The body of Christopher Plummer was presented to the Bench when his case was called and was pronounced to be that of a felon, killed in the commission of attempted murder of an officer in the execution of his duties. As such, the whole of his estate, the sum of his goods and chattels, was forfeit to the Crown; the Bench would take charge of it pending its proper dispersal. It would be appropriate, the magistrates held, that some substantial part of his possessions of coins and of goods should end up in the possession of his putative victim, a compensation for the harm the villain had attempted upon his person. They gave Micah the keys taken from Plummer’s person.
Micah was not entirely pleased to discover that he might be enriched to the tune of perhaps two hundred pounds and the possession of a house.
“It smacks of blood money, Captain.”
“It does indeed, Red Man. One of the best kinds of money! A very pretty little property – a stone-made house with six bedrooms and large downstairs and a cellar too. Outside, a yard and the two workshops and a store room where Mr Fuller tells me the owner carried out the cabinet-making with the aid of two journeymen and an apprentice. One of the journeymen has worked ten years since serving his time as apprentice. I do not doubt that he could continue the business for a wage and a small share of the takings. There might be a pound or two a week from that and the goodwill for keeping men in work, which is never to be sniffed at.”
A house in town would have much in its favour, Micah thought when he had five minutes to sit and consider the situation, waiting for the body to be taken away and the next case called. His mother would not approve, but he could beg his two eldest sisters to come to town and act as housekeeper and cook and maids and keep his property from falling into disrepair. They might well be safer in town than out in a small village in troubled times. If needs be, he might speak to Brother Jacob and suggest that all three of the girls should move in, as if they were maids in service, as was perfectly normal. It might be the wisest course.
The magistrates were in a bad frame of mind after that first hearing. Mr Kit Plummer had mocked them, they believed. He had shown himself a malignant of the most murderous kind and had treated them with disdain. Those who followed after him discovered that there was little of mercy remaining in the Bench.
None of the defendants hanged, for they had offered no direct violence to the soldiers who took them up. All, however, were stripped of the entirety of their possessions, having used their wealth, small though it may have been, to tyrannise the good people of the town. The men and any grown sons were all flogged as well, their womenfolk spared that humiliation for decency’s sake, and the families were driven out of town, sent off to find haven where they could whether they had kin to flee to or not. As an act of charity, each woman and child was given a loaf of bread as they walked off, supporting their suffering menfolk.
“A cleaner town now, Red Man. We have done good work here this day.”
Reluctantly, Micah agreed.
“I cannot like having bathed in the man Plummer’s blood, Captain, but indeed, it was by his own choice that he died. What was the count on the warlike stores taken this day, sir?”
Captain Holdby rubbed his hands with glee.
“No fewer than forty flintlock muskets, and all of the same bore. Dutch made, I am certain, and brought across by the Lord Lieutenant of the County and distributed to malignants against the coming war. Now they will be used against him!”
“Good. We can arm a full half-company with them and what we have already. There must be fifty and more of long pikes for another half-company to march at their side. All we shall need will be the men. They may come to us over the next few months, now that the town is pacified.”
“We have food sufficient for them now – wheat and rye flour in good quantity as well as already baked hard bread. Add to that, beans in sacks and hogsheads and oats as well, which may feed either horses or men. There is a substantial weight of barley; that, as goes without saying, will be better sold.”
Micah was not sure why they should get rid of the barley.
“Brewing, Red Man. Barley is the base for beer and for the strong waters that are sometimes distilled. The beer and ale we need is better bought in – we can watch the amounts if we purchase rather than brew for ourselves.”
That was obviously true. Micah would remember that for the future – he might find himself victualling a fortress or camp one day.
“What of meats, Captain? Have we money for their purchase?”
“An amount of salt beef but the most of that will continue to come down from Newark, or so I trust. The biggest concern I have relates to where to store our supplies. If a troop of Yeomanry arrives, then they can feed themselves. They are not to make hay with our stock of food.”
“We need a large stone-built barn, close to town, or a warehouse actually here. By the river, perhaps? The Welland is large enough to run boats down to the sea, or so I have been told, so there must be storage places for the cargoes going in and out. Little barges and wherries can carry as much as ten tons, so I believe. Was we to take over such a warehouse, it would serve our needs well.”
Captain Holdby was impressed – it was a sensible suggestion. His protégé was growing up, thinking for himself, which was much to be applauded.
“I shall search for a store tomorrow, Red Man. The last I heard was that the Yeomanry are due on the first day of July, which gives us the better part of three weeks yet.”
“Then, Captain, with your permission, I shall today ride up to the village and speak to my brother and obtain his approval for my sisters to move into my house in town.”
Jacob could imagine that the girls would face perils in town, it being a licentious place, full of wicked sinners. He could also envisage an army marching through the countryside and suspected the girls would face even more immediate dangers in such a case. He gave his permission for the two elder girls to go.
