JAMES' TOWN PART 2 Chapters 4-5
By Pueros

copyright 2007 by Pueros, all rights reserved
pueros@hotmail.com

This story is intended for ADULTS ONLY

This five-part factual story has been written to commemorate
the 400th anniversary in May 2007 of the establishment of
the first permanent English colony in America.
The author hopes to post the five elements of the tale so
that the last is timed to appear on the actual anniversary.


Part Two

'Brass without but gold within.'

- an inscription on a certain old map of New England.

Chapter 4 - Incarcerations

(Bridewell Hospital, London, England, early 1605)

"Well, my little beauty," Leviticus Goodly commented happily
to young James, "welcome to Bridewell Hospital, where you'll
live under my, er,...protection...and supervision for the
next couple of years until you're ready to go to earn your
living elsewhere." The boy blushed in embarrassment at the
epithet afforded him by this ugly, bearded, dirty and smelly
man, whose fat stomach hung over the belt at the front of
his filthy trousers and whose mouth exploded with disgusting
spittle whenever he talked.

Despite only recently turning the tender young age of ten,
James was intelligent enough also to perceive some sinister
sarcasm in the hospital warden's comments, especially when
saying 'protection'. The way in which the man hesitated over
this word, whilst a momentary devilish smirk crossed his
face, suggested to the boy that this duty obligation in
respect of the newcomer over the next couple of years was
not going to be a prominent priority but rather the
opposite.

"My name is Leviticus Goodly," the man went on to advise,
"but you will call me and all of my staff 'Sir'. You will
also obey our instructions and the hospital's rules at all
times or be birched." James immediately shuddered at the
thought of being beaten in such a manner.

James appreciated that the implement used comprised a
tightly bound-together bundle of short slender branches from
the smooth-barked birch tree. This sinister instrument of
chastisement was commonly used at the time for punishing
delinquents, not least in schools.

Although the recently orphaned James' late parents had been
poor, they had somehow found the resources to enable their
son to go to a decent school near to their very humble home,
amongst the narrow crowded streets of early 17th century
working-class London. The teacher had possessed a birch but
more for show and intimidation than for practical use, as he
was essentially a mild and compassionate man, in stark
contrast to Leviticus Goodly.

As a result of his earlier academic education, which had now
ground to a halt because of becoming an orphan and being
accordingly dispatched to awful incarceration in Bridewell
Hospital, where the formal teaching only related to
practical artisan trades, James was literate and numerate.
The boy also knew the Biblical scriptures, plus some basic
Latin.

James' late father had also personally taught his son some
of his own trade of ships' carpentry, which profession he
had practised in London's docks after losing his job in his
home city of Gloucester. The boy had proved to be a quick
and proficient leaner in this practical subject too.

James' late father had additionally attempted to nurture his
son's interest in culture by taking him, when he could
afford to do so, to see some of the plays in London's
theatres, particularly the 'Globe' on Bankside in London.
The boy had therefore watched some of the latest offerings
by a popular writer named William Shakespeare, including the
most recent titled 'Macbeth', which he had rather enjoyed,
having a special liking for the witches and gore.

James was also intrigued by the fact that all female parts
were played by boys. He even began to harbour a quiet
ambition to appear sometime as a performer on the stage of a
theatre himself. Unfortunately, the tragic demise of his
loving father and mother and his transference from his
humble home to incarceration in Bridewell Hospital was to
deny him such a desire.

James would instead one day appear on another different and
much more important stage, being a key performer in the
creation of a great and mighty nation.

(Tsenacommacah, Virginia, America [modern Tidewater
Virginia, USA], same time)

On the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, in the region named
just over two decades earlier by Sir Walter Raleigh after
Elizabeth I, who was known as the 'Virgin Queen', Matoaka
was playing amidst the seasonal snow with some of her many
half brothers and sisters. Protected from the very cold
wintry conditions by fur and hide clothing, the little 10
year-old Native American princess did so with such
frolicsome energy that she was eventually afforded a
nickname matching her sometimes careless enthusiasm.

