Pistoleer: Invasion

by Smith, Skye

  Rob turned to Redbeard and said, "Well there is your answer. Both the crew and the militia were following orders from the top. Under those orders they are obliged to defend each other. Your attempted ambush put you on the wrong side of those orders. Until I have further information I am freeing the crew and placing you and your men under close arrest.” Redbeard just stared back at him helplessly. His nose began to bleed again, so he stuck a finger against it and looked quite ridiculous.

  Once Redbeard and his guards were snuggly bound and left out of the weather in the ship's cabin, the rest were free to march to Saint Annes Fort. Rob led the militia and Daniel led the crew, and all of them were heavily armed. The blood was still surging through them from the incident at the quay, so nerves were on edge and trigger fingers were ready for a fight. Daniel briefed them all about what he knew of the new governor and how he had seized the other ships and their crews. It didn't help their tempers to know that the governor was likely a double-crossing royalist.

  "When we reach the fort let me do the talking,” Rob told the others as they marched along the river front to the fort. "You said that fort is manned by the Lynn militia, who seem now to be answering to the new governor. What is the highest rank in the Lynn militia?"

  "No higher than lieutenant,” replied Tom. "He's not supposed to answer to a governor but to parliament's regional Lord Lieutenant. I suppose that would be the Earl of Manchester now that the trainbands of the eastern counties have been merged."

  They walked by the last quay before the fort, the decrepit old ferry dock now used to tie up the punts of shell seekers. The fort itself was more of a cannon platform than a castle, because it had originally been built to fight off pirate ships rather than armies. The one wall was of brick and was more like a high garden wall than the wall of a fortress. The fort was on a silty peninsula between the river and a creek so the one wall separated it from any approaches by land. The road led to a gate in the wall, called the Watergate, though there was no water course through it.

  "Looks like the governor has been trying to lengthen the wall,” Daniel observed. "He's a fool to be using bricks instead of pale poles. The local silt won't hold the weight of bricks.” There was a guard on the gate, two local militia men, but at the sight of the approaching militia escorting the crew of the ship which had just passed under their guns, they opened the gate without being asked.

  "I am Captain Blake of the parliamentary army,” Rob told the guards. "Please turn out the guard for inspection, and send a message to Governor Le Strange that I have arrived.” One of the guards ran into the fort on the double. Rob could play a pompous ass better than anyone, because everyone expected him to be a pompous ass because he was so short.

  "Well, we are inside the wall,” the sergeant said under his breath. "Now what?"

  "Let me do all the talking,” Rob said yet again. "In that way we won't cross our stories. Oh, and check the primes of your guns.” Those words were passed down through the ranks following them. Instead of making for the officers quarters, Rob led them towards the gun batteries and once he reached the first of the ten culverins, he made a show of inspecting it. No one else took any interest, for they were so old that it would have been unsafe for them to shoot anything other than grape or chain. Any long range shots would risk blowing the bloody things to pieces.

  Rob was keeping his eye on the parade ground outside the officers quarters, and when he saw that the local militia had assembled he told the sergeant to march his men over to stand at attention behind the local militia, but to be ready with their muskets, just in case. Only when both sets of militia were on parade did Rob walk towards them. Daniel and the crew walked five paces behind him. Le Strange must have been watching from his quarters, for he timed his arrival to coincide with Rob's arrival in front of the parade. Accompanying the governor were four men dressed in the same livery as the guards at the ships. The guards who were now trussed up.

  "Governor Le Strange, a pleasure,” Rob said as he clicked his heels, saluted and then held out his hand. "I am Captain Robert Blake and I have come to inspect the militia and the fort on behalf of the Earl of Manchester.

  Le Strange was speechless for a moment while he gathered his thoughts. "I had no idea you were coming, else I would have put on a better show."

  "No need sir, no need. This is a surprise inspection so I do not expect perfection, just readiness. In truth I am surprised at your presence here. This is a militia installation, after all."

  "I, yes, well, the town has no mayor at the moment and so I have taken it upon myself to make sure that the town is well defended. As this is the only fortification ..."

