"His flight was madness."
_Macbeth._
Yes, Virginia! She who had so much reason for consolation herself,
forgot her own sorrows for the time, in administering the oil of
consolation to the poor, wounded, broken-hearted savage girl. She had
been sitting at the window of the little parlour, where she could
witness the whole scene, and hear the whole interview between the
Governor and Hansford; and oh! how her heart had sunk within her as she
heard the harsh sentence of the stern old knight, which condemned her
noble, friendless lover to imprisonment, perhaps to death; and yet, a
maiden modesty restrained her from yielding to the impulse of the
moment, to throw herself at the feet of Berkeley, confess her love, and
implore his pardon. Alas! ill-fated maiden, it would have been in
vain--as she too truly, too fatally discovered afterwards.
The extraordinary appearance and conduct of Mamalis broke up for the
present any further conference with Berkenhead, who--his mendacity
having established his innocence in the minds of the loyalists--walked
off with a swaggering gait, rather elated than otherwise with the result
of his interview. Alfred Bernard followed him until they turned an angle
of the house, and stood beneath the shade of one of the broad oaks,
which spread its protecting branches over the yard.
Meantime the Governor, with such of his council as had attended him to
Windsor Hall, retired to the study of the old Colonel, which had been
fitted up both for the chamber of his most distinguished guest and for
the deliberations of the council. The subject which now engaged their
attention was one of more importance than any that had ever come before
them since the commencement of the dissensions in Virginia. The mission
of Hansford, while it had failed of producing the effect which he so
ardently desired, had, notwithstanding, made a strong impression upon
the mind of the Governor. He saw too plainly that it would be vain to
resist the attack of Bacon, at the head of five hundred men, among whom
were to be ranked the very chivalry of Virginia; while his own force
consisted merely of his faithful adherents in the council, and about
fifty mercenary troops, whose sympathies with the insurgents were
strongly suspected.
"I see," said the old man, gloomily, as he took his seat at the
council-board, "that I must seek some other refuge. I am hunted like a
wild beast from place to place, through a country that was once my own,
and by those who were once the loving subjects of my king."
"Remain here!" said the impulsive old Temple. "The people of Gloucester
will yet rally around your standard, when they see open treason is
contemplated; and should they still refuse, zounds, we may yet offer
resistance with my servants and slaves."
"My dear friend," said Berkeley, sorrowfully, "if all Virginians were
like yourself, there would have been no rebellion--there would have been
no difficulty in suppressing one, if attempted. But alas! the loyalty of
the people of Gloucester has already been weighed in the balance and
found wanting. No, I have acted hastily, foolishly, blindly. I have
warmed this serpent into life by my forbearance and indulgence, and must
at last be the victim of its venom and my folly. Oh! that I had refused
the commission, which armed this traitor with legal power. I have put a
sword into the hands of an enemy, and may be the first to fall by it."
"It is useless to repine over the past," said Philip Ludwell, kindly;
"but the power of these rebels cannot last long. The people who are
loyal at heart will fall from their support, and military aid will be
received from England ere long. Then the warmed reptile may be crushed."
"To my mind," said Ballard, "it were better to repair the evil that has
been done by retracing our steps, rather than to proceed further. When a
man is over his depth, he had better return to the shore than to attempt
to cross the unfathomable stream."
"Refrain from enigmas, if you please," said Berkeley, coldly, "and tell
me to what you refer."
"Simply," replied Ballard, firmly, "that all this evil has resulted from
your following the jesuitical counsel of a boy, rather than the prudent
caution of your advisers. My honoured sir, forgive me if I say it is now
your duty to acquiesce in the request of Major Hansford, and withdraw
your proclamation."
"And succumb to traitors!" cried Berkeley. "Never while God gives me
breath to reiterate it. He who would treat with a traitor, is himself
but little better than a traitor."
The flush which mounted to the brow of Ballard attested his indignation
at this grave charge; but before he had time to utter the retort which
rose to his lips, Berkeley added,
"Forgive me, Ballard, for my haste. But the bare idea of making terms
with these audacious rebels roused my very blood. No, no! I can die in
defence of my trust, but I cannot, will not yield it."
"But it is not yielding," said Ballard.
"Nay--no more of that," interrupted Berkeley; "let us devise some other
means. I have it," he added, after a pause. "Accomac is still true to
my interest, and divided from the mainland by the bay, is difficult of
access. There will I pitch my tent, and sound my defiance--and when aid
shall come from England, these proud and insolent traitors shall feel
the power of my vengeance the more for this insult to my weakness."
