Chapter xi.

The adventure of a company of soldiers.

The landlord having taken his seat directly opposite to the door of

the parlour, determined to keep guard there the whole night. The guide

and another fellow remained long on duty with him, though they neither

knew his suspicions, nor had any of their own. The true cause of their

watching did, indeed, at length, put an end to it; for this was no

other than the strength and goodness of the beer, of which having

tippled a very large quantity, they grew at first very noisy and

vociferous, and afterwards fell both asleep.

But it was not in the power of liquor to compose the fears of Robin.

He continued still waking in his chair, with his eyes fixed stedfastly

on the door which led into the apartment of Mr Jones, till a violent

thundering at his outward gate called him from his seat, and obliged

him to open it; which he had no sooner done, than his kitchen was

immediately full of gentlemen in red coats, who all rushed upon him in

as tumultuous a manner as if they intended to take his little castle

by storm.

The landlord was now forced from his post to furnish his numerous

guests with beer, which they called for with great eagerness; and upon

his second or third return from the cellar, he saw Mr Jones standing

before the fire in the midst of the soldiers; for it may easily be

believed, that the arrival of so much good company should put an end

to any sleep, unless that from which we are to be awakened only by the

last trumpet.

The company having now pretty well satisfied their thirst, nothing

remained but to pay the reckoning, a circumstance often productive of

much mischief and discontent among the inferior rank of gentry, who

are apt to find great difficulty in assessing the sum, with exact

regard to distributive justice, which directs that every man shall pay

according to the quantity which he drinks. This difficulty occurred

upon the present occasion; and it was the greater, as some gentlemen

had, in their extreme hurry, marched off, after their first draught,

and had entirely forgot to contribute anything towards the said

reckoning.

A violent dispute now arose, in which every word may be said to have

been deposed upon oath; for the oaths were at least equal to all the

other words spoken. In this controversy the whole company spoke

together, and every man seemed wholly bent to extenuate the sum which

fell to his share; so that the most probable conclusion which could be

foreseen was, that a large portion of the reckoning would fall to the

landlord's share to pay, or (what is much the same thing) would remain

unpaid.

All this while Mr Jones was engaged in conversation with the serjeant;

for that officer was entirely unconcerned in the present dispute,

being privileged by immemorial custom from all contribution.

The dispute now grew so very warm that it seemed to draw towards a

military decision, when Jones, stepping forward, silenced all their

clamours at once, by declaring that he would pay the whole reckoning,

which indeed amounted to no more than three shillings and fourpence.

This declaration procured Jones the thanks and applause of the whole

company. The terms honourable, noble, and worthy gentleman, resounded

through the room; nay, my landlord himself began to have a better

opinion of him, and almost to disbelieve the account which the guide

had given.

The serjeant had informed Mr Jones that they were marching against the

rebels, and expected to be commanded by the glorious Duke of

Cumberland. By which the reader may perceive (a circumstance which we

have not thought necessary to communicate before) that this was the

very time when the late rebellion was at the highest; and indeed the

banditti were now marched into England, intending, as it was thought,

to fight the king's forces, and to attempt pushing forward to the

metropolis.

Jones had some heroic ingredients in his composition, and was a hearty

well-wisher to the glorious cause of liberty, and of the Protestant

religion. It is no wonder, therefore, that in circumstances which

would have warranted a much more romantic and wild undertaking, it

should occur to him to serve as a volunteer in this expedition.

Our commanding officer had said all in his power to encourage and

promote this good disposition, from the first moment he had been

acquainted with it. He now proclaimed the noble resolution aloud,

which was received with great pleasure by the whole company, who all

cried out, “God bless King George and your honour;” and then added,

with many oaths, “We will stand by you both to the last drops of our

blood.”

The gentleman who had been all night tippling at the alehouse, was

prevailed on by some arguments which a corporal had put into his

hands, to undertake the same expedition. And now the portmanteau

belonging to Mr Jones being put up in the baggage-cart, the forces

were about to move forwards; when the guide, stepping up to Jones,

said, “Sir, I hope you will consider that the horses have been kept

out all night, and we have travelled a great ways out of our way.”

Jones was surprized at the impudence of this demand, and acquainted

the soldiers with the merits of his cause, who were all unanimous in

condemning the guide for his endeavours to put upon a gentleman. Some

said, he ought to be tied neck and heels; others that he deserved to

run the gantlope; and the serjeant shook his cane at him, and wished

he had him under his command, swearing heartily he would make an

example of him.

Jones contented himself however with a negative punishment, and walked

off with his new comrades, leaving the guide to the poor revenge of

cursing and reviling him; in which latter the landlord joined, saying,

“Ay, ay, he is a pure one, I warrant you. A pretty gentleman, indeed,

to go for a soldier! He shall wear a laced wastecoat truly. It is an

old proverb and a true one, all is not gold that glisters. I am glad

my house is well rid of him.”

All that day the serjeant and the young soldier marched together; and

the former, who was an arch fellow, told the latter many entertaining

stories of his campaigns, though in reality he had never made any; for

he was but lately come into the service, and had, by his own

dexterity, so well ingratiated himself with his officers, that he had

promoted himself to a halberd; chiefly indeed by his merit in

recruiting, in which he was most excellently well skilled.

Much mirth and festivity passed among the soldiers during their march.

In which the many occurrences that had passed at their last quarters

were remembered, and every one, with great freedom, made what jokes he

pleased on his officers, some of which were of the coarser kind, and

very near bordering on scandal. This brought to our heroe's mind the

custom which he had read of among the Greeks and Romans, of indulging,

on certain festivals and solemn occasions, the liberty to slaves, of

using an uncontrouled freedom of speech towards their masters.

Our little army, which consisted of two companies of foot, were now

arrived at the place where they were to halt that evening. The

serjeant then acquainted his lieutenant, who was the commanding

officer, that they had picked up two fellows in that day's march, one

of which, he said, was as fine a man as ever he saw (meaning the

tippler), for that he was near six feet, well proportioned, and

strongly limbed; and the other (meaning Jones) would do well enough

for the rear rank.

The new soldiers were now produced before the officer, who having

examined the six-feet man, he being first produced, came next to

survey Jones: at the first sight of whom, the lieutenant could not

help showing some surprize; for besides that he was very well dressed,

and was naturally genteel, he had a remarkable air of dignity in his

look, which is rarely seen among the vulgar, and is indeed not

inseparably annexed to the features of their superiors.

“Sir,” said the lieutenant, “my serjeant informed me that you are

desirous of enlisting in the company I have at present under my

command; if so, sir, we shall very gladly receive a gentleman who

promises to do much honour to the company by bearing arms in it.”

Jones answered: “That he had not mentioned anything of enlisting

himself; that he was most zealously attached to the glorious cause for

which they were going to fight, and was very desirous of serving as a

volunteer;” concluding with some compliments to the lieutenant, and

expressing the great satisfaction he should have in being under his

command.

The lieutenant returned his civility, commended his resolution, shook

him by the hand, and invited him to dine with himself and the rest of

the officers.