Micah Clarke

by Arthur Conan Doyle

  Chapter XVII. Of the Gathering in the Market-square

  The fair town in which we now found ourselves was, although Monmouthhad not yet reached it, the real centre of the rebellion. It was aprosperous place, with a great woollen and kersey trade, which gaveoccupation to as many as seven thousand inhabitants. It stood high,therefore, amongst English boroughs, being inferior only to Bristol,Norwich, Bath, Exeter, York, Worcester, and Nottingham amongst thecountry towns. Taunton had long been famous not only for its ownresources and for the spirit of its inhabitants, but also for thebeautiful and highly cultivated country which spread around it, and gaverise to a gallant breed of yeomen. From time immemorial the town hadbeen a rallying-point for the party of liberty, and for many years ithad leaned to the side of Republicanism in politics and of Puritanismin religion. No place in the kingdom had fought more stoutly forthe Parliament, and though it had been twice besieged by Goring, theburghers, headed by the brave Robert Blake, had fought so desperately,that the Royalists had been compelled each time to retire discomfited.On the second occasion the garrison had been reduced to dog's-flesh andhorse-flesh, but no word of surrender had come either from them ortheir heroic commander, who was the same Blake under whom the old seamanSolomon Sprent had fought against the Dutch. After the Restoration thePrivy Council had shown their recollection of the part played by theSomersetshire town, by issuing a special order that the battlementswhich fenced round the maiden stronghold should be destroyed. Thus,at the time of which I speak, nothing but a line of ruins and a fewunsightly mounds represented the massive line of wall which had beenso bravely defended by the last generation of townsmen. There were notwanting, however, many other relics of those stormy times. The houses onthe outskirts were still scarred and splintered from the effects ofthe bombs and grenades of the Cavaliers. Indeed, the whole town bore agrimly martial appearance, as though she were a veteran among boroughswho had served in the past, and was not averse to seeing the flash ofguns and hearing the screech of shot once more.

  Charles's Council might destroy the battlements which his soldiers hadbeen unable to take, but no royal edict could do away with the resolutespirit and strong opinions of the burghers. Many of them, born and bredamidst the clash of civil strife, had been fired from their infancy bythe tales of the old war, and by reminiscences of the great assault whenLunsford's babe-eaters were hurled down the main breach by the strongarms of their fathers. In this way there was bred in Taunton a fiercerand more soldierly spirit than is usual in an English country town, andthis flame was fanned by the unwearied ministerings of a chosen bandof Nonconformist clergymen, amongst whom Joseph Alleine was the mostconspicuous. No better focus for a revolt could have been chosen, forno city valued so highly those liberties and that creed which was injeopardy.

  A large body of the burghers had already set out to join the rebel army,but a good number had remained behind to guard the city, and these werereinforced by gangs of peasants, like the one to which we had attachedourselves, who had trooped in from the surrounding country, and nowdivided their time between listening to their favourite preachers andlearning to step in line and to handle their weapons. In yard, street,and market-square there was marching and drilling, night, morning, andnoon. As we rode out after breakfast the whole town was ringing with theshouting of orders and the clatter of arms. Our own friends of yesterdaymarched into the market-place at the moment we entered it, and no soonerdid they catch sight of us than they plucked off their hats and cheeredlustily, nor would they desist until we cantered over to them and tookour places at their head.

  'They have vowed that none other should lead them,' said the minister,standing by Saxon's stirrup.

  'I could not wish to lead stouter fellows,' said he. 'Let them deployinto double line in front of the town-hall. So, so, smartly there, rearrank!' he shouted, facing his horse towards them. 'Now swing round intoposition. Keep your ground, left flank, and let the others pivot uponyou. So--as hard and as straight as an Andrea Ferrara. I prythee,friend, do not carry your pike as though it were a hoe, though I trustyou will do some weeding in the Lord's vineyard with it. And you, sir,your musquetoon should be sloped upon your shoulder, and not borne underyour arm like a dandy's cane. Did ever an unhappy soldier find himselfcalled upon to make order among so motley a crew! Even my good friendthe Fleming cannot so avail here, nor does Petrinus, in his "De remilitari," lay down any injunctions as to the method of drilling a manwho is armed with a sickle or a scythe.'

