Sons of Adversity. A romance of Queen Elizabeth's time

Chapter I. The Knave Of Diamonds My

father had me home from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, at Mid summer, in the year of our Lord 1574, being the fifteenth year of the glorious reign of our noble sovereign, Queen Elizabeth. I should never make a scholar, said my father ; to that he was perfectly resigned ; but since (he argued) I had hitherto dis dained to pluck the fruits of learning, I must even pack from wisdom's garden, and incontinently set myself about the choosing of a trade. Now, a boy of seventeen idle Aprils can but look out upon the world, as upon a 1 B vasty champaign wreathed in a bright mist ; from the confines of his home, he stares into the shifting vapour ; and, faintly discern ing phantom cities, deserts, seas, and fields of battle, he hesitates, awaiting a sign. And so looking and waiting, for some two or three weeks I loitered about the streets and closes of the old, narrow city, and wandered the country round, until I began to believe that there was one person born into this pendant world, beyond the number it was planned to contain — even Master Roger Nettlestone, only son of Stukely Nettle stone, gentleman, of Winchester town, and Margaret his wife.

But presently the expected sign appeared ; although, at the time, I knew it not. For, one evening, as I was returning homewards through the town, along the stone-paved causeway that leads between the clear and swift river and the straight row of houses, I perceived a horseman jogging in front of me ; his shadow glancing across the wet stones, where the yellow gleam from the western sky shone in broken reflections, between flying wisps of cloud ; for the day had been troubled, with sudden storms of rain. As I drew near, I saw that both man and horse were thickly crusted and bespattered with mire, and wore the look of those who have come fast and far. ' Holla, sir ! ' cried the cavalier. ' Pray, canst direct me to the house of one Master Stukely Nettlestone ? ' He was a brown-faced man of some thirty years, as I guessed, with full cheeks, little shifty brown eyes, and a stiletto-beard ; wearing a cloak of blue camlet, and a high hat with a draggled green feather. ' Follow the river till you come to the mill,' I answered, 'then turn to the right, and to the right again, when you will come upon a square, red house which stands in a garden closed in a great yew hedge.

But I am going towards that way myself,' I added. ' Why, very good, then we will bear each other company, an' it please you,' said the stranger, and we began to walk forward. •Dost know this Master Nettlestone, by chance ? ' he went on. 'I have seen him,' I replied. Indeed, I knew him not; my father was a riddle to me. ' Ay,' returned my cavalier, ' Mr. Nettle stone is a man to be seen — a very proper man. So soon as I did behold him : Here is a bulwark of religion, said I — a very tower — a strong pillar of the Catholic faith.' ' Catholic ? ' said I. 'I have never heard that Mr. Nettlestone was a Papist.' ' Protestant, Protestant ! said I Catholic ? ' cried the stranger, with a quick glance at me. 'Truly, there are Catholics enow. And yet we are to have another Spanish treaty, it appears — although, God knows, 'tis better than alliance with the butcherly French, do you not think so ? ' I had but the dimmest notion of foreio-n politics, albeit I was versed in the history of Mary, whilom Queen of Scotland, and I begged this talkative gentleman to explain his words. 'Why,' he went on, in a very good humoured manner, ' I have but now ridden from London city ; and there 'tis credibly bruited abroad that the Queen and the Lords in Council have accepted the proffered friendship of King Philip.

Our noble Queen, look you, keeps all Europe skipping, as a juggler spinneth plates. The Prince of Orange would have her help to free the Netherlands from the Spaniard ; the King of France likewise courteth England, to set a check on the bridle of Spain, and because he hopes to marry his ugly brother, the pocky Duke Alencon, to our peerless Elizabeth, so that his posterity may rule England and also Scotland ; while Spain would have England to help conquer the Netherlands, and to set bounds to the ambition of jealous France. So the Queen is gracious to King Philip — that she may keep the Spanish trade, belike ; and as for the rest, she says neither ay nor nay, and lets them dance attendance on her majesty.' 'And what of Queen Mary?' I asked, when I had digested this information. ' The succession will be vested in her, will it not ? ' answered the stranger. ' Par liament will surely settle the succession upon her.' 'There should be a time of peace a coming, then,' said I. 'The Catholics should be satisfied with the succession, and there will be no more traffick with the Guises.' ' Faith, I should think not, indeed,' said the stranger. ' But as for the Guises, what have they done, with their practice of treason ?

