by Jean Plaidy
‘But, Annis, John will have to ask for a cottage of his own now.’
‘There be no empty cottage.’
‘Your father and mother would let you live at the farm. They surely would when they know how things are.’
‘My mother said she’d break my neck if aught of this sort ever happened to me. Me father said he’d give me the whipping of me life.’
‘That’s what they said before it happened, Annis. They’ll know they will have to look after you now. They’ll have to help you and John.’
Annis began to cry bitterly. ‘’Tis John himself, mistress. You see, I did tell him the charm would look after that there . . . and it looked as though I were right. It certainly looked as though it were. I dursen’t tell him. That be the plain truth.’
‘Annis,’ said Tamar in exasperation, ‘you are a little fool!’
‘That’s what most of us women be, I reckon!’ said Annis.
‘Please stop crying, Annis. I will think of something to be done.’
Annis knelt at Tamar’s feet and embraced her knees.
‘You’ll take it away, mistress. They do say ’tis a thing a witch can do.’
‘No,’ said Tamar. ‘I cannot do that.’
All hope faded from Annis’ face.
‘It would be wrong to do it. But never fear, I will make a plan for you. I will see that you come to no harm. You must trust me.’
‘Oh, I do, mistress,’ said Annis fervently, ‘with the very soul of me!’
Richard said to Tamar: ‘Do you know what that fool Humility Brown is doing? He is arranging meetings of the Puritans. Moreover, he is going about the place converting people to his faith. It is a highly dangerous thing to do!’
‘He is a very brave but very foolish man, I fear,’ said Tamar.
‘I will speak to him. Ring the bell and ask one of the maids to fetch him.’
‘I will go myself and bring him to you,’ she said.
She went into the garden.
‘Humility Brown, your master wishes to speak to you. You may well look startled. He has discovered that you are holding meetings and, not content with putting yourself in danger, you go about asking other people to do the same. He is very angry with you.’
‘If they wish to save their souls, it is of no concern to any but themselves,’ he said. ‘The life of the body is transient; that of the soul eternal.’
‘Well, you must now come and give an account of yourself. I would have you know that I have not betrayed you.’
‘I did not think for one moment that that was so.’
‘Thank you,’ she answered. ‘Now come this way. Your master does not care to be kept waiting.’
She could not held thinking how noble the man looked as he stood before Richard, how cleverly he answered the questions put to him. A brave man . . . this Humility Brown! She compared him with Bartle, and her mouth tightened at the recollection of that which she had tried so hard to forget.
‘You are, I know,’ said Richard, ‘convinced that you are right. But you are defying the law of this land, and how can that be right?’
‘I know of one law only, sir . . . the law of God.’
‘It would seem,’ said Richard coldly, ‘that whether God is on your side or on that of the Church of England is a matter of opinion. But I did not send for you to discuss that. What I wish to say is this: You, my good man, may be made of martyr’s stuff, but think you that you do right to involve others?’
‘If they wish to save their souls alive, they must worship God in the only true way,’ said Humility. ‘The Carpenter’s Son preached simplicity, but in the Church of England ceremonial rites are practised which are little short of popery. Where does the Church of England differ from the Church of Rome? It would seem in this only: One has a King at its head; one a Pope.’
‘You attach too great an importance to the method and ritual of worshipping God. I have little patience with those who would send to their death men and women who have a way of worshipping God which differs from their own. It seems to me the utmost arrogance to say, “You are wrong because you do not as I do!” Arrogance is a sin, is it not? And one Catholics and Puritans are guilty of . . . and all other sects with them. Jesus said, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father.” Are you not guilty of the sin of pride when you continually thank God that you are not as other men are? What if I informed against you and your meeting?’
‘If you feel that is your duty, then you should do it.’
Tamar said: ‘Richard, you have always declared that men should be free to worship God in whatever way they wish.’
‘I have said that and I believe it.’ He turned to Humility. ‘All I wish to do is to beg you to have a care.’
