Micah Clarke

Коллекция текстов · adventure

Chapter I. Of Cornet Joseph Clarke of the Ironsides
It may be, my dear grandchildren, that at one time or another I have told you nearly all the incidents which have occurred during my advent…
Chapter II. Of my going to school and of my coming thence (1)
With the home influences which I have described, it may be readily imagined that my young mind turned very much upon the subject of religio…
Chapter II. Of my going to school and of my coming thence (2)
At the other end of the village there was a large day-school. A constant feud prevailed between the scholars who attended it and the lads w…
Chapter III. Of Two Friends of my Youth
I fear, my children, that you will think that the prologue is over long for the play; but the foundations must be laid before the building…
Chapter IV. Of the Strange Fish that we Caught at Spithead
One evening in the month of May 1685, about the end of the first week of the month, my friend Reuben Lockarby and I borrowed Ned Marley’s p…
Chapter V. Of the Man with the Drooping Lids
My mother and my father were sitting in their high-backed chairs on either side of the empty fireplace when we arrived, he smoking his even…
Chapter VI. Of the Letter that came from the Lowlands (1)
In the morning I was up betimes, and went forthwith, after the country fashion, to our quest’s room to see if there was aught in which I co…
Chapter VI. Of the Letter that came from the Lowlands (2)
The carpenter stroked his white beard and pondered for a while. ‘It is a pregnant question,’ he said at last, ‘and yet methinks that there…
Chapter VII. Of the Horseman who rode from the West
My father set to work forthwith preparing for our equipment, furnishing Saxon out as well as myself on the most liberal scale, for he was d…
Chapter VIII. Of our Start for the Wars (1)
All along the ridge of Portsdown Hill we had the lights of Portsmouth and of the harbour ships twinkling beneath us on the left, while on t…
Chapter VIII. Of our Start for the Wars (2)
‘Lest he claim a half of whatever booty I may chance to gain. What saith my learned Fleming under the heading “an qui militi equum praebuit…
Chapter IX. Of a Passage of Arms at the Blue Boar
I had slept several hours when I was suddenly aroused by a prodigious crash, followed by the clash of arms and shrill cries from the lower…
Chapter X. Of our Perilous Adventure on the Plain (1)
We were not half a mile from the town before the roll of kettledrums and the blare of bugles swelling up musically through the darkness ann…
Chapter X. Of our Perilous Adventure on the Plain (2)
‘He took this direction,’ said I, peering anxiously out into the darkness. ‘He can scarce have gone far, for he spoke of making a stand. Or…
Chapter XI. Of the Lonely Man and the Gold Chest (1)
The strong yellow glare which had attracted us across the moor found its way out through a single narrow slit alongside the door which serv…
Chapter XI. Of the Lonely Man and the Gold Chest (2)
‘Who in turn taught it to you,’ cried Saxon triumphantly. ‘I have no great store of metal with me, good sir, but there are my head-piece, b…
Chapter XII. Of certain Passages upon the Moor (1)
In the morning, after a breakfast furnished by the remains of our supper, we looked to our horses and prepared for our departure. Ere we co…
Chapter XII. Of certain Passages upon the Moor (2)
‘I trust that we shall soon be over a dish of beefsteaks,’ groaned Reuben. ‘I am well-nigh famished. So fair a village must needs have a pa…
Chapter XIII. Of Sir Gervas Jerome, Knight Banneret of the County of Surrey (1)
The inn was very full of company, being occupied not only by many Government agents and couriers on their way to and from the seat of the r…
Chapter XIII. Of Sir Gervas Jerome, Knight Banneret of the County of Surrey (2)
‘Until my comrade returns, Sir Gervas,’ said I, ‘you might, since the subject does not appear to be a painful one to you, let us know how t…
Chapter XIV. Of the Stiff-legged Parson and his Flock
