The Buccaneer - A Tale

Hither, th' oppressed shall henceforth resort,

Justice to crave and succour at your court,

And then your Highness, not for ours alone,

But for the world's Protector shall be known.

WALLER to the Protector

It was past midnight when Manasseh Ben Israel, accompanied by Robin

Hays, as his own servant, and disguised as we have seen him, arrived at

Hampton Court. The night was murky, and the numerous turrets of the

great monument of Wolsey's grandeur and ambition were seen but dimly

through the thickened air, although looked upon with feelings of no

ordinary interest by both Jew and servitor.

The carriage was stopped at the outer court by the sentries on guard,

and some little delay occurred, apparently to ascertain if the Rabbi

could be admitted at so late an hour.

Robin looked from the carriage-window and saw, what appeared to him,

scores of mailed and armed warriors reclining on the stone benches of a

spacious but low guard-room, while others crowded over a large fire,

which the chilliness of the night rendered, at least, desirable. The

glaring of the flames showed brightly on their polished armour, and

their firm immovable features looked of a piece with the iron itself.

Nothing could be more imposing, or afford a more correct idea of

Cromwell's perseverance and judgment, than his well-trained soldiery.

Obedience, inflexible obedience to their commander, seemed the leading,

almost the only principle upon which they acted: not that slavish

obedience which is the effect of fear, but the obedience which is the

result of confidence. "God and the Protector" was their faith, and they

knew no other. As the Jew gazed upon those invincible men, he shrouded

himself still more closely within his furred cloak, and shuddered.

Robin's eye, on the contrary, brightened, for he was born of England,

and proud of her greatness. Ah! Englishmen in those days had a right to

be proud.

There was another difference in the conduct of the Protector's troops

from those of every other time and every other nation: they had none of

the reckless wildness, none of the careless bravery which is supposed

necessarily to belong to the profession of arms. Their habits were

staid and sober; and if any Cavaliers did enter in among them, they were

forced to behave themselves according to the fashion of their

associates, which habit, in a little time, tamed their heedlessness into

propriety. There was no singing of profane songs in the guard-room, no

filthy jesting or foolish talking; no drinking; their very breathing

seemed subdued, and nothing frighted the tranquillity which rested on

the turrets at Hampton, and pervaded its courts, save the striking of

some iron heel on the ringing pavement, or the neighing of some gallant

steed in the not distant stables.