Part 11 (2/2)
”That is true, Grey,” said Monmouth ”Speak freely, Crosby, as you would to , keep silent You shall sup with us to-night, and to-morrow depart We will force no man to raise a hand for us”
”Why rowled Ferguson ”Those who are not for the Lord are for Baal; there is no middle course”
”The purpose for which I caentle of me, nor I of you, except that you stand by the side of your new-ivebrass and a tinkling cyuson
”Most assuredly such words, with their specious promises, have had much to do with this enterprise,” Crosby retorted; and then, turning to Mon agents, such men as Wildman and Danvers By this tier nor spend a guinea to help you, and that there is not a single Whig nobleman ill draord on your behalf”
”You are full of news, sir,” sneered Ferguson ”You must be deep in the councils of our enemies to know so much And why limit yourself to Wildman and Danvers when you speak of liars and deceivers? I auson--everybody knows me This is Lord Grey of Wark Here stands Fletcher, and Wade and Anthony Buyse Why not complete your accusation?”
”You are deceived with your master, rather than deceivers,” Crosby answered ”You are prepared to fight for the cause, therefore you stand apart You know that what I say is true, ain
”Finish what you have to say, Crosby”
”Your enterprise is doomed to failure Here in Somersetshi+re you are loved, and a few thousand men, confident that the whole country will acclaim you, are prepared to lay down their lives for you The country is not going to open its arer be deceived upon that point The train-bands of Wiltshi+re are , the militia of Sussex and Oxfordshi+re are on the road The Duke of Beaufort supports the crown, and the undergraduates of Oxford take up arms to oppose you
Fevershaainst you, and your aro down like a field of corn before the reapers”
”I take it that, had there been no doubt of our success, we should have had the pleasure of your couson
”No, you would not I do not favour the rebellion you are raising, and I come on a self-imposed embassy to plead with my Lord Monmouth, first because of e that he will not fashi+on a scourge for the back of this silooood a soldier not to know that what Crosby said was true, that his chance of success was of the feeblest kind Not a single ret that he had left his retreat in Brabant to lead such a desperate venture, and deep down in his heart, perhaps, he recognised in Ferguson his evil genius
”You are a veritable Job's comforter,” he said with a forced smile ”You show us a crowd of difficulties, have you any advice how they may be overco-hooks disperse, and then leave England as quietly as you came”
Such a solution had entered into Monmouth's mind already It seemed more feasible now that a friend had spoken it
”You cannot!” exclairatitude to the men who are encamped without these walls We have called therant it sounds the more honest advice,” said Crosby, ”but, my lord, you have to choose between two evils; I only counsel you to take the lesser A feill suffer, doubtless, if you abandon your enterprise, but if you press on with it the whole of the West Country will be persecuted King Jaive”
”It is too late to turn back,” said Monht These men look to me to lead them to victory I will make the attempt I have sworn it on the Holy Book”
Crosby bowed his head and was silent He could not deny that Monmouth's attitude was that of an honest entle us advice?” asked Ferguson
”To-night he sups with us, to-morrow he departs,” Monmouth answered
”Is that wise? He has seen us in our stronghold, he has counted our nue of our weakness He would be safer shut in this castle, safer still were he turned loose to the mercies of those men who are encamped yonder I would entleives bad advice,” said Grey
”I' we shall find hiuson retorted
”Even so, he departs in peace to-morrow,” said Monmouth