HUMPHREY'S NARRATIVE.
With these words--'Oh! Robin! Robin!'--the history, as set down in
my Mistress's handwriting, suddenly comes to an end. The words are
fitting, because her whole heart was full of Robin, and though at
this time it seemed to the poor creature a sin still to nourish
affection for her old sweetheart, I am sure--nay, I have it on her
own confession--that there was never an hour in the waking day when
Robin was not in her mind, though between herself and her former
lover stood the dreadful figure of her husband. I suppose that,
although she began this work with the design to complete it, she had
not the courage, even when years had passed away and much earthly
happiness had been her reward, to write down the passages which
follow. Wherefore (and for another reason--namely, a confession
which must be made by myself before I die) I have taken upon myself
to finish that part of Alice Eykin's history which relates to the
Monmouth rising and its unhappy consequences. You have read how
(thanks to my inexperience and ignorance of conspiracies, and belief
in men's promises) we were reduced to the lowest point of disgrace
and poverty. Alice did not tell, because till afterwards she did
not know, that on Sir Christopher's death his estate was declared
confiscated, and presently bestowed upon Benjamin by favour of Lord
Jeffreys; so that he whose ambition it was to become Lord Chancellor
was already (which he had not expected) the Lord of the Manor of
Bradford Orcas. But of this hereafter.
I have called her my Mistress. Truly, all my life she hath been
to me more than was ever Laura to Petrarch, or even Beatrice to
the great Florentine. The ancients represented every virtue by a
Goddess, a Grace, or a Nymph. Nay, the Arts were also feminine (yet
subject to the informing influence of the other sex, as the Muses
had Apollo for their director and chief). To my mind every generous
sentiment, every worthy thought, all things that are gracious, all
things that lift my soul above the common herd, belong not to me,
but to my Mistress. In my youth it was she who encouraged me to the
practice of those arts by which the soul is borne heavenwards--I
mean the arts of poetry and of music: it was she who listened
patiently when I would still be prating of myself, and encouraged
the ambitions which had already seized my soul. So that if I turned
a set of verses smoothly, it was to Alice that I gave them, and
for her that I wrote them. When we played heavenly music together,
the thoughts inspired by the strain were like the Italian painter's
vision of the angels which attend the Virgin--I mean that, sweet
and holy as the angels are, they fall far short of the holiness
and sweetness of her whom they honour. So, whatever my thoughts or
my ambitions, amidst them all I saw continually the face of Alice,
always filled with candour and with sweetness. That quality which
enables a woman to think always about others, and never about
herself, was given to Alice in large and plenteous measure. If she
talked with me, her soul was all mine. If she was waiting on Madam,
or upon Sir Christopher, or upon the Rector, or on her own mother,
she knew their inmost thoughts and divined all their wants. Nay,
long afterwards, in the daily exercise of work and study, at the
University of Oxford, in the foreign schools of Montpellier, Padua,
and Leyden, it was Alice who, though far away, encouraged me. I
could no longer hear her voice; but her steadfast eyes remained in
my mind like twin stars that dwell in heaven. This is a wondrous
power given to a few women, that they should become as it were
angels sent from heaven, lent to the earth a while, in order to fill
men's minds with worthy thoughts, and to lead them in the heavenly
way. The Romish Church holds that the age of miracles hath never
passed; which I do also believe, but not in the sense taught by that
Church. Saints there are among us still, who daily work miracles,
turning earthly clay into the jasper and the precious marble of
heaven!
Again, the great poet Milton hath represented his virtuous lady
unharmed among the rabble rout of Comus, protected by her virtue
alone. Pity that he hath not also shown a young man led by that
sweet lady, encouraged, warned, and guarded along that narrow way,
beset with quag and pitfall, along which he must walk who would
willingly climb to higher place! And all this apart from earthly
love, as in the case of those two Italian poets.
More, I confess, I would have had, and presumptuously longed for
it--nay, even prayed for it with such yearnings and longings as
seemed to tear my very heart asunder. But this was denied to me.
