Of the Onfall at Sedgemoor
However pressing our own private griefs and needs,
we had little time now to dwell upon them, for the
moment was at hand which was to decide for the time
not only our own fates, but that of the Protestant
cause in England. None of us made light of the
danger. Nothing less than a miracle could preserve
us from defeat, and most of us were of opinion that
the days of the miracles were past. Others, however,
thought otherwise. I believe that many of our
Puritans, had they seen the heavens open that night,
and the armies of the Seraphim and the Cherubim descending
to our aid, would have looked upon it as by no means
a wonderful or unexpected occurrence.
The whole town was loud with the preaching.
Every troop or company had its own chosen orator,
and sometimes more than one, who held forth and expounded.
From barrels, from waggons, from windows, and even
from housetops, they addressed the crowds beneath;
nor was their eloquence in vain. Hoarse, fierce
shouts rose up from the streets, with broken prayers
and ejaculations. Men were drunk with religion
as with wine. Their faces were flushed, their
speech thick, their gestures wild. Sir Stephen
and Saxon smiled at each other as they watched them,
for they knew, as old soldiers, that of all causes
which make a man valiant in deed and careless of life,
this religious fit is the strongest and the most enduring.
In the evening I found time to look in upon my wounded
friend, and found him propped up with cushions upon
his couch, breathing with some pain, but as bright
and merry as ever. Our prisoner, Major Ogilvy,
who had conceived a warm affection for us, sat by
his side and read aloud to him out of an old book
of plays.
‘This wound hath come at an evil moment,’
said Reuben impatiently. ’Is it not too
much that a little prick like this should send my men
captainless into battle, after all our marching and
drilling? I have been present at the grace,
and am cut off from the dinner.’
‘Your company hath been joined to mine,’
I answered, ’though, indeed, the honest fellows
are cast down at not having their own captain.
Has the physician been to see you?’
‘He has left even now,’ said Major Ogilvy.
’He pronounces our friend to be doing right
well, but hath warned me against allowing him to talk.’
‘Hark to that, lad!’ said I, shaking my
finger at him. ’If I hear a word from
you I go. You will escape a rough waking this
night, Major. What think you of our chance?’
‘I have thought little of your chance from the
first,’ he replied frankly. ’Monmouth
is like a ruined gamester, who is now putting his
last piece upon the board. He cannot win much,
and he may lose all.’
‘Nay, that is a hard saying,’ said I.
’A success might set the whole of the Midlands
in arms.’