  "What about Castle Rising?” Daniel interrupted. "It's normal for the governor to use the castle there."

  Rob gave Daniel a look that clearly said, "keep quiet,” and then he apologized to the governor for the rude manners of rough seamen. "These are the crew of the ship that just came into port. The guards at the quay asked us bring them here to speak with you. Something about docking tolls."

  "Ah yes,” said Le Strange. "Fortifying the town is expensive, and since parliament has refused my request for funds, I must make do with what I can gather in tolls for the use of the port. This fort, after all, protects the ships in port, so why shouldn't they bare some of the cost. The ships that carry the militia have refused to pay the tolls, for some months now. I have therefore seized their ships until their due is paid."

  "Those ships are under contract to the Earl of Manchester for use by the militia. Would it not have been more prudent to ask the earl to pay the tolls, rather than seize his militia's transport during these perilous times.” Rob did not wait for an answer but instead walked towards the only other officer, a very young lieutenant, who was standing in front of the local militia. "And who might you be, sir?"

  "Joris van Coevorden of the Lynn militia, sir,” the lad said in an overly loud voice with a heavy Dutch accent, and then clicked his heels and saluted. Joris was the Dutch word for George.

  "And is it not your duty to protect the port, and the ships in the port, especially the ships necessary to your own militia?” Rob asked him, while wondering if he should have asked the lad such a picky question using Dutch.

  Not knowing quite how to answer, Joris barked, "Yes sir, and I am sir."

  "What use are the ships if their crews are not standing by? Release the crews at once and have them return to their ships."

  "I forbid it,” Le Strange said as he stepped towards Rob. "Not until the tolls have been paid in full."

  "My dear sir,” Rob put on his best snotrag Oxford affectation, "I have already given you my suggestion as to how you may collect your tolls. Now please refrain from further interference in army business. In truth, it would be more correct if you would vacate this fort forthwith and take up residence at Castle Rising."

  "I will not be spoken to in that way be a mere captain,” Le Strange let his temper fly. "Lieutenant, arrest this crew and lock them up with the others."

  The lieutenant didn't move. Like the others of his company, he had heard the ominous click of ten muskets being cocked by the Fakenham militia standing behind them. Oh well, he despised this old prick Le Strange in any case. "No sir,” he barked in his thick accent. "You have just been dismissed from this army camp so you no longer have any authority here. I must follow orders and release your prisoners."

  There was another ominous clicking, this time from behind the governor where stood his own retainers brought from Hunstanton. It was too little too late. Daniel and his crew already had their dragons drawn and cocked and were walking towards the retainers.

  "I trust it will take you no more than two hours for you to vacate your quarters, governor?” Rob said politely. "If you need help, don't hesitate to ask."

  Le Strange looked around frantically, helplessly, and then realized the hopelessness of his situation. "What, now, in the dark, in the cold of this night?"

  "That would be best, yes. You need not go far.
To the mayor's house, perhaps, or to an inn. You can move on to Castle Rising in the morning."

  "I protest, sir. Such enforced hurry is an insult to the position of governor."

  "Then as a personal favour to you,” Rob told him, "you may stay in your quarters for another night, as may your retainers, but of course they must hand over their weapons to the lieutenant. It wouldn't do for non military personnel to be armed on a militia base."

  "But what about them?” Le Strange asked as he pointed to the crew who were still waving their pirate pistols about.

  "They are under contract to the militia, and so they have an official presence here. Your retainers do not."

  The Fakenham sergeant and his men were having a hard time keeping a straight face, so Rob ordered him away to police the fort and organize the watch. His next words were a polite reminder to the lieutenant that he had been ordered to release his prisoners and to give them back whatever was taken from them, including any weapons. As the two bands of militia marched away, Rob turned to Daniel and gave him a slow wink. Sometimes it was best to play the pompous ass.

  * * * * *

  * * * * *

  The Pistoleer - Invasion by Skye Smith Copyright 2013-15

  Chapter 20 - The Alice sails from Lynn in February 1643

  That night the fortunes of many men were reversed. The governor's retainers, including those from the quay, spent the night in the cells at the fort, while the crews spent the night guarding the ships or sleeping in the narrow beds of the Valiant Sailor. The young lieutenant was given command of the fort and of the Fakenham militia band, while the governor remained under guard in his own quarters.

