“The truth is,” said Prynne, “that I received from the cavaliers of your island kindnesses that I cannot forget; yet as touching the trial and execution of the late King, if I have gainsayed aught of the other side, yet I need not repeat that I have ever been a friend to Liberty, as witness these indentures,” and with a starched smile he pointed to the marks upon his face. “I know that you have reason to be angry with Sir George Cartwright....”
“Let us not talk of him,” answered the other, with a flush on his swarthy cheek. “I lose all patience when I think of the many mischiefs entailed upon my country by the cruelty and greed of that house. When his late uncle, your protector, made Sir George a substitute in the Government of the island, he was but 23 years old: but old enough to be a serpent more subtle than any that went before; and see what he hath made of our little Eden! He and his men the servants, not of the people, but of Jermyn; prelacy and malignancy spread abroad. In the twelve parishes seven Captains are Carterets: and the Knight himself, beside his Deputyship, Bailiff and Receiver of the revenues, which he holds at an easy farm.”
“I conceive that your Eves and Adams should lose their virtue with such a tempter; yet, had you and Dumaresq been less bent on Sir Philip’s ruin, and on grasping his powers and profits, if you can pardon my plain speaking, I will be bold to say Sir Philip was no friend to tyranny, and would, under God’s pleasure, have been still alive to forward the cause of reasonable freedom.”
“I will follow your good example and use equal plainness, Mr. Prynne. This wise man hath said that ‘the simple believeth every word.’ But if we should do likewise and believe every word that is told of you, we might say ’that Mr. Prynne was seduced by Sir Philip and Lady Carteret when he was their prisoner in Mont Orgueil.’ And farther, it hath even been said that at that time you sent out a recantation to the King of that for which you suffered.”
“It skills not,” answered the host, with evident self-control, “it skills not to rake into that which is passed.”
“Neither did I seek to do so,” rejoined the Jerseyman, “I seek no offence, nor mean any. But, as touching the Knight’s spirit, and whether he sought the welfare of our island with singleness of heart, let me have leave to be of mine own mind. Will you not let me take the affirmation from the doings of Sir George, his nephew, and present successor? Where is the place of profit that he hath not bestowed upon a kinsman or creature of his own?”
“Methinks,” said Prynne, shrewdly, “there be others than he who would gladly share those barley loaves and few small fishes.”
“That may be,” said Lempriere. “The labourer is worthy of his hire, to give you Scripture for Scripture. But what will you say to the piracies by which the traffic of the seas is intercepted, and Mr. Lieutenant daily enriched by plunder from English vessels? Surely, even the charitable protecting of Mr. Prynne will hardly serve to cover such a multitude of sins!”