Andrew Marvel and his friends. A story of the Siege of Hull

Preface

TO THE FOURTH EDITION. 1\ /s Y story of Andrew Marvel having reached a fourth edition, I would offer thanks to my readers for their appreciation of what, to me, was indeed a labour of love. From my childhood everything connected with Marvel had a charm for me. An old engraving from the best portrait of the poet, hung in my old home, at which I was never tired of gazing ; and before I knew anything of his real history, I had invested my pictured hero with every gift and virtue. From reading Marvel's life I became curious about the place in which he lived, and which he served so long. This led me to make repeated little pilgrim ages to whatever remained of old Hull that could in any way be associated with Marvel and his times. It was my wish to write not only a biographical VI Preface. story, but a reliable history of Hull during the civil wars, in which my native town took such a very important part ; and if I have been able to awaken in the minds of any of my readers a deeper interest in our " incorruptible patriot " and the place honoured by his birth, I shall have realized my highest aim.

M. H. Great Horton, Bradford. October 1SS4. CONTENTS. CHATTER PAGE I. The Listers .... j II. Alice's Diary ,g III. Bayard Castle ...... 30 IV. Alice's Diary— The Old Story . , . .37 V. A Letter and a Song . . , , .46 VI. Alice's Diary— News from York , . 52 VII. Sir Harry Vane . . . . , .59 VIII. Alice's Diary— Mr. Pym proposes to "Sweep the House " . , , . .74 IX. Across the Snow to Winestead . . . .81 X. Katherine Hildyard . . , . .88 XI. Evergreens and Mistletoe .... 102 XII. Alice's Diary . . . , , .114 XIII. " Memor et Fidelis " . . . . .126 XIV. Alice's Diary— Lincoln Minster and St. Paul's . . 137 XV. A Long Farewell . , . , .150 XVI. Alice's Diary— A Spy in the Town . . .156 XVII. Will Lister takes Home a Bride . . .162 XVIII. The King Knocks in vain at the Gates of Hull . 164 XIX.

Alice's Diary , . . . , , 174 XX. Bad News from Afar ..... Contents. VIII CHAPTER PAGE XXI. The Second Call to Surrender . . lS5 XXII. The First Siege of Hull . . . • '95 XXIII. An Escape and a Triumph . . ■ .207 XXIV. A Lister to the Rescue! . . . .217 XXV. After the Fight . . . • -227 XXVI. Asking Too Much . . . . .233 XXVII. Watchers by the Deal . . . .240 XXVIIT. Absent, yet Tender and True . . .246 XXIX. All for Love . . . . .259 XXX. The Success and Failure of Lady Bland . . 275 XXXI. The Arrest . . . • . . .282 XXXII. The Royalists sen! amther Messenger . . 2S9 XXXIII. Alice Meets an Oil FH end . . . .297 XXXIV. The Second Siege of Hull . . . .306 XXXV. The Fortunes of War . . . . 315 XXXVI. Alice Nurses a Hero .... 327 XXXVIT. Marvel's Wanderings and Return . . . 338 XXXVIII. The Rival Preachers of Hull . . .346 XXXIX.

Alice's Diary, wherein she Records many Events . 359 XL. A Morning at Whitehall .... 373 XLT. The Shadows of Coming Ills . . . 393 XLII. A Letter from the Court to the Country . . 398 XLIII. Alice's Diary — Love and Marriage at the Court of Charles II. .... , 406 XLIV. An Evening at Whitehall .... 424 XLV. A Royal Sunday ..... 439 XLVI. Alice's Diary . . . . .446 XLVII. The Death of Andrew Marvel . . .458

Chapter I. The Listers

,: Humber loud that keeps the Scythian's name." — Milton. In the old town of Hull there is a long, narrow lane, with lofty warehouses on either side, called High Street — a busy, but not a pleasant place, for it is crooked, unpaved, and dark ; it follows the winding course of the river Hull that flows behind the houses on one side of the way, and the narrowness of the street shuts out a good deal of the sunlight. But two hundred and thirty years ago this dingy spot wore a very different aspect ; not that it was straighter or cleaner than now, but instead of plain, modern build ings, the street was lined with handsome dwelling houses, where gentlefolks and rich merchants lived, and where they were content to spend all their days. Here and there may still be seen vestiges of the past in an antique doorway, a richly-carved staircase or ceiling, and in the old Inn and a few private houses that still remain entire.