  As for Daniel and Rob, it was now Daniel who was saying that perhaps Rob was well enough to travel after all, whereas Rob was asking to be taken back to Wellenhay, for he was feeling quite weak and short of breath. That night in the Valiant Sailor they were both kept awake by the animal sounds of the young couple in the next room, who seemed to have boundless energy to bounce their bed.

  "If my information is correct about Le Strange being the king's man sniffing after a knighthood,” Daniel told Rob in a quiet voice as they lay in their beds in the dark and tried to ignore the squeals of delight from the other side of a thin wall, "then there is a lot more in this taking of my ships than the governor’s need for funds to rebuild the fort. More even than the royalist's need to hamper the militia's movements up and down the coast."

  "I had the same thought,” Rob replied. "Which is why I wrote three copies of my report of the situation here in Lynn, and have told the lieutenant to see that they get to the earl, or whomever is in charge of the Eastern militias, in Cambridge, in Norwich, and in London."

  "Do you think it could be that the queen has plans of landing her invasion force here in Lynn?"

  "Perhaps,” replied Rob thoughtfully. Until that moment he hadn't given any thought to the Queen. He had been thinking that this may be the beginning of a revolt by the royalist lords of Anglia to take the pressure off the royalists wintering in Oxford.

  "She'd be a fool to try it,” Daniel continued. "Nowhere is the Dutch republican movement more respected and envied than along this coast. That lieutenant is a good example. There are many Dutch republicans now living here abouts. I wonder how he would Anglicize his name Van Coevorden? Vancouver perhaps?"

  Rob thought for a while about what the queen may be up to. "Perhaps they are going to land elsewhere, but they must travel along this coast. They certainly wouldn't want your fast ships spotting them and reporting them to our navy.” Rob thought about this from the point of view of his own ship, the Alice. "I noticed that each of your ships now carries a bowchaser, a six pounder. You wouldn't have one to spare for the Alice, would you?"

  "The militia provided them to us, just in case, and yes we do have some spares."

  "Just in case what? A single six pounder is not much use against a ship."

  "You know. For putting a shot across a bow or for supporting a boarding or a landing with grapeshot."

  "They can't possibly believe that the queen's ship, probably a Dutch fluyt, will spill her wind just because a six pounder fired across their bow?"

  "They are infantry. What do they know of ships? They don't seem to understand that every convoy of any value has an armed escort. The queen's most certainly will have one. Perhaps an escort of French men'o'war, or Dunkirker galliots, or even Spanish ships of the line. Parliament has captured some of the king's letters and they have been printed in the latest news sheets. They show that Charlie is actively seeking the support of the Catholic kingdoms."

  "Latest news sheets? You never told me you had some news sheets,” Rob interrupted. "Where are they. I want to read them."

  "The lieutenant passed them on to me. I just glanced at them, and then forgot about them. Sorry."

  "I want to read them,” Rob repeated.

  "Tomorrow,” Daniel replied and pretended to be falling asleep. "They can wait, yawn, for, yawn, tomorrow."

  * * * * *

  "You knew,” Rob said accusingly while pointing his yolk soaked spoon at his friend sitting across the table. "You knew and you didn't tell me.” The landlady squeezed in beside him to push some more bacon out of her skillet and onto the platter in the middle of the table. A dozen hands immediately reached towards the platter.

  "If I'd told you, you wouldn't have gotten any sleep. You need your sleep, Rob. You are still not well."

  "Told him what?” asked Tom.

  "See,” Daniel told Rob, "I told you to read those news sheets aloud for everyone to hear."

  "Colonel Ruthven, his army, including my company, have been ambushed by Hopton at Braddock Down,” Rob said mournfully, "A rout, a slaughter, and it's all my fault."

  "It's not your fault Rob,” Daniel told him, "You were here fighting for your own life."

  "Where's Braddock Down, then?” Tom asked.

