“We warned them and they would not be told. They had little choice, I will admit, but that is war for you, Red Man. The conflict has turned them into whores – it will do worse for many more over this next while.”
When all was said and done, they were not his kinswomen – they were not his to protect.
Micah turned his mind to other important concerns.
“What do I do if I come across an officer who I am sure is in illicit converse with the King’s people, sir? Have I the power to arrest him, as I would one of the men?”
“You have. Indeed, you have the duty to take up such a man and hold him close. If needs be, hold court upon him, in front of the whole regiment assembled and pronounce sentence on him. Do not do so unless you are ready to put him to death – and then do so, summarily.”
Killing in a fight was one thing, and none too serious a business, but to execute a man in cold blood was a different matter. Micah was not sure he wished to have any part in that – but, a traitor was deserving of death, whether in the field or dangling from a noose.
“Don’t like it, sir – but if needs must, then do it I shall.”
“Good. Do not hang your man lightly or without clear and public evidence of his misconduct. Do not hesitate to enforce the law if the need arises. I have hanged more than one in my past - and have never enjoyed the process. If I must, I shall do it again, however. Some men are so wicked that they must die; others are weaklings who can provide an example for others. Others still may be unfortunate… The rope is equally effective whichever they may be. Whatever you do, be sure not to haver and dither – take action or do not, quickly and publicly announced.”
“Who would be a commander, sir? Easier to be a junior and obey the wishes of others. The trouble with that, of course, is that few others are even as wise as I am, and I do not claim any great cleverness. If I am not to be given orders by fools, then I must give the orders myself.”
“Well said, my general!”
They laughed and set about organising the movement of their men.
“Rootes, three packhorses?”
“We have accumulated camp comforts, sir. Add to that, there are the pair of flintlock muskets and the powder and ball all wrapped up dry for them and the pistols, and the short sword and your three uniforms and the spare pair of boots. It all mounts up, sir.”
“So it does. How soon before we need a fourth, think you?”
“I have it in mind to lay hands on a tent, sir, not very large but waterproofed with fish oil against the rains of winter, in case we remain in the field later in the year.”
Micah laughed and was glad he had picked up the heavy bags of gold coins. He would need them, it seemed. He turned to his little column, forty men arranged in pairs, and waved them forward, walking their horses slowly until they reached the bottom of the hill.
Abney placed himself at his side, next to Eglinton, as they rode off.
“There is an inn at Droxford, sir, that will put us up for the night and has a barn, empty at this time of year, for the men. The horses can graze on the common there. It is no great distance. We could, in fact, reach Botley by nightfall.”
“Better in the morning and after Major Jevons has marched out. I shall give my orders then, and not be bound by anything he might wish to say before he left.”
Abney was not at all sure that he liked to hear that. Life might become uncomfortable, he feared.
They came to the outskirts of the village of Botley, saw that it was larger than many for having a large, triangular marketplace next to a watermill and surrounded by houses, a large inn and a few shops.
“A forge, which is bigger than most, and a carpenter’s place of business as well. Almost a market town rather than a village. A small wharf beside the mill. Meadows to the one side, with cattle. Cornfields out to the north and forested, tall oaks, down to the west. Well-off, almost rich, as villages go. The road and marketplace are cobbled, not dirt.”
Micah glanced at each feature as Daniel had taught him, cultivating his military eye.
“Wide roads out, with a finger post naming each – there must be a wagon trade passing through for outsiders to need to know directions. The local people would not need to name the roads in writing. No town hall – it sees itself as a village. There is a chapel here in the centre, which tells us much that is good for us.”
The regiment was camped just outside of the village on the Hamble River which provided the men with the normal valuable services of a watercourse.
“Keeps a cleaner camp, Mr Abney. Very wise.”
“Smells less, sir.”
Micah looked about the busy camp in some surprise.
“A large number of villagers in the camp, Mr Abney?”
“A good few, sir. Some sell things and others act as laundrymaids, or so I am told. The children all wish to see the soldiers, as is unsurprising.”
“I wonder how many will follow on in the baggage train when we march?”
“No few of the girls, I suspect, sir.”
“And some of the boys, I hope. We might well take on a drummer boy to each company, if they will come. As they grow, they can pick up a musket and they will be used to soldiering for a living.”
They rode in, Micah leaving the horses still saddled while he discovered where he would rest his head.
“Find me the officers, Mr Abney. We shall meet in an hour.”
“Some will be in the Bugle Inn, sir, having taken rooms there. Major Jevons had a pair of rooms there, one being his office, so he said.”
“A sensible idea. I shall do the same. In fact, I shall take one of his rooms and keep the other vacant for Major Carew.”
“Dangerous Dan, the men call him, sir.”
“He will be pleased to hear that – a nickname shows the men to have some feeling for the officer. Dangerous Dan is within reason respectful, as well.”
Abney agreed, and wished that he might be given a cognomen one day. Perhaps if he was seen to be valiant in the field, the men might bestow such a token of their respect.
“Do not be over-anxious to excel in battle, Mr Abney. The man who tries too hard almost inevitably dies young. He often kills those who follow him as well.”
