Chapter 13 Sleeping under the cross

 Jaap Simonson closed his Bible with a touch of the dramatic. The Psalms had been sung. The Lesson read. Their duty to Heaven completed the Men could return to their Earthly tasks. The all seeing eye of the Lord of Hosts upon them all the first mate to the meanest cabin boy.

The Jasper slinked out of sight of land she would be returning north soon. The summer had been profitable. It was a goodly harvest that the summers labour had reaped The Jasper and a few other ships had made their way south to prey on the Spanish dominions in the New World. Now their Ships chests full of silver and plate. The Roman Hersey had been smote. The crew had dined on fine beef, and wheat. The Don’s had been there Quartermasters. Now the Jasper’s and her companions would be returning to their homes. To mimic the Hellenes after they had burned the topless towers of Ilium.

The words of Marlowe echoed in his head. It was a small role, Jaap the Master of the Jasper, played in the great theatre of the world. Perhaps a mere spear carrier or one of the Chorus. Yet Jaap strove to exert himself in the service of the Crown and Regent as the players of the Kings men did for their audience and Patron

Would he ever see a play again? From time to time, tumult and plague closed the theatres. Sometimes the Parliaments argued that the Theatres were ungodly. The Regent had settled the Question, with his fondness for Marlowe’s works. It had been whispered that the Regent or maybe his Father had been supplied intelligence by Marlowe before the playwright was murdered.

Jaap cast his eyes on the deeps, he was the Master, he could not indulge himself for too long As his father had, The Captain of the ``Jaspar’’ looked to the Sea to seek his fortune indeed his Grandfather had before that, and it had been a trade that the Simonsons had known before his father’s father had been born. An Uncle who was too fond of Bordeaux claret had insisted an Ancestor had been the helmsman on the White ship the legend aside It took no Thucydides to note that the family seat, in Devon, had been furnished with prize money and Romanist candle sticks. The sot of an uncle was not the only relative who committed the sin of Pride Had not his mother sworn his grandfather, had been a gunner under Drake, when lead against the Armada. When fair and Godly England herself had been but a silver streak away from the heel of the Dons.

It was wily old Elizabeth who had seen the Dons and Parma driven off as beggars would be from the Kitchen of an honest Housewife,. The Queen placed her faith in God, and in her ships. Elizabeth, whom Marlowe had called Queen and served with Wit. The She Prince whom with the last of her strength had given the sceptre to the Regent. Elizabeth was the Midwife at the birth of the English Empire. The division of power between the regent, appointed by the commons and lords, from the best of their number and the King, prevented tyranny and shared the burdens of leadership. Like the twin kings of Old Sparta, with an heir and Regent always ready the King was free to reign and to reign well. Royal Tyranny was held in check. England had blossomed free from the slavery of Rome, free from the strife of intrigue and courtly politics. The world knew a new rule of the Good Emperors the ancients had cherished. The English Imperium had stood up, to challenge the Don’s, The House of Valois and the Pope and his Wilde Irish dogs

Thus the lands, of the Friesians and Hollanders had been liberated, brothers of the English from the Romish terror. Then the Kings of Denmark, and German princes brought into a great confederation. The Hugonauts, when their cause seemed lost, had been renewed

``parcere subiectis et debellare superbos’’

Jaap smiled he had received instruction in the liberal arts. He had been a good student, devouring Greek and Latin like sailor would biscuit. First Caesar, and then Virgil and Homer, and after his lessons, he would study by the fire. His nurse attending her needle work, a mariner might call on the Simonson’s looking to speak to his father. Or even with news a victory off the coast of France. A battle beyond the Rhine

Sometimes, an old salt stopped by with a bottle of claret to speak with his grandfather. Then the elder Simonson would sit and whittle away at wood. While him and his guest, told tales

Jaap had enjoyed the stories of Drake most. Though his nurse from behind her aprons, disapproved of Drake for some reason. Looking back now, he thought it was because his nurse believed there was something disreputable about Drake relationship with well, his mistress. She had been fair of face, and gentle of spirit. Of course modest in spirit Jaap now in command of his faculties saw the truth in his memories view that his childish eye had overlooked Jaap knew she had suspected something amiss. Something unbecoming

A fondness for maudlin, and common ballads, had been where his Nurse had been dipped in the Styx

Her charge, years and miles away smiled, and looked out to sea. He had been a little indulgent...