Our road lay through Castle Carey and Somerton, which are small towns lying in the midst of a most beautiful pastoral country, well wooded…
Chapter XV. Of our Brush with the King’s Dragoons (1)
Some little distance from us a branch road ran into that along which we and our motley assemblage of companions-in-arms were travelling. Th…
Chapter XV. Of our Brush with the King’s Dragoons (2)
Ah, my children! when a man in his age tries to describe such things as these, and to make others see what he has seen, it is only then tha…
Chapter XVI. Of our Coming to Taunton
The purple shadows of evening had fallen over the countryside, and the sun had sunk behind the distant Quantock and Brendon Hills, as our r…
Chapter XVII. Of the Gathering in the Market-square (1)
The fair town in which we now found ourselves was, although Monmouth had not yet reached it, the real centre of the rebellion. It was a pro…
Chapter XVII. Of the Gathering in the Market-square (2)
The old Puritan gravely rolled up his papers, and having stood for a few moments with his hands folded across his breast in silent prayer,…
Chapter XVIII. Of Master Stephen Timewell, Mayor of Taunton (1)
Within the town-hall all was bustle and turmoil. At one side behind a low table covered with green baize sat two scriveners with great roll…
Chapter XVIII. Of Master Stephen Timewell, Mayor of Taunton (2)
Whilst this friendly strife was proceeding between the elders, Sir Gervas Jerome and Mistress Ruth had fallen into conversation at the othe…
Chapter XVIII. Of Master Stephen Timewell, Mayor of Taunton (3)
‘Aye, truly,’ said the old man, smiling. ‘But what think ye of my young men, sir? They must needs be of a very different class to any with…
Chapter XIX. Of a Brawl in the Night (1)
Decimus Saxon refused to avail himself of Master Timewell’s house and table for the reason, as I afterwards learned, that, the Mayor being…
Chapter XIX. Of a Brawl in the Night (2)
‘I can see nothing,’ I answered, shading my eyes and gazing down the tree-sprinkled valley which rose slowly in green uplands to the grassy…
Chapter XX. Of the Muster of the Men of the West
Monmouth was at that time in his thirty-sixth year, and was remarkable for those superficial graces which please the multitude and fit a ma…
Chapter XXI. Of my Hand-grips with the Brandenburger (1)
King Monmouth had called a council meeting for the evening, and summoned Colonel Decimus Saxon to attend it, with whom I went, bearing with…
Chapter XXI. Of my Hand-grips with the Brandenburger (2)
‘Was there no a voice heard in the East?’ cried the old Whig. ‘Was there no a soond as o’ a great crying, the crying for a broken covenant…
Chapter XXII. Of the News from Havant
Having given my orders that Covenant should be saddled and bridled by daybreak, I had gone to my room and was preparing for a long night’s…
Chapter XXIII. Of the Snare on the Weston Road (1)
Just after sunrise I was awoke by one of the Mayor’s servants, who brought word that the Honourable Master Wade was awaiting me downstairs.…
Chapter XXIII. Of the Snare on the Weston Road (2)
Passing through the entrance, which must have been dug with great labour through the solid rock, we came out into a lofty and roomy cave, l…
Chapter XXIV. Of the Welcome that met me at Badminton (1)
When I opened my eyes I had some ado to recall where I was, but on sitting up it was brought home to me by my head striking the low ceiling…
Chapter XXIV. Of the Welcome that met me at Badminton (2)
High iron gates, with the leopard and griffin, which are the supporters of the Beaufort arms, fixed on the pillars which flanked them, open…
Chapter XXV. Of Strange Doings in the Boteler Dungeon (1)
‘Take down this fellow’s statement,’ said the Duke to his scrivener. ‘Now, sirrah, it may not be known to you that his gracious Majesty the…
Chapter XXV. Of Strange Doings in the Boteler Dungeon (2)
‘Especially when it talks of hemp and dungeons,’ he answered, with a smile. ‘But if I clapped you into prison, you must confess that I have…
Chapter XXVI. Of the Strife in the Council
King Monmouth’s council was assembled at the time of my coming, and my entrance caused the utmost surprise and joy, as they had just heard…
