Strife Beyond Tamar Read online

  'Yes, though I know how much you were looking forward to the ball in his company.'

  'I am not sure I am looking forward to it at all now,' Kate responded, but despite her misgivings, she could not prevent a rising tide of excitement catching her the following day as she prepared for the ball.

  The rest of the guests seemed to feel the same, possibly in the relief after the bombardment Ruthin had subjected them to. The atmosphere was merry, if a trifle deliriously so, and the officers were being made welcome by their erstwhile objects of attack. Kate looked on with mild disapproval as some of her friends flirted unashamedly with the Parliamentarians.

  Her consideration of their behaviour was interrupted by a voice behind her that she recognized, and she turned in amazement.

  'I knew I could not mistake that hair!' the voice was saying.

  'Petroc! Mr Tremaine, what in the world do you do here?' she exclaimed.

  'I was invited,' he replied coolly.

  'But – but, the officers!'

  'A poor looking lot, I grant you! You are right to despise them.'

  'I do not! That is, how can I judge? I do not know any of them.'

  'I should not advise closer acquaintance with a single one of them.'

  She had no answer to this, and he smiled, and suggested they joined the set forming for a country dance. Bemused, she allowed him to lead her on to the floor and mechanically performed the movements of the dance. At the end, when she had recovered her wits and was all ready to ask many questions, he adroitly steered her towards her parents, greeted them briefly, and departed.

  They plied her with questions she could not answer, Mr Anscombe warning her to say nought to any of the officers.

  'For the name of Petroc Tremaine is known to them, and they would be only too pleased to lay their hands on him.'

  'Why?' Kate demanded.

  'Various actions to do with Parliamentary boats,' Mr Anscombe replied briefly. 'He is one of Sir Nicholas Slanning's chief lieutenants. I understand from gossip I have heard in Falmouth that he has already caused a great deal of inconvenience to the Parliament. And they know who it is but cannot catch him.'

  'But does he not risk a great deal showing himself here?'

  'He is known to a few of the people here, so he must calculate they would not betray him. But he must have some very important reason for coming.'

  Petroc was not in evidence a great deal for the next hour or so, but he appeared later and again asked Kate to dance. They did not have the opportunity for private talk during it, but Petroc suggested when the dance was over that they go for refreshments, and Kate, curious, agreed, hoping to be able to question him then. But as they sat at a small table Petroc whispered that the man next to them was General Ruthin himself, so she had to contain her impatience.

  Ruthin was talking loudly to several other people, and Kate could not help overhearing. Unable to say what she wanted to Petroc, she was silent, and her gaze strayed unthinkingly to the General. He soon became aware of her, and shifted his chair slightly to include her and Petroc in his audience, for he was holding forth rather than conversing with them. His talk ranged from his exploits against Hopton in Devon, his attempts to cross the Tamar, and his plans to help the navy patrol the Cornish coast.

  'We need to catch these pirates, for until we do the war will drag on to the harm of all involved,' he stated, and his listeners nodded sagely.

  Kate studiously avoided looking at Petroc, but she was startled when she heard him ask Ruthin what they intended to do.

  'For how can the navy compete with men who know the coast as well as they do their own homes?'

  'Why, you do not imagine the navy to be helpless in maritime skills, I trust? Besides, we will soon have information from our supporters, for 'tis an illusion Hopton has tried to foster here that all of Cornwall supports him. Most of them do not.'

  'I see Cornwall need not fear, with men like you to deal with the Royalists,' Petroc replied smoothly, and Ruthin smirked.

  'You wish us well, sir.'

  'I wish you the fortune you deserve, naturally.'

  'Then why not join us? Parliament pays well for good service. We shall pay for information about the pirates, of course, but we can use strong men such as yourself.'

  'I do regret, General. I have already pledged myself. Secret matters, you understand.'

  Ruthin looked impressed for a moment, then recovered his aplomb, nodded graciously to Kate and Petroc, and turned to answer a query from one of his companions. Petroc glanced quizzically at Kate, but in between apprehension and laughter at the way he had dealt with Ruthin, she was incapable of coherent speech. Taking pity on her plight, he rose and offered her his arm.