In September, 1685, ten weeks after the fight of Sedgemoor, we,
being by that time well tired of Exeter Prison, were tried by Lord
Jeffreys. It was no true trial, for we were all advised to plead
guilty, upon which the Judge bellowed and roared at us, abusing us
in such language as I never thought to hear from the bench, and
finally sentenced us all to death. (A great deal has been said
of this roaring of the Judge, but I am willing to excuse it in
great measure, on the ground of the disease from which he was then
suffering. I myself, who had heard that he was thus afflicted, saw
the drops of agony upon his forehead, and knew that if he was not
bawling at us he must have been roaring on his own account.) So
we were marched back to prison and began to prepare for the last
ceremony, which is, I think, needlessly horrible and barbarous. To
cut a man open while he is still living is a thing not practised
even by the savage Turk. At this gloomy time my cousin Robin set
a noble example of fortitude, which greatly encouraged the rest
of us. Nor would he ever suffer me to reproach myself (as I was
continually tempted to do) with having been the cause of the ruin
which had fallen upon the whole of our unfortunate house. Nay, he
went further, and insisted, and would have it, that had I remained
in Holland he himself would have joined the Duke, and that I was
in no way to blame as an inciter to this unfortunate act. We knew
by this time that Sir Christopher had been arrested and conveyed
to Ilminster Jail, and that with him were Dr. Eykin, grievously
wounded, and Barnaby; and that Alice, with her mother, was also at
Ilminster. Mr. Boscorel, for his part, was gone to London in order
to exert whatever interest he might possess on behalf of all. With
him went Madam, Robin's mother; but she returned before the trial,
much dejected, so that we were not encouraged to hope for anything
from that quarter. Madam began to build some hopes at this time from
Benjamin, because he, who had accompanied the Judges from London,
was the boon companion every night of Lord Jeffreys himself. But it
is one thing to be permitted to drink and sing with a great man at
night, and another thing to procure of him the pardon of rebels (and
those not the common sort, but leaders and captains). That Benjamin
would attempt to save us, I did not doubt; because in common
decency and humanity he must needs try to save his grandfather and
his cousins. But that he would effect anything--that, indeed, I
doubted. Whether he did make an attempt, I know not. He came not
to the prison, nor did he make any sign that he knew we were among
the prisoners. What he contrived, the plot which he laid, and the
villainy with which he carried it out, you have already read. Well,
I shall have much more to say about Benjamin. For the moment, let
him pass.
I say, then, that we were lying in Exeter Jail, expecting to be
called out for execution at any hour. We were sitting in the
courtyard on the stone bench with gloomy hearts.
'Robin--Humphrey--lads both!' cried a voice we knew. It was the
Rector, Mr. Boscorel himself, who called us. 'Courage, lads!' he
cried (yet looked himself as mournful as man can look). 'I bring you
good news--I have this day ridden from Ilminster (there is other
news not so good)--good news, I say: for you shall live, and not
die! I have so far succeeded that the lives are spared of Robin
Challis, Captain in the Rebel Cavalry; Barnaby Eykin, Captain of the
Green Regiment; and Humphrey Challis, Chyrurgeon to the Duke. Yet
must you go to the Plantations--poor lads!--there to stay for ten
long years. Well, we will hope to get your pardon and freedom long
before that time is over. Yet you must, perforce, sail across the
seas.'
'Lad,' cried Robin, catching my hand, 'cease to tear thy heart with
reproaches! See! none of us will die, after all.'
'On the scaffold, none,' said Mr. Boscorel. 'On the scaffold, none,'
he repeated.
'And what saith my grandfather, Sir?' Robin asked. 'He is also
enlarged, I hope, at least. And how is the learned Dr. Eykin? and
Alice--my Alice--where is she?'
'Young men,' said the Rector, 'prepare for tidings of the
worst--yes; of the very worst. Cruel news I bring to you, boys; and
for myself'--he hung his head--'cruel news, shameful news?'
Alas! you know already what he had to tell us. Worse than the death
of that good old man, Sir Christopher; worse than the death of the
unfortunate Dr. Eykin and his much-tried wife; there was the news of
Alice's marriage and of her flight, and at hearing this we looked at
each other in dismay, and Robin sprang to his feet and cried aloud
for vengeance upon the villain who had done this thing.
'It is my own son,' said Mr. Boscorel; 'yet spare him not! He
deserves all that you can call him, and more. Shameful news I had
to tell you. Where the poor child hath found a retreat or how she
fares, I know not. Robin, ask me not to curse my own son--what
is done will bring its punishment in due time. Doubt it not. But
of punishment we need not speak. If there were any way--any way
possible--out of it! But there is none. It is a fatal blow. Death
itself alone can release her. Consider, Humphrey, consider; you are
not so distracted as your cousin. Consider, I say, that unhappy girl
is Benjamin's lawful wife. If he can find her, he may compel her to
live with him. She is his lawful wife, I say. It is a case in which
there is no remedy; it is a wickedness for which there is no help,
until one of the twain shall die.'
There was indeed no help or remedy possible. I will not tell of the
madness which fell upon Robin at this news, nor of the distracted
things he said, nor how he wept for Alice at one moment and the
next cursed the author of this wickedness. There was no remedy. Yet
Mr. Boscorel solemnly promised to seek out the poor innocent girl,
forced to break her vows for the one reason which could excuse
her--namely, to save the lives of all she loved.
'They were saved already,' Mr. Boscorel added. 'He knew that they
were saved. He had seen me; he had the news that I brought from
London; he knew it; and he lied unto her! There is no single
particular in which his wickedness can be excused or defended.
Yet, I say, curses are of no avail. The Hand of God is heavy upon
all sinners, and will presently fall upon my unhappy son--I pray
that before that Hand shall fall his heart may be touched with
repentance.'
But Robin fell into a melancholy from which it was impossible to
arouse him. He who, while death upon the scaffold seemed certain,
was cheerful and brave, now, when his life was spared, sat heavy and
gloomy, speaking to no one; or, if he spoke, then in words of rage
and impatience.
