Strife Beyond Tamar

by Oliver, Marina

  'What did he mean, Cavaliers?' Kate asked in puzzlement, but it was soon clear this was a term of abuse applied to the Royalist, and an old sailor she questioned said it came from the word Cavalieros, which meant the Spanish cavalry troops who had brutally suppressed the Protestants in the United Provinces.

  News trickled into Saltash during the next few days, and they were gradually able to piece together what was happening. It seemed the Marquis of Hertford had been given the King's commission to raise an army in the west and had marched as far as Somerset, but had been defeated in various skirmishes and finally driven out of the towns. Riding on in the hope of crossing to Wales they had reached Minehead to find only two boats awaiting them, and so all except the cavalry and dragoons, said to number less than two hundred, had sailed. Then Sir Ralph Hopton had led this remnant down towards Cornwall, had met with Sir Bevill Grenvile, and gathering support as they went, advanced towards Bodmin.

  Jon appeared on the Wednesday, anxious to discover how they did.

  'I had hoped you would have gone to Fowey,' he said worriedly. 'It may be difficult to get there later, except by sea.'

  'We are safe enough here for the moment,' Kate told him. 'What is happening? What have you heard? All we know is that this man Hopton is advancing on Bodmin, and so are the militia. If they meet there is likely to be a battle!'

  'I fear that is so, but from what I have heard they will not meet soon.'

  'But what have you heard?' Kate asked impatiently.

  'I am not surprised you are worried,' Jon commiserated. 'It seems that Hopton and his Cavaliers made forced marches and reached Bodmin yesterday. Sir Richard Buller and the other leaders of the Parliamentarians withdrew to Launceston, for they did not wish to precipitate a clash.'

  'They were scared?' Kate asked contemptuously, but Jon smiled and shook his head.

  'I do not think so. Hopton is trapped now, for he cannot leave Cornwall. Both he and Buller have been charged at the Quarter Sessions with acting against the peace, so we must wait and see what course the law takes.'

  'If they decide to go on breaking the peace, there is little the law can do to prevent it,' Kate commented.

  'The Sheriff controls the posse comitatus, and he could call it out.'

  'But, from what Sir Richard Buller said when he was here in Saltash, the Lord Lieutenant controls the posse itself, the active section. And Parliament controls the Lord Lieutenant. So I do not see how the position is changed. It will still be the Parliamentarians, with or without the Sheriff, against the Royalists.'

  Jon smiled down at her. 'I think you underestimate the desire for peace and the basic law-abiding nature of most men. How many of Buller's soldiers would go over to the Sheriff if he requested it of them?'

  Kate shrugged. 'I know not, indeed.'

  'And you should not have to bother yourself about such matters. I shall be thankful when we are married, and I can take care of you. When is it to be? Oh, Kate, I have waited so long! You cannot know how much I want our wedding day to come!'

  Kate took his hand and held it to her cheek. 'I too, my dear. Mother is planning to come and talk with your parents soon. Father left her to make all the arrangements, and said that the wedding could be when he returned, which will be by the end of October. We shall be married probably by the end of November!'

  They talked for a while of their plans, and before Jon departed he arranged that he would return at the end of the following week to fetch Kate and Mistress Anscombe for a few days' visit to his parents.

  'I wish it could be earlier, but my father is exceedingly busy at the moment, and spared me with difficulty today to come and see how you did. However, he hopes that by next week there will be some respite.'

  Kate walked down with him to the quay where he had left his own small boat. He cast off and set the single sail, turning to wave for as long as they could distinguish one another. Then Kate returned slowly home, wondering what was going to happen in the next few months if the opposing sides did not come to an agreement.

  By the next week they had heard of the amazing scenes at the Truro Assizes. Sir Ralph Hopton had marched onwards from Bodmin with an ever-increasing force, and appeared in Truro for the last day of the assizes when he proceeded to answer the case against him so eloquently that the jury had acquitted him of the charges, and enthusiasm for the King's cause was mounting in the Duchy.

  'The Sheriff, John Grylls, has summoned the posse for today, the fourth, at Moilesbarrow Down,' one of their neighbours informed them. 'He is hot for the King, and, 'tis said, means to drive the Parliament men right out of Cornwall!'