  'Let us stroll about,' he suggested, and led her out of the room and along through a series of rooms until they reached a small parlour which was empty, most of the guests having retired to the rooms where refreshments were laid out.

  'What an opportunity for you to pay me back for my piratical abduction,' he said, and Kate allowed the laughter that had been bubbling up inside her to escape. 'Why did you not betray me?'

  She looked at him, and shook her head.

  'There was no cause for revenge.'

  'But were you not angry with me?'

  'Oh, indeed I was at the time, but that has cooled.'

  'They say red hair means a violent temper,' he said, almost to himself. 'Violent, but soon over, like a summer storm.'

  Kate was silent, knowing the description fitted her.

  'It also indicates an inability to make up one's mind,' he went on, and she stared at him, puzzled.

  'That I have not heard, and most certainly do not agree it fits me,' she said. 'I always know my own mind.'

  Petroc grinned at her. 'I did not choose my words with sufficient care. I should have said it implies obstinacy.'

  'Well! That is unkind, sir!'

  'Obstinacy of a special sort. Having once made up your mind, but wanting to change it, you are too obstinate to allow yourself to do so!'

  'I cannot understand you.'

  'You had another reason for not betraying me,' he said softly. 'You think you know your mind, and that obscures what is in your heart. You did not betray me, Kate, because what girl would betray her future husband?'

  *

  Before Kate could answer this preposterous statement, Petroc had drawn her into a close embrace, and his lips had found hers, while his eyes laughed down into her startled ones.

  For a moment she was too astonished to resist, but she found that when she attempted to break away from him he had her in too firm a hold, and she was helpless. Inwardly she raged, and as soon as he lifted his lips from hers she began to protest.

  'Sir! How dare you treat me so? I am no wanton to be so abused!'

  ' 'Tis no abuse to kiss my intended bride,' Petroc laughed.

  'Pray release me, sir!' she commanded, realising he still held her fast.

  'I am afeared to! You might fly at me and scratch out my eyes!'

  'Indeed I would if I could!' she retorted, and he laughed again.

  'Do not seek to avoid the issue, my Kate.'

  'I am not your Kate! And I have no wish to be! I am promised to Jon and I am more than content! Pray cease this foolishness, and let me go!'

  Suddenly he did so, and it was so unexpected she staggered and would have fallen had she not caught at his arm which was ready. She recovered her balance and attempted to regain her poise.

  'That was ill done,' she said in a low voice.

  'To release you? I am well aware of that, and next time will ensure you remain in my arms for longer.'

  Kate looked at him in fury, and wished her heart would quieten. She had suffered a severe shock, she told herself, and took a deep breath to try to still the tumult within her.

  'Do you always take advantage of girls when you happen to be alone with them?' she demanded, longing to slap his face and remove the satisfied look from it, a longing she forced herself to suppres
s, knowing that any such attempt on her part would be read by him as a sign she wished to renew the struggle.

  'I did not when you were aboard my boat, did I?' he asked, and she was silent, knowing he could have taken far greater advantage of her then had he so desired.

  Petroc grasped her arm, and tightened the hold when she resisted and would have thrown off his hand. He led her across to a settle, made her sit down, and stood beside her, one foot resting on the seat.

  'I mean what I say,' he said quietly. 'Jon Peyton is not for you. If you did marry him you would regret it within a month. But you will not. You will be sensible and marry me.'

  'No!' she protested. 'I am promised to Jon, and I will marry him. I love him.'

  'Do you know what love is? All you feel for him is a mild affection, and a willingness to do as is expected of you. But there is no sense in arguing about it now. You will come to see that what I say is true.'

  'But you do not love me!'

  'Would you realise what it was? Some day you will.'

  Unable to counter this she stared up at him, and suddenly he laughed, and gently caressed her cheek.

  'I am a brute to startle you with this. But I am leaving later tonight and could not bear to do so without telling you what I know will come to be.'