Nothing, by God's will. I would not venture a cracked three -farthings on the Guises.' By this time we had reached the mill, a mossy bulk of weather -boarding which stands amid shivering willows, where the road turns away from the river. My cavalier drew rein, and gazed upon the prospect, shading his eyes with his gloved hand. The sun, a spot of diffused brightness, stared from the lifting edge of a vast curtain of cloud, illumining, with a magical radiance, the plain of delicate water-meadows, and flashing here and there upon the crystal river. ''Slight,' said the stranger, 'this place putteth me in mind of the Low Countries ; there are just such fair green pastures, and water, and feeding cattle, and a great light sky — a fine rich country. But I had rather be at home, reaping the fruits of husbandry, like good Mr. Nettlestone here, a thousand times.

But the world prevents me, sir, setting a hedge of steel points against me. The world,' said my cavalier, resting his hand on his hip, and regarding me, ' is a villainous unjust and wicked world, as you will find by the time you wear hair. The world will force a man to fighting ; and if he win, all the people cry Hail ! and if he lose, they think it sport to see him take a leap from Tyburn Tree.! He tightened his rein, and we walked forward. 'Hast thou a father, camarado?' my cavalier went on. 'Yes,' said I, 'I have a father, ' And doth he behave himself well to wards thee ? ' 'Why, reasonable well — since you ask me,' said I. 'You may thank God,' returned my com panion. ' A good father is a rare com modity, let me tell you. My father, sir, was an old scoundrel chuff as ever went to church with deluded woman.

He ruined my fortunes ere ever I was breeched. I hate but one man in the world, even my father. And so I say you are lucky, camarado, in your parentage.' I mistrusted a man who would talk thus loosely to a stranger ; and looking at him, I thought that despite his fine bold air, and open, good-humoured manner, my gallant disengaged an impression of un sureness. This it was, perhaps, which had influenced me to be secret with him at first. 'Well, sir, I am very sorry for you,' said I. ' But if you would find Mr. Nettlestone's house, follow this lane until you come to a pair of iron gates of scroll-work, with a peacock cut in yew on either side.' He thanked me, and turned away. Going a little farther, I entered the garden by the postern door in the wall, came into the house by a side entrance, and went straightway to my chamber, where I sat down to meditate upon my meeting with the stranger gentleman, who was doubtless even now closeted with my father.

I marvelled what should bring this swaggering cavalier to Mr. Nettlestone, himself the very type of starched, respectable, moderate Protes tantism. And yet, as I have said, my father was somewhat of a mystery to me : for, since I was a little tiny boy, I had been away at school and college, save for the holidays : and often during these vacations my father had been absent abroad. So it came to pass, that of my father's shadowy image I had made to myself an heroic father, stuffed with wisdom and every perfect virtue; humorous, kindly, chivalric. And in such converse as we had together, beholding him, as I did, in a magical crystal of my own fashioning, I ever found my father to fulfil the measure of his stature which I worshipped in my heart. Nevertheless, I knew not what was his business in life, although 'twas certain that he had an avocation, which continually called him over-seas ; and by which (it appeared) he would now gain great sums, and again become near penniless.

And, moreover, at a time when every Jack upon the highway was ready to play at swords with every Tom in the hedge for the truth of his creed, I had scarce ever known Mr. Nettlestone to deliver a downright opinion upon either politics or religion. Yet, I had faith in my father as I had faith in the being of God. The coming of this stranger, with his jaunty talk of politics and n his curious parental blasphemies, made but a new tinge in the cloud of righteous mystery, in which my admirable parent elected to clothe himself. As I reviewed these things in my mind, I heard the sound of footsteps and voices beneath my window, which overlooked the stableyard ; and looking out, I perceived my father in company with the stranger. ' Come, sir,' said Mr. Nettlestone, ' y' had better stay the night.' ' I thank you,' the other returned, ' but, truly, Sir Harry waits for me.' ' I will make your excuses to Sir Harry Wynter,' said my father.

