University of Virginia Library

7. CHAPTER VII.

Scott.

In this state of excitement and exasperation, the
early twilight found the greater number of the spectators
of the recent show, and crowds still lingered
in detached and angry parties about the common,
even until the new moon began to shed a pale light
over the field. The Council, whose suspicions of the
disaffected had, for some time past, put them on the
strictest observation of Coode and his friends, had
now seen enough in the conduct of that party to convince
them that the spirit of rebellion was sufficiently
bold to manifest itself, on the first occasion, in some
decided and dangerous attempt upon the peace of the
province. They therefore determined to lose no time
in the adoption of such proceedings as should enable
them to act most effectually against the ringleaders.
With this view, Colonel Darnall was directed by the
Proprietary to take measures to obtain accurate information

of the movements of Coode and his party.
He accordingly repaired to the Fort to Dauntrees,
who, after duly weighing the delicate nature of the
commission, determined to take the matter in his own
hand, and promised to report to the Council before
midnight. This being approved by Darnall, the Captain,
after he had taken his supper, threw aside his
military dress and equipped himself in that of a
burgher or private citizen of the Port; and wrapping
himself in a cloak, set forward about nine o'clock on
his adventures. His first attention was given to John
Coode, and he consequently bent his steps towards
the dwelling of the burgess. The house stood retired
from a street or shaded lane, in a position somewhat
remote from immediate neighbours, whilst a thick
bower of foliage threw the mass of building at this
hour of midnight into deep obscurity. The Captain
approached as near to the premises as he might do
with safety, and, under the shelter of the shrubbery,
found himself in a post where he might observe,
without much risk of detection, at least such persons
as approached or left the house. He had no difficulty
very soon to convince himself that the dwelling
was crowded with visiters. This was manifest not
only from the figures that were seen passing and repassing
the few dim lights that flickered from the
casements, but from the constant ingress and egress
of persons by the outer gate, the path to which led
immediately past the Captain's place of concealment.
Many of the passers he could observe to be persons
from the inland settlements. After a brief lapse of
time came Parson Yeo, moving from the house to
the gate, and, at intervals, following him, Kenelm
Chiseldine, Godfrey, and several individuals known
to be prominent in promoting the late quarrel between
the Burgesses and the Proprietary. The few
words that dropped from the visiters of the dwelling
house, as they moved within the range of the Captain's
hearing, related to the Fendalls, and he more
than once heard Lieutenant Godfrey's name connected
with them, in a manner that it greatly puzzled him
to comprehend; for, as yet, Godfrey had altogether
escaped the suspicion of the Proprietary's friends.
When these had gone by, the redoubtable Corporal
Abbot was the next that traversed the pathway. He
was alone, and walked with a brisk pace through the
gate, after which he turned into the street in a direction
opposite to that which the greater number of
those who preceded him had taken. The Captain
now boldly left his hiding-place and, with a free
step, followed the lonely professor of war and the
`gentle craft,' and overtook him in a short space, when
he was enabled to discern that the troubles of the day
had led to some excess in the little martialist's potations,
by which his walk was rendered slightly unsteady.
The Captain, confiding in his disguise, and
the probable bewilderment of the tailor's brain, accosted
him boldly as a fellow-conspirator.

“Zounds, neighbour! you are in haste to get under
cover to-night. I have striven like a goaded horse to
overtake you, all the way from the door of Master
Coode's. Wherefore so fast?”

“It is n't wise to be seen so near Master Coode's.

The Proprietary hath already an evil eye upon him,
and notes his associates.”

“Truly, then it is discreet to make speed away
from the dwelling—though it be, after all, but a
sneaking thing to fear the Proprietary. We are
enough to master his bullies, to my thinking.”

“Enough! troth, are we. There is Licutenant Godfrey,
as you might have heard him say, has sixty men
—a score of them to come across the Potomac—
ready to ride into the town any night he may wink
his eye; besides the friends we have in swarms as
thick as pigeon-flights 'twixt this and Christina.
Enough, truly!—enough and to spare, Master—
Your pardon, I have forgot your name?”

“Whitebread,” replied Dauntrees.

“Oh, surely! How addled is my pate! Master
Whitebread, we shall do it,” said the Corporal, with
an utterance that might just be discerned to trip a
little on the tongue, for his excesses had not so much
disturbed as quickened his speech and left him more
communicative than in his present circumstances
was altogether safe. “We shall do it, Master Whitebread,
on the night of the fifth of November, as the
reverend Master Yeo has appointed.”

“Guy Fawkes's night,” said Dauntrees. “But the
Fendalls—”

“The Lord love you, Master Wheatbread! thou
couldst not have rightly apprehended Captain Coode.
Lieutenant Godfrey is to bring his troopers—I am
one of them, and counted on: I wear his Lordship's
colours and take his pay, though I be not of his cause,
mark you—Lieutenant Godfrey is to fetch his minute-men

on Wednesday come next sennight, and make
an onslaught upon the prison. We begin with that.”

