Pistoleer: Brentford by Smith Skye

Author:Smith, Skye
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: civil war, oliver cromwell, prince rupert, earl of warwick, skirmishers, 1642, banbury castle, dragon pistol, turnham green
Publisher: Skye Smith

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The Pistoleer - Brentford by Skye Smith Copyright 2014

Chapter 13 - Tugs and barges at Kingston in November 1642

Richard Onslow was a wealthy parliamentarian who had been awarded the rank of Colonel by the Earl of Warwick, and therefore had met Daniel before. He agreed to meet with them immediately. When Daniel asked him about the animosity of the townsfolk, he explained, "Kingston is the original Royal Borough, so of course they side with the king. Every town from here to Windsor sides with the king. Ashford, Staines, the lot. Their markets have always done well out of the royals, especially with Hampton Court Palace so near, so they resent our being here and they resent Parliament keeping Charlie out of Hampton."

Onslow was leading Daniel along the central hall of the great manor, but instead of turning into his office, he led him up a winding staircase and out onto the roof and up to the parapets. "The town is undefendable," Onslow said, pointing down at the bridge. "The only fortifications are this manor and the arsenal over there on the other side of main road."

Daniel nodded. He knew the town from earlier this year when parliament had fought off Colonels Lunsford and Digby to keep the Kingston arsenal out of the king's hands.

"A few days ago after Prince Rupert was refused Windsor, he paid us a flying visit in hopes of surprising us," Onslow continued. "It was only because I had musketeers and field guns on those two barges on either side of the bridge that we stopped him from crossing it. Instead he went back up river to cross at the next bridge in Staines. If he had come at us from the south bank, there was no way we could have held Kingston. Luckily for us, he decided to loot Staines and Egham and never did make it back to us."

"Luckily for you, but what of the poor folk of Staines?" Daniel asked. "And where is Egham?"

"Egham is across the bridge from Staines. Poor folk is right. Both towns support the king, so they were shocked when their shops were cleared, their purses robbed, and their daughters defiled by the king's gentlemen."

"And knowing this," Daniel asked thoughtfully, "the folk of Kingston would still welcome the king's army? Why would they risk the same happening to them?"

"I wish I knew," Onslow sighed. "Perhaps they just don't want to take either side. Better to be robbed and raise bastard babies, than to be slaughtered because you made a stand. This town has survived for a long, long time without walls. They just bend with the wind rather than being snapped by it."

"I like your idea of putting your guns on the barges. Nice and safe from cavalry attacks. That is why I am here, by the way. To put some of your guns on a barge." Daniel began to explain his mission and once the story was out he reached for the paperwork to prove it.

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