In her native Powhatan tongue, the nickname suggested that
Matoaka was a 'little wanton'.

(Greenwich Palace, near London, England, same time)

The new Stuart King of England, James I, who had acceded to
the throne just two years previously, and his family
preferred Greenwich Palace to any other. The residence was
sufficiently down-river along the Thames to be well away
from the grime and smells of overcrowded London but also
sufficiently close by boat to be able to reach the capital
speedily.

Greenwich Palace had also been a favourite, and for similar
reasons, with James I's Tudor predecessors, Henry VIII and
Elizabeth I. Within the high brick wall surrounding the
great park in the middle of which the residence was set, the
King could hunt deer, often doing so with his highly
intelligent and energetic elder son.

This sports-mad soon-to-be 11 year-old boy was called Henry,
after James I's Tudor predecessor, and, as heir to the
English throne, was destined to become the ninth King of
that name to reign if he lived to succeed his father. Few
people doubted that such a healthy child would do so, with
more concern about survival into adulthood being afforded to
his younger brother.

Charles, who had attained his 4th birthday in the previous
November, was rather sickly and consequently withdrawn. The
infant suffered in particular from weak legs, especially his
ankles, which made him unable to walk without stumbling
during his first three years of life. He also did not learn
to speak properly without stuttering during the same period.

The alarmed James I initially considered having Charles'
legs encased in iron boots to strengthen them and to have
the young prince's tongue slit by a surgeon in an attempt to
cure his speech impediment. Fortunately, more sensible
remedies prevailed, mainly because of the stout opposition
of Lady Alletta Carey, the Dutch-born wife of courtier Sir
Robert Carey, who acted as the boy's governess, mainly at
Greenwich Palace because the air there was considered to be
better for his delicate health.

Lady Carey instead made young Charles wear boots made of
Spanish leather and brass to help strengthen his weak
ankles. Her gentler and more caring remedies eventually
succeeded in helping the young prince to walk correctly and,
with the aid of resultant increased personal confidence, to
talk properly too. However, one symptom of his boyhood
troubles was that he would as an adult only become 162
centimetres, or 5 feet 4 inches, tall, which would be one of
the shortest heights for someone of his ultimate status.

Young Charles was very grateful to and doted on Lady Carey.
The young prince also displayed the same affections towards
his generally friendly and helpful elder brother, Henry,
whom he hero-worshipped.

Young Charles, and indeed the whole future of the monarchy
as well as another embryonic nation, were eventually,
however, to become particularly grateful to someone else,
who was of far inferior social standing to Prince Henry and
Lady Carey.

(Greenwich Shipyard, near London, England, same time)

Not far from Greenwich Palace was a renowned shipyard, where
many royal naval vessels were built. The late father of
young orphaned James had actually performed some ships'
carpentry there.

Coincidentally, Richard and Elizabeth, originally from
Hingham in Norfolk and parents of a now 10 year-old son,
Edward, had also performed some work for the shipyard. They
had successfully transferred their weaving skills to sail-
making, which provided themselves and their child with
sufficient income to survive reasonably well.

Like James' parents had also been able to do before their
untimely deaths, Richard and Elizabeth had additionally
managed to set aside sufficient resources to send young
Edward to day-school in London. Unfortunately, all of them
were eventually deeply to regret this achievement.

(Bridewell Hospital, London, England, same time)

"You will also," Leviticus Goodly continued, "never attempt
to leave Bridewell Hospital. The city authorities have
trusted you to my care here for the next couple of years and
here you will stay until that time is up and you are
considered ready to leave!"

"To attempt to do otherwise is to perfidiously ignore the
ruling of the city authorities, who only have your welfare
and that of London in mind," Leviticus Goodly suggested.
"Consequently," he added, "any attempt to run away will,
when you are re-caught, which will undoubtedly happen, make
you liable to far worse punishment than a mere birching!"