He stood in a clear shadow, so that I could see his face ; and I perceived him to wear a formidable expression, with which I was not unacquainted — a frown and smile com mingled. 1 Indeed, Mr. Nettlestone, I would gladly stop with you, but I am straitly bound to Sir Harry,' said the stranger again ; and he turned away, and entered the stable, where I heard him admonishing his horse. My father looked after him with a darkling countenance. In a few moments the cavalier came out of the stable, leading his nag ; and the strong red light of the low sun struck full upon him where he stood, with a hand upon the horse's bridle and his cloak over his arm, a figure of vivid colours, defined with streaks and blots of black shadow. ' I give you warning, Mr. Chidiock Marston,' my father broke out, with so passionate an accent that I tingled to hear him, ' I give you warning, I say, that I know what you would be about in that house.

I will not suffer it, sir. As I live by bread, Sir Harry Wynter shall know it also.' Mr. Chidiock Marston raised his head with a little start when my father began to speak, and looked at him for a moment from under the shadow of his hat-brim. Then he turned away, as though there were but an angry child talking, put his blue cloak about his shoulders, and got into the saddle. His horse began to walk towards the gateway. My father made a step forward, so that the ruddy sunlight illumined his great head and shoulders, glistening upon his brindled hair. ' You shall not profane the houses of my friends with your scurrilous manners, be sure of that, you — you dissolute ruffian. Recollect yourself, I have warned you,' cried Mr. Nettlestone. Still Mr. Chidiock Marston appeared to take no heed ; but, as he turned out of the gateway, looking round, he flung out his hand, holding up three fingers. ''Tis three days to the thirtieth of August,' said Mr. Chidiock Marston.

He shut his hand, his thumb appearing between his fingers ; and, with this insulting gesture, he was gone. I saw my father glance swiftly over his shoulder at the words ; and, fearful lest he should look up and perceive me, I jumped back from the casement. Here was matter for marvel. What should this Mr. Chidiock Marston be designing at the house of Sir Harry Wynter, which should put my father into so hot an indignation ? Sir Harry was an old friend of my father, dwelling at Itchen Abbas, a village some three miles distant from Winchester, with his daughter Elizabeth, for whom my father had stood sponsor. Mistress Elizabeth was some two years older than I, who professed to myself a certain reverential admiration for her. What had this latten gallant, Chidiock Marston, to do with so noble a lady ?

And what, I asked, should happen upon the thirtieth of August, three days hence ? And why did the mention of that date so sharply affect Mr. Nettlestone? These sudden questions quite drove from my thoughts the remembrance of my own perplexity; so that I sat down to supper that night, under my father's iron regard, with less diffidence than I had known of late. For, wandering upon that difficult lee-shore of life : betwixt the safe sea upon which he hath voyaged hitherto, and the high cliffs upon whose rocky face he must discover a path, or perish : a lad finds himself at a miserable disadvantage ; and, moreover, he is apt to read reproach in the parental glance, both dispiriting and unmerited. I hoped my father would let fall some observation upon the visit of Mr. Chidiock Marston ; but he ate and drank in a dark silence, hearkening to my mother reciting little, witty, household histories : a lively art which she practised to per fection.

So I resolved to adventure a remark. ' This afternoon I came across a muddy gentleman on horseback, by the Soke Bridge, who asked me to direct him to you, sir. Did he come ? ' My father lifted his head from his plate, glooming upon me, and I perceived that I had overstepped the line of discretion. 'A certain Mr. Marston came upon a message to me,' said my father, after a pause designed to impress me with a sense of my impertinence. I said no more ; and, a few moments later, glancing covertly at my mother, I noted the slight, wistful contraction about her lips and eyes, which warned me that trouble would come of meddling in matters too high for me. The next day, as events fell out, there came another rider about business with my father. Loitering moodily in the garden, I saw him ride up to the door ; with his frieze cloak above his blue jerkin, he had the look of a serving-man.

