The King's Exile (Thomas Hill Trilogy 2)

by Andrew Swanston

‘Above all,’ said Charles proudly, ‘I practised and practised with rapier and sword against older and stronger opponents until, by the age of eighteen, I could best my tutor.’ And, he said, he could do so with either hand. His father had insisted that his son be equally adept with left hand or right, to the point at which he could easily interchange and his opponent would not know from which direction the next attack was coming.

  ‘What’s more, my boy,’ the old man had told him encouragingly, ‘should you be unfortunate enough to lose one arm in battle, you will still have the other to fall back on.’ Charles chortled at the memory and returned to his practice.

  Adam and Thomas, meanwhile, were busy building their defences. They set up lookout posts from which an advancing enemy would be seen well before he was within musket range, for which red and green platoons would provide a rota of sentries. At the first sign of trouble, the lookouts would fall back to the redoubts and take their places among the defenders. The redoubts were constructed of heaped brushwood, logs, rocks and a pair of beds chopped up for the purpose. Mary’s objections to this had been ignored.

  Mary and Patrick had sewn pieces of material of the appropriate colour on to the right sleeve of each man’s shirt, so there was no excuse for any man to forget which platoon he was in. They also made sure the pork and flour were kept dry, the eggs were stored safely and the chickens and turkeys fed daily. And Mary had cut up her petticoats and dresses to be used as bandages. When they simply could not think of anything else to do, Mary had offered their services to her brother.

  ‘The food and water are stored and ready. We have rags for bandages, needles and threads and sharp knives for surgery, although heaven forfend that we shall have to cut off anything or extract any musket balls, and strong rum for the patients. We’re as ready as we shall ever be. Is there anything else we can do?’

  ‘Well now, sister,’ replied Adam, ‘I’m reluctant to put you in danger, but it would greatly assist our gallant musketeers if they had a continual supply of primed and loaded muskets. Thanks to Charles, we have plenty of flintlocks so if you’re willing, you could take up a position inside one of the redoubts and replace each fired piece with a loaded one. That would quicken the speed of fire. But you must keep well down – lie on the ground if necessary – and on no account offer your head as a target.’

  ‘We shall need instruction, Adam, but of course I’ll be a loader. And so will Thomas. It’ll be more exciting than handing out rations. Charles will teach us, won’t he?’

  ‘I expect he’ll be delighted. Let’s go and ask him.’

  Charles was indeed delighted. ‘It will be an honour, my dear,’ he said, smiling hugely, ‘and I’ll wager you’re better pupils than the maggoty lot Adam’s sent us so far. Shall we begin at once?’

  At a safe distance from everyone, they had their first lesson in the art of preparing a flintlock. Charles was an assiduous teacher, taking care to explain in detail the way to measure powder into the powder horn and how to load the shot. They both picked it up easily and by the end of the lesson could prime and load a flintlock in under a minute. Their teacher was impressed but still insisted on a second lesson the next day.

  ‘You must be entirely confident,’ he advised. ‘Practice, practice and more practice, that’s what Cromwell preaches to his Model Army, and we’ll do well to take heed. Parade tomorrow at nine, if you please.’

  ‘Very well, Charles, if you insist, but we do seem to have got the essence of it, don’t you agree, Thomas?’

  ‘I do. But perhaps Charles expects us to load two muskets in a minute.’

  ‘That would be excellent.’ He sounded as if he meant it.

  The next morning, however, when they presented themselves for further instruction Charles had other ideas.

  ‘Priming and loading is all very well but if you can aim and shoot you’ll be even more help. Here are the flintlocks, here is a bag of powder with a horn each, here is a rod and here is the shot,’ he said. ‘And over there,’ pointing to a tree about twenty yards away, ‘is your target.’

  On the trunk of the tree, Charles had carved the head of a man about five and a half feet up from the ground. He was evidently a better soldier than artist because one eye was twice the size of the other and the grinning mouth stretched from left ear to right.

  ‘Why, Charles,’ said Mary, ‘I had no idea you were such a fine woodcarver. What an interesting head you’ve made. Are we now to destroy it with shot?’

  ‘You are. Exactly. You’ll be shooting its eyes out in no time.’

