Robin Tremayne Part 11

"But Tom is not yet back," said Isoult.

It was settled, however, that it would not do to wait for him; but to their relief, two or three hours before the time fixed for starting, Tom came. He brought letters from Mr Monke to John, and from Lady Frances to Isoult; but he arrived alone. Mr Monke thanked them heartily for their loving care, and would readily undertake to warn Wynscote and Combe; but he declined to join them. Potheridge was well fortified with walls and moat; and he had seven able-bodied men-servants, and double the number of tenants, who could be called within at a few minutes'

notice: the house was well provisioned, and his armoury equipped: and he ended his letter by saying,--"My trust is in G.o.d. You do well to go; yet methinks I do as well to abide."

"Metrusteth all shall be well," said Isoult, with a sigh; "yet if I might have known how it should be with them, I had gone with an heart the lighter."

"A wilful man," responded Philippa; "let him be."

Lady Frances said in her letter, "Dear heart, G.o.d is not gone from Devon. Fear not for us, only pray; and wheresoever we be, and howsoever, let us abide in Him."

At last the preparations were completed. Simon and Marian Pendexter had been installed in office, with orders to write in a month: three sumpter mules were laden with the family luggage: and the last farewells were taken. The party mounted their horses. First rode John Avery on Bayard, with his wife behind him on the pillion; then, on Blanche, a white mare, came Ursula, with Kate strapped before her; on the black farm mare, which had no particular name, rode Tom, with Barbara behind, and Walter before him; and lastly, on a wiry white nag, came Robin, with Philippa on the pillion. So they moved slowly away from the home which, for aught they knew, they might never see again.

It was a trial which cost Isoult Avery many tears. Barbara, too, wept; but no one else, only when Philippa spoke, it was in that short, constrained manner with which some people hide sorrow. Little Kate was in high glee, until she saw her mother weep; and then she looked grave and thoughtful--for about ten minutes.

When they reached the end of the lane which led into the high road from Bradmond, they found Dr Thorpe seated on his bay horse, awaiting them.

Behind, on a brown nag, was d.i.c.kon, with a bundle strapped at his back.

"Come, friends mine!" cried Dr Thorpe. "If you urge on your horses no faster, we shall sleep on the common to-night." Then as Bayard came up with him, he added in a lower tone, "It was too true, Jack. Fourteen houses were sacked in Bodmin last night."

"Of them that had enclosed?"

"Mostly, but not all," he answered. "They opened the cellars, and set the conduits a-flowing with wine; then, having well drunken, marched to the church, where they cast the new service-book into a bonfire [Note 1]; and at after surrounded Father Prideaux [a fict.i.tious person] his house, shouting and singing in uproarious wise, calling upon him to come forth and set himself at their head. (A fair body to be head of!) By G.o.d's providence, he was not within; but it was full two hours ere they would depart, for all the handmaid's telling of them that her master was from home. At long last they did go thence, and down the streets, shrieking and yelling like fiends."

"And is it over, think you?" suggested Avery.

"Is it begun?" answered Dr Thorpe. "Tidings came yestre'en of riots in Somerset; and, Jack, the commons have taken Exeter."

"Taken Exeter!" cried John and Isoult in a breath.

"Taken Exeter!" repeated he. "What think you now?"

"Lord, have mercy upon us!" said Isoult under her breath.

"A letter is come from the King," pursued Dr Thorpe, "exhorting the commons to obedience and patience, and they shall receive redress of their griefs."

Philippa and Robin now came ambling alongside, for here they could ride three abreast.

"But what profess the commons to be their griefs?" said Isoult; "for I did never yet rightly understand."

"Firstly," said Dr Thorpe, "they do allege the young age of the King, and the having a Protector over them."

"What foolishness!" exclaimed Avery. "Would they have the King grow unto manhood in a day? or think they that he abideth a child of set purpose?"

"Then," pursueth Dr Thorpe, "their second matter is, the 'stablishing of Lutheranism within the realm. They would fain see the ma.s.s set up again, and have the Six Articles back."

"The b.l.o.o.d.y Statute!" cried Isoult. "G.o.d forgive them!"

"And the third matter is the enclosures," added he.

"Methinks men are not over weighted with religion, that be so ready to pull it down," remarked Philippa.

"That hangeth on whether it be truth or error," replied he.

"Nay," said she, "you draw lines too fine for me. What I learnt in my youth is truth enough for me."

"So do many think," said Avery. "But there is yet an other question, Mrs Ba.s.set, which they shall some day have to front, though they will not now; and that is, whether it be truth enough for G.o.d?"

But to that she made no answer.

The fugitives journeyed as quietly as possible, yet as quickly as was safe, until the Sat.u.r.day. And then, about four o'clock, as they gained the ridge of a hill, Dr Thorpe, who rode first, suddenly drew bridle.

"Back, all of you!" cried he. "Hide you behind the rocks yonder. An immense crowd of men is in the valley, advancing this way. If these be the commons, G.o.d be our help, for we can have none other."

"We can sell our lives dearly, at least," said Avery, looking to his matchlock.

"We that be men were best to light off our horses," pursued Dr Thorpe, "and leave the women thereon, that they may fly the faster if need be.

Set them and the childre behind, and thou, Jack, with me and Tom and d.i.c.kon, stand out afore."

"They shall fly cruel slow on yon old black jade," said Tom, grinning.

"Master," inquired d.i.c.kon (who was a Somerset man), "if they catch I, what shall they do to I?"

"Hold your idle tongues!" answered Dr Thorpe sternly, "and see that your arms are in good order. Robin, shall we count thee a man, or as one of the childre?"

"You shall not count me to be guarded, but to guard," said Robin, stoutly.

"Well said," replied Dr Thorpe.

"Truly, good Doctor, on my word," interposed Philippa, "but you shall not count me as a sely woman. I have handled a matchlock afore now, and I can knock down a man an' I have hold of a poker. I stand to the front, an' it like you."

"Well said, brave heart!" answered he. "So do."

So set, they awaited the death that might be at hand, and prayed to G.o.d to guard them. All were brave enough but d.i.c.kon, and he shivered like an aspen leaf.

"Thou white-livered [our ancestors believed literally that cowards had white livers] dolt!" cried Dr Thorpe sharply, and took the matchlock out of his hands. "Go behind for a child as thou art."

"And give me his matchlock," said Philippa.

"Take it," he answered. "You are ten times over the man that he is."

Slowly they heard the tramp of feet advancing nearer and nearer. All were silent now. The feet gained the ridge of the hill--they crossed it--they came forward on the road. All at once Avery, who was next that side, threw down his matchlock with a shout.

"Forward, friends!" cried he triumphantly. "These are no rebels--these are the King's Majesty's troops. See you not the royal lions flying at the van? G.o.d be with the armies of England!"

The revulsion was great from such terror to comfort, joy, and thankfulness. All came forward. The leader of the army looked at the group, stayed his horse, and lifted his visor. A cry of joy broke from Philippa and Isoult, for they saw beneath his helm a face that they had known well in the old Calais days.

"Mrs Philippa Ba.s.set!" exclaimed he in amazement; "at the least if mine eyes bewray me not. And Mrs Barry! G.o.d keep you both! How come you here? and do you lack aid?"