Read Online Traitor's Field by Robert Wilton - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Robert Wilton
Ads: Link
me half an hour’s thinking on it. But I cannot advise it, Seymour.’
‘You cannot—’
‘As the situation stands today, there is not a strong military force in these islands for him to rally to. Even if there was, it would only unite his enemies, and we would have to depend on a grand military victory that shattered Cromwell once and for ever. These many years we have not found the General or the army to do it.’
‘France, then. Or Holland.’
‘If he escapes to the Continent he is never returning, Seymour. Know that. We would lose the kingdom for ever.’ A dark shake of the head. ‘Believe me, it is better as it is. Patience, old horse.’
Seymour’s face wrinkled uncomfortably. ‘And in the meanwhile? What do you do?’
‘I must take the measure of our friends in the provinces, and especially in Scotland.’
‘You hope for a new army in our cause?’
Shay shrugged. ‘Oh, armies are easy enough to come by, and Scottish ones are cheaper than most. Victories are a little harder. And the politics is harder still.’
‘What, then?’
‘Oh, we may do a little mischief yet. Between the soldiers and the politicals, the men of money and the men of God, the upsetters of the altars and the upsetters of all society. Between such a muddle of strong-believing men, we may cause a constant squabbling as will restore the King to his rightful place above them all.’
Seymour watched him doubtfully, and then let his focus drift out into the river and the fields beyond it.
Eventually the eyes drifted back. ‘Shay, do you really not know the names of the men behind you?’
Some flicker in Shay’s dark eyes, something old, something wise or something evil: ‘I have some ideas.’
‘I had been sure that Sir—’ but now Seymour found Shay’s hand reaching towards him, open. ‘What in heaven are you doing?’
‘Asking you for money, your honour. Your sentinel is approaching.’
‘What?’
‘Give me a coin.’
‘A coin?’ But he was reaching for his purse now, hearing slow footsteps crunching along the path behind him, and he thrust the first coin into Shay’s hand.
‘He’s still coming on. Turn, notice him, and then reassure him.’
‘When do I get my coin back?’
‘You don’t. Times are hard, Seymour. Fare you well.’
A new voice startled him, the sentry’s from over his shoulder, and closer than he’d imagined. ‘All well, your Lordship?’
Seymour turned, found the sentry ten paces away: ‘Oh – yes.’ Stepped towards him. ‘Yes, quite well.’
‘That fellow not bothering you?’
‘No. Just a fisherman. Pleasant to talk to someone new for once. Pitiful fellow, really. Only wants money.’
The sentry nodded, and drifted away again. Seymour turned back to Shay, but the bank was deserted. Out in the river, the little rowing boat was making steadily for mid-stream, the man at the oars pulling smooth and looking away over his shoulder towards the sea.
MERCURIUS FIDELIS
or
The hone ſ t truth written for every Engli ſ hman that cares to read it
From
M ONDAY , S EPTEMBER 28.
to
M ONDAY , O CTOBER 5. 1648.
M ONDAY , S EPTEMBER 28.
HE di ſ ſ emblers, hecklers and lawyers from the ſ elf-ju ſ tified P ARLIAMENT are now gone to vi ſ it H IS M AJESTY , pre ſ enting their tricks and ſ hams like ſ o many Ea ſ tcheap gyp ſ yes. They do prate of liberties and Pre ſ byteries and other games that we know to be but lies, and none need doubt that H IS M AJESTY is proof again ſ t all. He is reported mo ſ t well in his health, and exceeding noble and eloquent and mo ſ t effective in his dignified engagement with the ra ſ cals, who pre ſ ume to call the ſ e negotiations, when they are but impertinence. Even the ſ e trifles are too much for the radical men of the A RMY , and certain ſ aucy fellows from the provinces ſ uch as L EICESTERSHIRE , who, being intemperate and uncompromi ſ ing and U NGODLY men, do cry again ſ t any di ſ cour ſ e with H IS M AJESTY T HE K ING
‘You cannot—’
‘As the situation stands today, there is not a strong military force in these islands for him to rally to. Even if there was, it would only unite his enemies, and we would have to depend on a grand military victory that shattered Cromwell once and for ever. These many years we have not found the General or the army to do it.’