  'If it keeps us at peace, let us hope he is successful,' Mistress Anscombe replied.

  By Thursday the sixth, they heard that he had been. Despite the badly trained and ill-equipped men who had gathered at Moilesbarrow, Hopton had marched on Launceston, where Buller had been hesitating, occupied the town and driven the Parliamentarians across the Tamar.

  'So you are safe,' Jon commented when he arrived to escort them to Plymouth. 'Now we can forget all these alarms and concentrate on our wedding.'

  Happily Kate agreed, and they sat down in festive mood to dinner. But they were soon interrupted by a scream from the kitchen. Mistress Anscombe looked up in alarm, then rose from her chair and moved towards the door. As she reached it Moll, the young maid, came running in, and forgetting the deference due to her mistress, pulled at Mistress Anscombe's sleeve.

  'Ma'am, 'tis Annie! She've killed herself! Come quick, do!'

  Mistress Anscombe ran to the kitchen, followed by Kate and Jon, while Moll collapsed in a heap on the floor of the dining-parlour, sobbing hysterically.

  In the kitchen they found Annie, the older maid, rolling about on the floor in agony. A swift glance round showed the cause. In lifting a heavy cauldron from the hook over the fire, she had dropped it and the steaming hot food and liquid had poured over her arm and feet.

  Competently Mistress Anscombe set about dealing with the scalds, ordering Jon to lift Annie on to a settle, and Kate to fetch the soothing balms she needed from the still room.

  'They are not so bad, Annie,' Mistress Anscombe told the terrified girl. 'You may have slight scars left, but at least 'tis not your face. The pain will go soon when I have these ointments spread. Luckily your gown was thick enough to protect most of your legs, and your feet will soon be better.'

  Talking calmly and gently, she had the girl bandaged, and turned to Jon.

  'I do apologise for interrupting your dinner, Jon! I wonder if you could carry Annie up to her bed? She ought not to walk for a few days. Kate, will you go in front and show Jon the way? I will attend to Moll.'

  A now tearful Annie was deposited in her bed, and Jon and Kate eventually escaped from her self-recriminations to return to the dining-parlour, where they found a much subdued and apologetic Moll helping Mistress Anscombe take the cold food out to the kitchen.

  'I will soon warm this up,' she smiled at them, 'and we can finish our meal.'

  Kate was silent as they waited, but as soon as her mother returned, she turned to her.

  'We cannot leave Moll here alone to cope with Annie and the house. If we do, sure as anything, Annie will get up from her bed. I had best stay with them.'

  'There is no need, my dear. I am sure Mistress Peyton will understand and forgive us for not going back with Jon. We can go in a few days when Annie can get about again.'

  'No, Mother. Mistress Peyton will have made preparations, and Jon was saying his father expects business to become more demanding than ever after this slight relaxation. Jon will not be able to come again, and the plans will have to wait. I should not like that.' She smiled at Jon. ' 'Tis not essential that I go, but you must. Please, I can manage here with Moll.'

  Mistress Anscombe was dubious, but when Jon added his pleas to Kate's, and she realised that to postpone her visit now might cause the wedding to be delayed, she reluctantly agreed, and within an hour Kate was bidding them farewell.

>   'I will curtail the visit, Kate, and be back early next week if all goes well.'

  'Soon no more partings,' Jon whispered as he kissed her briefly in salute, and she smiled at him, consoling her disappointment that the few days she had looked forward to in his company were lost to them.

  *

  Kate did not have an easy time of it in the next few days, between a suffering and remorseful Annie, and Moll, bitterly ashamed of her relapse into hysteria during a crisis. She was thankful to escape from their lamentations and apologies, and spent a good deal of time in the town, ostensibly shopping. She was buying fish on the quay when she heard a commotion behind her. Swinging round she saw many of the townsfolk running, some towards, others away from the road leading out of the town towards Launceston.

  Hastily completing her purchases, she went to discover what was happening.

  'It be the soldiers, Miss Kate! Hide yourself!' one elderly dame screamed at her as she hastened past.