‘I will, sir. And I think you would benefit if you came to our meetings.’
‘What!’ cried Richard. ‘You dare ask me!’
‘You have a soul to save, sir.’
‘He is a better man than you will ever be, for all your piety!’ cried Tamar.
‘I did not say that he was not,’ said Humility.
‘But you thought it. I saw it in your eyes.’
They made a striking contrast – Tamar and Richard in their gay garments; Humility in his sombre attire.
‘It is not sufficient for a man to have a kind heart,’ said Humility. ‘It is not sufficient to be courageous and tolerant. It is imperative to worship God in the right way.’
‘You mean in the Puritan manner,’ said Richard with a touch of sarcasm.
‘That is so, sir.’
‘You may go now. And remember my warning.’
‘I thank you, sir.’
He bowed gravely to Tamar and to Richard; but as he was about to leave he turned to Tamar.
‘Repent,’ he said. ‘I beg of you, repent before it is too late. I shall pray for your souls, for you are both in need of salvation.’
As he went out Tamar looked at Richard.
‘I never knew a man so sure,’ she said.
‘A fanatical fool!’ said Richard.
‘Yet I have a certain admiration for him.’
‘That may be because you are also fanatical, also foolish, my dear.’ He smiled grimly. ‘He the Puritan . . . and you the Pagan. And who should be bold enough to say one is right and one is wrong? A cleverer man than I am.’
‘You are cleverer than any of us and you are the one with doubts.’ She paused reflectively. ‘I shall be a little angry if he comes to harm. I did not save his life to have him throw it away.’
‘If he comes to grief, it is his own fault. My sincere hope is that he does not bring trouble to others in this place.’
Tamar went to her own room and had not been there for many minutes when there was a knock on her door.
It was Annis, looking happier than she had for a long time.
‘I did see Humility Brown coming from master’s study.’
‘What of that?’
‘I was wondering . . . be master saved?’
‘Saved from what?’
‘Be his soul saved? Has Humility saved it for him?’
‘Your master’s soul has long been saved. He is the best man in the world, and as such will enter the Kingdom of Heaven before any preaching Puritan!’
Annis would not contradict her; but Tamar saw disbelief in the girl’s eyes.
‘You, Annis, have been taking a good dose of Mr Humility Brown, I do believe.’
‘Oh, mistress, I did mean to tell ’ee. It did happen these several days gone. We’d been to the meetings, John and me together like . . . and then . . . we found we was saved.’
‘You and John . . . Puritans!’
‘That be the size of it, mistress.’
Tamar was angry. She had always felt Humility to be a rival, and Annis belonged to her. She could not help looking upon this as desertion.
‘So,’ she said with a sneer, ‘you and John are safe for Heaven, eh?�
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‘Yes, mistress, we be safe. We only has to worship God as ’tis laid down we should and we be saved.’
‘As laid down by Master Humility Brown, I suppose.’
‘That I wouldn’t know, mistress. ’Tis as laid down . . . that’s all I do know.’
‘You will not wish to continue to serve me, then.’
Annis paled. ‘Mistress, I would never wish to be parted from you.’
‘Puritans should have naught to do with those who are in touch with the Devil.’
‘Oh, mistress, ’tis not so. You be good . . . though not saved yet. I do pray you’ll be saved . . . every night I do. Why, I’d rather not be saved than leave ’ee. Nobody ain’t ever been so kind to me as you have. I’ll give up they meetings if you do forbid me to go.’
Tamar laughed in triumph. ‘No, Annis. You may continue to be a Puritan if you wish it. It makes no difference to me. I am still your friend.’
‘Well, mistress, ’tis John really. He went to the meeting and got himself saved. He did come to me and say, “Annis, I be saved, and you’d better be saved too. I shouldn’t like to think of your soul in eternal torment, that I shouldn’t.” And I said, “Well, John, ’tis share and share alike with us, and if you be saved then saved I’ll be.” So he took me along to the meeting and there I was saved too. Mistress, Master Brown do talk so beautiful . . . he do carry you away, he do. But John says what we’ve been doing in the barn is sinful like, and now we’m saved we mustn’t do it any more.’
