The Valiant Sailor was not an inn, but a boarding house for ships crews on layovers. For months the landlady had been earning well from the crews of the many Friesburn ships that were patrolling the seas and carrying the militia. She recognized Daniel as one of the ships commanders, so she was eager to answer his queries. "Only one of the crews were staying here. They put in before the big storm and were here for a few days, but then their ship was put under guard and the crew was taken from here and locked up at Saint Annes fort,” she told him. "That was three days ago, just after the big wind stopped blowing. They all thought it was some mistake, so they went along with the guard expecting to be back within the hour."
"What do you mean by 'some mistake'?” Daniel asked.
"Why the port toll,” she replied. "Our new governor, Hamon Le Strange, charged them with not paying the port toll. The old fart came in person to discuss it with them. He told them that he also thought that there was a misunderstanding, but that it was his duty to seize the ship and lock up the crew until it was all straightened out. I've not seen them since, and none of the crews that arrived on the other three ships at he quay have come here seeking lodging."
"Do you think the new crews are being held in Saint Annes fort with the first crew?"
"Well, at the time I thought that the Wellenhay clan had gone off me, or had been offered better cheaper, so I asked around,” the landlady told him in a very business like voice. "They are all locked up in Saint Annes, love. I'm sure of it."
"What did the Norfolk trainbands do about it? They well know our crews and our ships. They use them to move men and gear up and down the coast."
"Well, to tell the truth of it,” she said, "there's not many bandsmen about these days. I expect most of them went home for Christmas. And then there was the storm..."
"Yeh, the storm,” Daniel agreed. "What about Lynn's militia?"
"The new governor has taken command of them. It is they who came here with the Le Strange to take your crew to Saint Annes. Didn't I tell you that? That's why your men went along all peaceful like. They know and trust all of the militiamen."
"And I suppose Le Strange is at Saint Annes too?"
"I suppose so,” the landlady replied. She glanced at the short man with Daniel. "You look done in, love. Shall I make up a room?"
Daniel glanced at Rob. He was looking decidedly ashen. "Yes, please get Rob to bed, and feed him some soup. Meanwhile I'll go down to the quay and ask some questions. Oh, our horses. Do you have a stable?"
"Nay, love, not much need with my sailors. If it's just for the night, you can leave your horses with my neighbour, otherwise my cousin works at the stable along the Castle Rising road. It's the best 'cause the fields stay dry over there."
With Femke and Rob out of his hair, and his pistols under his belt, Daniel went and had a good long talk with some off duty customs men at the alehouse closest to the quays. The clan had oft times paid them to be somewhere else whenever their ships were due in from Holland. Needless to say, they were quite friendly and helpful. They knew that his crews were in Saint Annes. They were not expecting the Swift in from Holland due to the storm. They promised to fetch him the next time a ship came up the river from The Wash, and all that for the cost of the night's ale,.
On the way back from the custom's shed he was approached by a desperate young woman in need of coin. She was one of the dock doxies, and had to be desperate to be out peddling her ass in such cold weather. For a copper she told him that the men guarding his ships were Le Strange's own retainers from his estates at Hunstanton, which was the next port north along the coast. She was eager to help, or at least earn more coin, so he promised to pay her four times the going rate for a 'quickie-stand-up' if she would lure one of the off duty guards from the ships to the Valiant Sailor.
"Can't do that, can I?” she whispered. "The likes o' me ain't welcome at the Valiant Sailor."
"You will be welcome this time. Just make sure that the guard is alone."
"Oye, you ain't goin'a roll 'im or anythin' are yee? Not when 'e knows where to find me agin?"
"No one will get hurt and there'll be no trouble. I just want to speak with him, alone."
"If'n ya roll 'im, I gets 'arf,” she bargained, disbelieving.
"I'm not going to roll him. I'll tell you what, I'll give you an extra sixpence if you will put a big smile on his face before he leaves the Valiant."
