Andrew Swanston - The King's Exile

Delighted to be doing something positive, Charles made arrangements for the transfer of five hundred men to his command in the north and issued detailed orders to his captains for their deployment. When he called at the Lytes’ house to tell Mary of his new commission, he was met by Thomas.

‘Thomas, better news at last,’ he said. ‘An end to the foreplay and on with the real thing. The sooner we send the insolent beggars packing, the sooner you’ll be home.’

‘In that case, kindly waste no time in doing so,’ replied Thomas with a weak smile, and went to fetch Mary.

‘Charles, this is a pleasant surprise. We imagined you were occupied with our visitors in the south. Do you bring news from there?’ she asked.

‘In part, I do. I had hoped also to speak to Adam.’

‘He will be back from the mill soon. What news do you bring?’

When Charles had told her, Mary did not share his enthusiasm. ‘You’re not a proper soldier, Charles,’ she pointed out. ‘Why has Willoughby asked you to do this?’

‘Matter of trust, I suppose. No danger of my changing sides.’ He grinned. ‘And I have two swords, of course.’

‘I really cannot see what difference that makes. Just don’t do anything foolish.’

‘Foolish? Me? Come now, my dear, surely you’re thinking of someone else.’

Mary was spared having to respond by the arrival of Adam. ‘There you are, brother. Captain Carrington has come to give us news.’

‘Have you been given a commission, Charles?’

‘I have. Willoughby has asked me to organize defences around Holetown and Speightstown. We think it likely that Ayscue will launch assaults in the north as well as on Bridgetown. I have command of five hundred men for the purpose.’

Mary interrupted. ‘Has there been no progress towards a peaceful resolution? We have been hoping for better news.’

‘I fear not, and Ayscue is running out of time. He will have to attack soon or go home empty-handed.’

‘That would not endear him to Cromwell.’

‘No indeed. So we are expecting something to happen.’

‘And how may I help, Charles?’ asked Adam.

‘I had thought that now you have men expertly trained and hardened to battle, you might care to augment our force. With you in command, of course.’

‘Does one skirmish with a rabble of runaways constitute battle-hardening?’

‘Certainly it does. It’s more fighting than most of our men have seen. I do not ask for your slaves — you will need them to keep the estate working — but your indentured men would be useful. We shall need all the bodies we can find.’

‘Of course we will do as you ask. Just tell us what you want us to do.’

An hour later, Charles had outlined his plan and asked his new commander to bring his platoon to Six Mens Bay, just north of Speightstown, the following day. There it would be deployed in defensive positions. They would all have to come prepared to spend some days in the open and to bring their own rations. Five hundred men reliant upon the goodwill of the local people for food and water would be quite enough. Anyone who could should fend for himself.

‘Well,’ said Mary when Charles had left, ‘runaway slaves and now Roundheads. Do look out for Viking longboats, won’t you.’

‘Mary, we could hardly refuse him. The island’s in danger. What would you have us do?’

‘It is hardly up to me, brother, but something not involving swords and muskets would be an improvement.’

‘And how, pray, should we do that? Welcome Ayscue with open arms and take an oath of loyalty to Cromwell?’

‘Would that be so terrible a thing? And as you’ve never sworn the oath to the king, I doubt you’d have to swear one to Cromwell.’

Adam laughed. ‘Odd, isn’t it, that the charming Gibbes brothers had to swear but Charles and I were never asked to? Perhaps Walrond didn’t care about us.’

‘Perhaps, or perhaps he wasn’t as even-handed as he liked to make out. Well, off you go then, both of you. Thomas and Patrick and I will manage perfectly well. There are no runaways left in the woods, so unless we’re attacked by a troop of monkeys with loaded muskets we shall be quite safe.’

For the first time since Adam had returned, Thomas spoke. ‘Mary, I should like to accompany Adam.’

Mary was astonished. ‘Really, Thomas? What on earth for?’

‘I cannot sit here any longer and do nothing or I shall lose my wits.’

‘Are you willing to fight?’ asked Charles.

‘Only if there is no alternative. Could I not help with the administration — supplies, orders, that sort of thing?’

Charles pondered for a moment. ‘Why not? I shall need a quartermaster, Thomas, and it might as well be you. Consider yourself appointed.’

For several days neither the garrisons in the south nor Charles’s men in the north had much to do but watch and wait. Charles divided his forces into five companies, each charged with defending one of the vulnerable beaches. While he set up his camp at Goding’s Bay, Adam and Thomas took their platoon of twenty-five men, now named white platoon, north to Six Mens Bay to join a company led by a Captain Brown. Adam put Thomas in charge of all matters administrative — food, water, shelter, casualties and settlement of the occasional dispute. Thomas had arranged for any casualties to be taken to the Serpent Inn.

Six Mens was the most likely landing place. The seabed was free of rocks for fifty yards out and erosion of the sand meant that the water was deep enough for a longboat to approach within five or six yards of the shore. The skirmishers had used it before and Charles was sure they would use it again rather than risk a landing at a place they did not know.

The men passed their days in musket practice and their nights sleeping among the palms and casuarinas which fringed the beach. On Thomas’s advice, they avoided the manchineels. Wagers were made on which of them could climb the palms quickest to gather coconuts for their fruit and water, and fish were caught from an outcrop of rock at the northern end of the bay. Local villagers brought them bread and meat. Lookouts were posted day and night and no boat could approach without being seen long before it was within musket range. Even at night the sea was lit by the moon. Calm and shadowless, it afforded no cover for a longboat.

Charles made daily inspections of the beaches, checking the defences built of rocks and driftwood, recommending improvements and enquiring about the troops’ morale. If they had a concern it was that the waiting would dull the men’s spirits.

Eight days before Christmas, they met as usual at the southern end of Six Mens Bay. ‘White platoon is ready,’ reported Adam, ‘but no sign of the enemy again today, Charles. Do you think he’s heard of our reputation and taken fright?’

‘Alas, no. He’s overdue for his rendezvous and he’ll be here soon, mark my words.’

‘I do hope so. I worry for Mary.’

‘As would I for my sister. But she’s a capable lady and Patrick is with her. She’ll come to no harm.’

‘Any news from Willoughby?’

‘Routine reports only.’

The reports that very evening, however, were anything but routine. About an hour before dark, a breathless rider arrived at their camp, where Charles was sharing a bottle with them. He brought news from Lord Willoughby. ‘There has been an attack, Mr Carrington. About six hundred men led by Colonel Alleyne, on the harbour at Bridgetown. They set fire to warehouses and vessels and disabled twenty cannon. There was much damage to property. Colonel Alleyne himself was killed.’

‘Was he now? Casualties?’

‘Fifty of our men dead, sir, and a hundred taken prisoner.’