "I must own that we are beaten for the nonce. And it may be that +if we were uppermost we should equally destroy the balance. But who will +judge a man's constitution by the symptoms of calenture? The nation is +sick, yet it is not like to die." + +"My faith!" said Sir George, after a brief pause of reflection, "I think +thou must be right, Sir Edward. This present condition of things cannot +endure: but England will not die. When once men are earnestly disposed +upon a way of reconciliation there must be give-and-take on either side +until we get to work again. Mr. Prynne's own tyranny, that of the +Parliament, hath been already encountered by a stronger tyranny, that of +the army. But that is a regimen to which Englishmen will not submit." + +"Then you are for the English, Sir George, rather than for the French." + +"Aye, aye, Sir," answered the other. "For the King of England, if +possible. But for the Gaul we are not. We are of the old blood of the +Franks and Normans. We have served our Dukes ever since the battle of +Hastings; but when they became English, why, we became English too. We +beat the French under Du Guesclin, we beat them under Maulevrier. From +England we have had none but good and honest handling. We are English +above all." + +"Well said!" cried the Secretary. "I am no boaster, neither do I claim +the gift of prophecy, like some of our saints yonder. But I am persuaded +that a day will come when your words will be put to the proof. You will +have to choose not between King and Commons, but between England and +France you yourself said so but now." + +"_Mon Dieu_! the choice will be soon made," cried Carteret. "And now let +us to table. For albeit Dame Carteret is lying-in, it will be hard but I +can furnish a friend some junk and biscuit." + + + + +ACT IV. + +THE DUEL. + + +Tom Elliot was a very bad sample of the cavalier party. Trained in +camps, he had learned betimes to seek his happiness in wine, dice, loose +speech, and morals to match. As in France, the successors of the Sullys +and Du Plessis Mornays had become the coxcombs of the Fronde, and the +grandson of Bras-de-Fer was known as Bras-de-Laine, so the character and +conduct of men like Hyde, Ormonde, and Falkland furnished no example to +such as Villiers and Wilmot, whose only ideal of imitation was +scurrilous mimicry. Where the elder cavaliers had been proud to serve +their king, the rising generation was content if it could amuse him; and +with that Charles was satisfied. + +Thus Elliot had learned that for such an escapade as his last he might +easily obtain forgiveness. It was not that Charles was, even in youth, a +sincere or warm friend. His easy good nature had its root in +self-indulgence. Clarendon, who knew him and his family _intus et in +cute_, has pointed this out in one of his best character sentences. +"They were too much inclined to love men at first sight," so writes the +faithful servant of the Stuarts. "They did not love the conversation of +men of more years than themselves. They did not love to deny, ... not +out of bounty or generosity, which was a flower that did never grow +naturally in the heart of either family--that of Stuart or the other of +Bourbon--and when they prevailed with themselves to make some pause +rather than to deny, importunity removed all resolution." [_Continuation +of Life_, p. 339, fol. ed.] + +And there were not wanting particular reasons to dispose Charles to +favour and forgiveness in this instance. Though Elliot had concealed the +fact at Maufant, he was in fact a married man. His wife was the daughter +of the Mrs. Wyndham who had been the king's nurse. To this family +connection he owed his first introduction to the royal household, which +had been constantly improved by his lawless and pushing nature. A +contemporary remarked of Elliot that "he was not one who would receive +any injury from his modesty." The late king's grave and virtuous mind +had been greatly alienated by these things, and he had once dismissed +him from his family. The passionate youth had recovered his position +owing to the Wyndham influence, but he came back with illwill in his +heart. The memory of the royal martyr inspired him with scant reverence, +nor did he feel either respect or compassion for the queen-mother. From +these sentiments, however, one advantage flowed. Elliot was bitterly +opposed to Jermyn and the French interest, and made use of his +opportunities about the king's person to strengthen him in a like +opposition. So it came to pass that, after sulking an hour, the facile +master not only pardoned the petulant servant, but promoted him to be a +groom of the bedchamber; and the return was made in an increased +persistence in efforts on Elliot's part to amuse the king and flatter +all his propensities, whether political or personal. + +The "Indian summer," or _ete de S. Martin_, was at its height in Jersey, +when Carteret, obtaining Charles's ready acquiescence, resolved on +ordering a general review of the militia. Soon after daybreak on the +30th October the population began streaming in from all parishes, under +the mild splendour of a cloudless heaven. The scene was on the sands of +S. Aubin's Bay, between the Mont Patibulaire and Millbrook. On the right +wing stood two squadrons of mounted infantry, with their standards +displayed in the morning breeze. On the left were the parish batteries, +with their guns, caissons, and tumbrils. In the centre were the Cornish +body guard and the militia infantry in battalion six deep, while the +reserve and recruits brought up the rear. All but the last-named carried +matches for their firearms, which were loaded with blank cartridge. The +supports carried pikes. The drums beat, the colours flew, as Charles and +his staff, surrounded by an escort of the mounted infantry, emerging +from the south gate of the castle, rode along the low-water causeway. + +Mme. de Maufant and her sister, mounted on sober but well-bred nags, and +accompanied by some of their farm hands in gala costume, occupied a +foremost place among the spectators. But the appearance of the castle +_cortege_ threatened their comfort, if not their safety. For the public +excitement grew from moment to moment, "and those behind cried forward! +and those before cried back!" The younger and more excitable especially, +spurred by the fine weather and the novel spectacle, pressed eagerly to +the front, mixed with mothers of scrofulous children, desirous of +gaining for them the healing virtue of the royal touch. The king's +horse, short of work, and participating in the general excitement, +reared and curvetted in the crowd, but was reined in by his skillful +rider. + +Charles was in his purple velvet, with no token of a military purpose. +But on his left rode a gigantic guardsman in full panoply, while Elliot +came on the right (but with his horse half a length behind) in gorgeous +array, though more for show than for service. In his silver helmet +fluttered a lissom ostrich plume, his shining cuirass was damascened +with gold, which metal also glittered on the hilt of his sword. The tops +of his buff boots and gauntlets were fringed with costly Brussels point. +As they approached the crushed and alarmed ladies, a militia officer +rushing to their aid from his place between the guns and the nearest +company of foot, came into involuntary contact with the glistening groom +of the chamber. The lace of the later's boot caught in the steel +shoulder piece of the infantry officer, and was torn. Irritated and +excited Elliot brought down his hand upon the unconscious offender, and +dealt him a heavy blow on the side of the face. At this sight--with +nerves already overstrung--Marguerite became unable to control her +usually placid steed; and Alain le Gallais--for he was the militia +officer--was diverted from his instinctive but imprudent impulse of +immediate retaliation, by seeing the young lady slip from her saddle +into his arms. + +The little incident was over in an instant, and the king passed on, but +not without taking it all in with the observation natural to him. + +"A comely wench, Tom!" he said to his companion, "and one that seemeth +to know thee. But it seems that others gather what thou fellest." + +"Faith, sir," answered Elliot, smilingly, "I have given him his wage +beforehand. It is well that he should do my work." + +There was no time for longer or plainer speech. The guns began a royal +salute, their muzzles fortunately directed towards the sea--for many of +the pieces had been charged for ball practice. This somewhat dangerous +demonstration was followed by a dropping fire of blank cartridge from +the matchlocks of the foot, and then by general acclamations of "Vive le +Roi" from all ranks. Then Philip de Carteret, Seigneur of S. Ouen, being +called to the front, received the congratulations of the king on the +appearance of the forces, in which, under the lieutenant-governor, his +uncle, he held the chief command. He was then bidden to kneel, touched +with the royal sword, and told to "Rise, Sir Philip de Carteret." The +eighteen stand of colours were displayed on the outer sides of the +columns. Again the drums beat, the trumpets blew, and with the same +state as that in which he had arrived, the king was escorted back to the +castle. + +As soon as Charles and his followers had been relieved of their full +dress they renewed the conversation in which they had been interrupted +on the sands, Elliot first endeavouring to improve the occasion into an +argument against the king's remaining in Jersey. + +"That malapert bumpkin will be no friend either to me or to your +majesty," he said. "At himself I snap my fingers. But it seems to me +there are some two thousand of them who cry 'Vive le Roi' for half a +pistole, but would cry 'Vivent nous autres' for nothing. If the French +land here they will turn against you at once. If the Parliament prevail +they will submit, willy nilly. And your majesty may feel no ailment, yet +have to be attended by the surgeon who cured your father." + +"Whither should I go hence?" asked the other. "The news of Ireland is +hardly such as to give colour to Ormonde's invitation." + +"I have told you what to do, sir, but got small thanks for my pains. +Think on it well. Now, by your leave I must attend to affairs of my own. +May I find you in a wiser mood when I return!" + +"Farewell, then, Tom," said Charles. "But beware of poaching on a Jersey +manor!" + +"There are no game laws here, or if there be the keeper is away." With +these words Elliot retired with a careless bow, and the king waved his +hand gaily as he disappeared. + +The forward young man bent his way, as often before, in the direction of +Maufant. On entering the garden he saw the lady of the manor--a rose +among the roses, as Malherbe might have said. The moment she perceived +Elliot she stood sternly, and with dilated eye before the entry of the +house, as if to bar the way, the united blazon of her husband's +ancestors and her own appearing above her head like a crest of battle. + +"Why so stern, fair lady?" demanded the courtier, saluting her, "And why +alone?" + +"My sister is not here," said Mme. de Maufant, answering but the second +of Elliot's questions. "She has spoken with you for the last time, Mr. +Elliot. I hope that I too have the same advantage. You should go home, +Monsieur, to your wife." + +Elliot started, but quickly recovering himself, said, with an insolent +smile, "Always thinking of marriage, these dear creatures. Ah, ah! +madame, sits the wind in that quarter? You thought the poor Scots +gentleman might be caught by the rosy cheeks of a Jersey farm girl. _Pas +si bete_." + +Rose pointed to the garden archway. "If you do not relieve me of your +presence this very instant," she said, pale and panting, "my farm +labourers shall drive you out with cudgels." + +"It shall not need, madame, to pay me this last attention, so worthy of +your habits. 