Friends, though divided: A Tale of the Civil War

by G. A. Henty

  CHAPTER XV.

  A RIOT IN THE CITY.

  So quickly were the preparations made that by the time the cavalry cameriding back from Moor Fields they found the way barred to them. Thecommander of the cavalry ordered his men to charge. Harry, who had nowtaken the command of the crowd, ordered a few of the apprentices tostand before the first line of chains, so that these would not bevisible until the horses were close upon them. Behind the chains heplaced a strong body of watermen with their oars, while behind these,and at the windows of the houses, were the apprentices, each armed witha quantity of stones and broken bricks. The cavalry charged down uponthe defense. When they reached within a few yards of the apprentices infront, these slipped under the chain. The leading troopers halted, butwere pressed by those behind them gainst the chain. Then a ram of stonesand brickbats opened upon them, and the watermen struck down men andhorses with their heavy oars. In vain the troopers tried with theirswords to reach their opponents. In vain they fired their pistols intothe mass. They were knocked down by the stones and brickbats in numbers,and at last, their commander having been struck senseless, the rest drewoff, a tremendous cheer greeting their retreat, from the crowd.

  "Now," Harry shouted, taking his position on a doorstep, whence he couldbe seen, "attend to me. The battle has only begun yet, and they willbring up their infantry now. Next time we will let them enter thestreet, and defend the chains at the other end--a party must holdthese--do some of you fill each lane which comes down on either side,and do ten of you enter each house and take post at the upper windows,with a good store of ammunition. Do not show yourselves until the headof their column reaches the chain. Then fling open the windows and pourvolleys of stones and bricks upon them. Then let those in the sidestreets, each headed by parties of watermen, fall upon their flanks.Never fear their musketry. They can only give fire once before you areupon them. The oars will beat down the pikes, and your clubs will do therest. Now let the apprentices of each street form themselves intoparties, each under their captain. Let all be regular and orderly, andwe will show them what the Londoners can do."

  With a cheer the crowd separated, and soon took post as Harry haddirected. He stationed himself at the barricade at the head of thestreet. A quarter of an hour later the militia were seen approaching inclose column followed by the cavalry. On arriving at the end of thestreet the assailants removed the chain, and again advanced. The streetwas silent until they neared its end. The watermen had, under Harry'sdirection, torn up the paving stones, and formed a barricade breasthigh, behind which, remaining crouched, they awaited the assault.

  The fight began by a volley of stones from the apprentices behind thebarricade. The leading rank of the column discharged their muskets, andrushed at the barricade; the watermen sprang to oppose them. At thesound of the first shot every window in the street opened, and a rain ofbricks and heavy stones poured down on all sides upon the column, whileat the same time dense masses flung themselves upon its flanks, fromevery lane leading into it. Confused and broken by the sudden onslaughtin the narrow street, the column halted, and endeavored to open a fireupon the upper windows. This, however, effected but little harm, whileevery brick from above told upon their crowded mass. The column wasinstantly in confusion, and Harry and his followers, leaping over thebarricade, and followed by the watermen and apprentices behind, fellupon it with fury. In vain did the Roundheads strive to repulse theattack. Their numbers melted away as they fell, killed or senseless,from the rain of missiles from above. Already the column was rent bytheir assailants on the flanks, and in less than five minutes from thecommencement of the assault those who remained on their legs were drivenheadlong out into Moor Fields.

  Loud rose the triumphant cry of the defenders, "God and King Charles."Some hours elapsed before any attempt was made to renew the assault.Then toward evening fresh troops were brought up from Westminster, andthe attack was renewed on two sides. Still the apprentices held theirown. Attack after attack was repulsed. All night the fight continued,and when morning dawned the Royalists were still triumphant.

  "How will it go, think you, Jacob?" Harry asked.

  "They will beat us in the long run," Jacob said. "They have not beenproperly led yet. When they are, guns and swords must prevail againstclubs and stones."

  At eleven o'clock in the morning a heavy body of cavalry were seenapproaching from Westminster. The Roundheads had brought up Cromwell'sIronsides, the victors in many a hard-fought field, against theapprentice boys of London. The Roundhead infantry advanced with theirhorse. As they approached the first barricade the cavalry halted, andthe infantry advanced alone to within thirty yards of it. Then, just asits defenders thought they were going to charge, they halted, dividedinto bodies, and entered the houses on either side, and appeared at thewindows. Then, as the Ironsides came down at a gallop, they opened aheavy fire on the defenders of the barricade. Harry saw at once that thetactics now adopted were irresistible, and that further attempts atdefense would only lead to useless slaughter. He therefore shouted:

  "Enough for to-day, lads. Every man back to his own house. We will beginagain when we choose. We have given them a good lesson."