"Done,” she held forward a grimy woolen mitten, "shake on it."
Daniel hiked back through the empty streets to the Valiant to wait. The waiting was hard because he couldn't get warm. The bloody house was made of bricks and never seemed to warm up no matter how much extra he paid to have coal added to the fire. There were not even any down comforters to wrap about him, because the beds were all made using wool blankets. Even the food did not warm him because the soup was thin, and the meat pie had no meat in it.
"Ya have to make allowances for the storms and this cold weather, dearie,” the landlady told him, and Daniel did make allowances, but that didn't make him any warmer. She was nice enough to heat an extra blanket and drape it over the sleeping Rob. She was even pleasant to the doxie who arrived with a lad in tow, and she showed them into a small room near the back door. There was still two hours of daylight left but she offered them a candle lantern because the room was dark.
The lad went in first, followed by the lass with the candle lantern. The candle was not quite enough to light all of the corners of the room, so the lad was inside and locking the door before he realized that there was already someone in the room, and that someone was very big, and was pointing the biggest pistol he had ever seen at his crotch.
"She's my daughter, she is,” Daniel told him in a rough voice. "I'm goin' ta shoot yer balls off if'n you've been taking liberties."
"I've done nothing, not yet, honest,” the lad withdrew as far as he could from the pistol and ended up with his back against the door. The lass was thus trapped in the room with them, so she sat down on the single bed and kept quiet. He stared at her and said, "I haven't even paid her yet."
"You callin' my girl a whore?” Daniel said in his best imitation of a dock worker's voice. "Not a nice thing to call yer future wife."
"Wife, but I only just met her,” the lad said in a shocked voice.
"Well mayhaps yer not good enough fer her. Where are you from and how do you earn yer crust?"
"I'm just a stable lad from Hunstanton. I can't afford a wife. Not on what the gov'n'r pays me,” he said, but then heard the cocking of a flint hammer. He hurriedly added, "I may be able to afford one soon."
"What d'ya mean by soon. Are you playin' me fer a fool?” Daniel asked. It was a good thing he was in the shadows because he was having a hard time keeping a straight face. The lass was listening but saying nothing. Good lass.
"No, no, I, well, I only know the gossip. The older men say that the gov'n'rs goin' ta take the ships we are guardin' cause they owe back taxes, and then he'll sell 'em to the king. I may get a share, for they's fast ships, they is, each with a cannon so they's worth a bob or two. Can I go now, please. I'm not right for your daughter. She needs an older husband, one who already has some coin set aside. Please."
"Tell me more about these ships. Mayhaps I can make some coin from the deal. Why is a parliament man like Le Strange willing to do a deal with the king?” Daniel asked, and then cursed himself for being so excited that he forgot to disguise his voice.
"He was a member of parliament, yes, years ago, but that don't mean nothin'. While all the fightin's been goin' on, he's been sittin' on the fence. He's waitin' for the chance to prove 'is worth to the king so he can be knighted. The king already knows his plan, which is why Charlie made 'im the gov'n'r of Lynn. Them ships is important, see. They's parliament's eyes and ears along this coast, and they can ferry fightin' men quickly and land them anywhere. Takin' them ships will mean a knighthood for him, and prize money for the rest of us. May I go now, please sir."
"Yer a good lad, and nice and polite and all. Are you sure you don't want a wife?” Daniel asked, and then stood and motioned the lad to sit on the bed beside the lass. The lad visibly relaxed as soon as the pistol was no longer pointed at his crotch, and he willingly sat beside the lass. So long as he was near her, he was safe from being shot. "He'll make yee a fine husband, girl. You 'ave my permission to convince 'im with yer favours. Take all night if you need it. I'll just leave you two lovebirds alone.” He opened the door and slipped out, and then closed it and put his ear to the door. This meant leaning over the landlady, who already had her ear to the door.
The lass was speaking. "Don't pay no mind to my pa. He don't want to admit ta hisself that I'm a whore. To be safe we should do as he asked, so I suppose that means that you have me for the night."
