FROM BERWICK TO WINDSOR
On this ride from Berwick to Windsor we had but one adventure to break
the monotony of our journey, and that was of so little importance that
I will not describe it at any great length. It was as we were nearing
York, and passing through a great forest which lines that road on
either side, like two great rustic walls placed there to screen
Nature's lowliest children from the murderous hand of man, for a
considerable distance, that we were attacked by a band of highwaymen,
with which this forest doth abound. Indeed 'tis said that here they do
grow upon the trees like poisonous fruit. We had been riding hard all
day, and, as the evening was drawing nigh, we were walking our horses,
in order to give them a rest in the cool of the forest, ere we should
make our final effort, for that day, and dash into York at a gallop.
Suddenly, about five score yards in front of us, two horsemen did ride
out, one on each side of the great road, with drawn swords in their
hands. They started to come in our direction, so we thought they meant
mischief. Then two more followed, and these were dressed as were the
first. We now became convinced that we were the attraction which
seemed to be drawing these gentlemen of the greenwood. I glanced over
my shoulder, and there, about the same distance behind us as were the
others in front, were four more men, dressed in exactly the same manner
and also carrying their swords in their hands.
"We are in for a skirmish now," said I.
"Yes," replied Harleston; "but if we be careful we can do for them yet.
If they do attempt to stop us, cut down the one on the right, and I
will do the same on the left, then dash forward and see if we cannot
pass the others. The ones behind we need not bother with. However,
use great caution and do not show signs of resistance too early in the
game."
"I'll watch thee for the signal."
When the first two men were within a few paces of us, they suddenly
wheeled their horses straight across the road, thus compelling us to
stop.
"And what might you want, sirs?" asked Harleston, in his sweetest tone.
The manner in which he spoke did seem to take their breath away; for
they did nothing but stare for a moment. Then the first to recover
himself answered:--
"All that thou hast, and be damned quick about the giving it." This in
a voice that told, in the plainest terms, the life these fellows lead.
My companion fumbled with his purse for a moment, which example I
followed. The two knaves eyed the bags as the wolf doth gaze in greedy
admiration at a lamb. Then, when the outlaws were off their guards,
our swords did leap from their scabbards, and we cleft their heads as
though they had been made of putty--which, mayhap, they were. We now
drove our spurs into the flanks of our horses and dashed at the other
two. They waited until we were within a score of yards of them, and
then they changed their minds, and did not seem to relish the idea of
meeting the same fate as their fellows; for they turned their horses
into the greenwood, and disappeared along one of those many narrow
paths, with which these forests are burrowed, and which they know as
well as I do the corridors of the palaces at Westminster or Windsor.
We did not attempt to follow them, but rode on at full speed for the
distance of a mile, and when we at length slackened our pace and looked
back, not one of the six was to be seen.
They had evidently thought to overawe us by a great show of numbers and
the copious use of bluster; but after two of their number had fallen
the courage of the rest did forsake them, and they lost their appetites
for our purses, for which they should have to pay such a price.
So we rode into York, nothing the worse for our little adventure which
had helped to make us forget the weariness of our long, hard ride.
When we had entered our inn, and were preparing us for our supper, a
great crowd gathered about the door; for the news had soon leaked out,
who we were and what our business was; for around inns every one doth
know one's business better than that person does himself; for what they
do not know they guess at. So we gave them the news of the great
victory our army had won, and told them that the Duke of Gloucester now
occupied Berwick. When they heard this they went wild with delight,
and we had to shut ourselves in our rooms to keep from being carried,
on their shoulders, all over the city; so great was the admiration of
this sturdy, simple, congregation of England's stalwart sons.
Bonfires were lighted wherever they could find sufficient open space in
which to build them. Processions were continually marching through the
streets, singing and cheering.
We had intended staying here for a few hours, in order that we might
get some much needed sleep; but we soon found this to be outside the
bounds of possibility, on account of the uproar which was increasing
every moment.
My friend and I, after cursing our folly in telling them the good news,
decided to not wait for a longer time than should be necessary for us
to get some supper and a change of horses, and then proceed on our
journey.
Needless to say, we did eat ravenously, after the long ride we had had.
When we had refreshed ourselves, all that it was possible for us to do,
we mounted our horses and set out through the surging, screaming,
half-drunken mass of humanity and made our way slowly towards the city
gates.
One drunken fellow, which did recognize us as being the persons who had
brought the good news, caught my horse by the head and insisted upon
our joining him in a friendly bowl at a near by inn. When I tried to
persuade him to let me go, and to excuse the duty that did make our
presence with him impossible, he said:--
"No, by the Virgin, your Royal Highness shall not pass out of the old
city of your father without drinking with some of its citizens. Were
his Royal Highness, thy father, alive he would not pass out till he had
made the whole town drunk, and so shall not you. Stay and revel with
us, for this is a glorious day for England,--glorious day," and he did
lean his head against the neck of my horse, and seemed inclined to
spend the night thus.
I spurred my steed sharply and, as he bounded forward, the poor
tradesman was thrown to the ground; but as we rode on we could still
hear him calling out to "his Royal Highness," so long as he could make
himself heard above the uproar that was going on around us. He
evidently thought that I was the Duke of Gloucester, and he was most
determined to show his patriotism and loyalty, by giving us what he
considered a glorious time.
We were permitted to pass through the gates, when we had told our
business; and so we rode forth from the city and on to the moon-lit
road, upon a long night's ride, through alternate wood and open country.
All that long night we rode on, now dozing in our saddles, and then
waking with a start, when an owl would break the stillness of the
forest with his unearthly noise, which seemed to us to be in keeping
with bats, serpents, brimstone, and all the general sounds of Hades,
more than the peaceful quiet of our weary ride through the forest.
Then, after cursing all these hideous disturbers, we would spur our
horses on, and let the cool breezes, as they played against our faces
and whistled past our ears and through our hair, refresh us and help to
drive away those heavy veils that did seem ever to be settling down
upon our brains and blotting out our consciousness with their soothing
folds.
The wolves, as they howled in the distance, seemed to be humming some
unearthly lullaby, in keeping with the scene and with our feelings; and
so weird-sweet did it sound that we would surely have gone to sleep,
had not our horses, which had better sense than their riders, quickened
their paces at each of these, to us, melodious outbursts. How we kept
our seats that night hath ever since been, to me, a mystery; for I have
but scant recollection of that agonizing ride from York.
When we entered Northampton, early the next day (for this was the road
we came), we had to be lifted from our saddles, so stiff were we, after
that awful night. Here we did refresh ourselves with wine and food,
and had about an hour's sleep. Then we were rubbed with strong waters,
the which did greatly refresh us, and then, mounting our seventh pair
of horses, we did set out for Windsor.
We stopped but twice before we reached our destination, and then only
whilst we could get some refreshments and changes of horses.
We reached Windsor that evening, and were so exhausted that we had to
be assisted into the palace, and to the King's apartments. When I saw
the King, however, I remembered my mission, and this did seem to revive
me; for I rushed forward and, dropping to one knee, presented the Duke
of Gloucester's message to his Majesty. So soon as we had entered the
room Harleston, regardless of etiquette, flung himself into a chair and
was sound asleep almost the instant that he touched it. When I had
handed the packet unto the King my duty was done and I had no ambition
to support me further. Mine ears did ring; the room began to whirl all
around me; weights then did seem to hang upon my weary eyelids; my head
sank lower; and there, at the King's feet, I fell into a heavy sleep.