'Au revoir, madame!'" And with a profound and mocking +reverence the wanton cavalier slowly retreated, leaving Rose to sink, +half fainting, into a stone seat by the house door. + +Elliot strode off, smarting with the sting of his well-merited +humiliation. A brief moment of reflection was enough to show its +probable origin. It was evident that the secret of his marriage had +found its way to the manor, where the court he had been paying to +Marguerite had consequently ceased to be regarded as a harmless +gallantry, and come to be taken for insult, as indeed it deserved. Nor +was it difficult to go on to guess the channel of this information. Le +Gallais was Marguerite's acknowledged lover, the person who would +benefit by the removal of a fascinating dog like Elliot--a formidable +rival, as he flattered himself such as he must be to a bumpkin officer +of militia. How Le Gallais could have learned the fact of his having a +wife in France might be a harder question, but it was one that was not +material. Revenge would be equally sweet, whether that were answered or +not. + +Full of these thoughts the groom of the chamber stalked on to S. Helier. +On reaching the quay, he came to "The White Ship"--a tavern frequented +alike by the officers of the garrison and by those of the island +militia. The parlour was full of men, some in uniform, some in plain +clothes, smoking, drinking, playing cards--a scene of Teniers. One of +the first faces on which his eye fell was that of Le Gallais, who sprang +from his chair on Elliot's entrance, but was restrained by his +neighbours, and sat down watching the intruder's movements with glaring +eye. Striding up to the hearth, and standing with his back to it, the +cavalier broke into a forced laugh. + +"Strange company you keep, gentlemen. I spy one among you whom you had +better put forth without delay." + +"Whom mean you?" asked the patch-wearing Querto. "'May I not take mine +ease in mine inn?' as the fat fellow says in the play. May not a plain +soldier choose his own company?" + +"A soldier is a gentleman, and should keep company with gentlemen," +answered the flushed youth. "Mr. Le Gallais is no mate for cavaliers. I +say to his face that he is a cropeared rebel, a busybody, and a +pestilent knave." + +"I appeal to you, Major Querto," said Le Gallais, roused from his +temporary pause, and turning to the major, whom indeed he had brought to +the place, and for whose refreshment he was providing. + +"Appeal me no appeals," said the Major, with a truculent look. "No man +shall appeal to Dick Querto till he is purged of such epitaphs." + +Confusion reigned. Le Gallais looked about him for a friendly face, and +presently saw sympathy on that of a fellow-countryman and brother +officer. + +"Captain Bisson," he said, "you will speak to Mr. Elliot's friend." + +Elliot flung out of the house, followed by Querto and two or three +Royalist officers, Le Gallais, and Bisson in the rear. They walked +towards the beach, and on their arriving at the foot of the Gallows +Hill--near where the picquet-house now stands--an Irish officer came +from Elliot's group and met Bisson, hat in hand. + +"Are the gentlemen to fight now?" he asked. + +"The sooner the better," answered Bisson. + +"Will it be a _pas de deux_, or will we all join the dance?" + +"Surely, a combat of two," gravely replied the islander. "We do not +understand Paris fashions here. With you and me, sir, there need be no +quarrel." + +"Sure, and we could have an elegant fight without quarrelling," muttered +the Irishman, with a disappointed frown. "But 'anything for a quiet +life' is my motto. This is a mighty fine place, I'm thinking, where two +brave fellows can cut each other's throats in peace and without +disturbance." Major Querto stood by with the air of an indispensable +umpire. + +The _escrime_ of those days had not attained its later refinements. The +combatants were placed opposite to each other, each flinging a cloak +about his left arm, to serve as a shield, and they prepared to encounter +in what would seem a fashion of "rough-and-tumble" to our modern +masters. + +Both were brave men, and in the bloom of manhood. Elliot was the taller, +but Le Gallais, some seven or eight years older, far exceeded in +strength and weight. After scant ceremony the thrusting began. Feet +trampled, steel rang. A furious pass from the Jerseyman was with +difficulty caught in Elliot's cloak, and the sword for a moment +hampered. Before Le Gallais could extricate it, Elliot, with a savage +cry, ran in upon him, drawing back his elbow, so as to stab his +adversary with a shortened sword. A scuffle ensued, of which no +bystander could follow with his eye the full details, till the Scot's +sword was seen to turn upwards, and the point to pierce his own throat. +Each combatant fell backwards, Le Gallais bleeding from the left hand, +and Elliot spouting black gore from a severed artery. + +At that instant cries name from the outside of the ring, "The guard!" +On which the spectators hastened to disperse, while the +Lieutenant-Governor rode up at the head of a mounted patrol. Elliot was +taken from the ground in a dying state, and Le Gallais arrested, and +ordered to Mont Orgueil, to await the arrival of the magistrate, who +should make the preliminary inquiry. + +Left in that irksome durance, but with wound duly cared for, Alain had +abundant time to muse over the mistakes and misfortunes of the past. +After the inquiry he was necessarily committed for trial at the next +criminal session; and fell at first into a semi-mechanical existence. +But slowly the twin stars of memory and hope rose out of the dark, while +conscious integrity began to clear the moral aether. He tried in vain to +cherish remorse, but Elliot's treachery overbore the effort; slowly calm +returned. + +It was true that the news of Elliot's fraud had been made known to the +ladies of Maufant by himself. But as he thought over the matter in the +solitude of his chilly cell, he could not see any reason to blame +himself on that account. Hearing from Querto--who was connected with the +family--that Elliot was unquestionably a married man, he had only done +his duty in warning Rose and her sister against the groom of the +chamber. He would not admit to himself that jealousy had influenced him +in so doing. As Lempriere's agent, as the old friend of the family, he +could not have done otherwise. All was over between him and Marguerite, +yet he could not forget that, by the wish of the young lady's friends, +if not by her own, he had once been her affianced husband. As for the +death of the courtier, it was not in itself a subject for much regret; +and, further, it had been wholly the consequence of the dead man's own +actions, from his deceit towards the ladies to his final ferocity and +foul play in an encounter of his own provoking. + +While Alain Le Gallais thus sought comfort by the road of reason and of +conscience, his heart continued very sore. But on the morrow of his +commitment an event occurred which changed his cheer, and made his +prison for an instant more lovely than a palace. All the Jerseymen were +acquainted with each other, and the prison warder, though fully meaning +to keep his captive, did not by any means understand his duty to extend +to making such detention a punishment to a man whom he liked, and who +had not yet been condemned. So when Mme. de Maufant and her sister +presented themselves at the gate, seeking admission to Alain's cell, the +worthy jailor unhesitatingly showed them into his own parlour, and +fetched Alain to them, only taking the precaution of turning the door +key upon the outside as he left them alone with the priser, on the +understanding that they should call him from the window when they wished +to leave. + +Pale as death, her lovely eyes ringed with dark shades, poor Marguerite +fell upon Alain's breast, without pretence of coyness. + +"Alain, mon ami!" she cooed in her soft rich voice, "can you give me +your pardon?" + +How far Alain believed this sudden revelation cannot certainly be told. +All that he felt able to do was to strain the girl to his heart and be +silent. Rose stood discreetly at the window; but finding that the lovers +had no more to say to each other, she by and by broke silence. + +"We shall not leave you to suffer for us," she said. "Carteret is +without scruple and without mercy. As a friend of Michael's, he will +seek every loophole for your ruin. I have already seen the Advocate +Falle. He says that you will be tried for murder next week, and that if +Carteret presides you are no better than a dead man." + +"To die for you and Marguerite is not so hard," said the young man, with +a smile. + +"You shall do nothing of the sort," cried Rose, warmly, "listen to me. +The day is setting in for rain and storm. At five in the afternoon it +will be dark. Then one of us will come back with John Le Vesconte, of La +Rosiere, who is your match in stature, and who will be admitted on +account of his being of kin to us. He will change clothes with you, and +will remain in your stead while you come out of prison in his. He is in +favour with Carteret, and will be quit for a fine, which I will gladly +pay." + +As she stood, warm and bright with zeal, and intellect flushing in her +eye, Alain thought that, with all his troubles, her exiled lord was a +happy man. But he had to think of his own case. Placing the broken form +of Marguerite tenderly in a chair, he stood up and looked full in Rose's +face, his hands joined, almost in an attitude of prayer. + +"Do not tempt me," he said, in a low, but determined voice. "I will not +put another in my place to save my life, nor even to please Michael +Lempriere's wife. Moreover, John Valpy, the jailor here--who is somewhat +of my family, too, for our fathers married cousins--has dealt tenderly +with me, and I will not do what would bring ruin upon him. Tempt me no +more," he repeated hastily, seeing Rose about to interrupt him. "My mind +is fully made up." + +"But for her sake," pleaded Mme. de Maufant, eyeing the almost senseless +girl with yearning pity. "Think of