The Printer's Devil (14 page)

So it came to pass that Catherine Alsop is become the first woman-bell-ringer. We disguised her in clothes of mine own, the which were a whit large but did serve to conceal her form, and called her a boy of fifteen years hight
Kit Francis
(the Kit from Catherine and the Francis from my brother, who would have swound had he known); And I did introduce her as a new prentice of my master, for there was none to gainsay this with Roger gone.

And from the first it was plain that Catherine would prove exceptional as a ringer of changes; In a short time she mastered bell-handling, and more soon than it pleases even me to admit she had set herself to learn changes, could hunt the treble passing well and then did acquaint herself of the Intricacies of divers peals.

I observed that soon she’d be making compositions to ring at great length; indeed on occasion it did seem that the ringing was a greater pleasure to her than mine own companionship; scarce a day passed that she did not go a-ringing at some tower; although she did also do sufficient to dissuade me from this notion when that we two kept company,
ab ovo usque ad
mala.
⁴

I hear from Hugh Bishop that the
Protector Cromwell
doth now affect king-ship and is petitioned to take that title on him by all his new-made sycophant lords; but dares not for fear of the fanatics not all purged out of his rebel army. ’tis not the kind of king we’d wish back upon the throne.

On a night a sennight following on mine birthday when I did return late to my lodging I saw that within my room there showed a light, and so I did draw my sword and release the latch with great care before that I kicked open the door with my foot; But within was only Roger Southwell and woundy harrowed in the countenance.

I stepped into the chamber and did close the door behind me, asking, -What do you here?

-Why I am but come hither to pay mine end of our bargain, saith he; To give to thee that which will send thine enemy to thee.

-Kemp? I asked, for truth to tell I had nigh forgot him; though the thought of him did anger me anew.

-I’ll warrant thou art too much involved in tumbling and touzing with thy Kitling to think on him, said Roger, and I had a month’s mind to hit him.

-Why do you remember this now, I asked, when such a space of time is passed?

-Fabian I always pay my debts, quoth he. Hast thou a thing to eat or drink in this place? I looked at him closer then, his features looked pinched and starved with cold; and made haste to see an if I had me any Victuals; I found half a stale loaf and some dregs of sauced ale, both the which he swallowed hungrily.

-Art thou fallen on hard times then? I asked.

-Nay, he replied, but that I do forget to eat and drink some days. Fabian give me thy sword that I may for-speak it.

³
1
have and hold

⁴
i.e. from the beginning to the end

-For what purpose? I said.

-That it will cleave to Kemp, and seek him out, and give thee intelligence that he be near.

So I reversed the sword (which I had not sheathed) and offered him the hilt; he took it in his two hands and spoke words over it that I could not hear, nor do I think they were English or Latin words; and the air shone and sparkled about him and the sword; It so crackled that the separate hairs on my arms did stand on end, then flashed so bright I must needs close my eyes for the shining of it. Then he returned to me the sword and I bedded it in its scabbard.

He ruffled my hair with his hand and quoth -Thou art become grisard, Fabian, before thy time.

I frowned at him for I misliked this, and asked, -Hast thou seen aught of the creature that thou named Lilu?

He narrowed his eyes and said, -Why do you ask?

-Roger, I said, angered, hast forgot from what thou madst her? And he grimaced as if he tasted a sour savour in his mouth.

-I have not seen her, he said, nor heard aught of her, and this doth perplex me greatly.

Self do, self have,
I thought, but did not speak the words out loud.

-Never doubt, Fabian, I have a cunning scheme in my mind to counter her an she do come by with ill intent.

-Beshrew thee, Roger, I said, that is not my concern.

-I do give you my word, saith he, that no ill shall come to Catherine Allsop in connection with this. And he looked so fatigued then that I did feel sympathy for him.

-I had best go hence, he said, for I have much to do on the morrow.

-I’ll aid thee an I can, I said.

And Roger raised up his eye-brows and replied -I thank thee, Fabian; and went out at the door.

The day following I did wonder whether it was that Roger could see into the future like unto a gypsy for Master Pakeman did call to me and say, -Fabian, you shall go this day to Richmond for me to Master Fletcher’s where you are gone before.