  'What soldiers? Where?' Kate demanded, and a man she knew well, a shopkeeper, paused as he went in the opposite direction.

  'The Sheriff and Sir Ralph Hopton, Mistress Kate. They have freed us of those wretched ranting Parliament men, and are coming to make sure all is well in Saltash. I'm off to greet them, they're but a mile away. The Parliament men have already left.'

  There was none to offer any resistance, and the men rode in very shortly after that. Unable to tear herself away, and heedless of possible danger, Kate remained in the town and watched eagerly, keen to see this Sir Ralph Hopton who was already obtaining the reputation of a hero after his desperate march through hostile country in Devon, and then his rousing defence of the King at Truro Assizes. He did not disappoint her, riding at the head of his troop. Holding his head high, she could see his tall brow, with straight shoulder-length hair and a small tufted beard. But it was his eyes that impressed her most. Though he smiled at the welcome he received, his eyes remained grave, and he seemed to be seeing far into the distance when he glanced across the heads of the crowd.

  Little time was wasted by the commanders, who set about billeting the troops at once, and organising defences for the town. By the following day Hopton was appealing for volunteers to chase the Parliamentarians into Devon.

  'The posse has served Cornwall well in the last few days,' he declared in a speech made before the Guildhall. 'But they are needed to defend their homeland. If we are to follow up their victory we must leave the Duchy and chase the rebels. The posse cannot be ordered from their own country, but volunteers may go. I will guarantee they will be well and promptly paid, and I can do this because so many true Cornishmen have given large amounts to finance our army. Would you do less than they? You may not have money or plate to give, but we need also strong arms and strong hearts!'

  Kate was not surprised that many men immediately stepped forward to offer their services, and she wished she could do so also. But she then discovered that the Parliamentarians had retreated to Plymouth, and that drove all other considerations from her mind. How was her mother faring? Would she be able to get home? Was she worried about Kate?

  Before she had reached home she had made up her mind what to do, and she went immediately to see a young neighbour, the wife of one of her father's captains.

  'Betsy, I must go and join Mother, but cannot leave Moll alone to care for Annie. Could they possibly come to you for a while? I would not dream of asking if 'twere not a dire emergency, but Mother will be frantic with worry.'

  Betsy reassured her and immediately agreed to take in the maids. 'They will be no trouble. And I will also keep watch on your house. Poor Mistress Anscombe! How unfortunate she should be away from home now! But how do you intend reaching Plymouth?'

  'I shall take my boat and sail across tonight. They cannot guard the Tamar, and I know the river so well that I shall have no difficulty. If I set off after dark the tide will be right, and it will take me little time. Jon's house is very close to the quayside, so there will be no problems there.'

  Betsy was dubious, but knew she would be unable to deflect Kate from her purpose.

  'Let my brother Tom come with you,' she suggested, but Kate refused.

  'He would have to bring my boat back, and I may need it to get back with Mother. I shall be in no danger. We may stay there for a while, so you are not to worry about me if we do not reappear the next day!'

  Kate returned home to pack a small bundle of clothes, and organise the moving of a protesting Annie and a subdued Moll. Then, her preparations completed, she waited until it was dusk, locked up the house, and walked swiftly down to the quay and along to where her own small sailing boat was kept.

  She had almost reached it when the sound of footsteps approaching rapidly along the quay made her pause. She did not wish to be seen. She looked around, but there was no hiding place nearby, and the footsteps were drawing nearer. Then a gleam of light from a lantern swinging outside an inn lit up a boat at her feet, and she scrambled into it, crouching down between the seats in the stern so as to be out of sight from the passers-by.

  Holding her breath, she waited, then to her dismay the footsteps halted immediately above her. There was a quick murmur of voices, and then retreating footsteps, but as her hopes lifted, they were dashed again, for the boat rocked as someone leapt down into it. Kate huddled back into her corner, not knowing whether to make her presence known at once, or hope to remain undiscovered. Before she had recovered from her indecision, the boat was being rowed out into the middle of the river.

  Kate must have made some sound that betrayed her, for the invisible rower suddenly stopped his rhythmic movements and sat still. Kate held her breath, and then blinked as a flint was stuck and for a second illuminated her face.