  'Shoulder scythe, port scythe, present scythe--mow!' whispered Reuben toSir Gervas, and the pair began to laugh, heedless of the angry frowns ofSaxon.

  'Let us divide them,' he said, 'into three companies of eighty men. Orstay--how many musketeers have we in all? Five-and-fifty. Let them standforward, and form the first line or company. Sir Gervas Jerome, you haveofficered the militia of your county, and have doubtless some knowledgeof the manual exercise. If I am commandant of this force I hand over thecaptaincy of this company to you. It shall be the first line in battle,a position which I know you will not be averse to.'

  'Gad, they'll have to powder their heads,' said Sir Gervas, withdecision.

  'You shall have the entire ordering of them,' Saxon answered. 'Let thefirst company take six paces to the front--so! Now let the pikemen standout. Eighty-seven, a serviceable company! Lockarby, do you take thesemen in hand, and never forget that the German wars have proved that thebest of horse has no more chance against steady pikemen than the wavesagainst a crag. Take the captaincy of the second company, and ride attheir head.'

  'Faith! If they don't fight better than their captain rides,' whisperedReuben, 'it will be an evil business. I trust they will be firmer in thefield than I am in the saddle.'

  'The third company of scythesmen I commit to your charge, Captain MicahClarke,' continued Saxon. 'Good Master Joshua Pettigrue will be ourfield-chaplain. Shall not his voice and his presence be to us asmanna in the wilderness, and as springs of water in dry places? Theunder-officers I see that you have yourselves chosen, and your captainsshall have power to add to the number from those who smite boldly andspare not. Now one thing I have to say to you, and I speak it that allmay hear, and that none may hereafter complain that the rules he servesunder were not made clear to him. For I tell you now that when theevening bugle calls, and the helm and pike are laid aside, I am as youand you as I, fellow-workers in the same field, and drinkers from thesame wells of life. Lo, I will pray with you, or preach with you, orhearken with you, or expound to you, or do aught that may become abrother pilgrim upon the weary road. But hark you, friends! when we arein arms and the good work is to be done, on the march, in the field, oron parade, then let your bearing be strict, soldierly, and scrupulous,quick to hear and alert to obey, for I shall have no sluggards orlaggards, and if there be any such my hand shall be heavy upon them,yea, even to the cutting of them off. I say there shall be no mercy forsuch,' here he paused and surveyed his force with a set face and hiseyelids drawn low over his glinting, shifting eyes. 'If, then,' hecontinued, 'there is any man among you who fears to serve under a harddiscipline, let him stand forth now, and let him betake him to someeasier leader, for I say to you that whilst I command this corps,Saxon's regiment of Wiltshire foot shall be worthy to testify in thisgreat and soul-raising cause.'

  The Colonel stopped and sat silent upon his mare. The long lines ofrustic faces looked up, some stolidly, some admiringly, some with anexpression of fear at his stern, gaunt face and baneful eyes. Nonemoved, however, so he continued.

  'Worthy Master Timewell, the Mayor of this fair town of Taunton, whohas been a tower of strength to the faithful during these long andspirit-trying times, is about to inspect us when the others shall haveassembled. Captains, to your companies then! Close up there on themusqueteers, with three paces between each line. Scythesmen, take groundto your left. Let the under-officers stand on the flanks and rear. So!'tis smartly done for a first venture, though a good adjutant with aprugel after the Imperial fashion might find work to do.'<
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  Whilst we were thus rapidly and effectively organising ourselves into aregiment, other bodies of peasantry more or less disciplined had marchedinto the market-square, and had taken up their position there. Thoseon our right had come from Frome and Radstock, in the north ofSomersetshire, and were a mere rabble armed with flails, hammers, andother such weapons, with no common sign of order or cohesion save thegreen boughs which waved in their hat-bands. The body upon our left, whobore a banner amongst them announcing that they were men of Dorset, werefewer in number but better equipped, having a front rank, like our own,entirely armed with muskets.