  In an instant the crowd dispersed, and by the time the Ironsides haddismounted, broken the chains, and pulled down the barricadesufficiently to enable them to pass, Ludgate Hill was deserted, theapprentices were back in their masters' shops, and the watermen standingby their boats ready for a fare.

  Seeing that their persons were known to so many of the citizens, andwould be instantly pointed out to the troops by those siding with thearmy, who had, during the tumult, remained quietly in their houses,watching from the windows what was going on, Harry and his friendshurried straight to Aldersgate, where they passed out into the countrybeyond. Dressed in laborers' smocks, which they had, in preparation forany sudden flight, left at the house of a Royalist innkeeper, a mile ortwo in the fields, they walked to Kingston, crossed the river there, andmade for Southampton.

  The king was now closely confined in Carisbrook Castle. For the firstthree months of his residence in the Isle of Wight he could have escapedwith ease, had he chosen, and it is probable that Cromwell and the otherleaders of the army would have been glad that he should go, and thusrelieve the country from the inconvenience of his presence. They hadbecome convinced that so long as he lived quiet could not be hoped for.While still pretending to negotiate with them, he had signed a treatywith the Scots, promising to establish Presbyterianism in England, andtheir army was already marching south. To the Irish Papists he hadpromised free exercise of their religion, and these were taking up armsand massacring all opposed to them, as was the custom in that barbarouscountry. In Wales a formidable insurrection had broken out. Essex andKent were up in arms, and, indeed, all through the country the Royalistswere stirring. The leaders had therefore determined upon bringing theking to trial.

  At Southampton Harry found Sir John Berkeley concealed in a house wherehe had previously instructed Harry he might be looked for. He told himthat the king was now a close prisoner, and would assuredly escape ifmeans could be provided. Leaving Sir John, Harry joined his followers,and after telling them the circumstances, they walked down to the port.Here they entered into conversation with an old sailor. Seeing that hewas an honest fellow, and in no way disposed toward the fanatics, Harrytold him that he and those with him were Cavaliers, who sought to crossover into France.

  "There is a boat, there," the sailor said, pointing to a lugger whichwas lying at anchor among some fishing boats, "that will carry you. Thecaptain, Dick Wilson, is a friend of mine, and often makes a run acrossto France on dark nights, and brings back smuggled goods. I know wherehe can be found, and will lead you to him, if it so pleases you." Upontheir gladly accepting the offer he led them to a small inn by the waterside, and introduced them to the captain of the Moonlight, for so thelugger was called. Upon receiving a hint from the sailor that hiscompanions wished to speak to him in private, Wilson led the wayupstairs to the chamber he oc
cupied. Here Harry at once unfolded to himthe nature of the service he required. He was to lay with his boat offthe bank of the island, making to sea before daylight, and returningafter dusk, and was to take his station off a gap in the cliffs, knownas Black Gang Chine, where a footpath from above descended to the beach.Upon a light being shown three times at the water's edge he was to senda boat immediately ashore, and embarking those whom he might find there,sail for France. If at the end of the week none should come, he wouldknow that his services would not be required, and might sail awaywhither he listed. He was to receive fifty guineas at once for theservice, and if he transported those who might come down to the shore,to France, he would, on arriving there, be paid two hundred and fiftymore.

  "It is the king, of course, who seeks to escape," the sailor said."Well, young gentlemen, for such I doubt not that you are, I am ready totry it. We sailors are near all for the king, and the fleet last weekdeclared for him, and sailed for Holland. So, once on board, there willbe little danger. Pay me the fifty guineas at once, and you may relyupon the Moonlight being at the point named."

  Harry handed over the money, and arranged that on the third nightfollowing the lugger should beat the post appointed, and that it shouldat once run them across and land them at Cowes. It was now the middle ofMay, and Harry and his friends, who were still in the disguise ofcountrymen, walked across to Newport. Their first step was to examinethe castle. It lay a short distance from the town, was surrounded by ahigh wall with towers, and could offer a strong resistance to anattacking force. At the back of the castle was a small postern gate, atwhich they decided that his escape must, if possible, be made. Harry hadbeen well supplied with money by Sir John Berkeley before leavingSouthampton, Sir John himself, on account of his figure being so wellknown at Newport, during his stay there with the king, deeming itimprudent to take any personal part in the enterprise. After anexamination of the exterior of the castle Harry bought a large basket ofeggs, and some chickens, and with these proceeded to the castle. Therewas a guard at the gate, but persons could freely enter. As Harry'swares were exceedingly cheap in price, he speedily effected a sale ofthem to the soldiers and servants of the officers.

