Sweet Mace: A Sussex Legend of the Iron Times
“Too soon for sweet mace—a bunch for sweet Mace,” said Gil Carr as he bent down amongst the sedges to pick the bright blue scorpion grass, its delicate flowers relieved with yellow, “so she must have forget-me-not. I wonder whether she’ll keep some when I’m far away.”
He stopped and smiled and listened, for the morning concert was beginning two hundred and fifty years ago, at four o’clock in the morning and down in a Sussex valley near the sea.
A long while since? Nay, a mere instant of time in this world’s life; and spite of all some writers say, and though we now have steam and electric current to our hand, two hundred and fifty years ago men thought and spoke the same—perhaps a little more roughly than they do now.
There was the pleasant gurgle of water at Gil Carr’s feet, and as he drew back from where the stream rippled and swirled, and a trout darted into sight, saw him, and flashed away beneath the shelter of a jutting stone, he paused beneath the spreading branches of the trees, half-closed his eyes, thought of sweet Mace, and revelled, as young men of eight-and-twenty can who love to place one object in the chiefest spot of all they see.
Here is the site of Gil Carr’s musings, for untouched Nature shows little change. Overhead there is a fabric of tenderest green leaves, laced with pearly cobweb and flashing threads of sunshine, which run in and out like sheaves of glorified asbestos, and weave the whole into a wondrous shelter beneath whose delicious dream-shadow one wanders in a haze of green. For Nature’s own colour is lavishly used to decorate this glorious amphitheatre for the first concert in spring, and there it is in every shade, from the sweet pale ash-green of the opening willow to the rich hue of the dogs’ mercury and hemlock. Green everywhere, for the delicate curtains of the trees are green, the carpet is verdant, and the banks that rise tier upon tier are of the richest velvet moss. There is no uniformity here, there are no rows of seats, but a grand confusion, upon which the eye lingers restfully and which it refuses to quit.
George Manville Fenn
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How Gil Carr Heard a Concert in Spring.
How the King’s Messenger Sought Roehurst Pool in July, and what he saw.
How Jeremiah Cobbe damned his Majesty King James the First.
How Sir Mark Stayed at the Park House, and jeremiah cobbe delivered a Homily on Angling.
How the Founder set a Trap to catch a Lover.
How Wat Kilby went wooing.
How Mistress Anne sought a Spell.
How the Spell began to work.
How Mother Goodhugh played the Part of Shimei of Old.
How Tom Croftly took his Chastisement.
How Gil signalled in vain.
How Master Peasegood entertained his Friend.
How the Forest Spirits paid their Debts.
How Mother Goodhugh cursed Abel Churr.
How Abel Churr bought a Secret.
How Tom Croftly had a Holiday.
How Gil and Sir Mark measured Swords.
How a Casement was opened.
How Janet was clasped in the Wrong Arms.
How Sir Mark Showed His Heart.
How Wat Kilby led the Way.
How two went a-fishing, and what they caught.
How Sir Mark visited Dame Beckley’s Garden of Simples.
How Sweet Mace asked for a Cup of Water.
How the Big Howitzer was Fired.
How Sir Mark’s Men came to Grief.
How Wat Kilby was not Ducked.
How Sir Mark played his Cards.
How Gil interrupted a Discussion.
How the Game went against Master Cobbe.
How Mistress Anne was Unquiet, and how the Founder came to Terms.
How Sir Mark put on the First Chain.
How Mace objected to her Bargain.
How Sir Mark knocked away two Props.
How Mace made a Promise.
How Tom Croftly spoke his Mind.
How Mother Goodhugh went to Work.
How the Witch said there should be no Wedding.
How Culverin Cark sealed up the Store.
How Gil and his Men drew Sword.
How the Powder had its Say.
How the Love Philtre worked.
How Gil brought the Bride from the Burning House.
How Master Peasegood preached Wisdom.
How the Beckley Pullet ruled the Roost.
How Master Peasegood said his Prayers and paid a Visit.
How Mother Goodhugh fared ill at Justice’s Hands.
How Roehurst kept Fête for a Wedding and a Death.
How Mistress Anne watched and feared.
How the Witch-Faggots were fired.
How Wat Kilby fired a train and Mother Goodhugh spoke.
How Culverin Carr solved a Problem.
How Sweet Mace awakened on her Wedding-Day.
How Mother Goodhugh missed her Revenge.
How Croftly cut the Hay in the Two-Year Stack.
How Gil Carr lit the Lamps of Love.