John Inglesant: A Romance (Volume 1 of 2)Shorthouse, J. H. (Joseph Henry)
History
John Inglesant: A Romance (Volume 1 of 2)
Shorthouse, J. H. (Joseph Henry)
Great Britain -- History -- Charles I, 1625-1649 -- Fiction; Religious fiction
"By my soul, Master Fight-the-fight," he said, "that passes a joke. The
good cause is well enough, and the saints militant and triumphant, and
all the rest of it; but to shoot a man under a flag of truce was never
yet required of any saint, whether militant or triumphant."
The other looked at him severely as he took back his weapon.
"Thou art in the bonds of iniquity thyself," he said, "and in the land
of darkness and the shadow of death. The Lord’s cause will never
prosper while it puts trust in such as thou." But he made no further
attempt against Inglesant, who, indeed, by this time had crossed the
river, and was out of musket shot on the opposite bank.
A few days afterwards the King left Oxford and went into the West.
Inglesant remained in garrison, and took his share in all the
expeditions of any kind that were undertaken. The Roman Catholics were
at this time very strong in Oxford; they celebrated mass every day, and
had frequent sermons, at which many of the Protestants attended; but it
was thought among the Church people to be an extreme thing to do, and
any of the commanders who did it excited suspicion thereby. The Church
of England people were by this time growing jealous of the power and
unrestrained license of the Catholics, and the Jesuit warned Inglesant
to attach himself more to the English Church party, and avoid being much
seen with extreme Papists. Colonel Gage, a Papist, was appointed
governor by the King; but being a very prudent man and a general
favourite, as well as an excellent officer, the appointment did not give
much offence. Inglesant was present at Cropredy Bridge, which battle or
skirmish was fought after the King returned to Oxford from his hasty
march through Worcestershire, and was wounded severely in the head by a
sword cut—a wound which he thought little of at the time, but which long
afterwards made itself felt. Notwithstanding this wound he intended
following the King into the West, for His Majesty had latterly shown a
greater kindness to him, and a wish to keep him near his person; but
Father St. Clare, after an interview with the King, told Inglesant that
he had a mission for him to perform in London, and so kept him in
Oxford.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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