He stayed but a little while within, and I saw him ride away. And, that evening, Mr. Nettlestone told us that business would once more take him from home, so soon as he could complete his preparations. During the next two days, I was much with my father; he showed himself the kindest and pleasantest comrade in the world ; and I was heartily sorry that he was about to depart. Upon the morning of the second day, being the thirtieth of August (of which Mr. Chidiock Marston had spoken in that singular manner), I rode with my father to the house of Sir Harry Wynter, at Itchen Abbas. The while Mr. Nettlestone was closeted with Sir Harry, I sat in the garden, beneath the trees, with Mistress Elizabeth. Truly she was a creature of a sumptuous beauty, most delicately formed, ruddy as a peach, with saintly blue eyes.

But to-day, the spring of adoration welling within me was dashed with bitterness. ' Do you know a certain Mr. Chidiock Marston ? ' said I, after a while. 'Why, yes,' said Elizabeth, ' Mr. Marston but left us yesterday.' I could not refrain myself. ' Do you like him ?' I asked. ' Why not ? ' said she. ' Do you dislike him?' ' Marry, I know him not,' said I. ' How came he here at first ? ' 'Why, he simply came,' quoth Elizabeth. c ' My father met him at the mill upon his Forest estate. Mr. Marston's old nurse, as he told us, . had married the miller ; and kind Mr. Marston was about visiting her, when my father met him. Then he came here— why not? — and so he came again. 'Oh, did he so!' I said; and at that, Mistress Eliza so looked at me, that I made haste to talk of other things. But all at once I hated the man Marston.

He was no stranger to Elizabeth, it seemed ; here was new mystery, mixt with a bitter, jealous ingredient ; and I was sadly troubled and a little angry. If this man menaced aught of evil towards Elizabeth, I vowed he should reckon with me. Moreover, as I was consoled to remember, my formidable sire was armed against him. Returning homewards to dine, the thought of parting from my father lay heavy upon me ; and I rode sorrowfully enough by his side. ' Before I return, young Roger,' said my father, ' you will have had full opportunity to make choice of your calling in life ; and we will make a new start of it.' He spoke truly. In the afterclap, I had reason to recall his words. I remember, with a perfect clearness, the kind look upon his face, and the scene about us — the white road, rising and falling with the dun wolds ; and beyond, the long roof and square tower of the Cathedral with the huddled bulk of houses, coloured darkly upon a space of dim gold, that gleamed below the canopy of cloud.

After dinner, Mr. Nettlestone rode forth once more ; but he would be sure, he said, to sup at home. That morning, he had made arrangements to start upon his journey early on the morrow. My mother busied herself about preparing a little farewell feast for him ; but, when the time came, and supper was ready, my father had not returned. We waited long ; until at last we were fain to fall to without him. We made but a cheerless meal of it. The piping wind died in the twilight, and presently a thick rain beran to fall. We sat waiting; still, Mr. Nettlestone did not come ; and my mother grew fearful lest some evil should have befallen him. At midnight I persuaded my mother to bed ; and a while after, seeing no use in keeping vigil, I retired thither my self; and presently drowsed into a troubled sleep.

All night, the rain fell heavily through the windless air ; and all night, I heard in my sleep the high, dolorous note of the swallows plaining beneath the eaves. Towards morning I fell into a deep slumber ; from which I was suddenly awakened by the clatter of hoofs upon the stones beneath my window. I sprang in stantly to the open casement, and beheld my father dismounting from his horse. I cried out to him ; whereupon he glanced up with a face so old and pale, that I was stricken to the heart. He nodded, called to me to look to the horse, and strode into the house. I shuffled some clothes about me, and went out into the cold rain. The nag was sweating and blowing heavily ; I unsaddled him, rubbed him down, and gave him provender. Crossing the courtyard from the stable to the house, I perceived a scrap of some thing white lying on the wet pavement ; and picking it up, I found it to be a card, scribbled over with cyphers and figures in my father's hand.

