Micah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐
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- Author: Arthur Conan Doyle
Read book online ยซMicah Clarke<br />His Statement as made to his three grandchildren Joseph, Gervas and Reuben During by Arthur Conan Doyle (read e books online free txt) ๐ยป. Author - Arthur Conan Doyle
When the last soldier had passed through the Shuttern Gate, Monmouth and his leaders rode slowly in, the Mayor walking by the Kingโs charger. As we saluted they all faced round to us, and I saw a quick flush of surprise and pleasure come over Monmouthโs pale face as he noted our close lines and soldierly bearing.
โBy my faith, gentlemen,โ he said, glancing round at his staff, โour worthy friend the Mayor must have inherited Cadmusโs dragon teeth. Where raised ye this pretty crop, Sir Stephen? How came ye to bring them to such perfection too, even, I declare, to the hair powder of the grenadiers?โ
โI have fifteen hundred in the town,โ the old wool-worker answered proudly; โthough some are scarce as disciplined.
These men come from Wiltshire, and the officers from Hampshire. As to their order, the credit is due not to me, but to the old soldier Colonel Decimus Saxon, whom they have chosen as their commander, as well as to the captains who serve under him.โ
โMy thanks are due to you, Colonel,โ said the King, turning to Saxon, who bowed and sank the point of his sword to the earth, โand to you also, gentlemen. I shall not forget the warm loyalty which brought you from Hampshire in so short a time. Would that I could find the same virtue in higher places! But, Colonel Saxon, you have, I gather, seen much service abroad. What think you of the army which hath just passed before you?โ
โIf it please your Majesty,โ Saxon answered, โit is like so much uncarded wool, which is rough enough in itself, and yet may in time come to be woven into a noble garment.โ
โHem! There is not much leisure for the weaving,โ said Monmouth. โBut they fight well. You should have seen them fall on at Axminster! We hope to see you and to hear your views at the council table. But how is this? Have I not seen this gentlemanโs face before?โ
โIt is the Honourable Sir Gervas Jerome of the county of Surrey,โ quoth Saxon.
โYour Majesty may have seen me at St. Jamesโs,โ said the baronet, raising his hat, โor in the balcony at Whitehall. I was much at Court during the latter years of the late king.โ
โYes, yes. I remember the name as well as the face,โ cried Monmouth. โYou see, gentlemen,โ he continued, turning to his staff, โthe courtiers begin to come in at last. Were you not the man who did fight Sir Thomas Killigrew behind Dunkirk House? I thought as much. Will you not attach yourself to my personal attendants?โ
โIf it please your Majesty,โ Sir Gervas answered, โI am of opinion that I could do your royal cause better service at the head of my musqueteers.โ
โSo be it! So be it!โ said King Monmouth. Setting spurs to his horse, he raised his hat in response to the cheers of the troops and cantered down the High Street under a rain of flowers, which showered from roof and window upon him, his staff, and his escort. We had joined in his train, as commanded, so that we came in for our share of this merry crossfire. One rose as it fluttered down was caught by Reuben, who, I observed, pressed it to his lips, and then pushed it inside his breastplate. Glancing up, I caught sight, of the smiling face of our hostโs daughter peeping down at us from a casement.
โWell caught, Reuben!โ I whispered. โAt trick-track or trap and ball you were ever our best player.โ
โAh, Micah,โ said he, โI bless the day that ever I followed you to the wars. I would not change places with Monmouth this day.โ
โHas it gone so far then!โ I exclaimed. โWhy, lad, I thought that you were but opening your trenches, and you speak as though you had carried the city.โ
โPerhaps I am over-hopeful,โ he cried, turning from hot to cold, as a man doth when he is in love, or hath the tertian ague, or other bodily trouble. โGod knows that I am little worthy of her, and yetโโ
โSet not your heart too firmly upon that which may prove to be beyond your reach,โ said I. โThe old man is rich, and will look higher.โ
โI would he were poor!โ sighed Reuben, with all the selfishness of a lover. โIf this war last I may win myself some honour or title. Who knows? Others have done it, and why not I!โ
โOf our three from Havant,โ I remarked, โone is spurred onwards by ambition, and one by love. Now, what am I to do who care neither for high office nor for the face of a maid? What is to carry me into the fight?โ
โOur motives come and go, but yours is ever with you,โ said Reuben. โHonour and duty are the two stars, Micah, by which you have ever steered your course.โ
โFaith, Mistress Ruth has taught you to make pretty speeches,โ said I, โbut methinks she ought to be here amid the beauty of Taunton.โ
As I spoke we were riding into the market-place, which was now crowded with our troops. Round the cross were grouped a score of maidens clad in white muslin dresses with blue scarfs around their waists. As the King approached, these little maids, with much pretty nervousness, advanced to meet him, and handed him a banner which they had worked for him, and also a dainty gold-clasped Bible. Monmouth handed the flag to one of his captains, but he raised the book above his head, exclaiming that he had come there to defend the truths contained within it, at which the cheerings and acclamations broke forth with redoubled vigour. It had been expected that he might address the people from the cross, but he contented himself with waiting while the heralds proclaimed his titles to the Crown, when he gave the word to disperse, and the troops marched off to the different centres where food had been provided for them. The King and his chief officers took up their quarters in the Castle, while the Mayor and richer burgesses found bed and board for the rest. As to the common soldiers, many were billeted among the townsfolk, many others encamped in the streets and Castle grounds, while the remainder
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