For Faith and Freedom

by Walter Besant

  CHAPTER XX.

  BENJAMIN'S WARNING.

  Since I have so much to tell, before long, of Benjamin's evilconduct, it must in justice be recorded of him that at this juncturehe endeavoured, knowing more of the world than we of Somerset, towarn and dissuade his cousins from taking part in any attempt whichshould be made in the West. And this he did by means of a letterwritten to his father. I know not how far the letter might havesucceeded, but, unfortunately, it arrived two or three days toolate--when our boys had already joined the insurgents.

  'Honoured Sir,' he wrote, 'I write this epistle, being muchconcerned in spirit lest my grandfather, whose opinions are wellknown, not only in his own county, but also at the Court, shouldbe drawn into, or become cognisant of, some attempt to raise theWest Country against their lawful King. It will not be news to youthat the Earl of Argyle hath landed in Scotland, where he will meetwith such a reception which will doubtless cause him to repentof his rashness. It is also currently reported, and everywherebelieved, that the Duke of Monmouth intends immediately to embarkand cross the sea, with the design of raising the country inrebellion. The Dissenters, who have been going about with sour looksfor five-and-twenty years, venture now to smile and look pleasedin anticipation of another civil war. This may follow, but itstermination, I think, will not be what they expect.

  'I have also heard that my cousin Humphrey, Dr. Eykin's favouritepupil, who hath never concealed his opinions, hath lately returnedfrom Holland (where the exiles are gathered), and passed throughLondon accompanied by Robin. I have further learned that whilein London he visited (but alone, without Robin's knowledge) manyof those who are known to be friends of the Duke and red-hotProtestants. Wherefore, I greatly fear that he hath been incorrespondence with the exiles, and is cognisant of their designs,and may even be their messenger to announce the intentions of hisProtestant champion. Certain I am that should any chance occur ofstriking a blow for freedom of worship, my cousin, though he is weakand of slender frame, will join the attempt. He will also endeavourto draw after him everyone in his power. Therefore, my dear father,use all your influence to withstand him, and, if he must for his ownpart plunge into ruin, persuade my grandfather and my cousin Robinto stay quiet at home.

  'I hear it on the best authority that the temper of the country,and especially in your part of it, hath been carefully studied bythe Government, and is perfectly well known. Those who would risklife and lands for the Duke of Monmouth are few indeed. He may,perhaps, draw a rabble after him, but no more. The fat tradesmen,who most long for the conventicle, will not fight, though they maypray for him. The country gentlemen may be Protestants, but theyare mostly for Church and King. It is quite true that his Majestyis a Roman Catholic, nor hath he ever concealed or denied hisreligion, being one who scorns deception. It is also true that hisprofession of faith is a stumbling-block to many who find it hard toreconcile their teaching of Non-Resistance and Divine Right with theintroduction of the Mass and the Romish Priest. But the country hadnot yet forgotten the sour rule of the Independent; and, rather thansuffer him to return, the people will endure a vast deal of RoyalPrerogative.

  'It is absolutely certain--assure my grandfather on this point,whatever he may learn from Humphrey--that the better sort will neverjoin Monmouth, whether he comes as another Cromwell to restorethe Commonwealth, or whether he aspires to the Crown and dares tomaintain--a thing which King Charles did always stoutly deny--thathis mother was married. Is it credible that the ancient throne ofthese Kingdoms should be usurped by the base-born son of Lucy Waters?

  'I had last night the honour of drinking a bottle of wine with thatgreat lawyer, Sir George Jeffreys. The conversation turned upon thissubject. We were assured by the Judge that the affections of thepeople are wholly with the King; that the liberty of worship whichhe demands for himself he will also willingly extend to the country,so that the last pretence of reason for disaffection shall beremoved. Why should the people run after Monmouth, when, if he weresuccessful, he could give no more than the King is ready to give?I was also privately warned by Sir George that my grandfather'sname is unfavourably noted, and his actions and speeches will bewatched. Therefore, Sir, I humbly beg that you will represent to himand to my cousins, and to Dr. Eykin himself, first the hopelessnessof any such enterprise and the certainty of defeat; and next thepunishment which will fall upon the rebels and upon those who lendthem any countenance. Men of such a temper as Dr. Comfort Eykinwill, doubtless, go to the scaffold willingly with their mouths fullof the texts which they apply to themselves on all occasions. Forsuch I have no pity, yet for the sake of his wife and daughter Iwould willingly, if I could, save him from the fate which will behis if Monmouth lands in the West. And as for my grandfather, 'tisterrible to think of his white hairs blown by the breeze while thehangman adjusts the knot; and I should shudder to see the blackenedlimbs of Robin stuck upon poles for all the world to see.