Abney had given little thought to dying – that was to be reserved to the foeman, in his imagination.
They walked the furlong to the village square and the Bugle Inn and were told initially that the house was full. Two young lieutenants had taken the major’s rooms and were just now off to pick up their baggage.
“Send your boy after them, host, and have him inform them of their error. Major Carew and Captain Slater have the chambers.”
“Mortal upset, they will be, Captain, having made sure that Major Jevons would pass the rooms onto them.”
“Major Jevons is not here, host. I am.”
The landlord capitulated and called for the potboy.
“Sidney! Do you run and tell Mr Maidstone and Mr Harvey that the rooms have gone to Major Carew and Captain Slater. Quickly!”
The potboy ran and the landlord turned back to Micah.
“They won’t like it, sir, and Mr Maidstone is fierce, they say, and willing to make his challenge to any man that crosses him. Twice Major Jevons did have to step in and prevent a meeting of honour, sir, in the last two weeks alone.”
“I can look after myself, if the need arises, with sword or pistol, whichever he might wish.”
“Perhaps so, sir, but a shocking turn out it would be, to have men fighting one of they duellos in our little town… Though it might be that we could set it up in the square, with the bars open like on market day morning… A fair old spectacle, that might be, and the crowd thirsty as well. Nothing like a bit of blood to get a crowd to lifting its elbows. I do remember four years back when they hanged Johnny Pearce for the murder of Squire Padgett, what he did, for sure, no matter what the family do say about it being a miscarriage of justice. They put up a gallows in the square here and there must have been a t
housand men, shoulder to shoulder and watching him be turned off and every one of them crowding through the bars and drinking the old pub dry, so they did. So, if you do come to cross blades with Mr Maidstone, sir, it won’t be so bad a thing, after all.”
“If I do, landlord, it will not be with the intention of making your fortune! Nor will the meeting be held in front of a crowd. In any case, I am his superior and he must not be making challenges to me. There will be no such affair in this case, be sure of that.”
An angry Maidstone appeared five minutes later, upset that he must continue in a leaky tent but showing no desire call out the Red Man, his reputation a little too fierce for casual bloodshed.
“We shall be marching out within a few days, Mr Maidstone, and be sure that you will be accommodated more properly where next we come to rest. For the while, what can you tell me of the locality while we wait for the other officers to come together?”
“This part, sir, around Botley, is well-intentioned to our cause. The landowners are godly men all. Across to the east, towards Wickham and Fareham, the same. I think, sir, that the proximity of Portsmouth plays a part. Down to the old port of Southampton, generally the feeling is that they are quiet folk and less inclined to either party. West, though, sir, is more towards the King, as they are in the area of Winchester. We should be taking fire and sword to the malignants thereabouts, sir.”
“I much suspect we shall, Lieutenant Maidstone, and soon. We shall make our way from manor to manor and spread the word that they can no longer be disloyal to Parliament. Be sure that you will be given the opportunity to display your zeal in our cause.”
The officers of the six companies present assembled in the big front bar of the Bugle, displaying greater or less pleasure at the prospect that the Regiment was to become active again. Micah stood before them, nervous that he was to address a score of men, some older than him and not naturally inclined to recognise his seniority over them. He cleared his throat and drew himself as tall as he could.
“Gentlemen, please be seated.”
There was a clatter of chairs and settles being pulled up to the four big barroom tables. A few scowled as they realised that they had accepted his superiority by sitting while he stood over them.
“I trust you will all join me in a mug of beer, gentlemen. Talking can be thirsty work. Landlord!”
Twenty-two pints was two shillings he would not see again, but he could afford it and most of the officers would judge it ill-mannered to drink his beer and begrudge him a hearing.
“Major Carew expects to be here the day after tomorrow with our two companies of foot. We have already raised three score of horse, using the riding stock taken at Palethorpe’s and we hope to make up a full company of eighty to one hundred troopers armed with sword and pistols. You will appreciate their value to us when it comes to laying down the law in an unruly countryside such as seems to be towards the west of this county.”
There was a mutter of agreement from some of the officers. They quietened for a minute or two while the barmaids and potboy came round with their beer. Captain Dunton stood as soon as every man’s hand was full.
“You say that we are to lay down the law, Captain Slater. Is there a law that says every farmer or landholder must support one side or the other in this dire conflict? Can we not allow those who will to stand aside from our dispute? We are here because we have chosen to march for our rights as free men. Others believe that the rights of the King must take precedence. More do not really care how they are governed and wish only to live in peace and prosperity. Have we the right to jeopardise that prosperity for our own ends?”
Micah thanked Captain Dunton for so clearly expressing a valid point of view. He was rather proud of himself for speaking in so conciliatory a fashion.
“In direct answer, Captain Dunton – yes, we have the right to compel the unwilling to accept the rule of Parliament. A country can have but one master – and we have decided that cannot be the King. As well, people cannot live without mastery – there must be law, and but one law made by one government. All must accept the law and its makers – or stand in arms against it. We have the unfortunate state of affairs where we, the Army, must say that every man must decide whether he is our friend or our enemy, and accept the consequences of that decision.”