Leviticus Goodly's statement was, of course, partly
incorrect. The city authorities actually had little concern
for young orphans like James, which was why they were happy
to send such children to such a poorly funded and
supervised, darkly decrepit, spiritually soulless and
abusively unfriendly institution like Bridewell Hospital.

The city authorities instead just wanted to remove such
young nuisances from the streets as cheaply as possible,
whilst falsely maintaining a political air of Christian
compassion for those of god's creatures who had been struck
low by being orphaned. Sadly such indifferent attitudes
prevailed in many countries and persisted through subsequent
centuries, still being extant in some nations even today.

James' initial reaction to Goodly's latest announcement was
some bewilderment. The boy had never previously contemplated
the notion of running away from Bridewell Hospital for two
reasons.

First, James had nowhere to run away to, as he knew nothing
about his extended family in Gloucester. Ever since his
parents had ventured to London to find work there when the
boy was only a baby, he had not met or learnt anything about
living relatives left behind in his city of birth.

Second, James had been told the falsehood that the Bridewell
Hospital was a nice place for orphans like him to live and
train for new lives. This lie had been related to secure his
co-operation because, if the boy had been told the reality,
which he was about to discover in horror, he would surely
have run away to try to avoid such a nasty fate, despite
having not identified a place to where to flee.

James' innocent ignorance about the true nature of Bridewell
Hospital had, of course, begun to erode immediately after
his arrival for incarceration in the huge grim institution.
Being led through sturdy wooden doors that were locked
securely behind him, hearing sinister moans, shouts and
other noises coming from behind similar entrances that he
subsequently passed whilst walking along lengthy grimy dark
dank corridors with barred windows, substantially helped
this process.

Finally being led before, introduced to and left with
Leviticus Goodly almost completed the erosion of James'
early optimism that he was being taken to somewhere nice.
The room in which the warden was sitting behind a table,
full of what resembled the debris of a week of meals, was
similar in grime, darkness and dankness to the outside
corridor. However, the most unpleasant aspect to attack the
boy's senses was the profoundly unpleasant stench pervading
the brick-walled chamber.

James' sense that he had been brought somewhere not only
unpleasant but also sinister was next compounded when
Leviticus Goodly said, whilst continuing grossly to expel
copious spittle and now displaying clear lust in his evil
eyes, "Now, boy, let's have that grubby clothing off you.
I'll then help bathe you myself!"

(Willoughby Hall, Willoughby, Lincolnshire, England, same
time)

Robert Bertie, now the 14th Baron Willoughby de Eresby,
welcomed his long-lost older friend and former servant
literally with open arms in the ornately luxurious surrounds
of his stately home. He hugged John firmly, whilst
displaying dampness in his eyes and discarding relevant
social proprieties by ignoring normal decorum. Many other
people would consider such a reaction by an English
aristocrat when greeting a man of mere peasant background to
be most seemly.

"I had presumed that you were dead," the now 21 year-old
Robert advised John, who was almost half a decade his
senior, after finally releasing his grip. "So did I on
several occasions, your Lordship," was the reply, "for I
have been very close to being killed in various ways since
you kindly released me from your service so that I could
seek my fame and fortune."

"Please drop the formality of addressing me as 'your
Lordship' in private, John," the young Baron responded, "and
instead just call me 'Robert' as you used to. Now, you must
tell me all about your adventures during the seven or so
years since we were last together. However, first I must
report to you that your mother sadly died whilst you were
away."

"So I've already discovered, your Lordship, sorry I mean
Robert," John informed, "after visiting our cottage, where I
discovered new tenants." "Yes," the young Baron rather
guiltily answered, "I would have kept the place vacant for
you if I thought that you were still alive."