  'Where? What are you planning?' she asked, her thoughts diverted.

  'My own battles,' he said, grinning at her. 'But do not despair, we shall meet again soon. I shall make that my business too!'

  He turned and was gone, and she remained where he left her for several minutes, until the sound of voices in the next room brought her out of her reverie, and, blushing at what had occurred, she went to find her parents.

  Petroc had disappeared and Kate saw no more of him, for which she was most thankful, she insisted to herself. But the encounter had disturbed her more than she cared to admit and she longed for Jon and his protective presence.

  *

  On the following day Ruthin and his men moved out of Saltash, and it was rumoured they were planning to meet more troops who had forced a passage across the Tamar at New Bridge, seven miles northwards, also an army under the command of the Earl of Stamford marching through Devon to their support. Hopton awaited them with the posse some dozen miles to the west.

  Petroc had ridden to join Hopton when he had left Saltash, and met there also Sir Nicholas Slanning and the other leaders of the Cornish. They were planning to attack the invaders before Stamford could join them.

  'We must defeat them one by one, and we have a good chance, for the weather is foul enough to delay Stamford,' Grenvile declared.

  'The men will fight with good heart,' Slanning agreed.

  'Especially with the news from Falmouth.' Hopton smiled. 'Had you heard, Petroc?'

  'Heard what?'

  'The winds and the waves are on our side. They drove some Parliament men-of-war into Falmouth harbour, where our good friend Nick's men detained them and relieved them of the money and arms they carried.'

  Petroc gave a shout of laughter. 'Then you have no need for my services?' he asked.

  Slanning grinned at him. 'We cannot rely on such fortune, I prefer to have you guide it for me. But stay here now, Petroc. You can take part in the engagement, then go back to your ship.'

  'It will be soon then?'

  'Within a day or so I'll warrant. The men have been paid their arrears and two weeks in advance, thanks to the gift from Parliament and money Francis Basset has raised. We shall seek out Ruthin if he does not advance to meet us.'

  So Petroc stayed, and was with the army when it set off towards Liskeard. They camped the first night at Boconnoc, Mohun's seat, and at the council of war held that night in the lovely Elizabethan manor house, agreed to press on to find Ruthin. It was further agreed that Hopton would be in supreme command should it come to a battle.

  Petroc had ridden out to scour the surrounding country for news of Ruthin, but there was none, and he returned late to report before snatching a few hours sleep beside one of the camp fires, sheltered by the hedges.

  The march continued the next day across Braddock Down, Captain Cosoworth's dragoons in the van. Petroc sat his horse and watched as they rode across the gently sloping heath towards Braddock Church, its tower visible a mile or so away. As they reached the eastern side, the watchers saw other horsemen, a larger group of them, emerge from concealment behind a small ridge in the heath. The dragoons were attacked by twice their number, and contrived to hold them off until some of the Royalist cavalry charged to their relief. The fight was short and both sides soon withdrew to station themselves for battle.

  Ruthin's army now appeared spread out along a ridge of slightly higher ground to the north-east, and Hopton hurriedly positioned his men to the west, on another ridge, the hollow between them.

  Hopton deployed his horse on the wings, with pikes in the centre flanked by some of the musketeers, another body of musketeers being placed behind the hedges. He had no heavy artillery, but sent back to Boconnoc Park for the two small drakes that had been brought with the army. It was fairly certain Ruthin had no field guns, but his cavalry greatly outnumbered that of the Cornish. However, Hopton had more foot soldiers to balance out the advantage.

  The morning passed in these preparations, while minor skirmishes took place. Until the afternoon was well advanced neither side made a move to attack, but then Hopton ordered his gunners, whose guns had been brought up but concealed behind the cavalry, to discharge the first shots.

  Leading a reserve of foot the Royalists charged, Grenvile and Slanning in the lead, and so determined was their advance down the one slope and up the opposite one the Parliament ranks broke in disorder and fled, gleefully pursued towards Liskeard by the victorious Royalists.

  *

  As darkness fell the victors rounded up their prisoners, over a thousand.

