Read Online Marbeck and the King-in-Waiting by John Pilkington - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: John Pilkington
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âIâll tell his mother Iâve done all thatâs in my power.â
âWell then, perhaps you require help,â the other said after a moment. When Marbeck looked up, he added: âIâll eschew my distaste and accompany you. Iâm a traveller passing through here, merely one of the curious.â
âThereâs no need for you to come,â Marbeck said.
âYet I will,â came the reply. âHaving endured the dogma of dyed-in-the-wool Papists at Wisbech, hearing those who dwell at the other end of the scale might be something of a relief.â
So as dusk fell the two of them left the inn, walked through Huntingdon and crossed into Godmanchester. Here they found people making their way upriver, straggling in twos and threes. In a few minutes they were crossing a waterlogged meadow towards a dense wood â and soon, a single flame glowed ahead. It turned out to be a torch fixed to a post, beside a rough track. Several cloaked and hatted figures, both men and women, were heading into the trees. Marbeck and Poyns, also cloaked, without swords but with hidden poniards, followed until another torch appeared. Finally they emerged in a clearing where a small crowd was gathering. There was a fire blazing, and beside it a stump on which, they assumed, Isaac Gow would stand to speak. For the moment he was not to be seen, though his followers were standing around. The talk was low and subdued.
Marbeck glanced about warily, keeping his distance from the fire. He wore his hat pulled low, fearing recognition after his confrontation with the company. Poyns however was at ease, wandering round with undisguised curiosity. He ignored Marbeck as if they were unacquainted. Meanwhile Marbeck worked his way across the clearing, keeping an eye out for Henry Scroop. At last he caught sight of him, standing near the fire with others of the company. In the glow, the boyâs face appeared flushed with excitement. Then a hush fell as quite suddenly Gow appeared, striding purposefully as always, bare-headed and stern-faced. Quickly he mounted the tree-stump, placed feet firmly apart, and addressed his congregation.
âBrethren, I bid you welcome! In the name of the holy saints, peace to you all. And in anticipation of the rapture to come, I urge you to join the faithful in worship!â
There was a murmur, while the little crowd gathered about him. Marbeck stepped aside as people brushed past. Gowâs own followers stood behind him in a tight body as if to defend him, but there was no threat. These soberly dressed townspeople, if not Puritans of the strictest kind, were at least a sympathetic audience. As they surged closer Marbeck peered over heads and saw Henry at Gowâs side, face upturned eagerly ⦠then he stiffened, and whirled round.
There was a rustling in the trees behind him, which became running footsteps. Then came shouts, as several men crashed into the clearing wielding sticks â and in a moment, panic broke out. Cries and screams followed, as the crowd fell back in alarm. One of the interlopers charged past Marbeck, swinging a billet. Dropping to a crouch, Marbeck looked round for Poyns, but saw no sign of him. People were running in all directions ⦠he caught a glimpse of Gow, being hurried away by his followers. Then he too was running, towards the spot where he had last seen Henry Scroop ⦠until he tripped over something hard, and landed flat in the grass. Winded, he got to his knees, while figures moved crazily about him in the glow of the fire.
Then someone hit him, and the firelight became a galaxy of stars.
SIX
W ith confusion all about him, Marbeck struggled to clear his head. He had received a blow to the temple, but was not badly hurt. Looking round, he saw that the clearing was almost empty, the congregation having scattered into the wood. But there were shouts nearby, where several men were seemingly engaged in a scuffle. On his
âIâll tell his mother Iâve done all thatâs in my power.â
âWell then, perhaps you require help,â the other said after a moment. When Marbeck looked up, he added: âIâll eschew my distaste and accompany you. Iâm a traveller passing through here, merely one of the curious.â
âThereâs no need for you to come,â Marbeck said.
âYet I will,â came the reply. âHaving endured the dogma of dyed-in-the-wool Papists at Wisbech, hearing those who dwell at the other end of the scale might be something of a relief.â
So as dusk fell the two of them left the inn, walked through Huntingdon and crossed into Godmanchester. Here they found people making their way upriver, straggling in twos and threes. In a few minutes they were crossing a waterlogged meadow towards a dense wood â and soon, a single flame glowed ahead. It turned out to be a torch fixed to a post, beside a rough track. Several cloaked and hatted figures, both men and women, were heading into the trees. Marbeck and Poyns, also cloaked, without swords but with hidden poniards, followed until another torch appeared. Finally they emerged in a clearing where a small crowd was gathering. There was a fire blazing, and beside it a stump on which, they assumed, Isaac Gow would stand to speak. For the moment he was not to be seen, though his followers were standing around. The talk was low and subdued.
Marbeck glanced about warily, keeping his distance from the fire. He wore his hat pulled low, fearing recognition after his confrontation with the company. Poyns however was at ease, wandering round with undisguised curiosity. He ignored Marbeck as if they were unacquainted. Meanwhile Marbeck worked his way across the clearing, keeping an eye out for Henry Scroop. At last he caught sight of him, standing near the fire with others of the company. In the glow, the boyâs face appeared flushed with excitement. Then a hush fell as quite suddenly Gow appeared, striding purposefully as always, bare-headed and stern-faced. Quickly he mounted the tree-stump, placed feet firmly apart, and addressed his congregation.
âBrethren, I bid you welcome! In the name of the holy saints, peace to you all. And in anticipation of the rapture to come, I urge you to join the faithful in worship!â
There was a murmur, while the little crowd gathered about him. Marbeck stepped aside as people brushed past. Gowâs own followers stood behind him in a tight body as if to defend him, but there was no threat. These soberly dressed townspeople, if not Puritans of the strictest kind, were at least a sympathetic audience. As they surged closer Marbeck peered over heads and saw Henry at Gowâs side, face upturned eagerly ⦠then he stiffened, and whirled round.
There was a rustling in the trees behind him, which became running footsteps. Then came shouts, as several men crashed into the clearing wielding sticks â and in a moment, panic broke out. Cries and screams followed, as the crowd fell back in alarm. One of the interlopers charged past Marbeck, swinging a billet. Dropping to a crouch, Marbeck looked round for Poyns, but saw no sign of him. People were running in all directions ⦠he caught a glimpse of Gow, being hurried away by his followers. Then he too was running, towards the spot where he had last seen Henry Scroop ⦠until he tripped over something hard, and landed flat in the grass. Winded, he got to his knees, while figures moved crazily about him in the glow of the fire.
Then someone hit him, and the firelight became a galaxy of stars.
SIX
W ith confusion all about him, Marbeck struggled to clear his head. He had received a blow to the temple, but was not badly hurt. Looking round, he saw that the clearing was almost empty, the congregation having scattered into the wood. But there were shouts nearby, where several men were seemingly engaged in a scuffle. On his
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