"You can, of course, have the cottage back," Robert went on
to suggest not only to salve his conscience but also in the
hope that his long-lost friend might want to return to live
close by, "rent-free, regardless of whether you want to come
back into my service." "I'll find the current tenants
somewhere else to reside and I have several important posts
that you could occupy," the young Baron added rather
enthusiastically, in hope that such a pleasant development
might accrue. "You could even furnish the cottage with your
parent's stuff," he also advised, "because I've kept them in
storage in case you ever did show up again!"

"Thank you for your kindness and for your offer, Robert,"
John replied to the young Baron's profound disappointment,
"but my adventures in Europe have just given me a taste for
more elsewhere, despite the hardships and dangers. I want to
see more of the world and I simply couldn't at the moment
permanently settle down anywhere until I satisfy that
desire. I've returned to Willoughby only to see my mother
and you and to check on her welfare and that of your family."

"Talking about your family, Robert," John continued, "please
accept my sincerest condolences at the loss of your own
father. I hear that he died about four years ago. I have to
confess that I greatly admired him for his distinguished
diplomatic and military successes on behalf of our late
Queen Elizabeth. He was also always very generous to me and
my family."

"Thank you for your kind comments," Robert responded. "I
acceded to the Baronetcy when only seventeen," he added,
with some dampness returning to his eyes but whilst
genuinely not meaning to make his friend feel guilty too,
"and could have done with you at my side then. You were
always a great comfort whenever I was melancholy."

Nevertheless, John did feel some guilt. He had perhaps
rather selfishly abandoned Robert's service, albeit with
permission, when returning from a visit to France with him
in 1597. The then 18 year-old had enjoyed his first trip
outside the relatively boring rural environs of the small
village of Willoughby in Lincolnshire so much that he had
not wanted to return.

The sights that John had seen during the trip, including
observing great cities like London and the sea and ships for
the first time, had instilled an intense craving to see
more. Fortified in his ambition by a promise from young
Robert, who had been just a 13 year-old at the time, that
his mother would be looked after, he had therefore abandoned
the boy's service on returning to the English capital on the
way back to Lincolnshire.

Robert had not wanted to see John go. However, the generous
boy also did not want to retain an unhappy servant and had
reluctantly acquiesced to his request to leave to seek his
fame and fortune.

John had subsequently first sought sea-going service on a
ship before widening his ambitions. As he was now to tell
Robert over many hours, as they sat in a large ornate room
in Willoughby Hall, protected from the wintry draughts by
sitting in front of a big blazing fire and further warmed by
drinking mulled wine, his subsequent adventures had returned
him to the European mainland.

Robert was amazed to discover that John had gone on to serve
as a mercenary in the army of King Henry IV of France in his
campaigns against the Spaniards. He had later fought for
various other warring factions, including the Austrian
Habsburgs against the Ottoman Empire.

At barely 20 years of age, John was, for his fighting
ability, courage and leadership qualities, eventually
promoted to captain when fighting for the Habsburgs in
Hungary in 1600-1601. However, as Robert was now amazed to
learn, whilst subsequently on campaign in Wallachia [modern
Rumania], his friend was wounded, captured and incarcerated.

John was then sold by the Turks into slavery.

Chapter 5 - Ambitions

(Greenwich Palace, near London, England, several months
later, summer 1605)

Young Charles looked curiously at the strange and
potentially ferocious caged creatures, comprising a wild
boar and two baby crocodiles. "Where do they come from?" he
subsequently asked of the ever-attendant Lady Carey.

"From the Americas," Lady Carey answered. "They're a gift to
your father," she continued, "who, as you know, has a
fascination for exotic animals. They were given to His
Majesty by Captain Christopher Newport, who's just returned
from another voyage to the area."

"I suspect," Lady Carey added with correct perceptiveness,
"that Captain Newport is not just being selflessly generous
with his gifts but also has an ambition to secure a favour
from His Majesty, probably some form of important or
lucrative appointment or commission!"