In High Street, and the lanes and alleys leading to it, the chief interest of the old town centres. Here those haughty merchant princes, the De La Poles, accumulated their vast wealth, built their palace, and lived in almost royal state and splendour ; here kings and queens were entertained ; and here lived those sturdy men that dared to face the frowns and threats of one monarch, and to remind him of broken promises and violated laws. Here might have been seen the black friars from the monastery close by, and the grey habits of the Carmelite monks from the monastery in Aldgate — many of them doubtless good and devout men — to be followed by an order of divines whose piety and goodness are beyond question, and whose holy influence is felt to the present hour. Here a poet and patriot spent his boyhood, and here still stands the birthplace and home of William Wilberforce.

Our story has to do with the men and women of bygone days, whose names may be found in old town records, or in the pages of history ; and, if these worthy people had fewer comforts, they had fewer wants than their suc cessors of this century ; and we conclude that they were not less happy and intelligent than those who have come after them. In an apartment of one of the mansions in High Street a maiden sat with her lute. To judge by the cloud on her brow she was feeling lonely and discon solate ; and as she now and then touched the string's with an idle hand, they gave forth anything but a cheering strain. At length the irregular notes were changed for a plaintive air, which she softly accom panied with her voice : — " Blame not my lute ! for it must sound Of this or that, as liketh me ; For lack of wit the lute is bound To give such tunes as pleaseth me.

" " Heigh mony ! but that is a doleful ditty, cousin Alice," exclaimed Will Lister, who did not wait to hear the singer's complaint. Alice looked up at the handsome, but ungainly youth, who had stolen in upon her unobserved, and laid down her lute with a sigh. The L istcrs. 3 " How can I sing gay songs when I have such a heavy heart ? Janet scolds me for being so melan choly, but I think she has as many fears as myself lest some misfortune has befallen my father." " Oh ! there are a hundred reasons why he may be delayed," replied Will ; " I wish I had as good hopes of seeing my father ride up the street to-morrow, as I have of seeing yours return safe and sound." " My uncle is not worse, is ha, Will ? " asked Alice, quickly. " I would fain believe not ; but I cannot see that he gets any better.

This morning he inquired if the Colonel had come back, so I promised to look in and ask if you had heard any news." " No ; I wish we had. I listen all day long and wander up and down the house, that has no comfort in it now my father is away." " Have you brought any tidings, Master William ? " asked the old housekeeper, coming in. " Not I, Janet ; I came to hear, not to tell," an swered Will. " Eh, well," said Janet ; " it is quite time the master was back, or Mistress Alice will mope herself to death. I wish you could persuade her to take an airing ; 'tis two days since she crossed the doorstep." " Come back with me, Alice," said Will. " It will please my mother to see you, and watching and listen ing for my uncle will not bring him back the sooner. Dorothy Crowle says you are very chary of giving her your company, and my mother says the same."

It was a walm, balmy day, although early in March, and the garden in front of Sir John Lister's house was gay with spring flowers. Alice stopped to gather a few. _ " Mother has hardly looked at her flowers this year," remarked the youth, watching his cousin. She put some of the primroses in the bosom of her dress, and then gravely offered him two or three. ) " No, thank you," said Will, rather sheepishly ; " I don't mean to be a carpet knight— I hate to see men wearing flowers and ribbons and embroidered gew gaws." The maiden smiled. " You will perchance change that notion some day, and not think it unmanly to wear a broidered scarf, or even a pretty flower like this." But Will looked disdainful at the idea of being ever guilty of such weakness. Alice passed on and entered the house, where, the year before, Sir John Lister had sumptuously entertained his sovereign, Charles I. The Knight had just been chosen to represent his native town in Parliament ; but before taking his seat he had been seized with a sudden sickness that threatened soon to end his days.

Dame Lister seemed over whelmed with grief, and her eyes were heavy with weeping. • " Oh, child ? " she exclaimed, as her niece entered, " he is worse to-day. I dare not ask the apothecary what he thinks. I do wish your father would come — John asks for him so often ; and just now he said that they must find another Member, for he should never take his place in the House." " Xay, mother," said Will, gently, " that is but a sick man's fancy ; all will be well when my uncle comes. You will be sick yourself if you grieve so sorely, and then who will nurse my father ? " " I wish, indeed, that I could persuade myself there was no cause for fear ; but you are young and hopeful, Will, and cannot see the danger ; " and the dame began to weep afresh. Poor Alice was sad enough herself, but she did her best to cheer her aunt, thinking, like her cousin, that there was no reason to de spair.

