The First Book of Samuel by SAREJESS (epub read online books txt) 📕

been captured and had been brought before the angry James II. The King, immaculately dressed in a morning coat in remembrance of his brother Charles the father of the miscreant Duke. The Duke was himself in disheveled shirt and breeches. “Well sir what have you to say for yourself?” inquired the angry monarch. “Your grace I beg your forgiveness” said the younger James.

“Forgiveness buys God’s teeth young man. You raised an army against me.” “I beg your pardon sire I was foolish,” said the duke. “Foolish by great Jove, sir you would have taken the kingdom from me and shown me no mercy.” shouted the king, “and now you beg for mercy.” “No I say sir you have done me a great wrong. You will find no mercy at my hand and you shall be executed for your crime.” “Sire, Uncle I have young children, please have mercy” cried the younger James dropping to his knees. “You dare to call me uncle after your acts of treason sir?” shouted the king. “You are no nephew of mine,” shouted the king, red with rage. James Duke of Monmouth fell down before the king and grasped at the feet of the king. “Your majesty I beg you” sobbed the young man. “Guards remove this man to the tower” said the king to the two guards who stood near by. Turning to his secretary, the king began to dictate to my Lord Lieutenants of the tower receive into your custody James Scott Duke of Monmouth who is guilty of treason...

15th July 1685
Mr. Pepys entered the inn, hung his hat upon a hook and retired to his usual spot near the fire. Samuel had brought him a jug of small beer. Hovering Mr. Pepys sensed that Samuel wished to talk. “Ah friend Samuel what a day so sad to see the young duke beheaded now there will be other intrigues I fear,” said Pepys. “Others will be punished. I hear that the king has given an order in council to judge Jeffreys to act most rigorously with the followers of the Duke. Poor man he met his end bravely” continued Mr. Pepys. “I have heard that some have already been executed,” said Samuel. “Indeed some have. Pray God our nation will find peace soon” said Pepys. “Amen to that” said Samuel who had been busy polishing a glass thinking back on the few occasions when the young duke had stopped at the inn to drink a glass of brandy or a flagon of wine. Now no more would those noble lips taste the cool chilled wine nor the embrace of a loving child nor the tender lips of his wife. The young duke cold in the grave, a thing, a person no longer, he was no more. Then a memory soon the memory would fade, those who loved the young duke would live with an emptiness in their heart until one day they went to their own cold hard bed. Then there would be no more memory of the life of a promising young man who wanted to do well for England. All that would remain would be the dry and dusty tombs in which men wrote of this period.


CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Scotland 1702 a spy for the Stuart's
The old King’s word rang clearly in Samuel’s ears "You are to go into Scotland and sound out the hearts and minds of the clansmen. Speak with their chiefs; hear if they are willing to be led by my son. England must be taken back once more from the heretics. I charge you Samuel Ferreira friend of old to do this last service for your king." "Majesty I will do as you bid but we must have a clear plan of action if we are to succeed. What am I to promise the clansmen for their loyalty?" asked Samuel.

"Promise them my personal gratitude and lands and honors once my son is on the throne and the usurpers banished from the realm. Promise them fine country estates in England, any thing but one thing get them on our side" said the king.

Thus Samuel had found himself landing in the far north of Scotland on a spring morning in the year of our Lord One thousand seven hundred and two. The French ship which was fast disappearing over the horizon, had not spent long in its task, the captain a small angry man, seemed almost upset at his task of dropping a spy on foreign soil.

Samuel began to walk the few miles to the nearest hamlet, there he would find lodgings and a base from which to operate. His first task was to find one Duncan Mac Douglas who would put him in touch with the various chieftains of the highlands. Mac Douglas had spent a number of years at the court of St Germans before returning to his native Scotland to act as the King across the water spy. When word had reached the highlands that James II was ailing and not likely to survive another winter, Mac Douglas had sent a message that the time was fast approaching for the King to strike at the heart of the enemy. George I of Hanover had not been on the throne long and although proclaimed the rightful king of Britain, he was not well liked but he was the man on the throne. The trick now was to dethrone him and send him scurrying back to Hanover with his tail between his fat legs.