  The good townsmen of Taunton, with their wives and their daughters,had meanwhile been assembling on the balconies and at the windows whichoverlooked the square, whence they might have a view of the pageant. Thegrave, square-bearded, broadclothed burghers, and their portly dames invelvet and three-piled taffeta, looked down from every post of vantage,while here and there a pretty, timid face peeping out from a Puritancoif made good the old claim, that Taunton excelled in beautiful womenas well as in gallant men. The side-walks were crowded with the commonerfolk--old white-bearded wool-workers, stern-faced matrons, countrylasses with their shawls over their heads, and swarms of children, whocried out with their treble voices for King Monmouth and the Protestantsuccession.

  'By my faith!' said Sir Gervas, reining back his steed until he wasabreast of me, 'our square-toed friends need not be in such post-hasteto get to heaven when they have so many angels among them on earth.Gad's wounds, are they not beautiful? Never a patch or a diamond amongstthem, and yet what would not our faded belles of the Mall or the Piazzagive for their innocence and freshness?'

  'Nay, for Heaven's sake do not smile and bow at them,' said I. 'Thesecourtesies may pass in London, but they may be misunderstood amongsimple Somerset maidens and their hot-headed, hard-handed kinsfolk.'

  I had hardly spoken before the folding-doors of the town-hall werethrown open, and a procession of the city fathers emerged into themarket-place. Two trumpeters in parti-coloured jerkins preceded them,who blew a flourish upon their instruments as they advanced. Behind camethe aldermen and councilmen, grave and reverend elders, clad in theirsweeping gowns of black silk, trimmed and tippeted with costly furs.In rear of these walked a pursy little red-faced man, the town clerk,bearing a staff of office in his hand, while the line of dignitarieswas closed by the tall and stately figure of Stephen Timewell, Mayor ofTaunton.

  There was much in this magistrate's appearance to attract attention, forall the characteristics of the Puritan party to which he belonged wereembodied and exaggerated in his person. Of great height he was and verythin, with a long-drawn, heavy eyelidded expression, which spoke offasts and vigils. The bent shoulders and the head sunk upon the breastproclaimed the advances of age, but his bright steel-grey eyes and theanimation of his eager face showed how the enthusiasm of religioncould rise superior to bodily weakness. A peaked, straggling grey bearddescended half-way to his waist, and his long snow-white hairs flutteredout from under a velvet skull-cap. The latter was drawn tightly downupon his head, so as to make his ears protrude in an unnatural manneron either side, a custom which had earned for his party the title of'prickeared,' so often applied to them by their opponents. His attirewas of studious plainness and sombre in colour, consisting of his blackmantle, dark velvet breeches, and silk hosen, with velvet bows upon hisshoes instead of the silver buckles then in vogue. A broad chain of goldaround his neck formed the badge of his office. In front of him struttedthe fat red-vested town clerk, one hand upon his hip, the other extendedand bearing his wand of office, looking pompously to right and left,and occasionally bowing as though the plaudits were entirely on his ownbehalf. This little man had tied a huge broadsword to his girdle, whichclanked along the cobble stones when he walked and occasionally inserteditself between his legs, when he would gravely cock his foot over itagain and walk on without any abatement of his dignity. At last, findingthese interruptions become rather too frequent, he depressed the hilt ofhis great sword in order to elevate the point, and so strutted onwardslike a bantam cock with a tingle straight feather in its tail.

  Having passed round the front and rear of the various bodies, andinspected them with a minuteness and attention which showed that hisyears had not dulled his soldier's faculties, the Mayor faced round withthe evident intention of addressing us. His clerk instantly darted infront of him, and waving his arms began to shout 'Silence, good people!Silence for his most worshipful the Mayor of Taunton! Silence forthe worthy Master Stephen Timewell!' until in the midst of hisgesticulations and cries he got entangled once more with his overgrownweapon, and went sprawling on his hands and knees in the kennel.

  'Silence yourself, Master Tetheridge,' said the chief magistrateseverely. 'If your sword and your tongue were both clipped, it would beas well for yourself and us. Shall I not speak a few words in seasonto these good people but you must interrupt with your discordantbellowings?'

