The Coming of the King

by Joseph Hocking

  CHAPTER XX

  THE WISDOM OF SOLOMON

  Both the squire and the vicar eyed me closely as I entered, as thoughthey seemed doubtful as to how they should treat me. I noticed that mysword, which had been taken from me, was placed in a corner of the room,and as presently both of them nodded to me with a smile, I concludedthat they intended to treat me with some courtesy.

  "We have brought you hither," said Master Wellwood, "because being menwho love peace, as well as lovers of justice, we desired to give you anopportunity of explaining your unruly behaviour to-day."

  "In what way have I behaved in an unruly way?" I asked.

  "You sought to interfere when the king's commands were being obeyed."

  "What commands?"

  "The commands that justice shall be done to loyal members of theChurch."

  "When were such commands given?" I asked. "Because never yet have Iheard of them. But last night did I have audience with the king'sbrother, the Duke of York, while my father, whom I also saw, and whohath been near the king ever since his Majesty's return, never saidaught to me concerning them."

  At this they looked at each other somewhat dolefully, as though theyknew not what next to say.

  "Your name, young master?" said Master Wellwood.

  "My name must not be known," I replied. "I am on the king's business,and thus do not tell my name to every passerby; nevertheless, I thinkhis Majesty will be angry when he knows that his trusted envoy hathbeen thrown into a lock-up."

  "It may be, young master; we acted zealously, yet we acted in the king'sinterests," replied Master Wellwood. "For what is the truth? It is onlyby supporting the Church that we support the king. For this is how itappeareth to us. Religion must be maintained, and schismatics cast out.For who are the king's enemies? The schismatics. Through them His SacredMajesty King Charles the First was beheaded, therefore no man can beloyal to the king without establishing the true religion. And what istrue religion? It is the Protestant religion--that is the Protestantreligion which is neither rabid nor rancorous, but such as King Charlesthe First encouraged and sanctioned. But where is that true Protestantreligion to be found? Only in the Episcopacy. For the safety of theState, and the permanence of the crown, we must have bishops, priests,and deacons. All schismatics are enemies to the crown, and to religion.Therefore, although no laws hath yet been passed against these naughtyheretics, we must for the sake of the king's crown stop the mouths ofall these Presbyterians and Independents."

  Master Wellwood was wellnigh out of breath by the time he had finishedthis long harangue, but having taken a drink from a glass of brandy hewent on.

  "That was why, out of loyalty to his Majesty, and for the sake ofreligion, we even drove out that blaspheming prater this morning.Moreover, as he usurped Master Noel's house we naturally drove him outfrom hither. But for his naughty tongue he need not now be in prison;but he spoke foul untruths, therefore had he to be punished as abrawler. Besides, not knowing who you were, and when you took sides withthe prating heretic, we naturally thought you were of his order.Therefore it was our duty to punish you. But since we have decided thatyou were in ignorance as to your duty and therefore, judging you to be aman of quality, we give you back your sword and your liberty."

  With that Master Wellwood rose, and gave me my sword back.

  "Your horse will be also ready at the _White Hart_," he went on, "and ifyou have the ear of the king you can tell him that we are his mostzealous subjects."

  As may be imagined, I was much angered at the coolness of thisdismissal, but when I came to think about the matter I came to theconclusion that I should do no good by causing a fuss. For although thelaws had not been altered, so greatly had the tide of feeling changedthat it was impossible to get justice for the Independents; moreover, ifthe king were informed about the things which had taken place, he woulddoubtless have laughed indifferently, and have taken no further notice.In truth, as I was afterwards told, before any acts against Dissenterswere passed, the king was much pleased when he was told that they werethrown into prison so that his throne might be established.

  Without much ado, therefore, I went back to the inn, and, not desiringto remain any longer in the town, mounted Black Ben and rode through thenight towards Folkestone. Not that I was overmuch pleased at the waythings had turned out. It is true I was young, and had given but littleheed to matters relating to religion, yet did I conceive that I had notbehaved very gallantly to Master Burnbridge, whose cause I had espoused.Yet so angry was I at being imprisoned, and so eager was I to get toPycroft Hall that I thought little of anything else. The time was comingwhen I was to be brought into closer contact with matters appertainingto religion, but at that time I was but ill-acquainted with thosequestions which were to be of such trouble to the State. Moreover, as Irecalled my experiences at Pycroft I became more and more anxious lest Ishould fail in the thing I had set out to do. I realized that directly Ihad escaped from the prison house in which I had been immured, I oughtto have returned forthwith, and rested not until I had obtained adocument of such great value. But I had gone to Dover to witness thecoming of the king, and when I had heard that Mistress Constance Denmanwas imprisoned I had forgotten all else in order that I might set her atliberty.