‘France, then. Or Holland.’
‘If he escapes to the Continent he is never returning, Seymour. Know that. We would lose the kingdom for ever.’ A dark shake of the head. ‘Believe me, it is better as it is. Patience, old horse.’
Seymour’s face wrinkled uncomfortably. ‘And in the meanwhile? What do you do?’
‘I must take the measure of our friends in the provinces, and especially in Scotland.’
‘You hope for a new army in our cause?’
Shay shrugged. ‘Oh, armies are easy enough to come by, and Scottish ones are cheaper than most. Victories are a little harder. And the politics is harder still.’
‘What, then?’
‘Oh, we may do a little mischief yet. Between the soldiers and the politicals, the men of money and the men of God, the upsetters of the altars and the upsetters of all society. Between such a muddle of strong-believing men, we may cause a constant squabbling as will restore the King to his rightful place above them all.’
Seymour watched him doubtfully, and then let his focus drift out into the river and the fields beyond it.
Eventually the eyes drifted back. ‘Shay, do you really not know the names of the men behind you?’
Some flicker in Shay’s dark eyes, something old, something wise or something evil: ‘I have some ideas.’
‘I had been sure that Sir—’ but now Seymour found Shay’s hand reaching towards him, open. ‘What in heaven are you doing?’
‘Asking you for money, your honour. Your sentinel is approaching.’
‘What?’
‘Give me a coin.’
‘A coin?’ But he was reaching for his purse now, hearing slow footsteps crunching along the path behind him, and he thrust the first coin into Shay’s hand.
‘He’s still coming on. Turn, notice him, and then reassure him.’
‘When do I get my coin back?’
‘You don’t. Times are hard, Seymour. Fare you well.’
A new voice startled him, the sentry’s from over his shoulder, and closer than he’d imagined. ‘All well, your Lordship?’
Seymour turned, found the sentry ten paces away: ‘Oh – yes.’ Stepped towards him. ‘Yes, quite well.’
‘That fellow not bothering you?’
‘No. Just a fisherman. Pleasant to talk to someone new for once. Pitiful fellow, really. Only wants money.’
The sentry nodded, and drifted away again. Seymour turned back to Shay, but the bank was deserted. Out in the river, the little rowing boat was making steadily for mid-stream, the man at the oars pulling smooth and looking away over his shoulder towards the sea.
MERCURIUS FIDELIS
or
The hone ſ t truth written for every Engli ſ hman that cares to read it
From
M ONDAY , S EPTEMBER 28.
to
M ONDAY , O CTOBER 5. 1648.
M ONDAY , S EPTEMBER 28.
HE di ſ ſ emblers, hecklers and lawyers from the ſ elf-ju ſ tified P ARLIAMENT are now gone to vi ſ it H IS M AJESTY , pre ſ enting their tricks and ſ hams like ſ o many Ea ſ tcheap gyp ſ yes. They do prate of liberties and Pre ſ byteries and other games that we know to be but lies, and none need doubt that H IS M AJESTY is proof again ſ t all. He is reported mo ſ t well in his health, and exceeding noble and eloquent and mo ſ t effective in his dignified engagement with the ra ſ cals, who pre ſ ume to call the ſ e negotiations, when they are but impertinence. Even the ſ e trifles are too much for the radical men of the A RMY , and certain ſ aucy fellows from the provinces ſ uch as L EICESTERSHIRE , who, being intemperate and uncompromi ſ ing and U NGODLY men, do cry again ſ t any di ſ cour ſ e with H IS M AJESTY T HE K ING
Similar Books