“Ay, so I take it, valiant Master Corporal. Captain
Coode so laid it down.”

“Faith did he; and he looks to see it donc to the
last scruple, which, I promise you, it shall be, if there
be virtue in steel!”

“But he did not explain how these friends from
Virginia should reach our shore.”

“Thou wert asleep, Master Sweetbread: thou
wert dull. Did you not know that Master Cocklescraft
hath quarreled with the Proprietary, and brings
us his brigantine? Truly, does he! When knaves
fall out, honest men come by their own, ha, ha! By
cock and pye,—but that's a true word!”

“Now, good night, brave Corporal,” said Dauntrees,
as soon as he came to a convenient point to
free himself of the company of the flustered and
leaky hatcher of treasons. “Good night, and mayst
thou be soon rewarded for thy deserts.”

“Good night, Master Sweetbread—and thank you
heartily for your kind wishes—I warrant you I get
my deserts. But remember,” the tailor added, laying
his hand upon his lips; “mute as a mattock—not
a breath!” Having given this parting admonition,
he pursued his way with a confident carriage;
and very soon after they parted, Dauntrees heard
his voice lifted up into a brisk song.

“Well,” said the Captain, when he was left alone;
“for the sneaking trade of an eaves-dropper, I have
a most apt and commendable talent. In this, my
first traffic in so noble and praise-worthy an employment,

have I succeeded to a marvel. Scarce an
hour since my fertile genius struck out this point of
war, and here have I unravelled a whole web of
treason, that shall go nigh to hanging up these curs
by the score. All's fair in war, they say:—but, by
my faith, I had rather have won my knowledge by
some little show of buckler-work, even if it were
but a show. It would have been more soldierly.
Yet, as bluff Harry's leather gun in the Tower has
it,—`Non marte opus est cui non deficit Mercurius.'
We win by art when steel may not be struck.”

The Captain now took a road that led back towards
the common, where he carefully reconnoitered
the whole ground. Some few persons yet loitered in
the vicinity of the booths, and two or three small
bands of men, muffled in cloaks, were seen in close
conference amongst the cedars that formed a thicket
near the Town House. From this point, looking
across the narrow bottom of low and marshy ground
which lay between the town and the homestead of
Chiseldine, which was in full view wherever an opening
between the trees gave a range to the eye, he
could discover that the dwelling house was more
than usually lighted, and that visiters were, at this
late hour, thronging the apartments.

Whilst he was busy with these observations, Lieutenant
Godfrey and Cocklescraft emerged from the
cedars, in earnest discourse, and slowly followed the
path which led down the bank to Master Weasel's
inn. Without giving himself the trouble to listen, he
could not help hearing the short colloquy which passed
between them before they entered the hostel.

“What would you have with a horse at this hour
of the night?” inquired the Lieutenant.

“It is but a freak,” replied the Skipper. “By St.
Iago, Lieutenant, I will deal roundly with him. In
honour, I will admonish him before hand. He shall
have warning, on my conscience—warning that it
shall make him pale to read.”

“I will not baulk thy devilment, Dick Cocklescraft:
So, thou shalt have the steed. When wilt
thou return?”

“By as early a minute after midnight as I may
ride the space with such speed as thy beast by spurring
may afford.”

“Ha, ha! a sailor o' horseback and the devil rides
at his crupper! Ho, Filch, there—ostler Filch!
Hither, man: see that an hour hence, when Master
Cocklescraft hath finished his supper, thou saddle my
nag and fetch him—where, Master Skipper?”

“To the Town House steps,” said his companion.

“To the Town House steps—dost thou hear?”

Dauntrees having now gathered all the information
which his good fortune through his night's adventure
had thrown in his way, betook himself,
with all haste to the Proprietary mansion. Here he
found Lord Baltimore, Talbot, Darnall and others
awaiting his arrival. He narrated circumstantially
the strange and ample details connected with the
plots in concoction and their contrivers, as he had
learned them; and laid a tissue of facts before the
Council which left no room for hesitation as to the
judgment to be formed of the shape and pressure of

the rebellion. Having thus executed the commission
confided to him, he retired to his quarters.

On the following morning, soon after the town
was emptied of the press of visiters who had crowded
in to the prize play, the greater portion of whom
had taken their departure at an early hour, it is sufficient
for me only to inform my reader, that John
Coode, Lieutenant Godfrey, and Corporal Abbot,
with a half score of others less distinguished in this
history, were snugly ensconced in gaol, sharing the
apartment of the persecuted patriots Josias and Samuel
Fendall. How they came into this stronghold,
and what consternation this decisive act of vigorous
administration spread through the town; who advised
the measure and who executed it, I leave to
the conjecture of the imaginative friend who has accompanied
me through the dry narrative of these
pages.

For the present, neither Kenelm Chiseldine nor
the reverend Parson Yeo, were molested, though it
may be conceived that they did not pass free of that
close observation of their outgoings and incomings
with which, in all countries, suspected persons are
wont to be favoured by the guardians of the authority
of government.