  When I drew near to Pycroft I began to plan how I might carry mydesigns into effect. For although the thing seemed easy enough at first,it assumed different proportions as I drew nearer to it. Moreover, Icontinued to upbraid myself for allowing so much precious time toescape, during which Father Solomon might have transported the thingelsewhere. Would not the very fact that I knew the hiding place causethe old man to remove it? Before this time he would doubtless have againdescended into the cavern to discover what had become of me, and onfinding that I had gone would take steps accordingly.

  Nevertheless, I hoped for the best in spite of the fears I have here setdown, and when on the Monday I drew near Folkestone, I had my plans allready. I did not go to the _Barley Sheaf_, as before, but instead rodestraight to Pycroft Hall. The same silence reigned as I passed throughthe woods, and although it was now fast approaching midsummer the birdsseemed afraid to sing, so dark and gloomy were the trees whichsurrounded the house.

  No man did I meet, and for this I was very thankful. I felt that thething which I desired to do demanded the greatest secrecy, and that itwould not be wise to let any man be acquainted with my doings. For thisreason I did not even go to an inn, as I had first intended, but insteadmade my way direct to the house. When I had wellnigh reached the openspace which surrounded the building I dismounted and proceeded on foot,leaving Black Ben to roam as he felt disposed. I knew I was safe indoing this, for I had trained him to come to my whistle even as a dogobeys his master. As for any one stealing him, that, as I have explainedelsewhere, was impossible.

  Directly I had come to the open space I had a feeling that something hadhappened. The very air seemed laden with mystery, and on casting my eyestowards the house my feelings were confirmed. A great part of thebuilding was in ruins. A few days before it had stood intact, its doorswere bolted, its windows barricaded; but now not a door remainedstanding. There was not a whole window to be seen. Eagerly I rushedacross towards the tree from which I had first seen the strange old man,but on arriving there I saw that this end of the house was wellnighcompletely demolished. All around, moreover, were heaps of debris;desolation was more than ever manifested. But little more than the shellof the building remained.

  A minute later I made my way to the room where I had my interview withthe old man, but the place was scarcely recognizable. Only one thingremained which reminded me of our meeting. That was a grinning skull,which had somehow survived the wreck of other things.

  For a moment I was stunned. I could not comprehend what it allportended; but presently my mind became clearer. Following as well as Iwas able the course I remembered to have taken with the old man on thenight of our interview, I found my way to the place where the trap doorhad been lifted. A great heap of rubbish crossed
the place now, and thisI set to work to move with all speed. Ere long I discovered the thing Isought, and remembering the spot where old Solomon had pressed his foot,I did even as he had done, and the door lifted. As it did so I startedback, for a choking sulphurous smell arose, and to my excitedimagination I thought I heard strange cries.

  "It might be the very mouth of hell," I said to myself; and in truththere was reason for my thought. When I called to mind what he had said,together with the strange history of the place, I did not wonder thatthe simple folk were afraid to come hither. The sulphurous smoke,moreover, set me coughing greatly, while a great feeling of dread gathold of me.

  But this was only for a moment. Lonely as was the place, and fearful aswere the thoughts in my mind, I conquered myself. Perhaps my curiosityhelped me in this. For now that I had come so far I determined to probethis thing to the bottom. I felt sure that this was all done by humanmeans, although I could not understand it.

  Having seen to it that my flint and tinder and candle were in goodcondition, I put my foot on the step of the ladder, and descended intothe depths as I had done when the old man was with me.

  I thought I heard a strange mocking laugh as I did this, but I put itdown to my excited imagination, and although my heart beat aloud, I wentstraight on. On reaching the bottom of the shaft I lit my candle, andthen followed the windings of the tunnel, even as I had followed thembefore. Having made careful note of everything on the previous occasionI found but little difficulty in finding my way again. And yet never inmy life had I made so fearful a journey; for try as I might I could notrid from my mind the fact that I was surrounded by grinning jabberingspirits of the dead, who mocked me in the thing I was seeking to do.Neither could I rid myself of the fear that even then old Solomon wasnear me, waiting to complete the destruction of my life which he hadattempted when we were here together before.

