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Among those who escaped into Hampshire, thinking themselves safer in a county that had not participated in the war, were a dissenting parson named George Hicks, who had been in Monmouth's army, and a lawyer named Richard Nelthorp, outlawed for participation in the Rye House Plot.
I know my duty to my King better, and have always exercised it. I defy anybody in the world that ever knew contrary to come and give testimony." His voice broke harshly upon the pause. "Have you any more to say?" "As to what they say to my denying Nelthorp to be in the house," she resumed. "I was in very great consternation and fear of the soldiers, who were very rude and violent.
My lady asked no questions at the time regarding Hicks's long, lean companion. But it occurred to her later that perhaps she should know more about him. Early next morning, therefore, she sent for Hicks as he was in the act of sitting down to breakfast, and by her direct questions elicited from him that this companion was that Richard Nelthorp outlawed for his share in the Rye House Plot.
But she insisted, calm and self-contained; and Carpenter carried Hicks away to bestow him, together with Dunne, in a hole in the malt-house under a heap of sacking. Nelthorp had already vanished completely on his own initiative. Meanwhile, the insistent knocking at the gate continued.
She looked up at him, and returned him smile for smile. "I know nothing," she said, "of what you tell me, or of what you ask." His countenance hardened. "Then, mistress, the search must go on." But a shout from the adjoining room announced that it was at an end. Nelthorp had been discovered and dragged from the chimney into which he had crept.
I was not out of my chamber all the day in which that king was beheaded, and I believe I shed more tears for him than any other woman then living. "And I do repeat it, my lord, as I hope to attain salvation, I never did know Nelthorp, nor did I know of anybody's coming but Mr. Hicks.
He ignored, you see, her own complete explanation of that circumstance. "And when Hicks and Nelthorp came, did she not discourse with them about the battle and the army?" But Mr. Whistler was not yet satisfied. "We do not remember, my lord, that it was proved that she asked any such question." That put him in a passion. "Sure," he bellowed, "you do not remember anything that has passed.
"Prithee, what needest thou be afraid of, for thou didst not know Hicks nor Nelthorp; and my lady only asked thee whether Hicks were a Nonconformist parson. Surely, so very innocent a soul needed no occasion to be afraid. I doubt there was something in the case of that business we were talking of before. If we could but get out of thee what it was." But Dunne continued to evade.
Hicks, and for him I was informed that he did abscond by reason of warrants that were out against him for preaching in private meetings; for that reason I sent to him to come by night. But I had never heard that Nelthorp was to come with him, nor what name Nelthorp had till after he had come to my house. I could die upon it. As for Mr.
To Barter's surprise, there were no soldiers at the tryst on Salisbury Plain on the following Tuesday; and he was suffered to lead Dunne and the two men with him the short, corpulent Mr. Hicks and the long, lean Nelthorp to Moyle's Court without interference. The rich reward that Dunne had promised him amounted in actual fact to five shillings, that he had from Nelthorpe at parting.
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