"Oh, right,” the lad replied eagerly. "Well we may as well take our clothes off then, and use the bed."
Daniel pulled away from the door and whispered to the landlady. "Wait until the bed stops thumping for the second time and then take in some soup and some coal. I want them both to stay safe in that room all night. If you need me, I'll be waiting by the front door. I'm expecting another visitor, with a message."
It was not a long wait. As this was the first day in well over a week that anyone would have braved a ship to the sea, both he and the customs man had expected other ships to arrive before dark. The customs man knocked him up just as the last glow of the sun disappeared from the clouds.
Daniel walked with the customs man back to the quays. The temperature was dropping quickly now that the sun was down. At the quays, Daniel noticed four things in quick succession. The arriving ship was a sister ship to the rest of the Friesburn ships now under guard. It was the Friesburn Seven with a Freiston crew. The crew were busy tying her off and did not seem suspicious of the guard. On the ship a dozen bandsmen were shouldering their gear ready to step ashore. Some of the guards were hidden behind the customs shed with their muskets at the ready. In other words, this was an ambush of the unwary.
This was exactly how the guards would have captured the other ships and crews. Their plan was to look and sound official, catch the crews unawares, feed them a good line about tolls, take the crew into custody, send the militia on its way, leave a guard on the ship, and then march the crew to Saint Annes. It was a good plan and by keeping to it they would have captured ship after ship without a fight.
Daniel stopped walking and pulled the customs man back by one arm and asked in a soft voice, "Which of those guards is in command?"
"The big man with the red beard."
It just had to be the big man, didn't it. It couldn't have been the wimpy looking reed of a man standing beside redbeard. "If I were you friend,” he told the customs man, "I would go and drink some ale on the next street.” The man watched him as he pulled a pocket pistol out of his cloak and checked the prime, and then put it back in the cloak pocket. Without another word the customs man spun on a heel and hurried away into the dark streets.
Daniel, on the other hand, marched forward quickly and steadily towards redbeard. As he neared redbeard he held a purse out in his left hand and called out, "I was told to come and pay the tolls on behalf of this ship.” Redbeard looked confused, but he held out his right hand to take the purse. What fool would turn down a purse? Daniel let go of the purse just short of redbeard's offered hand, and without thinking, redbeard bent over to pick it up.
Redbeard had no chance of blocking the knee that came out and up from the winter cloak and smashed into his bent over face and mashed his nose. Through his pain he heard the stranger yell, "I've got a pistol pointed at the back of your head, so stay down!” The stranger said it three times just to make sure he heard it. Then there was a piercing whistle and then some whistle toots.
Daniel pulled the whistle out of his mouth and let it drop on the thong that was always hung around his neck. The whistle signals had gone out sweet and clear, and to any of his clan they meant, "Ambush! To Arms!” As he watched, the crew were ducking and rolling and scrambling back to the ship to grab their pistols. The militiamen were standing about with their mouths open wondering what was happening. The hidden guards began filing out from behind the customs shed and raising their muskets.
"Everyone hold your fire!” Daniel yelled out. Everyone ignored him. The muskets were being aimed. The militia were diving for cover. The crew were crouched down low behind cover and loading their pistols. Daniel tapped redbeard lightly on the top of his head and told him to tell his men to lower their muskets. Instead the man slashed his arm against Daniel's pistol arm and knocked it away from him. It was a silly thing for redbeard to do, and could have cost him his life, if Daniel had any intention of killing the man. Daniel simply stepped back out of the reach of the man's wailing arms.
One of the musketeers called out, "All of you, drop your weapons else we shoot to kill.” It was a stupid thing to say, for it just caused the crew and the militia to keep their heads down and finish loading their own guns. The guard were outnumbered, and by threatening death, they had put their own lives on the line. "Drop your weapons else we kill the man who warned you."