  As I look back now I wonder that I did not give up my search in despair,for while any man with good courage can fight a battle in the open day,when his enemy is plainly in sight, it is another matter to face dreaddarkness, and the thousand things that haunt the darkness. In truth Idoubt whether I should have gone forward but for two things. The one wasmy father's teaching. For this stood me in good stead now. Often had helaughed at the stories of witches and wizards; often had he scorned inmy hearing stories of the supernatural which were so rife in every homein our land. But this was not all. The desire to possess the thing whichwould alter the destiny of England nerved me to brave anything. Iremembered the look on Duke James' face. I called to mind how I had beenattacked on the highway, and the words which had been uttered, and Iknew the thing meant much. I had seen the writing on the parchment, andI understood what it meant. Besides, my father had commanded me. Hisfuture depended on the discovery, for Duke James had said that if thiswere brought to him my father's hopes should be fulfilled. And there wasmore than this. Even then I bethought me of the woman whom I had rescuedfrom Bedford Gaol, and the more I thought of her the more did I fear forher. If she were captured again, should I not, by the possession of thisprecious document, have means in my hand whereby I could render herservice?

  Therefore I went forward until I came to the open place where the thinghad been placed, and here I stood still. For a moment I thought I wasgoing to swoon, for there were many strange sounds in my head, while theblack sides of the cavern, which were dimly revealed by the candle Iheld in my hand, seemed to be dancing around me. But this I knew wasbecause my heart beat so loudly, and because my blood chased so madlythrough my veins. So I called all my resolution to my aid, and conqueredmy weakness.

  "Then I took the thing in my hand, and unfolded it."]

  After a few moments I located the place where the thing had been put,and eagerly I hurried thither.

  Yes, there was the black box as I had seen it before. It seemed asthough it had never been moved since the hour when Father Solomon hadput it back. Feverishly I took it, and then looked fearfully around me,because even then I fancied that watchful eyes might be upon me. Butthere was nothing.

  Holding the box in one hand, and the candle in the other, I rememberthinking that my best plan was to get out into the open air, where Icould again examine its contents. But I was too impatient for this.Propping my candle between two stones I got down on my knees, andprepared to open it, but I stopped with a start and a shudder.

  I could have sworn that I heard a cackling mocking laugh close to myears, and again I looked fearfully around. But there was nought to beseen, and so still had all things become that the silence seemed to makea noise.

  "It is nought but my fancy," I said aloud, and I shivered at the soundof my own voice. Also many wild fancies flitted across my mind. Ithought I saw Lucy Walters change from a beauteous nut-brown maid, withskin fair and smooth, and altogether lovely to behold, into a hideouscorrupt-looking hag. She shook a leprous finger at me, and leeredmockingly into my face. Again also I thought I heard the mocking cackleof old Father Solomon, which seemed to arouse all sorts of unearthlywails.

  "It's nought but my fancy," I again repeated aloud, and this time thesound of my voice gave me courage. I no longer feared unearthlyvisitants. The thing was in my hands, and I would examine it.

  The lid of the box opened without difficulty, and I saw a piece of paperlying within it. As I saw it I laughed aloud, so pleased was I.

  Then I took the thing in my hand, and unfolded it.

  This is what I read:--

  _He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it._

  _If the iron be blunt, and he do not whet the edge, then must he put forth more strength._

  _The lips of a fool will swallow up himself. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk mischievous madness._

  _Vanity of vanity, saith the preacher, all is vanity._

  THE WORDS OF SOLOMON THE WISE.

  This was all. The marriage contract was gone, and nothing was left inits place save the paper on which the words were written that I havehere set down.

  Eagerly I peered into the hole where the box had been placed; but it wasempty. Nothing was there save the void space which mocked me.

  I stamped my foot in my rage. This, then, was the end of my work. OldSolomon had outwitted me, even as he had said, and I fancied I saw thegrin on his face as he had planned my discomfiture.

  After a time I grew more calm. There must be a meaning in all this. Ifthe old man had planned all this he must have had reasons for so doing.Had he come hither to find me, and being unable to do so had he beenstricken with fear? After all the thing I had seen was different fromthis. I had seen the signature of Lucy Walters, and of Charles Stuart.Nothing could destroy that fact. If the old man had taken the parchmentaway, and destroyed the house, he had done so with a purpose. He musthave had a motive in so doing. Was that motive fear or interest?Besides, the old man must have another hiding-place. True I had been afool, a double-dyed fool, for not keeping the thing when I had once heldit in my hand; but it might not be too late to redeem the past. I wouldfind out the meaning of what I had seen; I would probe the thing to thebottom.

  All my superstitious fears were gone. I no longer heard whisperingvoices, or wailing cries; I no longer saw grinning faces or evil forms.The darkness had no dread for me; my anger had driven away all myterrors.

  Taking the box with me I hurried back to the stairway by which I hadentered, and a few minutes later I stood in the sunlight again. Theevening had now begun to draw to its close, but the sun was stillvisible behind the tree tops, and after the darkness in which I had beenimmured its light was very pleasant.