  "I should like," he said to the man to whom he disposed of the last ofthe contents of his basket, "to catch a sight of the king. I ha' neverseen him."

  "That's easy enough," the man said. "Just mount these stairs with me tothe wall. He is walking in the garden at the back of the castle."

  Harry followed the man, and presently reached a spot where he could lookdown into the garden. The king was pacing up and down the walk, his headbent, his hands behind his back, apparently in deep thought. Anattendant, a short distance behind him, followed his steps.

  "Be that the king?" Harry asked. "He don't look like a king."

  "That's him," the man said, "and he's not much of a king at present."

  "Where does he live now?" Harry asked.

  "That is his room," the man said, pointing to a window some ten feetfrom the ground. After a little further conversation Harry appeared tobe satisfied, and returning to the courtyard, made his way from thecastle. During that day and the next they remained quiet, except thatJacob walked over to Cowes, where he purchased two very fine and sharpsaws, and a short length of strong rope, with a hook. The followingnight they hired a cart with a fast horse, and this they placed at aspot a quarter of a mile from the castle.

  Leaving the man in charge of it there, Harry and his companions made forthe back of the castle. They could tell by the calls upon the walls thatthe sentries were watchful, but the night was so dark that they had nofear whatever of being seen. Very quietly they crossed the moat, whichwas shallow, and with but little water in it. Then with an auger theycut four holes in a square two feet each way in the door, and, with asaw, speedily cut the piece inclosed by them out, and creeping through,entered the garden. The greater part of the lights were alreadyextinguished, but that in the king's chamber was still burning. Theymade their way quietly until they stood beneath this window, and waiteduntil the light here was also put out. Then Harry climbed on to theshoulders of his companions, which brought his face on a level with thewindow. He tapped at it. The king, who had been warned that his friendswould attempt to open a means of escape, at once came to the window, andthrew open the casement.

  "Who is there?" he asked, in low tones.

  "It is I, Harry Furness, your majesty. I have two trusty friends withme. We have cut a hole through the postern gate, a cart is waitingwithout, and a ship lies ready to receive you on the coast."

  "I am ready," the king said. "Thanks, my faithful servant. But have youbrought something to cut the bars?"

  "The bars!" Henry exclaimed, aghast. "I did not know that there werebars!"

  "There are, indeed, Master Furness," the king said, "and if you have nofile the enterprise is ruined."

  Harry put his hands on the stonework and pulled himself up, and felt thebars within the window.

  "They are too strong for our united strength," he said, in a tone ofdeep disappointment. "But methinks it is possible to get between them."Putting his head between the bars he struggled though, but with greatdifficulty. "See, your majesty, I have got through."

  "Ay, Master Furness, but you are slighter in figure than I, although youare changed indeed since first the colonel, your father, presented youto me at Oxford. However, I will try." The king tried, but in vain. Hewas stouter than Harry, although less broadly built, and had none of thelissomness which enabled the latter to wriggle through the bars. "It isuseless," he said at last. "Providence is against me. It is the will ofGod that I should remain here. It may be the decree of Heaven that evenyet I may sit again on the throne of my ancestors. Now go, MasterFurness. It is too late to renew the attempt to-night. Should CharlesStuart ever reign again over England, he will not forget your faithfulservice."

  Harry kissed the king's hand, and with a prayer for his welfare he againmade his way through the bars and dropped from the window, by the sideof his companions, the tears streaming down his cheeks with thedisappointment and sorrow he felt at the failure of his enterprise. "Itis all over," he said. "The king cannot force his way through the bars."

  Without another word they made their way down to the postern, passedthrough it, and replaced the piece of wood in its position, in the fainthope that it might escape notice. Then they rejoined the driver with thecart, paid him handsomely, and told him that his services would not berequired that night at least. They then returned to their lodgings inthe town. The next morning early Jacob started for Cowes to buy somesharp files and aquafortis, but an hour later the news passed throughNewport that an attempt had been made in the night to free the king,that a hole had been cut in the postern, and the marks of footstepsdiscovered under the king's window. Perceiving that it would be uselessto renew the attempt now that the suspicions of the garrison werearoused, Harry and William Long, fearing that a search would beinstituted, at once started for Cowes. They met Jacob close to thattown, crossed in a boat to the mainland, and walked to Southampton. Theyhesitated whether they should join Lord Goring, who had risen in Kent,or Lord Capel and Sir Charles Lucas, who had collected a large force atColchester. They determined upon the latter course, as the movementappeared to promise a better chance of success. Taking passage in acoaster, they sailed to the mouth of the Thames, and being landed nearTilbury, made their way to Colchester. Harry was, on his arrival,welcomed by the Royalist leaders, who were well acquainted with him.They proposed to march upon London, which would, they felt sure, declarefor the king upon their approach. They had scarcely set their force inmotion when they heard that Fairfax, at the head of an army, wasmarching against them. A debate was held among the leaders as to thebest course to pursue. Some were for marching north, but the easterncounties had, from the commencement of the troubles, been wholly on theside of the Parliament. Others were for dispersing the bands, andawaiting a better opportunity for a rising. Sir Charles Lucas, however,urged that they should defend Colc
hester to the last.