‘You’ll have to marry at once, Annis. Puritans must not behave as you’ve been behaving.’
‘I know, mistress, but I think the dear Lord will forgive us, for He will know how for the life of us we couldn’t say no to it afore we was saved.’
‘Did you tell John you were with child?’
‘In a roundabout way, I did. I said, “John, if we be saved, we should marry, for we’ve been sinful and marriage is the only way out of sin like ours.” But John said, “’Tis so, Annis. ’Tis fornication that we’ve been at, and Master Humility Brown did say bitter things about fornication. ’Tis a big sin all right.” “’Tis only marriage, John,” I says, “that’ll put us right and save our souls from torment.” John said, “Aye, ’tis so, but I’ve been sinful with two others, Annis, so ’tis a terrible problem which the Lord has set before me.”’
‘But did you not tell him that there was to be a child?’
‘I couldn’t find it in my heart to do it, mistress.’
‘You must do so, Annis, and when John says he’ll marry you I’ll see what I can do for the pair of you.’
‘Mistress, you be very good to me. I do hope you’ll get saved, for I’m wondering what Heaven will be like without you.’
‘You need not concern yourself with me,’ said Tamar. ‘Depend upon it, when my time comes, I shall know how to take care of myself.’
Annis nodded her agreement.
Annis was weeping bitterly, her head in Tamar’s lap. A terrible tragedy had overtaken Annis.
John – the most simple of all the new Puritans – had talked too freely. He had been arrested and taken to the gaol.
When Annis heard the news she was overcome by her grief. In six months’ time her baby would be born, and it was unlikely – judging from what had happened in similar cases – that John would be free in time to marry her before the child’s birth.
‘What’ll they do to John?’ she wailed. ‘Mistress Alton has had her eyes on me . . . smiling in a sly, secret sort of way as though to say, “I knew it would happen to ’ee, Annis Hurly!”’
‘Take no notice of that old woman,’ said Tamar. ‘You anger me. Why did you not tell John at once so that he might have married you before this happened?’
‘I don’t know, mistress. I must have been half mazed.’
‘You must indeed. But your master will be able to help you. I’ll have a word with him. I’ll warrant John will soon be home and then I swear I’ll make him marry you. If you won’t tell him, I’ll tell him myself.’
Annis continued to sob wildly.
‘Oh, mistress, you’re that good to me!’
‘More good to you than Humility Brown with all his fine preaching? But for that man, John would not be in prison today. Have you thought of that?’
‘He says ’twas God’s will, mistress.’
‘God’s will!’ snapped Tamar. ‘Mayhap you should ask God to help you now . . . God or Humility Brown.’
‘Nobody was ever as good to me as you, mistress,’ said Annis plaintively.
Tamar went down to Richard.
‘You have heard this news?’ she asked.
‘That fool John Tyler talked too much. He has a head on him like a bundle of hay.’
‘Richard, what can you do for him?’
Richard shrugged his shoulders. ‘I think it will be seen that a simpleton such as John Tyler can hardly be dangerous.’
‘It is necessary that he does not stay away too long. He has to marry Annis.’
Richard gave a burst of ironic laughter. ‘The men and the maidens!’ he said.
But she was quick in their defence. ‘Humility Brown would doubtless say: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.”’
Richard smiled apologetically. ‘I crave your pardon . . . and theirs. Tell Annis I will do all that can be done.’
‘I have already told her that.’
He raised his eyebrows. ‘How odd it is that you who persist in your relationship – and shall I say allegiance – to the Devil, should spend so much time bothering yourself with the troubles of others!’
‘If Mistress Alton casts her sneering eyes on Annis, I shall take her cane and beat her with it. Why do we not get rid of that woman? I hate her.’