  ‘The left one will be easier, I fancy, than the right,’ observed Thomas.

  ‘Enough of your insolence, Thomas Hill. Just for that, you will go first. Have you ever fired a musket?’

  ‘I have not, although I have attended a battle.’

  ‘Newbury, wasn’t it?’

  ‘It was. I sat in a tent near the king and watched men and animals being killed and maimed. I sent out the king’s orders and received reports from his commanders. Some had to be encrypted or decrypted. I was his cryptographer.’

  ‘Well, well, Thomas. A cryptographer, eh? Codes and suchlike.’

  ‘Exactly. Codes and suchlike. I did no fighting.’

  ‘Well, I don’t imagine we’ll need codes so best have a go with a flintlock.’

  Thomas stepped forward and with an unloaded flintlock was shown how to take up a firm stance with his feet apart, how to hold it firmly in his left hand and how to squeeze the trigger with his right, while squinting down the barrel at his target. It was not difficult and Charles had only to show him once and then suggest minor changes.

  When it was Mary’s turn, however, Charles was displeased. ‘No, no, Mary, that won’t do at all. If you don’t fall over you’ll be lucky and you won’t hit a forest, let alone a tree, like that. Come, allow me.’

  Slipping round behind her, he delicately adjusted the position of her left hand and the set of her shoulders. To be sure of her aim he placed his head beside hers and squinted down the barrel. ‘There, how does that feel? Better, eh? Should hit him like that.’

  Mary wriggled a bit. ‘Very comfortable, Charles. Will we be standing like this for long?’

  It was exactly at this point that Adam arrived to check on progress. He coughed loudly but Charles and Mary were too intent upon their lesson to notice.

  ‘Good morning, Charles,’ called out Adam, ‘I see I find you engaged. Closely engaged by the look of it. Please do proceed. I wouldn’t wish to interrupt.’

  Charles stepped back sharply. ‘Ah, Adam, good morning. Yes, engaged we are. In target practice indeed. You are just in time to observe our first efforts at hitting the target.’

  ‘No doubt Mary at least will have no difficulty in doing so. Few pupils can have enjoyed such intimate attention from their teacher. Was Thomas so fortunate?’

  ‘Don’t be silly, brother. Charles was simply pointing out the deficiencies in my technique. Thomas had no need of such help.’ Mary was blushing.

  ‘Quite so. Though I do hope he’s not expecting you to take a position in the front rank of the infantry. It is uncommon for ladies to do so.’

  ‘No indeed, Adam. Certainly not.’ Charles feigned shock. ‘Our lesson is purely for the purposes of self-defence, no more. Mary has been instructed to take no risk at all. In the event of an attack she will be under cover at all times.’

  ‘I’m heartily glad to hear it. Now shall we watch some target practice?’

  The first attempts of the pupils might have damaged a monkey unlucky enough to be asleep in the branches of the tree but would not have slowed the advance of an enemy. An hour later, however, there was little left of the grinning face and both Adam and Charles pronounced themselves satisfied.

  ‘We deserve a reward after that,’ said Mary. ‘Let’s open a bottle or two of claret. I’ll fetch them. And I’m starving.’

  Charles followed Mary into the house. By the time they returned, Patrick had put food and wine on the table.
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  ‘There’s news from Bridgetown,’ Adam told them, ‘and not good. Walrond is making warlike noises and there have been more banishments. Worse, several estates in the south have been attacked. We must call everyone in at once. It’s not safe any longer outside the ring. The men can go out to cut the cane but they should be armed and they must spend the nights here. The women and children must stay here all the time. There are only a few of them, after all. We mustn’t be caught off guard.’ Adam had made up his mind at once. They would take no more risks than absolutely necessary.

  ‘I agree,’ said Charles. ‘I’ll be off to Speightstown now to see if there is any news from the north.’

  ‘Let us hope we’re left alone,’ said Mary. ‘I don’t believe I could bear the smell of more powder on my hands and clothes. It’s not a perfume I favour.’

  ‘Speaking of which, Mary,’ said Charles, with a sideways look at Adam, ‘I’m struggling with my new paintings. I can’t seem to hang them right. It needs a woman’s touch, I fancy. Might you be free tomorrow?’