  'There would have been more but for the speed of their horses!' Grenvile lamented.

  'We would have to feed them!' Slanning pointed out. 'Be content we have captured some guns and small arms, as well as their baggage and munitions. I doubt they'll stop before Tavistock!'

  While Hopton and his men proceeded to occupy Liskeard, resting and giving thanks the next day, the discomposed Ruthin fled to the refuge of Saltash. The Royalists then separated, half, including Slanning and Petroc, advancing into Devon after Stamford who having reached Launceston and heard of the disaster prudently withdrew, while the rest under Hopton followed Ruthin.

  The townsfolk of Saltash realised that on this occasion they could not hope to escape without witnessing a struggle, for Ruthin had immediately begun to raise earthworks to defend the town. He fortified these with four cannon, and in addition brought the ship, the sixteen-gun merchantman Frederick and William, up the estuary for greater support.

  But there was little time. The battle had taken place on Thursday January the nineteenth, Hopton rested in Liskeard the following day while Ruthin and his weary men laboured at the defences, and marched towards Saltash on the Saturday. By Sunday it was all over. The defences were inadequate and the Royalists easily stormed them. As they entered the town, victorious, the townsfolk ran out to meet them while Ruthin and his soldiers attempted to escape across the Tamar.

  Ruthin was one of the more fortunate ones, for his craft made the crossing. Others, overcrowded as the panic-stricken men scrambled on board, sank midway and many of the men were drowned. To crown the day's misfortunes for Ruthin, the Frederick and William was taken by Hopton.

  'So now we have driven them out of Cornwall,' a jubilant Jon announced that evening, sitting down to supper with the Anscombes.

  'But how much longer is this repeated advance and retreat over Saltash going to continue?' Mr Anscombe wondered. 'We cannot hope to emerge with so few casualties again. We have been fortunate that despite the continual changing of our captors and the bombardment and battle, Saltash has not been a real battleground. We are in so vulnerable a position just across the Tamar from Plymouth that
I fear we shall suffer far more.'

  'We have chased them into Devon and they flee before us. I expect Sir Ralph will make another attempt on Plymouth now. After the successes the men are anxious to renew battle.'

  'So we shall have the Royalists quartered here, attacking across the river, and counter attacks, more bombardments, continuously. The time has come, my dear, for you to go to Fowey to your sister Phyllis. I must return to Falmouth soon and I will not leave you here now.'

  Mistress Anscombe agreed and Kate, reluctant to leave Jon so soon after his unexpected return, was the only one to demur.

  'You must go, Kate, my dearest,' Jon said at once. 'Sir Ralph appreciated that I had rejoined him, but I was not of great use with my arm still not fully mended. He can use me to carry messages when he will not spare a fit man. I am to go to Pendennis and will be able to escort you on my way. We can have a few more days together. I hope by the time I return I shall be able to wield a sword again!'

  Later, when they were alone, Kate broached the subject of their marriage.

  'Could you not ask for a few more days' leave?' she said wistfully. 'Surely Sir Ralph could spare you a little longer, and we could be wed?'

  Jon sighed. 'My love, do not tempt me! I would dearly love to make you my wife at once, but we have argued it before and I still hold the same views. Be patient, and in a few months I am sure it will all be over. Then we can take our joy of each other without the constant dread of the inevitable parting.'

  Kate had to accept this, and the next few days was kept busy with preparations for their journey. This was difficult, for they could have no idea of how long they would be away, but eventually their belongings were packed and one of Mr Anscombe's men sent off with a pair of pack ponies and the main part of the baggage, while the Anscombes and Jon, and a rather apprehensive pair of maids who had never before been further than three miles from home, started the following morning.

  *

  News of the Cornish exploits in Devon during the next month came to Fowey spasmodically. Jon paid two brief visits on his journeys between Saltash and Falmouth and was able to give reports of the attempted treaty, when negotiations were soon broken off to be followed by a second siege of Plymouth. Short of men, for fewer of the posse had been prepared to volunteer to leave Cornwall a second time, the Cornish had an almost hopeless task to surround the town.