-Gladly, says I, and truly I spoke, for like unto a red flower opening in my breast there blossomed the thought of making an end on Kemp;
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam
,
⁵
said I to myself.

I hied me back to my lodging and fetched my sword before I did go for a boat; and although I did once more find the voyage up-river a pleasant interlude, I did yearn all the time for it to be over so I could be about my business.

-Twill rain before night, the waterman said to me when I lighted, you should make haste with your errand; but I did consider I needed the dark for mine own task. although as matters turned out I did not.

But first of all, I went strait to Master Fletcher’s House for to collect a packet of writings. As on the previous time I must needs attend a while until that the papers were ready, but at length I had the writings in a satchel and came out a doors once more into a day very dull and gray, with clouds all in the sky so that the sun was not to be seen; and it did cast as ’twere a pall over the day.

I minded well where it was that I had seen Kemp, down by the river, so that was the way I turned my steps; I remembered much of the town from the wanderings I had made on that day. And then I came around the corner of a building and walked strait into Kemp him-self before ever any of Roger’s magic could take effect.

⁵
I’ll either find a way or make one

-Fabian Stedman,
he whispered, nigh too soft to hear; I stepped back and drew my sword.

-We have unfinished affairs to settle, he said, and I had no need to look far to discover the source of his sudden courage, for he had with him two roynish fellows; three on one is bad odds, for the one, anyway. He had his sword out presently, and I made haste to parry him.

-Wat, says he to one of his bullies, do you spy out for the watch, and we will finish this cock-brained whoreson.

-Thou smock-faced crack, said I, I had fain see you adventure it. There was as ’twere a knot in my belly but strange to tell ’twas not so much fear as arousal; I grinned a wolf’s smile at them; and then both set on me.

All was so confused I cannot set down any clear narrative of the first minutes, but ’twas clear Hugh Bishop’s teaching was good; for he was a soldier and taught me a soldiers tricks while these two had learned off a fencing-master; they did jig about like girls with the green-sickness.

Kemp seemed content for a while to permit his accomplice to cross swords with me while he essayed to harry and distract me from one side or the other; then the one slipped past my defence and did gash my arm, at which I took my own dagger-hilt and punched him in the face with it; after which he lost Interest in the fight. I believe I did break his nose, for it was gouting blood; I kicked him as he fell and also kicked his sword out of reach. Kemp nigh spitted me with a fortunate sword-thrust, but I dodged aside and went for his gut with my dagger; he deflected the mortal blow but I cut him, and pressed the advantage, backing him to the wall. I saw his frighted face as white as paper, and sheathed my sword in his body; It slipped in with but little resistance, and he did fold over.

-Wat, he cried, and the other came a-running. As I gave to Kemp his death-stroke this man put his own dagger into my side and pain followed sharp and sudden, worse nor any whipping I ever took. I let go the sword which was stuck in Kemp’s body, and put my dagger in the man Wat’s throat. His blood spewed out like unto a fountain and he fell without a cry, looking mightily surprised.

This Wat’s dagger had stuck in me just below my ribs on my right side; I pulled it out and there followed a rush of blood that soaked my clothing. The dagger fell to the ground and I pressed my hand to the wound, seeing mine own blood leaking betwixt my fingers.

It came to me a whit late that I must needs get me hence before that some one came; I looked round but the third man, that I broke the nose of, was gone; I retrieved my sword and wiped it and the dagger clean on Kemp’s clothing, then made my way down the alley towards the river. My head felt empty and strange; I had killed two men that sought to slay me, and my Yard was stiff yet; though walking was becoming difficult, I could not go a strait line but staggered from side to side. I felt cold sweat on my countenance, and leaned against a wall on one side; I do not know whether I swound but far-away I did hear a Voice, although I could not tell any words.

Then someone had an arm about me and I one upon a shoulder and I was being dragged halting in at a door.

I could make out nothing plain, the room swam; -Can you stand up, asked the voice, and the question seemed difficult to answer.

-I think it unlikely, I replied after some consideration, and the words came out slurred like unto the speech of a drunk man.

-Lie you down here, then, and attend until I return.

