The Project Gutenberg EBook of John Enderby, by Gilbert Parker

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Title: John Enderby

Author: Gilbert Parker

Last Updated: March 14, 2009
Release Date: October 18, 2006 [EBook #6254]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK JOHN ENDERBY ***

Produced by David Widger

JOHN ENDERBY

By Gilbert Parker

I

Of all the good men that Lincolnshire gave to England to make her proud,
strong and handsome, none was stronger, prouder and more handsome than
John Enderby, whom King Charles made a knight against his will.

"Your gracious Majesty," said John Enderby, when the King was come
to Boston town on the business of draining the Holland fen and other
matters more important and more secret, "the honour your Majesty would
confer is well beyond a poor man like myself, for all Lincolnshire knows
that I am driven to many shifts to keep myself above water. Times have
been hard these many years, and, craving your Majesty's pardon, our
taxes have been heavy."

"Do you refuse knighthood of his Majesty?" asked Lord Rippingdale, with
a sneer, patting the neck of his black stallion with a gloved hand.

"The King may command my life, my Lord Rippingdale," was Enderby's
reply, "he may take me, body and bones and blood, for his service, but
my poor name must remain as it is when his Majesty demands a price for
honouring it."

"Treason," said Lord Rippingdale just so much above his breath as the
King might hear.

"This in our presence!" said the King, tapping his foot upon the ground,
his brows contracting, and the narrow dignity of the divine right
lifting his nostrils scornfully.

"No treason, may it please your Majesty," said Enderby, "and it were
better to speak boldly to the King's face than to be disloyal behind
his back. My estates will not bear the tax which the patent of this
knighthood involves. I can serve the country no better as Sir John
Enderby than as plain John Enderby, and I can serve my children best by
shepherding my shattered fortunes for their sakes."

For a moment Charles seemed thoughtful, as though Enderby's reasons
appealed to him, but Lord Rippingdale had now the chance which fo