The figures seemed to have been cast, for there was a line drawn, and beneath it, the sum total written, 1,350 Cr. I turned the card over ; it was the knave of diamonds ; and something in the Jack's swaggering countenance, with its stiletto-beard, reminded me of Mr. Chidiock Marston. I slipped the villainous thing into the pocket of my hose, and went indoors. The elemental earth quivered beneath my feet as I walked, and the familiar walls about me looked strangely. My father was gazing forth of the window when I entered the dining-room ; he turned about to greet me, so that I saw him dark against the light sky and the dripping trees without. ' Give you good-den, sir,' said I. ' I picked this up in the courtyard— had you dropped it ? ' Mr. Nettlestone took the knave of diamonds from me, turning towards the light.

He scrutinized the pasteboard with his scowling smile ; looked at the back ; and looked up at me, the frown quite gone, and his face alight with simple kindness. ' I thank you, boy,' said my father. ' Now I remember me, I scribbled some memoranda on the card.' If there lurked any doubts within me, begotten by that knavish card, whispering treason, my father's glance and manner of speaking smote them to silence. And, in the release from the fears of the night, a sudden gladness wholly possessed me. Mr. Nettlestone slowly tore the knave of diamonds across and across, and scattered the fragments upon the empty hearth. The next moment my mother entered the room, her jolly countenance pale, and marred with weeping.

Chapter II. First Elizabeth, Cap

I. A SORT of sour darkness clung about the house that morning, which was wholly, as I thought, the shadow of my father's imminent departure. But, before he could go, it seemed that Mr. Nettlestone had unexpected affairs to transact ; and after breakfast, when he had read a piece of Scripture and spoken a short formal prayer before the household, according to his custom, my father and I went into the town. The rain was over and gone, and we walked in a moist, bright heat of sun shine along the river, into the shadowy and sparkling streets; where I left Mr. Nettle stone at a scrivener's in Jewry Street, and sauntered up the High Street. A party of horse issuing from the dark arch of the West-Gate (which, adjoining the Castle, spans the street at the top), drew my attention ; as I approached, the people about me began running in the same direction ; and a crowd speedily gathered about the troop, which was halted outside the Castle gates.

There were some twenty men-at arms, in jack and morion, with the boar's head (couped sable, holding in the mouth a walnut vert) of Sir Francis Walsyngham stitched upon their sleeves ; and in their midst were four or five gentlemen whose feet were tied with ropes beneath their horses, and their hands bound behind their backs. There had been something of a fight, it appeared ; for one prisoner had his head bound about with a linen shirt, the ruffles of lace at the wrists dangling over his ear. He sat hunched upon his horse, his chin upon his breast, his red hair falling about a waxen face. The prisoners, so far as I could see their countenances for the shifting crowd, wore a look of fatigued indifference. A murmur ran through the multitude ; scraps of talk were flung to and fro ; and I speedily gathered that these bedraggled gentlemen had been taken fresh in the attempt to assassinate the Queen, who was then upon a visit to Basing House, which lies some thirty miles distant from Win chester.

The murmur swelled ominously, and the people were swaying and pressing together (for there was a plenty loyal zealous Protestants in the town) ; when the gates were opened, the cavalcade jingled into the Castle courtyard, and the gates clanged to upon the noses of the townsfolk. A hugeous purple cloud towering above the battlements of the West-Gate, veiled the sun ; and, in the sudden greyness, I saw clearly the faces of the multitude, vivid for a passing instant with the light of a single emotion, that presently faded and was slowly extinguished. Returning homewards, my thoughts ran back to Mr. Chidiock Marston and his visit ; it came upon me, in a flash, that yesterday had been the thirtieth of August. But, upon leisurely reviewing the late course of inci dents, the light of that recollection, so far as I could see, illuminated nothing-.