(Hanworth Manor, Middlesex, England, same time)

Hanworth was just to the south-west of London. The local
manor house had once been a favourite country retreat of
both Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Henry VIII had liked to hunt on the heath surrounding
Hanworth village. He later gave the manor house to his
second wife, Anne Boleyn, until having her executed.

After Henry VIII's death in 1547, the manor passed to the
last of his six wives and widow, Katherine Parr, who lived
in the house with her younger step-daughter, Princess
Elizabeth. The future Queen continued to visit during her
subsequent long reign, sometimes emulating her late father
by hunting on the heath.

The manor was, however, in the early part of the reign of
James I, a grace and favour residence for favoured courtiers
and another Elizabeth, who was the wife of the current
nominated occupier, Maurice, now gave birth in the house to
a baby. This boy will also become another significant
character with ambitions in this story.

(Virginia Tavern, Bankside, London, England, same time)

"Is this tavern named after our late Queen or the place in
America where we English appear doomed never to establish a
permanent settlement," asked Robert, 14th Baron Willoughby
de Eresby, who was currently being fussed over by the
incredulous innkeeper. His humble establishment was in a
rather decrepit working-class area of London, albeit close
to the popular Globe Theatre, and he could not believe his
luck in receiving a visit from such a young nobleman.

Robert's aristocratic status was obvious by his rich
clothing and the fact that he was attended by two liveried
servants, mainly for purposes of protection in a plebeian
quarter of the city where muggings of wealthy people unwise
enough to venture there were common. The innkeeper was not
just honoured to receive the patronage of a Lord of the
Realm, which he would be able to brag about for long
afterwards and might even, on the back of such boasts, be
able to use lucratively to improve the quality of his
clientele. He also looked forward to receiving a decent
return on the best food and wine ordered by his unexpected
customer.

"To be truthful, I'm not sure," John answered, "and neither
is the innkeeper, who's only been here for ten years. None
of the regular customers know either. However, I did pick
the place to stay for the name, as I thought that it might
bring me luck."

"I suppose that the background to the name doesn't matter,"
Robert reflected, "if the place does eventually turn out to
be lucky for you. However, I had ambitions that you'd find
somewhere nicer in which to lodge in London than this!"

"It suits me," John replied, "because I'm accustomed to such
places. Don't forget, I was a peasant raised in a tiny
country cottage in Willoughby whereas you're of the
aristocracy, reared in the local stately hall and used to
much better." "I was also a common sailor and mercenary
soldier," he continued, whilst chortling, "who spent a lot
of pleasant drunken time in some of the worst taverns in
Europe!"

"I'm additionally accustomed," John added, whilst his face
straightened on recalling bad memories, "to far worse
accommodation than is provided here. Don't forget my time
incarcerated in the dungeons of that dreadful Wallachian
fortress and later spent as a slave of the Turks!"

"That may be so," Robert responded, "but, if you can't
afford better, I can subsidise you. I hate to think of you
living in such a dump!"

"It's not a dump to me," John retaliated, whilst returning
to displaying a pleasant smile on his face to indicate to
Robert that he was not aggrieved at his description of his
lodgings. He subsequently glanced around at the rather
scruffy and raucous customers drinking crude but strong ale
from pewter tankards and eating basic fare, such as bread
and cheese, from plates of the same cheap alloy.

"You see, Robert," John explained, "these might not be your
kind of people but they're mine. I also like the simple ale
and food. As I've said, I'm accustomed to such standards
whereas you're not. I thank you for your offer but I hope
that you don't mind if I refuse."

Robert also now exhibited a broad smile, as a gracious
symbol that he had accepted defeat in generously attempting
to move his friend to better-class accommodation. He
reaffirmed his surrender by sighing "Alright, I give in but
you must let me pay for this meal and for the play at the
Globe that we're going to see later. By the way, what is the
production called again?"