  "I will not rest until the box hath the true parchment again," I saidgrimly, as I placed within it the paper on which old Father Solomon hadwritten his mocking words. "There must be some trace of him somewhere;how can I find it?"

  I gave a long shrill whistle, and a few seconds later I heard Black Benwhinnying. This was followed by the trample of hoofs, and dir
ectly afterhe came up to me, and rubbed his nose against my hand.

  "Ben," I said to him, "we are beaten this time; but you and I will yetsucceed," and I patted him gently.

  Again he whinnied as though he understood, while I bethought me of whatI must do next.

  I had some trouble in putting away the black box in my saddle-bag, but Iat length succeeded in doing so, after which I rode through the darkwoods towards the highway. By the time I had gone a little way I feltboth faint and hungry. The excitement through which I had passed hadleft me with a great languor, so presently seeing a peasant I inquiredthe way to the nearest inn, which I found was of the better order ofplaces of refreshment, and where I had no difficulty in obtaining foodfor both man and beast.

  After seeing to it that Black Ben was well groomed and foddered, andhaving partaken of a good meal myself, I felt my own man again, and erelong found my way into the room where three or four men, whom I judgedto be farmers, were drinking. They had been talking eagerly when Ientered, but on seeing me they rose, touched their forelocks, and thensat down again.

  I greatly desired them to speak freely, so having ordered morerefreshments for them I tried to draw them into conversation. To mysatisfaction I soon discovered that my bounty unloosed their tongues,and I found that they vied with each other to answer whatever questionsI asked. Nevertheless I was wary even in this, for I was desirous at allhazards to avoid arousing suspicion. I therefore spoke first of thepossible harvest, and of the good times we hoped to have now that theking had come to his own.

  After this I spoke of the coming of the king, and of the gay doings atDover, and presently, little by little, I led mp the conversation toPycroft Hall. Directly the name passed my lips, however, they becamesilent, as though a great fear possessed them.

  "Is aught ill with the place?" I asked.

  "There is no Pycroft Hall now," said one presently, and his voice almostsank to a whisper as he spoke.

  "No Pycroft Hall? Why I saw it not long since myself, and a gloomy oldplace I thought it was," I said.

  "The devil hath blown it to atoms," said the man fearfully.

  "You are but laughing at me," I cried.

  "Nay, worshipful master, but we be not. It hath only happened of latethat this hath come to pass."

  "Since what hath come to pass?"

  "We were speaking of it at the moment when you entered the room, youngmaster, and not knowing how you might relish such talk, we e'en held ourtongues."

  "What talk?"

  "Why, about the devil blowing up Pycroft Hall."

  "If you know aught I should be glad to hear it. I love much such storiesas you speak of."

  "You are not one that fears the devil, young master?"

  "I trust in an easy conscience and a good sharp sword," I made answer."Nevertheless I love the gossip of the times, whether it concerns thedevil or of those who have no dealings with him."

  "Well, master, this is what hath taken place. It is said that three daysago some of the king's men came hither to visit it. But before theyreached it, although they drew near to it, they heard a great noise, asthough the world were coming to an end. Of this there can be no mannerof doubt, for I myself heard it, although I was a mile away."

  "When was this?" I asked.

  "Last Friday that ever was," replied the man. "Friday is the devil'sday, and he played his game last Friday. For years it's been haunted asall the country knows. Your honour may have heard of it."

  Hereupon he told me a long story which I will not set down here, becauseI have already mentioned much of the things he said in what I havepreviously written.

  "Well," I said, when he had finished the story, "the king's men went tosee it, you say."

  "People say it was the king's men, but we be not sure. But be that as itmay, when they were on the way to the house, a place I would not go tomyself, no not for ten pound in gold, they heard a noise like a clap ofthunder, and they said they felt the ground shaking under their feet."

  "Well, what then?" I said eagerly, for the man stopped.

  "When they came up to it they could see nothing for smoke," said theman; "a smoke that smelt of brimstone, and then they were so frightenedthat they came back. Next day the parson went near to see it, and hesaid he believed that the spell of the devil was broken, although thehouse was wellnigh blown to pieces."

  "When did the parson go up?"

  "On Saturday, but 'twas Friday evening when the king's men went up."

  "You say you heard the noise yourself?"

  "Ay I did, and I saw more than any of them."

  "What did you see?"

  "I saw the devil."

  "Tell me about it?"

  "I'm afraid," said the man. "I've never said so much to anybody before,even to my wife; but this drop o' drink that you've given me hath seemedto fire my courage."

  "Tell me and you shall have some more. Nay, your jug is empty. I willorder some more."

  The landlord brought a stoup of strong waters and placed it on thetable, and having left us, we all drew our chairs close to the farmer,so that we could the better hear what he had to say.