Daniel's only cover was Redbeard and Reedy. He grabbed at Reedy to pull him close and use him as a shield, but the little man was lithe and escaped him and dashed over to the customs shed.
"Lower the muskets,” a new voice entered the argument. It came from behind the customs shed and Daniel could not see the speaker, but he knew him by the voice. The musketeers were turning towards the voice, and the voice was walking out from behind the Customs shed. It was Rob with a pistol in each hand, and each pistol was pointing at a musketeer. "I am Captain Blake of the Parliamentary Army, and I order you to lower your muskets.” By this time the militia had finished loading their muskets and their sergeant was looking from group to group wondering who to support. Again there was a standoff, and still not a shot had been fired.
The standoff ended when a deep voice called out from the ship. "Oye, everyone look at me.” Some men in each group looked towards the voice. There was a beefy man with a blonde beard standing beside the stern gunnels. It was Tom, the commander of the ship, and he was wiggling his own gun back and forth so that everyone would take notice of it. His gun was no pistol or musket, for what he now aimed towards the musketeers was the ship's swivel gun. "Captain Blake,” he called out. "If you would please step back behind the shed, sir. At this range, the grape in this gun will blow holes in everything for ten feet around them guards."
Finally Redbeard had his bloody nose under control and he shouted out, "Lower your muskets men. Lower them now!” He must have seen a swivel gun in action before, because he repeated the order again and then had to stop speaking because his nose had begun to bleed again.
"Hold your head back and press a finger hard against the base of your nostrils else it will never stop,” Daniel told him, and then as an afterthought, "Sorry about that. Oh, and I'll take my purse back now."
Redbeard growled, "Not likely. Just payment for my nose,” but the tall man still had a loaded pistol in his right hand, so he relented and handed the purse over. He watched and waited while the sergeant of the militia just off the ship walked over to him. From the other way came the army captain who had come up on his men from behind. When they reached him he pointed out, "This is a right mess. Now what do we do? My orders are to detain the ships and crews that are transporting the trainbands. The orders are from the gov'n'r so by rights the militia should be helping me, not the crew."
"Aye, then perhaps it would be better if we followed the governor's orders,” Daniel replied. "I would be pleased to go with you to Saint Annes Fort, just to find out what the misunderstanding is.” He noticed that Redbeard smiled at this news. "First though, I have to convince the man on the swivel gun that he has nothing to fear from your musketeers. Why not have your men hand their guns over to the militia, and then I'll have the crew hand their guns over to the militia. Sergeant, would you agree with that?"
"Why not? But first I'd like ta know what the H is goin' on 'ere."
"I suggest we disarm everyone first,” Rob interrupted, "before there is a regrettable accident. Then we can discuss what is going on."
Everyone nodded in agreement so the orders were given and in a few moments it was only the militia who had come in by ship who were armed, while the crew and the guards stood close together but in separate groups. The militia sergeant, who had introduced himself as Phil from Fakenham, was now in command of the situation, at least for a moment.
"Sergeant,” Rob said as he stepped forward. "may I present my commission document. I hate to pull rank on you, but as an officially commissioned captain of the parliamentary army, I feel that I should take command.
"Sounds good to me,” said the bewildered sergeant. All he really wanted to do was to spend the night warm in Lynn and then march his men back to Fakenham.
"No,” shouted Redbeard, "that was not part of the agreement.” But his complaint was too little too late. The deed was done and Captain Robert Blake took charge with all the finesse of a bulldog.
"Sergeant, what are your current orders?"
"We have leave for a month. I have a requisition for any of the militia's chartered ships to transport us from Boston to Lynn, after which we are to march directly to Fakenham and then disperse to our homes."
"Daniel, what are the provisions of this charter."
"That for a set price per ship per month, we will transport men and cargo for the militia's of the Eastern Association under the command of the Earl of Manchester. It is signed by him, and his agent makes the payments. We must assure the safety of the passengers and cargo, but we can call on the help of the passengers or the cargo for reasons of mutual self defense."