"The play's another new one by Shakespeare," John answered,
"called 'King Lear', and I accept your kind offer to
subsidise the meal and entertainment, as long as you allow
me to pay for supper later. I'm not impecunious, you know,
despite lodging here. I have more than enough resources to
tide me through to me embarking on my next foreign
adventure."

"Is your ambition still to join an expedition that's
attempting to establish a permanent colony in Virginia,"
Robert asked, "hence your seeking luck from the name of this
inn?" "Yes and I'm gradually moving closer to securing my
wish," John replied, "as I'm in talks with a certain Captain
Christopher Newport."

"Newport believes that the King might be considering the
establishment of a company to sponsor such an expedition,"
John advised, "and he hopes to be appointed the leader. I'm
trying to persuade him to take me as one of his officers."

"In these circumstances," John went on, now rather
sheepishly, to inform, "I believe that there is a better
favour that you can do me in preference to moving me into
better lodgings." "Don't tell me," Robert interrupted,
"because I think I know what it is!"

"You realise," Robert continued, whilst smirking at his
supposed perceptiveness, "that I'm calling on you here
whilst visiting London from Lincolnshire in order to attend
court. You'd therefore rather like me to use my influence
with the King to ensure that, if such a company was formed
and expedition launched, you're nominated as a key member."

"No," John retorted, whilst rather happy in a friendly way
to prick his friend's rather premature presumption and wipe
the smirk off his face, "as I just want you to use your
influence with the King to attempt to ensure that such a
company is indeed formed, and the associated expedition
launched. I wouldn't want me foisted unwanted on an
unwilling Newport, if he does become the leader, as that
might lead to later relationship difficulties."

"I'd prefer," John added, "to continue to tackle Newport
myself and take my chances on persuading him to take me with
him." "Well, if that's what you desire, so be it," Robert
replied, "and, of course, I'll try to help your ambitions in
the way that you want. However, I can't say that I'm
actually particularly happy to do so. I've heard tales of a
deadly disease-ridden climate in Virginia and even more
deadly natives and wouldn't want to be just aiding you in
suicide. You know that I truly value your friendship and I'd
like to keep you alive to continue to enjoy it!"

"I thank you for your kind words about our friendship," John
responded, "and your concern. However, I've survived the
likes of losing to the Turks in battle, subsequent dreadful
incarceration and then becoming one of their slaves."

John went on to conclude this part of his conversation with
Robert by suggesting "My experiences in Virginia can't
possibly be worse than I encountered in the Ottoman
domains!" His friend subsequently reluctantly accepted this
argument and the pair then progressed their conversation to
discussing the play that they would soon be watching.

"What's King Lear about?" Robert queried, as he began to
consume his expensive roast beef and wine. "I don't really
know," John confessed, whilst eating bread and cheese and
drinking ale, "apart from being aware of the fact that the
play is a tragedy."

On hearing this description, Robert could not help his mind
momentarily secretly hoping that any adventure of John in
Virginia would not turn out to be a tragedy too. Despite his
friend's recent reassurances, he remained deeply concerned.

Robert's rightful worries would have been severely
compounded if he had been aware of the incorrectness of
John's assertion that 'My experiences in Virginia can't
possibly be worse than I encountered in the Ottoman
domains!'

(Bridewell Hospital, London, England, later same night)

James awoke in a cold sweat. The boy had again experienced a
terrible nightmare.

As usual, the theme of James' nightmare was one of the many
physical and sexual abuses inflicted on his young body over
the last months since his arrival earlier in the year in the
horror that was Bridewell Hospital. The boy, like John in
respect of his experiences in the Ottoman domains, believed
that his life must be at a nadir. His sole ambition now was
just to leave the appalling place.

Unfortunately for James, such a belief, like that of John,
was to prove to be incorrect when his current ambition was
eventually met.

(To be continued next month in part 3)

  
JT2_James_Town_Part_2