“Thine mother will need the company of Rosamund – one must stay with her.”
Widow Slater, increasingly unwell in her body and querulous, was urgent that none of the girls should go – they must not be left alone, exposed to the wickedness of a town. Who knew what might happen to them, alone among so many?
Jacob believed his sisters might be trusted. He gave his ruling, said that it should be so.
His mother announced that she would take her plea for the protection of her poor girls to Pastor Doddington – he would know what was right.
“The girls will go to Brother Micah’s house and care. I have said what shall be and thou shalt not gainsay me, Widow Slater. If so be thou goest to Pastor Doddington, then stay with him. This house will be closed to thee!”
His mother told him he was a wicked man, no better than his father to say such a thing. The comparison bitterly offended Jacob.
“Rosamund, pack thy bag. Go with thy sisters, all three of you together. I shall not see thee to stay here and learn foolishness from thy mother, who has obviously grown addled in her dotage. Be ready to walk at thy brother’s side within the hour.”
Her whole wardrobe would fit into a small wicker hand basket. She needed five minutes to pack.
Rebecca said nothing, as was only right for a wife. Micah wondered if she envied her husband’s sisters.
It was an adventure for the girls.
They had walked down to the winter market in town once a year, together with all of the physically able villagers, men and boys in a protective circle around their womenfolk and Pastor Doddington at their head. They had sung hymns as their procession had passed down the road, keeping up their spirits as they passed out of the known lands of the village.
The three walked beside Micah, almost touching him, shawls wrapped tight despite the warmth of the summer’s day. He led his horse, somewhat to their trepidation, they never having been so close to any animal. The village had no dogs, Pastor Doddington considering them a luxurious indulgence, and there were few cats resident, again because they waste
d the food that the godly could use for their own sustenance.
“Where is thy house, Brother Micah?”
“On the outskirts of the town, close to the fields, looking out to the north and east. The road to the town of Spalding is not far distant. You have only a furlong or so to walk to the nearest marketplace – there are two in the town. There are stores close to as well. You will soon learn where to buy your foodstuffs.”
“Buy?”
“I shall give you money each week for housekeeping. My servant, Rootes, will show you the best places to use.”
“Thou truly hast a servant of thine own, Micah?”
“I must, because I am an officer.”
They remained silent for a few minutes, considering that. They were not entirely sure what an officer was but knew that Squire Tixover had been such.
“Where is the chapel, Micah?”
He had to confess that he did not know. He had not been concerned to discover a place of worship.
The girls were shocked, were only slightly mollified to discover that soldiers rarely had the time available to leave their proper place and attend service. It seemed very wrong to them.
“I do read my Bible when I have time, girls.”
They envied him that ability.
He wondered whether it might be possible to find a woman in town who could teach them their letters. He could not send a schoolmaster to them – that would be quite indecent.
He pointed out the castle by the river as they walked down the long hill and then across the stone bridge.
“There are three churches. You can see their spires. The Church is stronger than chapel in most towns, so I am told. We go up the hill here, past the shops, do you see, and through the big market square – not so many sellers here today – and then up the street over there.”
He pointed them in the correct direction. They saw the gallows tree standing tall at the side, asked what it might be.
“The gibbet. The place where evil-doers are hanged by the neck and their bodies displayed for the remainder of the morning as a lesson to all. Not often. Only two this year – wicked men who killed a constable in his duty.”
They were shocked but knew well that the wages of sin is death – a lesson driven home in the chapel since earliest childhood.
Micah took them to the front door of a big house – twice the size of any in Collyweston – and unlocked the great front door and led them in.
“There are two keys, Eleanor. You must keep them safe and do not forget to take one with you when you go out. Always lock the door behind you. It is not like the village where you can leave your house wide open.”
The house was furnished and far more comfortable than their own in the village. Mr Plummer, a cabinetmaker by trade, had produced his best for his own home.
The girls were awestruck.
“A room each, girls. The big front room is mine – choose whichever other you wish.”
All of Plummer’s possessions remained; the house had been left untouched over the few days since he had come to his sudden end.
A few minutes brought them to the kitchen and the discovery of stale bread and sour milk and meat that was at best dubious.
“Throw it out. I shall give thee money now and you must come with me back to the stores to make first purchases.”
“Delay a few minutes, if thou wouldst be so good, brother. We must first just look through the pantry and larder and cupboards. The goodwife must have kept some of flour and such, I doubt not. We are not to buy wastefully!”
The two younger agreed with Eleanor – that was not how they had been reared.
Micah looked out across the yard, saw men busy in the workshops.
“I shall speak to the hands across in the workplace, Eleanor. Keep the back door locked as a rule, if it pleases thee.”
There were two journeymen and a boy, working on the tasks set them by Plummer before his decease, for knowing nothing else to do.
“I am Lieutenant Slater and master of the house now.”
They knew that – the red hair was a rare sight in the town. They lifted their hats to him, most politely.
“What are you doing?”
