The Two Confessions John Whitbourn (best books for students to read txt) 📖

out to anunresisting, albeit less than friendly, area in mid Wales at the start ofoperations. This seems to have been a quite deliberate act of policy on Mott'spart. The village of Llanarth, together with its every inhabitant, regardlessof sex or age, was swept from the face of the earth amidst horrific scenes ofmassacre and rapine. Nothing remains of it to this very day. Even now, in someparts of Wales he is burnt in effigy on the anniversary of the event and dubbed'The Beast of Llanarth' - an epithet coined at the time and in no waydiscouraged by Mott, who relished fame or notoriety alike. Conversely, Mott'sapologists, of whom there were no shortage, stated that the war was shortenedthereby, citing the list of rebel towns who straightaway capitulated at thenews, thus saving them and the English/South Walesian army from the rigours andwaste of combat. This is arguably so. Certainly, Mott established a lastingsettlement in the former 'Cymric' areas which had eluded others for centuriespast. Nor was he thereby debarred from aspiring to the most glittering prizesoffered by the English state....'

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cHAPTER 25

Samuel was then dismissedand locked up. Far from being aggrieved, he was glad of it, having not just foodfor thought but a whole gargantuan banquet of the stuff.

Theychose a small house near to the Castle to hold him in. A few hours back it wasprobably home to a prosperous fisherman stroke trader stroke pirate; someone ofclose lineage to the Lord of Lundy. It had been a nice home too - once - thatmuch was clear, worth sacrificing much to hold on to.

Havingsacrificed all, the presumed former owner sat in its parlour, shot to death.Black beard resting on his chest, he looked just drunk or asleep, fit to riseagain and resume ownership. The body was still warm. Nearby, a spray of bloodup a wall recalled someone else's vain resistance. Yet only the dead manremained out of all who had lived here, the last vestige of what had been untilthis day. Now the house was very still, waiting for a new beginning. Samuelknew he was not part of it and had no place there. He found a seat beyond sightof the instructive tokens. From outside there still wafted the distant wails ofwomen being loaded onto ships like cattle.

Alongwith 'refreshments' came a file, a collection of papers bound in blue card. Thesoldier who delivered them told him to 'eat!' and 'drink!' and'read!', as he set each down, making no distinction between the commands.Even without such compelling advice Samuel was happy to comply. It provided awelcome distraction.

Thepromised chicken didn't show. Instead came a jar of brawn and an inappropriate,ornate, dessertspoon to fetch it out with. Samuel studied the coarse jelly inthe glass and realised that he was indeed hungry. Appetite had been suspendedwhilst thinking of final things and mastering terror. Now, in accepting theremight be days to come, there was occasion to refuel.

Slowto start with, but speeding up, heaped spoonfuls of the stuff were enjoyed,washed down with scrumpy from the jug. Gradually, Samuel felt strength return.

Withit came the will to plunge into the file. Since its source was Mott he assumedthere would be scant comfort within, but as the same source ordered him to ithe had little choice. His best hope was for some explanation of his plightbefore the fate they'd already decided on was dumped in his lap - or drawnacross his throat.

Samuelshould have been more himself: less defeatist. What they'd given him wasactually the very secret he'd been hunting. By two pages in that was clear.Trevan also learnt - if further proof were needed - he was dealing withshort-cut taking, trespass-careless, people. These documents hadn't beenacquired in the regular manner, but rough-torn from books and records just asit suited them.

Someancient leaves threatened to crumble in his hands and their script was oftenbeyond his scholarship, but usually a modern transcript was provided, scrawledin any old spare space. Which was thoughtful.

Foodforgotten, lured by the promise of great things - at great risk - Samuel readon.

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'Fr:THE WESTERN ANNALS AND EASTER TABLES, supposedly from the time of Saxon kingsto the reign of James the True - but greatly incomplete and damaged and repletewith inconsistencies. In seven ancient volumes at Exeter Chapter House and invariant form, five volumes, in custody of the Mayoralty of Bristol, as percustom, time out of mind. Folio 1145, detached by authority of M. Pothecary,gent. Officer, first company, The Queen's Own Guards Regiment. Transcript bysame, where possible, with assistance from Mrs Joyce Preston, M.A., a scholarlylady and discreet, by virtue of her husband being of my command.

'... ye year of our glorious salvation by the sacrifice of God's onlyson, Christ Jesus [which pious preamble, being constantly repeated, is henceforthomitted, but only for brevity's sake. JP] 1480. Wherein certain Bristolmerchantmen and fish-venturers [? JP] returned from the new-founde-landwith strange pelts and vittals and recountings. Item: to subscription [?JP] of listing of those poor persons, hale in body and the women goodfor child bearing, to go to said land to make their way and regain theirfortune, whilst spreading the word of almighty God.

1482: Wherein the old dark prevailed and finally, at ye unfortunate andcursed St Nectan's-sub-terra house. Few but the gate-brothers emerged with whatpoor little of the great glory and riches within (which same proved vainguardians) they might gather with trembling hands. [illegible. JP] gladreports and tokens of a valiant struggle within. Of the rest, full many, wedespair save that those who perish against fallen angels are gathered straightto the bosom of Christ Jesus. Sealed is the pit until d[indecipherable -presumably 'Doomsday' JP]. Earl Talbot mounted guard until one month pastCandlemass but no sign was from within.

 

1485. Henry, called Tudor, strove in battle at Bosworth field....

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EXTRACT.Westminster Citadel Dragoons' Regimental Diary - enciphered secret section:

'Twelfth day of July 1702. The pit being breached sufficient by ourpioneers, a descent was made, the Legate and Roman troops and Mendip minerspreceding.

Thirteenth day of July 1702. No sign or sound. Two troopers distractedby the evil breath of the open pit, fit only to be sent away. CornetFitzgerald, likewise afflicted but