The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-31
Vcopyright. 1886. by Bachelor. johnson and
Bacheller.l
A PART l.
lu,hor Of "pIsrs and NJ. reopls.s

Bacheller.l
PARTL
OF all the good men that Lincolnshire
gave TO England to make her proud.
strong and handsome, none was strong
or, prouder and more handsome than
John Enderby, whom King Charles
made knight against his will.
"Your gracious majesty" said John
Enderby, when the king was come TO
Boston town on the business of drain
ing the Holland fen and other matters
more important and more secret "the
honor your majesty would confer Is
well beyond poor man like myself,
for all Lincolnshire knows that am
driven TO many shifts to keep myself
above water. Times have been hard
these many years, and, craving your
majesty's pardon, our taxes have been
heavy"
"Do YOU refuse knighthood of his
majesty" said Lord Rippingdale, with
a sneer, and patting the neck OF his
black stallion with gloved hand.
"The king may command my life,
my Lord Rippingdale," was Enderby's
reply, "he may take me, body ond
bones and blood, for his service, but my
poor name must remain as it is when
his majesty demands too high price
for honoring it,"
Treason said Lord Rippingdnle
Just so much above his breath as the
king might hear.
"This in our presencel" said the king,
tapping his foot upon the ground, his
brows contracting, and the narrow
dignity of the divine right lifting his
nostrils petulantly.
"No treason, may 1t please your
majesty" said Enderby, "and 1t were
better to speak boldly to the kings
face than TO be disloyal behind his back.
NV estates will not bear the tax which
che patent of this lSnighthood involves.
q can serve the country no better as
Sir John Enderby than as plain John
Enderby, and / can serve my children
best by shepherding my shattered
fortunes for their salkes."
For moment Charles seemed
thoughtful, as though Enderby's reac
sons appealed to him, but Lord Rip
pingdale had now the chance which for
ten years he had invited, and he would
not let it pass.
"The honor which his majesty offers,
my good Lincolnshire squire, is more
10 your children than the few loaves
and fishes which you might leave them.
We all know how miserly John Ender-
by has grownI"
Lord Rippingtlalc had touched the
Nenderest spot in the kings mind. Hia
vanity was no less than his impecunios-
ity, and this was the third time in one
day he had been defeated in his efforts
to confer an honor, and exact a
price beyond all reason for that honor.
The gentlemen he had sought had
found business elsewhere, and were
not to be seen when his messengers
called at their estates. II was not
the kings way to give anything for
nothing. Some Of these gentlemen
had been benefited by the draining of
the Holland fens, which the king had
undertaken, Teserving stout portion
of the land for himself, but John En-
derby benefited nothing, for his estates
lay further north, and near the sea,
mot far from the town of Mablethorpe.
dis had paid all the taxes which the
king hnd levied and had not muir
INJURED beyond his own threshold. He
apoke his mind with candor, and to
him the king was still q man to whom
fhe truth was to be told with a direct
ness, which was the highest honor one
man might show another.
Rank treason" repeated Lord Rip
pingdale, loudly. 'Enderby has been in
bad company. your majesty. II you
are not wholly with the king, you are
against him. He that IL 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 Enderhy. A