Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-11-02
CHAPTER XvI.-(Continued.)


*. that you do not, by these remarks,
intend to institute any comparison he
tween our sacred Scriptures and the
writings of the impostOr MohaInmed, or
70 infer that there Is any similarity be
tween the devikinspired fury of the IN
ide Saracens and the Christian fOrti-
tude of the struggling faithful?'
BY no MEANS" Saxon answered, grin
ming at me over the minister's head. Il
was but showing how closely the Evil
One can initiate the workings of the
Spirit"
TOO true, Master Saxon, too true!'
the clergyman answered, sadly Amid
the conflict and discOrd it is hard to pick
out the true path. But | marvel much
that amid the SHARES and temptations
that beset soldiers life, you have kept
yourself nnsulIed, with your heart still
set upon the true faith
1t was through no strength of mine
own" said Saxon, piously.
In very truth, such men as you are
much needed in Monmouth's army" Mas
ter Joshua exclaimed. "They have there
several, as | understand, from Holland,
Brandenburg and Scotland, who have
been trained in arms, but who care so
little for the cause which we uphold
that they curse and swear in manner
that atfrights the peasants, and threat
ems to call down Judgment upon the
army. Others there are who cling close
TO the true faith, and have been born
again among the righteous; but, alas.
they have had no experience of camps
and fields. Our blessed Master can
work by means of weak Instruments yet
the fact remains that a man may be
chosen light in a pulpit, and yet be of
little avail i'll an onslaught such as we
have seen this day. l can myself ar
of my flock, SO that they grieve when
the sand is run out Hour
glasses in pulpitsl; but l am aware
that this power would stand me in little
stead when it came to the raising of bar
ricades and the use of carnal weapons
In this way it comes about, in the army
of the faithful, that those who are fit
TO lead are hateful to the people, while
those to whose words the people will
hearken know little of war. Now. we
have this day seen that you are ready of
head and of hand, of much experience of
battle, and yet of demure and sober life,
full of warnings after the Word, and
striving against Apollyon. | therefore
repeat that you shall be as a very Joshua
among them, or as a Samson, destined
to tear down the twin pillars of prelacy
and popery, so as to bury this corrupt
government in its fall"
Decimus SaXon's only reply to this
eulogy was one of those grOans which
were supposed, among the Zealots, to be
the symbol of intense inner conflict and
emotion. So austere and holy was his
expression, so solemn his demeanOr, and
so frequent the upturnings of his eyes,
clasping of his hands and other signs
which marked the extreme sectary. that
| could not but marvel at the depths
and completeness of the hypocrisy which
had cast SO complete a cloak over his
rapaciouS self For very mischief's sake
l could not refrain from reminding him
that there was one at least who valued
his professions at their real value.
Have you told the worthy minister
said l, "of your captivity among the Mus
sulmans, and of the noble way in which
you did uphold the Christian faith at
Stamboul?'
Nay" cried our companion, 81 would
fain hear the tale. 4 marvel much that
one so faithful and unbending as myself
was ever let loose by the unclean and
bloodthirsty followers of Mohammed."
1T does not become me to tell the tale"
Saxon answered, with great presence Of
mind, casting at the same time most
venOmous sidelong glance at me. st is
for my comrades in misfortune and not
for men to describe what | endured for
the faith. l have little doubt, Master
Pettigrue, that you would have done as
much had you been there. The town of
Taunton lies very quiet beneath us, and
there are few lights for so early an hour.
seeing that it has not yet gone 10. 1t
is clear that Monmouth's forces have not
reached it yet, else had there been some
show of camp fires in the valley; for
though it is warm enough to lie i'll the
open, the men must have fires to cook
their sictual."
The army could scarce have come so
far, said the pastor. They have, /
hear, been much delayed by the want of
arms and by the need of discipline Be
think We. it was on the eleventh day of
the month that Monmouth landed at
Lyme, and it is now but the night of
the 14th. There was much to be done
in the time"
-Four whole days." growled the old
soldier Yet | expected no better, see
ing that they have, so far as | can hear,
no tried soldiers among them. BY my
sword, lilly or Wallenstein would not
have taken four days to come from Lyme
to Taunton, though all James Stuart's
cavalry barred the way. Great enter
prises are not pushed through in this
hating fashion The blow should be
sharp and sudden. But tell me, worthy
sir, all that you know about the matter,
for we have heard little upon the road
save rumor and surmise. Was there not
some fashion of onfall at Bridport"
There was indeed some shedding of
blood at that place. The first two days
were consumed, as | understand, in the
enrolling of the faithful and the search
for arms wherewith to equip them. GU
may well shake your head, for the hours
were precious. At last 500 men were
broken into some sort of order, and
marched along the coast under command
of Lord Grey of Wark, and Wade, the
lawyer. At Bridport they were opposed
by the red Dorset militia and part of
POrtman's yelowcoats. If all be true
that is said, neither side had much to
boast of. Gray and his cavalry never
tightened bride until they were back in
Lyme once more, though it is said their
light had more to do with the hard
mouths of their horses than with the
soft hearts of the riders. Wade and
his footmen did bravely, and had the
best of it against the kings troops,
There was much cutlery against
Grey in the camp. but Monmouth can
scarce afford to be severe upon the only
nobleman who hath joined his standard.
Pshaw!' cried Saxon, peeyishly
There was no great stock of noblemen
N Cromwelfs army, | trow. and yet they
held their own against the King, who
Rad as many lords by him as there are
haWs in thicket. If We have the people
On your side, why should We crave. for
these bewigged fine gentlemen, whose