  ‘I might. Would midday be convenient?’

  ‘It would. Very.’

  By that evening, all the men in the fields had been armed, blankets had been laid out for them in the redoubts and the women were watching their children playing games outside the house. All the children but one were small – Thomas guessed less than six years old. The exception was a boy of perhaps twelve who sat alone, cross-legged and silent. He was an orphan named Daniel who helped in the curing house. Mary called him over. ‘Daniel, if there is an attack I want you to stay inside the house to help with the children. They must be kept under cover with the women. We don’t want any of them running out to see what all the noise is about.’

  ‘Yes, Miss Lyte. Who is going to attack us?’

  ‘There are bands of men attacking estates in the south. It might happen to us.’

  ‘Are they white men or black men, Miss Lyte?’

  ‘Both. They are armed and dangerous. That is why we are taking precautions. Remember, please, what I have told you.’ Mary looked hard at him. There was something unsettling about this boy. But she had things to attend to. Daniel would have to fend for himself.

  Just before dusk the men came in from the fields, singing as usual and carrying their muskets and swords over their shoulders. Thomas and Adam showed each one where he would sleep and posted two sentries at the spots they had chosen. ‘What do you do if you see or hear anyone approaching?’ Thomas asked them for the hundredth time.

  ‘We run back here and tell you how many there are and which direction they are coming from.’

  ‘Good. Run fast, don’t shout and try not to be seen. Off you go, and don’t dare fall asleep. Any man who does will be put on sentry duty all night for a week. I’ll be checking during the night.’ He would be doing no such thing, but it did not hurt to frighten them a little. It might be someone else’s fight, but he was caught up in it and he would play his part.

  The first alarm came sooner than anyone expected. It was about midnight when the two sentries arrived. Adam heard them coming and went out to meet them.

  ‘Mr Lyte, someone’s coming. I heard the sound of a horse,’ said one.

  ‘So did I,’ agreed the other, ‘but it was more than one. They were making a lot of noise.’ A horseman, or even horsemen, making a lot of noise did not sound like an impending attack, but there was nothing to be gained by taking chances.

  ‘Wake all the men and tell them to take up their stations. No firing without my order. Make it clear.’ Adam went back to tell Mary to stay inside and to keep out of sight until he called for her, then took his flintlock and waited in the shadows in the parlour, where Thomas and Patrick joined him.

  Within a few minutes they heard the horse or horses, which seemed to be coming up the path from the road, and took aim at the opening in the trees where it joined the clearing around the house. The moon was full and it was light enough to see a mounted figure emerge. The rider was alone, and over the songs of the frogs Adam could hear him quietly whistling.

  ‘Who’s there?’ he called. ‘Stand and be recognized.’

  The rider laughed loudly. ‘Can you not recognize me by my excellent and tuneful whistling?’

  Adam put down his flintlock and shouted to the men to do the same. ‘Charles, you clod. We might have shot you.’

  ‘That would have been unfortunate. I’m on your side.’ Charles dismounted unsteadily and led his horse forward.

  ‘Then why have you come under cover of darkness?’

  ‘I would have returned earlier but another, ah, pressing matter detained me. Still, here I am and at your service. Any room at the inn?’

  ‘Come inside and we’ll find a place for you.’

  The two sentries were looking sheepish. ‘Try and count numbers next time but you did the right thing in coming to warn us,’ Adam reassured them. ‘Now back to your posts and stay alert. Our next visitor might not be so friendly.’

  Ignoring Adam’s instructions, Mary had been watching from the doorway. ‘Good evening, Charles. Always a pleasure to see you although this is an unusual time to call on a lady.’

  ‘My apologies, madam,’ replied Charles, with his deepest bow and the most extravagant sweep of his hat that he could manage without falling over. ‘Circumstances conspired against an earlier arrival. I crave your pardon.’

  ‘Circumstances in a bottle or petticoats, I daresay. Or both. Now that we are awake, come inside and tell us your news.’

  They sat round a small table on which Mary had lit candles. ‘The news everywhere is not good,’ began Charles, slurring his words only a little. ‘Walrond continues to insist on oaths of loyalty to the king from all landowners. His men are still calling on anyone who has not sworn and leaving them in no doubt about their duty. Have they been to you yet?’