her young life, bound up with yours." + +"Alas!" answered he, "who knows what maidens mean? She has been excited +by all that has befallen, and will doubtless be sorry for me, and +remember me. But her life can never be bound but by herself. Briefly, I +will not be saved on the terms you offer. Existence for me is without +value, honour is not." + +After this speech, delivered in a tone of conviction, Rose could say no +more. For her part, Marguerite was helpless. Her nerves had broken in +the excitement of the whole scene, and by the time that Alain had done +speaking, she was on the edge of a fit of violent hysterics. When her +sister had succeeded, by the aid of the jailor's wife, hastily summoned, +in restoring a little calm, Marguerite insisted upon being taken away. +Alain was left unshaken in his resolve, and Rose, weary of the +unsuccessful interview, removed her sister to their temporary lodgings +in the town. Leaving her there in the careful hands of the woman of the +place--an old acquaintance--she hurried off to Hill-street, where she +had another consultation with the Advocate Falle. + +The result was soon apparent. To whatever motive Carteret may have +yielded, he did not preside at the trial of Le Gallais, leaving the +task--as indeed he usually did--to the Lieutenant-Bailiff. The record of +the trial has perished, along with many public papers of those troublous +times. But thus much we know, that Alain Le Gallais was tried before the +Lieutenant-Bailiff and six jurats, and, in spite of a strenuous defence +by Advocate Falle, was found guilty and sentenced to death. + +It would be impossible to describe the anguish of the ladies of Maufant, +who had remained in town during these proceedings. Rose had already +spent in the conduct of the case money that she could ill afford. But +she knew that her husband would never forgive her if she neglected any +means of delivering their champion. Nor was she in any way disposed to +do so. Secret service money was laid out to the full extent of Mme. de +Maufant's powers of borrowing. + +Meanwhile the political horizon grew darker day by day. Charles fretted +and yawned; but he continued to attend Divine service in the town +church. He also dined in public, "touched" for the king's evil, and +exercised such functions of royalty (as understood in that period of +transition) as the conditions of the place permitted. Just before the +end of the Stuart dynasty kingship in England was in much the same +condition among the English as it is now among the German nations. The +monarch was still regarded as the head of the feudal State, while a +number of the leading men were beginning to perceive more or less +clearly that society had passed out of a condition in which it could be +deeply or permanently swayed by the absolute will of one individual, +however highly placed by what one called the Divine pleasure, and +another the accident of birth. Among the personal prerogatives of the +Crown was the pardon of persons condemned to death. + +On the morning of the day when Mr. Secretary Nicholas was ordered to +bring up the papers in the case of Rex _v._ Le Gallais, the +Lieutenant-Governor of the small territory to which Charles's sway was +for the present restricted had a long audience. The king had, in his +light way, lamented the loss of his petulant favourite. But Carteret +had, with less pains than he had looked for, succeeded in convincing the +facile and intelligent sovereign that for both the quarrel and its +result Tom Elliot had been alone answerable. Probability leads us to +suspect that Charles had his own reasons for the readiness with which he +accepted the governor's arguments. Among all the young king's heavy +faults, vindictiveness was not, at that time, in the faintest degree +traceable; but, besides that, he had learned, in the intercourse of the +last day or two before the fatal encounter, too much of Elliot's +nefarious designs upon Marguerite de St. Martin to suppose that he would +with decency punish the conduct of her defender. Nor need we wonder if a +bag of Rose Lempriere's pistoles lent weight, even to royal scruples. + +"Odsfish, Sir George," he said, finally, "I believe that you must e'en +take the pardon of your choleric countryman." + +"Your majesty is ever gracious," answered Carteret, with his best +quarter-deck reverence, "though under your pardon my countrymen are in +no respect to be taxed with ready choler. They are ever courteous and +patient. Only steadfast malice is what they cannot abide." + +"I dare be bold to say that human nature hath its operation amongst +them," answered Charles, with his languid smile. "Give them what they +want and their temper is easy. But enough of this, Nicholas will draw +the pardon, and it shall be signed and sealed anon. But, further, take +order that there be no more duelling. And now, as touching another of +your prisoners, Major Querto?" + +"The major was arrested among those present at the duel, in which it +hath been shown that he was not a participator," said Sir George; "but +letters have been found in his possession which hinder his release +without further inquiry." + +"I can be the major's warrant," answered Charles. "He was a trooper in +Goring's horse, and rose by reason of his wife being chosen to nurse my +mother's last-born infant at Exeter. When her majesty retired into +France, Querto, raised to be a commissioned officer, remained in +Exeter. When that city was taken he followed his wife to France, from +whence he is now come, bringing letters from her majesty to me." + +"By your leave, sir," answered Carteret, "your information lacks +completeness. Querto by no means repaired from Exeter to France. We have +searched his valise, and have taken therefrom a packet of papers, from +which it plainly appears that he is a false knave, who hath bubbled both +sides. There is among these papers a letter from Sir John Grenville, to +the effect that this fellow was to obtain money from the Parliament on a +false pretence of delivering Scilly into their hands. There is another +from Bulstrode Whitelock, in which the matter assumes a different and a +more heinous aspect. According to that paper, Querto had been to London, +and there undertaken, on the receipt of two thousand pounds, to aid in +the betrayal, not merely of Scilly, but of Jersey. He had taken handsell +of his price, and went to France, either to complete the bargain or else +to trade with Mazarin. I leave to your majesty to determine which." + +The king moved uneasily in his chair. He shunned the governor's +searching eye, and affected to be watching a ship in the offing, of +which a view was commanded by his casement. + +"That vessel appears to interest your majesty," said Carteret, "she +flies St. Andrew's Cross." + +"I opine that it is the vessel of the Scots Commissioners," answered +Charles. "An it be so, we will receive them in council. Matters of great +moment may be awaiting their arrival. For the present, Sir George, I bid +you farewell." + +It was now December. The "St. Martin's summer" of the Channel Islands +was almost over. The trees were losing their leaves. The last roses +lingered still only in sheltered nooks, rich as the Maufant garden. The +sky was, however, serene, and the sea calm, as the Scottish ship sailed +into the harbour. She had come over from Holland with a favouring wind, +bringing the Chief Commissioner of the Parliament and clergy of +Scotland, together with other gentlemen and officers, and an emissary +from the Duke of Lorraine. The result of their arrival demands another +chapter, for it seriously affected the fortunes of several persons +concerned in the events which our history relates. Our scene changes to +the ancient monastic chapel of the castle, in which the commissioners +were brought before the king in council. + + + + +ACT V. + +FAREWELL TO JERSEY. + + +The king's ordinary cabinet council was now reduced to three persons +besides himself, for it must be remembered that down to the days of the +German sovereigns, who could not join from ignorance of the language, +the English kings were always members of the cabinet, as the viceroy is +to this day in British India. Hyde still playing the vain Ind futile +part of ambassador in Madrid, Lord Hopton and the two secretaries, +Nicholas and Long, were the only ministers present. + +But the matter now opened by the arrival of the Scottish commissioners, +was considered of so much moment as to justify, and even to demand, the +summoning of the lieutenant-governor, and of all the peers then resident +in Jersey. The deliberations of this assembly--which may be regarded as +being tantamount to the Privy Council at large--lasted to the end of the +month of December. But we are not dealing with general history. It will +suffice to record that Winram, of Liberton, the chief of the mission, +appeared charged, in the name of the parliament and clergy of the +northern kingdom, to present and enforce certain written addresses, of +which the gist was this. + +Charles was to subscribe the "solemn league and covenant," to give +pardon and amnesty to all past political offences, and to agree to +maintain the Protestant religion, according to the Presbyterian rite. +Our fathers fought for freedom, but it was freedom only for themselves. + +Upon these conditions it was observed by the foremost of the king's +advisers, that the so-called "Scottish Parliament" was no Parliament at +all, neither having been called by royal mandate nor dissolved by the +late king's death. It was thus wanting in the essential elements and +attributes. Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who +should upset the very nature of the constitution. Yet the commissioners +asserted stoutly that their employers would not be treated with under +any other style, title, or appellation. The king's councillors frowned. +It was added, further, that the clergy of the Church of England, as +might be learnt from his majesty's own chaplains then present in Jersey, +would strenuously oppose the Scottish alliance. They would indeed rather +see the king go among the Papists in Ireland than among such strict +Protestants as the Scots. These counsels were upheld by certain of the +lords; and the Lord Byron, though not giving such extreme lengths, +thought it not well to form a conclusive opinion until it was seen what +advices should be received from Ireland, where Ormonde was still +endeavouring to withstand the forces of the English Parliament under +General Cromwell. + +About the end of the month, however, all hope from that side faded away. +The defence of Ireland had melted before the two passions of fear and +avarice. All the strong places in Ireland had yielded themselves to the +parliament. Ormonde admitted his failure in a letter to Charles, dated +"Waterford, December 15, 1619." On this Lord Byron joined in urging the +king to yield the questions of form or title, and to treat with the +Scots on their own terms. + +While things were still in suspense, Alain le Gallais was wandering idly +on the rude quay of S. Helier, looking up at the insulated castle, and +vainly seeking to conjecture what might be the nature of the plans being +there matured, when he was suddenly addressed from behind in a rough, +but not wholly unfamiliar voice. Turning about he beheld the grim face +and gaunt form of Major Querto, by no means softened by prison fare and +restraint. + +"I cannot say much in praise of your island, Captain," growled the +veteran, "either as regards hospitality or diversion. Out of bare eight +weeks that I have lived here, six have been spent in prison; and now +that they have let me out, I can find nothing better to do than to count +the pebbles upon this beach here." + +Le Gallais led the grumbling officer to a neighbouring tavern, and +called for a mug of cider and two glasses. When the liquor had begun to +do its office, Querto showed signs of better cheer, nothing loth to have +a companion. + +"It is not often that a poor gentleman hath even such refreshment as +this," he said presently, after lighting a pipe of tobacco. The words +were hardly courteous, but the speaker had not been bred in courtesy. +"We had short commons in Exeter, but then there was none of the citizens +fared better than we. Here in Jersey Mr. Lieutenant takes good care that +they who have keep and they who want go on lacking. Yet methinks he +might find it worth his while to take care for something else." + +"What, mean you, major?" demanded the Jerseyman. + +"Marry this," answered his companion, "that there be some among your +friends who do not choose to starve while there are pistoles to be won +by a brave action. Hark ye, captain, are you well affected or no? You +need have no fear, sir, in telling me. I am not strait-laced, and I can +keep counsel. + +"Dost thou call to mind a certain evening in London when you and Mr. +Lempriere were walking home together, and a warning was uttered in your +ears?" + +"Was it thou that played the raven? Didst thou think that we were of +your side?" + +"Of my side, quotha. Why, man, do you think me one to take sides? O, +lord Sir, sides are for the quality. Dick Querto is of his own side, no +other. Now, see here, Captain le Gallais, mayhap you know one Pierre +Benoist that was then in limbo?" + +"Aye, do I, and what of him?" + +"Why, marry this; that he is at large, and hath a lure for your young +Charlie there that will bring him from his perch on the rock yonder, and +mew the tercel in London town. What think ye the Parliament will deem a +meet reward for the men who bring them such a prize as that?" + +Le Gallais was aghast. He was asked to consent to a plot to kidnap the +king, and convey him into the hands of those who had taken his father's +anointed head from his shoulders. A plot to be carried out in Jersey, +and by the aid of Jerseymen! Alain was not a blind royalist, as we have +seen, but he had not learned, either from Prynne or from Lempriere, +either that Jersey could exist without a King of England or that +treachery was a necessary part of the work of liberty. At the same time +the ruffian before him must not be prematurely alarmed. So he played his +part as best he might. + +"I must think of it," he said, "the enterprise is bold. Tell me no more +of your projects," he added, with a sudden shame, as the swashbuckler +was about to enter into details. "I cannot now take part in your work, +for reasons." + +"All the better," said the bravo, "but see that you betray me not. The +fewer of us the larger the share; but you were best not betray me." + +"Threats are not needed, major," answered the Jerseyman, "I am no +traitor." + +Le Gallais paid the reckoning and sauntered off, a prey to contending +thoughts. That the cruel plot should come to nought, if its frustration +were within his means, he unhesitatingly resolved. That Querto's +confidence--unasked though it had been--should be used against himself, +was equally unwelcome to Alain's sense of honour. + +In his perplexity, he wandered almost as by instinct to the lodgings of +the Lemprieres. He had long been accustomed to regard the simple good +faith and courage of Mme. de Maufant as an infallible oracle in cases of +conscience. Never had so hard a need for an infallible oracle presented +itself to his mind as this. + +He found the ladies seated in a parlour on the ground floor, engaged in +their usual employment of knitting. The room was small, but warm and +snug. Under a pledge of secrecy, he told them in general terms that +there was a plot to seize the king, but took care not to mention the +names either of Querto or Benoist. + +Meanwhile the council having broken up for the day, the king retired to +his chamber. But instead of resting and calling for refreshment, as was +his wont on such occasions, he seemed to meditate an excursion. Only +that, in deference to the prudent scruples of his council, he was +apparently going forth in strict disguise, for he unbuckled his +jewel-hilted sword, and took off his velvet doublet. Then tucking his +long hair under a fur cap, and putting on a blouse, such as was worn by +the country people, he walked out of the castle in the dark of the +winter evening, passing the sentries by giving the parole of the day. +The tide being low he walked across the "bridge," and at the town end +was accosted by a man, attired like himself, who was waiting for him +there. + +"Owls be abroad," said the stranger. + +"They mouse by night," answered the king. + +Without further communication the two walked silently through the town, +and up the steep lane in which Mme. de Maufant had taken up her abode. +It was on a hill over-looking the town, still known by the name of "The +King's Cliff." At the back were woods and fields. + +All this time Alain and the ladies of Maufant had remained in earnest +consultation. Rose was for letting matters take their course. She had +scant sympathy with those whose policy had separated her from her +husband, and who were, as she believed, plotting the betrayal of her +country, Jersey, and her Michael. In these lay all her world. That the +king should be carried off to London was nothing to her. But Marguerite +was younger and more generous. Wronged as she had been by Elliot's +insolent schemes, that account was balanced and closed by the great +audit. But she was not without a woman's romance, and the thought that a +king, young and unfortunate, was to be sold to his father's relentless +enemies and murderers, presented to her ardent mind a thing to be +prevented at all hazards. + +While they were thus debating the dog was heard to bark excitedly, and +footsteps were audible in the garden behind the house. + +"Mme. de Maufant," said a voice at the window, "come forth. It is I, +Pierre Benoist. I bring a message from your husband." + +"Wait an instant, Benoist," answered the lady, unalarmed, "I will let +you in." + +She went to the door, and gave admittance to two men in blouses. While +one conversed with Mme. de Maufant, the other advanced to her sister, +and, without taking heed of Le Gallais, addressed her in courtly tones, +holding his fur cap in his hand, his brown hair fell down upon his +shoulders. + +"Fear nothing, bright pearl of Jersey," said the stranger. "A traveller +who has heard of your charms asks leave to prove them." + +"Marguerite!" whispered Le Gallais on the other side, "be careful, it is +the king. I know his face. I have seen him many times in church." + +Marguerite slipped to the ground on her knees. "Ah, sir," she said, +imploringly, "the honour that you do us may cost your life. Your enemies +are at hand. Perhaps the house is already surrounded. Ah, heaven! put up +your hair!" So saying she aided the smiling young king to restore his +disguise, whilst Alain, with a sudden impulse, threw himself upon +Benoist, whom he gagged and pinioned almost before the rascal could +utter a sound. + +Charles, meanwhile not unwilling to wait the conclusion of the +adventure, retired by a back door, followed by Rose, who showed him into +the kitchen. The barking of the dog was at the same moment renewed, and +other footsteps and voices were heard further from the house, which was +apparently surrounded. + +Marguerite sank into a chair, while Le Gallais carried the helpless +Benoist out with whispered threats; and, throwing him into a dark +stable, shut the door upon him, locking it behind him and putting the +key into his pocket. He then returned into the parlour, and telling +Rose--who had re-entered the room--what he had done, bade her be of good +cheer. Marguerite continued to kneel, and her lips moved as if in +prayer. + +Meantime the voices came nearer. The dog, with one sharp yell ceased to +bark, and knocks were heard at the door. Alain gave Rose one encouraging +look and went out alone and unarmed to meet Querto and a number of +peasants, most of whom he recognised as belonging to his own company of +the parish militia. + +"What is it, neighbours?" he said, taking no notice of the major, and +speaking the local dialect. + +"Why, this gentleman hath brought us here to seize a spy," said one of +them--our old acquaintance Le Gros. + +"There is no spy here but himself," answered Le Gallais. Do you not know +who he is, Maitre Le Gros? This is Major Querto, who came here about +selling Jersey to the French. + +"What are you saying in your whoreson lingo?'" cried the major. "Let us +in." + +"He wishes to do some mischief here," pursued Le Gallais. "Perhaps to +rob the ladies. Will you see Michael Lempriere's wife plundered?" + +"Never," said another of the peasants. "He said a spy had got admission +on false pretences." + +"There is no one here but I," said Le Gallais. "Do you take me for a +spy?" + +"We do not, Alain. Vive M. le Capitaine! What shall we do with him?" +said many friendly voices. + +"Take him to the Centenier under the Gallows-hill," said Alain, availing +himself of the rising tide. "Or, stay"--as he caught a look from Querto, +in which agony and reproach were mingled--"If he prefers it, carry him +on board the first ship bound for France. I will answer for his passage +money. Handle him as he deserves." + +To hear was to obey with the angry islanders. Hustled and disarmed, +bonnetted and bound with handkerchiefs, Querto was borne off, howling +and cursing. In a few minutes all was once more still in and about the +house, only the good watch dog had suffered. He would never sound +another alarm. One strobe of Querto's sabre had severed his faithful +head from his body. + +Alain returned to the parlour. + +Reassured by his telling them the story, they were easily persuaded to +retire to their chamber. Alain's next care was to seek the king's hiding +place. + +"You must stay where you are till morning, sir," he said, without +entering. "I will watch over the only way by which any one can approach +you." + +"As you will," cried Charles from within. "But hark ye, captain! +methinks a pint of claret would not be amiss, warm with a spiced toast +floating on the top." + +The man and his wife who waited