  ' 'Sdeath, you!' came in tones of disgust that caused her to flush angrily. 'What the devil are you doing here?'

  By now the speaker had managed to light the stub of a candle, and he held it out to look at Kate more closely.

  'Well? Have you lost the power of speech? Are you running away from your possessive Jonathan?'

  'He is not possessive, and you are rude! And you have no right to question me! I did not know 'twas your boat, I was trying to find my own to sail across from Saltash to join my mother in Plymouth!'

  He smiled, sardonically, and Kate was very conscious of her crumpled gown and disarranged hair. Slowly she rose from her crouching position and seated herself in the stern of the boat.

  'Will you take me back to the quay, please, Mr Tremaine?' she asked quietly.

  Petroc shook his head. 'I am too late. I must leave on the tide. I regret, for you will be a confounded nuisance to me, but having got yourself into this pickle, you will have to accompany me on this voyage.'

  Kate stared at him, horrified. 'No! That is impossible!'

  He laughed, grimly. 'I wish it were, believe me. You will be the devil of a mischief, and I have no wish to saddle myself with a puling woman! But it has happened and the sooner you accept it the better for both of us. It should only take a few days, and I can soon restore you to your loving Jonathan's arms.'

  Chapter 3

  Kate pleaded with Petroc, but in vain. He would not be moved from his plan to take her with him.

  'I have no desire to encumber myself with you,' he told her, and she bristled at his tone. 'But if I waste time taking you back I will miss the tide, and that I do not intend to do.'

  'You could leave me somewhere on the way,' she argued. ' 'Tis a long haul down to the Sound, and you could put me off at Torpoint if you cannot get to the other side.'

  'And what would you do then? How would you fare, wandering about in the middle of the night?'

  'I could steal a boat and take myself to Plymouth!' she flashed at him.

  Petroc laughed. 'I can see you are well accustomed to looking to yourself!' he remarked. 'I suppose you have had to,' he added reflectively.

  'What do you mean by that?' Kate demanded unwisely.

  'Well, your fellow, Jonathan
Peyton, does not seem to be very successful in looking after you,' he drawled.

  For a moment Kate was speechless, then flew to Jon's defence.

  'What I do is nought Jon's business,' she stormed.

  'That is obvious,' Petroc interposed softly.

  'He cannot help it that Saltash and Plymouth are held by opposing sides! He is not responsible for what I do!'

  'No, and I doubt if he ever would be! Will you obey him when you are wed? Somehow I do not think so.'

  'That is nought to do with you,' Kate said coldly.

  'Would not a real man have come across to you the moment he knew of Hopton's arrival? To protect you and if necessary rescue you?'

  Kate laughed. 'Romantic nonsense! I was in no need of protection, and Jon has better things to do.'

  'If I were in love there would be nought better,' Petroc said calmly. 'But why were you leaving if you were not afraid?'

  'To reassure my mother, who will worry over me. Please, Mr Tremaine, can you not leave me somewhere? I can look to myself, and if I disappear without any trace they will all be frantic!'

  'We shall be gone just a few days, fortunately for you. No one will worry unduly before then, for they will all think you safe in the other place.'

  'You have said I will be a nuisance, and that I can well imagine,' Kate attempted.

  'I have said you are coming, and I am a man of my word. Even if Peyton cannot look after you, there are others who can!'

  'You know nought of Jon, and do ill to descry him!'

  'I have met him, and heard of him,' Petroc said calmly. 'Now, will you come peaceably, or must I make you my captive? This is my ship.'

  Kate felt rather than saw the huge bulk of it rise out of the water before them. Petrock gave a soft hail which was echoed from the deck of the ship, then a rope snaked down to them, and Petroc shipped his oars and tied the rowing boat securely. A lantern was hung over the side, and Kate looked up at the startled visage of a sailor.

  'Pest! What have you there, Master Petroc? A mermaid?'

  Petroc laughed. 'A stowaway,' he answered, as he caught the end of the rope ladder that was lowered to him. 'Well, Mistress Anscombe, will you come quietly?'