  ‘Oddly enough, no. I’d swear the oath but Walrond must have overlooked me. Or perhaps I’m not important enough.’

  ‘The Gibbes brothers were important enough,’ said Thomas, ‘and signed happily. It meant nothing to them as it won’t to others.’

  ‘And what of Drax?’ asked Adam.

  ‘He’s refused to swear and so have Alleyne and Middleton. Walrond will announce tomorrow that they are to be banished and their estates sequestered. He’ll say the estates are to be sold for the public purse but I’ll wager he either takes them over himself or gives them to his friends. I don’t trust the man.’

  ‘If he does, he’ll end up with half the island. Those three have over two thousand acres between them.’

  ‘Drax has issued a warning that if his estate is stolen from him, he will persuade Cromwell to send a fleet and will come back with it to reclaim what is his. It reads like a declaration of war. Walrond has changed him from peaceful and moderate to bellicose and angry. Likewise Alleyne.’

  ‘Are there any other militias appearing?’

  ‘A few. Unlike the Gibbes, some landowners are refusing to sign. They’re at liberty for now but they’ve been taking precautions. It’s adding to the tension.’

  ‘Meanwhile,’ said Mary, ‘slaves and servants are running away from unguarded estates all over the island.’

  ‘And they’re getting bolder and more dangerous,’ agreed Adam, ‘yet Walrond seems reluctant to do anything about them. He’ll have to act soon.’

  ‘He will, and he knows it. Let’s hope it’s soon enough.’ Charles paused. ‘There is one bright light on the horizon. There is word from England. Lord Willoughby planned to set sail from Southampton at the end of March. If he did, he will be here soon.’

  ‘Do you think he can do anything about Walrond?’

  ‘If anyone can, he can. Having known him for twenty years I have great faith in his abilities, even if he did start off on the wrong side.’

  Mary rose. ‘With that happy thought, gentlemen, I shall retire. Again. Adam will find you somewhere to rest your head, Charles. It must be heavy.’

  ‘Thank you, my dear. Until
the morning.’

  Next day, Charles went home to collect clothes and a few possessions. He was back at the Lytes’ house by mid-afternoon. ‘My estate is secure and my steward is in full charge. He will call me if he needs me. Until then I shall stay here,’ he announced, adding, ‘assuming you wish me to, of course.’

  ‘Thank you, Charles,’ replied Mary. ‘We do wish you to.’

  ‘I thought we should have a roll-call of every person on the estate each morning and evening, just to make sure everyone is accounted for. Thomas did the first one this morning. There’s one slave missing,’ said Adam.

  ‘And who’s that?’

  ‘The orphan boy, Daniel. He was here last night but this morning he’s disappeared. We’ve searched and there’s no sign of him. It looks as if he’s run off.’

  ‘I fear so,’ said Mary thoughtfully. ‘Let’s hope there are no more.’

  CHAPTER 19

  1650

  THOMAS WAS ADAMANT. ‘I do not care what you think, Patrick, I have barely left the estate for weeks and I am coming with you.’

  ‘Mr Lyte might object.’

  ‘You will persuade him otherwise.’

  ‘The Gibbes are still thundering about the island looking for you. It’s a wonder they haven’t come here.’

  In view of Adam’s failed attempt to buy him, Thomas found it rather surprising. Perhaps their brains had finally succumbed to the drink.

  ‘I doubt if they would recognize me now that I am well fed and well dressed. If they do, I will depend upon you to protect me. Have you got a musket?’

  ‘No, Thomas, slaves do not carry muskets. But I will speak to Mr Lyte. He might take pity on you.’

  It took twenty men to manhandle eight hogsheads of muscovado up ramps on to four carts. Each cart was drawn by a pair of oxen and driven by one of the six slaves chosen for the job, with an assistant beside him to keep an eye on the barrels. They had been securely tied down with thick rope but as each one was worth over twenty pounds, a watchful eye was needed. Adam and a grateful Thomas rode in the fourth cart at the rear of the line. Thomas had the job of barrel-watcher.