on the ladies had been spirited away by +some intrigue on the part of Benoist, and the king would have to pass +the night alone in the small kitchen. + +More amused than disgusted with the royal levity, Le Gallais--who knew +the ways of the house--brewed the desired tankard, and, returning to the +kitchen, set the hot drink upon the table; then wishing the king "good +repose;" left him to his meditations. + +On returning to the parlour, Le Gallais carefully secured both the inner +and the outer door, put a log upon the fire, looked to the priming of +his pistols, laid his sword upon the table, threw a cloak over his +knees, sate up in his arm chair with a look of resolute vigilance, and +sank into a profound sleep, from which he did not wake till day streamed +through the casement. His first care was to go to the stable and release +Benoist, but that slippery rascal, after his wont, had released himself. +His gag and bandage lay upon the stable floor, along with a bar shaken +out of the loophole in the wall, leaving an aperture just large enough +for a lean man to push through. + +Returning to the house, Le Gallais found the graceless monarch seated at +table before a steaming bowl of porridge, while Rose was pouring him +some cider. + +"Odsfish," he heard Charles say, "I owe Captain Le Gallais thanks for a +fair deliverance, and you, madame, a courteous usage under difficulty. +But _a la guerre comme a la guerre_, and I have slept in worse +conditions than those of your house, madame. Let me but bid farewell to +your sweet sister, and I will be back in the castle before my absence +has been observed. Ha! Captain Le Gallais, you must be my guide back to +the quay. This part is strange to me." + +All Charles's prayers were vain. Marguerite had a _migraine_, and could +not have the honour of receiving the king's farewell. He finished his +breakfast, took a courtier's leave of his hostess, and set forth on his +homeward way, respectfully attended by Le Gallais. They walked through +the streets in silence for some time, the king having quite enough sense +to be ashamed of his situation. + +"You have an interest," he presently said, "in yonder ladies, captain?" + +"I have, sir. I am M. de Maufant's friend." + +"And therefore my enemy, I take it. No matter, you have served me a good +turn." + +Soon the strangely-assorted couple approached the quay. Scarcely anyone +being abroad at that early hour. Moreover they had come down to the +bridge head by way of the Gallows-hill, to avoid the publicity of the +main streets. As they parted, Charles turned kindly to his unwonted +follower, and said once more-- + +"We shall not forget our obligation to you, Captain Le Gallais, whenever +a time comes for proper acknowledgment. Meantime, if you will not own us +as your king, tell me, as man to man, if there be anything in which +Charles Stuart can serve you." + +"Aye, is there," answered the Jerseyman, out of the fullness of his +heart. "For your own sake, sir, leave us. We are a simple folk, unused +to the ways of the great world, and only asking to be left in peace." + +"By the faith of a gentleman," muttered Charles, as he made his way out +to the castle, "the islander is right in his amphibious way. The solemn +league and covenant is not amusing, but it cannot be worse than living +here like a seal upon a rock; and when one goes forth to talk to a +comely wench, being reconducted to one's rock by a Puritan with webbed +feet. Yet he hath saved me from a shrewd pinch, and that is the truth." + +It will not be supposed that Charles was all at once prepared to drop +the little intrigue--so united to his already corrupted character, into +which he had been led by Benoist's insidious suggestions, acting upon a +mind always anxious for excitement, and predisposed by the talk of the +deceased groom-of-the-chamber. But the danger which he had incurred was +a warning in the opposite direction. Benoist was in hiding, and appeared +no more in the castle; lastly, the negotiations with the Scots now +became so urgent and so perpetual as to require his almost constant +presence and personal influence. The opposing motives and conflicting +opinions of his various advisers often kindled into violent altercation, +in composing which the really excellent qualities of the young king's +prematurely developed character had room for beneficial action. So the +ladies of Maufant were left free from a troublesome persecution, against +which, nevertheless, they took all due precautions. + +Upon general grounds Charles was now willing enough to leave Jersey. The +bluff firmness of Sir George Carteret, and the grave counsels of +Nicholas, by whom the lieutenant-governor was usually backed up, were +unwelcome to a sovereign; and his tiny kingdom afforded but little +compensation, especially when he was forbidden to visit it, and was +virtually prisoner on an almost insulated corner thereof. For Carteret +and Nicholas had heard of his nocturnal adventure, and had extorted a +promise from him not to go on land without their knowledge. They had +also taken other precautions in the same behalf, which were perhaps more +trustworthy. + +It was finally determined that the king and his retinue should leave the +island. The Scots' invitation was accepted on the terms proposed by what +it was agreed to call "the committee of estates;" and Breda, in Holland, +was named as the place where the final agreement should be engrossed and +signed by the high contracting parties. Here Charles would be safe in +the protection of his brother-in-law, the Prince of Orange, until +matters should be ripe for his departure to Scotland. + + + + +EPILOGUE. + + +Since the events related in the foregoing chapters nearly two years had +gone by. Jersey had been saved from intrigues of the Queen and Lord +Jermyn. Charles had gone to France, and thence to Holland, followed by +the Duke of York, his brother, and later by Sir Edward Nicholas and the +other members of his council and court. The lieutenant-governor, freed +from even the slight control afforded by their presence, had given full +scope to the worse parts of his peculiar and complicated character. More +than ever was his administration of his native island marked by +unblushing egotism. Oppressive, grasping, unguarded in speech, and +almost unrestrained in action, he seemed, from one point of view, the +model of a sordid, short-sighted despot, making hay while the sun shone. +But he had a fund of caution which kept him from proceeding quite to +extremes, and his energy and ability were undeniable, as was also his +attention to business. Hence, while feared and even hated, he was still +respected and obeyed. Most of the militia officers were his creatures, +as were also--as we have already seen--the civil, judicial, and +legislative officers of the little republic. The seat of his government +was at S. Helier, while S. Aubin, on the opposite point of the bay, was +filled with his skippers and their crews, and the traders who profited +by their piratical proceedings. Hardly a week passed but some rich +prize--usually an English merchantman--was brought in there, to be +condemned by Carteret's court, and sold, together with her cargo, while +the unfortunate mariners who had manned her were left to their own +resources. Adventurers from all parts flocked to Jersey, to share the +gains of this new and irregular trade, while the lawful commerce of +England was menaced as with a cancer. With the resources derived from +his maritime enterprise, joined to what he drew from his fines, taxes, +exactions, compositions, and confiscations within the limits of the +island, the unscrupulous governor was founding a sort of Christian +Barbary, and becoming a hostile power no less than a public scandal. +Nevertheless, he could on occasion make a generous use of his ill-gotten +gains.[_v._ Appendix.] He sent money more than once to the necessitous +court in Holland, continuing to do so until the king departed thence to +Scotland. And he kept up such a stream of supplies for Castle Cornet, in +Guernsey, as enabled Sir Baldwin Wake, the commandant, to hold out +against all the force of the Parliamentary power in that island, and +against all attempts by sea. Indeed this remarkable siege lasted longer +than the fabled one of Troy, and the feat, however creditable to the +handful of men by whom it was performed, and to Osborne and his +successor Wake, was only rendered possible by the constant aid of Sir +George Carteret. Most of all, however, did that energetic officer enrich +himself, laying in fact the foundation of that greatness which +afterwards culminated in his descendant, the famous Lord Granville, the +rival of Walpole. He obtained from Charles a grant of Crown lands, +including the escheated manor of Meleches. And he further appropriated +to his own use the revenues of his personal enemies, the chief of whom +were the exiled Seigneurs Dumaresq, of Samares, and Lempriere, of +Maufant. It should, however, be added that he shed no more blood. In +fact with the exception of the Bandinels and Messervy, Seigneur of Bagot +(already mentioned), no one lost life for opposition to Sir George. He +even attempted to conciliate some of his opponents, restoring Le Gallais +to his post of captain in the militia, and empowering him to offer to +Lempriere's wife the use of her house at Maufant, which he had +confiscated. But that valiant lady resolutely refused to hold or inhabit +under the favour of an usurper, and continued to occupy the lodgings on +King's Cliff, though in constant straits for want of money. Marguerite, +who, however wild and light others found her, was always faithful to her +good sister, cast in her lot with Mme. de Maufant, with the consent of +her own family at Rozel; and it was chiefly by her assistance that the +expenses were in any way met. Le Gallais also lost no opportunity of +visiting the ladies and ministering to their wants like a brother, to +the great straining of his own slender savings. He carefully forebore to +press Mlle. de St. Martin with a lover's suit, whether or no to that +young lady's complete satisfaction we are not informed. In any case, her +manner, though composed by trouble, gave no sign of the state of her +feelings; and whether she was fond of Alain or weary of him, her +self-control was equally to her credit. As for Alain, he seemed to be +stupefied, rather awaiting ruin than expecting better times. + +Matters were in this state, when one lovely day in September, 1651, +Alain came before Mme. de Maufant and her sister as they sate knitting +in the doorway. + +"Great news!" he cried, as soon as he was near enough for the ladies to +hear. "Great news! General Cromwell has thoroughly purged the garner. He +has beaten and scattered the Scots at Worcester. 'Tis said Charles +Stuart their king is taken prisoner. This 'crowning mercy,' as it is +called by the lord general, befel on the 3rd, the same day last year he +beat these same Scots at Dunbar. 