Part 55 (1/2)
”Then wherefore set them afire by the steel of armed knights?”
”Nay, my liege, but if these peasants be penitent, wherefore shall they refuse to be escorted thorough that fair city wherein they behaved so ill?”
”I will not betray my people,” cried Richard, a sob in his voice.
”Disperse them only, my lord. Though there be many loyal, natheless we do know of surete that there be certain among them like to this Tyler, would make themselves King. Thyself hast seen how they are easily led this way and that, for good or ill. Remember the Archbishop, sire.”
There shot a spasm of anguish athwart the King's face. ”I will lead them into the fields. They shall be dispersed,” he said with a loud, unsteady voice. ”But I have set them free. I will not betray them! I will not betray them!”
And riding away he was presently in the midst of the peasant rout, laughing, leading them to Clerkenwell. But his cheeks were fever-bright, and the look of fear faded not out of his eyes. With quips and merry gests he lured them on, and he bethought him how that Stephen had said that night in the Tower, ”They 'll be led like little children,” and so they were.
”Hearken, my people,” said Richard, wistful, ”none standeth between us any more. Would ye that Wat Tyler had made himself your King?”
”King Richard!--King Richard!” they shouted.
”None standeth between us any more, mes amis,--neither n.o.ble, nor common man”--
”Nor archbishop,” cried one, but a tumult of voices smothered him, with:--
”Nay--'t was Wat slew the Archbishop!”
And when they saw the cloud on Richard's brow, they cried yet more loud, as in a frenzy:--
”'T was Wat!--'t was Wat! Long live King Richard!”
But John Ball was not now in that throng, nor Jack Straw; they had fled away.
And now came Sir Robert Knollys with his knights and men-at-arms, retainers, surrounding the peasants that were as patient as silly sheep, for they looked upon their young shepherd and trusted him. So when certain of those soldiers would have fallen upon the people to slay them, King Richard arose in his saddle and forbade them, saying in anger:--
”These are my children,--mine! mine!--Let not a hair of their heads be harmed. If they had hearts of men, might they not slay me even now, beholding this foul ambush by which they are taken? But they are as babes doing my bidding. They have faith, even though I lead them into bondage.”
Then he burst into tears, very pa.s.sionate, and screamed loud and hoa.r.s.e:--
”I have set them free! Do ye hearken?--I have set them free,--free! O Christ, I am not traitor to my people!”
My Lord Salisbury likewise forbade violence, and Richard, when he had dried his tears and got his voice, spoke again to the people and made them to know as how the men of Kent must homeward, and others in peace to north and west. And when they had set forth obedient, Richard rode into the city, the light as of a conqueror in his eyes. Nevertheless, behind this there lurked the look of fear.
Meanwhile in Smithfield Wat Tyler lay dead of his wounds. And when Richard led the peasants out to Clerkenwell, and the n.o.bles rode into the city to bring succour, Stephen only remained. But presently John Ball came forth of a house, and when they two saw that no man hindered, they took up the body of poor Wat and bore it within the Church of St. Bartholomew and laid it decently at the east end of the nave.
”Wat hath lost us London,” said John Ball. ”But who might believe that true knights and n.o.ble gentlemen would so sin against courtesy! Our hope now is to keep the s.h.i.+res stirring. I 'll not stay in this death-trap, but carry the spark to northward. Yorks.h.i.+re ought to be up by now, if the message carried, and Ches.h.i.+re, and Somerset. G.o.d keep thee, brother! While the breath 's in our bodies we may fan the flame.” The priest was gone, and Stephen sat him down by the body to watch.
So after the day was won and the peasants scattered, Mayor Walworth bethought him of Wat Tyler and came again to Smithfield to seek him.
But finding naught except blood where the dead man had fallen, he searched diligently, as did two aldermen that were with him, and in the end they found that they sought.
”Have him forth!” said the Mayor. ”'T is no place for traitors in a church.”
”Good Master Walworth,” pleaded Stephen, ”this man was more honest than many. He followed truth,--and we be all stumblers. If he sought to take the King, what did he more than John of Gaunt would do, or others of the n.o.blesse? I have lived with Wat Tyler as he were my brother;--I know him that he sinned being ambitious, but this sin he shareth with John of Gaunt and better men; and not for himself alone did he desire to rule England, but for the sake of the poor that is so down-trodden. But John of Gaunt for power and his own sake only. I know him that he was a wrathful man,--but who so wrathful wild as Earl Percy of Northumberland, natheless men do him courtesy.”