As Samuel walked the last few yards to the only inn in the district, he wondered what sort of reception he would get. He had tried his best to blend in but the great sea cloak which he was wearing was sure to raise more than a few eyebrows. Pushing open the door, he was met by the sound of men talking and the familiar smell of alcohol and smoke. As he stepped into the inn, all conversation stopped. It was not surprising as the Scottish nature tended toward suspicion, as the government had been sending spies to the highlands for the last number of years, to gather information on the comings and goings of various highland chieftains and with whom they had been meeting. Taking a place at the bar, Samuel ordered a glass of whiskey and lit his pipe. The sound of soft voices speaking was once again heard in the inn. Now that he had his drink Samuel was to wait until approached by one of the locals to whom he would give the secret watchword, that would alert Mac Douglas that a visitor from across the water was here to see him.

Close to his body Samuel carried a number of letters addressed to a number of highland clan chieftains, this he worried about, for should he be taken these missives would place the chieftains in great danger as it would prove what the government of George I had long suspected, that a number of chieftains were in collusion with the King over the water. Thus Samuel carried them with the greatest of care ready at any moment to cast them into a fire should it become apparent to him that he was to be taken by George’s soldiers.

He had not been long at his place at the bar when a giant of a man with red hair and a dirty kilt accosted him "Be yea for the King over the water or be yea for the German?" asked the man. “I am assuming you are asking if I am a supporter of his majesty James II, if that is the question then I should wear a Stuart bonnet" replied Samuel giving the watchword which would alert anyone listening out for it that he was here to see Mac Douglas. "Ah hear you sir and I call you a lying dog” said the man. “No one would be that honest as to admit being for the king over the water in these times" said the giant who now stood towering over Samuel. "Indeed sir and how do you propose to resolve this if I might ask" said Samuel without a hint of fear. He had been warned that he would be tested before he was trusted and was to show no fear as his cause was true and just. "Why I'll take yew out side and give you a hiding if you like" said the man. “Are you sure the wee laddies might not be upset jock if I gave you a beating?" asked Samuel. The big man made as if to grab Samuel by the throat but was interrupted by another man. Who said quietly "That will be enough big Jack, he has proved himself" stepping forward another man in a Gordon kilt smiled and introduced himself "I am at your service sir. My name is William Mac Douglas you will forgive me appearing in the kilt of another clan but one can never be to sure of who you are dealing with in these troubled times" "I am Samuel Ferreira late of the court of St Germans on the king over the water’s business. I believe that we have something in common of which we need to talk" said Samuel.

1703 Thuringia Germany
Samuel meets J.S Bach at the creation of Jesus joy of mans desiring
Samuel had been some months on a visit to the home of Count Gunther Von Bremen whose ancestor he had met in the 12th century. It was while he was on this visit that Samuel chanced one day to enter the St Boniface’s Church in Arnstadt. He had been drawn to the church by the sound of an organ been played. It was the sweetest music he had ever heard; there was some thing vibrant and new about the music. He sat a while listening as the young man at the organ played, stopping occasionally, the young man would add a few notations to the score which lay before him.

“Himmel” said the young man “I just cannot get it right there is a certain melody, a counter point which does not fit.” Throwing down the pen which he had been using he stood up and walked down between the rows of pews. Noticing Samuel, he stopped. “May one inquire as to what you thought of the piece?” asked the young man of Samuel. “I thought it was wonderful. I have not heard an organ played so sweetly in a long time. Did you write it?” asked Samuel.

“Indeed sir I did, but it is not right. Did you hear the start? That is right, but the rest is rubbish. I was hoping to get it finished by the end of the week. ah well I will just have to start afresh” he said. “Duke Johann Ernst is not going to like me taking so much time to compose the pieces. It must be ready by Christmas and that is not too far off now” said the young man worriedly.

Samuel recalling an ancient tune from the days of his youth asked, “may I suggest some thing that might help?” “Why certainly. I am stumped right now so suggest away” replied the young man. Samuel began to hum a tune which had last been heard many centuries earlier in the land of his birth by priests at the temple. The young man cocked his head to one side and listened for a few moments suddenly he began to grow excited “yes, yes continue” he said as Samuel stopped. Samuel continued as the young Johann S Bach ran back to the organ taking up the score of the organ piece on which he had been working, he returned to Samuel's side. “No pray continue please sir” he said. Samuel once more began to hum and