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Updated: May 1, 2025
As Wilding afterwards told Trenchard, they reminded him of a parcel of saucy lacqueys who take liberties with an upstart master for whom they are wanting in respect. "I am glad to see you, Battiscomb," said Monmouth, when quiet was restored, "and I trust I behold in you a bearer of good tidings."
Battiscomb pursed his lips a second, pondering. "I think," said he, "that you may count upon Mr. Legge and Mr. Hooper, and possibly upon Colonel Churchill, though I cannot say what following they will bring, if any. Mr. Trenchard, upon whom we counted for fifteen hundred men of Taunton, has been obliged to fly the country to escape arrest." "We have heard that from Mr.
Hucker himself, I am sure, would place his sword at your disposal. But his brother is a red-hot Tory." "Well, well," sighed the Duke, "I take it we must not make certain of Mr. Hucker. Are there any others besides Legge and Hooper upon whom you think that we may reckon?" "Lord Wiltshire, perhaps," said Battiscomb, but with a lack of assurance.
"Might have been?" questioned Fletcher, speaking now for the first time since Battiscomb's arrival. "Like Sir Francis Rolles, he is in prison," the lawyer explained. Monmouth leaned forward, and his young face looked Careworn now; he thrust a slender hand under the brown curls upon his brow. "Will you tell us, Mr. Battiscomb, upon what friends you think that we may count?" he said.
Monmouth's spirits continued to rise, for he had been joined by now by Legge and Hooper the two upon whom Battiscomb had counted and by Colonel Joshua Churchill, of whom Battiscomb had been less certain. Captain Matthews brought news that Lord Wiltshire and the gentlemen of Hampshire might be expected if they could force their way through Albemarle's militia, which was already closing round Lyme.
"Lord Gervase Scoresby?" questioned Grey, less carelessly. Battiscomb half turned to him, then faced the Duke again as he made answer, "Mr. Wilding there, can tell you more concerning Lord Gervase." All eyes swept round to Wilding who sat in silence, listening; Monmouth's were laden with inquiry and some anxiety. Wilding shook his head slowly, sadly.
"Even so, Your Grace alas!" and Battiscomb sighed audibly. Ferguson's voice boomed forth again to startle them. "The ox knoweth his owner," he cried, "the ass his master's crib; but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider." Grey pushed the bottle contemptuously across the table to the parson.
"They will come as it is," the Duke repeated with an almost womanish insistence, persisting in believing what he hoped, all evidence apart. The door opened and Ensign Cragg made his appearance. "May it please Your Grace," he announced, "Mr. Battiscomb has just arrived, and asks will Your Grace receive him to-night?" "Battiscomb!" cried the Duke. Again his cheek flushed and his eye sparkled.
Deeper grew Monmouth's frown; his fingers drummed the table absently. Fletcher poured himself wine, his face inscrutable. Grey threw one leg over the other and in a voice that was carefully careless he inquired, "And what of Sidney Clifford?" "He is considering," said Battiscomb. "I was to have seen him again at the end of the month; meanwhile, he would take no resolve."
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