'Tis a great and a bright day in his +lordship's life." + +"Count no man happy till his end," answered Rose gravely. "A day of +triumph may be a day of doom when God pleases. And how does this event +touch us, thinkest thou, Alain?" + +"Why thus," replied the young man. "The general is not a man to bear +with our lieutenant-governor's oppressions and piracies for ever. Like +Satan in the Apocalypse, Carteret hath great wrath, because he knoweth +that his time is short. For Admiral Blake hath been collecting his ships +at Portsmouth, and our informant says that they were to sail to-day, +eighty vessels of war. They carry a strong force of _fantassins_, +pikemen, and arquebussiers, with the new snaphaunces devised in the low +countries. Their commander is Major-General Haine, Prynne is there as +commissioner, and, best of all, Michael Lempriere is on board!" + +Rose looked at him with swimming eyes. + +"And Michael Lempriere comes as bailiff. He said that he would. And +then, when your fortunes are once more high, and you have no further +need of me ..." + +Alain faltered and looked down. But for that gesture even his despondent +mind might have been roused by the look that Marguerite cast upon him. +But the dart was parried by the shield of an obstinate depression. + +"I have arranged," he pursued, "with Sir George. You know that last +year he sent out a ship of five guns to America, laden with passengers, +all sorts of grain, and tools for husbandry. She was lost, being +captured (that is to say) off the Isle of Wight by Captain Green, of the +Commonwealth's navy. The stores were confiscated, but most of the +passengers came back to the island, and have been here ever since +awaiting a fresh opportunity for New Jersey. It will come soon, and I +sail with the next venture." + +"With the next fiddlestick," broke in Rose. "Speak to the silly fellow, +Marguerite. This is the last time of asking." + +Whatever may be thought of Alain's project of emigration, his +information was true enough. Cromwell had determined to put a stop to +the trouble caused by the present doings in Jersey. Yet he had no desire +to repeat the severities of Ireland. The Jersey cavaliers were good +Protestants, there had been no massacres, and their cause was warmly +supported by Prynne--a man with whom the general could not wholly +sympathise, but with whom he could still less afford to break on what +appeared to him a not very important difference. Left to himself, he +would not probably have been as stern with Jersey as he had been with +the blood-stained Rapparees and their allies, solicited by the leader of +the Moderates, he was willing to be won. So he readily agreed to the +counsels of those who urged him to accept Prynne's offer of service, and +appointed the Presbyterian confessor to accompany Blake and Haine as a +representative of conciliation and indulgence. + +Setting sail with a light north-east wind, the transports and their +convoy, multiplied by popular rumour into a vast fleet of war, and +really bearing nearly three thousand good troops and a quantum of field +guns, made slow way out of Portsmouth harbour on Sunday, September 19th. +Next morning they were in the open sea with all sail set. On the +quarter-deck of the _Constant Warwick_, a fine frigate (the first +launched by the new government) Lempriere and Prynne--now completely +reconciled--paced slowly up and down, talking of the present situation +and future policy. As they did so their eyes glanced from time to time +on the fair sea scape, illumined by the early autumn sunlight, and +shaded by the sails of the surrounding shipping. + +"'Tis a fair show, Mr. Bailiff," said the English politician, "And one +that ought to bring down our friend's stomach." + +"Faith! I do not know," answered the Jerseyman. "Sir George will fight, +I doubt. You know him as well as I." + +"Nevertheless, he cannot fight to much purpose, and I see not how there +can be any great effusion of blood. By himself he can do nothing, and +who will be of his side? It is the divine asseveration of the wisest of +men, Ecclesiastes vii. 7, 'Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad.' And +if it be so, Cartwright should have but few sane men about him. Yet in +his fall I pray he may find mercy. And I am forced to lean upon you, Mr. +Bailiff, in that behalf." + +"_Non tali auxilio_," began the quotation-loving bailiff. But Prynne +gravely pursued his pleading. + +"You may recollect what I said to the Commons' House three full years +ago. Indeed it was the very night before Pride's Purge. If fines, I +reminded them, if imprisonments, grievous mutilations, and brandings of +S.L.--which I once called 'stigmata landis;' but 'tis an ill subject for +jesting--could bespeak a true friend to liberty, why then sure I am one +whose voice might well claim, a hearing. Yet it hath been far otherwise +with yonder masterful men of the carnal weapon, who seek their own +advancement in the name of the Commonwealth. I have never coveted the +transient treasures, honours, or preferments of the world, but only to +do to my God, country, aye, and king, too, the best public services I +could, even though it brought upon me the loss of my liberty, the ruin +of my mean estate, and the hazard of my life. When the late king did +wrong I withstood him, to the extent of my poor capacity; but I was not +for seeing the crown and lords of the ancient realm of England subverted +or submerged by the flood of usurpation let in by some members of the +Lower House. My speech of the 4th December, 1649----." + +"I heard it," broke in the other, "And well do I remember the hum of +assent and approbation with which it was received." + +"It was printed no less than three times last year. Then followed my +tractate upon their deposing and executing their lawful king; and other +leaves against the arbitrary taxation of what I call 'the Westminster +Junto.' Think you that these things can be forgotten, or that my being +sent here with Haine is more than a hollow compliment? Recollect the +word that we exchanged at my lodging in the Strand two years ago, and +bear in mind that it is rather in your hands than in mine to temper +justice with mercy when my friends shall be overthrown in yonder +island." + +So pleaded, and to yet greater length, the verbose but earnest advocate. +But in truth he might have been more concise, less eloquence would have +sufficed had not the idle hours of a sea voyage thrown open a wider door +for its display. Lempriere was ready to promise anything on the joy of +the long-wished for moment. + + "Quod optanti Divum promittere nemo + Auderet." + +As he himself expressed the matter with wonted Latinity. His own nature +would have disposed him to adhere to the promise given long ago, and +still so urgently demanded of him by Prynne. + +On the evening of Monday, the 20th of September, the flotilla was +signalled in the north-western part of Jersey, where a vigilant outlook +had long been maintained upon the very top of Plemont. The sea heaved to +and fro in smooth fluctuations under the bright weather, which shed mild +splendour over the violet surface, studded with orange rocks. With +favouring airs the stately ships slid slowly on in crescent formation. +They cast anchor for the evening in S. Owen's Bay, sheltered on the +north by Grosnez Gape, and on the south by the cliffs that end in the +Corbiere--an extent of nearly five miles. + +On shore all was bustle and preparation. Sir George's head-quarters were +at his cousin's seat, the manor house of S. Owen. The sandy plains to +seaward were held by companies of the island militia; the +lieutenant-governor's own immediate following consisted of a small +squadron of horse, raised and equipped by himself, but mounted on +chargers especially presented to them by the king. Considering the +natural difficulties of the coast, and that the equinox was at hand, the +numerical disparity was not absolutely desperate. Jersey is a strong +place yet. In those days of sailing ships and weak artillery it was a +gigantic fortress, if only held by a wholehearted and determined +garrison. Had that but been now the case, which, however, it was not. +The population in general had no insurmountable feeling of hostility +towards the _de facto_ government of England. On the other hand, the +hearts of the Cavalier party were not high. A rumour had been +spread--not traceable to any distinct source--that Charles had been +taken after the rout of Worcester. The public, ever credulous of ill +tidings, fastened with morbid eagerness on such reports. "Sorrow and +despair," writes a Royalist eye-witness with natural exaggeration, +"could be seen in every face. The more dispirited began to cry out that +it was in vain to contend any longer against powers that, like a +torrent, bore down everything before them." + +Carteret, who though ambitious and covetous, was never wanting in +courage, energy, intelligence or versatility, turned the more +obstinately to his task. Concealing his natural anxieties, he rode about +from post to post in morion and buff coat, wearing a resolute +countenance, and doing all that one man could do to keep up the hearts +of his people and prepare a stout defence. + +The position of Le Gallais, though humbler, was much more complicated. +Nor was he possessed of sufficient strength of character to choose a +distinct path and steadily pursue it. Determined enough, as we have +seen, under excitement he could fight with his back to the wall. Nor was +he one to shrink from any duty that was plainly pointed out to him. He +could not prepare himself _de longue main_ for a definite and consistent +conduct; still less had he the power--often wielded by natures otherwise +inferior--of striking a balance between opposing motives. His duty as a +militia-officer was at complete variance with his desires as a friend of +Lempriere's. He could not choose between them. He might have thrown up +his commission and devoted himself to watching over his friends at +King's Cliff. He might have cast his feelings to the winds and accepted +the post of orderly officer to the Lieutenant-Governor which was offered +him by Carteret. He chose neither line but adopted what he called "a +middle-course," in other words left himself to be drifted on the current +of events. He saw that the position of the cavaliers was hopeless if +they had to maintain a long and unaided contest against the conquerors +of Ireland and Scotland. He had no great trust in the willingness of the +French, none whatever in their good faith. His ardent desire to prevent +effusion of Jersey blood was a preoccupation that hid almost all other +considerations from his mind. And he had trust in the discipline and +morale of the Parliamentary troops, and in the presence among them of +Prynne and Lempriere, which saved him from much anxiety as to the +welfare of the ladies at King's Cliff. + +As he sate, that night, by the camp-fire of a picquet of his company he +heard two militiamen conversing, and recognised Benoist and Le Gros as +the speakers. + +"To what