" Your uncle was asleep when I came down," said the dame, when Alice took her leave. " He must not see me in tears ; I will not trouble him with my distress. And, Alice, ask your father to come here as SIR JOHN LISTERS HOUSE. {Page 5. soon as he returns. I pray heaven he may not be too late ! " The shadow of the sundial on the tower of Sir John's house lay upon the fourth hour after noon when Alice bade Will good-bye at the garden gate. As she turned towards home her heart felt heavier than before, and, dreading to go back to the lonely rooms, she lingered in her walk up High Street to gaze into the few little windows that displayed anything for sale, and to steal a glance into Rembrandt's studio. This famous painter often stayed in Hull for several months on his way to and from his own country, and some times Alice had gone with her father to his lodgings to purchase paintings, or to watch the artist at his work.

Standing in the shadow, Alice had a good view of the studio, which formed as pretty an " interior" as any sketched by Rembrandt's own masterly hand. A wood fire burned on the wide hearth, showing the quaint furniture and carved fireplace, lighting up with ruddy, fitful gleams the lovely face of a cherub, and revealing the picturesque dress and massive head and shoulders of the artist himself. His easel was drawn near the window, for the daylight was fading fast, and Alice could see that Rembrandt was painting the figure of a very stout damsel, scouring her brazen pans. Certainly the whole scene looked very natural and homely, but to Alice's thinking a scullery -maid was rather a mean subject for so great a man. She went on to Israel Lyon's tiny casement, and was admiring his watches, as she had done many a time already, when some one touched her shoulder and pronounced her name.

Alice 'started, and then smiled when she saw Mr. Marvel, and the pleasant eyes that looked down upon her smiled too. " Any letter from your father, Alice ? " asked the minister as he shook her hand. The maiden's lips trembled, and she had some difficulty in keeping back the tears as she replied, "No, Mr. Marvel, nor any tidings whatever. Oh! I wish' he would come! I fear some accident has be fallen him." . . " You must not imagine evil, dear Alice ; he is in the Lord's keeping— can't you trust him there ? He may come to-morrow." Alice felt grateful for these reassuring words. She had said them again and again to herself, but coming from the good minister's lips they gave solid comfort. " How is your baby ? " she asked. " Growing stronger, I hope, my dear. This is Mistress Skinner, of whom you have heard," said Mr. Marvel, turning to a lady beside him ; " she came over the water this morning to be present at my little daughter's baptism.

She leaves us to-morrow, so that Maria has no chance yet of learning to love her young godmother." " But I hope to fulfil my duty towards the child some day," replied the young lady. " Nay, I but jested," said Mr. Marvel. " I am glad the weather is so fine for crossing the river ; the sum mer seems coming already. The Beverley woods are quite green and the birds are building a nest in my old pear-tree. Have you seen Sir John to-day, Alice ? " " I have been to the house, but he was sleeping, so I did not venture into his chamber." " I was with him this morning. He was suffering much in body ; but I think this sickness has been sent in love and mercy, whatever be the issue. Sir John's life is of great value, but the Lord can do His work in the State and in the Church without any of us, if it so please Him.

But come, Mistress Skinner, we must not linger — not even to gossip with gentle Alice Lister. Farewell, my dear, keep up a brave heart." Alice watched her friend and his companion until they were out of sight, and then walked quickly towards home. As she pushed open the heavy door leading into the hall, she saw what brought the colour to her cheeks. In the courtyard beyond two horses were being led away to the stable, and Simon — an old servant that always accompanied the Colonel on his journeys — was unstrapping the saddle-bags from the strong beast he had ridden himself, and talking to a strange serving-man who was preparing to dis mount. Before she could cross the hall, Janet came out of the dining-room, saying, " The master is come, Mistress Alice, and has brought company with him ! To think you should be away after waiting so long !

" But Alice did not wait to listen or to reply. She heard her father's voice in the library, and thither her feet speedily carried her ; in another moment she was folded in his arms, sobbing with delight and surprise. The Colonel's eyes were moist as he tenderly stroked his daughter's head ; but they were not alone, and the soldier soon covered his emotion, saying, lightly, " How now, my Alice ! look up. Here is Master Ralph Hildyard waiting to be presented." The maiden, who had seen no one but her father, lifted her head from his breast and dashed the water from her eyes, blushing deeply as she encountered the gaze of a gallant young cavalier, with long, black hair and very dark eyes, who stepped forward and kissed her hand. The courtly style of his salutation and the remembrance of her own childish outburst, painfully confused Alice, who ventured no second glance at her father's guest ; while Ralph, fresh from the society of Whitehall, thought that he had seen nothing prettier than this artless display of affection.

