John Enderby | Page 8

Felicity he had sent to an
upper room in the care of her aunt.
Presently the King's men began the action, firing wherever a figure
showed itself, and carrying a log to batter in the entrance door.
Enderby's men did good work, bringing down four of the besiegers at
the first volley.
Those who carried the log hesitated for a moment, and Enderby called
encouragingly to his men.
At this exciting moment, while calling to his men, he saw what struck
him dumb--his son hurrying forward with a flag of truce to Lord
Rippingdale! Instantly my lord commanded his men to retire.
"Great God!" said Sir John, with a groan, "my son--my only son-- a

traitor!" Turning to his men he bade them cease firing.
Throwing open the entrance doors, he stood upon the steps and waited
for Lord Rippingdale.
"You see, Sir John Enderby, your son--" began my lord.
"It was to maintain my rights, and for my son's sake and my daughter's,
that I resisted the command of the King," interrupted the distressed and
dishonoured gentleman, "but now--"
"But now you yield?"
He inclined his head, then looking down to the place where his son
stood, he said:
"My son--my only son!" And his eyes filled with tears.
His distress was so moving that even Rippingdale was constrained to
say:
"He did it for your sake. His Majesty will--" With a gesture of despair
Enderby turned and entered the house, and passed into the library,
where he found his daughter. Pale and tearful she threw herself into his
arms.
At eleven o'clock that night as they sat in the same room, while Lord
Rippingdale and his officers supped in the dining-room, Sir Richard
Mowbray hurriedly entered.
"Come quickly," said he; "the way is clear--here by this window. The
sentinels are drunk. You will find horses by the gate of the grape-
garden, and two of your serving-men mounted. They will take you to a
hiding-place on the coast--I have instructed them."
As he talked he helped them through the window, and bade them
good-bye hurriedly; but he did not let Mistress Felicity's hand drop till
he had kissed it and wished her a whispered God-speed.
When they had gone he listened for a time, but hearing no sound of
surprise or discovery, he returned to the supper room, where Garrett
Enderby sat drinking with Lord Rippingdale and the cavaliers.

II
Seven years went by before John Enderby saw his son again or set foot
in Enderby House. Escaping to Holland on a night when everything
was taken from him save his honour and his daughter, he had lived
there with Mistress Felicity, taking service in the army of the country.
Outlaw as he was, his estates given over to his son who now carried a

knighthood bestowed by King Charles, he was still a loyal subject to
the dynasty which had dishonoured him. When the King was beheaded
at Whitehall he mourned and lamented the miserable crime with the
best of his countrymen.
It was about this time that he journeyed into France, and there he stayed
with his daughter two years. Mistress Falkingham, her aunt, was with
her, and watched over her as carefully as when she was a child in
Enderby House.
About this time, Cromwell, urged by solicitous friends of the outlaw,
sent word to him to return to England, that he might employ him in
foreign service, if he did not care to serve in England itself. Cromwell's
message was full of comforting reflections upon his sufferings and
upon the injustice that had been done to him by the late King. For his
daughter's sake, who had never been entirely happy out of England,
Enderby returned, and was received with marked consideration by
Cromwell at Whitehall.
"Your son, sir," said Cromwell, "hath been a follower of the man of sin.
He was of those notorious people who cried out against the work of
God's servants when Charles paid the penalty of his treason at
Whitehall. Of late I have received news that he is of those children of
Belial who are intriguing to bring back the second Charles. Two days
ago he was bidden to leave Enderby House. If he be found among those
who join the Scotch army to fight for the Pretender, he shall bear the
penalty of his offence."
"He has been ill advised, your Highness," said Enderby.
"He shall be advised better," was the stern reply. "We will have peace
in England, and we will, by the help of the Lord's strong arm, rid this
realm of these recalcitrant spirits. For you, sir, you shall return to your
estate at Enderby, and we will use you abroad as opportunity shall
occur. Your son has taken to himself the title which the