Captain Dunton much feared that he did not like that doctrine.
“In effect, you say there are two sorts of people – the good and the dead, Captain Slater.”
“Elegantly expressed, sir! You are right. We are friends to the good and enemies of the bad – and one might say that we are bad enemies to choose. All people must decide whether to pay our taxes and offer men to our ranks or to fight us. There is no middle ground.”
“Easier to see on the field of battle, Captain Slater – as you know. I fear for the people of this land, sir, for many will find themselves caught between the opposed armies and inevitably at risk if they choose the wrong side.”
“I agree, Captain Dunton. Too often, they will have no freedom of choice. The people of Botley, as an example, will not wisely say they support the King just now.”
“Exactly so, Captain Slater. We have little alternative, however, than to carry out our orders. What do you know of Major Carew’s intentions?”
The tension seemed to go out of the room, as if Captain Dunton had been in some way the spokesman of those who had doubts. Now that Dunton had accepted that they must follow Major Carew, it seemed that all would.
Micah was surprised – Dunton was the youngest of the captains after him and had never struck him as the material leaders were made from. He was a quiet man, rarely heard in the mess and never a fire-eater. Many of the officers were related to Colonel Jevons – possibly Dunton had some inherited authority. He spoke up while the room was silent.
“We are to march, gentlemen. From one manor house to the next in a generally westerly trend. Where possible, we shall accept the support of the landholders. If they refuse, then we shall take all necessary action to end their opposition. We wish to recruit more men and will need the money and provisions to sustain them. We must leave a friendly or a cowed countryside behind us. We must not burn out barns and stables and dairies or destroy the crops in the fields – we are not to starve the people. There is no obligation upon us to protect those lords and squires who are our enemies, or to leave them with a roof to shelter under.”
“A stark doctrine, Captain Slater.”
Micah glanced across to Lieutenant Harvey who had made the interjection.
“We are at war, Mr Harvey. You have volunteered to be an officer, to march for Parliament, to lead men into this war. By so doing, you have accepted the need to kill your enemy.”
Captain Dunton stood and turned to face Harvey.
“We have become men of blood, Robert. Captain Slater is to show us what that means. You fought at Palethorpe’s and now you must fight again. These are bloody-handed times – which we must recognise to be so. Take up thy sword, cousin, and accept the needs of war.”
The meeting ended with Micah’s announcement that Major Carew would have orders for them when he arrived and that they must be ready to march soon after.
He dismissed the officers and sought out the landlord to pay for his beer.
“Twenty-two pints, sir, at one penny apiece, being the strong ale. Had you wished for mild beer then ‘twould have been three farthings. One shilling and ten pence, sir.”
“Four sixpences, landlord. Keep the change.”
The landlord had made no attempt to dig the coppers out of his pocket.
“Who among the landholders close to Botley might be described as unfriendly to Parliament, landlord?”
The landlord looked about him, glanced through the doors to be sure they were alone.
“Sir John Swaythling, what is cousin to the Earls of Southampton, sir, and has the big house in the village of Durley and owns lands down on the Itchen from Moorgreen across to Stoneham way as well, be known as a
King’s man, sir. He has sent two sons to the King’s side at Oxford, so it is well known. Add to that, he has called his tenants to come to arms, to muster at the end of this month, sir. Major Jevons did know this to be so, sir, but had no wish to take him up, sir, saying he was too powerful a man to be made an enemy. I did hear Major Jevons to say that when the wars were over, men like Sir John would still have their money and would use it to revenge themselves on those who had particularly offended them.”
“Perhaps so, host.”
Micah made no further comment but it occurred to him that if Sir John was hanging from the lintel of his own front door then he would be enemy to no man.
“Where exactly is Sir John’s manor house, landlord? What is the road from here? Is there but one highway or may we find means to surround him?”
“Take the Winchester road, sir, through Boorley and Longcommon and then a mile north to Durley, crossing the brook, sir, and finding the big house up on the hill to the left. That be the most direct road, but you might ride back to Bishop’s Waltham and take the Southampton road down to Durley from t’other side. If that was not how you wanted, sir, then you could leave the Winchester road earlier by way of Cangellor’s Lane and go by way of Durley Street to the house, or pass it by and work round from Horton Heath. There be five or six roads as could be used, not to speak of going to Upham and coming in from the other side completely. Thing is, sir, it be rich farming land and there be many good lanes for the wagons to take.”
That made good sense, especially as there was no large river to limit the ways across the countryside.
“It seems we must simply march in the straightest line we can find. Thank you, landlord.”
Micah debated sending out a party of horsemen to scout the road, but that would most likely serve only to warn the house of their intentions.
Best to say nothing and keep his intentions a secret, from his own officers as well as the local people.
He called a parade for the following morning – there was a holiday atmosphere in the camp that needed shaking up. Time they remembered they were soldiers. An inspection and the threat of the flogging post for dirty soldiers would do an amount of good.
Red Man Page 18