The Colonel stooped once more to kiss her forehead, untying the hood that had fallen back, and saying, " I think thou art grown, sweetheart. I am mightily glad to be back again. Did'st think me very long, Alice ? " " Long ! Yes, indeed, father," replied the maiden, still clinging shyly to his arm; "the days seemed weeks. Methinks I have done little else of late but watch from the housetop for your approach." " And missed my coming after all. The time might well hang heavily on your hands, little one, if that is how you spent it. My daughter sets a high price on her old father, Ralph." " He is not so old, Mistress Alice, but he must over ride his good horse to-day, that he might the sooner embrace a certain fair lady," replied Ralph ; " it would be useless to ask what price he sets upon her."

" Ah ! young gentleman," said the Colonel, "this is my one ewe lamb, and I am jealous over it. My heart misgave me, Alice, when you did not appear to wel come me." Here Simon entered with the baggage, and his eyes sparkled with pleasure when he saw his young mistress, who kindly inquired how the journey had prospered. " Faith, mistress, our old town is the best place in the whole country," said the man, energetically. "What, better than the great city, Simon? Some folks would hardly believe that," replied Alice. " London is a fine, big place, but it isn't home, Mistress Alice." " Perhaps you are not so fond of travelling as you were once, Simon, when you followed my father to fight in foreign lands," said the maiden. She did not dare to say that he was getting old, for Simon was sensitive on that point.

" I found it all right then, mistress, for a change ; but I saw enough of outlandish places to serve me for the rest of my life ; and the roads get worse every year, I think. They well-nigh put all my bones out of joint." The Colonel had been diving into his bags mean while, and Ralph had been looking round him with a curious eye. The room they were in, called by courtesy the library, displayed more signs of the battle and the chase than of scholastic pursuits. There were some heavy oak bookcases, well filled with ex pensive volumes, but the contents of only half-a dozen shelves showed signs of much usage, and these included works of poetry and fiction, with the more substantial productions of popular divines. The apartment and its furniture were handsome, and had a homelike and friendly air, but the room was scattered from one end to the other with a miscellaneous variety of things, evidently the master's own belong ings ; whips, spurs, gloves, pistols, riding gear, &c, lay upon the tables and settees, or were tumbled in a heap in the corners.

Alice noticed the direction of the stranger's eye and felt slightly ashamed of the disorder ; for the truth was, that she had forbidden the servants to remove anything after her father's de parture, much to Janet's discontent. The family honour was very dear to the old woman, and at this moment she was fretted to think that so fine a guest should have been first introduced into the only un tidy room in the house. The Colonel thought more of comfort than display ; the library was his favourite room, and Alice thought it the most delightful place possible, for her happiest hours since childhood had been spent there — in winter by its wide hearth, and in summer in its cosy window-nooks. " Here, Alice," said her father, " I have not for gotten your wish," and he drew forth from his capa cious bag something carefully wrapped up.

She came to his side, and seemed too glad to utter a word as he put into her hands a beautiful volume, bound in black leather with silver clasps. He watched her face of delight as she undid the clasps with trembling fingers ; she looked just as he fancied she would, and it would be hard to say which of the two was most pleased. aud his Friends. 10 " I cannot thank you enough, father," she said, with grateful love brimming over from her blue eyes. " Is it a story-book ? " asked Ralph, coming near as Alice turned over the leaves of her treasure. " 'Tis a copy of the Bible," replied the Colonel, gravely. " My daughter wanted one of her own and chose it rather than trinkets. I was of a mind after all to bring you some, my dear, for I saw some mighty grand things in a shop near London Bridge." " I am glad you did not, father ; I have more jewels now than I ever wear."

" I know you have, child, and you must begin to use them soon. Master Selden was at the book seller's when I bought your Bible, so I asked him to choose it ; and when I said what a turn you had for music, he advised your having this one with notes to the Psalms. But Master Ralph will be glad to be shown to his chamber.". " I crave his pardon," said Alice ; " your coming, father, has made me forget everything else. I will send Simon to attend upon you, Master Hildyard." Janet's wits were not astray ; she had already seen the guest-chamber made ready and a fire kindled there, and was now up to her elbows in the dining room, giving her orders and spreading the board with refreshments enough for a dozen famishing men, but lamenting all the while to the servants over the ill condition of the larder.

Alice surveyed the table for a moment ; then, feeling thankful that Janet's thoughts were less wandering than her own, she carried off her gift to her chamber and there fell into fresh raptures over it ; so that her maid, Lucy, had some difficulty in performing her mistress's toilet. Lucy often wished her young lady would take more interest in the sub ject of dress ; she could not understand how books and flowers could be more attractive than silks, and laces, and pearls. To-day the maid's patience was unusually tried ; she had seen the handsome guest The L isters. 11 alight and considered that his presence demanded a particular attention to appearances, while her mistress seemed more than ever indifferent on the matter. " You will not put on this dark woollen gown for supper, Mistress Alice ?

