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


and grenades OF the cavaliers. Indeed,
the whole town bore grimly martial APP
pearance, as though she were veteran
among boroughs who had served in the
past, and was not aversr 10 seeing the
flash of guns and hearing the screech of
shot once more.
Charles council might destroy the bat
Elements which his soldiers had been I'M
able TO take, but no royal edict could do
away with the resolute spirit and strong
opinions of the burghers. Many of them,
born and bred amid the clash of civil
strife, had been fired from their infancy
10y the tales of the old war. and by rem
lniScences of the great assault when
LunSford'S babe-eaters were hurled down
the main breach by the strong arms of
their fathers. In this way there was
bred III Taunton a fercer and more sol
dlerly spirit than is usual in an English
country town, and this fame was famed
by the unwearied ministerngs of
chosen band of NOnconformst clergy
men. among whom Joseph Aheine was
the most conspicuous. No better focus
for a revolt could have been chosen, for
no city valued so highly those liberties
ana mat creed which was in jeopardy.
A large body of the burghers had al
ready set out to join the rebel army,
put good number had remained
behind TO guard the city, and
those were reinforced by gangs of
peasants, IKE the one to which we had
attached ourselves, who had trooped in
from the surrounding country. and now
divided their time between listening to
their fayorlte preachers and learning TO
step In line and to handle their weanons.
In yard. street, and market square there
was marching and drilling, night, morn
ing and noon. Ae we rode Out after
breakfast the whole town was ringing
with the shouting of orders and the clat-
ter of arms. Our own friends of yester-
day marched into the market place at the
moment we entered it, and no sooner did
they catch sight of us than they pucked
Oft their hats and cheered Justify, nor
would they desist until We cantered over
head.
They have vowed that none other
should lead them" said the minister.
standing by Saxon's stirrup.
Il could not wish to lead stouter fell
lows said he. Let them deploy into
double line in front of the town hall So,
so, smartly there, rear rank he shouted.
facing his horse towards them. Now
swing round into position. Keep your
ground, left flank, and let the others
pivot upon you. So-as hard and as
straight as an Andrea Ferrara. | prythee,
friend, do not carry your pike as though
it were Il hoe, though | trust you Will
do some wedding in the Lords vineyard
with it; And you, sir your musketoon
should be sloped upon your shoulder, and
not borne under your arm like a dandy's
cane. Did ever an unhappy soldier find
himself called upon to make order among
50 motley a crew. Even my good friend
the Fleming cannot so avail here, nor
does Petrinus, in his DE re Militari,'
lay down any injunctiOns as to the meth
Cd of drilling man who is armed with
sickle or u scythe.
shoulder scythe, port scythe, present
Scythe-nOwr' whispered Reuben to Sir
Geryas. and the pair began to laugh
needless of the angry frowns of Saxon.
Let us divide them" he said Into
three companies of eighty men. Or,
stay-how many musketeers have we in
all? Five-and-tifty. Let them stand for
ward. and form the first line or company.
Sir Gervas jerome, you have otficered
the militia of your county, and have
doubtless some knowledge of the manual
exercise. If l am cOmmandant of this
force | hand over the captaincy of this
company to you. 1t shall be the first line
| in battle-a position which | know you
will NOT be averse to-"
"Gad, they'll. have to powder their
| heads" said Sir Gervas, with decision.
You shall have the entire ordering Of
them" Saxon answered. Let the first
company take six PAGES to the front-soi
Now let the pikemen stand out. Eighty
seven, a serviceable company. Lockarby.
do YOU take these men in hand, and never
forget that the German wars have proved
| that the best of horse has no more chance
against steady pikemen than the waves
against a crag. Take the captaincy of
the second company, and ride at their
head"
Faith, if they don't fight better than
their captain rides" whispered Reuben
1T will be an evil business. / trust they
will be tirmer in the field than | am III
the saddle
The third company of scythesmen
Clarke" continued Saxon. Good Mas
| ter Joshua Pettigrue will be our field
| chaplain. Shall not his voice and his
| presence be to us IS mamma in the wilder
ness, and as springs of water III dry
| places? The underotficers i see that you
have yourselves chosen, and your cap
tains shall have power to add to the num-
Der from those Who smte boldly and
| spare not Now, one thing have to say
| you. And | speak it that all may hear
and that none may hereafter complain
| that the rules he serves under were not
that when the evening bugle calls, and
| the helm and pike are laid aside ] am
as you and YOU as l. fellow workers in
the same field, and drinkers from the
same wells of life. Lo. | will pray with
YOU or tOpreach with you, or hearken with
may become a brother pilgrim upon the
weary road. But bark you, friends.
when we are in arms and the good work
| is to be done, on the march, in the field,
or on parade, then let your bearing be
strict. soldierly, and scrupulous. quick to
hear and alert to obey, for ! shall have
no sluggards or laggards. and if there
be any SUCH my hand shall be heavy up
on them. yea. even to the cutting of them
| off. | say there shah be no mercy for
! such" Here he paused and surveyed his
force with a set face and his eyelids
drawn low over his glinting-shifting eyes.
IF. then he continued, there is any
man among YOU who fears to serve under
hard discipline, let him stand forth now.
and let him betake him TO some easier
| leader, for 1 say to you that while
| command this corps, SaXon's regiment of
Wiltshire foot shall be worthy to testify
in this great soul-rasing cause"
The colonel stopped and sat silent upon
his mare. The long lines of rustic faces
looked up some stolidly. some admiring-
ly. some with an expression of fear at his
stern. gaunt face and baneful eyes. None