  The busybody gathered himself together and slunk behind the group ofcouncilmen, while the Mayor slowly ascended the steps of the marketcross. From this position he addressed us, speaking in a high pipingvoice which gathered strength as he proceeded, until it was audible atthe remotest corners of the square.

  'Friends in the faith,' he said, 'I thank the Lord that I have beenspared in my old age to look down upon this goodly assembly. For we ofTaunton have ever kept the flame of the Covenant burning amongst us,obscured it may be at times by time-servers and Laodiceans, but none theless burning in the hearts of our people. All round us, however,there was a worse than Egyptian darkness, where Popery and Prelacy,Arminianism, Erastianism, and Simony might rage and riot unchecked andunconfined. But what do I see now? Do I see the faithful coweringin their hiding-places and straining their ears for the sound of thehorsehoof's of their oppressors? Do I see a time-serving generation,with lies on their lips and truth buried in their hearts? No! I seebefore me godly men, not from this fair city only, but from the broadcountry round, and from Dorset, and from Wiltshire, and some even as Ihear from Hampshire, all ready and eager to do mighty work in the causeof the Lord. And when I see these faithful men, and when I think thatevery broad piece in the strong boxes of my townsmen is ready to supportthem, and when I know that the persecuted remnant throughout the countryis wrestling hard in prayer for us, then a voice speaks within me andtells me that we shall tear down the idols of Dagon, and build up inthis England of ours such a temple of the true faith that not Popery,nor Prelacy, nor idolatry, nor any other device of the Evil One shallever prevail against it.'

  A deep irrepressible hum of approval burst from the close ranks ofthe insurgent infantry, with a clang of arms as musquetoon or pike wasgrounded upon the stone pavement.

  Saxon half-turned his fierce face, raising an impatient hand, and thehoarse murmur died away among our men, though our less-disciplinedcompanions to right and left continued to wave their green boughs and toclatter their arms. The Taunton men opposite stood grim and silent, buttheir set faces and bent brows showed that their townsman's oratory hadstirred the deep fanatic spirit which distinguished them.

  'In my hands,' continued the Mayor, drawing a roll of paper from hisbosom, 'is the proclamation which our royal leader hath sent in advanceof him. In his great goodness and self-abnegation he had, in his earlydeclaration given forth at Lyme, declared that he should leave thechoice of a monarch to the Commons of England, but having found thathis enemies did most scandalously and basely make use of this hisself-denial, and did assert that he had so little confidence in his owncause that he dared not take publicly the title which is due to him, hehath determined that this should have an end. Know, therefore, that itis hereby proclaimed that James, Duke of Monmouth, is now and henceforthrightful King of England; that James Stuart, the Papist and fratricide,is a wicked usurper, upon whose head, dead or alive, a price of fivethousand guineas is affixed; and that the assembly now sitting atWestminster, and calling itself the Commons of England, is an illegalass
embly, and its acts are null and void in the sight of the law. Godbless King Monmouth and the Protestant religion!'

  The trumpeters struck up a flourish and the people huzzaed, but theMayor raised his thin white hands as a signal for silence. 'A messengerhath reached me this morning from the King,' he continued. 'He sends agreeting to all his faithful Protestant subjects, and having halted atAxminster to rest after his victory, he will advance presently and bewith ye in two days at the latest.

  'Ye will grieve to hear that good Alderman Rider was struck down in thethick of the fray. He hath died like a man and a Christian, leaving allhis worldly goods, together with his cloth-works and household property,to the carrying on of the war. Of the other slain there are not morethan ten of Taunton birth. Two gallant young brothers have been cut off,Oliver and Ephraim Hollis, whose poor mother--'

  'Grieve not for me, good Master Timewell,' cried a female voice from thecrowd. 'I have three others as stout, who shall all be offered in thesame quarrel.'

  'You are a worthy woman, Mistress Hollis,' the Mayor answered, 'and yourchildren shall not be lost to you. The next name upon my list is JesseTrefail, then come Joseph Millar, and Aminadab Holt--'

  An elderly musqueteer in the first line of the Taunton foot pulled hishat down over his brows and cried out in a loud steady voice, 'The Lordhath given and the Lord hath taken away. Blessed be the name of theLord.'