Rob turned to Redbeard and said, "Well there is your answer. Both the crew and the militia were following orders from the top. Under those orders they are obliged to defend each other. Your attempted ambush put you on the wrong side of those orders. Until I have further information I am freeing the crew and placing you and your men under close arrest.” Redbeard just stared back at him helplessly. His nose began to bleed again, so he stuck a finger against it and looked quite ridiculous.
Once Redbeard and his guards were snuggly bound and left out of the weather in the ship's cabin, the rest were free to march to Saint Annes Fort. Rob led the militia and Daniel led the crew, and all of them were heavily armed. The blood was still surging through them from the incident at the quay, so nerves were on edge and trigger fingers were ready for a fight. Daniel briefed them all about what he knew of the new governor and how he had seized the other ships and their crews. It didn't help their tempers to know that the governor was likely a double-crossing royalist.
"When we reach the fort let me do the talking,” Rob told the others as they marched along the river front to the fort. "You said that fort is manned by the Lynn militia, who seem now to be answering to the new governor. What is the highest rank in the Lynn militia?"
"No higher than lieutenant,” replied Tom. "He's not supposed to answer to a governor but to parliament's regional Lord Lieutenant. I suppose that would be the Earl of Manchester now that the trainbands of the eastern counties have been merged."
They walked by the last quay before the fort, the decrepit old ferry dock now used to tie up the punts of shell seekers. The fort itself was more of a cannon platform than a castle, because it had originally been built to fight off pirate ships rather than armies. The one wall was of brick and was more like a high garden wall than the wall of a fortress. The fort was on a silty peninsula between the river and a creek so the one wall separated it from any approaches by land. The road led to a gate in the wall, called the Watergate, though there was no water course through it.
"Looks like the governor has been trying to lengthen the wall,” Daniel observed. "He's a fool to be using bricks instead of pale poles. The local silt won't hold the weight of bricks.” There was a guard on the gate, two local militia men, but at the sight of the approaching militia escorting the crew of the ship which had just passed under their guns, they opened the gate without being asked.
"I am Captain Blake of the parliamentary army,” Rob told the guards. "Please turn out the guard for inspection, and send a message to Governor Le Strange that I have arrived.” One of the guards ran into the fort on the double. Rob could play a pompous ass better than anyone, because everyone expected him to be a pompous ass because he was so short.
"Well, we are inside the wall,” the sergeant said under his breath. "Now what?"
"Let me do all the talking,” Rob said yet again. "In that way we won't cross our stories. Oh, and check the primes of your guns.” Those words were passed down through the ranks following them. Instead of making for the officers quarters, Rob led them towards the gun batteries and once he reached the first of the ten culverins, he made a show of inspecting it. No one else took any interest, for they were so old that it would have been unsafe for them to shoot anything other than grape or chain. Any long range shots would risk blowing the bloody things to pieces.
Rob was keeping his eye on the parade ground outside the officers quarters, and when he saw that the local militia had assembled he told the sergeant to march his men over to stand at attention behind the local militia, but to be ready with their muskets, just in case. Only when both sets of militia were on parade did Rob walk towards them. Daniel and the crew walked five paces behind him. Le Strange must have been watching from his quarters, for he timed his arrival to coincide with Rob's arrival in front of the parade. Accompanying the governor were four men dressed in the same livery as the guards at the ships. The guards who were now trussed up.
"Governor Le Strange, a pleasure,” Rob said as he clicked his heels, saluted and then held out his hand. "I am Captain Robert Blake and I have come to inspect the militia and the fort on behalf of the Earl of Manchester.
Le Strange was speechless for a moment while he gathered his thoughts. "I had no idea you were coming, else I would have put on a better show."
"No need sir, no need. This is a surprise inspection so I do not expect perfection, just readiness. In truth I am surprised at your presence here. This is a militia installation, after all."
