Long Will
Page 14
CHAPTER X
Plot and Counterplot
Now Richard was not yet crowned before he--or they that put words inhis mouth--had set free Peter de la Mare from Nottingham Castle. Andfor this there was great rejoicing. Peter came up to London as he hadbeen Thomas a Becket returned out of exile. London gave him gifts; hewas honoured of the city; merchants feasted him.
'T was on the night after the merry-making that Wat Tyler and JackStraw came again to Cornhill, and they were not much elate. They said:"New brooms sweep clean;" and "Well eno' to watch the kitten at play,but 't will grow a cat;" and that this folk was a fool: 't saw nofurther than its own nose; let it laugh now, but presently there wouldbe more taxing. And so on, of this man and that, in Kent and Sussexand Norfolk, that followed John Ball and would be ready--when the timewas come.
Meanwhile Calote sat on her father's knee and listened. This secretthat she had discovered to the King was no true plot at that time;nevertheless, it began to be one. Since the year of the firstpestilence, which year was the two and twentieth in the reign ofEdward III., and the third after the Black Prince gained the victoryover the French at Crecy,--since this year, the common folk did notcease to murmur. And this was the beginning of their murmuring,because in that dire pestilence more than the half of all the peopleof England died, and the corn rotted in the field for lack ofhusbandry.
Now it was an old law in England that the villein, which was bound tothe soil where he was born, must till the soil for his lord, givinghim service in days' labour; and, in return therefor, the villein hadleave to till certain acres for his own behoof. But this law wasfallen into disuse in a many places afore the pestilence time, and ifa villein would, he might discharge his service in a payment of moneyto his lord, and so be quit; and the lord's bailiff hired otherlabourers to till the manor. And this was a good way, for the villeingot more time wherein to till his own land, or to ply his trade, andthe lord's bailiff got better men,--they that laboured doing so offree-will for hire, and without compelling.
Then came pestilence and knocked at every man's door; and where therehad been ten men to till the soil there was one now, and the one wouldnot work for the old wage, for he said, "Corn is dear." And this wastrue, there being none to harvest the corn. So every man served himwho would pay the highest wage,--whether his own lord or the lord ofanother manor. But the lords, becoming aware, said, "How shall thisbe? For by the law the villein is bound to the soil and must labour onthe manor where he was born; yet here be villeins that journey fromplace to place like free men, and barter service; neither will theylabour for their own lord except it like them, and for hire."
After this there was passed in Parliament the Statute of Labourers,whereby it was declared that:--
"Every man or woman of whatsoever condition, free or bond, able inbody, and within the age of threescore years ... and not having ofhis own whereof he might live, nor land of his own about the tillageof which he might occupy himself, and not serving any other, should bebound to serve the employer who should require him to do so, andshould take only the wages which were accustomed to be taken in theneighbourhood where he was bound to serve, two years afore that plaguebefel."
And this law was amended and made more harsh other years after.
But the villeins, having tasted freedom, were loth to return intobondage. They fled away from the manors; they hid in the woods; theygathered them into companies and would do no work except their demandof wage and liberty were granted. Moreover, certain men of a quick witwent about and preached against kings and lords. They said all menwere brothers and free, they must share as brothers. One of thesepreachers was John Ball, a priest, a good man, fearless and fervent.For a score of years he traversed England calling men to fellowship;and for this he was persecuted of Holy Church. Rich prelates had nomind to share their wealth with villeins. But and because John Ballsuffered, the common folk loved him the better and believed on him.Langland knew him and had speech of him many a time; nevertheless,Langland said that John Ball would not make England new. Mayhap 't wasby John Ball and his ilk that Langland's Vision came into thecountryside and spread among cottagers; and Wat Tyler heard it, andJack Straw,--and came out of Kent to learn more of this doctrine. Sothey found Will Langland and loved him; but for understanding of him,that was another matter. There were few men at that time could redethis chantry priest.