purpose are we here, _mon voisin_?" asked the former. "What +good would the sacrifice of ourselves do the King now, when perhaps he +has already undergone his father's fate and is no longer in this world?" + +"If the King be dead, indeed," answered Le Gros, "I for one will not +fire a single cartridge. All the same, he was a debonair prince, and +once gave me a groat to drink his health when he saw me holding his +horse." + +"That he is a prisoner is certain," croaked Benoist. "And if prisoner to +Maitre Cromouailles he can only make his escape through one door. And +that door does not lead to Jersey, though it may to Paradise." + +Here the men got up and moved off in search of cider, which was being +served out by the Governor's orders at a neigbouring farm-house. But +their conversation mingled with the young Captain's thoughts as, +wearied with the marchings and countermarchings of the day, he dozed in +the still night air, lulled by the fire at his feet. Deep slumber must +have followed, for he started from dreams of tumult to feel the +vibration of air caused by a round-shot passing over his head. The wind +had fallen to an almost complete calm: a light breeze of autumn morning +breathed keen over the barren moor; bugles were sounding, drums +rattling, men shouting as they collected their accoutrements and fell in +under arms. + +Four-and-twenty guns from the nearest ships were playing upon them, +answered briskly by the little militia batteries that lined the bay. +Gunboats began to stand in, laden with red-coated marksmen discharging +their new pattern fire-locks. The militiamen on their part waded into +the sea and gave such answer as they could from their clumsy old +matchlocks: making good the deficiency--so far as noise was +concerned--by shouts of vituperation; and calling on their assailants as +"Rebels," "Traitors," and "Murderers of their King." The landing was +frustrated for the time. + +The next day was occupied in rapid movements from one part of the island +to another, in order to meet feigned attacks by the enemy who were ready +to turn any of those diversions into a real assault, on finding the +Jersey people unprepared. The Lieutenant-Governor had no choice but to +distract and weary his men, marching them backwards and forwards to S. +Aubin, S. Clement, and Gorey, according as the invaders appeared at one +or other of those landing-places. The militiamen were worn out by these +tactics, and were moreover of the class on whom Carteret's oppressive +taxations had long pressed with an almost intolerable weight. On the +third day their strength was reduced both by fatigue and desertion; and +in the afternoon, after more demonstrations a real landing took place in +S. Owen's Bay, the original point of attack. Carteret, as soon as he +perceived what was intended, galloped up his cavalry, ordering up a +battalion of militia in support, under his cousin, the Seigneur of S. +Owen. The English infantry formed upon the beach, and advanced to the +attack with terrible shouts and cheers. The first troop of Carteret's +horse met them boldly, and delivered a headlong charge; but the men who +had fought Rupert and Goring were not to be intimidated by a handful of +untrained cavaliers. The troopers were received with a volley that +emptied several saddles; and retired, leaving several of their number +dead and carrying off Colonel Bovil, a gallant English officer by whom +they had been led, and who soon after died of his wounds. The second +troop failed to support them, but guarded the retreat as the troopers +drew off without renewing their charge. Meanwhile, the militia who +should have been the third line dispersed and gained their homes. The +red 'coats meeting no further opposition marched cautiously across the +island, and encamped for the night on Gorey Common. Carteret, with such +men--mostly Cornishmen and Irish--as remained with him, threw himself +into Elizabeth Castle; the other forts, S. Aubin and Mont Orgueil, +yielded, almost without show of resistance, in a few days. + +In anticipation of such an occasion Carteret had furnished the Castle of +S. Helier with abundant provision, alike of victuals and ammunition; the +latter being stored in the old Abbey Church, which was proof against the +bullets used by the ordinary artillery of those days. His guns were +mounted on the landward batteries, so as to command the town and any +camp that might be formed there for siege purposes. The hill above--the +Mont de la Ville--was too remote to cause any serious danger from the +field-pieces of the period, which were not capable of sending shot with +effect to a greater distance than half-a-mile. He despatched boats to +convey his private property to France, and to take letters to the +Royalists there, asking for instructions and assistance; and then +stoutly prepared--with a garrison of 350 men--to sustain the siege +against the grim victors of Tredagh. + +Le Gallais, having lost his men in the late dispersal of the militia, +felt no scruple in seeking his friend Lempriere. The latter, after a +warm greeting, brought him to Prynne; and all three presently repaired +to the head-quarters, in La Motte-street, where they were amicably +received by Colonel Haine, the commander of the English forces. + +Haine was one of those rapidly-formed soldiers, who had been thrown +up and hardened by the war in England ten years before. He listened +with due attention to what Le Gallais had to say about the +Lieutenant-Governor's resources and probable intentions. + +"And who is this youth that hath such knowledge of affairs?" he asked, +turning to the Bailiff--for as such was Lempriere now officially +recognised. + +"He is one, sir, that hath suffered for the cause; a Captain in our +Militia, and my brother-in-law." + +Alain shot a glance of gratitude at Lempriere, while Haine, laying his +hand upon his shoulder, said in a friendly tone; "I pray you, Captain, +attend me as _aide-de-camp_ until your company be reformed." + +Then calling for his horse, he led the party, swollen by the number of +his staff, to the head of the causeway leading to the Castle, "If what I +hear from Captain Le Gallais be correct," he said to his Brigade-Major, +"the Castle will not yield. But send them a trumpet, and let them not +have cause to say the officers of the Commonwealth are unacquainted with +the usages of war." + +The trumpeter rode forward to summons the Castle, a white flag flying +from the tube of his instrument. Ere he could reach the gate, a gun +boomed out from the Castle, a round shot whizzed over the heads of the +summoners, and Haine roared at the top of his well-trained voice, "Come +back; it is a sufficient answer." + +And so the fiery duet began--the batteries of the Churchyard sounding +daily in harmony with those of the Castle, whilst ever and anon a piece +of greater calibre roared its bass from the Town-hill. + +Lempriere made haste to remove his wife and their sister from the noisy +alarms of war to their quiet home at Maufant, where he left them to +remove the traces of the usurper, and restore the old state of things +with the help of the steward and such of the farmers as had not died out +or left the country. One consequence of this removal was that Le Gallais +saw nothing of the ladies. His new duties kept him much at the +Brigadier's side; when not so employed, he was chiefly occupied with +Prynne, who was attracted by the turn of the young man's mind, more akin +to his own than that of the "hot gospellers," the "levellers," and the +professional soldiers by whom he was surrounded. + +Meanwhile, the siege dragged slowly on, until one dark night in the end +of November an old acquaintance, Pierre Benoist, threw himself in the +way of a party of Carteret's scouts, who had come on the mainland and +were questing for intelligence or plunder. Taken before Sir George, he +was threatened with the doom of a prisoner-of-war, who was also a spy, +unless he would tell all that he knew. He asked for nothing better, +having got himself taken by the patrol for the express purpose of +furnishing the garrison grounds for an early surrender. Especially +pleased was the rogue when the Lieutenant-Governor pressed him to +explain the nature of a movement of the enemy upon the top of the +Town-hill, which had been perceived before nightfall; and of the cargo +landed at S. Aubin by a heavy-looking craft that had arrived in the +morning, and which seemed neither man-of-war nor trader. + +"That I can tell you," said Benoist; "they are preparing engines for +your ruin. I saw the pieces landed, and drawn by oxen to the Mont de la +Ville. Two pieces of ordnance whereof each shot weighs four hundred +Jersey pounds, and takes ten pounds of powder to discharge. The like has +never been seen, and they will carry a ball from Mont Orgueil to the +coast of Prance. _Ver di!_" + +Carteret laughed; but his laughter was only justified by the +exaggeration. It did not altogether conceal the genuine anxiety caused +by so much of the information as might be reasonably believed. + +The anxiety was soon realised. When the mists of the winter dawn cleared +up, it was seen that a strong work of granite had been newly thrown up +on the nearest point of the hill, and while the besieged were still +examining the structure, a vivid jet of flame and a puff of smoke darted +from one of the embrasures, and a thirteen-inch shell--the largest +projectile then seen--came booming over their astonished heads. Two more +followed, at short intervals. After the third, an awful report was +heard, a babel of tumult followed, and a gigantic column of smoke +towered up behind them, from the magazine in the old Abbey Church. +Splinters and fragments of stone and timber, mingled with pieces of +powder, barrels, and ghastly members of human carcases were scattered, +as they rose as out of a horrid volcano. The magazine had been struck +and exploded by the great shell, killing no less than sixteen men, and +wounding horribly ten others, including soldiers on guard, armourers, +and workmen who had been collected for the daily labours of the arsenal. +Among the bystanders was Pierre Benoist, who now lay among the ruins, +half crushed by a stone, and who died after intense suffering in the +course of the day. + +A panic spread through the garrison; some prepared to fly at once, +others clamoured for surrender. Carteret called them together; and when +the officers and men were all collected on parade, appealed to all +classes, as Lieutenant-Governor of the King whom they had all seen +trusting himself in their protection, and as commander of the royal +forces in the loyal island "I am determined," said the undaunted seaman, +"to keep this castle for His Majesty so long as I have a man left to +fire a gun, and a loblolly boy to fetch the ammunition. The royal +standard still flies over our heads, the sea still lies between us and +France, to bring us Prince Rupert and his fleet. Let those who are +afraid depart--I keep no man against his will. Those who remain