‘Sometimes I ask myself that. But she is a good cook and she has learned my tastes. It would not be easy to replace her. I fear I have not the necessary energy to try.’
‘Let her be then, but let her remember her place. I’ll not have Annis made more unhappy than she already is. I want you to see what can be done about John’s release. I know you would help me in any case, but I want you to help quickly. I want him to marry Annis. She loves him and will look after him – he needs looking after, it seems. And there is something else. Annis is afraid of her mother and father. She dreads having to live at the farm with them, which is what she and John would have to do if they married. I want to keep Annis with me. She has been with me so long, and I could not fancy replacing her. So I want you to have a cottage built for them. There is a spot not far from the Swanns’. They could live there and John could go on working at the farm and I could keep Annis. Will you do this, Richard?’
He hesitated: then he burst into sudden laughter.
‘You take my breath away.’
She kissed him in her impulsive way. He was enchanted, while he still wondered why this should be so.
‘You will, then,’ she said. ‘I knew you would. Now will you please ride into the town and see what you can do about John’s release?’
She went down with him to the stables and watched him ride off.
Events did not slip into the pleasant pattern which Tamar had planned. For one thing, Richard could not obtain John’s release. John had talked seditiously; he had talked against Church and State.
Tamar soothed Annis as best she could. ‘You must not fret, girl. He’ll be out soon.’
But he did not come out and the weeks stretched into months. Mistress Alton was now watching her slyly.
‘A nice state of affairs!’ said Mistress Alton to Moll Swann. ‘Slip into sin and slip into prosperity, so it would seem. The reward is to the wicked. Have a bastard, and a cottage shall be built for you.’
The housekeeper made a face at Tamar when Tamar’s back was turned, and only Moll – who was little more than halfwitted – and Moll’s sister Jane could see her. That was all she dared do. She had been afraid since Tamar had come into the house that the girl would prevail on Rich
ard Merriman to send his housekeeper away. Sometimes Mistress Alton felt that it was only her excellence in running his house and his hatred of being disturbed which were responsible for his keeping her on; she knew she must tread warily, but for the life of her she could not stop herself tattling about Annis. How she wished she had Annis in the kitchens. She would have shown her what she thought of her. As it was, she could not stop talking about her.
‘That Annis,’ she said to Moll and Jane, ‘got too big for her boots when the mistress of the house, the master’s daughter, took it into her head that she must have a maid to wait on her. Maid indeed! Now we see Annis getting too big for her petticoats, besides her boots!’
Annis was afraid to go home. Her father had threatened, if she did, to tie her to the whipping-post in the yard and give her the biggest whipping of her life; her mother had said she would help him. Mistress Alton, licking her lips, tried to beguile Annis into going home; but Tamar saw that this did not happen.
Tamar was fierce in her defence of Annis. She hated both Mistress Alton and Humility Brown, who were harsh in their condemnation; she wondered at this time how she could ever have thought Humility noble.
She stopped him at his work one day when she was coming from the stables.
‘How dare you look as you do at Annis?’ she demanded.
He did not answer.
‘I hate you when you look like that. Scornful . . . as though . . . as though you would rejoice to see Annis burning slowly in horrible flames that are fanned by devils.’
‘That will doubtless be her fate.’
‘I could not accept a God who allowed that.’
‘You blaspheme,’ he said.
‘Mayhap I do. And you are a tyrant . . . So are all like you. Can you not understand that Annis is a broken-hearted woman?’
‘She is a fornicator. She has sinned and cannot hope to escape her punishment.’
‘She is being punished. She loves John Tyler, and they keep him in prison. She is afraid of what they will do to him. She is afraid he will not be released before her baby is born. Is that not enough punishment for anything she has done?’ He did not answer, and she went on: ‘It is you . . . you . . . who should be in prison. Not John Tyler. You tricked him into going to your meetings, and he is punished while you go free!’