I replied that I did not think I had be going any other place; then I know I fainted, because I woke propped against a wall and someone giving me water to drink; much of it spilled down my chin, and I realised that it had a faint bitter savour as of herbs.

-Drink it all, said the man, ’tis the loss of blood that makes you faint. Then I’ll see about your hurts.

-Who are you? I said.

-Your saviour, I think, he said; hight Nicholas Griffin; I did spy you beset by three rogues, I went to fetch a pistol; but you had done the work and mumpt them indeed when I came out a doors. I looked and saw he had a withered leg, the which explained his slowness.

-And you, he said, what’s your name, and your business?

-Fabian Stedman, printer’s prentice, I replied, awaiting an Inquiry that never came.

Instead he said, -Is’t only the arm and side, or are you more hurt?

-I think the arm is but scratched, I said, but my side’s sore hurt; but there’s no more wounds.

-I’ll put you on a poultice, he said.

-Are you a Pothecary? I asked.

-Of a sort, he said.

-A Magician then?

-No, not that, indeed; an Herbalist I am,
primes inter partes.
⁶
Soft now, can you take off your shirt, an I help you?

I saw that on my arm was in truth but a shallow cut, which was nigh stopped bleeding, but around the stab-wound in my side, which looked so small, my flesh was bruised and swollen, and the blood still welling out, and I felt a cold trickle of fear. ’tis not so deep as a well, I thought, nor so wide as a church-door, but ’tis enough, twill serve.

Nicholas Griffin took a wet clout and wiped away blood.

-An you had an ale-belly, he muttered, this would be but a flesh-wound. However we will do our best, and hope twill suffice.

-Is’t grave? I asked.

-’Tis not so bad, he said; you will not die, young man, for forty or fifty Years, an you stay out of brawls. Next time you might not be so fortunate as to meet with those less skilled than you. He applied some jollop that smelt pungent, and bound a pad over’t; my arm he anointed also, but more lightly, and bandaged it. Now you need clean clothes, he said; at that moment there came a banging on a door somewhere.

-I’ll not be long, he said, and went out, closing the door behind him.

I looked round the chamber: it was more like unto a cook’s-kitchen nor a pothecary’s work-shop, with a pot over the fire and a wooden table and a joint-stool and bunches of herbs hanged up to dry. I wondered briefly whether an I could get myself to sit at the table, rather than on the floor, but decided it was not a good Idea. By and by Griffin returned, his countenance thoughtful.

⁶
first among equals

-’Twas the watch, he said, at the which I started in alarm. Soft now, they are gone; they asked me an I had seen murder done and I told them ’twas those dead ruffians that attacked a lone man, who was long gone. Now see, put on these clothes for your own are ruined.

-I cannot pay you for any of this, I said, and he but shook his head.

-’Tis no matter; I do not want paying. Now you must get you hence, for ’tis three a clock already. And mind, do you limit your occupation for awhile, lest you hinder the healing. Tell your little Town-miss to have a care an she want you whole again.

I imagine I did look surprised for he laughed and said, -My young friend, what age have you, five, six and twenty years?

-But lately turned six and twenty, I said.

-Well I never met a man of six and twenty that did not swive whenever he could, said Nicholas Griffin, and laughed again. I smiled, but bethought me that stwould pain me overmuch to laugh also.

-Now get you hence, he said, drink no strong ale for a sennight, but drink you water with these herbs in it; and he gave me a small paper folded and sealed with wax, saying, A thing more, do not place so much faith in magic, ’tis not the rock that you believe it to be.

I discovered that an I walked slow and did not move over-much the pain was not great, though it ached sorely and made the boat-trip a lesser pleasure than hitherto; although the rain prophesied by the boat-man never did come; what do they know?

I delivered Master Fletcher’s writings to my master and worked quietly the rest of the day, lest he notice that I moved not easily and found that I had been in a brawl. Afterward I hied me to Catherine and told her what had befallen; I had entertained a doubt that she might mislike me when that she found I had killed two men, but she had heard the tale of Ann Pakeman’s murder, and thought it fine revenge, and was more concerned with my hurts. However we discovered that much was possible even though I could not move very well; although I was a plaguey long time returning to my lodging afterwards.