  'It is your only son, Master Holt,' said the Mayor, 'but the Lord alsosacrificed His only Son that you and I might drink the waters of eternallife. The others are Path of Light Regan, James Fletcher, SalvationSmith, and Robert Johnstone.'

  The old Puritan gravely rolled up his papers, and having stood for afew moments with his hands folded across his breast in silent prayer, hedescended from the market cross, and moved off, followed by the aldermenand councilmen. The crowd began likewise to disperse in sedate and soberfashion, with grave earnest faces and downcast eyes. A large number ofthe countryfolk, however, more curious or less devout than the citizens,gathered round our regiment to see the men who had beaten off thedragoons.

  'See the mon wi' a face like a gerfalcon,' cried one, pointing to Saxon;''tis he that slew the Philistine officer yestreen, an' brought thefaithful off victorious.'

  'Mark ye yon other one,' cried an old dame, 'him wi' the white face an'the clothes like a prince. He's one o' the Quality, what's come a' theway froe Lunnon to testify to the Protestant creed. He's a main piousgentleman, he is, an' if he had bided in the wicked city they'd ha' hadhis head off, like they did the good Lord Roossell, or put him in chainswi' the worthy Maister Baxter.'

  'Marry come up, gossip,' cried a third. 'The girt mun on the grey horseis the soldier for me. He has the smooth cheeks o' a wench, an' limbslike Goliath o' Gath. I'll war'nt he could pick up my old gaffer Jonesan' awa' wi' him at his saddle-bow, as easy as Towser does a rotten! Buthere's good Maister Tetheridge, the clerk, and on great business too,for he's a mun that spares ne time ne trooble in the great cause.'

  'Room, good people, room! 'cried the little clerk, bustling up with anair of authority. 'Hinder not the high officials of the Corporation inthe discharge of their functions. Neither should ye hamper the flanksof fighting men, seeing that you thereby prevent that deploying andextending of the line which is now advocated by many high commanders.I prythee, who commands this cohort, or legion rather, seeing that youhave auxiliary horse attached to it?'

  ''Tis a regiment, sirrah,' said Saxon sternly. 'Colonel Saxon's regimentof Wiltshire foot, which I have the honour to command.'

  'I beg your Colonelship's pardon, 'cried the clerk nervously, edgingaway from the swarthy-faced soldier. 'I have heard speak of yourColonelship, and of your doings in the German wars. I have myselftrailed a pike in my youth and have broken a head or two, aye, and aheart or two also, when I wore buff and bandolier.'

  'Discharge your message,' said our Colonel shortly.

  ''Tis from his most worshipful the Mayor, and is addressed to yourselfand to your captains, who are doubtless these tall cavaliers whom I seeon either side of me. Pretty fellows, by my faith! but you and I knowwell, Colonel, that a little trick of fence will set the smallest of uson a level with the brawniest. Now I warrant that you and I, beingold soldiers, could, back to back, make it good against these threegallants.'

  'Speak, fellow,' snarled Saxon, and reaching out a long sinewy arm heseized the loquacious clerk by the lappet of his gown, and shook himuntil his long sword clattered again.

  'How, Colonel, how?' cried Master Tetheridge, while his vest seemed toacquire a deeper tint from the sudden pallor of his face. 'Would youlay an angry hand upon the Mayor's representative? I wear a bilbo by myside, as you can see. I am also somewhat quick and choleric, and warnyou therefore not to do aught which I might perchance construe into apersonal slight. As to my message, it was that his most worshipfulthe Mayor did desire to have word with you and your captains in thetown-hall.'

  'We shall be there anon,' said Saxon, and turning to the regiment he sethimself to explain some of the simpler movements and exercises, teachinghis officers as well as his men, for though Sir Gervas knew something ofthe manual, Lockarby and I brought little but our good-will to the task.When the order to dismiss was at last given, our companies marched backto their barracks in the wool warehouse, while we handed over our horsesto the grooms from the White Hart, and set off to pay our respects tothe Mayor.