So it was that the thought of fellowship grew up out of all theserhymings and prophecies of John Ball and Long Will: and how that oneman of himself was well-nigh powerless before unrighteous rule, but ifmany men were joined together to persuade the King and Parliament,there might be pause and parley; and if all the villeins and artisansand prentices in the wide realm of England were so banded--That was agreat thought! 'T was too big for the breast of Wat Tyler and JackStraw; it must out. Already it spread; it lodged in other breasts. Butthis was all,--a thought like a thistledown flying from man to man;and one blew it this way, and another blew it that; and if by chanceit made as to fall on the earth, there was always Jack Straw, or WatTyler, or John Ball, to blow a great breath and set it off again.
"Natheless, in the end, naught will come of 't," said Long Will, thatnight.
"Wherefore?" Wat Tyler questioned hotly.
"Who shall lead?" Will asked him.
Wat Tyler looked at Jack Straw and Jack Straw at him, yet neither inthe eyes of the other.
"There shall be a many leaders," said Jack Straw presently. "Of everyhundred, and of every shire, a leader."
"And the grievance of every leader shall differ from the grievance ofevery other leader; yea," Langland added, "one only desire shall theyhave in common,--to lead,--to put themselves in the place of power."
"For the people's sake," protested Wat.
"Their leader is God and the king; and wilt thou learn them anotherlesson?"
"Yea, by"--But Wat Tyler looked on Jack Straw and swore no oath.
"The people of England is a loyal people," said Langland, "and slowwitted, loth to swallow a new thought."
"'T is no new thought," cried Wat in a great passion. "Hast thou notsung it like a gnat in our ear these many years? By Christ, Will, butI 'm past patience with thee! Wilt thou blow hot and cold? Cease thylies, if lies they be; but if thou say soth, act on 't!"
"Though thou art mazed, Wat, yet art thou not more mazed than I," saidLong Will wearily.
"I am not mazed," quoth Wat; "I see right clear. The nobles are ouroppressors, and 't is us poor folk pay. We till their fields, fighttheir battles, give good money for their French war. Wilt thou tell usto-day a tale of the ploughman that ruleth the kingdom, and to-morrowprate of kings?"
"Thou art no ploughman, Wat," said Long Will, "but an artisan,well-to-do, able to pay head-money to the bailiff and so be quit ofthe manor when thou wilt to ply thy trade elsewhere."
"A quibble! A poor quibble!" Wat retorted. "With copying of chartersand drawing of wills thou 'rt tainted; thou 'rt half man o' law; thou'rt neither fish nor flesh, nor good red herring."
"I marvel thou hast not found me out afore," said Langland quietly."Hast thou not heard me rail right prettily, many a time, againstthose priests that come to London to earn silver by singing prayersfor the dead,--a lazy life; when they might, an they would, bea-starving in country villages for the sake o' the souls o' livingpoor wights that need comfort and counsel? Let God take care o' thedead, say I, and if a man pray for those, let him pray for love'ssake. Yet here be I a chantry clerk in London,--I, that hold it akinto simony to take money for such-like Masses. And there 's silver in mypouch; not much,--for I 've not had the singing o' prayers for theBlack Prince,--yet silver: 't comes off black on my fingers."
"Father!" cried Calote, and clasped him round his neck; but he paidher no heed.
"Am I of those, the disciples of John Wyclif, that begin to go aboutand whisper that priests may marry without sin? Nay,--though I be inaccord somewhat with his doctrines of poverty,--conscience hath n
otassoiled me that I am married, and my daughter sits on my knee."
"Ah, Will!" said Kitte, and she arose heavily and went out of theroom.
Calote set her finger upon his lips, but he drew away herhand:--
"How have I cried out upon the begging friars! But thrice in the monthI sit and feed at my Lord Latimer's table,--my Lord Latimer thatbetrayeth the poor,--I and a friar we dip our fingers into the samedish for alms' sake. I live in London and on London both. I praisePiers Ploughman for his diligence, yet have I no wish to bow my backto his toil. I live like a loller. I am one of those that sits andswings 's heels, saying: 'I may not work, but I 'll pray for you,Piers.' Yet am I not minded to go hungry, neither. This is thyprophet, Wat. Saint Truth, she is my lady. Bethink thee, but she 'sproud o' such a lover?"