That evening, Mr. Nettlestone buckled his mails upon his horse's crupper, bade us farewell, and departed into the night. Now that he was gone, I could but turn me again to my old employment, and scan the misty world for a gleam that should beckon me to my destiny. For the voices of my heart talked nothing but confusion, and scarce two days upon the same tune. Now, my heart would lust for the pleasures of a fighting life ; for march and leaguer, assault and duello ; or would cry to go a-roving the broad and narrow seas with the privateers ; and again, my soul would crave the celestial spheres of learning, asking only to dwell in a pastoral tranquillity, while reading all the books of the world, so that I should become a great clerk, or even a poet. All these things I should like to perform.

Upon this alone was I resolved, that I would never take to any trade which would coffin me within-doors all the days long. Upon the second night after my father had gone, I dreamed a disturbing dream. I thought that he and I had a bout at quarter-staff. He was clad in armour head to foot, while I was naked ; again and again he struck me heavily, fleering at me ; until I broke into a flame of anger, and drove at my father to slay him. My strokes rang echoing loud ; and as I struck, his mailed figure swelled and towered ; and yet me thought my father shrank and died the while within his shell of steel, like the kernel of a nut ; and suddenly I saw his soul, in the shape of a red rat, wriggle through the vizorbars, and run upon the floor. In the horror of that sight, I awakened with a drumming heart, to hear a great hollow noise of blows resounding through the dark house.

Coming to myself, I gathered a sheet about me, went to the window giving upon the porch and looked out, my mother and the maid-servants pressing behind me. In the dusky light of a clouded moon, I beheld the steel caps of five or six horsemen, and cried out to them ; whereupon the blows upon the door ceased, and one reined back his horse upon the grass. ' In the Queen's name ! ' he cried, ' Mr. Nettlestone — is Mr. Stukely Nettlestone there ? Open the door, in the Queen's name ! ' I enquired of this importunate person, who he was. ' I bear a message from Sir Francis Wal syngham to Mr. Stukely Nettlestone,' he returned. 'Is Mr. Nettlestone within?' I answered that the person he sought was abroad, but that if he would wait a few moments, I would speak with him. My mother followed me to my room, and stood there while I dressed. ' What can this be, Roger ? ' says she ; and then, ' I always feared it.' I thought of her with wonder, mixt with a little anger.

Had no such alarum befallen, and had she come to me with the burden of a formless doubt, I could have hearkened to her ; and received, perhaps, a share of her trouble. But, with the enemy battering the gates, this were no time to entertain traitors in the citadel ; and I bade her send a wench quickly to get a light. ' I will go,' she answered ; and when I ran down the stairs, my mother was standing in the hall, holding a taper in her hand ; she had put on a great furred cloak, with the hood drawn over her head. I opened the door, and a gentleman in a jerkin of murrey sarcenet, booted and spurred, came jingling into the hall, and bowed to my mother. He was a well made fellow, with a brown face and an alert eye. ' Madam,' said he, ' I pray you pardon me for breaking in upon you so rudely — but my errand is Her Majesty the Queen's. Is not Mr. Nettlestone within ? ' 'Pray, sir, what is your business?' said I. He faced round upon me. 'Are you, sir, the son of Mr. Nettlestone ?

Will you give me the favour of two words aside with you ? ' I led him into the dining-room, but my mother followed. The stranger glanced from one to the other of us. ' I am sorry,' said he, ' but time wastes. I bear a warrant for the arrest of Mr. Stukely Nettlestone, upon a charge of High Treason.' He paused. I glanced at my mother. She had a look of pale distress, but stood composed. For myself, I had a feeling that the fibres of my being had gone slack at a twist, like the strings of a viol. ' Where is Mr. Nettlestone ? ' repeated the stranger. " My husband is abroad,' said my mother. I do not know where he is.' The stranger bowed, and fixed his bright eyes upon her with a look of expectancy. ' Indeed, sir, I cannot tell you,' said my mother. ' Mr. Nettlestone left us yester night for the Netherlands.' ' Madam, credit me, I do not doubt your word; but in the proper discharge of my business, I pray you give me leave to search your house.' He drew a folded parchment from the leathern purse at his girdle, and gave it to me. 'Under First Elizabeth, Cap. i,' said he.