" asked Lucy, holding up the despised garment. " Yes ; why not ? " resumed Alice, putting aside her book reluctantly as she heard her father's step on the stairs. "There is company, and my master likes to see you well appointed." " Oh, this will do, Lucy ; it is late, and my father will have too much to think of to notice my gown." And Alice suddenly remembered Sir John, and her joyful spirits sank. " You have not taken one look in the mirror," said Lucy, as her lady was leaving the chamber. Alice smiled. " You are my mirror, Lucy ; when you look satisfied I know I am ready for company, and you viewed me over just now as if you approved of the old grey gown after all." " I was thinking that you would look like a lady, Mistress Alice, even if you dressed in sackcloth." " I shall remember that, Lucy, when you talk to me of satins and brocades ; " and the maiden tripped downstairs quite unconscious of her own singular beauty and sweetness.

The travellers did full justice to the Yorkshire dishes, and Ralph Hildyard praised his host's canary and the beauty of the silver flagon in which it was served to him ; so that, when the table talk was repeated in the kitchen, Janet's family pride was gratified. At first the Colonel was too hungry to say much, but Alice's affectionate eyes noticed that, now the first excitement was over, her father looked anxious, and even older than when he left, hardly three months a°T>, and the lines round his mouth were deepened as and his Friends. 12 if some heavy cares were pressing on him. He sat a few moments when the meal was done, buried in thought, until happening to look up he met his daughter's earnest gaze ; it recalled him to the present, and he asked, "What was Janet saying about your Uncle John, Alice ?

She knew more than she would tell, I believe. Is he really ill ? Seeing you put him out of my mind." " Yes, father ; he is ill, indeed, and wants to see you very much. Aunt has been in great distress. Per haps you will go, father, as soon as you are more rested." " I will go now, child," said the Colonel, rising. " I expected he had started for London a week ago. Ralph, you must be at home here, and pardon my leaving you to-night. Alice will do the honours of the house, and I daresay you will be glad to go to rest early. Good night, sweetheart. I may be late ; so send Simon to bed and bid Jenkyn sit up for me." A minute afterwards the front door closed, and Alice was left alone with their guest. The maiden was bashful at all times, having seen very little company of any sort or degree ; and this sine gentleman, with his easy, graceful manners and courtly dress, embarrassed her extremely, and made her heartily wish that he would take her father's hint, and retire.

It is true that the year before she had had a glimpse of the gay world, when King Charles I. had paid the town a visit, and stayed with Sir John Lister. Then she had been presented by her aunt, and the King had bestowed upon her one of his melancholy smiles and called her " the Yorkshire forget-me-not ; " but although her father had entertained some of the gentlemen in the royal train, yet to the timid girl his Majesty's visit had come and gone like a dazzling dream, that made her dread more than ever being taken to London and mingling with the grand city folks. The King's notice, though nearly lost upon its fair object, was not lost upon his Majesty's attendants, and " the Yorkshire forget-me-not " was toasted for some weeks afterwards by cavaliers and pages, and the good people of Hull were proud of the title con ferred upon their pretty, blue-eyed young towns woman.

Ralph Hildyard, accustomed to bandy words with maids-of-honour in both the French and English courts, and having seen the world at home and abroad, was at no loss how to address his hostess. He saw the half-frightened look she cast towards him, and, smiling to himself, began to try to set her more at ease. He really succeeded in making himself agree able, though he won from Alice little more than mono syllables at first in reply to his frank and lively remarks ; but her intelligent looks and answering smiles told him that she was worth the trouble of entertaining. To her surprise she learned that he had been born in Hull at the old Manor Palace, which belonged to his family, and that, leaving this place when quite a child, he had never been inside the town until to-day. " There are not many people I remember here," he said.

" Your old housekeeper's face looks familiar ; but I had some difficulty in recognising your father when I saw him first at York. There is one person, however, whom I remember well, and that is your mother, Mistress Alice ; she used to walk up and down that lovely ' King's garden,' at the Manor Palace with my own mother, who followed her so soon to the grave." " Do you indeed recollect my mother ? " exclaimed Alice, forgetting her reserve for a moment. " How I envy your memory ! I was so young when she died that her image is very faint in my mind. I cannot call back any feature but her eyes." " You have but to look in your glass, Mistress Alice, and you will see what your mother once was. I was Andrew Marvee aud his Friends. 14 struck with the likeness the moment you entered the library." Alice shook her head and answered, artlessly, " Nay, then, sir, your memory plays you false, for my mother was counted to be exceedingly beautiful.