  'It is my present intention, if my affairs permit, to followmy fortunes on the Western Circuit in the autumn, when I shallendeavour to ride from Taunton or Exeter to Bradford Orcas. Mypractice grows apace. Daily I am heard in the Courts. The Judgesalready know me and listen to me. The juries begin to feel theweight of my arguments. The attorneys besiege my chambers. For ajunior I am in great demand. It is my prayer that you, Sir, may liveto see your son Chancellor and a Peer of the realm. Less than LordChancellor will not content me. As for marriage, that might hindermy rise; I shall not marry yet. There is in your parish, Sir, onewho knows my mind upon this matter. I shall be pleased to think thatyou will assure her--you know very well whom I mean--that my mindis unaltered, and that my way is now plain before me. So, I remain,with dutiful respect,

  your obedient son, B. B.'

  This letter arrived, I say, after the departure of Robin with hiscompany of village lads.

  When Mr. Boscorel had read it slowly and twice over, so as to loseno point of the contents, he sat and pondered awhile. Then he arose,and with troubled face he sought Sir Christopher, to whom he read itthrough. Then he waited for Sir Christopher to speak.

  'The boy writes,' said his Honour, after a while, 'according to hislights. He repeats the things he hears said by his boon companions.Nay, more, he believes them. Why, it is easy for them to swearloyalty and to declare in their cups where the affections of thepeople are placed.'

  'Sir Christopher, what is done cannot be undone. The boys aregone--alas!--but you still remain. Take heed for a space what yousay as well as what you do.'

  'How should they know the temper of the country?' Sir Christopherwent on, regardless. 'What doth the foul-mouthed profligate SirGeorge Jeffreys know concerning sober and godly people? These arenot noisy Templars; they are not profligates of the Court; theyare not haunters of tavern and pot-house; they are not those whofrequent the play-house. Judge Jeffreys knows none such. Theyare lovers of the Word of God; they wish to worship after theirfashion; they hate the Pope and all his works. Let us hear whatthese men say upon the matter.'

  'Nay,' said Mr. Boscorel; 'I care not greatly what they say. Butwould to God the boys were safe returned.'

  'Benjamin means well,' Sir Christopher went on. 'I take this warningkindly; he means well. It pleases me that in the midst of the workand the feasting, which he loves, he thinks upon us. Tell him,son-in-law, that I thank him for his letter. It shows that he hathpreserved a good heart.'

  'As for his good heart'--Mr. Boscorel stroked his nose with hisforefinger--'so long as Benjamin gets what he wants--which isBenjamin's mess, and five times the mess of any other--there is nodoubt of his good heart.'

  'Worse things than these,' said Sir Christopher, 'were said of uswhen the civil wars began. The King's troops would ride us down; thecountry would not join us; those of us who were not shot or cut downin the field would be afterwards hanged, drawn, and quartered. Yetwe drove the King from his throne.'

  'And then another King came back again. So we go up, and so wego down. But about this expedition
and about these boys my mindmisgives me.'

  'Son-in-law,' Sir Christopher said solemnly, 'I am now old, and theeyes of my mind are dim, so that I no longer discern the signs ofthe times, or follow the current of the stream; moreover, we hearbut little news, so that I cannot even see any of those signs. Yetto men in old age, before they pass away to the rest provided by theLord, there cometh sometimes a vision by which they are enabled tosee clearly when younger men are still groping their way in a kindof twilight. Monmouth hath landed; my boys are with him; they arerebels; should the rising fail, their lives are forfeit; and that ofmy dear friend Dr. Comfort Eykin's--yea, and my life as well belike,because I have been a consenting party. Ruin and death will in thatevent fall upon all of us. Whether it will so happen I know not, nordo I weigh the chance of that event against the voice of conscience,duty, and honour. My boys have obeyed that voice; they have goneforth to conquer or to die. My vision doth not tell me what willhappen to them. But it shows me the priest flying from the country,the King flying from the throne, and that fair angel, whom we callFreedom of Conscience, returning to bless the land. To know that thelaws of God will triumph--ought not that to reconcile a man, alreadyseventy-five years of age, to death, even a death upon the gallows?What matter for this earthly body so that it be spent until the endin the service of the Lord?'