"I, yes, well, the town has no mayor at the moment and so I have taken it upon myself to make sure that the town is well defended. As this is the only fortification ..."
"What about Castle Rising?” Daniel interrupted. "It's normal for the governor to use the castle there."
Rob gave Daniel a look that clearly said, "keep quiet,” and then he apologized to the governor for the rude manners of rough seamen. "These are the crew of the ship that just came into port. The guards at the quay asked us bring them here to speak with you. Something about docking tolls."
"Ah yes,” said Le Strange. "Fortifying the town is expensive, and since parliament has refused my request for funds, I must make do with what I can gather in tolls for the use of the port. This fort, after all, protects the ships in port, so why shouldn't they bare some of the cost. The ships that carry the militia have refused to pay the tolls, for some months now. I have therefore seized their ships until their due is paid."
"Those ships are under contract to the Earl of Manchester for use by the militia. Would it not have been more prudent to ask the earl to pay the tolls, rather than seize his militia's transport during these perilous times.” Rob did not wait for an answer but instead walked towards the only other officer, a very young lieutenant, who was standing in front of the local militia. "And who might you be, sir?"
"Joris van Coevorden of the Lynn militia, sir,” the lad said in an overly loud voice with a heavy Dutch accent, and then clicked his heels and saluted. Joris was the Dutch word for George.
"And is it not your duty to protect the port, and the ships in the port, especially the ships necessary to your own militia?” Rob asked him, while wondering if he should have asked the lad such a picky question using Dutch.
Not knowing quite how to answer, Joris barked, "Yes sir, and I am sir."
"What use are the ships if their crews are not standing by? Release the crews at once and have them return to their ships."
"I forbid it,” Le Strange said as he stepped towards Rob. "Not until the tolls have been paid in full."
"My dear sir,” Rob put on his best snotrag Oxford affectation, "I have already given you my suggestion as to how you may collect your tolls. Now please refrain from further interference in army business. In truth, it would be more correct if you would vacate this fort forthwith and take up residence at Castle Rising."
"I will not be spoken to in that way be a mere captain,” Le Strange let his temper fly. "Lieutenant, arrest this crew and lock them up with the others."
The lieutenant didn't move. Like the others of his company, he had heard the ominous click of ten muskets being cocked by the Fakenham militia standing behind them. Oh well, he despised this old prick Le Strange in any case. "No sir,” he barked in his thick accent. "You have just been dismissed from this army camp so you no longer have any authority here. I must follow orders and release your prisoners."
There was another ominous clicking, this time from behind the governor where stood his own retainers brought from Hunstanton. It was too little too late. Daniel and his crew already had their dragons drawn and cocked and were walking towards the retainers.
"I trust it will take you no more than two hours for you to vacate your quarters, governor?” Rob said politely. "If you need help, don't hesitate to ask."
Le Strange looked around frantically, helplessly, and then realized the hopelessness of his situation. "What, now, in the dark, in the cold of this night?"
"That would be best, yes. You need not go far. To the mayor's house, perhaps, or to an inn. You can move on to Castle Rising in the morning."
"I protest, sir. Such enforced hurry is an insult to the position of governor."
"Then as a personal favour to you,” Rob told him, "you may stay in your quarters for another night, as may your retainers, but of course they must hand over their weapons to the lieutenant. It wouldn't do for non military personnel to be armed on a militia base."
"But what about them?” Le Strange asked as he pointed to the crew who were still waving their pirate pistols about.
"They are under contract to the militia, and so they have an official presence here. Your retainers do not."
The Fakenham sergeant and his men were having a hard time keeping a straight face, so Rob ordered him away to police the fort and organize the watch. His next words were a polite reminder to the lieutenant that he had been ordered to release his prisoners and to give them back whatever was taken from them, including any weapons. As the two bands of militia marched away, Rob turned to Daniel and gave him a slow wink. Sometimes it was best to play the pompous ass.
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The Pistoleer - Invasion by Skye Smith Copyright 2013-15