Chapter XXVII. Of the Affair near Keynsham Bridge (1)
Monday, June 21, 1685, broke very dark and windy, with dull clouds moving heavily across the sky and a constant sputter of rain. Yet a litt…
Chapter XXVII. Of the Affair near Keynsham Bridge (2)
‘Then I leave the Major in your keeping, Reuben,’ I cried. ‘See that he hath what our means allow.’ So saying I spurred my horse, and soon…
Chapter XXVIII. Of the Fight in Wells Cathedral (1)
I am fairly tied to the chariot-wheels of history now, my dear children, and must follow on with name and place and date, whether my tale s…
Chapter XXVIII. Of the Fight in Wells Cathedral (2)
‘God forbid that I should say a word to damp your Majesty’s ardour,’ the lawyer answered; ‘yet I cannot but remember that there was a time…
Chapter XXIX. Of the Great Cry from the Lonely House
And so our weary marching and counter-marching came at last to an end, and we found ourselves with our backs fairly against the wall, and t…
Chapter XXX. Of the Swordsman with the Brown Jacket (1)
The sergeant, who was a great raw-boned west-countryman, pushed the gate open, and we were advancing up the winding pathway, when a stream…
Chapter XXX. Of the Swordsman with the Brown Jacket (2)
‘Why should you persevere in such a trade?’ said I. ‘Your own knowledge must tell you that it can only lead to ruin and the gallows. Have y…
Chapter XXXI. Of the Maid of the Marsh and the Bubble which rose from the Bog (1)
All Bridgewater was in a ferment as we rode in, for King James’s forces were within four miles, on the Sedgemoor Plain, and it was likely t…
Chapter XXXI. Of the Maid of the Marsh and the Bubble which rose from the Bog (2)
To our surprise it had still one inmate within its walls. In the centre of the room, facing the door as we entered, stood a little bright,…
Chapter XXXII. Of the Onfall at Sedgemoor (1)
However pressing our own private griefs and needs, we had little time now to dwell upon them, for the moment was at hand which was to decid…
Chapter XXXII. Of the Onfall at Sedgemoor (2)
‘Nay, sir, for God’s sake!’ said a trooper, laying his hand upon his bridle. ‘Sergeant Sexton hath sprung in even now, and horse and man ha…
Chapter XXXII. Of the Onfall at Sedgemoor (3)
It needed no great amount of soldierly experience to see that the battle was lost, and that Monmouth’s cause was doomed. It was broad dayli…
Chapter XXXIII. Of my Perilous Adventure at the Mill (1)
At the base of the mill there stood a shed which was evidently used to stall the horses which brought the farmers’ grain. Some grass was he…
Chapter XXXIII. Of my Perilous Adventure at the Mill (2)
Three or four troopers caught me by the arms, but I shook them off as best I might, and walked with, as I trust, a steady step and a cheerf…
Chapter XXXIV. Of the Coming of Solomon Sprent (1)
The church of Gommatch was a small ivy-clad building with a square Norman tower, standing in the centre of the hamlet of that name. Its gre…
Chapter XXXIV. Of the Coming of Solomon Sprent (2)
The good old seaman stayed with me until late in the night, listening to my adventures, and narrating in return the simple gossip of the vi…
Chapter XXXV. Of the Devil in Wig and Gown (1)
There was no delay in the work of slaughter. That very night the great gallows was erected outside the White Hart inn. Hour after hour we c…
Chapter XXXV. Of the Devil in Wig and Gown (2)
We were scarce back in the wool-house once more when a file of guards with a sergeant entered, escorting a long, pale-faced man with protru…
Chapter XXXV. Of the Devil in Wig and Gown (3)
I seated myself by the table with my brain in a whirl. ‘This is more than I can fathom,’ said I. ‘What is the meaning of it, and how comes…
Chapter XXXVI. Of the End of it All
And so, my dear children, I come to the end of the history of a failure—a brave failure and a noble one, but a failure none the less. In th…
Appendix
Note A.—Hatred of Learning among the Puritans. In spite of the presence in their ranks of such ripe scholars as John Milton, Colonel Hutchi…