The sky was as clear as the conscience of the justified man.

A thought crossed his mind. It would be some change for some fortnight’s sail to the North. To the Ports, they had recently won in arms. From there, they were able to strike at the traffic moving between the Spanish ports and the New World. There pieces had won, the centre of board, and now could pick of their opponents. In the great contention that raged for the soul of the world. The Godly had won a real prize.

In the distance a whale, raised it tail in salute of the enterprise. Jaap wondered if he should choose Jonah as the lesson next time. No, no. That was superstition. The path was seductive enough. The crew would see the whales, and been inspired. He would follow the correct services, and lesson. The Jasper would maintain. As the tide and the winds maintained everything to its season, has the philosopher had noted, thousands of years ago. ``A time to reap A time to sow’’ The wisdom of the first ages, held true into the last days of mankind

The whale raised another salute. The crew of the Jasper shunned such pleasantries. They served their rigging and sails. Sunburned, and seasoned. They would have coin in their pockets, when they returned to Port. One or two of the ships officers had discussed investing their stakes in the sugar Islands. A man could make a fortune his grandchildren would not be able to spend. Jaap had given the idea more than a little consideration. On one hand, he was a creature of tradition, true and honest tradition. Not the novelties the Papist’s had endeavoured to enshrine. To leave his family home grieved him in his heart. Did not the Regent bring change? That said he did not fear change. A Good Captain knew that a squall may blow in, on the calmest sea. Or that the winds would drop and the Jasper and all her company would be becalmed for days on end. With only the crews character and the powder barrel, to prevent his throat being cut. Oh, he had worked hard to avoid hiring cut throats and malcontents A few days drinking brackish water and dining with weevils, would break even a Saved man too. The country minister, a day’s ride away from the sea did not truly know the trial that Jonah had suffered at the hands of the Lord. The Latin poet had said it best reflected that the worst things happen at Sea

Would one last foray be worth it? Mused the master of the Jasper as she sailed north. The release it would give the men, would probably keep the Jasper’s crew sated until they docked in their new home. There the godly would give praise, and the dammed, would drink and fornicate until their coin ran out. The Admirals men, with their carbines and cutlasses would be there to help keep order.

He would consult the charts.

His cabin like his ship, a little maid but one who’s curves drew the eye. As a good sailor and a loyal subject Jaap’s Gods demanded order the door opened and the Captains refuge was illuminated. As befitted one of the saved, it was modest. There was a course a bible in the corner, and a cutlass on the wall. There were some smaller books, of moral and spiritual worth. A few rough cut newspapers, news of Europe was necessary for Jaap’s trade. Should the alliances change, a battle lost, or a bad winter or a second Nicas bring about a Truce. The crew of the Jaspar could be unwelcome in a port, or hung as pirates.

Even the Captain had to sleep in a hammock, however he did have a table, it had to be fixed to the deck, but it was good enough to keep his charts level, whilst he made his study.

He would have found his chart in pitch black. Indeed he had done before and would need to do again and seventy times after that. Weathered hands spread the paper out. The keen Mariner’s eyes followed the outline of the Silver coast. The Dons and there heretical kinsfolk had been pushing out from Buenos Aires for at least a generation. Now the stream of settlers was becoming a flood. Convoys of ships brought people from across the Papist realms. It was a tragedy to leave behind the superstition of the Old world only to plant it in the New

Before he was master on the Jasper. Jaap had been an officer on the Swift. As fine a ship that Portsmouth did see. One day the Swift had ran down a merchantman out from Lisbon. After the fighting, with the Portuguese vessel safely boarded and bested The Captain of the Swift ordered the vanquished up on to the deck. Where in full view of heaven offered the surviving crew and the passengers a chance at earthly as well heavenly salvation. The ship would be escorted to the English colonies in the Northern part of the Americas. There they would have the chance, to live out their lives free of Popery

Jaap remembered the Captains words. His blood had been hot, his shirt and hose wet with blood, but he had been astonished by the Captain’s mercy. He gave thanks and praise to God, when he heard it. The slaves were offered a chance to be lead out of Egypt.