Wat Tyler drew his hand across his eyes, there was water in them."Beshrew me, but I do love thee," he said. "Natheless, I believe thou'rt mad; mad of thy wrongs. God! I could slay and slay and slay! I 'mthirsty."
"Poor Wat--poor Wat!" said Langland. "'T is not all ambition withthee, I know well.--But wrongs? My wrongs? Yea, truly they are mine,for I 've made them."
"'T is the times makes them!" muttered Wat; "the times that do besetus round with custom and circumstance, till there 's no help for 'tbut to live lies. Thou canst not scape."
"Yea, I 'm in a net, but may I not tear with beak and claw? Yet I donot so. And still thou believest on me?"
"Thou art truest man alive!" said Wat.
"Yet I tell thee in one breath the ploughman shall show the people theway to truth,--and next breath, the king's the leader.--What sayestthou; that I 'm mad? Which word is the mad word,--rede me which?"
Then Calote left her father's knee and came and stood in their midst.Her cheeks were of the colour of scarlet, her eyes very bright.
"Hearken!" she said. "'T is both of them a true word. The King is ourleader, shall learn of the ploughman. The King and the ploughman isfriends together. The King shall right our wrongs, the ploughmanleading him to truth." And she told them of Richard.
Wat Tyler listened with a frown, Jack Straw with a smile that was notnear so pleasant as any frown. Kitte, in the doorway, stoodopen-mouthed. Only Long Will sat unmoved. He had heard this tale.
When it was ended they all looked upon one another. Will smiled, butJack Straw laughed, a most unkindly laugh.
"An thou wert my wench, I 'd beat thee," said Wat. "Thou shouldst notwalk abroad but with a gag atween thy teeth."
"Soft--soft!" Jack Straw interposed him. "Milk's spilt: let 's lap itup as best we may! Let 's consider to make the best on 't! Methinks Isee a way"--
"Send the maid to her bed, Will, an thou 'lt not lay on the rod,"growled Wat Tyler. "Here 's enough o' long ears and blabbing tongues."
"Thou cruel Wat!" cried Calote. "Thou art no true man! What care hastthou of the poor? Dost think to be king thine own self? A pretty king,thou"--
"Chut, chut!" Long Will rebuked her. "Get thee to thy mother!"
"Nay, let her bide!" said Jack Straw gently. "Let her bide! She hathbrought us into this mishap, so may she help us forth."
"Thou fool!" cried Wat. "Thou lovesick fool! Wilt come a-courtin',leave me at home!"
"I will," Jack Straw made answer, with narrow eyes. "But to-night I 'mno lover, nor no fool neither; natheless, the maid shall bide. Neverfear, Calote, we 'll mend thy mischief."
"'T is no mischief," Calote retorted. "'T is a true loyalty to tellthe King."
"Yea, so! And if thou 'lt hearken, I 'll give thee more news to tellhim. Thou shalt never be naught but loyal, Calote."
"Mark you, Will!" cried Wat Tyler, "I 'm mum! If there 's aught elseto be betrayed, 't is he plays tattle-tongue. My rough speech is notfit to be carried to court."
"So be it!" Jack assented. "Thou hast spoke to no purpose this hourand more; 't is now my turn. Hearken!"
Jack Straw spoke not overloud at any time; yet folk heard him always.To-night there was a half-smile hovering on his thin, long lips.Calote turned her eyes away from his, that sought her; but though 'twas against her will, she listened.