Mr. Boscorel remained at Exeter, visiting us daily until the
time came when we were removed. He brought with him one day a
smooth-tongued gentleman in sober attire, who was, he told us, a
West Indian merchant of Bristol, named George Penne. (You have read,
and know already, how great a villain was this man.)
'This gentleman,' said Mr. Boscorel, 'is able and willing, for
certain considerations, to assist you in your exile. You have been
given (among many others) by the King to one Mr. Jerome Nipho, who
hath sold all his convicts to this gentleman. In his turn, he is
under bonds to ship you for the Plantations, where you will be sold
again to the planters.'
'Sirs,' Mr. Penne looked from one to the other of us with
compassionate eyes, 'I have heard your melancholy case, and it will
be to my great happiness if I may be able in any way to soften the
rigours of your exile. Be it known to you that I have correspondents
in Jamaica, Barbadoes, and Virginia, and that for certain sums
of money these--my friends--will readily undertake to make your
servitude one merely in name. In other words, as I have already
informed his Reverence, I have bought you in the hope of being
useful to you (I wish I could thus buy all unhappy prisoners), and
I can, on paying my friends what they demand, secure to you freedom
from labour, subject only to the condition of remaining abroad until
your term is expired, or your friends at home have procured your
pardon.'
'As for the price, Humphrey,' said Mr. Boscorel, 'that shall be my
care. It is nearly certain that Sir Christopher's estates will be
confiscated, seeing that he died in prison under the charge of high
treason, though he was never tried. Therefore we must not look to
his lands for any help. What this gentleman proposes is, however,
so great a thing that we must not hesitate to accept his offer
gratefully.'
'I must have,' said Mr. Penne, 'seventy pounds for each prisoner. I
hear that there is a third young gentleman of your party now in the
same trouble at Ilminster; I shall therefore ask for two hundred
guineas--two hundred guineas in all. It is not a large sum in order
to secure freedom. Those who cannot obtain this relief have to work
in the fields or in the mills under the hot sun of the Spanish Main;
they are subject to the whip of the overseer; they have wretched
food; they are worse treated than the negroes, because the latter
are slaves for life and the former for ten years only. By paying two
hundred guineas only you will all be enabled to live at your ease.
Meanwhile, your friends at home will be constantly endeavouring
to procure your pardon. I myself, though but a simple merchant of
Bristol City, can boast some influence, which I will most readily
exert to the utmost in your behalf'----
'Say no more, Sir,' said Mr. Boscorel, interrupting him; 'the
bargain is concluded. These young gentlemen shall not be subjected
to any servitude; I will pay you two hundred guineas.'
'I would, Sir'--Mr. Penne laid his hand, which was large, white,
and soft, the hand of a liar and a traitor, upon his treacherous
heart--'I would to Heaven, Sir,' he said, 'that I could undertake
this service for less. If my correspondents were men of tender
hearts, the business should cost you nothing at all. But they are
men of business; they say that they live not abroad for pleasure,
but for profit; they cannot forego any advantage that may offer. As
for me, this job brings me no profit. Upon my honour, gentlemen,
profit from such a source I should despise: every guinea that you
give me will be placed to the credit of my correspondents, who will,
I am assured, turn a pretty penny by the ransom of the prisoners.
But that we cannot help. And as for me--I say it boldly in the
presence of this learned and pious clergyman--I am richly rewarded
with the satisfaction of doing a generous thing. That is enough, I
hope, for any honest man.'
The fellow looked so benevolent, and smiled with so much compassion,
that it was impossible to doubt his word. Besides, Mr. Boscorel
had learned many things during the journey to London; among
others that it would be possible to buy immunity from labour for
the convicts. Therefore, he hesitated not, but gave him what he
demanded, taking in return a paper, which was to be shown to Mr.
Penne's correspondents, in which he acknowledged the receipt of the
money, and demanded in return a release from actual servitude. This
paper I put carefully in my pocket, with my note-book and my case of
instruments.
It was, so far as my memory serves me, about six weeks after our
pardon was received when we heard that we were to be marched to
Bristol, there to be shipped for some port or other across the
ocean. At Taunton we were joined by a hundred poor fellows as
fortunate as ourselves; and at Bridgwater by twenty more, whose
lives had been bought by Colonel Kirke. Fortunate we esteemed
ourselves; for everywhere the roads were lined with legs, heads,
trunks, and arms, boiled and blackened in pitch, stuck up for the
terror of the country. Well; you shall judge how fortunate we were.
When we reached Bristol, we found Mr. Penne upon the Quay, with
some other merchants. He changed colour when he saw us; but quickly
ran to meet us, and whispered that we were on no account to betray
his goodness in the matter of ransom, otherwise it might be the
undoing of us all, and perhaps cause his own imprisonment. He also
told me that the ship was bound for Barbadoes, and we should have
to mess with the other prisoners on the voyage, but that it would
all be made up to us when we arrived. He further added that he had
requested his correspondents to entertain us until money should
arrive from England, and to become our bankers for all that we
should want. And with that he clasped my hand tenderly, and with a
'God be wi' ye!' he left us, and we saw him no more.