Sea-Dogs All!

by Tom Bevan

  Chapter XVI.

  TO LONDON TOWN.

  The packet that Master Jeffreys handed to Dorothy was too large and tooheavy for a mere missive; and the maid, recalling some jocular promisesof Raleigh's, at once suspected that some London gew-gaw lay snugwithin, and tore off the wrappings with eager fingers. Her hopes werenot disappointed, and a dainty pair of silver shoebuckles shone in thesunlight.

  "Dear heart alive! surely they are not for me," cried Dolly.

  "Read the letter, mistress," said Jeffreys.

  A knot of blue ribbon was the only seal on the knight's letter, and theblushing maiden opened and read; and, as she read, the rich colour ofher cheeks grew ever richer and deeper, and Johnnie pulled hiscap-feather to pieces and watched her. She finished, sighed, looked ather lover and at the writer's messenger, then, with a "By your leave,Master Jeffreys," she handed the missive to Johnnie. "Read," she said.

  "Nay, why should I?" was the somewhat sheepish response.

  "Because I wish it," said Dolly promptly.

  "I am bad at reading script; each one hath too much of his own fashionin the twists and curls of the letters."

  "This is as plain as Bible print. Art going to London?"

  "No!"

  Dolly's face fell. "Hath not Master Jeffreys given thee Sir Walter'smessage?"

  "Ay, and I have sent back a civil and courteous 'No.' What should I doin such a place?"

  "What a question for a fellow of spirit to ask!" cried Dolly.

  "What a question, indeed!" echoed Jeffreys; "and a sweet maid with hertoes tingling to tread the golden pavements! Read, Master Morgan; thegallant knight's words will speak more persuasively than my poortongue."

  Johnnie took the letter, and read as follows:--

  "To MISTRESSE DAWE. Bye ye hande of my trustie manne, TimothieJeffreys--Greetynges to you, faire mistresse, and to youre excellentand honourable sire.

  "To-daye, a softe wind hath come up from ye west, tempering ye heateand broil of ye towne, and whisperynge to me of cool forest glades andgreene paths bye a rushynge river. Straightwaie closynge mine eyen togette a cleare vision of ye same, I am minded of deare friendes whosefeete have kept time with mine along ye shaded wayes. Here, before meon my table, hathe my servante placed freshe flowres from countriehedgerowe and garden, to sweeten the close aire that cometh in from yeswelterynge streetes. And, straightwaie, I bethinke me how sweete thisolde citie would be if onlie Ye Rose of Dean Forest would come hitherwith her coloure and her perfume!

  "Soe, gentle mistresse and deare friende, I am, on ye sudden, hastingto do what I have purposed for many dayes. Her Majestie hathe a desireto see a certaine gallant youthe that dwelleth hard bye ye rivere atteBlakeney, and I have a desire to showe a pretty maiden ye sightes ofLondon towne, of the whiche we spoke many a time in ye cool of yeforest. Therefore, come away with brave Master Morgan and youreestimable father, ye captaine. My manne will guide you, and I willwelcome you righte heartilie. In assurance that you will come, I shallbespeake lodgynges with a worthie dame of my acquaintance. PersuadeMaster Morgan; it will be for his certaine goode. I shall command himbye worde of mouthe; but as I knowe the rogue--though merrie enough insome wayes and eager for travel--is rooted on Severne side like an oak,'twill neede some powere like thine to move him.

  "Commende me and my invitation to youre sire; accepte a triflynge giftat my handes; and may God be with you all and give us a joyousemeetynge.--Youres, in all knightlie devoirs, WALTER RALEIGH."

  Johnnie handed the letter back.

  "Well?" asked Dorothy.

  "I do not think your father will consent; 'tis a perilous journey for amaid."

  "Not when three brave gentlemen ride with her."

  "I like not the scheme. What is London to home-dwelling forest folk?"

  "'Tis the heart of the world," broke in Jeffreys, "and no man can sayhe knoweth life until he hath felt the pulse-beat of the great city."

  "I am woodland bred, good sir, and shrink from the prisonment ofstreets and walls. Half a day in Gloucester makes me fret like a cagedbird."

  "A man must see life in its many aspects if he would claim to havelived at all, Master Morgan."

  "I do not agree. A man will see deeper into a stream if he sits andwatches than will a fellow who splashes noisily about. However, I ambounden to Mistress Dorothy by a hundred acts of kindness that she didme when I lay fevered and with a broken head. If her heart is set uponthis jaunt, and her father does not say 'Nay,' I'll to London oranywhere else she wills. Nevertheless, for my own liking, I had ratherbide at home."

  Dorothy beamed at the forester. "I was half tempted to remind theethat thou didst owe me a mended head. I am glad I did not," she said.

  "There is no need to remind me of even a look thou hast given me,"replied Johnnie. "But here comes the captain; his word will be law tous in this matter."

  Captain Dawe came in, and welcomed Master Jeffreys most heartily whenhe learned whom he served. His brow puckered, however, over theknight's letter.

  "What dost thou say to the project?" he asked Morgan.

  "I am pledged to do as Dorothy wishes."

  "And thy wish, my lass?"

  "Is to go to London."

  "I might have guessed that without troubling to ask. My bones aregetting old, and 'tis a long ride."

  "We will go at your own pace, father."

  "I must think on't; 'tis no light matter for a simple man like myself."

  Captain Dawe thought over the matter for a night and a day, and heconsulted half Newnham before he arrived at a decision. He made up hismind to go. Then came manifold preparations. Clothing and armsreceived careful attention. Dolly's best gowns came out of lavender,and Morgan set the tailor busy upon new doublet and hosen. MasterJeffreys lodged with the captain, and gave all the benefit of hisimpartial advice. The knight's man was a personage in Newnham for morethan a week, and he carried off the dignity in excellent style.Johnnie bought Dorothy a stout saddle horse to replace the forest ponyshe usually rode; and at last, on a sunny morning, the little cavalcaderode along the river-path towards Gloucester. Several friends andneighbours went with them as far as the city.

  They rested that night in Northleach, over the other side of the hills.Thence they went through Burford to Oxford; afterwards riding in easydaily stages through Wycombe and Uxbridge to London town. Halting fora last time at Mary-le-bone, a few miles from the city gates, wherethey cleansed themselves from the dust and soil of travelling, theyrode thence to Charing, along the Strand past Alsatia, the Temple, andWhitefriars, and, crossing the Fleet River, entered the city by the LudGate, St. Paul's great church looking down on them from the hilltop.

  Master Jeffreys halted finally at the "Swanne," in Wood Street off theChepe.