A wife, a striking woman, perhaps the fairest Jaap had ever seen, clutched her child, to her breast and flung herself of the deck.

She was not the last

It still angered him. The waste, the waste was so senseless Could they not see how easy it was, how simple, and how liberating. A mere reading of the Bible and following its words were enough to be saved from damnation `Faith alone’’. A simple motto, it could be a rhyme taught to an lad apprenticing his trade to recollect how a knot was tied.`` Faith alone Fidel sola ‘’. What more did a man need? What else did Christ have in the Wilderness whence confronted with Satan himself?

Such pride and ignorance needed to be corrected.

The rage was a distraction. He had his duty to God, and his crew. He consulted his chart. As they sailed south, they had sent parties to scout the coast, and note the signs of settlement. The steeples could not be concealed, but a stone chapel could be defended. There would be a watch and a muster. There were fishing villages, along the coast. The trade of the Navarese, and the Sicilians, intelligences and informers said the two feuded in mimicry perhaps of the Irish and Portuguese gentry who dominated the port and the hinterland.

There was an old woman, in the Village Jaap had grown up in. They say her husband had been killed by an Irishe Kerne, in the last days of Elizabeth’s reign. Jaap remembered her sitting in church, she lived in a cottage, that a labourer might have scorned, but had the coin for the rent of one the better pews. The Regent, never forgot

There it was. There was a stream marked on the chart. If nothing else, they could fill some of the empty barrels with water. They had to be their own quartermasters. A nights fishing, and scavenging, would spare the biscuit

If they could strike a blow, against their foes than they should too

He took, a bearing, and said it again, and again. As he rolled up the chart, bound it with its leather strap, and restored it to its rightful station in life

Shutting the door, quietly, he relayed the Course to the helmsman. The sails would need a slight correction. The Men bounded up the rigging.

Ambrose Botranger coughed,

Jap answered his indirect inquiry. We will see if there is someplace open, for a drop of porter if nothing else. Have the boats made ready by the next watch.

The Master of the Japser related the plan Dusk fell, they would slip in, and make their way to shore, if they found one of the many fishing villages, than they would as night fell, slip in, cut throats and set fires

Anything they could carry, they would take with them. A goat, a few geese, and slip off. They had done the same thing, from Cadiz to Manila. They were beggars of the sea, they moved from house to house, and if the housewife, left the lamb unwatched, they would make off with it

They served one who separated the Sheep from the goats

The tides and wind’s, brought their servants the crew of the Jaspar closer to the shore. The day had risen, thanked it hosts and bid them a good night, it was about to turn and leave the drawing room

As a seducer would with a chambermaid skirts, they searched for the right spot to place themselves

With their anchorage secure, they could now exert themselves, indeed as a seducer would

As was his prerogative Jaap had chosen the Men himself a mixture of honest men, and veteran’s Indeed some honest veterans, and at least one ``old soldier’’ One Miles Glorious, that Terrence and Shakespeare would have recognised. At their Masters behest the landing party had their sea pikes ready, A few pistols to add to the pot and a musketeer should guard the boat. With Jaap the master it came to 12 men. That would be enough, enough for the Good lord, enough for a honest jury.

It was a goodly part of the crew. The Jaspar’s lot was but two score. It was only a village, and they had surprise on their side, and another score of men, and cannon, to call upon, should they be surprised

The padded oars, made their way to the shore. They could see the fires at least half a dozen. They could hear a bell, a tin or brass bell, and then singing. Latin it was. Popery Jaap muttered to himself, and his maker.

The locals had gathered for some festival, some act of Idolatry. The Lord had delivered them to be punished.

They were close to the shore now, two of the men got out, and ran the boat onto the sand. They slipped out one by one, waiting for the noise of the tide to conceal them

There were rushes, between them and the fires. Jaap whispered to one of his men, to stand sentinel over their boat. Allen Bontranger cousin to Ambrose, made ready with the Musket

Jaap loaded his pistol, now they were out of the spray like his maps; he knew where it lay even on the blackest night. The pistol was faithful companion to him, a most loyal servant. It had repaid him tenfold, from the two Guilders he had purchased it from in Amsterdam

The reeds were course, there was movement

``Hold

A of pain, and, he had fallen, he could not speak...There was blood, and hunting boots

Shots and screams...than.