will be +all the more trustworthy. Let the gate stand open for the next +half-hour." + +His orders were obeyed; but as he probably foresaw, no one dared to +leave openly. By night, however, many of the garrison, who were of the +Jersey Militia, silently departed. The bulk of the garrison, however, +had heard of the storm of Drogheda, and chose what they deemed the +lesser evil of trusting to the strength of their walls and the resources +of their commander. To go to a town where they were unpopular +strangers, and where the soldiers of the Commonwealth were in undisputed +possession, would be to go to certain and immediate slaughter--to remain +with Carteret was to gain the present hour and the chances of the +future. Lady Carteret and the women and children were sent by the next +opportunity to France; and then the work of defence was renewed; the +guns were fired, as powder served and supplies were received from +France; injured walls were repaired, and aid was anxiously awaited. +Castle Cornet, in Guernsey, had held out since the Outbreak of +hostilities more than ten years before--why should not Elizabeth, do as +much, until the king enjoyed his own again? Meanwhile, December had +begun, and the days grew short and cold. Haine's great mortars proved +rude and cumbrous; before they could be loaded and fired, and cooled +again, one after the other, many times, the darkness would come on. The +remaining stores were buried out of range. In the black and stormy +nights, which lasted nearly sixteen hours, the men of the garrison threw +up mounds of shingle and sand behind the breaches made during the day. + +On the morning of the 5th December the sun rose clear and bright, and a +south-west wind softly threw out the silken folds of the Royal Standard +on the main tower of the Castle. Haine was standing by a cromlech that +in those days occupied the summit of the Town-hill; Prynne, Lempriere, +and some officers, of whom Le Gallais was one, stood beside him. In +their immediate front the gunners, under an officer, were preparing to +renew their apparently endless operations. + +"This must be brought to an end, Mr. Bailiff," said Haine. "For seven +weeks and more I have exhausted the powers of modern war upon that eyry +of malignants; and there is still the Guernsey Castle to be dealt with. +Mr. Prynne knoweth what is the mind of the Lord General; but a time +comes when sharp measures become necessary. I must take up +scaling-ladders and deliver an assault." + +As they looked out to sea a small barque was seen standing in; by the +help of field-glasses, it was observed that she flew the French flag. At +the same instant the Castle guns saluted. + +"Lo you, now!" pursued the commander, "there comes to them a promise of +help from France. As the Lord liveth, it must be prevented! I must +recall our cruisers from Guernsey; that castle shall be breached and +stormed on Monday. And then on their own heads be the blood of Sir +George and of those that hold with him!" + +"Under your favour, sir," said Prynne, "I think it shall not need." He +exchanged a hurried whisper with Lempriere. "What flag is that which you +see flying on the Castle staff?" + +"It is not a flag of truce," shouted Haine. "God do so to me and more +also if I make them not like unto Oreb and Zeb!" + +The text seemed to relieve the veteran like an execration. + +"What mean you by your flag, Mr. Prynne? I am not to take my orders from +you, sir, I hope." + +"It is the flag of England," answered the politician, "of your country +and of theirs--the red cross of S. George. The Royal Ensign has been +hauled down; do you not see? God save England!" + +With the impulse of Latin manners, Lempriere held out his arms, and Le +Gallais fell upon his breast. Meanwhile a drummer from the Castle was +seen to ascend the bill, bearing a white pennon at the end of a lance, +which he planted on the ground when he came within sight, and beat the +_chamade_ upon his instrument. + +The messenger being brought before the Brigadier, handed him a small +packet. Among them was a short note to the address of Captain Le +Gallais, in which Carteret, reminding the militia officer of their past +relations, invited him to plead his cause and that of the garrison with +Lempriere and Prynne. This note Le Gallais, after attentive perusal, +handed to Lempriere, who read it over, and waited in silence until Haine +had finished his own despatch. He then addressed the Brigadier, and +pleaded strongly the cause of his countrymen, concluded with these +words: + +"Carteret, sir, was a sentinel; he hath but done his duty to his master. +So long as he was not relieved, he could not honestly leave or surrender +that which he was placed to guard. Why he now lowers his arms he hath +made plain I doubt not, to your Honour." + +"Why, yes, Mr. Bailiff; for the matter of that, he hath put a fair case. +Yonder barque, it seems, brought him cold comfort. As for that thing +they call their 'King,' he is lost. He can only offer them aid on +condition of delivering the island to the French. Not that Mazarin dares +affront us by sending a French army to occupy the Castle in the name of +his King, and risk the giving us battle. Far from that, he hath a +conjunction of counsels with the Lord General, and they understand one +another. Nevertheless, there is ever a rabble of Irish cut-throats, +Flemish mercenaries, and such-like, and no lack of Maulevriers to be +their leaders." + +"But if such men come into Jersey," said the Bailiff, "who can say when +or how they would quit, or what mischief they might not have wrought +first." + +"One remedy for that," said the soldier, grimly, "will be to storm the +Castle forthwith, and let all be over before their friends can arrive." + +"For God's sake, do not so!" cried Lempriere; "not now that they have +surrendered." + +"I will be bail," added Prynne, "that Carteret shall depart in peace, +after giving up all that is in his charge. Only let Captain Le Gallais +go to him with a note of your Honour's terms; and let us await, I pray +you, his return." + +The General having at last consented, after just so much show of +hesitation as to make it appear that the terms were yielded to the +persuasion of his chief associates, Le Gallais returned with the drummer +bearing the _ultimatum_ of the English commander. He found the interior +of the Castle a scene of havoc; among the _debris_ Carteret, like a +modern Marius, maintained an air of resolution. + +"It is not enough, Captain," said he, after brief salutations had been +exchanged, "that we have fired away all our ammunition, and eaten our +last horse, while the blockade of your friend's cruisers ever increases +its rigour. After all was done, we could die in the breach or in a +general sortie. But there is treachery abroad. Not indeed among +ourselves, but among those whom we desire to serve." + +"Your King, urged by his necessities, would sell you to the French?" + +"It shall not be!" cried Carteret, with a fierce oath. "Let me see your +General's terms. Better an English Parliament than a Popish King." He +called into the corridor, "Bring the best bottle of wine that is left in +my cellar!" + +Le Gallais handed him the note containing the heads of Haine's terms. +"Perhaps, messire, you would consult with your council?" he asked. + +"_'A quoi bon?_" said Carteret. "You heard what the States carried by +acclamation, in October, 1649? All who are with me are of the same mind +still." The wine was brought. "What was said then in a triumph, I say +now in the day of my downfall; Captain, fill your glass! 'England for +ever! England above all!'" + + * * * * * + +The happy effect of this unexpected but welcome end of strife was soon +made known throughout the island. In the towns and villages tar-barrels +blazed all through the winter-night, and the best cider flowed free in +the farms. + +At Maufant all was happiness. The character of Marguerite de S. Martin +had come out purified from the trials of the past two years, and the +coquette-girl had grown into a woman, with but a lingering spice of +_mutinerie_. Rose, happy in the restoration of her husband to all public +honour and private joy, was anxious that her sister should partake in +her happiness. + +"Alain Le Gallais is no Solomon; that I grant you," so she concluded a +conversation on family matters, which they held after the labours and +excitement of the day; "but he can do his duty to his country; he has +proved himself a serviceable friend. Take him, _tel quel_, my little +heart, thou canst not hope for a better." + +"Marriage is a slavery, _quand meme_," said Marguerite, with a saucy +shake of the head. "But it is not," she presently added, "I that will be +the slave; and there is some comfort in knowing so much." + +So the public and private troubles wore brought to an end at the same +time. Carteret and his followers were allowed to go to France in peace +and honour. Lempriere and he had held no intercourse since the +surrender, but the Bailiff and his wife were honoured members of the +assembly that gathered on the quay on the morning of the Cavaliers' +departure. The rising sun threw his orange hues on their swelling sails. + +"We have won this time," said Rose, pressing her husband's arm. "Mr. +Prynne, have you no compliment for us?" + +"It is our advantage," said Prynne in answer; "let us see that we +deserve it. There as a Power that judgeth right, and in serving of whom +there is great reward. For my part, I have done much wrong, to your +husband among others. I have been punished for mine offences; if I would +avoid more punishment, I must offend no more." + + + + +APPENDIX. + + +The character of Sir George Carteret is taken from the materials of the +time, without aid from fancy. + +It should be added that Charles showed no ingratitude towards this +faithful servant. After the Restoration he settled in London, where--in +spite of his bad English, noticed by Andrew Marvell--he rose to high +rank and founded a noble family, now represented by the Marquess of +Bath. + +Carteret was employed at the Admiralty, first as Treasurer, afterwards +as Commissioner--or Junior Lord. He was also Vice-Chamberlain of the +Royal Household; and he amassed considerable wealth. + +But he never forgot his native island. He endeavoured to found a High +School at St. Helier, what in the pompous style of these days would be +called a "College." But the project broke down for want of earnestness +on the part of the Jersey people, though Sir George offered the then +very large sum of 50,000 _livres tournois_ towards the endowment. He +lived till 1680. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of St George's Cross, by H. G. Keene + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ST GEORGE'S CROSS *** + +***** This file should be named 14216.txt or 14216.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/4/2/1/14216/ + +Produced by Steven Gibbs, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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