Friends, though divided | Page 6

of the king have in times
past taken measures which have sorely tried our loyalty, that is all
forgotten now. His majesty has promised redress to all grievances, and
to rule constitutionally in future, and I hear that the nobles are calling
out their retainers in all parts. England has always been governed by

her kings since she was a country, and we are going to try now whether
we are to be governed in future by our kings or by every tinker, tailor,
preacher, or thief sent up to Westminster. I know which is my choice,
and to-morrow I shall set about raising a troop of lads of the same
mind."
"You mean to take me, sir, I hope," Harry said.
"Take you?" his lather repeated, laughing. "To do what?"
"To fight, certainly," Harry replied. "I am sure that among the tenants
there is not one who could use the small sword as I can, for you have
taught me yourself, and I do not think that I should be more afraid of
the London pikemen than the best of them."
"No, no, Harry," his father said, putting his hand on the boy's shoulder;
"I do not doubt your bravery. You come of a fighting stock indeed, and
good blood cannot lie. But you are too young, my boy."
"But if the war goes on for a couple of years, father."
"Ay, ay, my boy; but I hope that it will be ended in a couple of months.
If it should last--which God forbid!--you shall have your chance, never
fear. Or, Harry, should you hear that aught has happened to me, mount
your horse at once, my boy; ride to the army, and take your place at the
head of my tenants. They will of course put an older hand in command;
but so long as a Furness is alive, whatever be his age, he must ride at
the head of the Furness tenants to strike for the king. I hear, by the way,
Harry, that that Puritan knave, Rippinghall, the wool-stapler, is talking
treason among his hands, and says that he will add a brave contingent
to the bands of the Commons when they march hither. Hast heard aught
about it?"
"Nothing, father, but I hope it is not true. I know, however, that Master
Rippinghall's thoughts and opinions lie in that direction, for I have
heard from Herbert--"
"Ah, the son of the wool-stapler. Hark you, Harry, this is a time when

we must all take sides for or against the king. Hitherto I have permitted
your acquaintance with the wool-stapler's son, though, in truth, he be
by birth no fit companion for you. But times have changed now. The
sword is going to be drawn, and friends of the king can no longer be
grip hands with friends of the Commons. Did my own brother draw
sword for Parliament, we would never speak again. Dost hear?"
"Yes, sir; and will of course obey your order, should you determine that
I must speak no more to Herbert. But, as you say, I am a boy yet, too
young to ride to the wars, and Herbert is no older. It will be time for us
to quarrel when it is time for us to draw the sword."
"That is so, Harry, and I do not altogether forbid you speaking with him.
Still the less you are seen together, the better. I like the lad, and have
made him welcome here for your sake. He is a thoughtful lad, and a
clever one; but it is your thoughtful men who plot treason, and until the
storm be overpast, it is best that you see as little of him as may be. And
now I have eaten my supper, and it is long past the time that you should
have been in bed. Send down word by Thomas Hardway to Master
Drake, my steward, to bid him send early in the morning notices that all
my tenants shall assemble here to-morrow at four in the afternoon, and
bid the cook come to me. We shall have a busy day to-morrow, for the
Furness tenantry never gather at the hall and go out empty. And short
though be the notice, they shall not do so this time, which to some of us
may, perchance, be the last."
The next day there was bustle and hurry at Furness Hall. The ponds
were dragged for fish; the poultry yard was scoured for its finest birds;
the keepers were early afield, and when they returned with piles of
hares and rabbits, these were seized by the cook and converted into
huge pies and pasties. Two sheep were slaughtered, and the scullions
were hard at work making confections of currants, gooseberries, plums,
and other fruits from the