“Beg pardon, master, but Tom be turning the staves for pikes, bein’ told to make up one hundred and there bein’ a score more to go. As well, the boy be turning out they little round bits what has powder kept in they.”
The boy mutely held up a newly-made apostle.
“As for me, there’s the dresser what Mr Stebbings did order last month and what is to be finished for next week. Done the carcass and the shelves and the drawers and the back to ‘er, as is, and got to polish ‘er proper-like and carve they old mouldings what ‘e wants to the doors. Three days more, then it be done and ready. After that, dunno what to do.”
“Finish the jobs. When are you paid and how much? Has Mr Stebbings paid for his dresser? Can you find more work? If I pay you now and find the money to buy more timber, can you run the workshop as if it was thine own?”
“Ain’t no room for another master cabinetmaker in Stamford, master, otherwise, I’d be me own man already. Saved up me pennies, so I ‘ave. What I wants, master, been thinking about these three days, is that I pays thee a crown a week for use of the workshops and stores and buys the wood what be in stock for four pound, what is about what it be worth, and then I puts my name over the door to the shop in place of Plummer’s and there be no more for thee to do.”
“Done.”
Micah put out his hand to shake on the deal, relieved to have the burden off his back. He had no desire to be responsible for the living of three men and no wish to run the business.
“What is your name, Master Cabinetmaker?”
“Stamford, Master Slater.”
That explained why he had not introduced himself immediately – he bore the name of the town, which meant that he had been abandoned to the poor hospital as an unknown babe, brought up as an orphan and presumably a bastard. He would be ashamed of his provenance and very ready to be mocked and abused for it.
“I am glad to know you, Master Stamford. My three sisters will dwell in the house, so that it does not stand empty when duty takes me away. Keep an eye to their well-being, if you would be so good.”
“I shall that, sir. I shall see they come to no harm.”
Micah led the girls to the market and the shops, to buy as they must to set up housekeeping. He explained to Eleanor that the men would continue to work in the outbuildings. He wondered, saying nothing, just how long it would be before there was a marriage in the wind – the girls were handsome enough and the men single and that should lead to a sensible conclusion.
They would meet drawing water from the well and rain butts and no doubt would soon come to know each other. Stamford would still have few acquaintances in the town, being looked down on for his name, yet, as a master of a trade, was a most desirable husband.
It was by no means impossible that Jasper Albright would come to call as well.
It was a highly satisfactory possible outcome, Micah thought.
He wondered if he should make a habit of sleeping in his own house or whether he should remain at the barracks. Captain Holdby advised that he should spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday at his new home, to be seen there, but that the working week should be given to the barracks.
Chapter Sixteen
Years of Blood Series
Bold and Blooded
A message came from Colonel Knighton, all very formal and instructing Mr Holdby to take the permanent rank of major in the Regiment. He was, at the order of the Lord Lieutenant, on the arrival of the Yeomanry, to put up his marks of rank and assume command of the whole garrison at Stamford and in the area surrounding the town and to complete the process of pacification that had evidently been commenced by the Bench.
Major Holdby was to understand that there was no place for troublemakers, whatever cause they might espouse. The county was not to engage in internecine conflict and King�
��s Man or Parliamentarian was to be put down quite equally if they sought to arm themselves for war.
“Brief and precise, Red Man. The Lord Lieutenant is trying to sit on the fence, as they say. He is, of course, acting for the benefit of every man and woman in this country. War will be worse than whatever else could occur, as far as ordinary folk are concerned. Will your cabinetmaker be better off if the King is caused to behave as Parliament wants? Will he be worse off if the King rules by the will of God without any advisors?”
Micah had to admit that Mr Stamford would probably make the same pieces of furniture for the same people in either case.
“So, Captain, why do we take the side that we do? I know the King is wrong-headed. Should I not side with those who will seek to restrain him?”
Captain Holdby laughed.
“Good to see you thinking, Red Man! Of course you should. But you must accept that your actions will have a cost – and it may be very high. Probably, other people will pay it, not you. Do what is right – you must. But do not think that because your cause is just it will come for free. Whole families will die. They did in the Germanies. I have heard it said that of every three families in the Germanies, one has been killed. I think that may be a low figure, that the reality may be greater. The same may well happen here.”
Micah was horrified – no cause was worth that price. Better to live under the rule of an unwholesome king than to see the country devastated.
“That is too much, sir. We must draw back!”
“Too late. The country is on the path to perdition and it may not be pulled back now. The gates of Hell are gaping wide and they will not close until the current squabble is brought to its bloody conclusion.”
“Then what are we to do?”
“Why, that is obvious, Red Man. We are to obey our orders and bring peace to the countryside surrounding the town. Rather than go to the effort of removing all contenders, we shall simply extirpate one side. Every King’s Man is to be brought to heel and the area is to be made quiet, or as quiet as two companies may achieve.”
Bold and Blooded Page 23