"Will is in the right," said he; "Will is in the right ever. The Kingis leader of us English. He may ride across our sown fields when hegoes a-hunting; he may send forth his provisor to take away our geeseand our pigs, our sheep and other cattle, to feed his idle courtierswhat time he maketh a progress through the realm; we 'll go hungry,but we 'll cry God save him, as he passeth by. 'T will be a many yearsafore common folk cease to honour the King. Here a man, there a man,with rage in his heart, will be found to follow Wat Tyler or JackStraw; but England 'll never rise up as one man but at the bidding o'the King."
Langland nodded and Wat Tyler ground his teeth.
"And 't is England as one man--the poor as one man--that must rise, ifthat 's done that must be done to make us free men.--Now, look you! wehave the ear o' the King. 'T is a child,--a weakling, but whatmatter?--the name 's enough. Wherefore may we not one day bid thepeople to rise, in the name o' the King?"
Will Langland smiled, but he spoke no word, he waited on Jack Straw.
"In good time, we 'll send a messenger from shire to shire shall warnthe people secretly of this thing. There 'll be certain knights andgentles, I ken, will cast in their lot with common folk, in the King'sname. 'T is not only ploughmen and prentices see truth in John Ball'sdoctrine and Long Will's dream. We 'll send one shall convince them ofverite."
"Must be a fair persuading messenger," quoth Long Will, mocking. "Is't thou, or Wat, will undertake to convince the cotters of Englandthat ye 're privy to the counsel o' the King? Who is 't we 'll send?"
Jack Straw, sitting on a long oaken chest with his head by the wall,thrust his fingers in his belt and spread his legs.
"Why,--Calote," said he.
The girl and her father got to their feet in the same moment; alsothey spoke in the same breath.
"Yea!" said Calote, very soft, as she were gasping.
"By Christ, not so!" cried Long Will, with a strong voice thatquenched her little "yea" but not the light in her eyes, nor thetumult in her breast, where she held her two hands across.
The priest took a step toward the oaken chest, then, "Tush!" he said,clenching his hands and stopping still. "Tush!--thou hast no daughter.I 'll forgive thee. Thou canst not know. An 't were Wat Tyler hadspoke so foul counsel I 'd--I 'd--by the Cross o' Bromholme--I 'd"--
"Disport thee like Friar Tuck in the ballad, no doubt," smiled JackStraw easily. "Calote, wilt go?"
"Yea, will I!" she answered.
"Who will believe a slip of a child?" Long Will asked scornfully, andturned his back and paced down the room. "Moreover, the King hath notgiven this counsel. Thou wilt not speak a lie, Calote?"
"Yet he shall give it," pursued Jack Straw. "Calote shall learn him 'slesson, and ask a token of him, whereby men may know that she is atrue and secret messenger."
"Calote goeth not again to the palace," cried Langland harshly. "'T isno place for a peasant maid."
"Men will be persuaded if thou show the King's token; if thou speak tothem, Calote; if thine eyes shine, and thy voice ring like a littlechapel bell," said Jack Straw, "'t will work more magic than threesermons o' John Ball."
"Thou cold-blooded snake, hast thou no bowels?" Long Will asked him,coming close. "Wilt send forth a tender maid to such dangers as thouknowest lie by the road? Nay, I 'll not believe 't!"
"Yet, there 's more danger at the palace, and that thyselfknowest,--there 's a certain hot-blood squire"--he glanced upon Caloteand turned his speech--"One other audience with the King will do 't:then away in villages and ploughmen's huts where she belongs. Markyou, I purpose not to send her forth to-night. 'T is not this year nornext that the men shall rise; 't will take time to go afoot or in acart throughout the countryside. Then for our plan, to gather all poormen of England around about London town,--and the young King shallcome forth to meet them, and they 'll hail him leader,--sweet prettylad!--Here 's a Vision for thee, Will!"
"Methought thou wert sworn mum?" said Jack Straw in his dry voice.
"'T is I shall have last word. She is my daughter," Langland said. Sohe took her by the hand and led her away, and his wife followed him.But Jack Straw and Wat Tyler whispered together till dawn; and whenKitte came down to go to Mass, she found them lying on the floorasleep.