Friends, though divided | Page 7

garden. In the great hall the tables were laid,
and when this was done, and all was in readiness, the serving men were
called up to the armory, and there, throughout the day, the cleaning of
swords and iron caps, the burnishing of breast and back pieces, the
cleaning of firelocks, and other military work went on with all haste.

The Furness estates covered many a square mile of Berkshire, and fifty
sturdy yeomen dismounted before Furness Hall at the hour named by
Sir Henry. A number of grooms and serving men were in attendance,
and took the horses as they rode up, while the major-domo conducted
them to the great picture gallery. Here they were received by Sir Henry
with a stately cordiality, and the maids handed round a great silver
goblet filled with spiced wine.
At four exactly the major-domo entered and announced that the quota
was complete, and that every one of those summoned was present.
"Serve the tables then," Sir Henry said, as he led the Way to the great
dining-hall.
Sir Henry took the head of the broad table, and bade Harry sit on his
right hand, while the oldest of the tenants faced him at the opposite end.
Then a troop of servants entered bearing smoking joints, cold boars'
heads, fish, turkeys, geese, and larded capons. These were placed upon
the table, with an abundance of French wine, and of strong ale for those
who preferred it, to wash down the viands. The first courses were
followed by dishes of meats and confections, and when all was finished
and cleared away Sir Henry Furness rose to his feet.
"Fill your glasses all," he said; "and bumpers. The toast which I give
you to-day is 'The king, God bless him.' Never should Englishmen
drink his health more earnestly and solemnly than to-day, when rebels
have driven him from his capital, and pestilent traitors threatened him
with armed force. Perhaps, my friends, you, like me, may from time to
time have grumbled when the tax-collectors have come round, and you
have seen no one warrant for their demands. But if the king has been
forced so to exceed his powers, it was in no slight degree because those
at Westminster refused to grant him the sums which were needful. He
has, too, been surrounded by bad advisers. I myself loved not greatly
either Stratford or Laud. But I would rather bear their high-handed
ways, which were at least aimed to strengthen the kingdom and for the
honor of the king, than be ground by these petty tyrants at Westminster,
who would shut up our churches, forbid us to smile on a Sunday, or to
pray, except through our noses; who would turn merry England into a

canting conventicle, and would rule us with a rod to which that of the
king were as a willow wand. Therefore it is the duty of all true men and
good to drink the health of his majesty the king, and confusion to his
enemies."
Upstanding, and with enthusiastic shouts, the whole of the tenants
drank the toast. Sir Henry was pleased with the spirit which was
manifested, and when the cheering had subsided and quiet was again
restored, he went on:
"My friends, I have summoned you here to tell you what many of you
no doubt know already--that the king, driven from London by the
traitors of Parliament, who would take from him all power, would
override the peers, and abolish the Church, has appealed to his faithful
subjects to stand by him, and to maintain his cause. He will, ere a
fortnight be past, raise his banner at Nottingham. Already Sir John
Hotham, the rebel Governor of York, has closed the gates of that city to
him, and it is time that all loyal men were on foot to aid his cause. Lord
Falkland has been pleased to grant me a commission to raise a troop of
horse in his service, and I naturally come to you first, to ask you to
follow me."
He paused a moment, and a shout of assent rang through the hall.
"There are," he said, "some among you whom years may prevent from
yourselves undertaking the hardships of the field, but these can send
substitutes in their sons. You will understand that none are compelled
to go; but I trust that from the long-standing friendship between us, and
from the duty which you each owe to the king, none will hold back. Do
I understand that all here are willing to join, or to furnish substitutes?"
A general shout of "All" broke from the tenants.
"Thank you, my friends, I expected nothing else. This will give me fifty
good men, and true, and I hope that each will be able to bring with