"Up over, into Lyme," said they, "to join the Duke o' Monmouth. Hast not heard the news, sir?"
"Yes, I have heard it right enough," I answered; "but, if you would be warned in time, go home again, for methinks your present way leads straight to hanging."
Their mouths fell open at my words, and for a moment there was silence; then one of them, a big-limbed fellow, cried:
"A Monmouth! Down with Popery! The Protestant religion!"
The others joined in lustily, and so I left them and rode on. Alack! I was to see three of those simple-minded rustics dangling from a rope-end in the days to come!
On drawing near Hay House (a lonely place), where lived the Mayor of Lyme, I saw a horse come out into the road, with two men on it, riding double.
This seemed so strange that I must needs pull up to look at them, and so, as they came abreast of me, I found the foremost one was Dassell. Both had swords and pistols.
"What now?" said I.
"Hush!" said he. "The very trees have ears to-night. I ride to raise the country on these rebels--to Crewkerne first--and friend Thorold here goes with me."
"Yes, but why ride ye so?" I asked.