This scheme met with the approbation of all present, with the exception
of old Ballard, who shook his head, and muttered, that he hoped it might
all be for the best. And so it was determined that early the next
morning the loyal refugees should embark on board a vessel then lying
off Tindal's Point, and sail for Accomac.
"And we will celebrate our departure by hanging up that young rogue,
Hansford, in half an hour," said Berkeley.
"By what law, may it please your excellency?" asked Ballard, surprised
at this threat.
"By martial law."
"And for what offence?"
"Why zounds, Ballard, you have turned advocate-general for all the
rebels in the country," said Berkeley, petulantly.
"No, Sir William, I am advocating the cause of justice and of my king."
"Well, sir, what would you advise? To set the rogue at liberty, I
suppose, and by our leniency to encourage treason."
"By no means," said Ballard. "But either to commit him to custody until
he may be fairly tried by a jury of his peers, or to take him with you
to Accomac, where, by further developments of this insurrection, you may
better judge of the nature of his offence."
"And a hospitable reception would await me in Accomac, forsooth, if I
appeared there with a prisoner of war, whom I did not have the firmness
to punish as his crime deserves. No, by heaven! I will not be encumbered
with prisoners. His life is forfeit to the law, and as he would prove
an apostle of liberty, let him be a martyr to his cause."
"Let me add my earnest intercession to that of Colonel Ballard," said
Temple, "in behalf of this unhappy man. I surely have some claim upon
your benevolence, and I ask his life as a personal boon to me."
"Oh, assuredly, since you rely upon your hospitable protection to us,
you should have your fee," said Berkeley, with a sneer. "But not in so
precious a coin as a rebel's life. If you have suffered by the
protection afforded to the deputy of your king, you shall not lack
remuneration. But the coin shall be the head of Carolus II.;[42] this
rebel's head I claim as my own."
"Now, by heaven!" returned Temple, thoroughly aroused, "it requires all
my loyalty to stomach so foul an insult. My royal master's exchequer
could illy remunerate me for the gross language heaped upon me by his
deputy. But let this pass. You are my guest, sir; and that I cannot
separate the Governor from the man, I am prevented from resenting an
insult, which else I could but little brook."
"As you please, mine host," replied Berkeley. "But, in truth, I have
wronged you, Temple. But think, my friend, of the pang the shepherd must
feel, when he finds that he has let a wolf into his fold, which he is
unable to resist. Oh, think of this, and bear with me!"
Temple knew the old Governor too well to doubt the sincerity of this
retraxit, and with a cordial grasp of the hand, he assured Berkeley of
his forgiveness. "And yet," he added, warmly, "I cannot forget the cause
I advocate, for this first rebuff. Believe me, Sir William, you will
gain nothing, but lose much, by proceeding harshly against this unhappy
young man. In the absence of any evidence of his guilt, you will arouse
the indignation of the colonists to such a height, that it will be
difficult to pacify them."
"Pardon me, Sir William Berkeley," said Bernard, who had joined the
party, "but would it not be well to examine this knave, Berkenhead,
touching the movements and intentions of the insurgents, and
particularly concerning any expressions which may have fallen from this
young gentleman? If it shall appear that he is guiltless of the crime
imputed to him, then you may safely yield to the solicitations of these
gentlemen, and liberate him. But if it shall appear that he is guilty,
they, in their turn, cannot object to his meeting the penalty which his
treason richly deserves."
"Now, by heaven, the young man speaks truthfully and wisely," said
Temple, assured, by the former interview with Berkenhead, that he knew
of nothing which could convict the prisoner. "Nor do I see, Sir William,
what better course you can adopt than to follow his counsel."
"Truly," said Berkeley, "the young man has proven himself the very Elihu
of counsellors. 'Great men are not always wise, neither do the aged
understand judgment. But there is a spirit in man, and the inspiration
of the Almighty giveth them understanding.' Yet I fear, Colonel Temple,
you will scarcely, after my impetuosity just now, deem me a Job for
patience, though Alfred may be an Elihu for understanding. Your counsel
is good, young man. Let the knave be brought hither to testify, and look
ye that the prisoner be introduced to confront him. My friends, Ballard
and Temple, are such sticklers for law, that we must not deviate from
Magna Charta or the Petition of Right. But stay, we will postpone this
matter till the morrow. I had almost forgotten it was the Sabbath. Loyal
churchmen should venerate the day, even when treason is abroad in the
land. Meantime, let the villain Berkenhead be kept in close custody,
lest he should escape."
FOOTNOTES:
[42] The coin during the reign of Charles II.