The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-08-07
BY WILLIAM MIMIC.

following morning with view to per.
suading him to withdraw at once from
the neighborhood of London. Ralph
recognized at once that Tyler's presence
there was disturbing force, and, eager
to prevent bloodshed. he readily under.
took to see the captain of the commons
and urge him to trust the kings prom.
Use to send the charters.
Ralph found him as night began to
fall riding here and there through his
camp, warning group after group of the
danger of surprise.
The idea OF withdrawing without the
charters was not welcome to him. He
listened to Ralph gfavely, but his
answers were short and irritable. The
charters might all be ready by the fol-
lowing night; it was only another day
to wait. If they had not attacked the
city when all their strength was pres
emit, why should they be suspected now
that half was gone? There would be
much more serious danger if the char
ters were withheld; they would suspect
some trick; he would not answer for
their behavior if they had not their
freedom given into their hands to carry
home like their brethren.
The captain of the commons would
not be moved from this conclusion.
Ralph saw that it was vain to urge
him. and returned to the city oppressed
with vague presentment of evil. He
dared not tell the rebel leader of the
pressure that was being put upon the
king for leave to break all promises and
fall upon him at once. If Tyler had
known this he would certainly have
taken measures to be beforehand. It
was much to be feared that his obstin-
ate determination to remain till the
last charter was completed would give
those who wished for collision the
very opportunity they desired
They were early astir at the Wardrobe
on the Saturday morning. Ralph re-
ported to the princess the obstinate
mood in which he had found the cap
tain of the commons, and the princess
warned the king to be patient.
BY half-past eight the lords were
assembled, and the party rode down to
Westminster to hear mass. The king
again commanded Ralph to accompany
him, and again there were mutterings
and disguised looks, unknown to the
subject of them, at this favor shown to
hereto meddlesome pridst. Ralph
still wore the russell garb at the desire
of the princess; she knew that it was
popular, and that its presence near her
son would be acceptable to the peasants
as sign of sympathy with them.
The mayor, Walworth, rode with
them at the head of party of ten or a
dozen horsemen, among whom Ralph
recognized his old enemy, Rainham-
He saw that the horses were we'll armed
under their housings, and his heart
sank as he OWNED what this meant.
They were prepared to encounter the
weapons of the peasants. His only
hope lay in the patience and pacific
disposition of the king.
At the Savoy they turned off to the
left and rode through the lanes toward
Smithfield. Presently they arrived at
the wide open market field where the
insurgents lay, and after coasting along
for little as if to ride past, they sud-
denly halted in front of Tylei's head
quarters.
Tyler, seeing the halt and recogniz-
ing the king, gave hurried orders to his
marshals to put the host in. array, ard
rode forward to learn the meaning of
the visit.
The king advanced a few PAGES to
meet him, and, as before agreed upon,
expressed surprise to see so many of
his subjects still there. ''What do
yonder good people lack?" he asked.
"Have not promised them my letters?
Why do they not proceed to their
honest"
"Sire," anwsered Tyler, "they await
till the letters are delivered to them, as
hath been done with their brethren of
Essex
"They shall have them in good
time" said the king. ''The letters
are ordained for them. and shall be
sent to them each after the other as
fast as they are ready. Wherefore,
good fellow, order them that they de-
part peaceably to their homes, for l
warrant you it is my finn intent that
they shall have the letters by villages
and townships as 1 have promised. 1t
is not meet that thew remain here"
'They will not go peaceably. sire,
without having the letters.
Wherefore not?" cried the king.
els it that they doubt my promise?"
While they talked the royal party
had drawn nearer; and lew undis-
ciplined stragglers on Tyler's side,
among them the wierd looking Janne-
ouin Cartar of Sturmere who for some