John Enderby | Page 2

you are against him. 'He that is not with me is against me, and he that
gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.'"
A sudden anger seized the King, and turning, he set foot in the stirrup,
muttering something to himself, which boded no good for John
Enderby. A gentleman held the stirrup while he mounted, and, with
Lord Rippingdale beside him in the saddle, he turned and spoke to
Enderby. Self-will and resentment were in his tone. "Knight of Enderby
we have made you," he said, "and Knight of Enderby you shall remain.
Look to it that you pay the fees for the accolade."
"Your Majesty," said Enderby, reaching out his hand in protest, "I will

not have this greatness you would thrust upon me. Did your Majesty
need, and speak to me as one gentleman to another in his need, then
would I part with the last inch of my land; but to barter my estate for a
gift that I have no heart nor use for--your Majesty, I cannot do it."
The hand of the King twisted in his bridle-rein, and his body stiffened
in anger.
"See to it, my Lord Rippingdale," he said, "that our knight here pays to
the last penny for the courtesy of the accolade. You shall levy upon his
estate."
"We are both gentlemen, your Majesty, and my rights within the law
are no less than your Majesty's," said Enderby stoutly.
"The gentleman forgets that the King is the fountain of all law," said
Lord Rippingdale obliquely to the King.
"We will make one new statute for this stubborn knight," said Charles;
"even a writ of outlawry. His estates shall be confiscate to the Crown.
Go seek a King and country better suited to your tastes, our rebel
Knight of Enderby."
"I am still an Enderby of Enderby, and a man of Lincolnshire, your
Majesty," answered the squire, as the King rode towards Boston church,
where presently he should pray after this fashion with his subjects there
assembled:
"Most heartily we beseech Thee with Thy favour to behold our most
gracious sovereign King Charles. Endue him plenteously with
Heavenly gifts; grant him in health and wealth long to live; strengthen
him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and, finally,
after this life, he may attain everlasting joy and felicity."
With a heavy heart Enderby turned homewards; that is, towards
Mablethorpe upon the coast, which lies between Saltfleet Haven and
Skegness, two ports that are places of mark in the history of the
kingdom, as all the world knows.
He had never been so vexed in his life. It was not so much anger
against the King, for he had great reverence for the monarchy of
England; but against Lord Rippingdale his mind was violent. Years
before, in a quarrel between the Earl of Lindsey and Lord Rippingdale,
upon a public matter which Parliament settled afterwards, he had sided
with the Earl of Lindsey. The two Earls had been reconciled afterwards,
but Lord Rippingdale had never forgiven Enderby.

In Enderby's brain ideas worked somewhat heavily; but to-day his
slumberous strength was infused with a spirit of action and the warmth
of a pervasive idea. There was no darkness in his thoughts, but his
pulse beat heavily and he could hear the veins throbbing under his ear
impetuously. Once or twice as he rode on in the declining afternoon he
muttered to himself. Now it was: "My Lord Rippingdale, indeed!" or
"Not even for a King!" or "Sir John Enderby, forsooth! Sir John
Enderby, forsooth!" Once again he spoke, reining in his horse beside a
tall cross at four corners, near Stickford by the East Fen. Taking off his
hat he prayed:
"Thou just God, do Thou judge between my King and myself. Thou
knowest that I have striven as an honest gentleman to do right before
all men. When I have seen my sin, oh, Lord, I have repented! Now I
have come upon perilous times, the gins are set for my feet. Oh, Lord,
establish me in true strength! Not for my sake do I ask that Thou wilt
be with me and Thy wisdom comfort me, but for the sake of my good
children. Wilt Thou spare my life in these troubles until they be well
formed; till the lad have the bones of a man, and the girl the wise
thought of a woman--for she hath no mother to shield and teach her.
And if this be a wrong prayer, my God, forgive it: for I am but a
blundering squire, whose tongue tells lamely what his heart feels."
His head was bowed over his horse's neck, his face turned to the cross,
his eyes were shut, and he did not notice the strange and grotesque
figure that suddenly appeared