  "Here," he said, "we are doing good service to the Royal cause, and bydetaining Fairfax here, we shall give time to our friends in Wales,Kent, and other parts to rise and organize. If it is seen that wheneverwe meet the Roundheads we disperse at once, hope and confidence will belost."

  The next day the town was invested by Fairfax, and shortly after thesiege began in earnest. The Royalists fought with great bravery, and fortwo months every attempt of the Roundheads to storm the place wasrepulsed. At length, however, supplies ran short, several breaches hadbeen made in the walls by the Roundhead artillery, and a council of warwas held, at which it was decided that further resistance was useless,and would only inflict a great slaughter upon their followers, who, inthe event of surrender, would for the most part be permitted to returnto their homes. Harry Furness was present at the council and agreed tothe decision. He said, however, that he would endeavor, with his twopersonal followers, to effect his escape, as, if he were taken aprisoner to London, he should be sure to be recognized there as theleader of the rising in May, in which case he doubted not that littlemercy would be shown to him. The Royalist leaders agreed with him, butpointed out that his chances of escape were small, as the town wasclosely beleaguered. Harry, however, declared that he preferred the riskof being shot while endeavoring to escape, to the certainty of beingexecuted if carried to London.

  That night they procured some bladders, for although Jacob and Harrywere able to swim, William Long could not do so, and in any case it wassafer to float than to swim. The bladders were blown out and their neckssecurely fastened. The three adventurers were then lowered from the wallby ropes, and having fastened the bladders around them, noiselesslyentered the water. A numerous flotilla of ships and boats of theCommons lay below the town; the tide was running out, however, and thenight dark, and keeping hold of each other, so as not to be separated bythe tide, they drifted through these unobserved. Once safely out ofhearing, Jacob and Harry struck out and towed their companion to shore.While at Colchester they had been attired as Royalist officers, but theyhad left these garments behind them, and carried, strapped to theirshoulders, above water, the countrymen's clothes in which they hadentered the town. They walked as far as Brentwood, where they stoppedfor a few days, and learned the news of what was passing throughout thecountry.

  Colchester surrendered on the 27th of August, the morning after theyleft it. Lord Capel was sent a prisoner to London to be tried for hislife; but Fairfax caused Sir Charles Lucas and Sir George Lisle to betried by court-martial, and shot. On the 10th of July the town andcastle of Pembroke had surrendered to Cromwell, who immediatelyafterward marched north to meet the Scotch army, which six days beforehad entered England. The Duke of Hamilton, who commanded it, was at oncejoined by five thousand English Royalists under Sir Marmaduke Langdale.General Lambert, who commanded the Parliamentary troops in the north,fell back to avoid a battle until Cromwell could join him.

  The Scotch army could not be called a national force. The ScotchParliament, influenced by the Duke of Hamilton and others, had enteredinto an agreement with King Charles, and undertook to reinstate him onthe throne. The more violent section, headed by Argyll, were bitterlyhostile to the step. The Duke of Hamilton's army, therefore, consistedentirely of raw and undisciplined troops. Cromwell marched with greatspeed through Wales to Gloucester, and then on through Leicester andNottingham, and joined Lambert at Barnet Castle on the 12th of August.Then he marched against the Scotch army, which, straggling widely andthinking Cromwell still at a distance, was advancing toward Manchester.On the 16th the duke with his advanced guard was at Preston, withLangdale on his left. Cromwell attacked Langdale with his whole forcenext morning, and the Royalists after fighting stoutly were entirelydefeated. Then he fell upon the Duke of Hamilton and the force under himat Preston, and after four hours' sharp fighting in the inclosures roundthe place, defeated and drove them out of the town. That night the Scotsdetermined to retreat, and at once began to scatter. General Baillie,after some hard fighting around Warrington, surrendered with hisdivision. The duke with three thousand men went to Nantwich. The countrywas hostile, his own troops, wearied and dispirited, mutinied, anddeclared they would fight no longer; the Duke of Hamilton thereuponsurrendered, the Scotch invasion of England came to an end.