“Latham’s Seige”

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 276, 20 November 1937, Page 12

“Latham’s Seige”

SENT IN BY “SHIRLEY TEMPLE III.”

Chapter IV

Betty hung her head. “Father did say Roger and Rowley must leave his house if they ever joined Fairfax, or Essex, or the brewer Natt Cromwell, and carried arms against the King; and they went off and have not been at home since Martinmas.

Mother is sore vexed about it. She cried all through our Christmas dinner because her boys were not there to eat it. And oh, Master Jack, my brother Rowley is so good and kind! He gave all his earnings as an engraver to help father when my brother was up in London before the troubles came, and when Roger never had a penny by him though he did as good work when he had a mind to work and got as much pay as Rowley. But Roger spent all his wages drinking and gambling in the taverns and sitting in the play-house, and was for ever writing home for more money. He has turned over a new leaf, he says. Still, I think not that he can be much improved, since he dealt you a sword thrust, the cruel, cruel lad! However, my brother, Rowley, is as good as gold. He was as kind as kind could be to mother and I, so sir, do you think the cause can be all bad he has taken up to the turning of his back on those he loved best and the endangering of his life?

Father says the Parliament has a deal of right on its side. Though he would not have had its members rise in arms.

“Mistress Betty, I do not bother my stupid pate with these hard questions; I say my King and Earl arc lit judges for me, and when they bid I am sur» to obey. It was not the rights and the wrongs of the war I would speak of to you; it was the fact that your brothers are in your near neighbourhood lighting among the besiegers. I do not question that Master Rowley is sick at heart to stand up against Latham House, the house of his father’s friend and patron. But my story is this, he called out, ‘Old friend, keep Betty safe,’ as was a deal more civil than Roger’s remark, ‘Your safety shall answer for my sister Betty.’ ” (To be Continued).