  "West of Liskeard, which is west of Plymouth,” Rob replied. "It was my grand plan that got all those men killed."

  "It wasn't your plan, it was the capture of the supply ships,” Daniel pointed out. Tom gave him a queer look. "Rob arranged for supply ships to follow Ruthven's campaign into Cornwall to root out Colonel Hopton and his royalists. With the help of the ships, Ruthven could move lighter and faster and not worry about his supply lines. And it worked. First the ships helped to relieve Exeter, so Hopton had to break his siege off and make a run for the safety of Cornwall. Then Ruthven was able to keep right up to him, so it became a running battle that Hopton would eventually lose."

  "But it all went wrong,” Rob added. "Hopton escaped across the Tamar Estuary because the supply ships had been delayed by a big storm, likely that same storm that hit us. Without the ships, Ruthven couldn't ferry his men across the Tamar so he had to go all the way around. By that time Hopton had retreated deep into Cornwall.” Rob stared at Daniel. "Do you think there was treachery? Do you think that the captains of those supply ships changed sides? Why else would they have sailed all the way to Falmouth? There are lots of other storm havens along that coast."

  "Come on, tell us the rest of it,” Tom urged.

  "To escape the storm, the supply ships put in at Falmouth and were captured by the royalists. Instead of the supplies reaching Ruthven, they reached Hopton, but Ruthven didn't know this. He kept chasing Hopton deeper into Cornwall, and then was set on using his own supplies.” Rob could not keep back a sob. "What a disaster, and it was all my doing."

  "Tell you what I would do,” Tom said into the silence that had fallen over the length of the table. "I'd go have a hard talk with them captains of them ships. Maybe even let my dagger do the talking."

  "That won't bring the ambushed men back from the dead,” Rob mumbled.

  "Nay, it won't, but treachery should never be rewarded,” Tom told him. "And if there was treachery it was so those gentlemen captains could earn knighthoods from the king."

  "Tom, will you sail me to Lyme?” Rob asked.

  "If
you want to go that distance in this weather, then why don't you take your own ship,” Tom replied curtly.

  "it's stuck in the ice up river,” Rob argued.

  "And you are not well enough for the trip,” Daniel told him. "Wait until the river melts and I will go with you. By that time you'll be stronger, and perhaps the Swift will be in port."

  "Tom,” Rob tried again, "I'll trade you my Alice for your Friesburn Seven. They are sister ships. I'll send for my crew and I can leave once they get here."

  Tom looked at Daniel and saw Daniel shake his head slightly. "No deal. The Alice was our first conversion to Bermuda rig. The Seven is faster and has a better cabin layout.” This was all true, yet if Daniel had nodded he would have agreed. He watched Rob stand and stomp back to his room. When he was gone, Tom said, "Rob's in a bad way, and I don't just mean his shortness of breath."

  "The worst thing for him is not knowing,” Daniel told him. "His company of troopers was made up of friends and relatives and he left it under the command of his brothers. He frets about whether they are alive, injured, or captured. The army tends to keep bad news a secret. Poor Rob doesn't know who to mourn, if anyone. Today I'll take him back to Sarah. She'll know how to lift his spirits, or at least his breathing."

  "What about us?” Tom asked. "If there is an ice bridge to Wellenhay, we'd far rather be stayin' there than here."

  "You must stay here, and stay armed,” Daniel told him. "I don't trust Le Strange, and though I trust the lieutenant, he is so young that his backbone needs stiffening. The sergeant has enough backbone for both of them, but his men have leave due in Fakenham. Rob sent off some messages. Hopefully they will bring reinforcements, but until then..."

  "We should keep an eye out,” Tom finished the thought. "Gotcha, Danny. Leave it to me."

  * * * * *

  Teesa slipped into bed beside Venka to get warm, and she cruelly reached over her mother to place her icy hands on Daniel's tummy to wake him up. "They are at it again,” she whispered so that she wouldn't wake the other families that were still sharing Venka's cottage due to the cold weather. She meant Rob and Sarah, of course. Ever since Rob had returned they had been going at each other like rabbits in heat.